Commander Nireem stood near the New Dawn's main entry, watching the latest group of civilians leave the docked shuttle that had ferried them up from Tridon's spaceport. Two crew members ushered the new arrivals into their assigned passenger lounge a short distance away. The passengers were like excited kids boarding a ride in a theme park.
When the newcomers were seated, Nireem moved to the front of the lounge with the authority and ease gained from years spent commanding Tridon's space missions. He wore an astronaut's tan jumpsuit, open at the collar, with the astronaut corps insignia on his right shoulder and the mission emblem on his left. Above his left pocket was the badge designating his rank – the Astronaut Corp's Senior Space Mission Commander.
He looked over the eclectic collection, wondering what they would bring to this mission. Then smiling, he gave his welcome, now well-practiced from repetition.
“Welcome to Tridon's latest and largest interstellar spaceship, the New Dawn. I am Commander Nireem.
My crew and I will do everything possible to make your journey as comfortable as space travel allows. You will have a few days before our departure to get accustomed to weightlessness and become familiar with our ship.
The Senior Medical Specialist responsible for this module will acquaint you with its facilities. She will help you get settled and instruct you on using your sleep capsule. She and her assistant will be your primary crew contact and will work with you throughout our mission. Our medical specialists have been on many flights and have experienced many of the challenges ahead of us.”
With those brief remarks, the Commander deftly glided away. He made a dashing figure with his soft, fur-like hair covering his head and pushing through the open collar of his flight suit. Flecks of silver betrayed his age in the fifties and years exploring Tridon's part of the galaxy.
The Commander wore an eyepiece that fitted over his left eye. Most upper-class Tridonians used these wearable virtual devices. They projected text over the visual image like a head-up display. They could receive wireless messages from nearby transmitters located throughout populated areas on Tridon and in every compartment on the New Dawn.
Nireem saw Ecurben, the Senior Pilot, in the passageway outside the lounge.
“Sir, each group looks unprepared for a space mission. Do you know why they are here?”
“Not yet. The Space Directorate said they would send our final orders right after we leave orbit.”
Ecurben nodded. He understood and pulled his way forward. They had never experienced the start of any mission like this one. Never had they violated so many standard mission protocols.
The passengers’ ground training had given them a general idea of the functions performed in each module and the general nomenclature used. Seeing the compartments and moving through the passageways was still a new experience. Getting used to the weightlessness of space took time, and they were constantly bumping into walls and getting caught in foot straps used for stability.
Enaida, the Senior Mission Medical Specialist, and the other medical specialists were exhausted from four long days of shepherding the civilian travelers.
She slid into a seat beside her friend, Adnilla, another Mission Medical Specialist. Adnilla was in charge of Passenger Module Two.
“Glad that's all of them, “ Adnilla said.
“They obviously didn’t learn anything about sleep capsules in their training. I’ve explained it so many times, I’ll dream about it.”
“I had one guy say he wouldn’t do sleep mode,” Adnilla replied in a would-you-believe tone.
“Who would ever believe we would be transporting civilians.”
“Yeah. But why?”
The specialists had shown each passenger their assigned sleep capsule -- the euphemism for the tubular compartments used to get an ordinary night's sleep and when they were in sleep mode. There were controls to explain and personal items to secure.
“Can you believe the trainers never covered spacecraft toilets? When I explained it to one woman, she looked at me like I was crazy.”
“I had to show a man what to do. That was embarrassing!”
“Right after we leave orbit, the Commander wants everyone in sleep mode. We have three days to get them all down. Good luck with your not-doing-it guy.”
“Tomorrow better be easier, Adnilla. I’m going to get some rest.”
“Good night, Enaida.”
Departing Orbit—Mission Day One.
It was time for Mission Launch. The medical specialists had checked to ensure the civilians had properly strapped themselves in the padded chairs in each passenger lounge. Excitement filled the air. Everything was new, and the view of Tridon from orbit was a reward for what most believed would be a grand adventure.
The main engine's initial thrust exerted a strong kick, which made the chairs necessary. For the first two hours, the travelers felt crushed against their seats by some invisible hand. Gradually, the ship's computer reduced the acceleration. After four hours, the acceleration dropped to a level that permitted movement throughout the spacecraft.
Adnilla, a Senior Medical Specialist, watched over her travelers and caught fragments of their conversations. She heard phrases like, “ … wasn’t so bad.“. And a lot of complaints like, “ … could hardly breathe.”
She said quietly, “Welcome to space travel. “ She wondered why their training hadn’t prepared them for departure.
The spaceship designers anticipated most passengers would be in sleep mode during most of the trip. When everyone was up, moving around was cumbersome. Despite the crowded conditions, the Commander allowed the passengers to explore their new world for a few days into the flight.
Then, starting on Mission Day Three, the medical specialists started putting their passengers into sleep mode for the first time. It was the traveler's first experience with this subconscious state, and many were reluctant. An orientation on the ground explaining how astronauts had used this for decades would have helped.
The medical specialists first introduced the passengers to sleep mode for a short test period. Each day for five days, they put a new group down. Doing it the first time was a struggle. Then, after the trial period, the medical specialists returned them to a conscious state. They monitored everyone's vital signs closely and adjusted the drugs used as needed.
After the initial session, everyone would go down for the standard 60-day sleep mode cycle.