After a tense period inside the immersion module, the crew moved into the command module where animated discussion filled the room as they pored over the video feeds. Chase listened intently, his initial uncertainty about the world outside the train giving way to wonder and admiration. The images revealed an immense, open space that stretched far beyond the confines he had expected; rather than a tunnel walled in on both sides, he saw an expanse filled with possibilities and mysteries waiting to be explored.

  The mini rover had ventured roughly 400 feet along what they believed to be the train's surface side and nearly 1,150 feet on the opposite side. This vast distance raised an immediate question: why drill such an extensive tunnel? The rover had not reached the tunnel's end, and multiple video feeds suggested that the passage extended even further, perhaps another 1,150 feet or more.

  Could the tunnel simply continue without end? According to September, it could hold an atmosphere, yet the true length of the tunnel remained a mystery. There appeared to be no limit; Chase recalled a time-lapse video of the drilling process in which the driller seemed to operate without pause. The crew now wondered whether they might eventually encounter the tunnel driller themselves a few miles farther along.

  The train itself proved to be surprisingly spacious. It was not lavish, but it offered twenty-five bedrooms and twenty-five bathrooms. Given that every module was built on Earth and then transported to Mars, their generous proportions were remarkable. In every space mission Chase had studied, such as the International Space Station, every inch of space came at a premium. Yet these modules embraced a different philosophy: provide ample room for living, growing food, and constructing equipment. It was a true paradigm shift in the colonization of new worlds.

  In addition to the rooms available in the modules, there were tunnels coated in polyurea. If they could somehow pressurize these tunnels, they would have a vast space in which to spread out. Judging by the area they had seen outside the train, it might not just accommodate two hundred people but perhaps even more. Although it might be a tight fit, a thousand people did not seem impossible. There would be living quarters, areas to grow food, and even enough room to build a small town.

  They could also excavate the sides of the tunnel to create even larger spaces. Chase’s mind drifted as he considered the possibilities. With digital 3D printing machines and a secure facility at their disposal, they could truly establish a proper colony on Mars. He was young and could potentially spend the next 80 years on this planet. What grand accomplishments might they achieve in that time?

  While reviewing the video feeds again, the crew noticed a supply of loose soil near the entrance. Adrian pointed it out and speculated on how they could collect it. He had started his garden from seeds and now needed more soil to expand; the deposit appeared to be only yards away, and he nearly rushed off to retrieve it on his own.

  Adrian set off in search of a bucket that the robot could use to collect the soil. He asked Chase for permission to seal module one so he could safely remove the pressure and send the robot back outside. Chase suggested that he might want to drop the bucket off before depressurizing the module. Adrian agreed that this was an excellent idea and went to locate a bucket. Thinking out loud that he needed about a ton of soil, he was met with Chase calling out, “You need roughly 820 cubic feet for all those garden bed shelves.”

  Adrian looked puzzled. “How do you know?”

  Chase gave a soft laugh. “It is just math, Adrian, something I know you would rather avoid.”

  After Adrian left, the crew returned to the video feed and watched the mini rover approach a wall of the surface tunnel. On closer inspection, they could see several pipes jutting through the side of the tunnel. The pipes ran along the wall and extended to both the top and the bottom of the modules, connecting to various equipment. Although the pipes were covered with insulation, the rows of valves beneath were clearly visible. There was also something that resembled another portal, similar to the one entering module one. This portal was larger, and September measured it at approximately 3 feet by 3 feet. They guess that this portal would lead to the outside surface of Mars.

  "We really are inside a computer game," Luke said. "We have now reached the inner part of the tunnel, and our next challenge is to get outside. Did anyone notice that the portal is about 3 feet off the ground, and I do not see any ramp? It is beginning to feel a bit repetitive. Just reaching the outside world will not answer all our questions."

  Chase turned toward the source of September's calm voice. "Does that portal now register on our system?"

  "This side of the portal is now registered," replied September.

  In addition to the portal, many new items had been added to their directory, and Chase was busy incorporating them into his models. Even though he could not see the source of the power supply, he could monitor the current availability. During daytime, the power would peak and drop overnight to what appeared to be the battery's maximum output. Their actual power needs were only 2 percent of the available supply. At the very least, they had more than enough power, which would have been critical during the initial drilling operation.

  Once again, they found an abundance of resources that should be scarce on Mars. They could observe their water reserves, stored neatly in the undercarriage of various modules. In total, the colony had an astounding 5,300 gallons of water. The VORN Corporation clearly did not hold back; it had provided nearly everything the colony would ever need. Perhaps not every single item, but it had certainly covered all the essential points.

  Chase addressed September, "We have now been outside the train and have seen the incoming pipework, as well as these six skids. Do you have further information regarding these units and the pipework entering the train?"

  "I have added the files to the directory," September replied.

  Chase then asked if there was a 3D model of the outside of the train and the associated equipment. September projected the model through the table's holo-image, revealing the train's position in the tunnel. The display clearly showed the tunnel's surface-side end with the pipe and portal. On the other side of the train, the equipment bore labels, and the tunnel extended only as far as the current view allowed.

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  Chase continued, "We have been constructing a model of the train based on all available resources and information. Could you integrate our current model with this 3D version of the train? All assumptions I made about electricity and water need to match the actual numbers. Also, include the available soil."

  "Model integrated and all relevant assumptions updated," September responded. "I note that, according to your definitions, you have now reached the milestone of Sustainable. Previously, you were in the Survival category. Congratulations!"

  According to Chase, reaching the "Sustainable" milestone was a major achievement. It meant that they could live on Mars indefinitely if all variables remained constant and the crew size did not change. With ample room to grow food and a protected environment as their foundation, long-term stability now seemed possible. Much of the heavy work had already been completed by the VORN Corporation. All Chase and his team had to do was understand their current situation, nurture seed plants into fruitful crops, and get a small robot to explore outside the tunnel.

  The next milestone was Expansion, which signaled the beginning of growth beyond their present setup. This stage would focus on using 3D printing technology, resource collecting, and metal refining to build a more robust colony. They already knew that significant amounts of refined metal were available from their exploration, just from exploring near the train. Chase was confident that they would not run out of metal resources within two years, setting the stage for gradual, planned growth.

  Adrian had never used the immersion module before, but with the soil so close at hand, he was eager to try it out. He donned his gear and stepped onto the walking mat while trying to shake off an uneasy feeling. Sam guided him through the process of putting on his goggles and activating the robot. The moment the goggles turned on, Adrian was treated to a crisp view of module one, but the view was disconcerting. The tiny robot he controlled was barely a fraction of his size, and its miniature perspective made even simple tasks feel awkward and unsteady. Every movement felt off, as if he were navigating a world built for someone much taller.

  Clumsily, he made his way over to a bucket and picked it up. The bucket measured about 4 inches by 4 inches, a size that meant it would take many trips to gather the soil he needed. The disparity between his own frame of reference and that of the little robot left him disoriented. Each step the robot took felt like an uncertain dance, and Adrian struggled to translate his own sense of distance to the scaled-down version projected before him.

  With cautious determination, Adrian drove the mini rover out of the portal until he reached the pile of soil. The soil, neatly heaped against the tunnel wall, looked as if it had been placed there just for his garden. He awkwardly bent over, and after a few attempts and several misjudged scoops, he finally managed to fill the bucket. Soon, he realized that the weight upset the robot's balance, forcing him to tip out half the load before proceeding. He then turned the robot around and drove back through the portal into module one.

  As he reentered the module, Adrian realized he had not planned his next move. Should he repressurize the room, haul the soil to his garden, or simply dump the bucket on the floor? In the end, he decided to carefully create a neat pile that he could gather for later use.

  Even though Adrian had not left the immersion module, controlling the small robot and scooping soil was more challenging than he had imagined. Every movement felt awkward, a constant reminder that he was guiding a machine built for a scale far smaller than his own. He ventured out again, repeating the process five times before admitting that the task might take all day. Each bucket held only about 9 ounces of soil, but he pressed on. It did not matter how much he collected on this first day; his goal was to steadily build up his garden. If he could collect 5 pounds of soil today, that would be a good start and allow him to start trialing using the soil for their planned gardens. With that in mind, he set his target at twenty trips.

  On his sixteenth trip, sweat dripped from his brow as fatigue set in. He longed for the task to end, yet he had committed himself to collecting all twenty buckets. Suddenly, September spoke through his headset, startling him into dropping the bucket.

  "Adrian, would you like me to take over this activity?"

  "Really, you can do that?" Adrian asked, his voice laced with both surprise and relief.

  "I have been monitoring your activity. Your motions fall within a specific band. I will now operate the M1a robot to repeat your task," the AI explained calmly.

  Encouraged, Adrian replied, "Okay, please collect another twenty buckets?"

  "I am beginning the task now. I will inform you when I have finished or if the operation deviates from the preset operational bands," September assured him.

  A wave of relief washed over Adrian as he removed his headset and returned to the command module. He was eager to share this unexpected turn of support with Commander Chase, grateful to finally have some help with the laborious work.

  As Adrian stepped into the command module, Chase immediately noticed the shock on his face. "What is wrong?" he asked. Adrian looked around at Sam, Luke, and the others with eyes wide in disbelief. "I collected some buckets of soil. I set a target of twenty buckets because I estimated that each bucket would hold about 9 ounces, adding up to 5 pounds of soil in total. It is not a large amount, but enough to start my garden. I managed to fill sixteen loads before September offered to take over."

  Chase exchanged a puzzled glance with the rest of the crew. The sudden intervention by September had caught everyone off guard, given how uncooperative the AI had been so far. Adrian then instructed, "September, please show the robot collecting soil on the main screen." A quick reply came, "Complete." All eyes turned to the large display projecting the robot's point of view.

  On the screen, the small robot advanced steadily toward the soil deposit, scooping up a bucket and returning it to a neat pile. The room fell silent as the crew watched the robot complete its task with measured precision. Gradually, its pace increased until it was gathering buckets far faster than Adrian had been able to. When the robot had collected twenty buckets, September announced over the speakers, "Adrian, I have collected twenty buckets as specified. The weight of the buckets falls within the error range of minimum and maximum values that you set." A murmur of relief and astonishment passed through the group.

  The shock was tangible. For a moment, Chase and the others sat in stunned silence before Chase cleared his throat and said, "Could you repeat the task but now collect forty buckets, please?" The simple request carried an undercurrent of excitement. September's ability to take over repetitive tasks had immense implications for the future. Automating such labor-intensive work meant more time and energy could be dedicated to critical decision-making and creative projects.

  In that instant, the crew began to see the possibility of a future where routine tasks, whether it was soil collection, equipment maintenance, or even regular system checks, could be handled by September with flawless accuracy. This demonstration signaled a turning point. The burden of daily, repetitive chores could be lifted, allowing them to focus on expanding their colony and refining their processes. It was a powerful reminder that they now had an ally capable of scaling up operations while alleviating some of the day-to-day stress of being on Mars.

  A renewed sense of optimism filled the command module. The effectiveness of the AI instilled confidence that each challenge they faced could be met with innovation and teamwork. The crew started imagining a future where their limited resources and energy would be redirected toward building a thriving, sustainable colony.