The Hyacinth's actual travel time had already exceeded fifty years.
Mark touched his face—had he been lying in the cryo pod for fifty years?
"European Space Agency... what the hell happened to them?"
As Mark logged into the control terminal using his biometric data, the mechanical system voice rang out:
"Colonial Pioneer: Mark Watney. Specialty: extraterrestrial soil and botany. Conditions for authority transfer met. Captain's authority has been transferred.
Warning: Course deviation of 370 light-years. A severe navigation error has occurred. Possible cause: interference during Wormhole transit.
Warning: Cryogenic system damaged.
Warning: Insufficient energy. Hyperspace Engine unavailable.
Warning: Communications system malfunction.
Warning..."
A deviation of 370 light-years made Mark's head buzz—
So where the hell was this?
Looking again at the desolate planet before him, it seemed fairly normal, but it was completely different from what the European Space Agency had advertised!
The colonists had indeed been prepared to drift through space in search of a new home, but they had never known they would pass through an unknown Wormhole and drift aimlessly through the universe!
Their energy reserves were nearly depleted. Once they chose to land, the ship would never be able to take off again.
But if they did not land... the energy would only be enough for the ship to drift through this star system for a while longer.
Fear washed over him like a tide—perhaps finding a companion would be... better?
"I need help. Can the cryo pods be unlocked?" Mark asked.
"According to the 'Cradle Protocol,' cryo pods may only be opened after landing on a habitable planet."
A fucking cradle? A cradle of death?
"But I need people to help me make decisions! I'm just a botanist!" Mark said helplessly. He had carried out colonization work on Mars and participated in numerous Mars terraforming