T.D.o.N.B: S27B, part I - The Arrival

There was no problem reaching space, but beyond, even the distance between the planet and the massive gate outside the orbit proved to be a massive slow-down.

It was a large ring built of metal parts. It had many shining fragments. Some were blue, others straight-up white. The middle - the portal itself - was completely black. At first, my thought was that it was just inactive, but then I realized that I should be able to see at least a few stars beyond, but there weren't any.

It looked like it was right there, in front of us, in hand's reach, but the truth was more brutal. It was so big, that for minds, like ours, that weren't used to such large objects, it was really hard to understand the real distance. Which, a little side track, was still not nearly, in any shape or form, impressive the space itself, since the damn thing was just outside of the orbit.