Donner Martin Jackson, the father of Martin Starlifter, received the news of the death of his great uncle Abram with shock. His most distinguishing feature, piercing dark blue eyes, was now somewhat blurred with emotion. He looked at the message again; it said that Abram had died in his sleep and the police were involved. Donner wondered why the police would be involved. He also wondered if the death wasn't too coincidental. What with his and Abram's efforts to ensure local autonomy for settlements in the Asteroid Belt.
Donner was worried, there were powerful people against any local autonomy, as his grandfather and he had discovered here on Mars some years before. And Martin was bound for the currently disputed area of the Belt at this very moment. He would have to find out more details about Abram's death, for Martin's sake, and maybe his own.
Donner looked at the viewing screen which showed the surface of Mars. Under that surface, more and larger buildings and more recently, domes were being built but Donner still preferred his natural solution to housing. His cave and most of the early settlements were based on such naturally occurring caves, which had been passed down in the Jackson family for a hundred years. It was the family home now and he couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Looking at the surface Donner was struck by the harsh and sharply delineated light, just as he remembered it from his childhood. The colors and vistas as he first saw them some forty years ago hadn't changed.
So far man had made no changes to the Mars he remembered from boyhood. Human occupancy had left the surface of Mars relatively unmarked except where expeditions of exploration had traversed or dwellings were buried. Almost all human movement across the face of the planet was underground in evacuated tubes, a developing transportation system that could easily reach speeds of a thousand kilometers per hour on some routes.
All in all, Mars was a better home now than in his childhood years. But he doubted that would be the case if the Republic had been forced to run every project through the bureaucracy that Earth had become. The lack of response and outright obstructionism would surely have slowed many of the projects and eventually cost lives as well. That was why local autonomy was so important for those wishing to settle in the Asteroid Belt. They would know better than Earthlings or Martians what was necessary to make the Belt a home.
Donner put in a call to the lawyer that worked with the non-profit foundation trying to ensure Belt autonomy. Lawson answered the call himself.
“Hello Lawson,” said Donner. “I was wondering if you had some time to discuss an unfortunate situation that has just come up.”
“Of course, Donner, what is it?”
“I just received word that my great uncle Abram has died on Earth.”
“So sorry to hear.”
“Thank you. It was something of a shock, but what concerns me is that the police seem to be involved in the case.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and I was wondering if you still had connections on Earth that maybe could look into the matter for me. I hesitate to take any action directly because of my involvement with the Foundation.”
“You think opposition to the Foundation could somehow be involved in your uncle's death?”
“I can't think of any reason anyone would want to harm Uncle Abram. He was a private soul who didn't make waves. His only controversial stance that I am aware of was his active support for the Foundation. I believe he was trying to enlist a lawyer versed in Space Law, by the name of Randall Benchley.”
“Yes, I've heard of Benchley, he's at the top of his field. Listen, I have a friend who knew Benchley in school. I'll see what he can find out.”
“Thanks Lawson. I very much appreciate it, goodbye now.”
“Goodbye Donner.”
Donner would have to get a message to his son Martin as soon as possible.
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