It has been fifteen years since the sun had last risen, I rub my eyes because the light is just too bright. I look around and see my legs strapped down in a clear jelly-like liquid . Strapped down in a preservation pod that was set to open 20 years from 3030. We are five years early, what is going on? Looking up again as my eyes come into focus, this isn’t the sun. It’s the artificial sunlight helps the incubation process during these long sleep sessions. I immediately reach up and turn the dimmer knob to give my eyes a break.

    My mind is now racing with questions, but first things first. Let’s get something to eat. I release my legs from the restraints, rubbing my thighs and calfs to wake them from a fifteen year slumber. I do a quick scan around the room to make sure everything is the way I left it. To my right is my cherry oak desk that I received from my father. He was a lawyer and spent a lot of time sitting at that desk. I tend to sit back and say to myself “if you could see me now old man”. Behind the desk is a thirty foot in diameter round window, that was strategically positioned to be at the front of my spaceship. Giving me a perfect view of space and where we are headed.



      Pressing a button titled ‘drain’ the gelatin is flushed out. There is a touch screen on the ledge next to the pod. I begin to type in my captains code, which allows me to manually control the pod. Typing in another sequence, the pod raises me to a stand up position. To stop from collapsing I hang on to the side of the pod. Thinking to myself, “I’ve got to get these wet clothes off.” 



     Stumbling to the robe that hangs to the right of my pod I quickly grab it and throw it over me. I hear over the rooms inter-com, “Captain Russel! May I come in?” That was none other than my right hand, a traveling cyber partner that was assigned to me when I was a cadet, H.O.P.E. This stands for, Humanoid Operative Projected for Exploration. “Come in Hope!” I respond. He walks in and we do our secret handshake that we made in our spare time as cadets. “Sir, we are coming up on the Vector solar system. We are about 5 years early” he says. Walking to the bathroom and jumping in the shower I say, “yeah when I saw the year on the outside of my pod I knew something was up, how’s the ship?” “Great!” He says while pulling out my spandex suit from the garment closet next to my door. 



     “We have been getting pulled into the solar system quicker than expected” he said “ and we’ll be reaching planet E513 in about 2 months.” He walks over next to the bed where a chair was placed just for him. “Sounds good” I blurted, “was anyone else discharged early as well?” A I snatch the robe off the railing of the shower and step out. Hope reads from his electronic tablet that he carries with him everywhere, and says “No I made the decision to wake you early so we can strategize in peace.” 



      He was right, we have a very important mission a 10,000 citizens and 300 crew members who are relying on us. There is a civilization at E-513, so diplomacy tactics and society protocols must be strategically implemented. This planet that we are approaching will be our new home.