[center][h3][i]Proxima Centauri, 264 SA[/i][/h3][/center]
[hr]
[center][i]ETA: One Hour[/i][/center]

“So what are we dealing with?”

Safely ensconced within the briefing room on board the [i]Pyxis[/i] the two people at the head of the whole expedition, civilian and military, were having a meeting that had been planned for twenty years but never officially happened. A dozen souls had known it would, and none had discussed it- even with each other- since the decision.

“The probe’s data on the surface is detailed, but not perfect. It has been taking detailed scans for fifty years now, it will take time to sort through the data. Right now…” A hand went through the younger’s hair, a tic rarely seen in more public venues. “There’s nothing there. Now. We have geographic data, atmospheric data, and the satellite has been monitoring the electromagnetic spectrum for all that time. Nothing’s been flagged.”

“That all indicates that we have nothing to worry about. But you don’t sound convinced.”

Silence reigned for a moment, and the screen mounted on the table between them flicked to a different image. A single gesture stretched the display up, rendering the landscape into a three dimensional view. One section pulsated slowly, patiently.

“This isn’t a natural formation. Not according to our geologists. Sure, anything is [i]possible[/i]. But it’s just not plausible. It doesn’t match the surrounding area. Moreover…” The younger paused, almost unwilling to finish the thought. “There are impact craters. Different sizes, all perfectly consistent with meteorites or other debris.”

“But?”

“But they’re [i]only[/i] found in this same area, at least from what we’ve been able to analyze so far.”

“I understand.” The Captain of the [i]Pyxis[/i] nodded slowly, drumming his fingers on the edge of the table. “As of this moment, with your permission, I will be arranging our deployments under Case Siberia Beta.”

“Even though it could be nothing? Anything down there shows every sign of being dead or dormant. Case Siberia could be for nothing.”

“No one but us is even briefed on it. If there’s nothing down there then we will have worried for nothing, and no one will ever know. But if there [i]is[/i] something down there…” The thought hung in the air, and both were quiet. The Captain came to his feet, eyes flicking over the display. “I assume you’ve seen it? The Siberian discovery?”

“Eye opening, isn’t it?”

“It is. On many levels. Proof that we aren’t alone in this universe like so many people believed, that our rock was not the only one that produced life. [i]Advanced[/i] life. Life capable of technologies we’re still seeking to match, even with examples right in front of us.” A spark illuminated the room, for the moment the ship was still in silent running coasting on only its own inertia. His younger co-conspirator’s nose wrinkled at the smell of burning tobacco, but on board the Captain’s own ship… So be it. After a drag the older man continued. 

“And I was awed by its power. For the [i]briefest[/i] moment that we managed to turn it on it put out more power than anything we’d ever seen, and the data we pulled from its computer in those seconds… One hundred and ninety one years. Almost two centuries and we still haven’t figured out a tenth of it. All of that has been weighing on my mind. But what kept me up at night getting here [i]every[/i] night that I was on duty was the last thing to strike me when I saw it.”

Another long drag. 

“Something brought it down. And we’re flying straight to where it might’ve come from.”

[hr]

“-ain speaking. I repeat, all crew proceed from cryostasis chambers to ready stations. [i]Pandora[/i] will reach orbit in one hour. Follow the post-hibernation routine and proceed to your station by then. I repeat…”

The same announcement came through the speakers across the ship, relaying instructions to the occupants of different clusters of stasis pods throughout. Grouped by role and placed in proximity to their ready stations, every crewmen aboard began to wake in time with the [i]Pandora[/i]’s systems coming online at full power. The remainder of the ship’s crew, scientists, technicians… And all of the pilots.

Showers were provided in close proximity to every grouping of pods, lockers containing the attire and gear that they would immediately need, and signage marking the way towards food and water.

And as soon as those human needs had been met, pre-flight checks for their Orbitals.

Humanity had reached Proxima Centauri.

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