Warning.
Solar event horizon breached.
Mercury has detonated in the solar heliosphere.
Containment is no longer possible.
Updating solar variant models.
Recalculating orbital decay.
All right, back to your stations, everyone.
- Yes, commander. - Yes, ma'am.
Mercury is gone...
we knew this was coming.
Now, Space Force paid big money
to give us a front seat to this catastrophe.
Let's give them all the science we've got.
Before Venus...
or Earth suffers the same fate.
Or Mars, for that matter.
What?
I can't be the only one thinking this.
Seven months after we end the war with Mars,
and now this?
Yeah.
Now the Sun's trying to kill us both.
That'll do, McCulloch.
I want scans of the aftermath for Mercury ASAP.
Start debris analysis for temperature readings.
Build forecast models.
Let's get to work.
...reached at 44 hours, 18 minutes.
Elliptical deviation...
...61 hours, 57 minutes.
Complete loss of the planet Mercury.
Took 93 hours.
Four days...
for Mercury to be consumed by the Sun.
Contact IceCube Observatory for their readings.
Compare them with NASA sat data.
This is ISS calling.
IceCube Neutrino Observatory, over.
This is Interplanetary Space Station,
calling IceCube Neutrino Observatory, over.
Increased radiation is interfering with broadband.
Hold for beamforming response to augment signal.
The majority of the debris is vaporized.
The superheating phase boiled Mercury's iron core.
I'll recreate a 3D sample for further analysis.
You okay? What's going on?
Yes, I'm nervous.
You won't say anything to Carter, will you?
Must stay focused, at all times.
For the good of the missions.
No distractions. No other--
You don't have to explain.
We just witnessed something that no one could have imagined
happening in our lifetimes.
We're all feeling it, Hinata.
I'll populate the...
orbital history simulation models
with temperature analysis from this sample.
That should tell us
how quickly the orbital decay is happening.
Like rings in a tree telling how old it is.
Okay.
Solange Beck, report to Cupola Module.
Running a secondary diagnostic.
Am I coming through okay?
- Solange? - Yes, Erik, I'm reading you.
I just wish I had better news, but our remote data
of the Sun's surface expansion has
spiked erratically since Mercury's been wiped out.
Far worse than was predicted.
Yeah, you should see the fragment sample
we were able to collect and scan.
Wait, you're saying you have-- you have a fragment sample?
I thought everything would have been burnt up.
- We got lucky. - Huh.
I'll generate a status package
on solar surface structure readings
and send it up to you and the team.
How are you holding up?
I haven't had the time to really let it sink in yet.
Everybody here is a bit on edge.
I know what you mean.
Sending that data package now.
I miss you.
Been thinking about you all the time.
I miss you. I can't wait to see you again.
I realize that might be a while.
Yeah.
Talk soon, okay?
Talk soon. I love you.
I love you.
IceCube data package received.
Distributing on all department channels.
Those figures are looking crazy.
Hinata, the threshold when Mercury reached
full stage disintegration, where was it?
Approximately 0.21 astronomical units.
Why?
- Solange, what is it? - Collect your data.
Meet me in the Cupola in two minutes.
The fragment that we got from Mercury post-dispersal
has shown that its orbit experienced
extreme destabilization.
The fragment shows cracking and scarring
consistent with tidal heating
as Mercury continued its inward spiral into the Sun.
Friction levels destabilized Mercury?
Temperature at surface confirms that.
Just so that I understand correctly,
so its orbit slowed
as it approached the solar death-zone?
Early readings show that the Sun's
death perimeter is expanding.
Okay, and if the death-zone continues expanding,
how does that affect Venus and Earth?
Kiryu and I have built
a hypothetical model of the orbital decay for Venus
to calculate the approach to the death-zone.
Running orbital decay projection simulation.
Trajectory retardation matches Mercury 98%.
The orbital trajectories are near identical.
Correct. That would mean
that Venus has already begun to decay.
Venus is larger than Mercury.
The planet might resist decay longer.
Not if the Sun's death-zone keeps expanding.
We need to know how fast that's happening.
Earth and Venus, they're sister planets
in size, mass,
composition, density, and proximity.
Venus has to survive, at all costs.
Solange, contact Erik.
Tell him we need his team on alert.
Solange, do you have more data?
The Sun's atmosphere is expanding,
which caused Mercury to vaporize
when its core got destabilized.
And Venus is showing the same orbital decay.
We need to know how fast the Sun is expanding
to protect Venus and Earth.
Core surveys would tell us that. We need to know, Erik.
You want the serious hardware.
Now, the window of opportunity is closing
if our solar velocity estimates hold.
The radiation levels after the loss of Mercury
are still extremely high.
Now, I can start prepping solar survey drones.
But the launch window
will be extremely tight
for a successful go launch.
Erik, get the drones prepped, ASAP.
The probes on those drones only survive
six seconds past the chromosphere.
But they're the best in the biz.
You helped design those things?
First job out of college. Nivens V&V Team.
Were you still there when the war started?
No, sir. Delta Nine,
8th Squadron, tip of the spear.
Martians didn't expect us to fight back so quick.
Hoo-ah.
My Brother Rory was 3rd Infantry.
Gave 'em hell, too.
I miss him every day.
ISS, this is NASA MMOC.
Three rockets on approach
with solar survey drones on board.
Once the rockets reach orbit, we'll deploy the drones
and transfer control to the ISS.
Good luck.
MMOC, this is ISS, reading you loud and clear.
Awaiting CP4 imaging. Drone navigation control.
Standing by.
NASA MMOC to ISS, releasing drones now.
Ready to transfer control, on your mark.
MMOC control, ISS assuming
CP4 navigation access, on my mark.
Three, two, one.
Mark.
Solar survey imaging drone
did not deploy from rocket three.
Check for interference.
No signal, I can't access for deployment.
MMOC Control, third stick unresponsive.
Failed deployment.
Repeat, third stick unresponsive.
- Failed deployment. - Eh, radiation's
interfering with the antenna.
It needs manual calibration, or else we won't be able
to maneuver the drones once they're online.
Stay here. Diomid can handle it.
Commander, I'd prefer to go, all right?
I can realign it quicker.
He's not familiar with our interface.
Understood, but I need you here
to execute the core survey.
Diomid, perform manual antenna calibration.
We're still experiencing signal interference.
Warning, thruster error, code 67.
Rocket three has suffered electrical arc failure.
The drones on board can't launch.
That leaves us with six drones at our disposal.
- Six drones aren't enough. - We go with what we got.
Truman, patch us in, let's get to work.
Since we have fewer drones than expected,
I'd like to hold on to as many as we can.
Tap in through the ATACS interface.
I'll assign your equipment on that protocol.
Truman, standby.
Programming digital tethers into the operating code.
Direct the drones to come back here to the ISS
after dropping their probes.
Maintain a safe distance for heat expansion.
We don't want those drones to burn out prematurely.
Nearing the drop point.
Helioseismic mapping data initiated.
Chain commands are holding.
Solar winds are interfering with the controls.
I'm having the same problem.
Diomid needs to get that antenna in place.
Antenna array is recalibrated,
and signal strength increased by 35%.
Truman, are all six drones picking up helioseismic data?
Affirmative...
but there's a lag.
Maneuvering vehicles into the drop positions.
Diomid, standby. We're still not at full strength
on that transmission.
Solar winds are kicking our ass.
Standing by, until you say otherwise.
My survey drones are now positioned at their coordinates.
Drones are assigned to my coordinates.
Chromosphere probes ready for eject.
Do it. Go for the eject.
Datasets are coming in.
Probes reached the chromosphere.
We're starting to get baseline figures.
Now we can really see how much trouble we're in.
Controls have lost reception.
I'm reading only one of my drones.
- Connection lost. - I've lost both of mine.
Dead controls on my two as well.
CME error level one.
SOHO forecast, CME warning.
We've lost all signal. Helioseismic and Neutrino
have stopped populating.
The CME must have knocked out
the signal of the drones.
SSN and TOPO issuing conjunction alerts now.
Warning, network down.
That would mean that the drones--
That the drones are coming right back to us.
Homing tether beacon
- activated. - The digital tether
that is programmed into the code.
Initiate avoidance maneuvers immediately.
The debris is past the red threshold.
There's not enough time.
Picking up debris sensor. Early warning alerts.
All personnel, report
to your shelter-in-place modules,
I repeat, all personnel report
to your shelter-in-place modules
for debris impact preparation.
The hull's been breached.
Find the breach.
Conduct a full station structural analysis.
Lost Diomid in B-corridor.
The hull's been compromised.
Truman and I made it to Shelter Module Two.
McCulloch, seal off B-corridor and Unity Module immediately.
B-corridor is already sealed off.
And I've locked down Unity Module.
No further loss of pressure.
Everything is secure.
Diomid?
He's dead?
Look... I know this is difficult.
But we must remain focused.
For the good of the mission, we have to continue fighting.
For Diomid.
For all of us.
I'll notify NASA.
Contact his wife.
Grief counseling won't help.
It's just more words.
She may as well go through it alone.
I did.
Wait. Wait.
You hear that?
Something's wrong.
Must be the Oxygen Generation System.
Run an ECLSS diagnostic immediately.
Diagnostic analysis in progress.
Let's get back to Cupola.
McCulloch... monitor the ECLSS diagnostic from there.
Understood.
Why wasn't the debris avoidance maneuver performed?
- Marina, wait. - It was too late
for any advance warning.
We were already in the path of the debris.
- You could have at least tried. - There was no time.
The core survey drones have stored their datasets
once the probes got sent into the chromosphere.
CME interrupted the helioseismic readings.
but we can still use the data from Neutrino.
Hinata...
can you double check my calculation
- on the core surveys? - Yeah.
Eight days.
That can't be right.
Okay, so this is what the core surveys are telling us.
The Sun's fusion process has stalled,
and it's trying to restart.
And that's why it devoured Mercury.
It has to restart its engine to survive.
And as it expands,
it grows closer to total collapse.
And that expansion is caused by the mass it's devoured.
When it destroyed and consumed Mercury,
the death-zone of the Sun grew larger.
Now, according to these core survey readings...
we have eight days...
to prevent Earth
from being destroyed and consumed
like Mercury and Venus,
in less time than that.
It's a hailing beacon of a Martian scout vessel.
Respond to it. See what it wants.
This is Commander Lorraine Carter
aboard Expedition Fourth Quarter,
a peaceful Earth mission aboard Interplanetary Space Station.
- Over. - It knows we're here now.
We shouldn't have said anything.
Z'ger Unus vessel to ISS.
I am Icluf, science emissary
of the Mars Exploration and Research Office.
Request permission to board ISS.
No, absolutely not.
Fair warning of approach.
I come with a plan to prevent the cataclysm
from destroying your world and ours.
Don't, it's lying to us.
That is a possibility. What if it's a Martian crew
coming to take command of the station?
Z'ger Unus, timeframe of approach?
Time zero-minus 42 minutes,
by NASA standard.
Stand by, Z'ger Unus, and await further instruction.
ISS out.
You can't possibly entertain this idea.
Do not trust it.
Hey, no goddamn way.
I-- My brother is dead
because those sons of bitches killed him.
If you think I'm gonna work with one of them
on this mission, you're out of your goddamn mind.
McCulloch.
Go to the ECLSS Module,
monitor diagnostic from there.
Don't trust them. They're invaders.
They've proven that already.
But this is a science emissary
from their XRO.
And you take that at face value?
You're a fool.
That's how they were able to ambush us in the first place.
This ISS is an interplanetary vessel.
The Mars XRO still retains partnership rights.
But is it here as a partner?
We don't know what it wants.
What if it's here for assistance?
Are we willing to work with them in earnest?
- We have eight days-- - Solange.
I need a minute.
McCulloch, status.
Oxygen generator assembly got blown out.
Backup components are online for now.
Telemetry review and hardware reboot
will take some time.
I'll have to reroute power.
Yeah, it's just the air we breathe,
but no, there's more.
Complete water recovery system failure
needs a new distillation assembly
and fluid control pump.
What about the backup water
from contingency?
Will that hold us for the time being?
Uh... how many systems you want to keep running?
Drinking? Hygiene? Oxygen?
How long until it's up?
Uh... contingency tank should be on in 15.
As for a full repair...
I don't know, it's hard to tell yet.
We may need some new replacement parts
sent up to us.
Use whatever you can in those storage modules.
Resupply mission will take weeks.
We don't have that kind of time.
Oh, yeah, great. Can't wait.
Hey, I just wanted to check on you.
I just, I-- I said I needed a minute.
I think we could all use a timeout.
Mercury's gone.
And Venus is spiraling into orbital decay.
Yeah, at least we know why.
Unfortunately, you can't just give the Sun
a jump start like a machine.
That would be a lot easier.
So, any ideas?
Not yet, but we're gonna fix it.
- Yeah. - We're gonna fix it.
Solange, are you feeling better?
Focus on the task at hand.
- Solange? - A Dyson Swarm.
We build a megastructure
of independently orbiting satellites.
The data from the drones told us what was happening.
Now I want to know how.
What is causing the hydrogen to deplete so quickly?
And how do we plug in the leak?
Solange...
what you're proposing will take months.
I mean, there aren't enough
operational satellites on Earth,
or even above it, to accomplish this.
We're not the only civilization
that stands to lose it all once the Sun dies out.
You want to make this an interplanetary operation?
They have what we would need.
Well, that poses
three very difficult challenges.
Available quantities,
tech compatibilities, and the risk
of sparking an interplanetary incident.
We've been married for eight years.
You don't think I know how your brain works by now?
You know, that goes both ways.
And I know what you're thinking too.
And Mars?
It's a non-starter, okay?
No signatory agency in the space charter is
gonna go for that.
Erik, there's a Martian science emissary
approaching the station.
What?!
For what purpose?
That's what we've been wondering.
It's asked to come aboard the station.
And I think with their help, we could get a swarm
up and running in days, not months.
The war is over, Erik. I think...
now the Sun is the common enemy.
No, no, no. That will only fortify
the argument against forming an alliance.
Look, Mars could be using this
to take advantage... to strike again.
Listen to your husband, Solange. He's telling the truth.
ESA, the JAXA, NASA, Roscosmos,
none of them will agree to coordinate with a Mars XRO.
This is insane.
What is happening right now was not supposed to happen
for billions of years, and yet here we are.
I have to believe that this situation is
common ground enough for us to work together.
There are a lot of good people
who aren't ready to forget about the war.
That's right.
I know I won't.
And you damn well better believe
I'm not the only one who feels that way.
All right. If the Dyson Swarm is
the best solution, fine.
But this needs to be handled with extreme caution.
I'll call you back, Erik.
I need to talk to you, in private.
Mars mobilized for war against Earth.
This Icluf is a Martian.
Just like NASA, ESA, and JAXA are civilian agencies
leading peaceful research,
the Mars RXO is maintaining the same mission.
Solange.
NASA's existence has long been tied to military
and national security objectives.
Mars XRO maintains that same mission as well.
This crisis is the biggest
existential challenge the solar system
has ever had to face.
We are a peaceful coalition.
Why would a Martian come here for any other purpose?
So you want to extend
an invite... to a Martian scientist
to join an Earth expedition
seven months after the war?
The Sun is dying.
We don't know why.
They have the tech that we need
to figure out why and possibly stop it from happening.
And you propose we do this how?
You're the commander of the expedition.
This is your authority.
No.
Not to this extent.
The Sun's core is destabilized.
We...
our best shot is to get as much energy as we can from it
with a Dyson Swarm and prepare a rescue plan.
We don't have enough satellites on Earth
to prepare a proper Dyson Swarm.
We need theirs.
- If we combine them with Mars-- - Then what?
You have to tell everyone-- no, we have to tell everyone
how we broke the law to develop this rescue plan.
And guess what? We go back to Earth, we go to jail.
And we get blacklisted for good.
If we don't do it, everything dies.
I can't let that happen.
If it means that everybody we love,
if it means that Erik survives...
Then I'll gladly live with the consequences of my decision.
It's not up to just us.
There's six of us up here.
I don't know how some of the crew are gonna react
to this idea.
Okay.
All personnel, report to Cupola Module.
Erik, we granted
their emissary permission to board.
Solange, be very, very careful
how you handle this.
Now, has the rest of the crew been informed?
Yes, they all know.
And what was the tally?
Well, Malfatti and McCulloch were
both quite adamant
in their disapproval of the plan.
ISS to Z'ger Unus,
this is Commander Lorraine Carter.
Your request for assistance has been accepted.
Permission to board... granted.
I've never met a Martian before.
Only know what the media showed us.
Combat footage 13 days and nights
- on all the networks. - That's enough, Malfatti.
I need you on task.
Don't you presume to silence me, Commander.
I will never forget the morning it started.
The air raid sirens.
I still hear them now.
Cities burning, walls trembling
when the missiles hit.
Worst of it wasn't the shock of the explosion,
but the silence after,
followed by horrific screaming.
No, I've had enough of you
and her willingness to forget so easily.
Truman, prepare the Halcyon Module for arrival.
Copy, headed there now.
Warning.
Rewiring modular hatch mechanism is
extremely dangerous and could cause
depressurization of the module.
Trained personnel only.
Proceed with extreme caution.
Z'ger Unus to ISS,
38,000 meters to approach.
Z'ger Unus, coming in loud and clear.
Be advised, heavy cluster of orbital debris,
change approach trajectory 70 degrees,
starboard yaw to halcyon dock.
Understood. Adjusting trajectory.
Truman, M7.4 solar flare activity.
Be advised. Potential interference
on spacecraft approach.
Copy that.
Approaching orbital apogee.
Maintain trajectory.
Docking port in range.
On my mark, ten seconds.
Five, four, three, two...
I got you, Z'ger Unus...
nearing dock proximity.
Reduce propulsion.
Approach trajectory lost.
Thruster misfire caused by sensor error.
Z'ger Unus...
Z'ger Unus! Reduce thrust.
Is that the craft that hit us?
Z'ger Unus! Do you read me?
Attention, exterior threat detected.
Emergency modular isolation initiated.
- Containment lockdown. - No-no-no-no-no!
Hey!
Malfatti!
Truman!
Somebody!
Help!
The Blister... is...
filling... with gas!
Help! Help!
Truman?
Truman, are you there?
The ship hit the gas line!
It's for... depressure...
This is a corridor, not a module.
We should be able to open this manually.
God.
Did the Martian craft just hit us?
There was a docking procedure
malfunction and collision.
Let's move.
Lay down your weapons.
I mean you no harm.
And we mean you no harm.
So just come with us, and no one will get hurt.
All personnel,
check in with your status and location.
Hinata Kiryu, Marina Malfatti, Cupola.
We're okay.
We are nowhere near okay.
That Martian is to blame for this, Carter.
Do you hear me?
Power hasn't kicked in yet. We're still running
on emergency backups.
Carter, override the EMI already.
I still have to finish fixing the oxygen generator assembly.
That is, unless you want us all to suffocate up here.
I can't do that.
You know the EMI procedure as well as I do.
A modular scan must be completed first,
or we risk a breach.
Oh, procedure, huh?
You know, if you had followed procedure,
there wouldn't be a Martian craft
colliding with us.
McCulloch!
We're gonna have a little talk after this is through.
Have you come alone,
or are there more on the way?
More assistance we weren't anticipating?
As chief science emissary of the XRO,
I was chosen to be the sole contact
- to your expedition. - Only you.
And why should I believe that?
The decision was made because you are afraid.
Because of our history of conflict.
Do I look afraid to you?
Then what have I done to warrant such...
antagonistic behavior?
- The death of my navigator. - That was not my intention.
The spacecraft suffered malfunction.
You came here saying that you had a plan
to prevent the destruction of our worlds.
What do you know? What is the plan?
The Sun has already destroyed Mercury.
The death of Venus is imminent.
That's not true-- we can stop Venus from being destroyed.
Venus has already achieved terminal orbit
and must be destroyed if Earth is to survive.
- Why? - Steer the Earth
away from the Sun.
Steer the Earth?
- How? - Use the remnants of Mercury
and Venus once destroyed.
All of the pieces left behind in deep space.
A gravitational tug would require such a mass
that we do not have time to gather right now.
If Venus is consumed by the Sun,
that puts Earth right next to be destroyed.
Gravitational tug would slow Earth's orbital decay
by pulling the planet backwards.
- Buy more time. - More time for what?
To restart the Sun's fusion process.
Prevent it from dying.
To save both of our worlds from destruction.
You tried all of them?
I typed in all the codes you gave me.
None of them have worked.
Worth a shot.
The entire station is on containment lockdown.
And now all of us are in separate segments.
Divide and conquer.
Neither Carter nor Beck could see it coming.
See what coming?
A Martian aboard the ISS.
After the 13 days of hell that planet put us through.
Unconscionable.
Now that it's here, we're on lockdown
from a dock malfunction.
Don't you find that... odd?
I find the whole thing disgusting.
Historic peace agreement between our worlds.
First of its kind.
Tell that to my brother, Rory.
Died defending our world against that alien scum.
Now here we are. Last chance to protect Earth.
And they've relinquished it to the enemy.
What worries me...
why has this Martian... joined the mission?
- What's its agenda? - Well, if it were me,
and I planned to commandeer the very thing
that could save my world and leave my enemy to die...
first thing I'd do is lock up anybody standing in my way.
Just like we are now.
Venus and Earth perish.
Kill all of us to save Mars.
And they would have won the war.
Yeah, the war that was over, remember?
Venus can be saved.
We build a Dyson Swarm,
we collect as much solar energy as possible,
and we launch it straight back into the Sun to restart it.
That would require hundreds of thousands
of high-capacity energy-storing satellites.
The number of high-capacity satellites
on Earth or orbiting that are ready to be launched
is 161,500.
The plan is impractical
for the energy storage capacity necessary.
Maybe for each of our planets...
But if we combined our satellite inventories together,
this could work.
If you want to assist, arrange your planet's launch
of all of their satellites.
If I do this, you will release me from detainment?
Give us a reason to trust you first.
Help us build.
Space rockets and orbital vehicles
from my planet have transportation capabilities
of 2,240 to 2,730 satellites each.
The MXRO can launch nearly 80,000 satellites.
Release me from detainment.
I will help you with the mission.
Stand by. We'll discuss it.
NASA is likely aware that Icluf is on board.
We'll have to discuss our actions face-to-face
before they allow us to commandeer
their satellite into orbit.
This is Commander Lorraine Carter
aboard ISS.
Solange Beck, mission specialist.
Ladies, let's proceed with the matter before us.
A blatant violation of the Space Charter...
prohibiting Martian involvement in Expedition Fourth Quarter.
Were you aware of the Charter?
Yes, ma'am, we were aware
of the Charter prohibiting Martian involvement
aboard Expedition Fourth Quarter.
So you chose to act unilaterally,
by willfully ignoring federal law.
Ms. Montes,
we are on the precipice of a catastrophe.
Now, I believe that this mission
cannot be achieved without Martian involvement.
Let me make you aware of something
that you seem to be willfully ignoring.
The Sun is about to destroy Earth.
We have eight days. If we don't do anything,
none of this bullshit matters.
- Solange. - What matters--
do you wanna know what matters-- what really matters is that,
as Earth is approaching the Sun,
everything will fall apart.
Blackouts, natural events
you can't even imagine will happen.
Everything will be destroyed, but sure-- play politics.
Enact your silly little restrictions on us
while we're here, trying to save your ass.
Lorraine Carter, you are hereby relieved of command.
Solange Beck, your flight status is removed.
Both effective immediately.
This matter will be referred to the DOJ.
You are to return to Earth immediately.
Come up here and get me.
Well, that could have gone better.
It was only going downhill from there.
They wanted our discipline on record.
So, there it is.
Plus, nobody's coming here.
It's gonna take them six days to get a warrant.
Well, now we can expect access
to NASA-owned launch facilities denied now.
Can we hack in? Take them by force?
Not with the limited time they have.
Even with our access, they're very secure.
So NASA is going to make things more difficult for us?
Our own people are in our way?
Great.
Okay, so NASA is not
the only space agency in the world.
Maybe the rest of the world will help.
- What do you mean? - I mean,
we can source our inventory from other countries.
We can get them to launch their satellites
into orbit for us.
I can coordinate that with Erik and the IceCube Observatory.
It's worth a shot.
Let's do it.
Solange, what happened?
NASA shut down all launch protocols.
Forget about NASA.
We can get Canada,
Australia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, India,
any other country that hasn't signed the charter yet.
And just in time.
We've detected a trajectory shift in Venus
at 0.05 degrees.
Oh, God, okay, let me update the troops here.
We're going to release you.
I hope you'll hold up your end of the bargain.
Icluf, this mission depends on you.
On us working together.
Then let us work together.
If you are prepared to trust me, I am willing to trust you.
Well, then follow us up to the Directional.
All of our backup comms and station desks
are located there.
The modular scan is finished,
but we have a problem.
What? What's wrong?
We can't override the system. The EMI won't let us.
We can't release the hatch doors while the Blister is locked off.
It's probably due to the power loss.
McCulloch is
still working on the oxygen water systems.
Warning. Oxygen levels critical.
Less than 47 hours remaining.
Water levels critical.
- Critical. - Less than 47 hours remaining.
That's impossible.
Solange, I was able to coordinate
space agencies from around the world.
Satellites inbound...
Satellites have begun collecting solar energy from the Sun.
The Dyson Swarm is shaping up.
Icluf, we need your inventory right now.
We don't have nearly enough satellites yet.
And if we waste too much time,
we're gonna lose what little we have.
Commander Carter, inventory launch underway
and on approach to accelerating
velocity with the Sun.
Solar radiation levels have elevated.
Maintain safe orbit.
Understood.
Solar flares continuing to intensify.
Hinata, run the trajectory estimate
for this new angular deviation.
First phase, staggered orbital coordinates online.
Autonomous collision avoidance initiated.
It's working.
The Dyson Swarm is collecting more energy.
Higher Quota Per Units.
We're capturing the Sun's energy.
Solar energy storage Quota Per Unit
is nearing optimization
but we need more satellites to fortify the Swarm.
Kiryu, update on the decay models from Venus.
Orbital decade, tidal drag
and atmospheric expansion have all steadily increased.
Get a hold of NASA to warn them.
NASA is not replying.
I hope they're seeing what we're seeing.
There's another problem.
At this rate, the Mars launch trajectories
have only 12 minutes before they reach apogee
before Venus begins to shed early stage surface material.
Solange, did you hear that?
We've exhausted all available satellite packages from Earth.
Solange, Carter...
Sun's surface velocity has spiked again. Damn it!
The numbers are decreasing.
Large numbers of the satellites have been lost this time.
QPU rates are dropping significantly.
Okay, call back as many as you can.
Send retreat signals to all the remaining satellites.
Icluf, realign all units from orbit now.
Get as many as you can out of there.
What is it?
It's happening faster than our estimates.
Increased atmospheric expansion. Right now.
Calling all personnel.
Find shelter in your isolated modules now.
The planet Venus is approaching the solar death-zone
and it's not going to survive it.
Radiation levels will spike soon.
Come on.
Shit.
Radiation knocked out the main controls.
Basic life support, navigation comms--
We lost all of it.
This is so dark.
Don't worry.
With the levels of radiation we're just exposed to,
it won't take long until we start glowing in the dark.
That's not funny.
No, I wasn't trying to be.
That's a genuine concern.
Come on. We must find the PDU.
No, this is bad.
Come on.
Come on, come on.
Carter, do you read me?
Carter, do you read?
Malfatti, it's McCulloch, do you read me?
Solange, do you copy?
Okay, think.
Think. You can do this.
All right.
Okay, come on.
We need to get out of this module.
Our commander still hasn't triggered the override.
Very suspect, if you ask me.
What? Why is it suspect?
Divide and conquer.
Carter allows a Martian aboard of the station.
And look what happened since its arrival.
You think that's some kind of coincidence?
Maybe the Martian wants to take over the station,
separates from one another, so we can't fight back.
For all we know, Solange and Carter might be dead already
and we are next.
Kiryu, Malfatti,
do you read me?
We have the power back up in Halcyon.
Are you there?
We read you.
We reset the power in Cupola.
Does anybody have eyes on McCulloch?
Hasn't reported in yet.
He's still repairing the oxygen water systems.
Solange, raise Houston on comms.
Let them know we're back online after losing station power.
Copy that, but I have to reach Erik.
Solange, is everyone up there all right?
Erik, I was trying to reach you and NASA.
Are you okay?
Earth is being pummeled
by super flares from the Sun.
XRO is tracking the Sun's mass.
Earth has sustained extraordinary levels
of solar activity.
Had there been previous incidents?
Similar incidents of this classification
have occurred prior to the loss of Mercury.
And another in what is considered three weeks
and four days prior to that incident in Earth time.
That's when I was traveling up here to join the expedition.
They're increasing in size and frequency.
And now that Venus has been lost,
all space agencies, foreign and domestic,
are detecting shifts in Earth's elliptical orbit.
Solange, Carter...
With Venus destroyed
and its mass consumed by the Sun,
the solar death-zone has expanded even further.
The Earth has started to demonstrate...
marked orbital decay.
And now we have only 48 hours...
until Sun consumes the planet.
Did Carter finally override the EMI?
Whoo! All right.
Now we're talking.
Oxygen levels critical,
less than 38 hours remaining.
Water levels critical,
less than 38 hours--
You've got to be kidding me.
Damn it.
Oxygen and water levels
are both at under 38 hours.
What?
Those were repaired.
They weren't.
Now we can't.
That solar flare
bricked the batteries and the routing system.
Even if I could reroute the power source,
we'd run out of oxygen before we could get it back online.
Venus is lost.
Solar death-zone has expanded,
But the surface velocity levels are lower.
The surface velocity rates are lower?
That would mean that the Sun has started to stabilize.
Wait, what are you saying?
That consuming Venus actually triggered
the Sun's fusion process?
It appears so,
but it's not complete yet.
Well, what is that we need to do?
What's holding us back?
Look at it.
Ugly as sin.
Makes me sick just to look at it.
It's a cruel joke.
It's to laugh.
That thing probably doesn't even know how.
Emotionless, heartless mutant.
Besides mass, what do Mercury and Venus
both hold in some amount?
That's vital to trigger the Sun's core.
It would have to be Helium-3.
Both Mercury and Venus have it.
She's correct. Helium-3.
Solange demonstrated incredible forethought
in calling back the satellites from the Swarm
as Venus was being consumed by the Sun.
If the possibility exists
to gather a sufficient amount of Helium-3...
The solar energy that we gathered with the Dyson Swarm,
combine that with enough of a concentration of Helium-3,
that's enough to restart the fusion.
We would have to penetrate the chromosphere deep enough.
But solar energy and Helium-3 together combined,
that's enough to trigger--
Okay. No, no, no. Stop!
Now, the only viable way to source Helium-3
is the moon.
Affirmative, Commander.
What hardware do we have on the Station to gather Helium-3?
Quest Module has a full set of regolith spikes
with mining drones for collecting lab samples.
Regolith spikes?
Only the drones are autonomous,
and those won't work unless we set the spikes first.
Manually.
The station can be maneuvered
within maximum safe distance
to reach the Moon with a small manned craft.
I need a volunteer.
My life support systems are designed
to withstand harsh conditions in space
for a limited amount of time.
Planting regular spikes is a two-man job.
I will go with him.
We're not far from the Moon.
But we can't use Halcyon Module's Dock.
We'll use a secondary launch pad from Quest Module.
Can you move your arms?
Rotate your shoulders?
Hinata.
Hinata, hey.
I don't know how much--
I don't know how much longer I can do this.
Hina, what are you talking about?
I want to go back down there!
Down to Earth.
If we are going to perish right here,
I want to die with my loved ones around me.
We're not going to die, we're going to--
We have less than three days!
Hinata, I need you, okay?
I need you right now.
I need you, okay? I need you.
I need you.
I need--
Give me your hand.
Beck, you and Carter
have put us all in danger
by letting that thing on board here.
Don't trust
anything it says or does while you're out there,
it's plan on taking us out one by one.
You're giving it the perfect chance.
Let go off me, McCulloch.
You have no idea what that thing is capable of.
Let go off me!
Listen, I'm sorry your brother died,
but you cannot accuse Icluf
of doing anything on the station.
It's irresponsible.
If that thing comes back here alone,
I'll kill it personally.
Back down, McCulloch.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
Solange.
Just be careful out there.
Yeah.
Airlock hatch ready to disengage.
Quest, this is EVA 1, do you read?
We got you, EVA 1.
EVA 1 and EVA 2, confirm you have a visual on the Moon.
- Confirmed visual, Quest. - Confirmed visual, Quest.
Nothing will ever beat this view.
Look at that.
It's breathtaking.
The Ne'Rolc Valley of the Hellas Planitia on my planet.
You have never seen such splendor.
Maneuvering into position.
Target for Helium-3 extraction in range.
Make a thorough penetration.
Spikes will not be effective
unless driven deep enough.
Drones will not collect enough Helium-3.
Copy that.
Spike one, launch.
Spike two, launch.
Activate bore sequence and drone link.
EVA 1 to Quest.
Check my O2 levels in my suit.
EVA 1 to Quest, come in.
Solange, your O2 tank is depleting too fast.
Breathing regulator showing critical malfunction.
My supply...
malfunction?
Three spikes remain.
It is imperative that we drive in all regolith spikes.
EVA...
O2 levels...
how much time?
Solange, you have approximately
five minutes of oxygen remaining.
That's it.
Abort mission and report to Quest Module.
Solange, come in.
I repeat, abort mission and report to Quest Module.
Quest to EVA 1.
Do you read? Over.
EVA 1.
EVA 1, do you copy?
Solange...
Quest to EVA 2.
Icluf, do you copy?
McCulloch, I need you to the Blister.
We've got a problem.
What's going on?
I can't raise either of them on comms.
Solange's tank is depleting and now they don't respond.
She's got three minutes.
Solange, I need you to return to Quest now.
You've got three minutes.
Heart rate elevated,
respiratory uneven.
her temperature is increasing.
Get a location on her now.
Looks like she's on her way back to the station.
On approach.
Get ready to open that airlock.
I have two drones on approach to the station as well.
Looks like they planted regolith spikes.
And the drones are fully functional.
The spikes are gathering in Helium-3.
EVA 2 request open air hatch immediately.
EVA 2, request open air lock hatch.
Wait. Why is he responding
and not Solange?
Oxygen levels equalizing.
You! You killed her--!
Solange!
She stopped breathing.
Come on, Solange.
Damn it, Solange! Come on!
Solange.
Solange, are you all right?
Icluf saved my life.
Irradiation levels are extremely high out there.
Probably messed up the translation.
The drones, two of them are returning back.
They're not here yet?
We detected their approach,
but nothing arrived yet.
Signal interference becoming disruptive and unreliable.
They should have been here already.
We're running out of time
to build the mass artificial re-ignition yield
and the rising radiation levels
are going to wreak havoc on rerouting
the remaining satellites.
I cannot establish a clear signal for Helium-3 drones.
They're all moving wildly, of course.
Swarm signal at low signal.
Okay, I'll contact Erik,
let him know that we have an issue with a signal.
Maybe he can help us with IceCube Observatory.
IceCube?
IceCube Observatory on Earth, South Pole?
Yes, that's where Erik is stationed.
Erik, the super flare radiation has been bombarding the station.
Our comms and systems are failing.
If we maneuver an array,
can you send up a patch to help strengthen the system?
We're running out of time here.
I'm sorry, but I do not understand.
But I am still learning.
Let's try and repeat your query.
What?
Erik, what did you-- What did you say?
Please repeat your query.
I am still learning.
Let's try your query again.
IceCube Observatory is destroyed.
A super flare hit the Earth's South Pole.
When I was traveling up here to the station.
Solange, let me explain.
Erik is dead.
Solange.
Erik is dead.
My husband is dead
and you didn't tell me?
None of you told me?
You let me believe he was alive this whole time?
This whole time?
I couldn't tell you
until after the expedition was finished.
Couldn't put any stress on you or anyone else on the crew.
So you lied to me.
With a neuromorphic ghost of Erik!
The AI has been made up of NASA and Space Agency algorithms.
The data has been relevant and useful.
Kiryu, what happened to the neuro?
Um, the radiation from solar flares
could have corrupted the neural network memory
trigger logic errors in the processors.
Damn thing has crapped the bed on us.
Where the heck is the Martian going?
The human concept of grief.
Calls for condolence.
I offer you mine.
Thank you.
It was believed on Earth that...
it was your lack of...
grief,
or guilt, for that matter,
that made us think of you
as such a threat in the war.
Every life form
has an instinct to survive at all costs,
to serve their common agenda.
Humans, it seems,
have devolved away from that.
It's called empathy.
When you gave me your condolence,
that was sympathy.
Empathy, guilt, grief.
All human emotions.
Maybe it's a weakness. Maybe it's a strength.
I don't know.
Trust is another one.
Really hard to restore once it's broken.
Trust is not exclusive to Earth.
We value it as earned,
not gifted.
That's why it's so hard to restore it once it's broken.
I trust you.
The Earth is very close to the solar death-zone.
My home is not long after.
If we are going to stop this cataclysm,
then we must put aside
all of the past.
You're the only one I trust now.
The others?
Half of them did not want you there.
And the others?
They lied to me.
Quite the pair, you and I, huh?
Signal is at full strength.
Then let's finish building
the mass artificial re-ignition yield.
Let's get those Dyson satellites back into the fight.
Now that we have the Helium-3.
Such a tiny portion to feel the center of the galaxy.
It baffles the mind.
Think of it like C-4 explosives.
This is merely the detonator.
By itself, it's pretty harmless.
But combined with solar energy...
Potent enough to restart the Sun.
The signal just increased.
I've made contact with the drones.
All six carrying full tanks.
The Swarm satellites are back online, too.
Finish building the package.
Most of the satellites are yours.
Affirmative.
Earth inventory will not be compatible on this mission.
Solar winds and radiation levels are starting to peak.
The windows closing.
If we don't make it past safe distance,
the package won't trigger the restart.
Include proceed.
Initiating interlocking procedure.
Interlocking procedure successful.
Package is prepared for fueling.
Malfatti, did you make contact with the regolith drones?
Affirmative. All six are hot.
Send them in.
Solar weather is getting worse.
It'll be a rough time getting across
the death-zone at this rate.
Radiation levels are getting higher.
Our materials can survive hotter temperatures than the Earth.
But the heat from the Sun
will destroy the MARY Cluster regardless.
And it requires being placed past the chromosphere
to trigger reaction.
Then pull it back.
But the Sun is dying out too fast.
The MARY Cluster is the only chance we have.
If we lose that, we lose everything.
This is our best chance.
I'm not gambling the last piece of hardware we've got left.
If the Sun's fusion process stalls fully,
it will be almost impossible to restart.
We have to strike now.
Pull back, we'll never make it through the ejecta.
Stay the course!
Solange, stand down.
You owe me, for Erik.
You want me clear-headed? Stay the course.
Icluf, pull back. That's an order!
Icluf, don't do it!
It is an order!
The Sun has entered terminal destabilization.
Carter?
What have you done?
We missed the window.
I--
I had to protect the MARY Cluster--
Carter! Our only chance of stopping this
and it's lost.
Oxygen levels critical.
Less than one hour remaining.
Water levels critical.
Less than one hour remaining.
The Station will be uninhabitable.
Outer layers of the Sun are already dying out now.
And the Earth will be next.
The Sun's heat is dying.
We need to detonate the MARY Cluster
via backup remote.
MARY Cluster is too far now for remote detonation
with present radiation levels.
Then we need to be able to jumpstart it manually.
The only option remains
to detonate the MARY Cluster through impact.
Impact? What do you mean "impact"?
The MARY Cluster contains volatile solar energy
and Helium-3 gases.
A direct collision impact
would be enough to trigger detonation.
And that's the only option?
But if the cluster passes the chromosphere
after it's triggered...
That would be a suicide mission.
The force of the blast would be enough to kill
whomever took on the task of triggering the MARY Cluster.
Provided those individuals survived the initial impact.
Icluf the MARY Cluster
is made of only Martian satellites, right?
Affirmative.
Then we need to...
collide with the cluster to trigger detonation.
- I'll go. - No, I am going.
Hey, look, if anything goes wrong out there,
I'm our best chance we have of fixing it.
So I'll go.
Satellite requires three on board
to function under manual operation.
Navigation, flight control, engineer.
And I'm taking that son of a bitch with me.
I will be aboard regardless.
McCulloch, you're in no position
to make any decisions with this.
My brother gave his life to save our planet, all right?
Now I'm ready to do the same.
And if I can take just one Martian with me when I go,
well, it'll be worth it.
- For Rory. - McCulloch, stop.
I find the term "Martian" offensive
and will insist that you not use it again in my presence.
I am a Cruentan.
I give my life for the glory of Cruentus.
All else remains secondary.
I will not have the two of you at each other's throats.
If you three insist on going,
then I'll stay with the others and make sure
you have the fastest route to the Sun.
Kiryu, Malfatti, we are going to need you to stay here
and monitor spatial and environmental variables
to keep the satellite out of harm's way.
You're guiding the vessel towards the collision point.
Keep tracking CME forecasts.
Well, put us in our suits and let's get this over with.
Let's do it.
If this fails, everyone and everything dies.
Your brother would not have wanted that.
The world owes you a great debt of gratitude
and you will not be forgotten.
But if you muck this up over some petty excuse for revenge
and doom this mission--
Ease up, Beck.
I'd rather die in the vacuum of space
than slowly suffocate to death,
listen to you lecture me on right and wrong.
I won't let my brother down.
And I sure as hell won't let this mission fail.
Okay?
Trajectory received.
Hey, I'm driving.
Don't touch the radio.
McCulloch, take it easy.
I want all this done by the book.
Yes, ma'am.
Are we going or not?
We're losing the Sun.
For good.
ISS to Sat.
Guiding cluster towards the chromosphere.
Solange, continue your present course
at ascension 8 minutes and 47 seconds.
Concentrated remnant fields at 47 degrees starboard.
Adjust your maneuver accordingly.
Copy that, Malfatti.
Trajectory adjustments entered into thrust system.
Acknowledged.
Targeting for MARY Cluster engaged.
Follow my mark.
You know what's about to happen
and it has no effect on you?
Sons of bitches are as cold-blooded as they come.
McCulloch, I'm warning you.
If we miss the target, it's over.
You cannot possibly imagine how I feel in this moment.
Oh yeah? Why is that?
Your kind believes in an afterlife.
Erik always believed that there was a place
waiting for us after we die.
And I'll see him there soon.
Eternal rewards await you in a place you call...
heaven?
My brother believed that.
I don't.
You and I have something in common.
My culture has no such belief system.
And so,
where do you go when you die?
We... are about to be incinerated by the Sun.
That is where we will both be when we die.
The Sun's core is showing further destabilization
past the chromosphere now.
Solange, you're out of time.
The MARY Cluster has to cross the chromosphere in 15 seconds.
McCulloch, Icluf.
MARY Cluster is at demarcation 1-15.
Get that trajectory and get in tight.
McCulloch, full throttle
until we break through the chromosphere.
Detecting radiation and energy building.
It's accelerated faster than we've anticipated.
- How long until core death? - 20 seconds!
No, 17.
Just get it past the chromosphere!
Counting down.
14, 13, 12...
11, 10...
McCulloch, you're on track.
Keep that trajectory.
Nine, eight,...
seven, six...
five, four, three...
two, one.
That's all, folks.
Zero MARK.
The cluster has entered the chromosphere.
Positive ions...
Fusion restart... is successful.
The Sun has regenerated its core...
with the MARY Cluster.
They did it.
Solange...
I'm so sorry.
I should've told you about Erik and--
20 minutes.
What?
We run out of oxygen...
in 20.
You hear that?
Icluf to ISS.
Open the airlock.
It, uh--
I mean, Icluf...
saved my life.
What happened out there?
Satellite was at full propulsion,
course trajectory locked in on approach.
Pod ejected the satellite before impact.
Crazy son of a bitch grabbed me and...
just ejected us out of the satellite.
I thought I was gonna die.
McCulloch...
Icluf...
Solange.
20 minutes until oxygen loss.
Then it will be very tough to breathe up here.
Let's get back to Earth.
Initiate return pod vehicle detachment.
Yes, ma'am, on it.
You coming?
NASA already knows that you're here.
There will be a parade and accolades,
and I think you should be there, you deserve it.
I agree, Icluf.
Come with us to Earth.
You're as much of a hero as anyone else on this station.
All right.
All personnel report to Liberty Module
for return shuttles to Earth.
Well? You coming?
I've always wanted to see the sunrise from Earth.