Solar Umbrella (Book 1)

Chapter 22: Blue Skies

"YOU ACTUALLY WANT to use social media to determine the use of our multi trillion dollar elevator?! They'll probably vote to build a space station in the shape of a middle finger or something! It's insanity!" the European governor, a German named Angela Jähn practically shouted at them.

Parker sighed. "If you look through similar initiatives in the past, the public only does stupid stuff when it doesn't matter. Naming a boat or subway station. When it comes to things that actually affect their future, they're usually very reasonable."

"I can't think of a single example. We've already got billionaires breathing down our necks who want more time, not to mention all the important work our national agencies want to do, and you're looking to the great unwashed masses for suggestions?" Jähn was practically foaming at the mouth. "I know you two are young. I get it, but I don't think either of you realize how tenuous our positions here even are. All the deal-making to get our teams to administer this operation took months of begging, brawling and concessions. The companies who fund us can shut us down with a vote at any time. I will not vote for this. I can't in good faith!"

Parker and Alex had expected this and had been working the other governors and their teams for weeks. They were pretty sure they had locked down the international governor, a Canadian woman named Roberta Hadfield, but they hoped they could get a unanimous vote.

Alex took over for Parker, hoping for better results. "Angela," he opened, throwing some German accent on it that Parker never would have been able to, "you need to think of this like public participation. It's just the first step in a larger initiative. We want to call it the Blue Sky Project. The idea isn't to let people come up with anything they want, but to provide options. Things that will help their lives instead of making money for the already ultra-wealthy."

Jähn continued frowning, but she uncrossed her arms and squinted at Alex, considering. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it and flicked her hands at Alex, telling him to go on.

Alex took the invitation and continued to ooze charm. "Think about things like food production, exploration targets, different satellites and their roles," he said. "We are going to take the things we already want to do, and give them the choice among them. We want to focus on food production, right?"

She nodded.

"So, we leave the choice of what type of food up to them," Alex added. "Or we let them pick between two farming platform designs that we both like. Or, sure, we let them call it Foody McPlatform. Nothing that will have a tangible outcome on the actual results."

Parker jumped in, and regretted it as soon as he did. Alex was doing a much better job. "Keeping the interest of the public will help them feel connected to the missions we undertake. It will also help the governors keep their jobs as administrators. People will connect the elevator itself with those governors who are keeping them involved and informed," he added. "The job will fall to us to present the options properly and help guide the public in the right direction."

"The job will fall to you to guide them, not me," she finally added. "I will not vote for this initiative, but if you secure the other governors, I will not vote against it."

That seemed like as good as it would get for Parker and Alex. They took their small victory and went about their day.

One week later, The Blue Sky Initiative passed four to nothing, with one vote abstained.