20th of May 2035. The day of the mission has arrived. 2 hours until lift off the four astronauts are preparing and going over everything they need to know. The 4 astronauts are up and ready in the preparation room, some more keen than others.
Albert, currently sat not concentrating, stayed up all night trying to imagine what is to come but no amount of practice or simulations could imagine what they willl run into. Asher is sat as gloomy as ever in the corner, he was lucky to be there but couldn't understand why him out of everyone had to win the last space on board. Rosalind and Niels are the only ones focused they were so deep in thought they took no notice in all the press outside trying to get an insight into they way 2 amazing minds think. An engineer flung the door open, 'Please make way to the launch site. in 5 minutes you will board the rocket and get a talk from the managers.'
Everyone knew their own responsibility was grand, but the engineers were responsible for getting the astronauts to Mars. The success of the mission relied on them. Whilst the final checks are being done Niels, Rosalind,Asher and Albert boarded the rocket and sat into place. They were ready. An announcement longer than Albert's crazy hair and wiser than Rosalind's accumulated intellect played in the rocket. Upon hearing it, Asher realised he was the odd one out. He has no experience as working with others and hasn't even finished his degree whilst the other 3 are standing at the top of their disciplines. They all reassured him that he was fit for the job but he didn't trust anyone, his past experiences have slowly dissolved any trust and emotions he had but his instinct instructed him to leave Earth. The announcement stopped and silence grasped the rocket.
Streamed live across the whole world, the countdown begun. All 4 gripped hard on their harnesses, knowing they would be flung back into their seats. With all thrusters screaming the rocket begun to move. Niels golden hair fell back and revealed his face. The acceleration was too much, his body couldn't move and was glued to the seat. Albert and Rosalind were calm and Asher was excited for a new start at life. A roar of excitement and tears of joy from all the engineers and scientists that have worked on the project gave a sense of honour for the 4 astronauts that were about to make history. A 9 month journey to Mars awaited them with what is on the other side completely unimaginable.
Rosalind told the group, 'All creatures have always been expansionists, wanting to constantly gain more territory or power over another. Perhaps that is the hidden reason we were sent here.'
Niels answered, 'That could be true but there's no going back now. The main thing we should focus on is surviving and first setting up the power plants and rooms. We have 9 months stuck in here and coming up with conspiracies isnt going to help anyone.'
The room fell into silence, Asher felt awkward but there was nothing he could do. He knew everyone else there was leagues above him but he didnt know how vital to their surivival he will be when they arrive on Mars.