"Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World."

- Christopher Columbus

Germany, Saxony-Anhalt, March 27, 2038

The sun barely crept over the horizon, its golden rays struggling to pierce the dense mist hanging over the short-grass prairies of Saxony-Anhalt. The air was crisp, the morning cold seeping into the temporary barracks where Sergeant Edward Snowden and his fellow UN peacekeepers lay in restless sleep. But for Snowden, sleep had come in fragments, broken by dreams filled with images of swirling vortexes and a new world beyond.

A sudden jolt to his shoulder shattered what little peace he had. "Hey man, wake the hell up! It's a big day," said Corporal Jimmy Barnes, his voice tinged with an almost boyish excitement that betrayed the seasoned soldier he was. Snowden blinked the sleep away, his vision sharpening as he looked at the clock. 0600. Right on time.

Snowden groaned, stretching his limbs with a crack of his knuckles. "Huh? What’s going on?"

"Today’s the day we deploy to the new world," Jimmy replied, a grin spreading across his face. "You didn’t forget, did you?"

"Of course not," Snowden said, pulling himself upright. "Guess the excitement is making me a little nervous. But I’m ready."

"Good, 'cause briefing’s in thirty. Let’s hit the showers and suit up."

The barracks stirred with the hum of life, soldiers rising from their folding cots and shuffling through the narrow aisles, gathering their gear. Snowden and Barnes joined the throng, making their way to the communal showers. Steam filled the air, swirling like the fog outside, as dozens of soldiers scrubbed down with special antibacterial pads designed to kill anything that might cross from Earth to Gaia. "Last thing we need is bringing some Earth bacteria over there," one soldier muttered as Snowden passed.

Snowden let the warm water wash away the haze of fatigue and the layers of grit from the days spent training in the field. As the droplets drummed against his skin, a thought wormed its way into his mind. *What waits for us out there?* Gaia was an enigma, a mystery wrapped in alien landscapes and unknown dangers. The UN’s briefings had been vague—deliberately so, Snowden thought—but there was no denying the nervous excitement that thrummed in his chest.

After their showers, Snowden and Barnes returned to their lockers, donning sleek, olive-green uniforms adorned with the blue UN logo. They strapped on Kevlar armor and vests, checked their sidearms and rifles, and made sure their gear was squared away. As they left the barracks, Snowden couldn’t help but notice the palpable tension that hung in the air. For all the bravado and banter, everyone knew they were stepping into the unknown.

Breakfast was a rushed affair, consisting of standard-issue MREs: tasteless, utilitarian sustenance. Snowden chewed absentmindedly on his scrambled eggs and hash browns while Corporal Barnes wolfed down a protein bar beside him. Around them, hundreds of soldiers crowded into the field for the morning briefing.

Their commander, Major Jeffrey Lang, climbed onto a platform overlooking the assembly. His voice, gruff yet steady, echoed across the rows of assembled soldiers. "Alright, listen up. Today, we embark on the greatest mission in human history. Our orders are clear. Our job is to protect the construction teams, secure the landing zone, and ensure that nothing impedes the establishment of our first base on Gaia. We will be their shield—protecting them against any possible threats."

Lang paused, his eyes scanning the crowd. "We don’t know exactly what’s waiting for us out there. Our reconnaissance drones haven’t picked up any signs of large animal life near the landing zone, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t predators. The new world is uncharted territory, there is no GPS and Radio communication will be poor on the other side, and the terrain is unlike anything on Earth. We will establish forward operating bases, scout the area for potential hazards, and be prepared for any hostilities—human or otherwise. Make no mistake; we are stepping into uncharted territory. We must be disciplined and ready."

He took a breath before continuing, his tone hardening. "Remember, failure is not an option. We represent not just the UN, but all of humanity. Now pack your gear and get ready—we roll out in fifteen."

Snowden’s heart pounded with a mix of adrenaline and apprehension as he hustled back to the barracks to finalize preparations. His hands moved with practiced precision, stowing rations, medical kits, ammunition, and a multi-purpose survival knife into his pack. As he slid his rifle into its sling, Jimmy tossed him a small canister.

"Here, Snowden. Pepper spray," Barnes said with a lopsided grin.

Snowden arched an eyebrow, examining the bottle. "Seriously, man? Do you think we’re gonna be fighting off aliens with this stuff?"

"Hey, you never know. Might come in handy if some critter tries to get up close and personal."

Snowden chuckled and stashed the spray in his gear. "Thanks, Jimmy. I’ll be sure to use it on the first extraterrestrial raccoon I see."

The mood in the barracks shifted as Snowden and Barnes rejoined their squad. Nervous chatter buzzed through the air, soldiers joking about everything from *Star Trek* to *Stargate.* Snowden overheard one voice in the crowd. "Feels like we’re about to get isekai’ed," someone said, drawing laughter from a nearby group.

Lieutenant Alex Hill, their team leader, assembled the unit in front of the convoy of vehicles—Humvees, Stryker APCs, and supply trucks, each emblazoned with the UN’s insignia. "Alright, gather up!" he called, his voice cutting through the chatter like a blade. "Time for introductions. We’ve got personnel from across the world here. Let’s start with names, ranks, and units."

The soldiers stepped forward in turn. "First Lieutenant Liu Pengfei, People's Liberation Army Special Operations Force."

"Second Lieutenant Mell Wilkinson, 66th Air Operations Squadron."

"First Sergeant Denijs Veenstra, Kopassus," a gruff voice sounded, the accent thick with Indonesian cadence.

Snowden’s own introduction came quickly. "Sergeant Edward Snowden, UN Peacekeeping Force, United States Navy SEALs."

Corporal Jimmy Barnes followed. "Corporal Jimmy Barnes, same unit."

"Corporal Nikolayev Mili, Spetsnaz."

"Private Karl Sulzberger, 11th German Bundeswehr Sustainment Brigade"

"Private Gregor Staebler, same unit"

The rest of the introductions passed in a blur, with personnel from the Indian Gurkha, French Troupes de marine, and other branches making up the joint team. Hill’s gaze hardened as he looked at them. "Listen up," he said, "our mission is to scout the area ahead of the construction teams, identify any potential hazards, and provide security. Keep your eyes open, stay sharp, and watch each other’s backs. Now, mount up!"

One by one all UN peacekeeping personnel started to enter their assign vehicles, put on their seat belts and prepare themselves to begin the journey to another world.

Snowden climbed into the back of a Stryker APC, the engine rumbling beneath his feet as the heavy vehicle came to life. Beside him, Jimmy glanced out of the small window at the swirling vortex of the portal that loomed ahead—a shimmering gateway that seemed to swallow light and warp reality.

"You think it’s gonna hurt?" Jimmy asked, his voice betraying a rare hint of uncertainty.

"Only one way to find out," Snowden replied, tightening his grip on the straps above his head.

As Snowden and his team waited their turn to enter the portal, One of the German soldiers asked, "What do you guys think we'll find on the other side, do you think we will find magical Elves?"

"Maybe, I hope we'll find furries there, I've always wanted to become Doomguy." Answered the French.

"Hah!, I'd rather be a Space Marines if we find furries there, slaughter them like Tyranids!" Other soldier said

Jimmy nudged Edward and asked "What do you think we'll find on the other side?"

Snowden shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe a paradise. Or maybe a hellhole. All we can do is wait and see."

when it was their turn. They climbed into the APC and buckled up. The vehicle lurched forward, and they were swallowed by the swirling vortex of the portal.

The convoy inched forward, vehicle by vehicle, until it was their turn. The Stryker rolled toward the portal, and as they crossed the threshold, the world outside seemed to warp and stretch in an explosion of light and color. Snowden’s stomach lurched, the sensation like being pulled in every direction at once, the very atoms of his body vibrating. For an instant, it felt as though he was dissolving into the void.

Meanwhile, reporters from various news outlets captured the historic moment, their cameras flashing as the vehicles one by one entered the gateway and disappeared.

A crowd of onlookers has gathered around the portal, their faces a mix of excitement and apprehension. Reporters are setting up their cameras, ready to capture the historic moment.

Reporter 1 (CNN): "Welcome to CNN. We're live from Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, where we are witnessing a historic event. Dozens of armored vehicles are about to transport the first wave of UN peacekeeping troops to another world."

The crowd cheers as the first vehicle begins to move towards the portal. The vehicle disappears into the swirling vortex, and the crowd gasps in amazement.

Reporter 2 (BBC): "This is a momentous occasion. Humanity is taking its first steps into the unknown. The fate of our species may depend on the success of this mission."

One by one, the vehicles enter the portal, vanishing into the void. The crowd falls silent, their eyes fixed on the gateway.

Reporter 3 (France 24): "While this is a historic event, there are concerns about the need to deploy peacekeeping forces to the new world. Some argue that it could lead to unnecessary conflicts and tensions."

Reporter 4 (Deutsche Welle) : We need to protect our people. The new world is uncharted territory. We can't afford to take any risks."

Reporter 5 (Al-jazeera) : "The future of humanity hangs in the balance. Only time will tell if this bold decision was the right one."

The portal remains open, a shimmering gateway to a new world. The crowd watches in awe, their hearts filled with hope and uncertainty.

Author's Note

"What the hell is the 11th German Bundeswehr Sustainment Brigade?" -Military nerds.

It's basically a German barricade for long-term expedition campaigns. -me

"Source? -military nerd

My source is that I made it the fuck up!