Astragon
Bhadari Desert
Complex X-39
The desert winds shrieked across the horizon kicking up clouds of dust and sand that blanketed the complex grounds. Technicians weighed down by protective gear struggled to complete preparations as they toiled in the miserable heat, everwhere the low hum of machinery and the rattle of sand choked engines filled the afternoon air. From her vantage point in the observation tower, Makda Na Bashadh could just make out the rocket module, its glimmering dome almost obscured by the sandstorms. She bit her lip, the conditions were terrible and unlikely to improve, basing deep space operations in the desert certainly made security easier but it came with obvious downsides given how harsh the landscape was. The initial excitement that had followed the successful ratification of Century Iteria had long since given way to the realization that such an endeavour would require an immense gamble in terms of both money and resources. Makda was risking her companies reputation to make sure the continents initiative was a success.
The new ọ̀kọ̀ rocket was touted as being one of the most powerful ever built, it was a monstrous amalgamation of Astragonese rocket science and Pan-Iterian ambition, the size of the new rocket dwarfed anything that had come before. If the coming test was a success then the Iterian Space Agency would have a means of launching a team of four Exonauts further then any Iterian, or Erasian for that matter had ever been sent before. But before any continental chest-thumping or great human endeavours could be achieved, first the oversized launcher had to actually work.
"Are we ready?" Makda asked over the intercom
"All flight checks are complete, pulling auxiliary teams back from the launch silo" the head operations centre replied over the crackling static of the radio
"Good, commence final preparations for test-fire," Makda said in a commanding voice
"The conditions could cause complications, would it not be better to postpone?" the operations head asked nervously
"History waits for no one, commence launch prep," She said bluntly before closing the intercom
Nearly an hour passed as the launcher was prepared for the test fire, Makda watched with increasing impatience as the technicians were pulled back and the final checks were completed. Finally, the countdown began, the sun was beginning to set in the distance, the sky becoming a burnt orange hue as the light began to fade. The speakers boomed as an alarm sounded, then the familiar call for a countdown.
"Launch commencing
3
2
1...."
A blast of white flame sent clouds of dust flowing in every direction, the booming shriek that followed reminded Makda of childhood stories of great monsters, the rocket rapidly climbed above its desert silo and into the evening sky. Makda watched on the main console as cameras charted its progress, the decoupling of the rockets outer rings occurred at a slower speed then Makda had hoped but that could be improved later. Soon the rocket had begun to pierce the clouds, the cameras revealing images of the blackness at the edge of the atmosphere. Minutes later the rocket had crossed into the glittering darkness of space, the glowing pinpricks of stars illuminating the night sky.
Makda lit a cigarette and opened the intercom "Have the footage saved and sent to the space agency, there's enough there to justify a wider investment" She said bluntly before closing the coms again
She took a long drag on her cigarette and exhaled a stream of pungent smoke as she took another glance at the console screen
"satisfactory," She thought
The true work had begun.
Bhadari Desert
Complex X-39
The desert winds shrieked across the horizon kicking up clouds of dust and sand that blanketed the complex grounds. Technicians weighed down by protective gear struggled to complete preparations as they toiled in the miserable heat, everwhere the low hum of machinery and the rattle of sand choked engines filled the afternoon air. From her vantage point in the observation tower, Makda Na Bashadh could just make out the rocket module, its glimmering dome almost obscured by the sandstorms. She bit her lip, the conditions were terrible and unlikely to improve, basing deep space operations in the desert certainly made security easier but it came with obvious downsides given how harsh the landscape was. The initial excitement that had followed the successful ratification of Century Iteria had long since given way to the realization that such an endeavour would require an immense gamble in terms of both money and resources. Makda was risking her companies reputation to make sure the continents initiative was a success.
The new ọ̀kọ̀ rocket was touted as being one of the most powerful ever built, it was a monstrous amalgamation of Astragonese rocket science and Pan-Iterian ambition, the size of the new rocket dwarfed anything that had come before. If the coming test was a success then the Iterian Space Agency would have a means of launching a team of four Exonauts further then any Iterian, or Erasian for that matter had ever been sent before. But before any continental chest-thumping or great human endeavours could be achieved, first the oversized launcher had to actually work.
"Are we ready?" Makda asked over the intercom
"All flight checks are complete, pulling auxiliary teams back from the launch silo" the head operations centre replied over the crackling static of the radio
"Good, commence final preparations for test-fire," Makda said in a commanding voice
"The conditions could cause complications, would it not be better to postpone?" the operations head asked nervously
"History waits for no one, commence launch prep," She said bluntly before closing the intercom
Nearly an hour passed as the launcher was prepared for the test fire, Makda watched with increasing impatience as the technicians were pulled back and the final checks were completed. Finally, the countdown began, the sun was beginning to set in the distance, the sky becoming a burnt orange hue as the light began to fade. The speakers boomed as an alarm sounded, then the familiar call for a countdown.
"Launch commencing
3
2
1...."
A blast of white flame sent clouds of dust flowing in every direction, the booming shriek that followed reminded Makda of childhood stories of great monsters, the rocket rapidly climbed above its desert silo and into the evening sky. Makda watched on the main console as cameras charted its progress, the decoupling of the rockets outer rings occurred at a slower speed then Makda had hoped but that could be improved later. Soon the rocket had begun to pierce the clouds, the cameras revealing images of the blackness at the edge of the atmosphere. Minutes later the rocket had crossed into the glittering darkness of space, the glowing pinpricks of stars illuminating the night sky.
Makda lit a cigarette and opened the intercom "Have the footage saved and sent to the space agency, there's enough there to justify a wider investment" She said bluntly before closing the coms again
She took a long drag on her cigarette and exhaled a stream of pungent smoke as she took another glance at the console screen
"satisfactory," She thought
The true work had begun.
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