Project Looking Glass
When the Dawn of Unity shone on Altairus, many saw the new era as an opportunity. For those involved in Project Looking Glass, this couldn't be more true. When the Altairus Portals re-opened, a number of industrialists and capitalists pooled their funds into a new project: the creation of an interdimensional train line known as the Wishing Star Express.
Public Agenda
Project Looking Glass was formed around the goal of creating the Wishing Star Express. This train line, according to the project's donors, makes travel between Earth and Altairus much easier, and thus will boost Altairus's struggling world economy.
While this goal sounds altruistic, the truth is that it is very self-interested. Certainly, the project's wealthy donors have the most to gain from the train line, as they have more avenues to extract wealth from it. Many Altairians view the project with suspicion simply due to who is funding it. In their minds, it would only leave them worse off as Altairus's big names fill their pockets with wealth from both planets. In reality, the Wishing Star Express lead to an improvement in living conditions for every Altairian whose life was touched by it, no matter their social standing. Nevertheless, worries still linger about the world's expanding wealth gap.
Another point of contention rested around how these donors got their governments to approve the project. It is believed, perhaps rightly so, that many of them strong-armed their local governing bodies into greenlighting Project Looking Glass, either by threat of leaving the area and letting it starve or by leveraging the recent War's destruction to smooth-talk them into accepting. Regardless, the project went forward. as the Wishing Star Express came into popular use, most dropped these concerns to reap the benefits of the train line.
Assets
Project Looking Glass possesses pooled funds from many major industry leaders in Altairus. These funds were funneled into research, development, and execution of the Wishing Star Express. Even today, as the leaders have disbanded, the train line continues to reap profits from its beneficiaries.
History
Project Looking Glass was founded after the Dawn of Unity. Upon learning of Jack Thunder's encounter with the Earth human, numerous industrial leaders saw an opportunity. Meeting in Silverneedle Town, they discussed their options. Eventually, Charlie Hatter, the owner of Hatter Co., suggested the creation of a new interdimensional train line. The others loved this idea, giving the project its name in honor of its originator.
Thus began Project Looking Glass. Over the course of several years, many experts in science and technology were recruited onto the project. Scientists specializing in Hyperdimensional Space, engineers, metallurgists, experts in crystal magic... the project spared no great mind. All worked tirelessly to make the Wishing Star Express a reality.
The project moved along rather quickly. Within the first year, the first prototype of Red Baron was constructed and tested. Over the course of the next few years, various models were built and tested, eventually resulting in the creation of multiple trains. With the much-needed economic boost, Project Looking Glass has sent Altairus into a new industrial age.
While Project Looking Glass has since disbanded, its children continue to make their mark on both worlds to this day. It truly has become an Era of Unity.
Disbandment
Project Looking Glass was completed in the year 2260, a mere five years after it was undertaken. At this point, the Wishing Star Express could stand on its own, and no longer needed the pooled funds of its donors to survive. The business leaders behind the project still keep tabs on each other, but they are not planning on undertaking something of this scale again for a long time.
We're Behind the Looking Glass
- Bolt Express (general retailer)
- Hatter Co. (worldwide tea company)
- Red Griffon (transportation)
- Miss Mary's (fast food establishment dealing in baked goods)
- Vulcan Blacksmith (steel and equipment manufacturing)
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