‘It is said that to reach the speed of light is to reach the edge of insanity. They say that anyone trying to break the speed of light will become insane trying. I beg to differ. I believe it is just a ruse to stop us everyday scientists and engineers from trying. I say it’s time we had a go and proved it possible. Go beyond the Edge of Insanity and come back ‘

A large cheer echoed across the crowd when the man on the podium finished speaking. He scanned the room before continuing.

‘I have been working on an engine capable of taking a space ship beyond light speed. And now, after many years of trying to perfect my ideas, I believe it is time for me to test my theories. I give you the EI1.’ He said, turning sideways to gesture at the hanger doors that opened behind him.

The crowd gasped in awe as the hangers contents became visible to them.

‘In one weeks time I will be testing my theory in this very ship.’

*****

He had re run the speech hundreds of times in the run up to the big day and now it was here. Now it was time to put those words into action. His hand picked team were ready and waiting. They had been given basic training and now it was time to do it for real.
‘OK this is it. In less than 1 hour we will be on our way to making history.’ He said to the crew before turning and heading out of the hanger to great the waiting crowd of press and other invited guests.
‘Today is a day for making history. Today I will take to the stars in this.’ He said pointing as he had done one week earlier to the opening hanger door. ‘I give you the EI1 and its crew, who along with myself, are on the verge of making mans first faster than light journey, through the stars. It is my hope that in the process of this mission, we can disprove the theory that traveling at the speed of light is to go beyond the Edge of Insanity.’

*****

T minus 5 minutes.

The crew went through their last minute checks and rolled the ship out on the the runway ready for launch. ‘It won’t be long now and we’ll be making history.’ He said as the last few minutes ticked down on the screen in front of him.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5

The last few seconds counted down and the engines kicked in.

4, 3, 2, 1

The brake was released and the ship started moving down the runway. Pulling on the leaver in front of him, he lifted the ship off the ground. Within a short time they were in space and gathering speed.

As they hit the speed of light one by one the crew succumbed to the grip of insanity.