I got several questions about the use of hydrogen in the story. Where is the oxygen needed for combustion? The hydrogen economy of WestHem, EastHem, and Mars is a combination of things. First, hydrogen is needed for the fusion reactors and engines of the period. As told in Greenies, fusion began to be used as an Earthly power source after petroleum was exhausted in World War III. Not sure why they needed to go to Jupiter for hydrogen since there is plenty of hydrogen on Earth, locked up in the form of water. Perhaps the fusion reactors need a special mix of deuterium or tritium, and the gas mines can separate and concentrate specific elements.
Hydrogen was also needed for combustion vehicles. This would include tanks and APCs, and air vehicles such as fighters, attack craft, Hummingbirds, Mosquitoes, etc. (Greenies, Chapter 3 - “Denver had once been one of the smoggiest cities in the nation but smog was now a thing of the distant past thanks to fusion power and hydrogen burning engines.”) Greenies also specifies that spacecraft engines are fusion powered as shown in Chapter 4 - “The WSS Mermaid, an Owl-Class, stealth attack ship…Her twin fusion engines were both at idle…”)
There was also a comment (a polite one and very well educated, no complaints from me) about my understanding of orbital mechanics as shown in the interception and capture of the tankers, basically that I had it all wrong. I read the complaint and smiled, and then said, “So be it!” I am channeling my inner Heinlein and having fun! If Captain Kirk can do it, so can I!
We’re about halfway through the story, so I turned voting on. I hope you like the story. Thanks, in advance. Enjoy!