[center][h3][color=9e0b0f]Toronto, Canada. [/color][/h3][/center]

King George VII looked out across the vast roaring crowd below him, as he walked onto the podium. The mega screens behind him stopped broadcasting the Legacy Gate timer momentarily to focus on his smiling face as they usually did. They all waved their little Union Jacks when they saw him come on the screens. The Canadians loved him as much as the Londoners, it seemed. Well it might have something to do with all of his investments into their healthcare and science. They love progress in the colonies.

He waved harder, covering every direction as he moved up to his speaking place. Surely half of them felt like they had been personally waved to. He dramatically tapped the mic, and a sudden silence fell over the crowd. He stared paternally across the crowd for a moment as he was supposed to, and felt a familiar surge of love and responsibility. There was as much show as there was genuine feeling in his royal performances. It wasn’t like the strategy games he played on his tiny vacations. 

“People of Canada”, he boomed elegantly across the crowd. “This is a truly historic day across our United Kingdom!”, he paused for cheers “Soon Legacy will connect our realm to another place. A place where we can establish humanity beyond our planet! All British peoples across the Empire will rejoice as we take to the stars together. The Legacy Gate in fair Toronto will open soon, but I suspect more of you are watching the massive construction in New York. I will stay with you, my people, and watch this evolution for humankind!”, more cheering as the TVs switched back to the countdown. 

He moved to the rows of chairs that had been prepared for the royal entourage. His wife Catherine, Duchess of Edinburgh, was there waiting for him in the chair designated next to his. She had been a childhood friend of his, so the demanded leap to marriage with her didn’t too feel strange. They had grown to love each other in a way, and she was quite a beautiful Scott.

“You really do have a way with them”, she said playfully as he took his seat. “Is it as easy as it is to charm you?”

He smiled as he straightened in his chair like he was supposed to. “Basically. You’ll get to try yourself soon anyways. Don’t you have a line of beauty products coming out?”

She chuckled and he turned to look at the timer. 30 minutes ‘till god knows what happened. He put 100 men in that experimental power armor near the gate on the outskirts of the city, but he was uneasy. Would they stride forth onto some virgin pasture in another galaxy? Or would something terrible stride out to meet them?

[center][h3][color=9e0b0f]London, England [/color][/h3][/center]

In a secure conference room beneath all the palaces and attractions of London, Prime Minister Oliver Chambers was with other ranking government officials and parliamentarians. He was focused on the screens with only a few others, while most of the others enjoyed small talk of the holidays and brandy. The lead up to this Legacy Gate had lasted months and years, so the legacy gates actually opening was boring them. They were tired, as was he, from all the speeches, functions, and grand celebrations. But he was still anxious as ever that something could be going wrong with the project. As much as he spoke on it’s promise, as much he [b]knew[/b] what it could promise, there was still something unsettling about it all. He adjusted his glasses and sipped the mug someone had handed him earlier. Tea? Tea. Minty as well.

One of the screens showed the King’s speech in Toronto. It was short and nearly drowned in cheers, but inspiring and energetic. Though unfortunately they’d have to have another talk on proper length. The young king was well practiced in commoner appeal, but his adherence to the finer points left something to be desired. Typical. He’d make sure to mention when he was back in London. They were closer than most liked in Parliament, but it was as much friendship as it was politics that bound them.

“Prime Minister?”

His momentary lapse of concentration ceased, as the courier had approached him. He sat up in his chair.

“Yes?”

“The Royal Society are on the line, and so is the agency in New York.”

He stiffened. Were his fears confirmed? He got up quickly and nearly stumbled after being seated for so long. He grabbed the telephone in the corner and opened the first call he could. Doctor Evans was panicky. Much higher energy readings than expected were coming through. He urged him to do everything possible in his power and to ready the future soldiers if need be. Then he picked up the call from New York. Apparently there was some kind of explosion inside the laboratory. Again, he urged them to do what they could. But he knew that was very little.

The only thing he could do was call the King. Even though the incidents were small, he knew something was amiss. He hadn't gotten this far without trusting his senses in potential crisis situations. He dialed the number, and after a few rings the Kings handler picked up.

He didn't shout when he finally connected, but he made sure to command. “The King needs to get to the bunker. I don’t care what he said to the crowd, somethings going on with the gates.”