Chapter 553 Of Ships and Those Who Design Them

Chapter 553 Of Ships and Those Who Design Them

As the exploration fleet was on its week of shore leave on the outposts and the partially functional Mars base was printing ship after ship, back on Earth, a press release had quietly gone out from the imperial press agency. It didn’t generate much news at first, and it was only a few sentences long, but it gradually gained momentum over the first three days after it was put out.

“The Terran Empire is in search of those willing to aid in exploiting the resources of the solar system. For more information, contact your nearest imperial space agency recruiter.”

As the news crept out and spread, the details were soon announced by the first people to visit the ISA in their virtual office.

@Fluffy_Dog_Hugger: [This is awesome! I’m gonna go to space, man! SPACE!]

@Eternal_Crusader: [@Fluffy_Dog_Hugger details? I read the announcement but haven’t checked it out yet]

@Fluffy_Dog_Hugger: [@Eternal_Crusader they mapped the solar system and need asteroid jockeys to go out and mine]

@Thawk7678: [@Fluffy_Dog_Hugger isn’t that dangerous?] nove(l)bi(n.)com

@Nerdrage001: [@Thawk7678 @Fluffy_Dog_Hugger yeah that defo sounds harsh. Howd they map it???]

@Fluffy_Dog_Hugger: [@Nerdrage001 @Thawk7678 @Eternal_Crusader It isn’t as dangerous as you’d think. The @ImperialSpaceAgency mapped the solar system using a combination of automated drones & crewed ships. They labeled all the hazards & asteroids & are gonna build processing factories.... (thread)]

“Park Seo-Yeon, was our design accepted?” Kim Ye-Jin asked, barely able to stand steady with all of his nervous fidgeting.

“We sent the design about twenty minutes ago, so we should have an answer soon. Chill, bro—we’ve got this,” Seo-Yeon calmly answered. He was just as nervous as his friend and partner, Ye-Jin, but as the scion of a moderately wealthy businessman, he was better at hiding his nerves.

“You’re right.” Kim Ye-Jin sat down on the couch and crossed one leg over the other, but was unable to stop his foot from bouncing. “I’m just nervous. I mean, we all quit our jobs for this, and not everyone was born rich, you know.” He playfully glared at his friend seated across the coffee table from him.

“Even if we fail this time, we’ve still got time. We can keep improving the design and resubmitting it. And it isn’t like we don’t have savings to live off of until we strike it rich, so just be patient. We’ll eventually succeed.”

Kim Ye-Jin had stopped paying attention to his friend and taken out his phone, refreshing the company’s email inbox over and over, not wanting to wait for the internal refresh to notify him that an email from the ISA had arrived.

Another young Korean man walked into the room through the open door. “Has Ye-Jin settled down yet?” He raised the case of canned beer he had brought with him. “I come bearing peace offerings,” he laughed.

“Sook-Han!” Park Seo-Yon stood and grabbed the newcomer by the shoulders. “Haha! Is it time to drink already?”

“When isn’t it time to drink, brother?” the newcomer exclaimed, then set the beer down on the coffee table. “Ye-Jin, chill out and have a beer!”

Kim Ye-Jin set his phone down next to the beer and said, “You’re right, worrying won’t make the email come any faster.”

Just then, his phone dinged with a notification.