Six years. It took us six years to build, test, train, and prepare…and I'm right back where I started. I stood at Mission Control, staring at the screen in shock, and watched as all my hopes and dreams went up in a puff of smoke.
Just like last time, Mars is screaming. She's calling out the same name over and over, thinking that will somehow bring her daughter back. I'm calling for Rhea, too, along with Mimas. But it's no use. There's no way either one of them could have survived this.
We were so sure of ourselves…
Mere weeks before the launch, Mars represented us for several TV interviews. We had fifty different newscasters and cameramen come to our Veilstone, Mossdeep, and Goldenrod facilities so the world could see how advanced our technology was. Rhea and Mimas were on our billboards, proudly sporting their updated uniforms: this time conditioned for deep space.
The whole world was going to watch our triumph. Every channel broadcast the launch, and I oversaw everything. I had a radio feed to both of my Commanders, stood in front of the monitor, and felt such pride in my heart. I couldn't have been more thrilled for them had they been my own children.
By the time we began countdown, it was all I could do to contain my excitement. This was a dream come true. I even prepared sleeping quarters for myself just across the hall. That way I could monitor their progress around the clock. This was going to be my entire life until Rhea and Mimas returned, and I was prepared for that.
But they're never coming back. They didn't even successfully leave.
As soon as we tried to launch the shuttle, something went wrong. They're still looking over the remains to determine the root cause for the explosion: a miscalibrated piece of equipment, perhaps. Right now, our legal team says it's highly possible this was corporate sabotage.
They keep replaying the explosion on the news. Each time I close my eyes and try to sleep, I hear it. I hear Mars screaming Rhea's name in anguished desperation, shrieking for the universe to give her child back.
I hear myself, over and over…
Please respond…
We're done. This is as far as we go.