u/nagidon

Poutine with Hong Kong characteristics

Context: in the 1960s, rather than going to the moon, the Soviets instead attempt something the Americans would never beat: sending cosmonauts to the stars and back.

Using a revolutionary space engine and life support systems constructed from special Marxist-Leninist technology and engineering, the Soviets are able to build an interstellar spacecraft to take a crew on a relativistic-velocity round trip to Proxima Centauri, with the crew in suspended animation for the transit periods. The round trip takes roughly 60 years.

The limitations of 1960s technology meant the spacecraft’s departure went undetected. However, modern astronomers easily spot the spacecraft as it decelerates back to earth.

What happens to humanity?

Art credit: https://www.deviantart.com/1980fabio/art/Soviet-Landing-on-Mars-578662089

My favourite visual of the series so far - the stars in the Chief Designer's eyes.

Yeah, I know it's just a reflection of the screens in his glasses. Allow a little poetic licence.

David Dencik, who plays Deputy Chairman Maxim Tarasov, also played Mikhail Gorbachev in Chernobyl.

https://x.com/ryanp1ays/status/2063390506801856614

China has adopted a peculiar tradition for displaying flags during high level bilateral meetings.

If the visiting head of state/government is from a Marxist-Leninist state, the flags of both states and their ruling parties will be displayed. Otherwise, only national flags will be displayed.

Do any other countries have this kind of "two tier" flag display?

thank you very informative