Transcript For Strip 188

Panel 1
In the encounter room, Nichole sits at the far side of the circular bed from Seamus, mostly covered up with pillows and bed-covers.
Seamus: You no doubt have heard about the various expeditions to the stars.
Nicole: Sure. Scores of docuvids have been made from their stories.
Panel 2
Seamus, in the lower left of the panel, against a backdrop of outer space with a late 21st-century spacecraft moving towards the Rigel Kentauri double-star.
Seamus: The first mission to the Alpha Centauri system, crewed by primitive A.I.s, arrived at its destination in 151 S.A.* after 50 years' transit without a hitch.
Seamus: There were no habitable worlds there, but none were expected. It was more a proof of concept. The ship parked itself on a suitable small planetoid and still awaits retrieval.
Caption: * 2108 C.E.
Panel 3
Seamus, in lower left panel, against a different space backdrop, a different ship rockets away from the Sol system.
Seamus: Twenty years after the first mission launched, a second, faster ship – the Enterprise – was sent forth – this one crewed by A.I.s but also containing 50 humans in stasis – bound for Epsilon Eridani, 10.5 light years away.
Seamus: It was expected to reach Epsi-Eri about the same time the first mission reached Rigel.
Panel 4
Two shot of Nicole and Seamus, in the room. Nicole looks interested.
Nicole: But they didn't make it.
Seamus: No. And one knows for certain why.
Seamus: Transmissions ceased when the craft was not quite six light-years out.

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