The Bell Residence - 4:30 AM
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The sky still dark, and Jonathan wakes for another day at NASA. He has so much planned, since this will mark the first interplanetary probe to enter the gravitational influence of a potentially habitable planet. He quickly checks his social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, all that. He hastily went to Kelly's bedroom door, knocked on it, and waited.
"What is it?" Kelly quickly answered.
"It is time. It is the launch of Conquistador I," Jonathan replied.
The door quickly swings open. "I know. You ready?"
"Uh, yes." he said with shock. Apparently, Kelly had woken up earlier.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go!" She ran towards the rooftop and onto their personal aircraft, leaving Jonathan shocked for a second.
He quickly followed suit, entering the craft at the same time it has spooled up. The two-person canopy closes, the plane lifts off, and then transitions to forward flight, travelling at a speed of 540 mph. At that speed, the KSC is only 45 minutes away.
"So, sis, why were you all of a sudden so hyped? Never seen you that excited for a simple launch?"
"Simple? Don't joke around. This has been my dream since I was 10; to see an actual habitable planet besides Earth in my own eyes. This launch brings us one step closer to it."
"Oh. Well then, I am coming with you for the first manned mission."
"Really?!"
"Really."
Kelly was bursting with happiness upon hearing that. She squealed so high and loud Jonathan's ears rang.
"Aargh! My ears!"
"Oh dear, sorry!"
"It's okay. I understand—agh!"
"Gosh... never thought I make that loud a tone. Sure it's nothing else?"
"Yep. Pretty sure."
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Kennedy Space Center - 5:20 AM
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Jonathan and Kelly are only two of the 1,000 people standing by for the first launch to the new planet which they dubbed 'Lagrange', after its position relative to Earth as well as a tribute to Joseph-Louis Lagrange who discovered them. The rocket to be used is a Delta IV Heavy, a relatively new launch platform designed by NASA. Normally for LEO and GTO operations, it is the only NASA rocket available that could carry a third stage. On the third stage is 'Conquistador I', placed inside a fairing. Now, the people watch as the VAB's doors slide open, showing the vehicle in all its glory. This time and date was chosen specifically since it is only a 2-day window for a lunar gravity assist that will take them close enough to the required orbit for 'Langrage' intercept.
"Isn't this exciting?" asked Kelly.
"Yeah," said Jonathan, forcing a smile, "it sure is."
A few moments later, Delta IV Heavy has been filled up to the brim. By this time, 150,000 people are standing by, with millions more through the television. The countdown starts, Mission Control performing pre-launch checks, making sure nothing is left. At T-minus 3 minutes, Houston gave the go-ahead.
10 weeks ago
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"Two, One, Lift-off!"
An Atlas V rocket lifts off the launchpad, its two liquid-fuel engines coupled with 2 solid-fuel boosters emitting a loud, roaring sound that fills the air for miles. Inside it is a powerful new observation satellite that can help do many of the scientific experiments necessary before probe launch. The satellite will be powerful enough that it can detect the magnetosphere from a planet up to 1.2 AU away, for example. As the rocket's boosters run out, they are discarded, followed eventually by the first stage being jettisoned. The payload will be brought in a super-synchronous orbit, in a 0.75:1 orbit-rotation resonance. It will give feedback for mission control to know it is in position.
The mission went as planned, the probe is operational with its solar panels extended to power the large object. Once it oriented itself to the planet, it immediately received mystical radiation coming from the surface of both planet and moon. The scientists were baffled. No planet that size could give of that much radiation, let alone that type. They did a composition scan immediately, and found Lagrange has 3% unknown substance and its moon 34%. They called it 'Lagrangium'.
The news about the planet reached far and wide, even making its way to Russian and Chinese networks. The worldwide hype grew exponentially when they saw the news, seeing that there is so much to learn about Lagrange and its moon. In the minds of the people, they knew what will come next.
A new Space Race has begun.
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Jennie's Apartment
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"Hey Jennie," Summer called, "what is on the news?"
"Well, let's see. I think I have about 10 minutes before I become late for work."
Jennie turned on the television. On it is CNN, with an interview with one of the NASA mission planners.
"Woah, this is going to be cool!" Summer said excitingly.
"This new satellite," said Pamela Brown, "they say that it should be able to read a planet's magnetosphere from a pretty far distance, is that correct?"
"Yes," he said, "it can scan them from up to 1.2 astronomical units in distance."
"Wow, that must be pretty far. Well, what is the goal here?"
"Our goal is to get a probe to the planet Lagrange to be able to gain scientific insight. The magnetosphere readings are there to make sure that it has a sufficient one to be able to help protect the satellite's instruments. In fact, the payload fairing for the probe will be lead-lined to protect the fragile probe from being destroyed by solar rays."
"That was rather long. So, have we go news on the planet itself?"
"Well, the planet itself is very Earth-like." He opens his laptop, showing the planet. The camera zooms into it.
"Hey, that is Remnant!" called out Summer in surprise. "That's Remnant!"
"What?" asked Jennie. "That planet?"
"Yeah! I just don't understand why they called it 'Lagrange'."
"Well, I only have a minute before I really have to go. They called it Lagrange because it was found in a Lagrangian point. You want to know more, you can use the laptop over there on the desk to contact me. Or just search the internet."
"Okay, bye!"
Jennie left the apartment, leaving Summer on her own.
"What is 'Internet'?"
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NASA HQ
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Jonathan and Kelly were asked to come to the Headquarters for reasons untold. They hastily made their way to the admin's office, not knowing what is in store for them. When they entered, they saw an empty room.
"Huh, where is he?" Kelly wondered.
"Right behind you." They both quickly turned around, and was shocked nearly to death when the admin just appeared so close to them.
"You scared us!" Jonathan cried. "What the hell?"
"I decided I'd do that for kicks. I have never got anyone that shocked. Anyways, I called you here because I have some very good news for you."
"What is it?" Kelly asked.
"You two, along with Major Tom Brixton, have been chosen as one of the the first people on Lagrange."
"Really? Us?"
"Yes. Considering you are one of the first people to discover it."
"Wow, it's an honor, but—"
"This is great! I have always wanted to go to another world. This is a great day!" Kelly exciting said, cutting Jonathan's protest.
"Yes. I am pretty sure it is."
"Yeah, who is Tom Brixton?"
"He is a British astronaut, who had served 5,000 hours on the ISS."
"Well, hallelujah."
"You are both dismissed."
Soon as they both left the room, Jonathan heard a high-pitched sound. Didn't take long to realize it was his sister.
"Hey Kelly, mind cutting that out?"
"Sorry, I am just excited."
"You might deafen someone."
"Well, sorry. Won't happen again."
As they continued outside, Jonathan was now wondering if he made the right choice.
They stopped by a restaurant to have their lunch. They got a table, received a menu, and chose their food. As he looked outside the window he saw a girl with shoulder-length black hair with red tips, about 5' high, wearing a black dress with red trim and a white cloak to top it all up. She looks familiar, a character from a series he hadn't watched in a long time. She entered the restaurant, found a seat just behind him, and did the same procedures. Kelly, of course, knew who she was, but won't want to spill it out.
Jonathan decided to cool down a bit. In a while both Bells and the mystery girl got their food. Jonathan deliberately slowed down eating to keep pace with her. Once she was done, she paid her check, in about the same time as Kelly asked for it. When the girl left, Jonathan told Kelly to not worry about him, and that she could just call him. Kelly agreed, and he followed the mystery girl.
It seems that the girl knew she was followed, and deliberately tripped herself to make sure. Jonathan had to catch her in the end so she wouldn't hurt herself.
"Uh, thanks," said the girl. Jonathan observed silver eyes.
"Your name would be Summer?"
"How did you know that?"
"I'd know your silver eyes anywhere."
"Well, what is your name?"
"I am Jonathan, Jonathan Bell."
"A rather interesting name. Ah well, I have to get to the apartment."
"Which apartment?"
"No need to know. Just a question though, what is 'Internet'? It has been bugging me for hours."
"Well, the Internet is a worldwide network with hundreds of millions of people connected. In it, people can share stuff, see stuff from halfway around, and be able to connect and meet people."
"Wow. That is a very great thing to have here. I am also still getting used to the environment here. Surprised that you could make it this far without Dust."
"We don't have that. And yes, it would be very impressive for you."
"Yea, thanks. I'll be leaving now."
"Okay, be safe." Jonathan paused for a moment. "Wow, I think I like her already..."
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High Earth Orbit
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The observation satellite was functioning nominally. It is doing its job well. But for some reason, when it began to scan the broken side of the moon, its optics got jammed. Even infrared didn't work. So the probe computer decided to use X-ray imaging. This time, the satellite got several depth readings, and found the source for the jamming. The satellite began transmission.
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Mission Control
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"Hey, I think the probe got a breakthrough!"
"What, what is it?"
"Look at this." He showed the X-ray imaging of the shattered moon from the probe. The area where it is shattered was emitting so much energy that only ionizing radiation could get a reading. "It is the shattered part of Lagrange's moon."
"Wow. Well, we can't rely on probes there. I guess to learn more, we need men on that moon."
"Got that right. We wouldn't need Skylon for the moon landing, just a travelling single-launch station."
"That would be a good idea. Inform the rest of the people."
"Got it."
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Jennie's Apartment (again)
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Summer began to use the laptop. It took her a while to get acquainted with the key positioning, but eventually got that. She then started browsing the internet and had a really fun time. Cat videos which made her laugh, certain fails that made her cringe, and some mesmerizing free-running stunts which she loved, to name a few. She also searched the net about news of Lagrange, making sure not to type 'Remnant',and found lots of interesting — and technical — information about it. Unsurprisingly, it made her a bit more homesick. Next she tried typing her name on the search engine and found... she was known... in an animated series called 'RWBY'. This time, she was struck hard.
"I'm not real?" she thought to herself repeatedly. She made her way to the bedroom and began to think about the world around her. She lay prone on the mattress and began to sob quietly, thinking now that she may not be real. Then, she fell fast asleep (some people are like this).
When Jennie returned at 12:30 in the morning,she was tired.
"Summer, you here?" she called, nevertheless. "Summer?"
She went to the bedroom to find Summer asleep on her bed, with clear markings on the bed, signifying she had cried. With what, she would find out. Gently, she positioned her so she was face up, and got on the bed. She has a long day ahead of her.
|Authors' Note|
Back with a new chapter, people. You won't believe me if I told you this was made in 3 days without any help. Anyways, if you liked this chapter, leave a review.
Acronym list and their meanings
*KSC : Kennedy Space Center (not Kerbal Space Center)
*LEO : Low Earth Orbit
*GTO : Geostationary Transfer Orbit
*AU : Astronomical Unit
*CNN : Cable News Network
*ISS : International Space Station
See you next chapter.