Short Stories in English for Beginners

The Capsule
Chapter 1 – The Arrival
It began centuries ago. The Earth’s environment was bad. People needed
room. They wanted freedom. Therefore, humans started moving to other
planets
. They started 
colonies
on more worlds, one after the next.
There was peace and success at the start. The different worlds were not
separate. They worked together as a group. They depended on each other.
Then things changed. There was fast 
population
growth. The individual
planets needed more food. They needed more supplies. Each colony wanted
more for themselves. Then the trouble began.
Wars started everywhere. There were changing political views and
agreements. Colonies fought for land, power and weapons. In the end, two
main 
empires
 remained: the ‘Earthlings’ and the ‘Kalkians’. And both
empires wanted it all.
The Earthling 
government
 was based on Earth. Its capital was Paris,
France. Political officials met at the capitol building. There, they discussed
matters like law, the economy, energy and the war.
The 
Emperor
 of the Earthlings was an old man named Valior. He was
voted into the office many years ago. The election was not fair, but that did
not concern Valior. He had led many wars. He had lost only a few. He was a
ruler who did anything to win.
One day, Valior was speaking to his 
ministers
 at the capitol building.
‘We must stop the fighting,’ he cried. ‘Our empire’s economy cannot take
more war. Our people are hungry. Our cities need roads. Many Earthlings
need homes, lights and food.’
A man named Aldin spoke. Aldin was Valior’s most 
trusted
 minister.
‘But, sir,’ he said, ‘the Kalkians keep attacking us. We can’t just sit here.
This nation needs a strong military! We have to protect ourselves.’

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‘I agree, but there is something we can do. I have done something that
…’
Suddenly, there was a lot of noise outside the room. The door opened. A