KronosProject
From AdelphaChronicles
Contents |
The Kronos Project : Part One
Extract from the inaugural speech for the Kronos project as published by “The Universal Observer”
January 01, 2011
In the year 2001 mankind began caressing a new dream, something which only a few years before was considered by the most nothing but a fantasy taken from a science fiction novel. That year, thanks to the results of the research of two of the most brilliant minds of the scientific world, Washington DC Xue and Professor Kauffman, mankind was ready to begin a race to transcend space and time. The prize: travel to parallel worlds, in a six-dimensional space, the REAL space. The name of the race: the Sidestep Project.
In the year 2007 we were getting closer and closer to the prize, and tasted the success when the probe Christobal transmitted the first images coming from another planet, in a parallel universe. We thought that was the prize, at least. We believed it for seventeen minutes, until the transmission was unexpectedly interrupted, and a black hole appeared on our planet, starting a countdown to destruction. It was the failure of the Sidestep, and the US government had to send a special commando on a rescue mission.
A failure, that’s what we all thought. But then we discovered that those seventeen minutes were nothing but the beginning of what might be considered our greatest adventure ever. The adventure of a group of persons that, under the leadership of Commander Cutter Slade, managed to help the alien Talan people to get their freedom back, and re-establish balance and order on their planet, Adelpha.
That was a difficult mission, whose price was the sacrifice of the life of some of those who bravely took part to the expedition. But yet, it was worth it. Commander Slade made it back to Earth, bringing with him valuable information regarding the Talan and, more important than anything else, means to communicate with them.
And that was the real prize. Today we know it. After three years of intense research we improved the reliability of our inter-dimensional travel means, and after very many contacts with the Talan, we agreed with them that the time has come to get closer and collaborate as the brotherly civilizations that we are. We will share our knowledge with them, learn from them, and work together on missions that will benefit both our races and contribute to the evolution of worlds founded on peace, respect and balance. All this in the frame of an official project for universal interchanges and cooperation: Kronos.
Tomorrow, we are going to send to the planet Adelpha a very important delegation of scientists, the best minds that the World Federation can currently count on in every field. They will be accompanied by journalists, technicians and by a contingent of troops of the World Federation Army’s Star Fleet, under the command of Admiral Dawson, whose mission will be helping and protecting humans and Talan during the exploration and research missions that will be organized on the planet Adelpha. Other contingents of civilians and soldiers will be sent during the next weeks, in order to create centers of research and cultural exchanges in different areas of the planet.
We learned from the past, and we acquired the experience and the wisdom to evolve towards new horizons. A new future is beginning, and its name is Kronos.”
...
Baron Raymond Reinhardt
Universal Affairs Minister
World Federation
Letter from Mathieu Larsson, cadet of the World Federation Army Academy
Salt Lake City, March 08, 2011
Dear mom,
The second month of training here at the WFA base has begun. Today I learned more about Commander Slade. A great man, really. The incarnation of all the values that brought me to join the Army. They say that after his return from the Sidestep mission he retired in Montana. Too bad. He would certainly have been a great leader. I would have been honored to meet him.
Anyway, I’m really proud to have a chance to work in the very same planet where he fought for freedom and justice. I still cannot believe that they accepted me in the training program for the Kronos project. It’s like a dream comes true…
I know, I know… You would have preferred me to continue my studies instead of joining the army. But you must not worry. Please understand that this is not like the old times. We are soldiers, yes, but we are trained to protect people and work hard to build things, not to destroy.
Building, mother, creation, not destruction. Our leaders understood the lessons of the past. The World Federation is a proof that Nations united to build together a better future, avoiding to fight each other as they did in the past. It’s different. Everything is better. Please don’t be too worried.
Love,
Mat.
Excerpts from the diary of Manuel Gomez, xenobiologist of the Kronos project
December 31, 2010
We are finally getting ready to leave. I still cannot believe this… Tomorrow there will be the official kick-off, and the next day we’ll be leaving, destination Adelpha. What a Christmas gift that was! I think I’m ready for this, but still I’m shaking at the mere thought of having a chance of exploring such a distant world... No expectations, no precise information regarding what I’m going to find on that planet. I am supposed to be the one to study and to inform. I am supposed to be the one to discover and understand… This is just great. Too good to be true.
January 01, 2011
Today, after listening to the inaugural speech, our director introduced to us the commanders of the WFA troopers squadron that will accompany us on our exploration missions. They seem to be nice guys. The thing that I like the most is that you can nowhere perceive the tension proper of a war mission. Man, do I hate that! I must admit that I was skeptical when they wanted us to believe that the military would not upset us, because this is not a war mission. Now I begin to believe it. Plus, a couple of rifles around might be welcome in case the tales brought by our representatives regarding the creatures that dwell the planet were true. This werewolf thing… Well, just in case…
January 02, 2011
That’s it, the time has come. I couldn’t sleep last night, because of the excitement… And my roommate Ned… Well, let’s say that he expressed his excitement all night long paying frequent visits to the toilet…
What will happen? Now I understand how explorers of other times must have felt…
OK, last call. Gotta go. Good thing Ned is out of the toilet… A little visit to it before leaving will do no harm…
If only Slade was… No, he HAD to retire, that stupid hoax! And he will miss all this…
