During the year of 2091, humanity had established itself across its home solar system. At this time the following planets and moons had been colonized to some degree.
The Moon
Mars
Titan
Europa
Enceladus
Callisto
Ganymede
Triton
While most of these settlements were still in their infancy, there were members of the scientific community who long dreamed of making interstellar travel possible and practical. It was not long before someone stood out, someone who was determined to realize this vision.
Humanity had been researching this topic for over a hundred years, but most of this research was purely theoretical and kept widely out of the public eye. No one was willing to potentially waste untold fortunes in putting any of these theories to the test, that is until two individuals met at a party celebrating the anniversary of the first manned mission to Mars.
Irene Mabky, a well known astronomy enthusiast and trillionaire, happened to be drawn into a conversation that was being led by a passionate expert in astrophysics who was also the lead researcher in FTL (Faster Than Light) technology. His name is Eric Hesk, and while he spoke of the financial hurdles they were facing, it caught Irene’s attention. Eric spoke of if only’s and what if’s that all hindered on how much funding they had, but there was just simply too many other options for the wealthy and governments to funnel their money into; options that seemed more important than far fetched research. However, Eric made such an impression on Irene that she and him spoke later that evening. It was then Eric fully explained the situation to Irene, and how much further this technology could’ve been developed if only people saw the importance of it. The problem was he couldn’t find anyone willing to make the financial sacrifice to kick start any real progress, as his government could only supply them with so much. Eric’s passion, and perhaps the pureness of his love for his research, inspired Irene to make a promise that night. She promised Eric that she and her company were willing to provide the means for him and his fellow colleagues to make, as he said, real progress.
As the months went by, Irene and Eric worked closely together. Irene intended on her company to become the first to develop FTL technology, this would in turn supply her with the funds to ever expand her business and Eric’s research; after all, it was the same night of their first meeting did they see in each other the same passion and love for the stars. Their love for each other, and for the advancement of human space flight, forged a bond that would lead humanity to other stars. A few years later, Eric and Irene announced their breakthrough in the development of faster than light travel. It was at this announcement that Eric proposed to Irene, and at their wedding they sent a drone ship from Earth to Mars in five minutes.
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