15-04-2004, 01:50
Goliath, the command ship of the Isidonian Air Corps, and personal transport of General Hans Richter, Minister of War, hovered upon its six massive rotors above the dense Isidon forests.
Below, a large section of forest had been cleared away, concrete had been poured, and the steel skeleton of a gantry reached towards the sky. A number of observation dirigibles and balloons hung about in the air, all keeping a safe distance from the clearing.
The star of the show, of course, was the rocket. A medium sized, two-stage engine design, the Z50 trans-atmospheric rocket was touted as the longest range missile to be developed by the Isidonian military. If all went well, the rocket would deploy a communications satellite which would aleviate the need for Isidon's network of wireless relay stations and communications dirigibles, currently needed to transmit messages from the main cities to the outlying outposts and Tesla Cannon stations.
An aide approached the general's chair, bearing a glass of wine on a salver.
"The countdown is about to begin, sir."
"Excellent." The general smiled, rising from his chair to approach the main window. The large, glass dome encompassed one wall and part of the floor of the Goliath's bridge, allowing an excellent view of the launch platform below.
Of course, the true implications of such a launch did not escape Richter's attention. The satellite, however useful, was ultimately inconsequential. A successful launch of this rocket would prove Isidon's ability to launch a missile strike on an interconinental scale.. Below, the rocket's engine smoked and rumbled to life as ignition took place, the missile rising gracefully towards the heavens. A grin crossed Richter's lips as he lifted his wine glass in a toast to the projectile, lancing its way across the sky.
A new age had begun for Isidon.
Below, a large section of forest had been cleared away, concrete had been poured, and the steel skeleton of a gantry reached towards the sky. A number of observation dirigibles and balloons hung about in the air, all keeping a safe distance from the clearing.
The star of the show, of course, was the rocket. A medium sized, two-stage engine design, the Z50 trans-atmospheric rocket was touted as the longest range missile to be developed by the Isidonian military. If all went well, the rocket would deploy a communications satellite which would aleviate the need for Isidon's network of wireless relay stations and communications dirigibles, currently needed to transmit messages from the main cities to the outlying outposts and Tesla Cannon stations.
An aide approached the general's chair, bearing a glass of wine on a salver.
"The countdown is about to begin, sir."
"Excellent." The general smiled, rising from his chair to approach the main window. The large, glass dome encompassed one wall and part of the floor of the Goliath's bridge, allowing an excellent view of the launch platform below.
Of course, the true implications of such a launch did not escape Richter's attention. The satellite, however useful, was ultimately inconsequential. A successful launch of this rocket would prove Isidon's ability to launch a missile strike on an interconinental scale.. Below, the rocket's engine smoked and rumbled to life as ignition took place, the missile rising gracefully towards the heavens. A grin crossed Richter's lips as he lifted his wine glass in a toast to the projectile, lancing its way across the sky.
A new age had begun for Isidon.