The sun had just risen over the expansive launch site, casting a golden glow across the crowd that had gathered to witness the historic moment. The sound of chatter and excitement filled the air, as thousands of people from all over the empire had come to see the rocket launch that would take the first Ruthenian astronaut into space.

In the center of the launch site stood the towering rocket, its sleek metal body gleaming in the morning light. The countdown clock loomed large overhead, ticking down the seconds until launch.

From far away, a small platform had been set up for the Emperor and his family to watch the launch. Alexander stood tall and proud, dressed in his finest suit, while his wife and children stood close beside him, their eyes fixed on the rocket.

As the countdown reached its final moments, a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes were fixed on the rocket, waiting for the moment when it would blast off into the heavens.

“Ten… nine… eight…” The announcer’s voice boomed over the loudspeakers, each number sending a shiver of anticipation through the gathered throngs.

“Seven… six… five…” Alexander’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the countdown reach its climax. This was a moment he had been waiting for, the last goal before he stepped down as the ruler of the Ruthenia Empire.

“Four… three… two… one…” The crowd held its breath as the rocket’s engines roared to life, flames shooting out from beneath the craft. The ground shook beneath the spectators’ feet as the rocket slowly lifted off the launch pad, its nose pointed toward the stars.

The roar of the rocket engines grew louder as the massive machine lifted into the sky. The flames grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the surrounding area with a blinding light.

Alexander watched in awe as the rocket soared toward the heavens, leaving a trail of fire and smoke behind it. He had never seen anything like it before, and he felt a deep sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that his empire had achieved such a great feat.

As the rocket climbed higher and higher, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. People hugged and high-fived each other, their faces filled with joy and excitement. Alexander couldn’t help but smile as he watched the scene unfold before him.

He turned to his wife and children and saw the same look of wonder and amazement on their faces. For a moment, they all stood in silence, lost in the awe-inspiring spectacle unfolding before them.

Moments later, the crowd fell silent, their eyes still fixed on the rapidly shrinking rocket as it disappeared into the blackness of space.

As the cheers of the crowd slowly died down, Alexander turned to Sophie, Anya, and Andrei, a smile of satisfaction on his face. They exchanged glances, all knowing that this was only the significance of the event.

“So, what now, Father?” Andrei asked.

ραпdα nᴏνɐ| сom

***

In the days following the rocket launch, the news spread like wildfire throughout the world. Many nations, including the Britannia Empire, United States, and Deutschland Empire were still shocked at the rapid advancement of the Ruthenia Empire. A country so behind in terms of technology ten years ago, and is now the leading force in technological advancement, all thanks to a single man.

In the confines of Buckingham Palace, Diana, and Anne listened to the radios that were broadcasting the progress of the rocket’s journey to space.

“Hear that, Anne? The Ruthenia Empire has cemented its position to be the leading country in the world. The only thing that can stop them is themselves,” Diana said. “The man whom your organization is hell-bent on destroying has offered a lot of perspectives in this forsaken world.”

“So, are you going to stand by and let it be?” Anne asked.

“I’m tired of all the competition, to be honest,” Diana said. “So let them have their moment, and focus on improving ourselves in hopes of catching up to the Ruthenians.”

***

Four days later, television from all across the world broadcasted the developing situation in the heavens. The spacecraft carrying cosmonauts of the Ruthenia Empire has reached the moon and is now proceeding to land on its surface. Alexander watched from his office in St. Petersburg, his eyes glued to the screen as the spacecraft descended toward the moon’s surface.

As the spacecraft carrying the Ruthenian cosmonauts approached the lunar surface, tension hung thick in the air. The entire world was watching, eager to witness this historic moment.

Inside the spacecraft, the three cosmonauts prepared for the landing, their hearts pounding with excitement and anticipation. They had trained for months for this moment, and now it was finally within reach.

The lead cosmonaut, Yuri, took control of the craft, carefully guiding it toward the designated landing site. The lunar surface loomed large in the windows, its craters and valleys a stark contrast to the blackness of space.

“Approaching the landing site,” Yuri announced over the intercom. “Preparing for the landing sequence.”

The other two cosmonauts, Ivan and Grigori, checked their equipment one last time, making sure everything was in order. They knew that even the slightest mistake could spell disaster.

The spacecraft began its descent, its engines firing in short bursts to slow its speed. Yuri’s hands moved quickly over the controls, adjusting the craft’s trajectory with expert precision.

The ground rushed up to meet them, the lunar surface growing larger and larger in the windows. The cosmonauts held their breath, their eyes fixed on the ground below.

“Five hundred meters… four hundred meters… three hundred meters,” Yuri counted down.

The craft’s engines roared to life, firing in a final burst of power. The spacecraft slowed to a hover, hovering just above the surface.

“Contact light,” Yuri announced, as the landing legs touched down on the lunar surface with a soft thud.

The three cosmonauts cheered, their excitement spilling over as they realized they had successfully landed on the moon. They unbuckled their safety harnesses and stood up, gazing out the windows at the stark and barren landscape outside.

“We did it,” Ivan said, his voice filled with awe.

The cosmonauts quickly got to work, preparing for their first steps on the lunar surface. They donned their spacesuits and checked their equipment, making sure everything was in order.

Finally, Yuri opened the hatch, letting in the first taste of the lunar atmosphere. He descended the ladder, his heart racing with excitement. He placed his feet carefully on the lunar surface, testing the ground beneath him.

“First step on the moon,” Yuri announced, his voice crackling over the radio back to Earth.

The world erupted into cheers, as people all over the globe watched the historic moment unfold. The Ruthenian cosmonauts had achieved what so many had thought impossible, and they had done it with skill and bravery.

For the next few minutes, the cosmonauts explored the lunar surface, looking for a good spot to plant the flag of the Ruthenia Empire.

As the cosmonauts made their way across the lunar surface, they marveled at the strange and otherworldly landscape around them. The ground beneath their feet was powdery gray dust, with occasional rocks and boulders scattered across the barren expanse.

Off in the distance, the rugged peaks of the lunar mountains loomed, casting long shadows across the landscape. The sky overhead was black, with the bright sun shining down like a small white disk.

Yuri led the way, his boots leaving deep imprints in the lunar dust as he walked. Ivan and Grigori followed close behind, their cameras and scientific equipment at the ready.

After a few minutes of exploring, the cosmonauts found a flat, rocky spot that would be perfect for planting the flag. They carefully unpacked the flag and flagpole from their equipment, making sure not to drop anything on the delicate lunar surface.

With the flagpole securely in place, Yuri took hold of the flag and unfurled it in the gentle lunar breeze. The white and gold colors of the Ruthenia Empire shone brightly against the gray lunar sky.

The planting of the flag is being shown on national television.

As Alexander watched the broadcast from his office, tears welled up in his eyes. He felt a surge of pride and patriotism, knowing that his country had accomplished something so incredible.

He imagined the millions of people across the empire who were watching the same scene unfold, all of them sharing in the joy and wonder of this moment. It was a unifying moment for the empire, a time when everyone could put aside their differences and celebrate together.

Alexander knew that this achievement would inspire future generations to dream big and strive for greatness. He thought of his own children, who were watching the broadcast with wide eyes, and he knew that this moment would be etched into their memories forever.