Azazia
26-12-2004, 06:28
Earth Orbit
It had taken slightly over a decade and a half. He had watched his children give birth to grandchildren who were now attending school. He had seen his wife's illness become terminal. He had seen his wife's body lowered into the ground. He had seen the rebirth of a nation. He had seen the first launch of shuttles into space. He had seen many things in the past 15 years.
And now he finally was able to witness his project completed. The space station Excelsior. Construction and personnel shipments had been launched in a feverish pace the past six months, although it was built two months behind schedule... not bad, the man mused leaning on his cane, for government sponsored work.
Excelsior was to be the first step in the Commonwealth's exploration of space. Plans already had been outlined for the construction of the first ship to explore the outer reaches of the Sol system, and even further down the line were plans for colonization of new planets, far from this overcrowded and overpolluted home.
But those plans... those were still many many years away.
Today, however, was a day of celebration of the trials and tribulations of 15 years of hard work. A day of celebration throughout the Commonwealth. The man sighed and then grimmaced as he felt slight pain in his arm.
The Next Day
Azazian Television Broadcasting Corporation news report
"Today, the lead member of the Excelsior design team, Alexei Posilov passed away from a heart attack overnight in his quarters on board his newly operational station...
It had taken slightly over a decade and a half. He had watched his children give birth to grandchildren who were now attending school. He had seen his wife's illness become terminal. He had seen his wife's body lowered into the ground. He had seen the rebirth of a nation. He had seen the first launch of shuttles into space. He had seen many things in the past 15 years.
And now he finally was able to witness his project completed. The space station Excelsior. Construction and personnel shipments had been launched in a feverish pace the past six months, although it was built two months behind schedule... not bad, the man mused leaning on his cane, for government sponsored work.
Excelsior was to be the first step in the Commonwealth's exploration of space. Plans already had been outlined for the construction of the first ship to explore the outer reaches of the Sol system, and even further down the line were plans for colonization of new planets, far from this overcrowded and overpolluted home.
But those plans... those were still many many years away.
Today, however, was a day of celebration of the trials and tribulations of 15 years of hard work. A day of celebration throughout the Commonwealth. The man sighed and then grimmaced as he felt slight pain in his arm.
The Next Day
Azazian Television Broadcasting Corporation news report
"Today, the lead member of the Excelsior design team, Alexei Posilov passed away from a heart attack overnight in his quarters on board his newly operational station...