The next day.

8:30am GMT.

Near the Arctic Circle.

at this time.

Because of the onset of winter, the sunshine point is far away from the Tropic of Cancer.

The night is stretched.

so.

Siberia knows that it has just dawned.

It is 170 kilometers (105 miles) south of Aganzhe in the town of Mirna, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, and 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of Moscow.

Here is the largest aviation base in the Far East:

Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation.

It is located north of the Emtsa River, in a relatively flat area of ​​Siberian taiga among a large number of lakes.

Even if it has just entered early winter.

The climate here is already very cold.

at this time.

Countless astronauts wearing white shirts are nervously checking experimental data in the base:

"The 371st monitoring of uxm-b area connection stability."

"Simulating the separation of the first stage of the launch vehicle and the stabilization of the core module of the Heinsblot Space Station."

"Double-check the estimated time of departure."

"The Pioneer M-07 launch vehicle is expected to break away from the third stage and reach the outer atmosphere.

It will still take one hour and fifty-seven minutes to enter the secondary orbit around the stranger."

Listen to their reports.

Chief Engineer Brent Shonatoly Yelevsky stood in the center of the main observation platform wearing rimless glasses.

He looked at the various parameters on the huge data screen.

The last day of verification work is in progress.

at the same time.

Outside the huge main observation platform.

tens of meters away.

The huge blue-and-white launch vehicle with the white, blue and red striped flag of the Russian Federation and the sunflower logo is already standing quietly on the internal launch pad of the Plesetsk Space Launch Base.

It is not yet time to lift the external structure.

Countless engineers are neatly dressed and carrying out final maintenance work on the core module and launch vehicle.

at the same time.

The research base reminder sounded:

[Highest authority scan is correct]

[Designer of launch vehicle core module: Dr. Leonid.]

[Welcome to the main data observatory of the space base]

The glass door of the main observation platform suddenly opened.

An old Russian man with a kind smile came in.

The old scholar came to Brent and stood at the same level as him to look at the various data in the main observatory.

then.

He asked gently:

"What is the probability of success for tomorrow's plan now?"

"10.73%, this is the highest estimated proportion."

The chief engineer of the space base adjusted the hat on his head.

Then he said calmly:

"Are you sure you want to continue this project?

It’s not too late to terminate the plan now.”

"It's hard to find such an interesting thing. Old man, I don't want to miss it."

Leonid handed him a can of non-alcoholic drink.

Then.

The old man raised his head and looked outside the glass mirror wall. The northern sky was gradually filled with the brilliance of the morning sun.

He smiled and said:

“Unfortunately, the final launch of the [Star Cluster Orbiting Project] is about to take place.

otherwise.

I'll definitely bring you a bottle of vodka.

It must be your favorite Birch Forest brand."

Brent, the 43-year-old chief engineer of Aeroflot Airlines, took the can of non-alcoholic drink.

Place it firmly in an empty space on the observation deck.

then.

He said solemnly:

"Since you don't want to stop planning.

So.

Please replace the subject of the ‘God Gene’ with me, teacher.”

"You still know that you are my student."

Leonid smiled kindly.

"Those of us old people may be able to live a few more decades because of the arrival of the Origin Century and the breakthrough in life class.

But there are some things.

It would be a pity if you couldn't witness it with your own eyes.

Brent, the ur-700k rocket that was supposed to serve in the Soviet moon landing program, do you know how many years it has been abandoned?"

Hearing this question seemed like a parting conversation.

The chief engineer was silent for a moment.

Then.

He answered with great accuracy:

"Sixty-four years and eight months."

Hear this answer.

Leonid said happily:

"I didn't learn the basic courses in vain. You and Joklovitch were both my outstanding disciples.

Yes, sixty-four years.

It's been too long.

I don’t want to be the next old ur-700k.”

Hear their conversation.

All the researchers in the huge main control room silently put down their data analysis work and looked at the old gentleman.

Many people know it.

For tomorrow's scientific gamble with a very low chance of success, this great researcher in the history of astronomy in the Russian Federation will leave this world.

certainly.

Leonid didn't seem to care. He just smiled and then said the second purpose of coming here besides saying goodbye:

"Brent, add a high-specific-thrust propellant, the 'Kepler Yuz 43' newly developed by Clock Tower, to the servo system link propulsion structure."

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To be continued...