During this period, the scientists aboard the fleet collectively lost their minds. They were waking up at 06:00 and refusing to leave their workstations until well past 22:00.
Their eyes were red and bloodshot. Heated debates and frenzied arguments over engineering schematics echoed through the cafeterias and elevator shafts at all the time.
Most importantly, this was entirely voluntary. If the Federation hadn't implemented strict mandatory rest periods to prevent burnout, they would have happily worked themselves to death.
In the days that followed, the Wolfpack Design Bureau enjoyed its finest hour. The research milestones that had previously been overshadowed by the rival Tesla Institute were rapidly eclipsed!
This was because, during the long voyage to Mars, the Wolfpack engineers had quietly finalized a massive side-project: the successful miniaturization of high-output nuclear fission reactors!
