Several miles offshore of the Continent of Aquilaria, Rear Admiral Elijah Addison, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 1, is the first recorded outsider to see land on Terra Nova with his own eyes. He hands the binoculars over to Captain Winfred Purcell, the captain of the carrier INS Carter, which they are observing from the bridge of. The men share a smirk with each other. They made it.
R. Adm. Addison was tasked with establishing a foothold and forward operating base in the northwestern area of Aquilaria to anchor a territorial claim around. Satellite reconnaissance has revealed the area they are landing in is almost entirely uninhabited, with a fairly primitive society a few hundred miles east along the coast.
The group anchors just off the coast in a large bay at the mouth of a river. Sailors and Marines were a buzz on the beach, bringing supplies ashore to set up camp. While this group was primarily here to establish just a forward operating base, longer range plans call it to become a full military place with a town to be located across the river.
Addison looks out from the bridge of the Carter, seeing the activity on shore, feeling a mix of emotions. He knows that this expedition will likely be his legacy. He prays it will be one he wants people to remember.