"Sir, I think you should see this!" The scientist looked up from his laptop, a deep frown on his face.
"Didn't I say not to bother me?" His assistant smiled.
"If you don't want to see an artificial structure in the atmosphere of Jupiter, that isn't man made, then I'll go talk to Watkins. I'm sure she would love this." As she was about to step away, her boss got to his feet.
"Wait a fucking minute! Did you say 'artificial'?" The smile grew wider. Tara turned away only to hear footsteps that quickened to a jog.
"Al, put it up on the big screen." Tara said as she reentered the room.
"You got it! I can't believe it! We were only scanning the red spot...."
"Al, screen. Now." Her boss entered the room. "Enlarge." The red spot appeared, then was focused on a certain area. "We almost missed it in the vastness of the storm. If it wasn't for that black spot in the center, we would have." Dave looked at the screen, and even with the new telescope's enhancements, they could barely make it out. A black disc, surrounded by dark metallic material, with something even more odd then an artificial structure.
"Tara, is that what I think it is?" She smiled.
"We're not sure, sir. We can't get a good enough angle on the telescope to see right into the center. It might be the glint from the sun, or a reflection." Tara smiled. "Or that center might just be empty space, and that pinpoint of light might be a star." Dave looked dumbfounded.
"But that would mean....." His mind refused to comprehend what her own did almost instantaneously.
"Yes, sir. It might not be a ship, or a station. It might be a portal, or a bridge to another star system." He leaned back against the door frame.
"So....what do we do now? We don't have the resources to explore this further!" Tara rolled her eyes.
"We have SOP's, sir. I've already informed our liaison within the government of our discovery. We should be hearing from their offices within twenty four hours." She looked up as someone knocked on the door. "Or sooner."
"Who built it?" She was asked in the very first question. The astronaut was serious, so she didn't take offence. This was a common question she answered in every single press conference, and meeting with government officials since she discovered the portal. Her former boss was unable to adapt to the situation, but since she was, she was appointed by the government as the head of all further studies, and investigations of the portal.
This meeting with the team of astronauts who would be in the first manned mission to the portal was the next logical step.
"No one knows. Is it the beginning of a network, or are the two we found the only ones in existence? We know, from the probe we sent through, that there is one other portal. Its the way back. But we don't know if our portal is the end of a network, the beginning of it, or a branch. We don't know if this was a unique setup, if its a commercial gateway, or a military one. We only know two things. They exist, and they work. We don't know how." The astronauts didn't look impressed.
"So, if we get to the other side, and we can't find any other portals, and that one malfunctions, we are stuck there." She nodded.
"Correct. Our technology level only allows us to go there. We can't send through rescue operations, repair the portal, or even power it. If it wasn't in operation, we wouldn't even be able to see it. The portal somehow either negates the atmospheric disturbances, or is powered by them." Another astronaut put up his hand. Tara didn't know their names, but she should try to memorize them. She would be spending the next two years traveling to Jupiter with them, so the least she could do is try to be friendly.
"Is it causing the red spot storm?" Tara smiled. A good question.
"It might be, or maybe the red spot storm is the sign that this gas giant is the right place to put a portal. Our scientists have theories on the storm, how long its been spinning, and how long it will last. They've been wrong on the last part several times already. Maybe the portal is the reason why." She took a deep breath. "As we approach Jupiter, and the portal, we'll be able to observe, and check our readings to figure out what really is going on at the portal. At the time of entry, and exit." She smiled a wide excited smile. Her lips refused to stop trembling.
"This is the greatest discovery of mankind ever! Proof of intelligent life that isn't human!" Another hand shot up.
"So where did the creators of this portal go? Why haven't they been around to introduce themselves?" She shook her head.
"Another great question, but I have no answers for you. Some disaster, war, or genetic condition that removed them from our system, and maybe all systems. We just don't know. There are many theories, and no real answers. That is where we come in. We are the tip of the tip of the spear." A quiet voice spoke, but all heard her low ominous words.
"Or the sacrificial goats."
"So, what is the potential here?" The NASA director asked her point blank. It was the day before the ship was to leave Earth's orbit and head for the largest and most dangerous part of their space. The gas giant known as Jupiter.
"If I were to make a guess, sir, endless possibilities. Derelict vessels or stations. Unlimited resources. New technology. Industry off planet even! If our society were to become a space faring race, most industry would be groomed to support that, which would mean rapid economic growth, wealth, and the removal of pollution from off our planet." The director frowned.
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
"Think about it! Resources out there would need to be acquired. If its already out there, there is no reason to bring it back here. Just refine there. Industry would adapt, and change to follow where the resources were being mined. Its a simple approach, but our planet could recover if we halted our industrially driven economy. The only way to do that now and not harm our economy would be to do it elsewhere. The planet could be completely agrarian based! It would supply the agriculture needs, while space provides the industrial needs." The director nodded.
"Alright. I'll send a report to Washington. The environmentalists will love it, and so will the industrialists." After Tara left the room, a wide smile broke out on the director's face. "And NASA will be poised to be at the head of the line in all things. Heavy funding, ship design and manufacture, colonization, scientific exploration, and even military dominance. The funding diet is over!"
"How much do you think they invested in this?" Lieutenant Thompson asked over the mics. This was setup for internal communications only.
"The whole wad, Thompson. Every dime they could scrounge went into the design and manufacture of this ship, and its up to us to make sure its not wasted." She rolled her eyes.
"Captain, could you loosen up a bit? We have this in the bag!"
"Keep it in the bag, Thompson! I had direct orders that this has to succeed. That portal is the key to the future." She frowned.
"Which future, sir? NASA's?" He shook his head.
"No. Everyone's future." She turned her head, but could barely see the edge of his uniform. This was launch day, and they were strapped in for the ride into orbit.
"Did that come straight from the director?"
"No. The only voice who really matters. The big desk." Thompson straightened up in her seat.
"Understood, sir. If you heard it from him, then there is more at stake then I know."
"Correct, Thompson. A lot more. A real briefing will occur once we are underway. The scientist, Tara, will show you what that briefing means the closer we get." The lieutenant shivered in her seat.
The President. That means a series of possibilities. We are alone. We are not alone, and things will get a bit friendly, or things will be very unfriendly.
"Geri was right. We are the sacrificial goats."
"We've just been watching, and doing course corrections until now." Tara said to the assembled astronauts. The first ones to ever come out this far. "However, over the next six months, the ship will head to an alternate heading, then swing back towards the planet. Its to adjust our trajectory, and make sure we are heading right towards the disc in the super storm on Jupiter. That will also allow us to either verify the center, or at least get more clear imagery of the object." She looked over at Thompson. The lieutenant was professionally cold, but she had reasonable questions.
"So we still don't know if this is real or not?"
"No, its real. We could tell it was built, and not a natural phenomenon before we left. They wouldn't have invested so much capital if it was just a flight of fantasy. We can also see individual panels on the structure and some depth. However, we have no idea how it works, what its fueled by, or what it actually does." Sampson, one of the engineers, raised his hand.
"So what does the brass expect of us?" She smiled.
"At the very least, we need to verify its existence, how its built, and if we can get any useful technology from it. Its surviving deep within the atmosphere, shearing away the layers of atmosphere above it, and not being crushed by the gravity. That is powerful technology that we could use." Thompson's eyes lit up for only a brief second, which drew her attention slightly. She tried not to make it obvious as she wasn't sure what it meant.
"Any other questions?" The captain stood up. "Alright, get ready to go to our next stage, then we can relax like we have been for the last year. Keep it easy though, people. These are close quarters for a long period of time. If you need assistance, remember to talk to your superior officer for help. Dismissed."
"Do you have a minute?" Tara lifted her eyes from the book she had in her hands. Thompson had just stepped into her room, and closed the door. Unlike the movies, or missions to the red planet, Mars, this ship had a few separate crew cabins, cramped as they were, but there were still some privacy when needed.
"Of course, Thompson." She tilted her head.
"My name is Daria." Tara smiled slightly.
"I know, Thompson, but I wasn't aware you wanted me to use your first name." Daria blushed a bit.
"Well, I wanted you to know that I'm impressed at how you handle yourself." Tara frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?" Tara slid to the edge of her bed. The air felt heavy, and slightly awkward. There was also something there she didn't expect.
"You...well, you can talk to the men and the women equally well, and not try to dominate, or submit to them." Tara smiled slightly.
"I see." Daria blushed a bit brighter.
"What I mean is....oh boy, this is difficult. I mean, you treat everyone equally." Tara smiled softly.
"Of course I do. They are people, not men or women. Just like I treat you with respect, and do not push you around when you ask me questions, or treat you like you're stupid. You're a person to me." Daria frowned slightly.
"A person? Just a person?" Tara stood up, walked right up to her, and pushed her against the door frame. She laid her lips right on Daria's, and kissed her softly, then pushed it to a much firmer kiss. By the end of it, Daria murmured at the way she was dominated, and the attention she was given.
"No, but you've never made it this obvious before." Daria blushed.
"I never...I mean..." Tara kissed her again, pulled her away from the door, and guided her to the bed. She pushed her down on it, and turned up the heat.
"I hope you understand, Daria, out there, you are Thompson. In here, you are mine." Daria moaned as she was dominated, and kissed like she had never been kissed before. Daria liked to be dominated like this for only one reason. Her strength of character and refusal to bow down in her work life took its toll on her personal life. All of her previous lovers preferred her to be dominant, but she wanted to be treated and loved like she was a woman. Only Tara had seen that about her, and right now, alone with her in her room, she felt like a woman.
All Daria could think of now what how pleasant the next year was going to be, and the following two years on the return trip. If this first night was any indication, it would be an incredible trip.
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