[ WP ] You volunteered to be in the inaugural human mission to set up settlement at Mars . Tomorrow , you 'll take flight on this one-way journey .

*Good Morning Olympus Mons! * Ares Media. 11 Jan. 2100. Television. 
 
 **Xiao**: 
 
 So tell us professor Baptiste, why chose Julian Moss as the subject of your new biography, “ Julian Moss: Heart of the Republic ”? Of all the founders you could have written about; Catherine Lafrentz say, or even Stannislav Kolar, why chose the one founder who ’ s been largely regarded as just another e-sig on the Casius Accords? 
 
 **Professor Baptiste** 
 
 Well Xiao, most people don ’ t know how much Moss actually contributed to the initial independence movement. While Lafrentz was the one who eventually led the Republic to victory against Terran oppression, there would have been no initial uprising without Julian Moss. The founders were great women and men, no doubt, brilliant scientists and leaders, but Moss was brilliant in his own way… 
 
 **Xiao** 
 
 Professor, please! The man won his berth from a soda can! 
 
 *** 
 Baptiste, Lenora M., Dr. `` 5.'' *Julian Moss: Heart of the Republic. * Tharsis: Red Rock, 2100. 120-27. Print. 
 
 There has always been a large urge to dismiss Moss. Every other founder was chosen from a pool of the most gifted scientists and engineers that the world could offer. When the news first broke that a cola company would be running a promotion to send someone to mars, no one quite believed it. That the winner turned out to be a dumpy, unemployed history major from Toledo, Ohio made it impossible. No one thought that Moss would actually go. He was too old, to fat. He lacked any training. He would be a liability. 
 
 It was Moss ’ s good will, his enthusiasm and his courage that won the public over. He was going to represent them. There ’ s a picture of Moss. He is suited up, half stepping, half stumbling up the ramp to the Nurgle VI. He is waving to the camera, a gigantic grin on his face. If you ask, most of the second wave, and most of the third as well will tell you that that picture, not the shot of Kolar astride Olympus, not the one of Coe ’ s first steps on the Tharsis plain, was the picture that inspired them, that moved them to leave everything behind and start new on an alien planet. 

