I have a vision!

[Munro]

EDINBURGH TIMES - 1704 AD

Scottish Prime Minister Munro addressed an excited crowd today outside Bute House, Edinburgh, with the first tantalizing details of his his government's ambitious new 'centennial project'.  The project has been the subject of wide speculation since it was first announced in the PM's historic New Year's address of 1700AD, using the nation's new nationwide network of broadcast towers. 

Until now the project has been known to the public only as the 'Apollo' project - a reference to the ancient Greek god of light and the sun, truth, prophecy, archery, medicine, healing, music, poetry and the arts (no clues there).  Today the First Minister addressed the nation to elaborate.

* "Fellow Scots, we stand today, not just at the start of a new century, but at the start of a new chapter in the history of mankind.  Man has conquered the earth - and nearly destroyed it - but now it is time to look beyond.  The world is now at peace and we are experiencing a new renaissance of science and engineering.  Great People have been arriving from across the continent to contribute to this extraordinary project, and before the end of the next decade, Scotland will do this.  We will commit to landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.  We will push the frontiers of science and exploration.  It will be a leap of science and engineering like no other in the history of mankind."

The project is expected to take approximately 18 years to complete, and the PM is rumoured to be looking for outside investors to help fund the ambitious project, which appears to still be in its early stages, according to initial plans released by the press office today (see diagram).  Nonetheless, the speech was well received by an enthusiastic and rowdy crowd, with both spirits and attendance buoyed further by the recent government policy of distributing 12-year old single malt at all of the PM's public speeches. 

The project marks the start of what is expected to evolve into an ambitous and expensive space program, and the PM is rumoured to be seeking outside investors for funding and a 'substantial' role.

Early project plans for the Scottish 'Apollo' project, released today

[Capsavian Hopewell]

OOC: Your engineering blueprints are so complex!

[da_Vinci]

OOC: That particular diagram looks more like the Icarus Project! 

dV

[Capsavian Hopewell]

OOC: That particular diagram looks more like the Icarus Project! 

dV

ROFL!!!  That *is* getting a bit close to the sun, no?   

[Munro]

Success!

The country watched today in stunned awe as a crew of 4 from the Scottish National Space Centre (SNSC) succeeded in being the first to put a man on the moon.  Images of the landing were beamed across the country using the recently constructed nationwide network of state broadcast towers.  Alastair McDouglas, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Scottish Air Force, led the space mission and was the first to step foot on the surface of the moon.  More than 30 million Scots across the country tuned in to watch the historic broadcast.  As he stepped out onto the surface of the moon, McDouglas was heard to utter the now famous words:

"Kilts and keels do nae well mix.  But Scots and rocket fuel - now yer talking!"

The Scottish crew of three was joined on their mission by the renowned Oligar spiritiual leader, St. John, who joined early on in the project at the request of the deeply spiritual pacifist Oligamon government.  St. John is believed to have spent more than 18 years in training for the mission.  He is revered by many throughout Oligar and Scotland as a great prophet for the Taoist religion, and his inspirational example and leadership in joining the mission is believed to have been a significant factor in the recent Scottish golden age which helped to make the mission possible. 

Scottish Prime Minister Munro issued a statement today saying:

"This is truly an historic day, but this is only the beginning.  Today we stand at the threshold of a new chapter of in the history of civilization... "

The SNSC declined to comment on their future plans, praising instead the bravery and fortune of the Scottish flight crew in their historic achievement.  However, the Scottish government is rumoured to be in discussion with several of its neighbours over an ambitious joint project to push the boundaries of space exploration even further to the next solar system or beyond.  It's not clear how far the negotiations have yet proceeded, but more details are expected soon.

Scottish Lieutenant-Colonel Alastair McDouglas became the first man to walk on the surface of the moon

[Capsavian Hopewell]

OOC:  No doubt space-age plaid in use there!

[Viktor Ahriman]

I thought your flag was red?

[Capsavian Hopewell]

I thought your flag was red?

Scotland's flag?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland

[Viktor Ahriman]

OOC, yes I know in real life, but in game his flag is red with a symbol on it, as I saw on his frigate.  Not a big deal.  Thats what I meant though.