26–30 April, Space Era 91.
The Unshackled Spirit.
Barely days after her release from the psychiatric hospital, Aelyzabeth von Thors wasted no time. She cast her frail body aside and poured every ounce of her being into research and creation. Standing before the press, she proclaimed:
"Illness weakens my body, but my spirit no power can confine."
With that conviction, she and her circle of scientists unveiled projects destined to transform the very face of the cosmic age:
The Zysoen A-I Engine — a propulsion system powered by Dreamspear, a rare mineral yielding energy eight times greater than fusion, free of pollution.
The Zyezeus A-IV Starship — a colossal vessel, capable of bearing thousands of passengers across stellar systems without the need for refueling.
To sustain these ambitions, she founded the company Zunzerlyser—not upon the pillars of conventional capitalism, but upon a semi-bureaucratic structure, transparent, responsible, and aimed toward long-term sustainability. Her prudent cousin, Aelaera von Escheinsen, assumed the mantle of chief administrator.
A Nation Forged of Steel and Starlight.
In pursuit of this vision, Aelyzabeth erected entire sectors of industry:
A refinery for Dreamspear ore, employing over ten thousand laborers.
Steel foundries and iron mines across New Hope.
A starship assembly plant—soon hailed as a "City of Steel and Starlight."
The results were immediate: unemployment fell by 2.3% in mere weeks, and voices of admiration rose among the people:
"The girl once called mad is now the savior of the economy."
An Unexpected Event and a Bond Forged in Fire.
On April 27, calamity struck—a foreign merchant vessel crashed upon the surface of New Hope. Aelyzabeth, awaiting no decree from the government, led her own private rescue corps to the scene.
From the shattered wreckage, she saved more than two hundred lives. Among them was Luna de Tharzalus, a nineteen-year-old granddaughter of the President of the Democratic People's Republic of Thailang.
Aelyzabeth brought Luna to her private manor for care. Their first meeting was charged with wonder: Luna gazed upon Aelyzabeth with mingled reverence and doubt, while Aelyzabeth looked upon her as one who understood.
For nights, they conversed—of galaxies, of politics, of mankind's future. At last, Luna vowed:
"From this day forth, we are companions—wherever the stars may lead us."
The government of Thailang welcomed this bond, granting Aelyzabeth the status of Honored Guest, free to cross their borders with nothing but her New Hope identity.
The Historic Visit and National Investment.
On April 30, Aelyzabeth von Thors undertook an official journey to Thailang. At fourteen years of age, she was received not as a child but as a stateswoman of the highest order.
She invested more than sixty million Earth-dollars, not for mere profit, but for genuine partnership:
Dispatching New Hope's engineers and scientists to impart industrial knowledge.
Purchasing raw materials and foodstuffs from Thailang to supply her homeland.
Establishing vocational centers, employing thousands of local workers.
The fruits were evident:
New Hope secured vital resources for its starship program.
Thailang gained employment, revived its local economy, and uplifted its people.
Political ties between the two nations were bound closer than ever.
Journalists declared with awe:"Aelyzabeth von Thors—scientist, ideologue, and diplomat within a single form."
A New Path Unfolds.
Though scarcely returned from the halls of confinement, Aelyzabeth had become a symbol of renewed hope for two worlds. Laborers, scientists, and common folk alike raised their voices in support.
Yet, behind the silken curtains of politics, the old elites watched with wary eyes. For they knew well—This young girl was not merely altering the world through science,but was unsettling the balance of power across the universe itself.
Thus ends Chapter B-VIII.