Director Shelby looked around at all the important faces in the crowd, and the news media present. He had insisted upon a press conference instead of a debriefing, and that was in order to put the upstart 'specialist' in her place. Some of the faces he expected to see, government officials, were not present.
His temper was already inflamed as the former employee of NASA currently sat with the astronauts, and was obviously a 'special' guest of one of them, though he didn't know them by name. He had the list in front of him, and he would connect the faces when he called the team to the podium.
"Ladies gentlemen of the press, honored guests, and to those watching, I would like to first introduce myself. I am Director Shelby of NASA, who was personally responsible for making NASA more financially viable. On this historic occasion, I would like to also introduce a team of hand picked astronauts, who traveled to Jupiter, the largest planet in our system. And for the first time ever, they have uncovered something that tells us we are not alone in the galaxy. A portal to another star system." He smiled as he watched the flashes, and heard the gasps in the audience.
"I have been given information that also tells me they have a surprise for us all. A piece of technology from an alien space craft, though they have failed to indicate what that technology is." He said it in offhand way, as though it were no surprise that they were difficult to deal with. "So, without further input from myself, I'd like to introduce to you the astronauts who were on that mission." He picked up the list just slightly, but not enough so that the audience would think he didn't know their names.
"Captain Arnold Rainier. Commander Dave Sampson. Doctor Geri Almaniah. Lieutenant Daria Thompson. Lieutenant Eevi Dye. Doctor Arlen Neale. Doctor Damian Stone." He kept the name he hated the most for last. "And Specialist Tara Timmons." He frowned as the crew made their way to the podium, along with the one he fired.
"Security! Stop that woman! She was fired earlier today, and I don't want her up here as though she has a right!" Captain Rainier stopped his crew, and all eyes were focused on him. He pointed to the security guard.
"Don't you dare lay a hand on one of my crew members." He said in a cold voice. "That is Specialist Tara Timmons, the one responsible for not only finding the portal, but for saving our lives more then once. NASA abandoned us in space, labeled us as dead even while we kept sending reports back on a monthly schedule. Tara kept us moving forward. As Director Johnson would have if he was still in charge. He would not have abandoned us." He growled under his breath. He looked at the members of his crew. "Its up to you. Would you like to leave now, or put up with this?" A man came out of the crowd.
"You won't have to make that decision, Captain. The President would like to see your crew in his office, at the White House. He's read the reports as they came in, but watched to see if NASA would do its job. If you wouldn't mind coming with me to the cars? The Secret Service will escort you there now." He looked to the director, and shook his head. He didn't say anything as he didn't need to.
"And our director, sir? Damon Johnson was a good man at the helm." The man held up his hand.
"That's not my call, but rest assured, that fool won't be at the helm when you return." He smiled. "Jupiter! Of all things, to return home, and with technology too. I'm glad you didn't divulge the nature of that tech, as it could leap us forward by almost a century." He smiled at Tara. "Thank you for smoothing things over with the RSA. To hide something like that from them would have been a disaster. A political one, and a military one." She smiled.
"I'm glad you understood the necessity of keeping our allies in this as allies. Just think of it, sir! Industry experts, and environmentalists working together to move all industry off the planet!" He smiled a bit at her enthusiasm, and possible naivety. Things seldom work out the exact way we envision them.
"Its a little bit too early to get our hopes up, but that is an interesting idea. Make sure you mention it at the meeting. This is not a formality. All the Secretaries of State will be there. They may be a bit uncomfortable with how you handled the director." She smiled a small smile.
"He dug that grave on his own, sir. I asked for a debriefing, not a press conference. The technology was too important to reveal in front of cameras, and it would influence the careers of many, including other politicians. By keeping it secret for now, the political bodies can debate it privately, and make the decisions needed that the public often forces them not to make." He chuckled.
"Your father taught you well, Ms. Timmons." He closed his eyes in spite of the lack of light this late in the evening, then cleared his face of his emotions.
It didn't have to be said that the current director wasted years of valuable time that could have been put to better use.
"I don't think I've ever seen a politician so excited before." The captain said quietly as they left the White House.
"Not just the President either. They will need time to work out the details, but the military, and all the Secretaries of State are interested." Tara listened quietly, and found a warm hand link with hers. "They will need a lot of meetings in the future, along with more information from us." The captain turned towards the crew.
"Impressions?" Tara shrugged.
"Its politics, Captain. Let them sort that stuff out, and we'll sort out our lives that we left behind. I'll probably have to wait for Johnson to come back before I'll get my back pay, but I arranged for my house taxes to be paid while I was away, and a cleaning crew to come in and keep it immaculate." She smiled at the group. "What say we go back to my place, order a lot of alcohol, a lot of food, and unwind?" He chuckled.
"I'm heading for my own place. I suggest the rest of you do the same." He turned away, but noticed that as Daria looked around, Tara grasped her hand more firmly.
"We'll do that then, Captain. Daria? I hope you don't think you're getting away from me." Daria blushed brightly.
"Funny. I was about to say the same thing to you."
"I lost everything!" Daria mourned as she contemplated everything she had been told. Her pay had not been deposited for the last year, the bank foreclosed on her home, and her furnishings had disappeared. Tara held her hand firmly.
"I thought something like this might happen. I had my father's lawyer keep an eye on things for everyone. You were hit the hardest, and we couldn't stop the foreclosure, but she managed to acquire all your goods from your home. Its in storage, safely paid for and held for you." Daria looked up at her and began to cry. Tara put her arms around her.
"Even when we weren't together, you looked out for me!" Daria may have been a strong woman, but she didn't mind being feminine and crying on Tara's shoulder. Tara made her feel like a real woman, one who could be strong when she chose to be, and someone who could cry when she was frustrated.
Though she's had a few close relationships, none felt like this one. This one felt perfect.
"I didn't expect that." Daria said softly. She reclined back against Tara's side, and felt her arms come around her. The intimate kiss at her neck reminded her that they were alone, not in space, and had several days ahead where it would be just them.
"Neither did I, but Director Johnson is the right one for the job. China, the UK, and some of our other allies can help alleviate the costs with returning to space." Daria groaned.
"But another four years in space?" Tara smiled.
"You don't have to go, you know. There will be plenty of job offers for the flashy and beautiful Lieutenant Daria Thompson back here on Earth." She turned her head.
"You're going." She said, but it wasn't a question.
"Of course I am, love. I know you'll be waiting for me when I return, but I would prefer that you come with me too." Daria folded her arms and lowered her eyes.
"How do you know I'll be waiting for you?" Tara smiled, and put her lips near her ear.
"What else would my wife be doing other then waiting for her partner to come home?" She smiled. Daria shivered slightly as she felt the teeth of her lover nip at her neck.
It would not just be their team. There would be additional engineers, a larger ship to analyze the engines of the alien ship, and they would do it piece by piece. They would send out more probes to explore the new system, explore the yet unexplored system on the other side of the second portal. Their ship would take the engines apart, then take those pieces back through the portal.
The new technology would be analyzed, and integrated into their current ship, if possible. Whatever they learned would be sent back to Earth. New facilities would be needed in space to handle the new ship building industry, and with the development of the artificial gravity generator, prolonged space flight and living outside of Earth's gravity well would no longer pose significant risks to the human body.
As Tara kissed Daria softly, her mind returned to the director's words.
"We have alliances here on Earth who can help us do quickly what would take us years to accomplish. Private corporations will be invited to 'sit in' on some meetings, and see how they can contribute to this endeavor. Our technology level will increase significantly over the next few years, and the possibilities are almost endless." She smiled as she heard her own words reflected in his speech.
"Just think about it. Space flight without bone degradation. That means entire stations designed for utility and functionality instead of gravitational force generation, ships without extra mass for that same purpose. Less cost means more ships. New stars with new challenges. Maybe another world with life on it. More unexploited resources. Untold wealth, and industrial possibilities are out there." He pointed to the sky above. "Its waiting for us. We just have to plan, and go get it."
But Tara knew nothing was ever that simple. Even if all of the people of Earth were behind them, there were still two questions that remained.
Where are the builders of the gates? And what drove the aliens they did know about to kill and eat each other?
"Finally!" Captain Rainier said as he stepped off the capsule onto the International space station. The new gravity generator that was just installed meant some upgrades to the station were scheduled, but the astronauts who were on board had large smiles.
"Ya, they finally listened to the specialist and just built it before they know how it works." He jumped up and felt the station pull him back down to the deck plates. "No more long rehab times, and we can stay where we love to be much longer!" The captain shook the commander's hand.
"How far along have they come on the ship reconstruction?" The commander ushered him to another airlock.
"Check for yourself." He took a peek out through the airlock window and smiled.
"Damn, she's big." It was just as long as the previous version of Jupiter01, but much thicker, and with no effort put into a rotational section. All space was devoted to the mission, and her crew.
"And faster." The commander remarked. "Larger plasma thrusters, rear and maneuvering, a larger fusion plant for more power on demand, heavier plating for protection in deeper space, and a spot specific to the gravity generator, isolated by mounting plates so the rest of the ship doesn't shake while being engaged." He smiled proudly. "We also managed to push the engineers to make all the consoles and panels removable and modular. We'll be able to clean our stations more easily now, and not have to put them through a harsh retrofit in order to make them livable and sanitary again." He had been involved in almost all aspects of its refit up here, and it showed what the RSA could do. "Even the labs are state of the art, as your NASA sent up some top notch equipment to make sure she was outfitted for those big brains you'll be taking along with you." The captain groaned.
"Don't remind me, commander. I'm used to my crew, but eight more techs, engineers, and physicists to make this trip more productive while out that far." He shuddered for a second, then smiled. "Well, at least this time, we won't be declared dead while we are still sending messages back home." The commander shrugged.
"Idiots are everywhere, captain. Expect a few on board this time. A lot of intelligence can sometimes steal away the common sense." The captain shook the commander's hand again.
"Thank you for sending one your men on this trip as well. His expertise will be invaluable when we get to the alien ship. Also, this station will become a trade hub in the years ahead, Commander. The last stop before Earth. I can't wait to see how the RSA changes things when we get back."
"Our scientists are already devising ways to start spatial mining for minerals and metals, Captain. I think the RSA wants to be first in line." The captain smiled.
"They were, commander. Eight years ago, they helped us get out there, and helped us get home again." The captain decided to put something out there for the commander. "You can let your superiors know that the first mineral trove we find will be mapped, and the RSA will have the right of first denial. As per our original agreement." The commander started to laugh.
"Oh, you really are trying to 'piss in their cornflakes'? Is that how its said?" Rainier chuckled.
"A little revenge, but yeah. You have the correct idea. It wasn't just the director who abandoned us. The rest of them decided to not say anything to the press, or other members of the government. This may mark my last mission in space, but I'll be damned if I'm going out quietly!" The commander chuckled.
"You sure you have no Russian blood in your veins, Captain?"
"All stations, set for orbital burn. Report lock down readiness." Thompson issued a series of commands into her console.
"Scientists strapped in within their labs, sir. It was a good idea to set up proper chairs in all the departments." He nodded, and continued to monitor the time set for departure. "Engineering reports ready, sir. Specialist Timmons has also given the green light, sir." He smiled.
"You couldn't keep her off this mission with a crowbar." Thompson smiled.
"I should know, sir. I tried." He chuckled.
"Alright, once the timer is synced with our pre-approved launch program, begin the countdown." Thompson nodded.
"Reaching optimal launch within ten seconds. 9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...Firing thrusters. Beginning high orbit burn. Quickly reaching optimal speed to exit Earth's gravity." He smiled as soon as the display showed they had exited Earth's atmospheric envelop.
"Fire main thrusters. Make this a nice clean start, lieutenant." She nodded, and executed the command. The main plasma thruster bank kicked in, and kicked the ship into a new speed record for space flight.
Thompson checked her readings, and smiled.
"At this rate of speed, sir, we should reach the Portal in one year, six months. We'll have to overcome inertia a number of scheduled times during the trip, sir, but we've shaved six months off the journey!" She turned her head. "Remember when this tech was new? They turned nearly a year journey to Mars into about five months or less. We've turned a three to four year journey into two, and now its down to a year and a half! I can't wait to see what that alien vessel will teach us!"
"I just hope we learn from the mistakes that led to them being stranded, and starving to death." Thompson grew quiet for a brief moment, then brightened up.
"Did you hear the chief, sir? He said the grav unit looks to be designed completely different from the alien vessel. Almost as if they got that secret from someone else." The captain looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Just like us." Then he said something ominous that Thompson couldn't shake. "Does that mean that there were others who didn't learn that same lesson?"
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