Published at 5th of March 2026 6:52 am

Chapter 891: Baldr 1

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On a test field somewhere in an undisclosed location, a rocket stood proudly on a platform. It was not the same rocket Bruno had witnessed in a warehouse just days ago. Instead, this rocket was designed for another purpose.

For over a decade, the German Reich had its own space program. But their purpose until now had been in support of military operations. Launching a global satellite network had been their only goal outside of a few unofficial deep space probes.

Bruno had early on consolidated the best scientists in the world in Germany and brokered research agreements with the Russian Empire and its already deep talent pool for a variety of projects and rocketry was one of them.

The world had only witnessed military projects such as a short and medium-range ballistic missiles, MLRS platforms, and rocket-assisted artillery shells.

But few were even aware of what Germany had been up to on an extraterrestrial level. Today Bruno witnessed the results of decades of rocket propulsion development and astrophysics perfection culminate into one platform.

He and several other important state actors, including the Kaiser stood within the command center, watching on a screen as the crew inside the manned mission checked to see if everything was operational.

Multiple checks were performed by those inside and outside the rocket. Bruno wanted everything to be absolutely perfect; losing the men inside the rocket’s habitable container would be disastrous.

These were national heroes and men who had spent lifetimes as elite pilots. If even one of them died in a space launch, it would be a catastrophe.

Because of this, he had insisted on the highest level of safety protocols, just in a way that did not stifle development.

Bruno could hear the noises in the background. Men on radios communicating with maintenance crews, and the crew of the missile itself.

And finally, after all was cleared for takeoff, the command center looked to Bruno for the command.

He stepped forward, shifting his tie and clearing his throat slightly before taking the microphone.

"Gentlemen... Today is an important day in the history of our species. We have long since pierced the veil between the Earth and the heavens. Yet until today not a single man has stepped foot into the great world beyond. Yet humanity was never meant to be bound to the Earth forever, and today we prove this to be true and not legend. Godspeed, gentlemen... Prepare to start launch sequence!"

A series of titanium keys were inserted into the launch system, which kick-started the ignition of the rocket. Bruno took off his headset and stared intently at the screen in front of him.

Kaiser Wilhelm II stood at his side, shocked by what he was witnessing.

"In my life, I have witnessed humanity accomplish remarkable feats once believed impossible... I have seen man learn to fly like a fairy; I have witnessed the splitting of the atom and the harvesting of the sun’s potential for our own gains. But I never would have imagined that in my life, at its end. I would witness humans slip the bonds of the Earth and enter the cosmos."

Bruno smirked when he heard this. It was rather incredible when he thought about it. Like the Kaiser, he had personally witnessed the most transformative changes in human history. Things he had only once read in history books were events he had watched unfold in real time.

In most cases, he had actively played a part in seeing them manifest into reality ahead of schedule. But this was his biggest accomplishment yet. And the reason for that was simple.

During Bruno’s past life, space travel, despite being the single most important long-term objective of the species, had stagnated and declined well into the years leading to his death.

Prioritization on markets that produced short-term gains in terms of raw capital had crippled humanity’s ability to technologically progress at a scale that had once been a norm during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

And with him only being in his mid-sixties; the fact that the first manned mission to space was being conducted today in 1943 as a result of his interference in the timeline, meant that perhaps... just maybe... by the end of his life humanity would have progressed beyond the world he had once known in at least one critical field of technological development.

Just as he thought this, the countdown sequence came to an end, and the rocket shot into the sky. Climbing higher and higher until it broke past the Karman line. But Bruno wasn’t simply satisfied with this result.

His fingers clenched around the table as the rocket climbed higher and higher until eventually breaking past the exosphere entirely.

Then the rocket’s two stages separated from the command module entirely, allowing it to float within the Earth’s orbit freely for some time.

It was only after a few seconds of silent drift that the radio lit up with the voice of the Cosmic Travelers within the command module.

"Mission control, this is Baldr-1... All I can say is, I wish we had some cold ones to crack open and enjoy the view...."

The mission control center immediately broke out into cheers; even Bruno couldn’t help but grin and clap his hands in celebration. It was a rare sight for him to show such overwhelming emotions publicly.

Though the Kaiser had witnessed Bruno white-knuckling it during the launch sequence, he didn’t say anything.

He could only step up and pat Bruno on the back.

"I must admit, I didn’t think it was possible. Even when standing here watching the rocket, a part of me was uncertain things would go as planned. But I suppose I should have learned by this point in life to trust your judgement."

Bruno sighed in relief and shook his head. Turning to face the Kaiser he performed a proper salute. One to which Wilhelm returned.

"As much as I would like to take credit for this... I cannot. This isn’t my achievement, it’s the achievement of the Reich... It took more than just me organizing a few great minds together under one roof for this to happen."

Wilhelm smiled and looked up at the screens. Visible displays from inside and outside the command module showed what space was really like beyond the boundaries of the Earth’s atmosphere.

He was in awe of how vast and uninviting it was. If anything, it didn’t make him comfortable, but filled him with unease. He couldn’t help but wonder... and accidentally voice his thoughts aloud.

"Do you think we’re truly alone out there? That we alone were made in God’s image?"

Bruno looked back at the screen and stared into the vast emptiness of space. Feeling its deep abyss calling to him in ways that also made him feel just a little cold.

"It’s impossible to know for sure. But mathematically speaking, it’s basically impossible to assume we are the only intelligent lifeforms in the universe, considering its overwhelming scale and infinite boundaries. The real question is how long until we make contact with them?"

Kaiser Wilhelm II grew stern... He did not know much about the subject, but the way Bruno’s voice had shifted during his final statement. It left him with the idea that somewhere out there in the deep dark abyss that was space were threats they as a species could not possibly fathom.

Bruno noticed the Kaiser’s increasingly unsettled expression and was quick to laugh off his earlier comments.

"But assuming something does exist out there, that will be a problem for future generations of humans to worry about, long after we are both laid to rest. With the vastness of space, and the statistical improbability of sapient life, and the odds of such a species surviving until the point where they get to our current state it is entirely possible that we will never know the truth."

It was only after Bruno reassured him that there wasn’t some reckoning lurking out there beyond their eyes that the Kaiser finally allowed himself to relax. Sighing heavily, he congratulated Bruno one more time.

"Good... Well, I think we should properly celebrate this occasion. Shall we go back to the Palace and have a drink? Your daughter would be most happy to see you drop by."

Bruno looked back at the screen and saw the men celebrating in the command module. He also looked around him at the men hard at work to ensure that the return and retrieval of the crew went as smoothly as possible.

Though the opportunities in this life to enjoy a drink with the Kaiser were fleeting, Bruno knew he had a responsibility to see this mission to its end. And because of that, he sighed heavily and shook his head.

"I’m sorry, Your Majesty. But I have a duty to make sure these men return safely. My presence here will still be required until the mission is complete. Maybe after I can visit the palace?"

Kaiser Wilhelm II nodded with approval before walking out the door.

"That sounds like a plan. Enjoy your victory Bruno. The public will soon know of this feat, and I am sure your name will be in the headlines again."

Wilhelm then left the command center and returned to the palace, while Bruno stayed and oversaw the successful return and retrieval of the crew.

Baldr-1 had been a success. And this meant that when the Odin series of rockets were completed, mankind would not just hover in space, but would reach the moon.

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