[h1][center]From the Dying Dusk, comes the New Dawn.[/center][/h1]

[u]
Columbia
Capital City of Concord
Liberty Avenue 
Presidential Office 
[/u]

President Matthew Constantine inspected his reflection in the mirror, making a few final touches to his blue suit, the nerves of today's event getting to him. Even if he did this twice already, the thought of addressing to billions across the star system had always given him a severe case of stage freight. He turned to meet the gentle and warm gaze of an older woman a few years younger than him, in a fine white dress, his wife, Alice. "So...How do I look?" He asked her nervously, in an exaggerated pose, putting up an awkward, anxious smile. "Matt, you're just fine." Alice replied, approaching him and placing her gloved hand over his cheek, reassuring him. His expression relaxing from her mere touch, she had that effect on him.

"Relax, you'll do fine!" She said to him, followed by a light kiss on that same cheek. "Just a small speech, and you're done!" She said as she backed away, with a wide smile. "And it won't be a moment too soon, I'm starving!" She half-joked, although in truth, she was eager to get on with dinner already. The President nodded, his stance and composure straightened out as both he and Alice locked their arms together. "You ready?" She asked.


"Always." He replied as both left the room, the doors sliding open to reveal the Vice President, both men nodding to each other as the trio made their way to the main event. The journey between his office and the ground level of the main Liberty building felt like hours before they reached the front entrance, the doors pushed open to revealing a large crowd cheering, the President, First Lady, and Vice President waving to the people, with their arrival, a booming voice cracked in the air. "And now, please stand for the National Anthem."

A silence fell in the air for a moment as all present waited with bated breath. Screens placed throughout the city, and a few large ones placed around Liberty Avenue lit up, a small figure standing behind a large dark shape, spotlights were shined revealing a young girl and a whole orchestra standing atop a raised platform, the girl the [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UicvRH6m14U]first to begin[/url] as she heard several taps from the Conductor. 

[hr]

Once it was over, all turned their gaze to the President as he stood atop the podium. Clearing his throat, grabbing a hold of the mic, tapping on it several times as camera drones begun swarming around the podium, hovering around them as they record. Breathing deeply once more, the President begun his speech. "First of all, thank you to sweet little Opal and our very own Concord Symphony for that wonderful performance!" He said, followed by clapping and cheers from the audience, continuing once the noise died down. "And as you know, we are gathered today to celebrate a momentous occasion for all the system, and one of heartbreak for many." He paused as took a breath. "Today marks the 20th anniversary since the end of the Mojave War, a war that tore our people in two." The screens began to cycle through images taken from the war, the victories and the defeats, the good times and the bad. 

"I come before you to honor those that fought and bled to keep our Republic whole." Matthew said. "They paid a high price, and for that, you and all of Americana have our thanks and admiration." Matthew paused once more, so far so good, he was halfway there, and afterwards he can go about the rest of his day in relative peace.... "I would also-" He was going continue the latter half of his speech...however something rather odd was happening in the afternoon skies. The crowd seeming to all look up in awe. This perplexed the President, was it the airshow? Wasn't supposed to start until after the speech. He followed their lead and looked to the sky, his jaw dropping at the sight of a bright blue light shining brightly. Alice, concerned, briskly approached Matthew as they both held on to each other, their gaze still glued to the Light.

"Oh my God..." Matthew mumbled, gripping onto Alice tightly, a small thought occurred....was this the fabled Gateway? The one that was long closed since the Dying Dusk? "Could it be..?" He thought to himself, no way this was real but what hung above was very real. Columbia would soon face the New Dawn.

The Gateway was opened.