"Humanity has settled one hundred twelve planets at the last official count and yet the bulk of us live on eight planets. The population of most planets does not exceed ten million. I'll leave ideas about incentives, forced emigration, inefficiency, medical prioritization, homogenization, etc. to others. We have to deal with ramifications, not policies.
"Transportation has never been more desired. A grandmother from Podunk III goes shopping on Bazaar Prime and relaxes with tea on Cheap and Classy VI; that's what people expect today. A commute between Mine World and Apartment World might take less time than two cities on Earth, on the same continent, in the same time zone.
"This isn't news. It isn't something the market has remained ignorant of. There are countless companies scrabbling for these passengers. How does anyone stand out? How do we stand out?
"Our new interstellar liner is our answer. What does it offer? Animal sacrifice. You can see the labels where the pens and the altar are seated. Passengers can enjoy the standard service and even pay for extra ceremonies up to the great hecatomb. Or, if they're worried more about the end than the middle, they can call on our registered haruspices to get an inkling of the future."
Shares of McHale Transportation dipped 27% upon the announcement. A year later, when safety statics compiled by governments, industry observers, and hobbyist groups were reviewed, share prices not only recovered but soared. Moreover, people began to talk seriously.
Finis
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