AD YOU BEEN IN THE BUSTLING HEADQUARTERS OF SOLAR SYSTEM COMMAND, EARLY ON THE CRISP MORNING OF APRIL 1, 2000, YOU WOULD HAVE STOOD AT THE NERVE CENTER OF THE MOST FAR-FLUNG ENTERPRISE IN HUMAN HISTORY ...

THERE, YOU WOULD BE SURROUNDED BY THE HUM OF SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY, AND BY THE TAUT ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS EXTENDED THE SOLARCOM PROTECTORATE TO THE FURTHEST REACHES OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

AND THERE, YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN PRIVY TO THE GENESIS OF MY FINAL OFFICIAL ADVENTURE. I WAS DRAWN FORWARD THAT DAY BY CERTAIN BOMBINATIONS OF THE RUMOR MILL, TO THE EFFECT THAT SOMETHING BIG WAS AFOOT ...