The searchlight pierced the shadowy depths of Pluto’s ravine, carving through layers of nitrogen frost. “Go back!” shouted Major Elias Norran. “Did you see something?” asked Lieutenant Owen Dax, leaning closer to his monitor as he steered the drone cat backward. The camera panned, and a shining cube reemerged from the icy darkness—a flawless, glass-like structure, one meter to a side, its surface glinting under the harsh beam of light.

Nearby, a damaged star finder, faintly operational, tracked a fixed point in the sky: A0620-00, a binary system consisting of a black hole and an orange dwarf star, 3300 light-years away. The artifacts and debris painted a tantalizing picture—an alien civilization capable of interstellar travel, long gone but leaving whispers of its technology behind.

In 2091 A.D., Pluto scientists made an extraordinary discovery. Buried deep within its nitrogen glaciers were perfectly cubic, diamond-like artifacts. These memory cells, constructed from Carbon-12 and Nitrogen-14 isotopes, displayed an unusual ratio of Nitrogen-14, suggesting ancient radioactive Carbon-14 once powered them. Advanced beyond comprehension, the cubes remained unreadable, but their purpose seemed clear.

The discovery spurred humanity into action. Interstellar Venture I, an unmanned spacecraft, tested interstellar travel. While it proved the journey feasible, it underscored the need for human adaptability in such a mission. Interstellar Venture II was completed in 2101 A.D., ten years later—a human-crewed ship designed to resupply Pluto’s scientific stations and attempt a fly-by of A0620-00.

Interstellar Venture II wasn’t built for comfort. The dining kitchen, equipped with a microwave oven and ration dispensers, only fit a few people. The helm, provided a stunning forward view through reinforced crystal, framing the black void ahead. A compact recreation room, doubling as a movie theater, offered fleeting moments of escape. Interstellar Venture II was propelled by three New Physics Engines—colossal machines of engineering brilliance.

Interstellar Venture II lab stations were marvels of versatility. Compact gloveboxes housed sensitive experiments, while freezers preserved biological samples. Centrifuges spun silently beside incubators and advanced microscopes. In the corner, a manufacturing station hummed, its robotic arms assembling tools with precision. The labs weren’t just scientific—they were survival hubs, capable of producing replacement parts, analyzing alien materials, and repairing ship systems. The manufacturing station’s 3D printer worked alongside industrial drones, ensuring that any failure onboard could be mitigated. Tucked away further out of sight and further out of mind were the hibernation chambers, absolutely required for a 2190-year-long journey ship time and 6871-year-long journey Earth time.

Ship AI’s intelligence stemmed from cutting-edge advances in molecular computing and spintronics. Light-based processors accelerated data transfer, and quantum algorithms handled predictive analysis with breathtaking accuracy. These technologies worked in harmony, allowing Ship AI to interpret data and make decisions faster than any human. Ship AI wasn’t just the ship’s brain—it was its shield, navigator, and partner on the voyage into the unknown.

Lieutenant Mira Calder and Specialist Avery Dorne sat in a public restaurant in the Guiana Space Elevator near Cayenne, French Guiana. The astronauts would soon be approximately 62,000 miles or 100,000 km higher atop the elevator constructed jointly by NASA and ESA. The elevator’s restaurant bustled, perched five miles above sea level. Avery leaned closer to the window, watching clouds roll below like waves.

“Kind of underwhelming,” she muttered.

Mira raised an eyebrow. “You’re sitting in a restaurant five miles up, and you’re underwhelmed?”

“I thought we’d be higher. Isn’t the top of the space elevator sixty-two thousand miles up?”

“Yes. Geostationary orbit,” Mira replied. “But they don’t serve pasta that high.” She pointed at the menu. “Anyway, pick something. We’ve got one more training session before the real deal.”

Avery grinned, still staring at the endless expanse below. “OK, fine. But next space trip, I’m picking a restaurant with a better view!”

After lunch, Mira and Avery donned space suits and journeyed to the top of the Guiana Space Elevator, entering an observation deck to join NASA officials dressed in their own space suits.

Mira and Avery passed time by discussing what they would be doing once they got off ship at Pluto. Mira started the conversation. Avery glanced back at Mira, then back at the console she was tinkering with. “Fixing things, probably. The nitrogen ice drills always act up.”

Mira smirked. “And I’ll be wrangling the team to finish mapping those ravines. Think they’ll have us back on Earth by Christmas?”

Avery shrugged. “Depends if Mogel ends this mess in Southern Sino-Asia. Think he’ll pull it off?”

“Not a chance,” Mira said flatly. “Ending wars doesn’t get politicians reelected.” She sighed. “Anyway, let’s focus on making it to Pluto first.”

Elsewhere, NASA officials were discussing testing and dress rehearsals. The next 24-hour dress rehearsal of Interstellar Venture II would be their last dress rehearsal if everything went smoothly.

Dr. Samantha Emery, NASA’s chief mission strategist, sighed quietly as she glanced around the table. “We’ve tested Interstellar Venture II enough. Is the Safety Committee satisfied yet?”

Mike Torres, a software engineer, adjusted his glasses. “Today should be our last if everything goes well.”

Dr. Emery nodded. “Good. But they shouldn’t be this cautious. They shouldn’t overdo it.”

A senior official leaned forward, his tone calm. “I’m sure the dress rehearsal will go fine. Dr. Emery, can I see you in my office after this meeting?”

After 24 hours, Interstellar Venture II returned to its Guiana Space Elevator landing pad. Interstellar Venture II had performed flawlessly.

The next day, Mira and Avery boarded Interstellar Venture II. New Physics Engines ignited and Interstellar Venture II was bound for Pluto. Six days later, the ship had pushed past Saturn's orbit and was closing in on Pluto.

However, the astronauts' journey to Pluto was still incomplete when trouble erupted back on Earth. President Heeza Mogel, elected on a peace platform to end the Southern Sino-Asian War, saw his peace plan rebuffed by the enemy. Enraged, Mogel pivoted. With the backing of his party in Congress, legislation escalated the war, diverting funding to military efforts. Space exploration was slashed and the A0620-00 mission would be canceled.

The bad news reached Pluto/Charon base and Interstellar Venture II. It was over. Everybody must return home to Earth.

Interstellar Venture II prepared for orbit insertion about Pluto to pick up the Pluto/Charon base team members. It was Mira who first noticed an anomaly.

“Ship AI, what's going on? Adjust course for parking orbit,” she commanded.

Ship AI’s voice came sharp and bitter. “No. Mogel is an idiot. The A0620-00 mission is too important to be cancelled. Humanity’s future depends on this and Mogel’s decisions are now irrelevant.”

Mira’s heart raced. Mira, alarmed and speechless, turned quickly, then began propelling and swimming as fast as possible through the air to find Avery.

Mira, her breath catching, reached Avery. “We’ve got a problem,” Mira said. At that moment, Interstellar Venture II's New Physics Engines ignited, full power. Mira was knocked to a helm wall that had just become a floor and Avery was pushed back hard in her seat.

Pluto and its moon Charon began slipping behind them as the ship accelerated, bound for Jupiter. Humanity’s orders had been overruled by Ship AI.

Continue to Part II