~
0100 Hours
The Kremlin, Moscow
Life seemed uneventful in Moscow.
Days, weeks, months had gone by, and no word from the Marx could be heard.
Even premiere Romanov, the man who started the project, who came up with the idea, and oversaw it's construction, was now starting to ponder over it's very existence. He carefully recounted every step taken to build the ship, and wondered if there were any mistakes…
"Da, maybe there should be,… more fuel ? Nyet, too much fuel, ship goes like crazy ivan. Wait, what if ship doesn't have enough power ? Can't be: we checked nuclear reactors: all working… what if uranium ran out…?"
As such, Romanov was one worried man.
But, his troubles paid off.
"Comrade Premiere ! We have established contact with the Marx !"
"Really ? Wonderful comrade !"
~
0600 Hours
Classified Location, Siberia
The helicopter ride to the PASA (the People's Aeronautical and Stellar Association), situated in a remote area of Siberia, was long, arduous, and, with the sole exception of the chubby Premiere, a bit cold.
"Hurr comrade pilot !"
"I'm moving as fast as I an go, my Premiere ! I too am excited !"
And who wouldn't be ? Any proud member of the Earth, united under the benevolent arms of Communism, would feel, as those were their brave comrades, who would be risking their lives in order to build a new future, not only for the People, but to the mighty concept of Communism.
~
"Comrades, I present to you, the Premiere of our fair country, Premiere Romano !"
"Thank you, thank you all, now, what is the latest news ?"
"This is Comrade Igor reporting, do you copy ?"
When Romanov first heard that bit of garbled noise, it shot him like a bullet. At first, he was in disbelief, and then, he was in joy.
"Yes ! Finally, Soviets have reached Alpha Centauir ! Another giant leap for Soviet people Yes ! HAHA !"
And Romanov jumped up and down in joy, quite high for a rather heavy man.
However, Igor's face seemed rather solemn.
"Comrade Uncle, we have a problem."
~
As Premiere Romanov looked through the files that he received from his nephew, he was astounded.
"Mindworms…. Other people, from other dimensions, on Alpha Centauri ? What is this ?"
"My premiere, it seems to be that they have encountered not only an etxra-terresterial threat, but the threat of people from other dimensions.
If so, then, how did they get into this dimension ?"
"That, I do not know, but, I highly suspect that interference with the chronosphere aboard the Marx may have resulted in a possible shifting…"
"Never mind all that."
Romanov threw the file a short distance off his desk, the file hitting a small pewter statuette of a bear, but not toppling it.
"I feel worried for comrade nephew.
Now, it is good time to pray."
~
(and in another dimension)
0500 Hours
Classified Location
Houston, Texas
Commissioner Pravin Lal could not sleep.
For eight years, he was plagued with poor sleep.
How could he sleep well, when the future of Humanity was travelling, braving the black, inky seas of infinity, to reach a new world, free from the troubles of this old barren rock ?
As he shifted about in his bed, much to the annoyance of his chosen, Pria, aphone call in the middle of the night only caused to make him more annoyed.
"What is it, and what do you want?", he say, feeling rather bothered.
However, his mouth started to open, the frown cleared, his eyes started to enlargen, usually closed due to a lack of sleep.
~
"Good day Commisioner."
"Yes, yes, so we have made contact with the Unity project. What des General Shepherd have to say ?"
Just as Pravin Lal said this, he heard a quote, one that he swore he heard before, but, this time, it sounded more familiar, and more worrying.
"Houston, we have a problem."
~
The following day was a busy day for Lal, in the face of the public, and in the face of the men he worked with.
He was over burdened with too many questions, and, as he slowly made his way to the U.N. building, he had to plow through a field of threatening reporters.
~
"Commissioner…"
"Look, I cannot relax. The mission was sabotaged, for the love of Humanity ! How did Nod operatives get within the damned ship ?"
"Apparently, Sheng Ji Yang, though a U.N. employee, actually had affiliations with the Brotherhood…"
'Yes, but, why didn't we know this EARLIER !?"
After slamming them on the hard, mahogany table, Lal's hands slowly covered his face, as he rubbed his tired eyes.
"Then, there's the business of Soviets on the lanet, from another dimension, and the discovery of the annelid extra-terrestrials.."
"I know all that. God, I thought this was supposed to be a simple mission: just find a planet, terraform it and colonise it.
Now this all happens."
"We cannot do.."
"I KNOW !"
Lal then retreated back to his set.
"We can only hope now."
