[ WP ] You 've just taken the first step on Mars , you say your famous words which are followed by cheering , then screaming , then static .

Years of preparation and planning has lead to this moment. Every calculation possible was mapped out. There could be no margin in error. The space race was in full effect and we had no intentions of losing it. Today, history will be made once again. My name would be up there with the greats, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin. I would be remembered forever as the first man to walk on Mars. As the ladder descended to the red dark soil I was filled to the brim with excitement. Man has always dreamed of going to mars and here I was the first. As I climbed down I prepared for my speech. 
 
 `` Control do you read?'' 
 
 `` Loud and clear Jim, ready when you are.'' 
 
 With a final step my boots made contact with the sandy surface. 
 
 `` Today marks another great achievement for mankind. We take yet another step towards the future and another leap to greatness.'' 
 
 A roar of cheering echos back over the comms in celebration. After all our struggles and doubts we achieved our dreams. Here I was, in the center of it all. As suddenly as the cheers started they immediately followed by a loud eruption of horrific screams. The signal erupted in chaos and panic. 
 
 `` CONTROL?..COME IN CONTROL! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?'' 
 
 The screams only continued until they were met with an eerie static then complete silence. 
 
 `` CONTROL? CONTROL DO YOU READ ME?'' 
 
 There was no reply. I looked up to the sky where the shuttle was orbiting nearby for pickup. On board was the remainder of my crew. Hopefully they had a better understanding of what happened. Desperately I tried to contact the shuttle. 
 
 `` MAX ARE YOU THERE?'' 
 
 Nothing as well just pure silence. Whatever happened it caused all communications to go out. Panic started in and sweat ran down my face. What the hell was going on? The best I could do is just continue to establish contact as I prepare to link back up with the shuttle. 
 
 `` Control are you there? Control this is Tim, can you read me? If anyone is there please respond! Control are you there!'' 
 
 A calm voice came over the communications with just a simple reply. 
 
 `` No..'' 
 
 `` HELLO? HELLO?! WHO THE HELL IS THIS?'' 
 
 A dark cold voice came back with an even colder reply. 
 
 ``..This was one race you were never meant to win...'' 
 
 A bright light filled the sky. A fiery mass of red, orange, and yellow erupted from where the ship once was. I could only stare up in the never ending silence of space as the ship exploded into a fiery rain of debris. 
 
 I was suppose to be the very first. A man remembered throughout history. 
 
 But now, no one will ever know. I will not be remembered.
