“Before I start discussing the problems we've had, I want you to know I couldn't be more pleased with today's success. I do feel, however, that we need to bring up the areas we'll need to investigate while they're still fresh in our minds. As we review the computer data over the next few months, I've got no doubt there will be other issues that come to our attention, but these are the initial findings. First, the primary cooling units were designed to last a minimum of twenty years under a much heavier load than we've placed on them. I understand that it's possible to experience occasional failures, but lives are depending on them and even a single failure in five years is a major problem. I want the system dissected and the cause of the failure located. After that, we'll be visiting the manufacturer. The same goes for the door mechanism failure; let's locate the exact cause and determine if a redesign is needed.

“We've made massive improvements in the SF016 formula, but further refining is still a goal. In an automated wake-up scenario, such as a long space journey, we don't want to have anyone puking during a wake-up,” the Colonel finished.

“Also, we've added a mix of medications given intravenously at the start of a wake-up to decrease the side effects of the awakening. We've proven their success and need to have the administration of them automated,” Cowan added.

“Does anyone have any further observations at this time?” asked Fitch. There was a pause and when no one said anything, Fitch continued, “Good. We had a great day, now get back to work! Everyone laughed as the Colonel left the room.

Chapter Seven

DAY 1001

Several months later, NASA Administrator Thomas Williams and his data were heading early one morning for a scheduled meeting at the Pentagon, to discuss their ominous findings.

On arrival, he was escorted to a conference room on the second level in the outer ring. Coffee was delivered by a petite young female in a Navy uniform. Thomas immediately began getting documentation ready, he'd prepared an in-depth report for everyone he'd be meeting with. His laptop was powered up, and many times the data in the reports was readily at his fingertips if there were questions he hadn't anticipated. The laptop was hooked up to a small projector, which he pointed towards a whiteboard mounted on the wall.

Ten minutes later, four-star Army General Lee Draper entered the room, followed closely behind by Navy Admiral Nathanial Atkins and the President's National Security advisor, Jeremiah Baker.

General Draper was the acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The sixty-two-year-old General stood about six four and was quite thin. His receding hairline left a large scar on his forehead visible.