To Each His Own

On a bright September day in 1965, a sleek Venusian spacecraft settles in the middle of Times Square, its metallic hull gleaming under the sun. The bustling streets fall eerily silent as the alien vessel touches down, and the five crew members spring into practiced action, each performing a precise task they have rehearsed countless times. Their mission: to assess Earth’s atmosphere, terrain, and the reactions of its inhabitants while preparing for the first official contact between Venus and humanity.

Pilot Gwann secures the stabilizers, navigator Drog maps the landing site, and biochemist Jorik runs rapid tests on soil and air samples collected by a tiny rover. Meanwhile, communications officer Volval beams the data back to Venus, and Klendro, the designated ambassador, rehearses a carefully crafted speech for the inevitable meeting with Earth’s governments. As the crew works against the clock, the quiet city holds its breath, hinting at the delicate balance between curiosity and caution that will shape the encounter.