The 5th lord A Majestic Return to the Tale!

Chapter 1

On a canvas of twinkling twilight, Cape Canaveral springs to life, the pulsing core of America's space exploration saga.

Nearby, a beam of light flits across a window pane, catching the attention of a sleeping boy. Awakened, he moves to the window, mesmerized by the vision of a rocket climbing the sky. His eyes, ablaze with desire, fixate on its ascent. The call to be an astronaut resonates, echoing his soul's deepest drive. With measured pace, he approaches a telescope, an ever-present sentinel, to trace the shuttle's journey upwards, toward the intersection of our Earthly realm and the Martian beyond. The vision fuels a fierce longing; sleep's embrace is now powerless over him.

He swears his destiny will be written among the stars—to touch the surface of Mars!

His spirit climbs with the shuttle into the expanse; slumber cast aside for amazement. A trek to a bookcase, he procures a VR headset like a modern wizard's globe, placing it on to carve out his fate among the spaceman.

Our vast world is filled with kids who dream of adventures on Mars.

Yet on that faraway, terraformed sphere, stands a man who came from our azure world, had to come to stay unwillingly...

Mars sits a serene 225 million kilometers from Earth,

nestled in the spacious confines of Colony Asia's premier conference room.

Phakin Kung (Japanese style), the Japanese Industrial Director, presided at the table's helm, his gaze settling on the high-level technician sporting a long-untended beard.

Naming the technician Thai, a nod to his heritage, Takeda looked out to the celestial expanse, its dusty, oxygen-barren surface witnessed through the window. Upon engagement, Thai reverently responded in Takeda's native tongue, confirming his attention.

With a smile, Director Takeda acknowledged Thai's acknowledgment before pivoting to address the assembly of managerial and engineering minds, each prominent in the industrial fabric of the colony.

Celebrating six years since Colony Asia's inception, Takeda heralded Phakin Kung as a vanguard. His metal separator, a marvel in the magnesium mines, performed exceptionally, forging energy blocks dispatched Earthward. More so, as a steward of mechanical engineering within the colony, Phakin Kung manifested excellence. Oversight of hardware manufacturing plants elicited not a whisper of discontent but fervent accolades. Acknowledging Phakin Kung's indispensable role, Takeda implored the congregation for an ovation, leading the charge with an ardent display of applause.

Every technician rose and clapped, beaming with pride, celebrating Mr. Phakin 's dedication.

Upon sniffing enough of the sweet scent, Phakin stand up, declaring, "This thriving colony, it's our collective achievement, a testament to mutual support. No single individual can claim its inception - it's a shared endeavor. As we part ways, as the world fades, my chapter ends. It's time I pass the torch, entrust the legacy. I foresee no shortcomings; may you all tend to it with care..." He then lowered his head in respect.

At the table's end, a fresh Mongolian graduate and new to the station, spoke with conviction, "Our seniors' wisdom has shielded Asia from ecological perils - pollution and nature's wrath. Thanks to them, families, all our kin, can cherish life in our homeland. As the newcomer, I vow to give my all!"

Phakin once more gracefully declined, quipping to the technician, "Think of it as a grand United Nations initiative to decimate Martian nature, only to ship the spoils back for our own planet to consume. So let's get on with it, shall we?"

Among the recent graduates just starting their careers, optimism remained, despite the solemn reality that our world faces an unprecedented environmental crisis—massive storms, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the piercing UV radiation through a depleted ozone are clear signs. Desolate lands, relentless mining, overzealous oil extraction, and pollutive industrial practices have brought our Earth to a dire state. Unless the United Nations mandates a cessation of mining and oil drilling, plus a shift of all contaminating industries off-world, risking other planets, within a century, humanity may no longer be able to inhabit Earth, the very place we all call home.