CHAPTER 2

THE CREW

It was time for Hamilton to start the series of scripted events that would prepare his crew for exploring these new worlds.

“Exo-1,” Hamilton commanded the ship, “wake Major Nguyen.” Major Jennifer Nguyen was second-in-command over this mission and the lead science officer.

Nguyen joined Hamilton on the command deck and said in an exhausted voice with a light Vietnamese accent, “Commander.”

“Major,” Hamilton replied. “I’ve contacted the probe network and almost have access to the data files they’ve gathered for the last two years. It’s hard to believe that eighty years have passed on Earth while we were asleep.”

“It’s not polite to remind a lady of her age,” Nguyen said.

Hamilton laughed and replied, “I feel more tired than I’ve ever felt in my life, but the excitement of this moment is more than enough to keep me awake.”

Nguyen smiled and picked up her glass of water to make a toast. “To Trappist!”

“To Trappist!” Hamilton said before drinking a long swig of water and returning the sealed cup to its magnetic coaster.

Nguyen took over gathering the data files from the probe network while Hamilton began waking the rest of the crew.

“Exo-1, wake Captain Schmidt.” Their medical doctor, Captain Hans Schmidt, MD, came from Trans-European Germany where he had earned acclaim for improving the health of soldiers in orbit for extended periods of time. He held degrees in medicine and computer science. Everyone called him Doc.

“Hi, Doc. How are you doing?” Hamilton asked when Doc entered the command deck.

“I’ve been better. How is everyone doing?”

“I’ve been worse,” Hamilton replied.

“Okay,” Nguyen said.

Doc was moving slowly but standing straight.