The History department took part in the Historical Association's historical fiction competition. Below is the school's winning entry from Raghunandhan in 7M.

I was built by clever engineers in a bright, buzzing workshop in America. They covered my body with shiny gold foil, attached sturdy metal legs, and bestowed upon me a proud name: Eagle. I wasn’t just a machine—I was a space bird, ready to fly aboard a rocket, beyond Earth into the vast, unknown universe.

My first mission was to carry two brave astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, to the surface of the mysterious Moon. Our calm crew mate, Michael Collins, remained in the command module, Columbia, orbiting above us like a lonely guardian in the sky.

On July 20th, 1969, the big moment arrived. I began to descend gently toward the grey, dusty Moon, with Neil and Buzz inside me. The world held its breath for the final moment. Mission Control in Houston, Texas gave us the green light. Everything seemed calm—until a warning suddenly flashed on my screen. Buzz called out, “1202 alarm!” It felt like a lightning bolt of worry shot through us. But then Houston replied, “You’re good to go,” and I continued my careful, calculated descent.

Neil spotted a massive crater below, like the mouth of a sleeping dragon. Without panicking or making me nervous, he quickly took control and guided me over it in search of a safer place to land.

The descent took longer than planned. This burned more fuel than expected. The fuel gauge showed dangerously low levels—only 30 seconds remained. The silence felt as heavy as a mountain. Then, at last, my legs touched the Moon’s surface. Soft dust flew around me like smoke in the air. We had made it!

Neil’s calm voice came over the radio: “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” On Earth, people erupted with cheers and cries, but inside me, it was quiet—full of awe. We were standing on another world. I repeat: another world!

A few hours later, Neil slowly climbed down my silver ladder. His boot pressed into the powdery Moon surface, leaving a clear footprint—a stamp in history. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” he said. Buzz followed, gazing at the Moon’s empty landscape. “Magnificent desolation,” he called it—beautiful and lonely.

They planted the stiff American flag and placed a shining plaque next to my leg that read: We came in peace for all mankind.

The astronauts worked for hours, collecting curious rocks, taking black-and-white photos, and setting up their scientific equipment. The Moon was as quiet as a library at midnight. After about a day, they returned to my cabin. It was time to split myself. I hated this part—but it was my design, and I had no choice but to follow the command.

My top half, the ascent stage, fired up like a rocket and carried the astronauts back to the command module, Columbia. My lower half stayed behind on the Moon—a golden shell under the stars, a remain that will preserve the history for centuries to come.

I am made of wires and metal, but I was more than a machine. I was America’s space dream. I was scientist’s marvel.

My name is Eagle, and I will never forget the day we created history in Moon landing. Till date, no other country has landed astronauts safely after our mission. My lower half continues to wait for next human mission to Moon.