Arnak manages to successfully launch a chimpanzee into space and recover it safely, showing that they are quickly catching up to Zirnitra in the space race. The worried Zirnitran government puts additional pressure on Korovin to get their first manned flight ready as soon as possible. At LAIKA44, Lev is chosen as one of the three cosmonauts along with Mikhail Yashin and Roza Plevitskaya that will participate in their first manned space flight. However, training continues as the regimen is adapted according to data gained from Irina's flight, and there is still the question of who will be designated the lead cosmonaut, though Mikhail is the expected frontrunner...