"Mr. and Mrs. Watney, welcome. We've spoken many times, but it's nice to meet you finally. I must apologize that it took so long," Melody Astor said as the couple was shown into her office. "Please come in and have a seat."
"You have been very busy, Dr. Astor," Grace replied.
Melody smiled and nodded. "It seems you know me better than I know you. I haven't been addressed using my title in quite a while. I don't know if anyone here even knows, then again they rarely call Venkat by his title either. It doesn't really matter. Thank you, and please call me Melody."
Grace nodded but didn't reply.
"Please sit with me and be comfortable," Melody said again, gesturing to the seating area at the side of the room. "Would you like a cup of coffee or some water?"
"No, thank you," Tim said.
Grace echoed the answer as they settled onto the sofa together.
"Well, then I feel like I should start by addressing the elephant in the room," Melody said. "I understand your hesitancy to speak with me given the situation with my predecessor. I wish that I could change it. I understand why you may not trust me or the things I tell you. Please know that I in no way support the decisions made by former Administrator Sanders. I will not ask you to trust me outright simply due to my position. I ask you to please allow me the opportunity to earn your trust."
Grace considered for a moment and looked to Tim. When he nodded, she turned back to the Director and said. "That we can do."
"We appreciate how forthright you've been since you took over the position," Timothy added. "I believe that is unusual for your position."
Melody gave a half nod. "It is a tricky business to make decisions that may be unpopular and not feel the need to explain each one. There will always be someone who doesn't agree with your choice no matter the reasoning. My predecessors have all had to make the decisions on what to share or not with the advice of their public relations director if they chose to listen to the PR director. Only history shows if their decisions were good or bad." She grimaced. "Yeah, that was the diplomatic answer. Realistically, some of the previous administrators were absolute cowards, sometimes power-hungry or power-mad, but cowards. A small number have been sycophants who have little or no interest in NASA itself. They're simply being rewarded for their donations to the current president. Deputy administrators, the position I previously held, tend to be more interested in the job though they are also political appointees. Tend to be I say, though again some are merely rewarded for their donations to the president's campaign. "
"And you would be which one?" Grace asked pointedly.
Melody raised an eyebrow. "President Schneider, Greta, and I have a history back to our school days. We were roommates in boarding school. We kept in touch after. She knew of my interest in the space program."
"And yet you have a Ph. D. in Business Administration and Management."
"That would be my parents' influence, mostly my father's. There is little to no money in the astrophysical sciences of course. The family business however, would someday need a new CEO and president. My brother followed in my mother's footsteps and became an oncologist. It was my job to follow in our father's."
"Did you enjoy it at all?" Grace asked.
Melody smiled softly. "I did, which surprised me. Perhaps my father knew me better than I realized. I enjoyed the challenges that come with running a business. He did make me start at the bottom and work my way up. I worked in every department throughout high school and college, both undergraduate and my Master's studies. Running NASA has many similarities with running a company. Sanders struggled with the human component, though you know that quite well. I hope to do better."
"You have so far," Tim said.
"Yes, you have," Grace agreed.
"I'm glad to hear it. Now, I asked you here today not only to get a chance to meet in person but to ask you a question about the probe we will be sending to Mark."
"We already sent letters to be packed into it," Grace said.
"I imagine Mark will be quite pleased to receive them. The probe has been mounted and is currently undergoing inspections. We plan to launch in two days. I know it is late to be talking to you now, however, this seems to be a case of several people thinking others had done it already. We want to be sure that you are comfortable watching the launch. There are several options we can provide. You would be welcome in the Mission Control viewing room with all press notified that they are not allowed to question you. Another option is that we could set up a separate room for you. Or, if you would like, we can fly you to the Cape and you can watch the launch in person."
"Thank you for the offer," Tim said.
"But we're going to be watching at home with his crew," Grace finished. "No need to send anyone to us. They can answer any questions we might have. If for some reason they can't, Mindy probably could. We'll be fine."
"Well then, if you ever need anything or have any concerns you have my phone number. It is my direct line. My phone will ring, not my assistant's," Melody said with polite formality. "Thank you once again for coming to meet with me. I'll be in touch after the launch."
"That's not necessary," Grace assured her.
"No, but I'll be in contact anyway."
"We should be going," Tim said. "I'm sure you have more pressing matters to attend to."
"There are always things to do, but I will also always have time for those that need to speak with me."
Melody showed them to the outer office and waited until they had left before turning to her assistant.
"Call Annie please and ask her to stop by when she has time today."
"Yes ma'am."
"Thank you."
An hour or more later her intercom buzzed. "Ms. Montrose to see you."
"Thank you," Melody rose from her desk and met Annie halfway across the office. "I'm surprised to see you already. I would have thought you'd come flying in at the end of the day just before you leave to go home. I know the press is breathing down your neck as we prepare for the launch."
"That's why I'm here. I was trying to dodge them and found myself on a back stairwell I don't recall ever seeing before. It led me to your floor."
Melody chuckled. "Well, then you're welcome to hide out here for a few moments and catch your breath. Would you care for some coffee?"
"No thanks. What did you want to talk to me about?"
"The Watneys came in to meet with me earlier, at my request."
"And it didn't go well?" Annie guessed.
"I'd say it went as well as it could under the circumstances. Have you spoken to them about their plans for the launch?"
"No, but Lewis mentioned that they would be watching at the Watneys' new house. I'm assuming no one told you that."
"No, I wanted to meet with them in person anyway, so offering them a place to watch was an excuse to get them here. They listened and turned me down. Neither was rude though, Mr. Watney was more receptive than Mrs. Watney."
"Grace can be a hard nut to crack," Annie acknowledged.
"And now I'm fighting the walls she's erected thanks to Sanders. Well, perhaps in time she'll trust me. In the meantime, I'd say she doesn't hate me on principle and that's enough for now. You're not planning on sending anyone to the house from your department are you?"
"Only to stand out front and keep the dogs at bay."
"Good." Melody nodded. "Please be sure to include in any statement that your representative gives that all questions should be directed to us here. We should allow the Watneys their privacy. If they wish to speak to the press they'll do it on their terms. Why am I telling you all of this? You already know and have probably already written a statement."
"With nearly those exact words," Annie replied. "It says something that you realize how important a statement that is to make and wanted to be sure it was done. Grace will come around. Give her time. Keep in contact with them as you have been and she'll come around."
"Honestly, I can't blame her for her feelings. I may not be Sanders, but I took his positions and I was his deputy. She's hurting as a result of his decisions. After a year of thinking her son was dead, she knows he's not but also knows she may never see him again. It's amazing she hasn't blasted all of NASA at every chance she's had."
Annie nodded. "She knows we're not all to blame. Did you need anything else?"
"No."
"Ok then, I'm going to see if I can find that back stairwell again."
Grace looked around her living room filled with people: her husband, Mindy, the Ares III crew, their spouses, and children. "How much longer?"
"They're on the last planned hold," Melissa responded.
"If something goes wrong and the probe doesn't make it…" Grace began.
"He'll be fine," Beck assured her. "With the food from the Ares IV probe that he has and the food left at the Valles Marineris Hab, he'll be fine. He will need to keep rationing but he won't starve."
Beth turned to the older woman. "JPL can also redirect one of the other Ares IV probes already in flight. There's plenty of time to build more for their supplies."
"I assume that means they're not launching at the next Hohman window," Tim said.
Melissa shook her head. "No, the decision was to wait until the scheduled launch date."
"Why?" Grace wanted to know. "Will Hermes not be ready by then?"
"It will," Melissa replied, "but there isn't enough time to get all of the necessary supplies to Mars."
"They're also still working on plans to modify the MDV for overland transport," Alex explained."
"And to modify the MAV to carry seven instead of six," Beck added. "They'd like to avoid leaving one person behind on Hermes if possible, though I believe everyone has volunteered to be the one."
"That won't work though, will it?" Tim asked. "Doesn't everyone have a job to do on the surface?"
"Yes," Melissa said. "I believe if it comes down to it, Pat Aarends will be the one to stay in orbit."
"Poor Pat," Rick said. "Going all the way to Mars then not getting to land."
"Yeah, but it's always been risky to leave no one on board Hermes in case something goes wrong that can't be fixed remotely," Beck said. "We really need to figure out a system that allows us to go back and forth to the surface in one trip."
Beth nodded. "If we'd had that we could have gone back after the storm and we wouldn't be in this situation. Mark would be home with us."
"I think they're working on that option for future missions," Mindy called from the kitchen. "I overheard Dr. Kapoor talking on the phone to Dr. Ng about it."
"Good," Alex said.
"Okay, back to Pat staying behind, why him?" Grace inquired.
"With Mark on the surface, Pat is redundant beyond NASA standards. He's a mechanical engineer and EVA specialist. Jack is also an EVA specialist and Alannah is a mechanical engineer. If he has to stay behind it works out the best for him to be there as he's best equipped to handle anything that might come up on Hermes," Melissa explained. "They're still hoping that won't be necessary."
"They're probably worried about isolation issues if he's left alone for 30 days," Beck commented. "Though he would be better off than Mark as he would still be able to talk to the crew on the surface."
"Is there really no other option?" Tim asked.
"There is a faction that's pushing for the MDV to be used. If they lose a bunch of weight from it and add fuel they could possibly launch just one person in it," Rick said.
"That seems needlessly dangerous," Alex commented. "Even if it means everyone can be on the surface."
"Which is why it's a small faction," Rick replied. "Astor and Kapoor are not in support of the idea."
"How would that work anyway?" Beth asked. "Taylor is the pilot. She could fly the MDV or the MAV but not both."
"The argument is that one of the others would have over two years to learn how to pilot one of them. Alternatively, six of them would launch in the MAV, then when they docked with Hermes, Taylor would control the MDV launch remotely from Hermes."
Melissa shook her head. "Which is why Melody and Venkat have said no. It's a crazier idea than any of the others we came up with."
"Hey guys," Mindy called out. "The two-minute hold is over and they're counting down again."
The room quieted down as everyone gathered around the television and watched. Grace and Timothy sat in the middle of the sofa clutching each other's hands. No one spoke until the rocket launched, then several people could be heard urging it on. Only after it was well on its way and all status reports came back nominal did they relax.
"You'll keep us posted," Grace asked them all as they gathered their things to leave.
"You know we will," Melissa assured her.
"Relax, honey, it's on its way. It'll be fine. Do you all really want to leave now? You could wait for another hour or so until the reporters give up and leave."
"We can handle them," Rick responded with a smirk.
"Melody gave strict orders to the rep on site that they're not to allow any attempt to talk to you or us. All questions have to be directed back to Annie," Mindy said.
"John was really told that? Why didn't he tell us that when he introduced himself earlier?" Grace wanted to know.
"He did," Tim said. "Don't you remember?"
"No. He really said that?"
"Yes."
Mindy nodded. "He did. It's okay you've been nervous about the launch."
"Melody wanted to be sure you weren't disturbed," Beck said.
"I told you we could trust her," Timothy gently admonished his wife.
"Yes, you did. I'm still not sure," Grace replied. "She was chosen by Schneider after all, just like Sanders was, and she even admitted to us that she was a friend of the former president."
Melissa smiled and placed a hand on the older woman's shoulder. "I promise you, Melody is nothing like Sanders. I understand why you wouldn't want to trust her, but we find her much more capable and thoughtful. She listens and really considers before she makes decisions."
"Ms. Astor really is okay," Mindy agreed.
"Dr.," Grace said.
"Huh?"
"Dr. Astor. Her Ph.D. may not be in a science-related field but she earned the title so we should use it when we address her. You should all do that."
"Yes ma'am," Rick replied with a salute.
The others rolled their eyes but all assured Grace they would do just that.