Commander Steven Hastings conducted his final interview with journalists at Cape Canaveral today prior to submitting himself to the gene therapy that will prepare him for the voyage ahead. Behind him, the ISS Yggdrasil stood ready. The vast biodome of mankind's first generational ship gleamed in the Florida sun - a sun that it will soon leave behind forever on its journey to Proxima Centauri B. Within it lives a complete, self-contained biosphere which will nurture the crew on their long journey through the cold dark of space, and serve as the seed for a new planet upon their arrival, over 4,000 years from now. In addition, it holds within thousands of cryopreserved human colonists and innumerable embryos.

But while it is humans who shall set foot on Proxima Centauri, it is not humans who will be making the journey. While the colonists sleep, the ship itself will be monitored and maintained by Commander Hastings, his co-pilot, Darius Nakamura, and a small skeleton crew, converted into organisms custom-designed to thrive within the thin atmosphere of ISS Yggdrasil and with wings capable of maneuvering in its microgravity environment. Ten years from now, as Yggdrasil leaves behind the solar system, Commander Hastings will perform his most vital duty of all, breeding with his co-pilot to produce the first generation of many. His descendants will serve forever as caretakers of the ship's systems and its precious cargo.

Commander Hastings responded to queroes about whether he would be up to the task. "I have known Darius for years and we have an excellent working relationship. When the time comes, I will be more than man enough for the task. For what I do, I do for the good of all mankind," he said wryly.

When asked why a woman was not chosen for the role, Commander Hastings played down sexism within NASA. "It is not a question of competence. Reproduction will have to be controlled within tight parameters, lest overpopulation threaten the entire project. Naturally, as men, we can be relied upon to approach the mating process with sensible, dispassionate minds."