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image above them changed to a simple diagram. “In a few hours we will make the jump to Jupiter. We’ll orbit Ganymede where you will be reunited with Mary Seventeen. We have been monitoring her medical progress and feel she’s ready to join the mission. As you learned from the briefing you received before boarding the Goddard , Mary’s internal communication nodes have been augmented. We hope that the modifications will enable her to communicate more effectively.”
    “Why would she want to do that?” asked Alex. “If they have a language, she never understood it. And their constant chatter practically drove her crazy. Won’t those modifications just make it worse? And why should we go back? You have people you could send and …”
    Stubbs stood up and faced Alex. “Lalande is 8.3 light years away, with two planets similar to Jupiter.” He smiled at Alex’s wide-eyed expression. “We intend to explore the system, using the Goddard as a base, but our primary interest is the inner gas giant. They’re calling it Bubba, for some reason. Anyway, the gas giant is 1.6 times the mass of our own, and the best imagery suggests a spot in its atmosphere, positioned and structured very much like Jupiter’s Great Red Spot.”
    “But you said we’ll be going back to the reef on Jupiter,” said Alex. “What does this have to do …?’
    Stubbs held up a hand. “Patience, Alex,” he said. “Yes. First Jupiter, where you, Mary, Tony Sciarra, and Connie Tsu will take your ship, Diver , into the reef. Your shuttle has been modified for that mission.”
    “You worked on my ship without a word to me?”
    “Yes, and you won’t be getting a bill for the upgrade or the bells and whistles we added.” Stubbs took a deep breath. “ANYWAY, Alex, you will pilot your ship into the reef and bring back at least one clicker man, hopefully more than one, alive. Then you and your ship will be brought aboard Goddard and we will make the jump to Lalande.”
    “You want me to capture clicker men?”
    Stubbs nodded. “We want one of them aboard when we explore Lalande b’s spot.”
    “Why?”
    Baltadonis raised his hand. “Johnny?” acknowledged the commander. “Do you wish to answer Alex’s query?”
    “Thanks, Harry.” The younger Professor turned to face Alex. “The primary question is if life exists on a gas giant in the Lalandian system, and, if so, if it’s similar to what you found on Jupiter. We want to know if Jovian life generated spontaneously in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Lalande may yield that answer. Our mission hopes to answer once and for all if life starts on gas giants or on planets like Earth.”
    “You think the life on Earth came from Jupiter’s reef?” Alex leaned back in his foam seat.
    “Perhaps. Jovian life has DNA,” observed Stubbs. “So does Earth life. We don’t know where it came from. But, suffice to say, we need reef experts. And if anyone can go in there and capture a clicker man it’s you and Mary.”
    “But why is that necessary?” Confused, Alex slumped in his chair.
    “If I may volunteer an answer to that, Commander,” said Professor Baltadonis. “If life is found on Lalande, Alex, and it proves similar to the life we have in Jupiter’s reef … then we want to communicate with it, if possible.”
    Stubbs nodded impatiently. “Details, Johnny. Not important now.” He looked at Alex earnestly. “We need Jovian life aboard to compare with what we find on Lalande b. It’s as simple as that. We need to be prepared for any eventuality.”
    Wysor and Sciarra had been sitting nearby, quietly listening to Stubbs’ briefing. Until now they hadn’t said a word. Sciarra raised his hand.
    “Another country heard from,” quipped Stubbs. “Yes, Sciarra?”
    “Seems you’re crammin’ a lot down Alex’s throat all ’t once. Why’d you boys keep him in the dark about your plans?”
    “Compliance issues,” said Stubbs.
    “How long have you been including Mary and me in these