After the discovery of Trans-Newtonian minerals and the breathtaking prospects the opened up for intergalactic expansion, Earth was deeply divided about who or what organization should head mankind's reach for the stars.
Recently elected US President Willis (a former thespian) called for western nations to unite under US leadership and finance the exploration of space, while a consortium of private corporations (under US leadership) would undertake the financially risky part of producing and marketing TN minerals. Unfortunately, Congress was completely deadlocked over the decision, but they didn't have the money anyway.
In Europe, things didn't look much brighter, with the recent breakup of the Eurozone making political unity a dream of the past. While the British accepted the US proposal even before knowing any details of the plan, the Germans would participate only if they got to supply at least 50% of all mining machinery, the French opposed it out of principle, the Dutch for tax reasons, the Poles didn't want to upset the Russians and the Italians and the Spanish because they could not agree on whether the first exploration ship should be named Cristoforo Colombo or Cristóbal Colón.
Then the Chinese threatened to launch their own interstellar program, the Japanese actually did it, but had to admit later that construction would be delayed until 2040 because of bureaucratic obstacles, India was preoccupied with the Pakistanis, African nations made several proposals that were promptly ignored, and the most-read space program article in 2024 was about the King of Tonga appearing before the UN in full royal regalia - grass skirt and all - pleading that there should be made room for his people on Earth's first colony because all the remaining land in his island kingdom would be submerged by late August.
And while most pundits had already concluded that the 21st century would see very little progress towards the final frontier, there appeared to be only one man who could cut through the red tape and make the impossible a reality: Jean-Claude Zatapatique.
Called Zappa by his many friends, he is the former prime minister of Luxembourg, respected UN diplomat, heir to a private banking firm, four-times-winner of the Luxembourgian tennis championships and avid golfer and skeet-shooter. He's clearly a man of many interests, and his four ex-wives can attest to that.
It seems an unlikely coalition he has brought together. Saudi Aramco's Sorium division will provide fuel production and refining, Japan most of the sensor equipment, the US gets to build all necessary energy-projection systems for scientific uses (communication lasers etc.), a Chinese-European joint-venture will put it all together. Financing (lots of it) is provided by the newly founded Cosmos Capital Group on the sunny Caiman Islands. An Italian company supplies the space suits. Finally, the engine contracts have been announced to go to the lowest bidder.
The political squabbling, expected to last years, if not decades, is surprisingly brief. Or perhaps unsurprisingly, considering that no less than twenty-eight former (or acting) prime ministers, presidents, chancellors and supreme leaders serve on the board of CCG, swayed by the personal charm of Zatapatique, as well as financial incentives. One business insider is quoted as "With all the stock options he's been giving away for free, Zappa already sold the Oort Cloud five times over - before we even know if it exists".
And so, on January 1, 2025, the United Earth Cosmos Holding LLC opens its lavish new headquarters on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
Mankind finally reaches for the stars.
