The geographical and political landscape was unique and favorable. Three of the planet's richest had chosen Wyoming as the location for a new community. Specifically, the Wind River Indian Reservation is a sovereign nation and certain liberties can be taken within its boundaries.
The village has grown into a town and its small scientific facilities have also grown. Beneath the Great Plains landscape is a massive research facility with laboratories doing research in numerous fields. Above ground the residential layout is almost as large, and includes a cutting-edge research institution.
The primary purpose of years of activity and growth has been to achieve one goal: save our species. During the early years the public knew little of this activity. The next generation of activists began to work farther afield. Reforestation efforts are international college exchange programs and stretch to Alaska and the Amazon.
World leaders are finally believing in the value of alternative energy in the quest of eliminating emissions from coal-fired power plants, vehicles and forest burning. Nuclear reactors must be built on many different continents to respond to the increasing demand for electricity.
Other recent well-defined scientific breakthroughs have become the basis for the outer-space thread. Materials science, magnetism, chemistry and physics contribute to the building of a sun-shield for the planet.
It will take many hands to finish the projects world-wide leaders have in mind. It will take many launches to accomplish what Urgent's founders have set out to accomplish. The ambitious citizens of Urgent have invested two generations in the proposition that creative thinking is needed to save mankind. Is that sufficient time?
About the Author: Although in the midst of a pandemic, Larry Pratt adheres to the thinking that our most serious problem is the existential threat to our planet. The result of that focus is Urgent Launch. He began his speculative fiction tale by rounding up years of research on the climate change subject and outlining a "what if" story. The author's imagination and experiences took over. The obvious need to develop the characters, and further explain the story line, caused the simple book to become two volumes. This is no surprise to those that know him: Larry's projects always seem to be more complicated than originally conceived - even when pursuing his woodworking hobby.
The first title, Urgent State, has given birth to a recent request for book talks. Not wanting to give away the ending, Pratt has delivered the story behind the story at these gatherings. The printing of Urgent Launch now allows the readers and the curious to enjoy the conclusion. He wrote of a fictional series of events and the author encourages the public to dream of other, more favorable outcomes.
However, please adhere to a Larry Pratt hard-and-fast rule that might explain the rose-colored glasses he wears - it must have a happy ending.
