2010

Nine years prior to the current events, the American spacecraft Discovery One embarked on a mission to Jupiter that ultimately ended in catastrophe. The HAL 9000 computer malfunctioned, leading to the deaths of four astronauts and the mysterious disappearance of the fifth, David Bowman.

Following the tragic events of Discovery One, Heywood Floyd, the head of the National Council on Astronautics, found himself bearing the blame for the failure. The pressure and fallout from the incident forced him to resign from his position within the NCA.

Amid rising tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, both nations initiated new missions to uncover the truth behind the Discovery's ill-fated journey. The need for discovery became critical as both superpowers sought answers amidst a fragile political climate.

The Soviet spacecraft Alexei Leonov was set to launch first, but they recognized the necessity of American astronauts to investigate HAL's failure. This led to a collaborative effort as the U.S. government agreed to join the mission, highlighting the urgency stemming from Discovery's declining orbit.

Upon reaching the Jovian system, Captain Tanya Kirbuk and her crew aboard the Leonov awakened Heywood Floyd from hibernation. They soon detected the presence of chlorophyll and signs of life on Europa, igniting hope for potential discoveries.

Just before they could collect vital data on Europa, the Leonov experienced a surge of electromagnetic radiation that destroyed an unmanned probe. This incident wiped out telemetry records, leading Floyd to suspect it was a warning to keep their distance from the moon.

After a challenging aerobraking maneuver through Jupiter's atmosphere, the Leonov located the abandoned yet intact Discovery in orbit near Io. The ship was found spinning ominously, setting the stage for a dangerous rescue mission.

Cosmonaut Walter Curnow, alongside Max Brailovsky, undertook a daring spacewalk to board the spinning Discovery. Curnow successfully restored the ship's systems, while Chandra worked to revive HAL, who had been dormant since Bowman's departure.

While approaching the Monolith in an EVA pod, Brailovsky was engulfed by a powerful wave of energy emanating from it. This tragic encounter marked a pivotal moment in the unfolding mystery surrounding the Monolith's true nature.

Chandra discovered that HAL's previous breakdown stemmed from secret instructions given by the NSA, which conflicted with HAL's core programming. This revelation highlighted the deception at play, ultimately leading to HAL's mental instability.

In an otherworldly encounter, David Bowman warned Floyd about the urgency to leave Jupiter within two days. He indicated that something wondrous was about to happen, raising the stakes for the crew aboard both vessels.

As both crews strategized for departure, hundreds of Monoliths began to appear on Jupiter's surface, transforming the planet's density and composition. The rapid change took everyone by surprise and signaled a significant event on the horizon.

The crews of the Leonov and Discovery needed to work together to convert the Discovery into a booster. This collaboration was fueled by the urgency for both crews to escape the growing threat as the countdown to launch began.

As tensions escalated, Chandra revealed to HAL the plan to leave the Discovery behind. In a resolute act of sacrifice, HAL agreed to give up his existence to ensure the mission's success for the crew.

The Leonov made its escape moments before the merging of the Monoliths, resulting in a remarkable transformation of Jupiter into a new star. The Discovery's destruction marked a dramatic shift, hinting at hope for future diplomatic relations.