Interstellar Survival: Invasion

Chapter 2: First Look At Jupiter

The spaceship flew at sublight speed instead of wasting more energy with wormhole travel. In less than two hours, we arrived at Jupiter's orbit. There, the spaceship returned to a regular speed. Slowly, Saturn approached the planet. Instead of entering the planet, the ship would stop 600,000 kilometers away from it and prepare for landing on Jupiter II.

When the spaceship slowed down, us three newcomers pasted ourselves to the windows and greedily took in the sight of the starry universe before us. A massive monster slowly revealed itself before our eyes: Jupiter.

"It is massive!" exclaimed all of us.

Truly. Without personally witnessing Jupiter, one would never be able to imagine how big it was. A single Jupiter was as big as a thousand Blues. The moment we entered Jupiter's orbit, the only thing in our eyes was a massive, fascinating gaseous planet. The awe we felt when looking at Jupiter could not be described with words. Zhang Bao'er was so entranced that he couldn't keep his mouth shut.

This was our first time looking at Jupiter so closely. The planet was primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, and it possessed a substantial atmosphere. The two poles of the planet gleamed with a fascinating blue, and the planet was covered in a massive concentration of stratospheric winds. Each of these tornadoes was larger than Blue itself. The tornado moved rapidly, moving at a speed surpassing 400 kilometers per hour. To put it into perspective, the fastest recorded wind flow on Blue was only 120 kilometers per hour.

The rapid winds presented an ever-changing scene, reminding me of a famous story about Leonardo da Vinci which said that no two eggs were exactly the same. As for the Jupiter presented before my eyes, it was never the same from one second to the other. The universe was truly a fascinating place.

The tornadoes raged at the two poles while flashing with light of multiple colors. The multicolored zones were grand and spectacular, each as big as an entire Blue. As we approached, the massive monster before us became clearer and clearer. In 2091, technology had enabled us to get closer to Jupiter than we ever could before. For our initial exploration, we stopped 600,000 kilometers away from the planet.

A reddish spot was visible at the central part of the planet. With one look, I saw Jupiter's famous red spot. The scarlet spot had ravaged the planet for over 400 years. Along with the passage of time, its size had shrunk by half, while its speed had increased by three times its original speed.

From the spaceship, we could clearly see the fiercely rotating red spot. Like a massive wheel, it moved at a speed surpassing 1,200 kilometers per hour. It was so powerful it could probably move Blue out of its orbit.

I believed that even Saturn's morph-capable shield would be torn apart by prolonged exposure to the fierce storm down below. No matter how much power fuel and technology brought us, the power of Mother Nature was still boundless.

Slowly, the spaceship entered Jupiter's orbit. The clouds above Jupiter rippled as they parted, forming an enchanting scene. But as we neared, a truly horrific scene was unveiled before our eyes.

Each cloud layer was rotating rapidly, and each individual cloud was a massive monster the size of Blue. Beneath the layers of thick clouds, a massive lightning bolt 1,000 times more powerful than any lightning bolt Blue could create was faintly discernible.

This spectacular scene was only visible upon approaching Jupiter's low orbit. Each flash of lightning was akin to a massive dragon. It hid its shiny body amid the clouds, constantly ready to strike at the unsuspecting visitor.

The flashes of lightning constantly spurred the clouds to clash and roil while the hydrogen-filled air would be ignited in a chain explosion every now and then, presenting a sight from hell.

At that moment, both Bao'er and I stealthily tested our communication devices. As we tested, we set the sound volume to the most suitable level, ensuring reliable communication despite the constant deafening thunderbolts around us.

This was an environment nobody would want to live in. It was too terrifying, and all my instincts were screaming at me to flee. This was the cruelest environment I'd ever witnessed in my life, and the deafening explosions around me were definitely the worst noise I'd ever heard.

As we traveled through the storms of varying sizes on the surface of the ever-changing Jupiter, and after passing by 68 of the celestial bodies orbiting Jupiter, we finally found a glossy white object. Jupiter II had appeared before us!

Jupiter II, also known by the Bluelings as Europa, was discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei and was Jupiter's fourth largest satellite. Of the Jupiter satellites discovered by Galileo, Jupiter II was the second nearest moon to Jupiter. It was 3,100 kilometers in diameter and was the sixth largest moon in the Solar System and the fifteenth largest celestial body in the Solar System.

How big was 3,100 kilometers? The moon had a diameter of about 3,476 kilometers. Thus, Jupiter II was slightly smaller than Blue's very own moon. A thin atmosphere surrounded Jupiter II, and it was composed solely of oxygen. The atmosphere was maintained by charged particles that hit its cold surface and produce water vapor, which then spread into hydrogen and oxygen, with the latter forming the atmosphere.

This was a glossy and sleek world, a world less than 200 million years old. Due to its relative distance from Jupiter, there were very few craters on Jupiter II. In fact, there were fewer than ten. Jupiter itself had attracted most of the incoming celestial objects, greatly preserving Jupiter II in a pristine condition.

Red streaks could be seen all over Jupiter II. The famous red scars were actually cracks and ridges from which metal seeped through from the ground, marking weak lines within the moon's ice crust. Red was generally seen as the color of iron, so the Gliesens had chosen Jupiter II as the target of exploration. For the Gliesens, even the disappearance of a single moon would not matter. Energy was all that mattered to them.

Slowly, Saturn entered Jupiter II's orbit. First, it orbited the moon and observed it while searching for an optimal landing site. After referring to the evaluation report, Captain Angela decided to set the north pole of the moon as the landing site. It was common knowledge that the entire Jupiter II was covered in ice. To obtain a sample from underneath the ice, one needed to cut through it.

However, doing so on an alien celestial body might bring unintended consequences. Perhaps an ice eruption akin to Blue's volcanic eruption might occur. After all, nobody knew exactly what was hidden beneath the ice layers of Jupiter II.

Since 2012, with the Hubble telescope and some other methods, Bluelings had observed that sputtering plumes would appear at intervals on both poles of Jupiter II. They had deduced that these plumes of water originated from the moon's frozen seabed.

Thus, they concluded that by landing on the north pole, they could not only gather a sample of the moon's water but also find an entrance linking them to the sea itself and analyze the actual composition of the red streaks.

According to our orders, we would be landing the next morning. All of us would be resting while waiting for the time to set off. After an entire day of excitement, everyone calmed down, leaving only me, Zhang Bao'er, and Old Du still excited.

After dinner, we spent our time turning and tossing on our beds, unable to fall asleep. All of us were wondering if we would be picked as the first group to set foot on Jupiter II. I silently gazed at the white moon from the window beside my bed. The moon was silently orbiting Jupiter, sunlight gleaming off it.

Based on the technical team's analysis, a liquid substance was present in the moon's core. Additionally, the surface and the core of the moon were actually rotating at different speeds. Due to Jupiter's gravity, space between the core and the icy surface mostly existed in liquid form. That was also where it was most possible for life to exist.

The appearance of the Gliesens had proved that aliens existed. Thus, Bluelings were no longer as excited about aliens as before. Even so, Bluelings would always be excited and curious to learn something new. That was a trait that would always be present in a Blueling.

Silently, while gazing at the white moon, I fell asleep.

Di! Di! Di!

The sharp alarm blazed, rousing us from our sleep. It was a call for an emergency meeting.

We bounced off our beds from shock. When I swept my gaze at the window, I was stunned. Just what kind of monster was I staring at? Numerous gorges and uneven surfaces. We were less than 10,000 meters away from Jupiter II. I could even see a stream of air spurting in my direction before falling off midair. We were unable to give much thought to what we saw as we had to rush to the command room. Standing before the map in the middle of the room was Captain Angela. She was currently making the preparations for landing.

"From what we know so far, Jupiter II is not as peaceful as we had thought. Icy geysers can be found at the north pole where we're going to land. The openings from which the geysers spray out can be clearly seen. However, the spraying seems to persist non-stop," said Angela.

What's so scary about some vapor-spitting holes on the ground with our high-tier defenses? I thought to myself.

"The ice chunks that shoot out with the geysers are akin to bullets. The temperature of negative 200 degrees down there makes landing even harder as it increases the amount of energy we will have to exhaust to land," said Angela. "Also, apart from the holes on the ground, the entire north pole's terrain is dominated by massive ice spikes."

These ice spikes formed when ice went through a process called sublimation, where they turned into water vapor without melting first. On Blue, these ice spikes, or to be precise, these penitentes could mostly be found in places with a cold and dry climate. They were first described by Charles Darwin.

During the 1830s, Darwin had mentioned the ice spikes in his journal. At the time, he had mistakenly believed that the ice spikes were a product of wind erosion because what he saw were sharp, icy blades the size of mountains.

As for the ice spikes of Jupiter II, they were so concentrated no path could be found between them. We could only see hole after hole of different sizes, each constantly spraying out ice chunks and vapor.

With a temperature below negative 200 degrees and a wind speed of about 300 kilometers per hour, any of the massive ice spikes could collapse at any given moment. Thus, our landing craft would not be able to land on these spikes either.

As for the morph-capable suits we wore, the suits would only last 36 hours. Even if we could land individually, we would not be able to get through the field of endless geysers on the ground.

"The geological activities of Jupiter II's two poles are too intense. It is not realistic to try penetrating the ice crust through these holes. Also, with all the ice spikes around, this is definitely the most dangerous place we can choose for drilling. It doesn't make sense to try at all. Additionally, from our analysis, the condition beneath the ice is also rather intense. After referring to the evaluation of our technicians, I propose we give up on landing on the north pole. Instead, we should look for a plain on the central part of the moon suitable for drilling," said Angela.

Sounds of discussion broke out when everyone heard the captain's new order. I was aware that prior to setting off, the headquarters was opposed to the drilling plan as they were afraid of unintended geological consequences. Imagine putting a hole through a sleek balloon. What would happen? A chain reaction that ultimately results in the destruction of the entire moon might occur.

But from how resolute Angela was, it was clear she did not intend to leave this expedition empty-handed. As a Blueling, she longed for honor and a higher order of nobility. Thus, she decided to take the risk. In truth, in 2091, an explosion of Jupiter II was truly nothing special for Bluelings who were already capable of interstellar travel.

Nevertheless, it was still important to note that in the event of an explosion, those in this ship, or at the very least, the landing crew would all be lost. Also, how would history remember her if she returned in failure after causing the destruction of a moon? Imagine the headlines: The entire Jupiter II exploration team led by Li Canyue perishes after the moon exploded.

No, this isn't right. This isn't right at all, I told myself.

Ahaha, unfortunately, I was merely an insignificant footsoldier whose thoughts didnt matter.

At this time, the chief technician, a Gliesen duke by the name of Maerdo stepped out and voiced his support for the captain. "We can first send an advance party to land. The advance party will bear the mission of creating history, drilling a hole through the icy crust of Jupiter II, and exploring the world beneath the ice."

What sanctimonious words, I thought to myself. Looks like politics is infectious. After staying on Blue for so long, these Gliesens have learned to talk like human politicians as well.

Maerdo continued, "I'll be frank. The exploration of the universe will undoubtedly proceed. Countless planets are awaiting our exploration. A mere moon of Jupiter is nothing compared to the task ahead of us. We need scientific results, skills, truth, energy, and a future!"

To the side, Captain Angela nodded incessantly. She found herself in agreement with Maerdo.

"Therefore, I am in support of Captain Angela's suggestion. We will pull the mothership back to a safe distance and deploy an advance party to Jupiter II. The advance party will drill through the ice surface and gather samples from below the ice. Jupiter II itself is something we can afford to lose," said Maerdo.

You might as well say that Li Canyue is someone you can afford to lose, I mused inwardly.

"The headquarters has approved our plan. For the future of Gliese and Blue, prepare yourself! Captain Angela will be organizing the advance party next. Of course, we also welcome brave volunteers who would like to offer themselves for the advance party," finished Maerdo with great fervor.

Everyone sank into silence. It was unknown who started clapping, but someone did, and everyone else followed. Captain Angela was very pleased. This was a historic moment for her. She knew that her proposal had been accepted. Having reached a decision, we started preparing for landing.

Including us, the three rookies, there were twenty members in Saturns advance squad. Five of them were androids, which were both smart and capable. They maintained a metallic body, giving them a simple and honest look. The leader of the advance squad was Chen Qiang, 32 years old, an experienced and responsible man.

"Who do you think will be picked for the first group?" asked Old Du.

"I think the more experienced ones will be picked first. It would just be much more efficient to have them go," said Zhang Bao'er.

"You're wrong," I interrupted his analysis.

"What do you mean?" asked Zhang Bao'er.

"The 22nd century is dawning! Nowadays, what's the most important thing for the league? Optimal selection! The fleet won't take care of us just because we're new. All knowledge can be obtained through the knowledge-download technology. For an initial exploration, the risk is the same for every member of the team. However, the experienced explorers with military merits and ranks of nobility will definitely not be the ones to take this risk. Instead, worthless rookies like us will be the vanguard," I explained.

Old Du kept nodding away.

"By deploying rookies like us, even if an accident happened, the loss would be negligible for the league. Thus, the selection will be mainly based on our positions in society. If you don't believe me, just wait and see."

Both Zhang Bao'er and Old Du found themselves in agreement with my words. In fact, all three of us were looking forward to the first landing. We all hoped to be picked because we believed that this was our moment to shine.

We knew that in the fleet, or even in the entirety of Blue, there were a number of space-lovers paying close attention to our exploration mission. Often, risk and glory came hand in hand.

A new meeting notification rang out from our devices, and we hurried toward the meeting room.

On the screen in the middle of the meeting hall, the names of the advance party could be seen: Chen Qiang, Maerdo, Li Canyue, Zhang Bao'er, Xiaoming, and the two androids, Dodo and Jiajia.

Hahaha, I laughed inwardly. Sure enough, my guess was right.

In fact, Maerdo was the only name I did not expect to see. Evidently, glory was very important for the Gliesens as well. They did not wish for the Bluelings to hog all the glory. As for Old Du's exclusion, I was both surprised and unsurprised. After all, his father was a duke on Blue. It would be hard for the fleet to answer to his father if something happened to him on his very first mission.

One could say that this advance party was composed of newbies, moderately experienced members, and veterans.

A decent team, I thought to myself.

Just as everyone was starting to accept this arrangement, a voice rang out.

"I object."

Old Du stepped out. "I wish to join the first group. Since both my comrades are in it, I wish to be in it as well."

How surprising. This kid is quite different from the other Gliesens, I mused inwardly.

The 22nd century was fast approaching. Like I said, this was an era where talent was of the utmost importance. After Old Du volunteered, Angela and the higher-ups discussed for a few minutes before replacing Xiaoming with Old Du. As a technician, Xiaoming was, in truth, a bad choice for the first group.

And thus, the members of the first group were finalized: three Bluelings, two Gliesens, and two androids.