5
Gliese 581 – Eighteen months; twenty-three days; four hours: 928,081,020 km/6.2 Astronomical Units (AU) from Earth.
“I won’t even say the words running through my head,” Ash murmured, standing next to Josh and looking at the virtual wall. “I know this is what the mission was about, but damn if I really thought we’d find anything.”
“We’ve been observing it for the last two months, why would you think it is not real?” Sergi asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I don’t know. It could have something to do with the huge yellow dancing globes that you programmed into the computer last month,” Ash retorted, thankful his dark skin prevented the slight flush he still felt at being caught unaware of Sergi’s latest prank.
Sergi chuckled. “It was Mei’s idea. She saw you playing the game in the recreat
