Cowan understood, but he was none too pleased. “We've been working on what we refer to as the sleep program. It could be considered a cross between suspended animation, and a drug-induced coma. While sleeping, in our systems, the normal body processes slow to almost a stop. Our last group was out for five years, and they aged about two days each year. We've made some significant changes in our processes and need to see how they work. The Pentagon has placed a rush on this, and they want it done immediately. That's why we didn't have time for our regular selection process. There will be an IV in your arm and a mask on your face. You'll breathe a special gas, and the drug in the IV will put you out quickly. There will be equipment hooked to you that will monitor your heart rate and blood pressure, as well as temperature and breathing. You won't dream or be aware of the passing of time. You'll awaken feeling slightly confused and nauseated, but this will pass quickly. Any questions?”

“Has anyone ever died during one of these tests?” a tall female volunteer asked.

Travers answered before Cowan could respond. “You'll have medical personnel in there with you at all times, and if there is any problem, we can easily end the test.”

Cowan wondered if the soldier, young and nervous, had noticed that her last question had been avoided.

Once the exams were completed, the test subjects moved into the chamber. Their shirts were removed before they were placed in the open capsules.

“Is the Colonel planning to be here for this?” Travers asked.

“He had to fly back to Washington last night; He expects to be back tomorrow,” Cowan responded.

“Any idea what's with these trips of his?” the Captain asked in a low voice.

“Seems like Washington has heard about what we're doing, and they're really interested, even considering expanding the project,” Cowan said. He watched as a technician attached blood pressure cuffs to the arms of each test subject, and the IVs were started.

After the electrodes for the cardiac monitors were attached, a positive pressure face mask was applied and Travers and Cowan left the chamber, leaving a physician and two technicians behind.

The heavy steel door sealed the chamber, and the room was pressurized to make conditions in the chamber the same as they would have been inside individual capsules. The test subjects were asleep within ten seconds from the first traces of SF016 entering their systems.

Cowan was at his desk studying a technical diagram on the computer screen when Fitch entered the room. “How is the test going, James?” asked Fitch.