NASA unearthed a remarkable discovery in the Arctic, justifying previous expenditures and carrying significant implications. Geologist Charles Brophy was tragically killed after being coerced to transmit a misleading message from the Arctic. Intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton, whose father, Senator Sedgewick Sexton, opposed NASA, was summoned by President Zach Herney to a secret NASA base in the Arctic.

Upon arrival, Rachel encountered NASA administrator Lawrence Ekstrom, who was initially unfriendly due to her father's anti-NASA stance. Ekstrom elaborated that NASA's Earth Observation System satellite PODS had located an unusually dense rock embedded deep in the Arctic ice. This rock turned out to be a meteorite with exceptional characteristics. Ekstrom introduced Rachel to Michael Tolland, a civilian scientist, who identified the meteorite as a rare chondrite. Chondrites house primordial fossils called chondrules, from Earth's early history. The meteorite's unique density and high iron content had allowed it to embed itself deeply into the ice, and its pristine preservation made it an extraordinary find.

Rachel was still skeptical about whether this discovery justified NASA's past failures. Then, Tolland revealed that NASA had discovered organisms within the rock—fossils of ancient life forms capable of surviving extreme conditions. This astonishing revelation fortified NASA's belief that life could exist elsewhere in the universe, illustrating the resilience of life. Rachel understood the monumental implications of this find but remained curious about why the President had involved her specifically.