Epsilon: Uhm, no. Given the character I've established for Marsden and the Rockhounds staff, I'd rather push the timeline around.
The actual truth is that they have not "finished" 7 rocks by the time Seijotai is set up. They may have finished three or so by that point; Seijotai itself is one of the completed ones and is kept "off the books" (effort towards it is recorded as part of #7, which is particularly large and keeps running into odd equipment malfunctions...) as part of the agreement with the Karasukage. They simply have several in progress - some being converted to habitats, others simply mined for precious minerals and then returned to the belt.
Plans are in progress for a full-up mining station in the belt itself, but as of the start of OGJ it has simply not been considered economical by Rockhounds' associated 'daneside mining companies to site their equipment and workforce that far out. As the company's clout in the market grows this will change, especially as more people get experienced with orbital work and long-term habitats, but as of SOS-Con those plans are on hold until the resolution of the Boskone Issue.--
"I give you the beautiful... the talented... the tirelessly atomic-powered...
R!
DOROTHY!
WAYNERIGHT!
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.
The actual truth is that they have not "finished" 7 rocks by the time Seijotai is set up. They may have finished three or so by that point; Seijotai itself is one of the completed ones and is kept "off the books" (effort towards it is recorded as part of #7, which is particularly large and keeps running into odd equipment malfunctions...) as part of the agreement with the Karasukage. They simply have several in progress - some being converted to habitats, others simply mined for precious minerals and then returned to the belt.
Plans are in progress for a full-up mining station in the belt itself, but as of the start of OGJ it has simply not been considered economical by Rockhounds' associated 'daneside mining companies to site their equipment and workforce that far out. As the company's clout in the market grows this will change, especially as more people get experienced with orbital work and long-term habitats, but as of SOS-Con those plans are on hold until the resolution of the Boskone Issue.--
"I give you the beautiful... the talented... the tirelessly atomic-powered...
R!
DOROTHY!
WAYNERIGHT!
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.