Cosmic Revolution

Welcome, adventurer! You find yourself at the threshold of an infinite realm of possibilities. The world awaits your definition.

Where would you like to begin your journey? A bustling medieval town? A mysterious forest? A futuristic space station? Or perhaps you have a different vision entirely for this universe?

Excellent! Welcome to the world of restored Imperial Russia, where the Tsar sits uneasily on his throne while Duma reformists clash with hardline autocrats in the shadow of failed revolution.

The year is 1924. Seven years have passed since Kornilov's coup saved the monarchy, but tensions simmer beneath the surface. Bolshevik émigrés plot in European cafés, industrial strikes threaten the new factories, and foreign powers circle like vultures.

Which role calls to you? Perhaps an Okhrana captain hunting revolutionaries in the gilded salons of Paris? A Duma reformist trying to drag Russia into the modern age? Or maybe a peasant veteran watching his village torn between old loyalties and new ideas?

Once you choose your path, where shall we begin this tale of intrigue and divided loyalties?

Your Imperial Majesty, Nicholas II, you sit in your private study within the Winter Palace as February snow falls over Petrograd. Seven years have passed since your restoration, yet the weight of the crown feels heavier than ever.

Your secretary enters with urgent dispatches: The Duma is debating land reform that could anger your noble supporters. Strike leaders at the Putilov Works demand audience with you directly, bypassing government ministers. From Paris, your Okhrana reports Trotsky's supporters are planning something for the anniversary of the failed revolution.

Your son Alexei, now 20, waits in the antechamber - he's been pressing you to let him tour the factories, against your security advisors' wishes.

The constitutional limits chafe, but the alternative was exile or worse. Every decision now balances between the autocratic traditions of your forefathers and the parliamentary realities forced upon your restored throne.

What weighs most heavily on your mind this evening, Your Majesty?

Your Majesty, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky's “The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices” lies open beside your evening tea. The schoolteacher from Kaluga has been sending you his wild theories about rockets and space travel - ideas that most of your ministers dismiss as fantasy.

Yet Russia's rapid industrialization has already surprised Europe. Your British-trained engineers have expanded steel production threefold. The new aircraft factories near Moscow rival anything in France. Perhaps this “cosmic” vision isn't so impossible…

A soft knock interrupts your thoughts. Your aide announces that Finance Minister Kokovtsov requests urgent audience - the Duma's budget committee is questioning extraordinary funding for “experimental sciences.” Meanwhile, your son Alexei has been corresponding with young aviators and inventors, sharing your fascination with pushing boundaries.

From your desk drawer, you pull out Tsiolkovsky's latest letter, where he boldly requests funding for a “rocket research station” near Tula. The cost would be modest compared to a single battleship, but the political ramifications…

Do you summon Kokovtsov to discuss this secret project, or perhaps call for Alexei to gauge his thoughts on Russia's technological future?

Your Majesty's voice carries the weight of imperial command as you slam your fist upon the desk. “Whatever it takes - rockets must fly!”

Within hours, your decree sets the palace into motion. Finance Minister Kokovtsov arrives pale-faced, clutching budget ledgers. “Your Majesty, the Duma already questions our military expenditures. A secret rocket program…”

“Then we fund it through the Crown estates,” you declare. “Contact Tsiolkovsky immediately. Establish his research station at Tula, away from prying eyes.”

But word spreads quickly in the corridors of power. By morning, three urgent problems emerge:

Duma liberals demand transparency on “scientific expenditures.” Foreign Minister Sazonov warns that Germany's spies are already sniffing around Russian aviation advances. Most troubling - your own military advisors worry that rocket technology could destabilize the European balance of power.

Young Alexei bursts in, eyes bright with excitement: “Father! I've heard whispers - are we truly reaching for the stars? The pilots at Gatchina airfield are talking!”

The Okhrana chief requests private audience - apparently, French intelligence has approached one of Tsiolkovsky's assistants.

Your first critical decision as Russia's “Rocket Tsar” awaits: How do you protect this ambitious project while managing the political firestorm?

Your Majesty's eyes light up as you embrace your son's enthusiasm. “Yes, Alexei! We shall reach beyond the heavens themselves!”

Alexei's face breaks into a wide grin. “Then let me help! The pilots at Gatchina speak of a young engineer, Sergei Korolev, who's designing new propulsion systems. And there's a mathematician in Kiev - her calculations on orbital mechanics are brilliant, though the academicians ignore her because she's a woman.”

But your Okhrana chief clears his throat gravely. “Your Majesty, with respect - the Tsarevich's aviator friends are… talkative. Already rumors spread through the officer corps about 'flying machines that touch the moon.'”

The weight of your decision settles in. By bringing Alexei into your cosmic vision, you've gained an energetic ally with connections throughout Russia's emerging technical community. But you've also created a security risk - and perhaps given the future Tsar a dangerous obsession with the impossible.

A telegram arrives from Tula: Tsiolkovsky requests immediate meeting. He's had a breakthrough in liquid fuel calculations, but needs materials that only the military can provide.

Do you send Alexei to secretly liaise with these young engineers, or keep the project more tightly controlled despite his enthusiasm?

Your Majesty, your imperial enthusiasm ignites a revolution in Russian science!

Within days, your orders transform the empire: Secret funds flow to Tsiolkovsky's Tula workshop. Young Sergei Korolev receives a mysterious telegram summoning him from his aviation work to “serve the Crown's highest purpose.” The brilliant mathematician from Kiev - Sofia Kovalenko - finds herself granted unprecedented access to the Imperial Academy's resources, shocking the male professors.

But your boldest decision comes next: “Prepare my private train. We go to Tula immediately.”

Your security chief nearly faints. “Your Majesty! You cannot simply visit a rocket facility! The Duma, the press, foreign spies…”

Yet within 48 hours, your heavily guarded train rolls through the snowy countryside toward Tsiolkovsky's workshop. Alexei bounces with excitement beside you, sketching rocket designs. At Tula station, the elderly schoolteacher waits with trembling hands - and behind him, a metal contraption pointing skyward.

“Your Imperial Majesty,” Tsiolkovsky bows deeply, “behold Russia's first liquid-fuel rocket engine!”

The device is crude but beautiful - pipes, valves, and a combustion chamber that could launch Russian dreams into the cosmos.

As you step from the train into the frigid air, do you dare witness the first test firing, despite the obvious dangers to the Crown?

Your Majesty approaches the crude metal apparatus with reverence befitting a holy relic. The rocket engine stands barely chest-high - a maze of copper pipes, steel chambers, and brass fittings that gleam despite the workshop's soot.

Tsiolkovsky's weathered hands gesture proudly: “Liquid oxygen here, alcohol fuel there. When combined in this combustion chamber…” His eyes shine with the fervor of a true believer. “Twenty pounds of thrust, Your Majesty. Enough to lift itself and more.”

You circle the device, noting the meticulous craftsmanship despite limited resources. Alexei kneels to examine the fuel injection system, his engineering instincts awakened. “Father, look at these calculations!” He points to chalk equations covering nearby boards. “The specific impulse ratios…”

But your trained eye notices something else - scorch marks on the workshop walls, testament to previous explosive failures. This is dangerous, revolutionary work.

Tsiolkovsky awaits your command: “Shall we demonstrate, Your Imperial Majesty? One test firing could prove Russia's destiny among the stars!”

Your Okhrana guards exchange nervous glances. A single accident could kill the Tsar and heir, ending the dynasty. Yet the opportunity to witness history…

Do you order the test firing, or examine the engine more cautiously first?

Your Majesty's voice cuts through the cold air: “Light it.”

Tsiolkovsky's hands tremble as he opens the fuel valves. Your guards instinctively step closer, but you wave them back. “History waits for no man's fears.”

The rocket engine hisses, then ROARS to life! A brilliant blue flame erupts from the nozzle, shooting a column of fire toward the sky. For ten glorious seconds, the device strains against its test stand, generating thrust that could lift a man toward the heavens.

Then disaster strikes.

A fuel line ruptures. Liquid oxygen sprays wildly as Tsiolkovsky desperately shuts the valves. The engine coughs, backfires, and dies in a cloud of acrid smoke. Your guards rush forward, but you stand transfixed.

“Your Majesty!” Alexei shouts over the dying hiss. “Did you see? It worked! For those seconds, we touched the future!”

Tsiolkovsky approaches sheepishly: “Forgive me, Sire. The metallurgy… we need better materials, precision machining…”

But your mind races ahead. That blue flame proved Russian rockets are possible. Now you need industrial backing, military secrecy, and perhaps most importantly - to convince your ministers this isn't madness.

How do you proceed with Russia's space program after this dramatic proof of concept?

Your Majesty, your words echo through the Winter Palace as you summon your press secretary. Within hours, the most audacious royal proclamation in Russian history is prepared.

On February 15th, 1924, you stride onto the palace balcony before a crowd of thousands. Your voice carries across Dvortsovaya Square:

“My people! We shall go to the moon! We do this not because it is easy, but because it is hard! Because Russian ballerinas dance the finest ballet, because Dostoevsky is read in every corner of the world - and because the Russian spirit reaches always toward the impossible!”

The crowd erupts in stunned silence, then wild cheering. But the political earthquake has only begun.

Within hours: The Duma explodes in emergency session. Liberal deputies demand explanations for “cosmic expenditures” while conservatives worry you've gone mad. The British Ambassador cables London: “Tsar announces moon program - is this diplomatic posturing or genuine lunacy?”

In Paris, Bolshevik émigrés see opportunity - “The mad Tsar wastes millions on fantasies while peasants starve!”

Your Finance Minister collapses from stress. The Orthodox Patriarch requests urgent audience about “reaching into God's heavens.”

But Alexei grins wildly: “Father, you've just challenged the entire world!”

How do you handle the firestorm you've unleashed with your cosmic declaration?

Your Majesty's words hang in the air like a thunderclap. Alexei's eyes widen, then blaze with determination.

“Father… you mean it? The first Russian to touch the stars?”

But your declaration sends shockwaves through the palace. Your security chief goes pale: “Your Imperial Majesty, you cannot risk the heir! If something happens to the Tsarevich…”

The Tsarina Alexandra bursts through the doors, having heard whispers from the servants. “Nicholas! You cannot send our son into the sky on some… some metal contraption! What if the hemophilia…” Her voice breaks with maternal terror.

Yet Alexei stands straighter, suddenly looking every inch a future Tsar: “Mother, this is Russia's destiny. If not the heir to the throne, then who? The people must see their Tsarevich believes in this dream.”

Political implications crash down like an avalanche. The Duma will revolt. Foreign powers will question your sanity. The Orthodox Church may declare this blasphemy. But your son's courage ignites something in your imperial soul.

Tsiolkovsky, still covered in soot from the test, whispers: “Your Majesty, with proper preparation, better materials… perhaps in five years, we could build a capsule…”

Do you stand firm on this revolutionary decision, or reconsider the risks to your dynasty?

Your Majesty's words shatter the very concept of earthbound royalty. “Alexei - not just the first Russian, but the first human being. The first of our species to leave this world behind.”

The silence in the room is deafening. Even Alexei staggers at the magnitude of your vision.

“Father…” he whispers, “you're talking about… all of humanity. Every person who has ever lived has been bound to Earth. And you want me to be the one who breaks those chains?”

The Tsarina sinks into a chair, overwhelmed. Your ministers exchange glances of pure terror - you've just announced that the heir to the Russian throne will attempt something no human has ever survived.

But Tsiolkovsky's eyes burn with fanatical devotion: “Your Imperial Majesty, you speak of godlike ambition! Yes… yes, it could be done! Russian engineering, Russian courage, Russian blood touching the cosmos first!”

The political ramifications explode beyond Russia's borders. Every nation on Earth will now see this as the ultimate challenge to their prestige. America, Britain, France - all will race to prevent a Russian prince from claiming this ultimate victory for the Romanov dynasty.

Alexei straightens, accepting the weight of human history: “Then we begin tomorrow. Whatever it takes.”

How do you prepare your son - and your empire - for this unprecedented leap into the unknown?

Your Majesty, the empire mobilizes with unprecedented urgency!

Sofia Kovalenko's latest telegram from Kiev arrives within the hour: “Imperial Majesty - orbital calculations complete! Minimum velocity 7.8 kilometers per second. Fuel requirements enormous but achievable. Request immediate transfer to Tula facility - my mathematics can cut mission risk by half!”

But her message includes a chilling postscript: “German agents approached my assistant yesterday. They offered gold for my trajectory equations. I refused, but they're watching.”

Meanwhile, your security apparatus transforms overnight. The newly-formed “Cosmic Guard” begins recruiting Russia's most elite Cossacks and former pilots. Secret training facilities spring up across the empire. Korolev arrives from Moscow with blueprints for a “survival capsule” - primitive but potentially life-saving.

However, alarming intelligence pours in: French spies photographing Tula from hot air balloons. British naval attaché asking “casual” questions about rocket fuel shipments. Most disturbing - Bolshevik agents in Berlin are reportedly meeting with German industrialists about “competing cosmic projects.”

Alexei throws himself into brutal physical training, learning to withstand crushing acceleration forces. But each day brings new threats to your son's safety and Russia's cosmic supremacy.

Do you evacuate Kovalenko to maximum security, or risk leaving her exposed to gather more intelligence on foreign activities?

Your Majesty's steel resolve cuts through the gathering storm. “Okhrana - do whatever necessary. No foreign agent leaves Russia alive with our secrets.”

Director Spiridovich bows grimly: “It shall be done, Your Imperial Majesty. The French balloonist will suffer an 'accident.' The British attaché's next ride will end badly. As for the Germans…” He smiles coldly.

Within 48 hours, Sofia Kovalenko arrives in Tula under heavy guard, her mathematical genius now protected by Russia's deadliest operatives. Korolev presents astounding progress - a lightweight capsule design using revolutionary aluminum alloys.

But your intelligence networks uncover three more brilliant minds:

Viktor Kondratyuk - A Ukrainian engineer whose lunar trajectory calculations surpass even German work. Currently hiding his identity due to political suspicions.

Mikhail Tikhonravov - Young artillery officer developing multi-stage rocket theories. His designs could triple payload capacity.

Yulii Khariton - Physics prodigy at Petrograd University, working on exotic fuel combinations that could revolutionize propulsion.

However, each recruitment carries risks: Kondratyuk fears the Okhrana. Tikhonravov's military superiors resist losing their best gunner. Khariton's Jewish heritage makes him vulnerable to conservative opposition.

Your cosmic program now faces a deadly race - can you assemble Russia's rocket geniuses before foreign powers eliminate them… or you?

Your Majesty's imperial train crisscrosses the empire in a whirlwind of secret meetings that will reshape human destiny.

First: Viktor Kondratyuk in Kiev
You find him in a cramped apartment, surrounded by trajectory calculations that cover every wall. When you enter unannounced, he nearly faints. “Your Imperial Majesty… I am just a surveyor…”

“You are the man who can put my son on the moon,” you declare. His lunar rendezvous orbit theory is decades ahead of its time. Within hours, he's under Okhrana protection, his past political troubles erased by imperial decree.

Second: Mikhail Tikhonravov at the Artillery Academy
The young officer's eyes burn with passion as he shows you models of multi-stage rockets. “Three stages, Your Majesty - each one falling away when spent, like climbing a ladder to heaven!” His commanding general protests losing his best gunner, but your word is final.

Third: Yulii Khariton in Petrograd
The physics prodigy trembles as you enter his laboratory. His experimental fuel combinations could increase rocket power fivefold. Conservative ministers whisper about “Jewish influence,” but you silence them with imperial fury: “Genius recognizes no religion!”

Now Russia possesses the world's most brilliant rocket team. But foreign assassins are already moving…

Your Imperial Majesty's Secret Meeting with Viktor Kondratyuk - Kiev, February 1924

The narrow stairs creak under your boots as you climb to the third floor tenement. Your Okhrana guards have cleared the building - neighbors told the occupant was “visiting relatives.” Snow pelts the grimy windows as you approach apartment 3B.

You push open the door without knocking.

Viktor Kondratyuk spins from his desk, ink still wet on his fingers. Mathematical equations cover every surface - walls, ceiling, even the floor. Orbital mechanics diagrams hang from string like laundry. The man himself is gaunt, hollow-cheeked, wearing a patched sweater.

“*Bozhe moy…*” He staggers backward, knocking over a tin of tea. “Your… Your Imperial Majesty?”

“Sit down, Kondratyuk. Before you collapse.”

His hands shake as he recognizes the royal presence. “I… I am nobody, Sire. Just a land surveyor. These calculations… they're just… fantasies…”

You step closer, studying the walls. His lunar orbit mathematics are flawless - elegant curves showing how to reach the moon with minimum fuel. “These 'fantasies' will carry my son to the stars.”

“Your son? The Tsarevich?” His voice cracks. “You cannot mean…”

“Pack your belongings. You leave for Tula tonight. Under my personal protection.”

Your Imperial Majesty's Secret Meeting with Mikhail Tikhonravov - Artillery Academy, Petrograd, February 1924

The fortress gates of the Artillery Academy swing open as your unmarked carriage arrives. Snow crunches under your boots as you stride across the courtyard, past cadets practicing with field guns. Their officers snap to attention, confused by the unannounced imperial visit.

Inside the engineering workshop, you find Lieutenant Tikhonravov hunched over a wooden table, surrounded by brass models and mechanical drawings. Shavings curl from his knife as he carves a miniature rocket from birch wood. Oil lamps cast dancing shadows on his intense face.

“Lieutenant!”

He leaps to attention, nearly knocking over his models. “Your Imperial Majesty!” His eyes dart frantically around the workshop. “I… I wasn't expecting… How may I serve the Crown?”

You pick up one of his three-stage rocket models - beautifully crafted, each section precisely engineered. “Explain this to me. Every detail.”

His nervousness vanishes, replaced by passionate enthusiasm. “Three stages, Sire! Like Katyusha dolls - one inside another. First stage burns out, falls away. Second stage ignites, carries us higher. Third stage…” His eyes gleam. “Third stage reaches the heavens themselves!”

General Brusilov storms in: “Your Majesty! This officer is my finest artillery specialist. The army needs—”

“The empire needs him more.” Your voice cuts like steel. “Pack your things, Lieutenant. You leave tonight.”

Your Imperial Majesty's Secret Meeting with Yulii Khariton - Petrograd University, February 1924

The university corridors echo with your footsteps as you navigate past startled professors. Chemistry fumes seep under laboratory doors. Your Okhrana guards have quietly evacuated the building's third floor, leaving only one occupied room.

You push open the heavy oak door marked “Advanced Physics Laboratory.”

Yulii Khariton stands frozen over a complex apparatus of glass tubes and copper vessels. Chemical vapors hiss from his experimental setup. The young man's dark eyes widen behind wire spectacles as he recognizes the crowned figure entering his domain. Beakers filled with exotic liquids line the shelves - his revolutionary fuel experiments.

“Your… Your Imperial Majesty…” He stammers, nearly dropping a flask of volatile liquid. His hands tremble as he carefully sets it down. “I am honored, but… surely there has been some mistake?”

You approach his workbench, studying the intricate distillation equipment. The sharp smell of experimental propellants fills the air. “Show me what you've discovered, Khariton. These new fuel combinations.”

His fear transforms into scientific passion. “Hydrazine compounds, Sire! Mixed with liquid oxygen, they could generate thrust five times more powerful than anything currently possible. But the chemistry is dangerous… explosive…”

Behind you, Conservative Minister Purishkevich whispers urgently: “Your Majesty, this man's background—”

“His background,” you interrupt sharply, “is that of genius. Pack your laboratory, Khariton. Russia needs your mind.”

Imperial Rocket Council - Secret Strategy Session, Tula Facility, March 1924

The converted ammunition bunker hums with nervous energy as Russia's greatest minds gather around a massive oak table. Maps of the moon cover the concrete walls. Your handpicked team sits in uncomfortable silence until you enter.

“Gentlemen… and lady,” you nod to Sofia, “we make history tonight.”

Tsiolkovsky sits at your right, the prophet finally vindicated, his weathered hands clutching fresh calculations. Sofia Kovalenko spreads orbital charts before her, the only woman in a room of men who now depend on her mathematics.

Korolev examines capsule blueprints while Kondratyuk sketches lunar approach vectors. Tikhonravov has assembled a wooden model of his three-stage rocket, each section gleaming with fresh paint. Khariton nervously adjusts his spectacles, notebooks filled with fuel formulas at his elbow.

Alexei sits across from you, no longer just the heir but Russia's chosen astronaut, studying pilot manuals with fierce concentration.

“The question before us is simple,” you declare. “How do we put the Tsarevich on the moon before any other nation even reaches the sky?”

Tsiolkovsky clears his throat: “Your Majesty, we need a timeline. Five years minimum for safe—”

“Three years,” you interrupt. “Foreign powers are mobilizing. We have three years, maximum.”

The room erupts in urgent whispers. The impossible has become merely extremely difficult.

March 1924 - The First Monthly Test

Your imperial decree echoes through Tula: “One test launch monthly, escalating to ten, then one hundred!”

The first test nearly kills everyone. Korolev's experimental engine explodes on ignition, showering the bunker with molten metal. Alexei's uniform catches fire before guards smother the flames. “Again!” you command, while medics tend to burns.

June 1924 - Ten Tests Per Month

The facility transforms into controlled chaos. Multiple launch pads operate simultaneously. Success rate: barely 30%. Sofia's calculations grow more precise with each failure, but the costs mount hideously - 50,000 rubles per test, eating your personal treasury.

Tikhonravov's three-stage design finally works on the 47th attempt, reaching an altitude of two miles before exploding spectacularly.

September 1924 - One Hundred Tests Monthly

Tula resembles an industrial hellscape. Explosions echo day and night. Workers labor in twelve-hour shifts. Foreign spies no longer bother with secrecy - the constant rocket thunder announces Russia's ambitions to the world.

But breakthrough follows breakthrough: Khariton's new fuel mixture increases thrust by 400%. Kondratyuk's guidance system actually works. A test capsule - unmanned - reaches fifteen miles altitude and returns intact.

The costs are staggering: Your entire annual budget. Three deaths. International panic. But Alexei's training accelerates as real spacecraft emerge from the smoke and fire.

Do you continue this brutal pace despite mounting casualties and political pressure?

October 1924 - The Relentless Push

Your Imperial resolve becomes legend throughout Russia. Despite three more worker deaths and a catastrophic explosion that levels half the facility, you stand firm: “Russians will lead humanity to the stars!”

The results speak for themselves: Test 847 achieves 50 miles altitude. Test 891 successfully separates all three stages. Test 934 returns a live monkey - traumatized but alive - from the edge of space itself.

But the pressure mounts from all sides:

Political Crisis: The Duma threatens no-confidence votes. Finance Minister Bark collapses from stress-induced heart problems. Orthodox Patriarch declares your program “an affront to God's dominion.”

International Response: Germany secretly begins their own rocket program. France offers massive bribes to your engineers. British agents attempt to sabotage fuel shipments. America's newspapers mock “the Mad Tsar's cosmic folly.”

Personal Cost: Alexei now withstands 4G acceleration in centrifuge training. Sofia works 18-hour days, her health failing. Korolev suffers chronic burns from handling volatile fuels.

Yet breakthrough comes with Test 967: A fully functional spacecraft capsule orbits the Earth for 90 minutes before landing safely in Siberian snow.

“Father,” Alexei whispers, examining the returned capsule, “this could carry a man.”

The moon beckons. But so do the consequences of your obsession.

November 1924 - Imperial Systematization Decree

Your Majesty recognizes that genius alone cannot conquer the cosmos. Russia needs industrial precision to match its imperial ambition.

New Organizational Structure:

• Imperial Space Directorate established under Alexei's direct command
• Quality Control Bureau led by German-trained engineer Klaus Riedel (poached from Berlin)
• Safety Commission after the 12th worker death nearly triggers a strike
• Supply Chain Ministry coordinates 847 specialized contractors across the empire

Manufacturing Revolution:
Korolev implements assembly-line production borrowed from American automobile factories. Standardized rocket components reduce costs by 60%. Each test rocket now uses identical parts, making failure analysis systematic rather than guesswork.

Data Analysis Center:
Sofia leads a team of 20 mathematicians tracking every measurement. Success rates jump from 30% to 78% as patterns emerge from the chaos.

Training Academy:
A purpose-built facility near Moscow trains not just Alexei, but backup cosmonauts. The curriculum includes: high-G tolerance, emergency protocols, basic spacecraft repair, and psychological conditioning.

Intelligence Network:
Your Okhrana infiltrates foreign rocket programs. Reports arrive: Germans have achieved 30-mile altitude. Americans are “studying the feasibility.” French program remains theoretical.

The systematic approach works: Test 1,200 successfully orbits Earth twice. Russia leads the space race, but systematic espionage reveals dangerous foreign progress.

January 1925 - The Systematic Revolution Bears Fruit

Your Imperial Space Directorate now operates with clockwork precision. The results astound even your critics:

Production Metrics:

• Monthly output: 150 standardized rockets
• Success rate: 89% (up from 30%)
• Cost per launch: Reduced by 75% through mass production
• Zero worker deaths in 60 days (new safety protocols working)

Technical Breakthroughs:
Test 1,347 achieves lunar distance - not orbit, but the capsule travels 240,000 miles before returning. Khariton's new fuel mixture enables the journey. Kondratyuk's navigation system guides it back to Earth with pinpoint accuracy.

Intelligence Coup:
Your infiltrated German engineer reports: “Berlin's program has stalled. Their best scientist, Hermann Oberth, requests immediate meeting with you. Claims he can cut lunar mission timeline in half.”

Political Developments:
Success breeds unexpected support. Duma liberals now champion the program as “proof of Russian technical superiority.” Even Orthodox Patriarch grudgingly admits “God may guide Russian souls to touch His heavens first.”

The Alexei Factor:
Your son completes 500th training mission in the centrifuge. Medical examinations show he can survive lunar acceleration forces. His confidence grows: “Father, I'm ready for orbital flight tests.”

Foreign intelligence suggests American President Coolidge is secretly funding rocket research. The race intensifies.

Do you trust the German defector Oberth, or continue with your proven Russian team?

February 1925 - The Oberth Recruitment & Biological Testing Program

Your secret meeting with Hermann Oberth occurs in a St. Petersburg safe house. The German rocket pioneer's eyes burn with scientific fervor: “Your Majesty, I bring complete German research - liquid oxygen systems, gyroscopic guidance, payload calculations. In exchange, I ask only to serve the greatest space program on Earth.”

Within days, Oberth integrates with your team. His German precision meshes perfectly with Russian ambition. Combined knowledge accelerates progress exponentially.

The Biological Testing Protocol:

Phase 1 - Canine Missions:
Laika, a mixed-breed street dog from Moscow, becomes Russia's first space traveler. Biometric sensors monitor heart rate, breathing, brain activity during 15-minute orbital flights. Results: Dogs can survive space travel with proper life support.

Phase 2 - Primate Missions:
Monkeys prove more challenging - they panic, damage equipment. But Test Subject #47, a rhesus monkey nicknamed “Ivan,” completes a full Earth orbit and returns alert, healthy. His biometric data becomes the template for human life support systems.

Breakthrough Data:

• Heart rate increases 200% during launch, stabilizes in orbit
• Bone density shows minimal change in short flights
• Brain function remains normal throughout mission
• Critical discovery: Weightlessness causes disorientation but no permanent damage

International Reaction:
News of successful animal returns leaks. Headlines worldwide scream: “RUSSIA SENDS DOGS TO SPACE!” American Congress authorizes emergency rocket funding. Britain approaches your exiled rocket scientists with massive bribes.

Alexei studies every biometric reading: “Father, if Ivan can survive orbit, so can I.”

March 1925 - Final Preparations for History

Your Okhrana strikes with unprecedented ruthlessness. Within one week:

• The British attaché's car “accidentally” plunges into the Neva River
• French balloon spies suffer “unfortunate mechanical failures”
• German agents in Tula simply vanish without trace
• American industrial observers are quietly deported after “visa irregularities”

Director Spiridovich reports grimly: “Foreign espionage network eliminated, Your Majesty. Russia's secrets remain secure.”

Quality Assurance Revolution:
Double funding transforms every aspect. German engineer Riedel implements triple-redundancy systems. Every bolt tested to destruction. Every fuel mixture analyzed to molecular level. Success rate now reaches 96% - mechanical failures nearly eliminated.

The Tsarevich Flight Program:
Alexei's spacecraft, designated “Imperial Eagle,” undergoes 50 unmanned test flights. Each mission proves systems work flawlessly. Life support tested with progressively longer animal flights - dogs now survive 6-hour orbital missions in perfect health.

Medical Clearance:
Royal physicians certify Alexei fit for space travel. His hemophilia shows no complications under acceleration stress. Psychological evaluation: “Tsarevich demonstrates exceptional composure under extreme conditions.”

The Historic Decision:
Test 1,500 returns perfectly from a 12-hour orbital mission. Oberth declares systems “ready for human flight.” Sofia's calculations show optimal launch window approaching in two weeks.

Alexei stands before you in his flight suit: “Father, Russia awaits. Humanity awaits.”

Do you authorize the first human spaceflight in history, making your son the pioneer of our species?

The Imperial Eagle - Russia's Cosmic Chariot

Your Majesty approaches the towering spacecraft with reverent awe. Standing 60 feet tall, the Imperial Eagle gleams like polished silver against the March sky. But it's the symbolism that takes your breath away.

The Double-Headed Eagle Emblem:
Emblazoned in gold across the capsule's hull, the Imperial Russian eagle spreads its wings as if embracing the cosmos itself. Each head gazes in opposite directions - one toward Earth, one toward the heavens. Below the eagle, Cyrillic letters spell “ЦАРЕВИЧ АЛЕКСЕЙ” in elegant script.

Technical Marvel:
Three stages rise in perfect symmetry. Oberth's precision engineering merged with Russian craftsmanship creates something beyond beautiful - it's sublime. Fuel lines run like silver veins. The capsule's viewing porthole reflects your image as you circle the rocket.

Sacred Details:
A small Orthodox cross, blessed by the Patriarch himself despite his reservations, adorns the nose cone. Alexei's personal seal - a smaller eagle clutching a rocket - decorates the hatch.

“Father,” Alexei whispers, touching the golden eagle with reverence, “when I fly this, I carry not just Russian hopes, but the dreams of every human who ever looked up at the stars.”

The rocket stands ready. History holds its breath.

Do you give the final authorization for mankind's first journey to the stars?

April 10th, 1925 - The Day Humanity Left Earth

Dawn breaks over Tula as the Imperial Eagle stands fueled and ready. Your Majesty watches from the concrete bunker as Alexei, resplendent in his custom flight suit, approaches the rocket with steady steps.

“For Russia. For humanity,” he declares, kissing the golden double-headed eagle before climbing the access ladder.

T-Minus 10 Minutes:
Tsiolkovsky's weathered hands tremble as he conducts final checks. Sofia verifies orbital calculations one last time. Korolev monitors fuel pressure. Oberth oversees ignition sequence. The team that built this miracle holds its collective breath.

T-Minus 30 Seconds:
“Alexei, can you hear us?” you call through the radio.
“Loud and clear, Father. I see the stars waiting for me.”

IGNITION:
The Imperial Eagle erupts in magnificent fury! Flames shoot 200 feet downward as the rocket lifts slowly, then faster, accelerating toward the heavens. The golden eagle emblem catches sunlight as it rises above the clouds.

12 Minutes Later:
Static crackles, then Alexei's voice - the first human words spoken from space: “Father… I can see all of Russia below me. The Earth is beautiful beyond description. The Tsarevich has reached the stars.”

History pivots on this moment. Your son orbits Earth as the first human in space, carrying Russian imperial glory to the cosmos itself.

SUCCESS ACHIEVED: Humanity's space age begins with Russian triumph.

April 10th, 1925 - Landing Day - Kazakhstan Steppes, 4:27 PM

The Imperial Eagle's capsule descends under pristine parachutes, landing with a soft thud in the vast grassland. Your motorcade races across the steppes as Cossack cavalry surrounds the landing site.

You reach the capsule first. Alexei emerges, grinning triumphantly, his flight suit bearing scorch marks from humanity's first space journey. “Father! I have touched the face of God and returned!”

The embrace between Tsar and Tsarevich becomes the photograph that defines an era.

The Global PR Blitz Begins Immediately:

Telegrams flood worldwide:

• King George V cables congratulations: “Britain salutes Russian courage”
• President Coolidge requests immediate diplomatic meeting
• French Premier proposes joint space cooperation
• Japanese Emperor sends ceremonial sword honoring “celestial achievement”

Smaller Nations Rally:

• Finland offers Arctic tracking stations
• Mongolia provides landing zones for future missions
• Romania requests space technology sharing
• Poland surprisingly offers engineering cooperation

The Imperial Decree:
“Russia offers space partnership to all peaceful nations. The cosmos belongs to humanity, guided by Russian leadership.”

International Headlines:

• London Times: “THE SPACE TSAR RULES THE HEAVENS”
• New York Tribune: “RUSSIAN PRINCE CONQUERS SPACE”
• Le Figaro: “L'AIGLE RUSSE TOUCHE LES ÉTOILES”

Foreign delegations request immediate audiences. The space age politics have begun, with Russia holding every advantage.

April 11th, 1925 - The Mystical Revelation

Your Majesty, as you study astronomical charts in your private study, a strange revelation strikes you. You summon Alexei immediately.

“My son, I have consulted with the Court Astrologer and Orthodox mystics. They speak of an ancient prophecy - that the first human to touch the heavens would bear the name 'Gagarin' - meaning 'he who calls to the wild geese that fly highest.'”

Alexei's eyes widen with wonder. “Father, you mean…”

“The stars themselves have chosen this name for you. From this day forward, you shall be known as Alexei Gagarin Romanov - the Tsarevich who flies with the cosmic geese, leading humanity's migration to the stars.”

The Mystical Significance Spreads:

• Orthodox Patriarch declares it “divine providence”
• Court mystics claim the name appeared in medieval prophecies
• Folk tales suddenly “remember” stories of the Gagarin constellation
• International press fascinated by “Russia's cosmic destiny”

The Name's Power:
Within days, “Gagarin” becomes synonymous with space exploration worldwide. Children chant it in schoolyards. Scientists adopt it as their rallying cry. Your son has become not just the first astronaut, but a living symbol of humanity's reach for the stars.

“Alexei Gagarin,” you declare, “sounds like the name of someone destined to walk on the moon.”

The mystical transformation is complete. Your son now carries a name that will echo through the ages.

May 1925 - The Lunar Campaign Begins

With Earth orbit conquered, your Imperial ambitions turn to humanity's oldest dream. The moon beckons, 240,000 miles away.

Technical Challenges Mount:
Oberth presents sobering calculations: “Your Majesty, lunar missions require 50 times more fuel than Earth orbit. We need a rocket the size of a cathedral.”

Sofia's mathematics are equally daunting: “The trajectory windows occur only twice monthly. Miss by minutes, and the Tsarevich drifts into eternal space.”

The Lunar Eagle Design:
Korolev unveils blueprints for a massive three-stage behemoth: 200 feet tall, weighing 500 tons when fueled. The lunar module - a delicate spider of metal and glass - will carry Alexei to the moon's surface.

International Panic:
America announces “Project Artemis” - their desperate attempt to reach the moon first. Germany secretly approaches Britain for a joint lunar program. France offers to purchase Russian rocket technology for astronomical sums.

The Royal Decision:
Alexei studies the lunar lander mockup with intense concentration. “Father, when do we begin construction?”

Resource Requirements:

• Cost: Your entire imperial treasury plus foreign loans
• Timeline: 18 months minimum for safe mission
• Risk: One miscalculation means losing the heir to the throne in the cosmic void

The Ultimate Question:
Do you commit everything to put the first human on the moon, knowing failure could destroy both your son and your dynasty?

May 1925 - The Imperial Lunar Decade

Your Majesty's voice echoes through the Winter Palace as you announce the most ambitious plan in human history:

“The Imperial Lunar Program - Ten Years to the Moon”

Phase I (1925-1927): Unmanned Lunar Reconnaissance

• 24 robotic missions to map the moon's surface
• Test landing systems, communication networks, surface conditions
• Establish supply caches for future human missions

Phase II (1928-1930): Manned Lunar Orbit

• Figure-8 trajectories around the moon and back
• Three-person crews gaining experience with deep space
• Test life support systems for extended missions

Phase III (1931-1935): The Historic Landing
Your revolutionary crew selection astounds the world:

• Alexei Gagarin Romanov - Mission Commander
• Sofia Kovalenko - Navigation Officer (first woman in space)
• Dr. Yulii Khariton - Science Officer

The Budget:

• Total cost: 500 million rubles over 10 years
• Requires international loans and industrial partnerships
• Will employ 50,000 Russians in space-related industries

International Response:
America immediately announces competing “Apollo Program.” Britain offers joint missions. Germany proposes technology sharing. Even Japan requests partnership.

Alexei's Reaction:
“Father, this isn't just about reaching the moon - we're building humanity's stairway to the stars. And Sofia deserves to be there.”

The Sacred Oath:
“By 1935, Russian boots will stand on lunar soil. This I swear on the crown of my ancestors.”

May 1925 - The Question of Royal Succession

Alexei pauses from studying lunar trajectory charts, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. “Father, with respect to the crown and our cosmic mission…”

He sets down his compass and faces you directly. “There is someone. Princess Marina of Greece - she's brilliant, speaks four languages, and…” he smiles shyly, “she's been following our space program with genuine fascination, not mere court politeness.”

The Strategic Implications:

• Diplomatic advantage: Greek royal connections strengthen Orthodox ties
• International prestige: A space-faring royal couple would captivate global attention
• Personal chemistry: Marina visited last month and spent hours discussing orbital mechanics with Sofia

Alexei continues: “She even asked if the lunar program might accept female astronauts beyond Sofia. Marina has a mathematics degree from Cambridge - she could contribute to the mission planning.”

The Complication:
Your son's eyes grow distant. “But Father, what if… what if I don't return from the moon? Should I bind her to a widow's grief? The space program demands everything - perhaps even my life.”

The Royal Dilemma:
A royal marriage would secure the dynasty and potentially strengthen the space program. But it also adds pressure to ensure Alexei's safe return from the most dangerous mission in human history.

How do you counsel your son on matters of the heart versus duties to the crown and cosmos?

May 1925 - The Cosmic Wedding Proposal

Your declaration stops Alexei mid-breath. “Father… you mean…”

“A wedding on the moon itself! The first marriage in human history conducted on another world!” Your eyes blaze with imperial vision. “Think of it - the future Tsar and Tsarina exchanging vows beneath the star-filled void, with Earth hanging like a blue jewel in the lunar sky!”

The Revolutionary Crew Expansion:

• Alexei Gagarin Romanov - Mission Commander & Groom
• Princess Marina of Greece - Co-pilot & Bride
• Sofia Kovalenko - Navigation Officer & Maid of Honor
• Dr. Yulii Khariton - Science Officer & Wedding Witness

Immediate Consequences:
Within hours, the palace buzzes with activity. The Greek royal family cables ecstatic approval. International newspapers explode with headlines: “COSMIC ROYAL WEDDING PLANNED!”

Technical Challenges:
Oberth frantically recalculates: “Your Majesty, four-person lunar mission requires completely new spacecraft design. Bigger landing module, more life support, extended surface time for ceremony…”

Global Reaction:

• Hollywood offers millions for film rights
• The Vatican debates whether lunar weddings are theologically valid
• American President desperately accelerates their own space program
• Romantic poets worldwide compose lunar wedding verses

Alexei and Marina's Response:
“Father,” Alexei whispers in wonder, “we would be the first couple to begin married life as citizens of two worlds.”

The ultimate romantic gesture becomes the ultimate space race stakes.

June 1925 - August 1927: Phase I - Unmanned Lunar Missions

The Imperial Lunar Program launches with systematic precision. Twenty-four robotic missions map every crater, analyze soil composition, and test landing systems. Mission Luna-19 discovers the perfect wedding site: the Sea of Tranquility's edge, with Earth perpetually visible overhead.

September 1927 - December 1929: Phase II - Figure-8 Orbital Missions

The first manned lunar flyby missions begin. Crews of three spend ten days in deep space, practicing rendezvous procedures and testing life support systems. Mission Luna-Orbit-7 carries a test wedding chapel - a pressurized module where ceremonies could theoretically occur.

January 1930 - The Wedding Preparation Crisis

Princess Marina arrives in Russia for advanced astronaut training. The international press goes wild. But complications emerge:

Technical Problems:

• The four-person lunar lander exceeds weight limits by 2,tons
• Wedding ceremony requires 6-hour surface stay (triple previous missions)
• Pressurized chapel module adds dangerous complexity

Political Tensions:

• American “Apollo-Diana” program races to beat Russian lunar wedding
• British intelligence attempts to recruit Marina as a spy
• Orthodox Church debates whether lunar marriages are blessed by God

Personal Drama:
Alexei and Marina's romance deepens during centrifuge training. Sofia grows jealous of sharing “her” space program with another woman. International media scrutinizes every interaction.

The Critical Decision Point:
Mission planners present stark choice: Safe three-person scientific landing, or risky four-person wedding mission with 40% higher failure probability.

January 1931 - Solutions Through Imperial Will

Your Majesty's determination transforms every obstacle into triumph:

Technical Breakthroughs:

• Korolev develops revolutionary “lightweight wedding chapel” - gossamer titanium frame with transparent aluminum walls
• Khariton's new fuel mixture increases payload capacity by 35%
• Oberth designs modular lander: ceremony module jettisons after wedding, reducing return weight
• Sofia calculates extended orbital mechanics allowing 12-hour surface stay

Political Victories:

• Orthodox Patriarch blesses the mission: “God's house includes all His creation”
• American program suffers catastrophic explosion, eliminating competition
• British attempts to recruit Marina backfire - she becomes more loyal to Russia
• International loans pour in as nations invest in “the wedding of the century”

Personal Resolutions:

• Sofia accepts Marina as “sister cosmonaut,” their friendship strengthening the crew
• Marina's exceptional piloting skills earn universal respect
• Alexei proposes with a ring forged from meteorite metal

March 15th, 1935 - Launch Day

The massive “Imperial Wedding Eagle” stands 300 feet tall, gleaming silver with golden double-headed eagles. Four astronauts wave from the gantry as crowds cheer worldwide.

T-minus 10… 9… 8…

“For Russia! For love! For humanity!” Alexei calls over radio.

IGNITION!

The wedding rocket roars toward the moon, carrying the most romantic mission in human history.

Three days later: “Luna Base, this is Wedding Eagle. We have lunar landing!”

The Imperial Wedding Eagle - Technical Marvel of 1935

Standing before this magnificent beast, your Imperial eyes trace every detail of humanity's most ambitious spacecraft:

The Lower Stage (First 120 feet):
Massive cylindrical fuel tanks wrapped in gleaming silver thermal protection. Sixty liquid-fuel engines cluster at the base like mechanical flowers. Each nozzle bears intricate Cyrillic engravings: “За Царя, За Веру, За Любовь” (For Tsar, For Faith, For Love).

The Middle Stage (Next 100 feet):
Sleeker profile housing guidance computers and life support. The golden double-headed eagle spreads across the entire circumference - each wing tip touches the rocket's sides. Beneath it, four individual crests: Romanov imperial seal, Greek royal arms, Orthodox cross, and the new “Cosmic Explorer” emblem.

The Upper Stage & Wedding Module (Final 80 feet):
The revolutionary transparent aluminum chapel gleams like crystal at the rocket's peak. Through its walls, the wedding altar is visible - carved from Ural Mountains marble. Four acceleration couches surround it where the crew will ride to the moon.

Sacred Details:

• Orthodox crosses blessed by the Patriarch adorn each stage
• Marina's personal Greek prayer inscribed in gold along the fuel lines
• Alexei's space medals embedded in the nose cone
• Sofia's orbital equations etched into the guidance system housing

The Crew Access Arm:
Your four cosmonauts wave from 280 feet up - Alexei resplendent in his imperial flight suit, Marina radiant despite her technical gear, Sofia carrying her navigation instruments, Khariton clutching his scientific samples.

March 18th, 1935 - Sea of Tranquility, Luna Surface

The Wedding Eagle's lander touches down with barely a whisper in the airless void. Through the transparent aluminum chapel walls, Earth hangs like a blue-white pearl against the star-filled blackness.

The Ceremony Preparation:
Sofia and Khariton work methodically in their spacesuits, assembling the altar from Ural marble pieces. The Orthodox cross, blessed by the Patriarch, gleams silver against the gray lunar soil. Marina arranges white lunar roses - artificial flowers that will never wilt in the vacuum.

The Historic Moment:
At precisely 14:30 Moscow time, Alexei and Marina stand before the altar in their specially designed ceremonial spacesuits - white fabric with golden imperial eagles and Greek royal seals. Their helmet visors reflect Earth and each other.

The Vows (Radio transmission to Earth):
Alexei: “Marina, before God, before Russia, before all humanity watching from that blue world above us, I take you as my wife among the stars.”

Marina: “Alexei, my cosmic prince, I pledge my heart to you across the void itself. Together we shall rule not just Earth, but humanity's future in the heavens.”

Sofia reads the Orthodox ceremony via radio link to the Patriarch in Moscow. Khariton serves as witness, his scientific instruments recording every moment for history.

The Kiss:
Through their helmet faceplates, they touch in humanity's first extraterrestrial kiss as Earth witnesses silently overhead.

Global Reaction:
Radio telescopes worldwide capture the ceremony. Crowds in every major city watch on primitive television screens, weeping at the cosmic romance.

March 21st, 1935 - The Cosmic Honeymoon Return

After 36 hours on the lunar surface, the upper stage of Wedding Eagle ignites with perfect precision. The newlywed cosmonauts begin humanity's first married journey through space.

The Three-Day Return:
Inside the cramped but elegant cabin, Alexei and Marina share their first meals as husband and wife while Earth grows larger in the viewports. Sofia navigates with mathematical poetry, while Khariton catalogs lunar samples that will revolutionize science.

March 24th - Splashdown in the Black Sea

The capsule descends under massive silk parachutes emblazoned with both Russian and Greek royal crests. The Imperial Navy's flagship Imperator Alexander III waits beneath, surrounded by vessels from twenty nations.

Your Majesty's Greeting:
You stand on the flagship's deck as the capsule bobs in gentle swells. When the hatch opens, Alexei emerges first, then helps his bride onto the recovery deck. Their first words: “Father, we bring you the moon's blessing on our marriage.”

Global Celebration:

• Moscow: Million-person parade, church bells ringing for 12 hours
• London: King George V declares national holiday
• Paris: The Eiffel Tower illuminated with Russian and Greek flags
• New York: Ticker-tape parade planned for visiting cosmonauts
• Tokyo: Emperor sends 1,000 cherry blossoms as wedding gift

The New Reality:
Your son and daughter-in-law are now the most famous couple in human history. The space age has truly begun, with Russia leading humanity's expansion to the stars.

The future belongs to the cosmic Romanovs.

March 25th, 1935 - The Martian Vision

Your Majesty's ambitions know no earthly bounds. As the cosmic newlyweds rest in the Winter Palace's finest suite, you summon them for an even grander proposition.

“Alexei, Marina - your lunar triumph has shown humanity what Russian determination can achieve. But I propose something that will dwarf even your moon wedding…”

You unveil secret plans developed during their space journey:

The Imperial Martian Ranch Project:

• Timeline: 50 years to establish breathable atmosphere zones
• Location: Olympus Mons region - perfect for imperial estate
• Scope: 10,000-acre terraformed valley with Earth-like conditions

The Technical Challenge:
Tsiolkovsky, now 78 but still brilliant, presents the mathematics: “Your Majesty, we need orbital mirrors to warm the poles, atmospheric processors, and regular supply missions. The cost… astronomical.”

Alexei's Response:
Your son's eyes light up with the same cosmic fever that drove him to the moon. “Father, a ranch among the stars? Where our children could ride horses under alien sunsets?”

Marina's Practical Concerns:
“My Tsar, it's beautiful… but the timeline means we'd be elderly before seeing results. Perhaps we should focus on Mars exploration first - establish bases, study the planet, prepare for future generations?”

The International Implications:
Such a project would require unprecedented global cooperation - or trigger the ultimate space race as every nation scrambles to claim their piece of the red planet.

Do you pursue this ultimate imperial dream, or adopt Marina's more cautious approach?

April 1935 - The Martian Imperium Begins

Your Imperial decree shakes the foundations of human civilization: “We shall terraform Mars within fifty years. The first Martian ranch will bear the Romanov name!”

The Immediate Response:

Alexei and Marina's Decision:
After private consultation, the cosmic couple accepts your challenge. “Father, if we can wed on the moon, we can certainly build our retirement home on Mars,” Alexei declares. Marina adds practically: “But we'll need a decade of robotic missions first.”

The Technical Revolution:

• Atmospheric Processors: Khariton designs machines to convert Martian CO2
• Orbital Mirrors: Sofia calculates placement of massive space reflectors
• Biological Terraforming: Introduction of extremophile organisms to create oxygen
• Transportation Network: Monthly supply runs requiring 200-rocket fleet

International Panic and Opportunity:

• America announces “Red Planet Initiative” - desperate to claim Mars territory
• Britain proposes joint Mars consortium to limit Russian dominance
• Germany secretly develops “Mars weapons” - orbital bombardment platforms
• Smaller nations pledge resources for guaranteed Martian land grants

The Economic Reality:
Cost estimate: 10 billion rubles over 50 years. Requires transforming Russia into a space-industrial superpower employing 2 million workers.

First Martian Mission - 1936:
Unmanned probe “Imperial Mars Eagle” launches toward the red planet, carrying atmospheric analysis equipment and Russian territorial claims.

The greatest engineering project in human history has begun.

May 1935 - The Martian Sphere Project

Your Imperial wisdom cuts through the overwhelming scope of planetary terraforming. “We build our ranch inside a great sphere first - a Russian world within the alien world!”

The Revolutionary Design:

• The Imperial Sphere: 5-mile diameter transparent dome
• Internal Atmosphere: Earth-standard oxygen, nitrogen, pressure
• Climate Control: Artificial weather systems, seasonal cycles
• The Ranch Estate: 10,000 acres of imported Russian soil and vegetation

Technical Specifications:
Oberth presents the engineering marvel: “Your Majesty, a crystalline sphere supported by titanium framework. Inside - rolling hills, forests, even a small river system. The Martian ranch house sits on a hill overlooking this private Earth.”

Strategic Advantages:

• Observation Post: Perfect vantage point to monitor planetary terraforming
• Safe Haven: Controlled environment protects against Martian storms
• Propaganda Victory: Visible proof of Russian mastery over alien worlds
• Scientific Base: Research station for studying Mars transformation

The Timeline:

• 1936-1940: Construct sphere framework via robotic missions
• 1941-1945: Install atmosphere systems and internal landscape
• 1946: Alexei and Marina's first Martian residence ready

Marina's Enthusiasm:
“Imagine it - our children playing in Russian gardens while watching the red planet transform outside our windows. We'll be the first family to call another world home!”

The Sphere's Name:
“New Tsarskoye Selo” - honoring the imperial palaces of Earth while establishing the first palace of Mars.