The four new arrivals each moved to one of the rows of capsules and started assessing the terminals. Each team member glanced up briefly when the strobe light began flashing again, before returning to their assessments. Three similarly dressed people joined them, and these three went directly across the chamber to the wall of monitoring equipment, inputting commands into the futuristic-looking systems.

A curse erupted from the person who'd started examining the row of capsules to the far right. “Major system failure, Capsule Three,” an agitated female voice announced. There was a slightly mechanical tone to her voice, the result of the positive pressure breathing devices in the masks of each team member.

Another voice stated, “Capsule Three – that would've been Miller.”

“Any idea when it occurred?” a third voice asked. This voice sounded different, coming over the headsets, but without echo. Whoever was speaking was not wearing a facemask.

The female had moved to the third capsule in her row and was peering in through the top. The person inside's skin had dried out, and the face was leathery and shrunken, although the mask was still in place. The long blond hair indicated it had been a woman.

“It looks like it was a long time ago, Sir.” A slight quiver was evident in the technician's voice.

Before anyone could comment another female voice, this one with a slight New England accent, called out. “Sir, we also have a minor system failure in Capsule Ten.”

“How minor?” The natural sounding voice rapidly asked.

From the area with wall-mounted systems, a male voice called out, “All vital signs, core temp, and EKG are within normal limits. It seems the primary cooling system failed, but backup systems are at one hundred percent efficiency.”

“Okay,” growled the voice from the headset, “give me a report on the rest of the capsules.”

“Group A, no additional failures.”

“Group B, no failures.”

“Group C, no failures.”

“Group D, no additional failures.”

“Okay, activate the data link so you can get out of there. Then start the bio-contamination scanners. I want a full report in an hour.”

Within ten minutes, the room was again empty. Two minutes later, the lights went out.

Chapter Two

DAY 1075

The large conference table in the center of the room was covered with papers and laptop computers, coffee cups and not just a few soda bottles. Fourteen people were seated around the table, discussing the events of the morning. At the front of the room, a door opened, and a tall man entered. He strode in with authority, dressed in a US Army dress uniform. On his shoulder boards were the silver eagles which denoted his rank as an Army Colonel.

The Colonel appeared to be in his late fifties and stood just over six feet tall. He was quite thin and his brown hair was well on its way to being gray. The name tag above his right breast pocket read 'Fitch'.