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June 2018 Scifi Contest - Jupiter

The mission? Man the spacecraft, Jovian, through space below the gas-filled, storm riddled surface of our solar system's largest planet, Jupiter. Once there, the planet's strong gravitational pull grabbed our ship.

"Ready the reverse thrusters just in case we need to pull back a bit." Commander Reynolds ordered.

Our pilot, Dubois, flipped a couple switches. "Yes, Sir. I don't expect any difficulties once we get past the moons. It'll be breaking the surface that I'm preparing for."

He wasn't wrong. The crew transversed the rings, moons and surrounding debris with skill. Soon, we were all looking out in complete awe. As the first manned crew to fly close to Jupiter, we were about to pierce the gas layer and see for ourselves what no satellites had been able to give us – a look inside.

Taylor, our tech specialist, worked diligently to ensure all cameras were functioning. Connor, the medic, watched the monitors that steadily read the crew's vitals. I, the flight engineer, announced specific points of the mission.

Examining the monitors, I clicked on the comm. "Five kilometers until surface."

Dubois and Reynolds exchanged a few words as we closed in. Then, everyone fell silent as the nose of the craft punched through the wall of gasses, slipping each window under the surface one by one. What was expected to be a harsh and possibly violent entry surprisingly was smooth. We traveled for hours through dense clouds that swirled and undulated around us, picking up data.

Our craft started to slow, finding some resistance in the atmosphere until finally, as if punching through Earth's ozone, we emerged out of the cover of thick clouds into a clear sky above a small planet. Our Commander gasped and started punching on the dashboard.

"What is it?" Dubois leaned over.

Reynolds looked up, his eyes wide. "The air... It's not unlike our own."

I yanked the keyboard towards me. "He's not wrong."

The five of us continued to take measurements as we approached the surface. Finally, I announced, "Ten kilometers until surface."

Dubois piloted us down, landing in the middle of a field. The readings were so close to Earth's that we started discussing what little it would take to acclimate to living there. Once a scan of the surrounding area was completed, Reynolds cleared us to exit. Dubois stayed, securing the hatch behind us. We fanned out, slowly moving from the ship.

In the distance, we spotted a small group - human-like - walking toward us with their hands up. Reynolds, being cautious, ordered us to ready our weapons but not pull them. But none of us were ready for what we experienced once they were close enough to be heard.

The woman in the center spoke. "Commander Reynolds and crew. Welcome to Jupiter. We've been waiting for you."

"Waiting for us?" Reynolds asked.

"Yes." Her voice was calm. "We're from the future. We were sent back to help you colonize Jupiter safely before Earth's destruction and possibly save your home planet."