Marvel: Alchemist

Chapter 26: Beyond the Horizon

Spring 1991 – Nevada

Golden Aerospace stood as a beacon of human ingenuity, its cutting-edge research facility deep in the Nevada desert expanding at an unprecedented pace. With Kryptonium-reinforced alloys revolutionizing spacecraft durability and propulsion breakthroughs pushing past Earth's limitations, Edward Lin had positioned himself at the forefront of the next great era.

Edward stood alongside William Lin, overlooking the final assembly of their latest spacecraft, the Horizon. Unlike anything humanity had ever built, the Horizon was a testament to their ambition—a ship capable of sustained deep-space travel, equipped with an alchemically-enhanced energy core. It was no longer about reaching the Moon. This was about reaching the stars.

"You've outdone yourself," William admitted as he studied the data. "With this, we'll go beyond anything Stark Industries or NASA has attempted."

Edward's smirk was faint. "It's not about them. It's about the future. Ours. Humanity's."

The Horizon's test flight was scheduled for the summer, and with investors and the world watching, it had to be perfect.

---

The Corporate Power Shift

By 1992, Edward's quiet maneuvering had solidified Golden Aerospace's dominance in the private space sector. His 3.7% stake in Stark Industries granted him insider knowledge, but he had no interest in taking over—only in ensuring their developments complemented his own.

Evelyn Lin, handling negotiations as always, updated him on the latest shifts in the industry. "Stark Industries is scrambling to catch up. With Howard Stark gone and Tony Stark still not fully involved in the company, they're looking for allies."

Edward considered it. "We don't need them, but their resources are valuable."

A silent agreement was made—Golden Aerospace would continue its work independently, but if Stark Industries wanted to invest, they would do so under Edward's terms.

---

First Steps into the Void

In the summer of 1993, the Horizon launched.

The world watched as the ship ascended beyond Earth's atmosphere, breaking speed and distance records before disappearing beyond lunar orbit. Days later, it returned—untouched, successful. The test had proven that long-term space travel was no longer theoretical.

Golden Aerospace's value skyrocketed, and the implications were clear: space was open for business. Mining operations on the Moon, exploratory missions toward Mars, even whispers of reaching beyond the solar system—these were no longer distant dreams.

Edward stood at the control center, arms crossed. "This is only the beginning," he murmured to William.

William, eyes fixed on the data stream, nodded. "Then let's take the next step."

And so, they did.

To Be Continued...