Sasha: Book 1 of The ROE Chronicles

By Sean M. Campbell

Commander Robert Wraith was reporting for his newest post aboard the ANS Sasha Malenkov as the chief medical officer. To his surprise the huge passenger pod was teleported aboard. No psychic had the power to teleport such a large object into orbit.
Robert panicked as the teleport began. In the darkness of his teleport a voice reached out to him. The voice wanted to know why he was afraid.
That voice led him to discover the horrifying secret of the ship. A secret he could not live with. A secret that would change the way the human race traveled in space, forever. A secret he fell in love with.
To fix the horror of a young girl’s life he would have to cripple the most advanced ship the Alliance Navy had ever built.
He could not do it alone. He had to have help. After a hidden evil made an attempt on the life of the entire crew, he spoke to the Captain. Would the Captain help, or order him to leave the secret alone?
The answer changes Robert’s life, and the reach of the human race forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sean M. Campbell
• Release date: Jun 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310582226

Book preview

Sasha by Sean M. Campbell

SASHA

Book One of the R0E Chronicles

Sean M. Campbell

Copyright © 2014 by Sean M. Campbell

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without written permission of the publisher or author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental

Disclaimer: As with any fiction, this is for entertainment only. Please direct any complaints regarding character words or actions to the fictional character portraying the offense.

This book is dedicated to my father. Thank you for teaching me how to be a better man.

Prologue

"Momma, is poppa going to be home tonight?" the young blond headed girl asked her mother. She had been missing her father badly. He had been away for almost six months now. He was part of the team that was bringing the last independent nation into the world government. Sasha knew about his work. Her daddy always told her she was very smart. He never treated her like the six year old girl she was. He always spoke to her like an adult.

No, princess. Your daddy will be home Friday. That is tomorrow. How about if we both go out and buy new dresses in the morning. That way, we can be all pretty for his return. Sasha’s mother said softly, as she checked the meatloaf in the oven. It only had a few more minutes to cook.

Daddy is bringing home presents for us. He bought you a pearl necklace and earrings. He has a fancy doll for my collection. Sasha continued to color her picture. She picked up the red crayon and started to add the color splashes to the front of the house she had drawn.

Katarina looked at her daughter. How do you know he has gifts, baby? Did he tell you?

No, he is trying to keep it a secret. He wants to surprise us. He has them packed in his big suitcase right now.

As Katarina walked over to the table, she saw the picture her daughter was working on so diligently. It was a drawing of their home. On the lawn was a person lying down with splashes of red across their body. There were splashes of red on the front door. Near the street was a black car and two men carried the prone body of a blond little girl towards it. The men were dressed in black suits. Katarina used a huge effort of will to keep from screaming. The scene, her daughter had drawn, was gruesome. Baby, why would you draw something like that? she asked, trying to keep her voice as neutral as possible. She wanted to scream.

Because they are outside right now, mommy. One of the men is walking towards the door, Sasha answered as her eyes started to moisten.

Katarina had been just about to say something when there was a knock at the door. She started to turn and walk towards the door.

Please don’t answer the door, Sasha said softly.

Katarina turned to look at her daughter. The tears were now starting to flow from Sasha’s eyes. Baby, it is rude not to answer the door when someone knocks. I need to at least see who they are.

Sasha’s tears now rolled down her cheeks. I can’t save you if you answer the door. Please go back into the kitchen and let me answer it? As Sasha spoke the knock at the door repeated, much louder this time.

Sasha, I…

"Please, momma, it will be alright. I will miss you, but you will still be here. There are holes, I can use them." The words came into Katarina’s head, but not through her ears.

Fear started to climb into Katarina. It crawled like dark things in the night. Her daughter had tested very high on the ability scale. They wouldn’t get the report until tomorrow.

The third time the knock came, it was a pounding at the door. Katarina broke, she started to run towards her daughter. As she snatched the child out of her chair, she tried to think of where to go. She headed for the master bedroom on the ground floor. It had a sliding glass door that led to the backyard. If she could get across the yard, she could get out the gate, and into her neighbor’s yard. Terror grabbed her heart like a fist. Who are they? What do they want?

"They are after me, momma. They want me because of what I can do."

The men in the backyard could see in the glass door. They saw, in the hallway, a bright flash of light. The men opened fire. They shot the glass out of its frame, to fall in many bright pieces across the floor of the master bedroom. The flash from the hall had startled them. Suddenly there was a hail of gunfire from all around the house. A voice over the radios called for a cease fire. Slowly the shots started to taper off.

The men in the back of the house started to walk towards the shattered glass door. They felt a stab of pride, as they saw the little girl walking around the corner into the room. They had the little witch. The professor would reward them with huge bonuses. That pride crumbled, as they looked at her eyes. They shone like little stars and arcs of electricity played across her delicate face. Then all of the glass on the floor leaped into the air and flew like shrapnel out the doorway. The men did not stand a chance as thousands of class fragments came at them with the speed of bullets.

The first splashes of red crayon spattered all over the garage door behind the house.

Sasha turned and started walking towards the front door. She could hear the men kicking the splintered wreck inward. She stepped into the living room just as the remains of the stout door gave way. The two men leveled their guns and pointed them at the child in front of them. Freeze, you little demon! one of them shouted.

Sasha lashed out with her hand, as if she had thrown a punch. Both of the men suddenly flew out the door, as if they had been caught in an explosion. As the bright red splashes landed on the car and lawn, a voice spoke from outside. Send the girl out and no one will be hurt!

The sound of the bullhorn was odd to Sasha. She had never heard one before. She cocked her head to listen again.

We only want the gir… The voice cut off with an electronic crackle, as the bullhorn forced its way down the man’s throat. The man’s lower jaw shattered and his neck ripped open as the bullhorn pushed through and lodged in his upper chest.

Sasha stepped to the door. Her feet were not even touching the ground now. She stood in the air, a full six centimeters above the wreckage of the door. There was a woman in a lab coat standing on the walk to the house. She had a needle in her hand.

Sasha’s eyes flashed as she gathered her strength. Several of the men opened fire and watched in amazement as their bullets turned in flight and ripped into the back of the nurse standing on the walk. The nurse fell to the ground as her red crayon splashed onto the front of the house and Sasha’s shoes.

Sasha’s face was serious behind those floodlight bright eyes. She wanted them to leave. If they left, she would stop. She knew the outcome was inevitable though. It was the price she paid for her mother’s life. She had chosen the hole that allowed them to live. As she raised her hand to throw the men away, a buzz cut through the air.

She felt the dart slam into her thigh. She knew she only had seconds left before the drug took effect. She could not kill the man in the white lab coat. If he died, they would kill her family. They only wanted her. If they could not have her, no one else would either. She used the last of her free will to reach out with her mind and touch her father and mother. "I love you both." Then, she collapsed onto the ground in front of her house and fell silent.

***

Sasha’s Mother did not know how she had gotten to the store several blocks away, but she had screamed in terror, when she realized Sasha was not with her. She ran back to her home as fast as she could, to try and find her daughter.

As the black cars pulled away from the house, Sasha’s mother came running up the street. She wailed out her grief, as the cars raised into the air, and flew down the lane, away from her. They had her child. They had her precious daughter.

As she wailed out her loss, she collapsed to the grass in front of her house. There, her hand fell on one patent leather black shoe. It had been on her daughter’s foot just a few minutes before. Now it lay under her hand with a few drops of red on the toe.

Chapter One – The Sasha Malenkov

Robert lay on the bed in his hotel room. Today was the big day. Today he would report aboard the ANS Sasha Malenkov. It was the first of a new type of naval vessels for the stars. It had been named after a young girl that had been kidnapped by terrorists twenty years prior. They had never caught the group that had taken her. They had never even identified which group had done it.

Holo-table on, channel 9393, volume thirty percent, he said softly as he stretched. The media was having a field day with the launch of the new ship. It was supposed to be faster than any naval ship ever flown before. It was leaving, on her maiden voyage this morning. Her mission was five years patrol around the seven planets in the United Colonies Alliance.

He was the doctor on board the craft. He had tested out as an Empath and that was almost a required ability for doctors now. Almost every Empath went into medicine, psychiatry, or clergy. Telepaths gravitated towards communications and Telekinetics tended towards logistics. The Clairvoyants of course made money predicting the future, when they had that ability. The ones that could remote view had many places to go. They were highly prized in a lot of businesses, especially the shady ones.

With the launch of the Sasha today, what can we expect to see, Richard? The anchorman asked his co-reporter.

Well, Ted, today the ship will launch and begin its one week long cruise to the heliopause. We can expect to see a lot of space yachts following and flanking it. Just a warning to any who do want to follow its course. The military has warned, any approach closer than two light minutes is to be treated as a hostile act. Once the ship has cleared the heliopause they are going to activate the new drive system and test it for the first time on a full size ship. She will travel to Tau Ceti and make a tour of the space there for several months. Then she will approach the planet to take on supplies and give the men a little break.

I do envy them, Richard. I have heard the girls on Tau Ceti e love to be kept warm.

I took a vacation there a few years ago and they are very friendly indeed. It must have to do with the cold nights. I give the men on the Sasha the simple advice of taking a good jacket with them.

What do we know about the new drive system? Ted asked to continue the story.

The new drive system is top secret. They will not even discuss the principle behind its operation. They only say it is faster than anything before.

That is going to be amazing to watch. The Sylvan has the Tinelli warp drives and she can make the Tau Ceti run in three weeks. That is four light years a week. That is truly impressive.

Yes she can, Ted. We also know, Doctor Robert Wraith is assigned aboard the craft. It is rumored Daniel Danes is listed as crew as well.

We all know Doctor Wraith. He is the award winning empathic doctor. Who is Daniel Danes?

Daniel is the first person to ever test out above rank five in two disciplines. He is an R-4 telepath and an R-4 telekinetic. It is my understanding he is the main communications officer on board. This is only a rumor.

They are taking some talent on this flight then. We all know that the good doctor is an R-1 Empath.

Do remember, the only one we know for sure is on the flight is Doctor Wraith. The military has kept information about the ship’s crew almost as tight as the specs on the drive.

Robert climbed out of bed. He had heard it all before. No one but High Command knew who all the crew were. They had gone so far as to even have a coded computer system to check crew in. You could not look up a name until the person was present.

He looked at his face in the mirror as he brushed his teeth. Then he looked down at the claw marks on his chest and smiled. As he recalled the night before, the girl started to stir in the bed.

"What are you smiling about?" she asked softly in his head.

"Your marks on my chest", he answers with a sigh of contentment.

"You and your damn empathy. You always know just how to make me feel the most pleasure. Do you really have to leave today?" the woman asked as she climbed out of the bed.

"Yes, and you know you should not make contact with a non-telepathic. It gives them a headache."

"You are close enough I can whisper to you. At most you will get a mild ache later. Let’s get in the shower and get you clean to report. I can’t believe you are going to be gone for five years. I will have to make do with my husband alone while you are gone."

As the redheaded woman walked into the bathroom, Robert turned from rinsing his mouth out. You will be okay. He does love you very much. He would even forgive you if you told him about us.

She got a look of fear in her eyes. You haven’t told him have you?

I would not do that. You have doctor patient confidentiality. You finished your therapy last night, you know.

You mean I am cured? she asked, her eyes growing wider.

Try to think about it again.

She looked at him with a little fear in her eyes. Then she nodded and tried to think about the incident which had sent her to him for therapy.

It was there still. She could remember every bullet that had been fired. She could even feel the remembered pain of the slugs that had pierced her body. The terror was gone now. It was just another memory. The pain of her post traumatic stress was gone. She could now think about the fight without crying in terror.

She smiled and pulled his face down for a kiss. When they broke, she whispered, Thank you.

You’re welcome, now I believe you promised to help me get clean.

She smiled up at him and took his hand. Then she led him to the shower.

***

Robert waited at the door to the hotel. They both knew it was over between them. Their last lovemaking had been bittersweet. She would go back to her husband and he would forgive her. She would no longer wake up screaming in the night. She would not need to have a weapon in her hand at all times anymore. In time the infatuation she had felt for him would fade. It happened often with his patients. He had found that fulfilling these fantasies helped them to relax with him. She knew he did not love her. His empathy actually made him hold back that emotion. He was never sure if he felt his own love for a person or if he felt their love for him. He had to laugh at himself. The psych-doctor needed a psych-doctor.

He had to shake his head when the military limousine pulled up in front of the hotel. He was the only publicly confirmed member of the crew. They were going to make his arrival a media circus. He started to bend down and grab his space bag. Before he could, two military policemen jumped out of the limo and grabbed it for him. Commander Wraith, if you will accompany us, we are to take you to your pre-boarding briefing.

As he stood up both of the men were standing at attention and saluting. They were dressed in the formal dress uniform of space-marines. The crisp blue suits with gold trim were sharp looking compared to his standard ship uniform. He returned the salute. Thank you Lieutenant, Robert paused to get a name, from the soldier.

Graves, sir. My partner is Lieutenant Junior Grade Jameson.

Thank you, Graves, Jameson. I am medical corps and we don’t stand on ceremony. Is there any chance we can get a coffee on the way there?

Jameson smiled as Graves answered. We picked up your coffee on the way here, sir. It is waiting in the car for you.

You both just earned a promotion. Robert said, as he began to walk to the car. Coffee had become so rare these days and a cup would cost the average man a month’s wage. There were many substitutes, but Robert hated the artificial stuff. As he climbed into the car he smelled the aroma of Columbian gold. It was like smelling a woman’s perfume. He sat in the seat next to the cup and inhaled deeply. He had promised himself this treat before he shipped out. The only agriculture left on earth, was in the domes of Antarctica. All other crops were grown on the moon. The bad thing was that coffee would not grow up there and space in the domes was at a premium. There was only one hundred acres dedicated to coffee. He reached out with his hand and lifted the six thousand credit cup of coffee. Then he pressed the cup to his lips and took a sip of the heavenly brew.

As the limo lifted off the ground, Robert glanced out the window. The city stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction. The city of Texas covered most of the land that comprised that state at one time. It was now under a great dome like force fields. The green moss covering the buildings refreshed the oxygen inside the dome. He was actually thrilled by the thought of this ride. They would be passing over the park. He would get to see the last seven trees on the North American continent. Cities now covered eighty-five percent of the land on earth. The only forest left was a little over a thousand acres just north of Moscow. The only wildlife was in zoos. He had seen books and tapes of some of the old creatures that roamed the earth at one time. His favorite picture was of a herd of buffalo which at one time almost covered the Midwest.

There below him was the seven acres of the park. In the middle was the last oak tree on earth. It was over a thousand years old and every acorn it produced was collected and kept. Many of them were shipped to the moon for seeding. Several from each crop were kept in case the old man died. Robert had never seen a tree before and its majesty had an amazing effect on him.

It’s amazing isn’t it, sir? Jameson asked.

Yes.

I took my children to see them last year. It was worth the price to get in.

Maybe when I return, I will get the chance to go see all of them.

I want to take my kids to see the forest, Graves supplied.

Soon the sight of the mighty tree slipped behind them. It almost made Robert cry to think of the variety of life that had roamed the earth at one time. Man had consumed the earth and then spread out to consume other worlds. The naturalists had lost in the end. Man had to have room to live and the tiger, elephant, and deer had lost. How long will the flight be?, he asked to try and take his mind off the depressing history of man.

Seven minutes, once we enter the flow lanes. As Graves spoke the car started to lift higher and accelerate southward. They were headed for the gulf launch platform. Below them somewhere the land dropped away and water began. Not that you could tell. The floating part of the city extended out onto the water for nearly a hundred and sixty kilometers. If you wanted to live in a house instead of an apartment, this is where they were. Somewhere down there was the house a little girl was kidnapped from. The crime had made huge news because it had been the first kidnapping case in over five hundred years.

Then they passed out of the dome and into the air above the Gulf of Mexico. There was water stretching out in every direction. Robert knew it was salt water. The great evaporation farms pulled most of the fresh water needed from it. It was still amazing to see open water. Some day he would get to see one of the lakes. He would love to see fresh water as far as the eye could see.

There it was on the horizon. The Regan Memorial Launch Platform. It was thirty square kilometers of floating naval base. From there he would be transported to the ANS Sasha Malenkov.

The car landed on the platform and his door was pulled open by another Military Policeman. Commander Wraith, if you will follow me? We will parade you past the reporters and then to your briefing.

So we are having a dog and pony show before the briefing, Robert said, as he stepped out of the car and saluted.

Yes, sir. It is Admiral Blake’s orders that your arrival be used to keep the reporters wanting more. The man in front of him said with a smile.

Lead on.

The soldier turned and headed across the field towards a large building. He saw the reporters watching him from behind the press fence. They all had hearing dishes and long range cameras. They were trying to catch some clue as to what was going to happen.

As they passed the fence, a reporter called out from the crowd. Doctor Wraith, what can you tell us about the mission of the Sasha Malenkov?

Robert stopped and smiled for the reporters. I have not been briefed on any abnormalities of the mission. As far as I know this is a normal patrol cruise.

Another voice asked, Why all the secrecy about the launch and crew?

I understand the ship has a top secret drive system. The reason behind the secrecy is to keep its exact capabilities hidden.

Another voice called out to Robert. Are they expecting trouble? Is that why they have the Navy’s golden child doctor on the crew.

I am on the crew because I volunteered. This is the new flagship for the Navy’s next fleet. Every naval officer wants to serve on the flagship.

What can you tell us about the crew? another voice asked.

The Navy has placed the best and brightest of their space corps as the crew. I do not know who any of them are but I expect to be surrounded by professionals. Now, if you will excuse me, I must report for my briefing.

Once in the building he was greeted by a familiar face. He was glad he did not have to salute inside the building. Good morning, admiral.

Good morning, Robert. Sorry to use you as a distraction, but the press is like a pack of rats on a candy bar. Everybody that walks within earshot of the fence gets a thousand questions fired at them. Are you ready for liftoff?

As ready as I will ever be.

Then consider yourself briefed. I will have the handlers take you out to your transport shuttle. We are hoping to fire up the engines at noon.

Robert was led out the back door to the building. There on the tarmac was the biggest Transport pod he had ever seen. It had to be for a hundred passengers. No telekinetic could lift that damn thing. What were they thinking? It would take a hundred R-5s to make that beast wiggle.

He was taken inside and strapped into a comfortable chair. The young female petty officer that strapped him in was cute as hell. What are you doing for dinner tonight? Robert asked as he opened up to gauge her reaction.

Avoiding you, sir. Tanya warned me about you and your empathy.

You do know I can’t control your mind. I am not a dominator.

Tanya told me you were very dominant.

Robert chuckled. I would not have been so dominant if she did not want it.

The girl smiled. I am not on the flight, sir. I am ground crew. So you will be dining alone tonight.

She was already warming up. It was really too bad she was not going with them. Robert could use an appointment secretary. The idiot they had tried to pass off to him, while he was planet side, couldn’t even tell military time. He was told he would get his new appointment secretary on the ship.

The woman moved to the next seat to strap in another victim. He hated riding in these things they never had any windows. It was like riding in a coffin.

He watched as the ground crew left the capsule. He sat there and waited for the tug to attach. It would pull them into space. There they would be taken to the hanger on the Sasha.

Then he felt his hair rise on the nape of his neck. For the sake of god, they were going to teleport them. He started to cry out, but it was too late. His brain spun into darkness.

***

"Who are you?" a voice asked in his mind.

"I am Doctor Robert Wraith."

"Why are you scared?" the voice asked softly.

"No one can teleport this kind of mass. We will be burnt and dropped into the ether."

"This is a small thing. It is no problem to lift. Then the voice screamed in his head. It was a scream of pain so deep it cut the soul. I did what you told me. I didn’t do it wrong. Why are you punishing me? Help me Robert. Please help me."

Robert reached out with his mind and tried to ease the pain. This is what he did. This was his calling as a doctor. The screaming quieted in his mind. Then it was followed by a whimper. "Are you okay? Is the pain gone?"

"Not gone, but better. Thank you."

"Who are you?" he asked.

***

His eyes opened and the hatch wheel was turning. They had arrived on the ship.

That had been the most intense teleportation dream he had ever had. It felt so real, but if a strong telepath had spoken to him in port, they would still be able to talk to him now.

He watched as the soldiers filed out of the module and formed up on the floor of the hanger. They had to be oriented and assigned quarters. Robert already knew where his quarters were located. He had to drop his space bag off and then report to the captain. Once that was accomplished he would meet his medical team.

It took him only a few minutes to find his room near the med-bay. It even had his name on the door. Now for the thousand meter walk to the bridge. This two kilometer long naval ship was going to be interesting.

It took him almost a half hour to find the bridge. He knew where it was but getting there was another story. Once he arrived at the door, he saluted the two guards. Then passed through the door. The captain was organizing his bridge crew and passing out shift orders. Robert stepped up and offered a salute to the man. Commander Robert Wraith, reporting, Captain.

The captain returned his salute. Welcome aboard, Commander. We are glad to have such a talented doctor to take care of our sniffles. How was your ride up? The captain’s voice was jovial.

I found the experience of being teleported up in that large a capsule interesting. I did not know you had that many Telekinetics on board.

Sorry to disappoint you, Robert, but that was accomplished with the new drives. It is some top secret thing the Navy is trying. I don’t even have clearance to go into the drive room. Only Professor Longman and his two assistants ever go in there. They are afraid someone will steal the design.

That is amazing. When did they let you know you were going to captain her?

I got my orders last week and have been sequestered ever since. It’s a damn sorry day when they don’t even trust their own commanders.

Too true, Donald. Have any of my team reported aboard yet?

As far as I know at this point you are the first. None of the others have reported in to me. There is a gift from high command in your cabin. A little thank you for volunteering for the trip. Go get yourself settled in and I will let you know when all of your team arrives. At that point Captain Donald Clive turned to yell at one of the bridge crew.

Robert left the bridge, smiling. He had served with Donald on the Washington. Donald was a good captain and truly respected his crew.

He arrived a bit later at the med-bay door. He needed to check and make sure all of his equipment had arrived. He took about twenty minutes and inventoried the supplies. It looked like everything had been supplied as requested. After he finished, he headed for his cabin.

He stepped into the cabin and over his space bag. He had tossed it into the room and really not looked. There was a box sitting on the small desk in his room. He walked over and opened the box to look inside. The slow smile that crossed his face was one of blissful happiness. Inside the box was a one cup coffee maker and five one kilo bags of coffee. On top of it all was a note.

I couldn’t see you ship out without a little comfort.

Jessica.

Admiral Jessica Tong had sent him the one thing she knew he would cherish. He was truly happy he had helped her get passed her blockage.

He pulled the coffee maker out of the box. Then he stowed the bags of coffee in the top drawer. He would have to make the coffee last as long as possible. One cup per day at most. He dropped the nighla-fiber box into the recycler. Then he started to put his clothing away. He hoped the laundry facility on this ship knew the difference between starch and underwear. The boys on the Washington thought they went together.

Commander Wraith, your section is on board and has been notified to meet you in the med-bay at eleven hundred hours ship time. A sexy sounding female voice told him through the ship’s intercom.

He walked over and thumbed the answer button. Thank you, he paused for a rank and name.

Lieutenant Darla Sandal, sir.

Thank you Lieutenant.

You’re welcome, sir.

He smiled at her flush of pleasure. He had acknowledged her as more than a voice and that made her feel happy. She might be interesting if something that simple made her feel that much pleasure. He wondered what she looked like.

He spent a few more minutes putting his gear away, then he headed back to the med-bay. As he walked into the bay, he saw his team for the first time. He recognized the surgeon and the viral specialist. He had worked with them before and they were both good men. He could feel their excitement about being on the new flagship of the navy. There were also six nurses and an intake secretary. He knew the nurses by reputation. Lieutenant Tanya Nancy smiled at him with a grin of pleasure. The other five nurses were also female. The intake secretary was a tall woman with a rather severe look on her face. She wore the terrible military horned rim glasses and her brown hair was pulled up into a tight bun. He found himself wondering if she always had that frown on her face. Then at the end was his personal secretary. She was a young woman fresh out of the academy. He could feel her nervousness as it radiated off her in waves.

Robert walked towards her as he glanced at her nametag. Ensign Tallia, there is no need to be nervous. Do your job and we will get along great.

Then he turned to look at the others. We have a long cruise here and you all know what happens to men and women trapped in space for a long time. Let’s get through the initial check in physicals as fast and smoothly as we can. Make sure to run venereal disease tests on everyone, and I do mean everyone. We can hopefully stop that dead in its tracks. Watch for signs of shock and cabin fever. Let’s also watch for alcohol poisoning, we don’t want a repeat of the Churchill incident. Get settled into your cabins and we will get together later to discuss shifts. I will keep us all on a ten hour rotation so we shift around the clock. If you have personality conflicts let me know and we will change your shift. I would rather we all work together amiably.

Yes, sir. They said in unison.

Those few of you that have served with me know I hate military formality. In the med-bay and in private, my name is Robert. Treat me like a human and I will treat you the same. Ensign Tallia, Ensign Janice, your first assignment is to get a complete crew list and organize their medical records. We will try and get things operating smoothly before we hit the heliopause.

At once, Robert. Ensign Talia said with a slight smile.

Ensign Janice nodded and wrote a note on her pad. Robert hoped she had more personality than that. She would be a boring intake secretary if all she did was nod and take notes.

Take your time and get settled in first. Just have the list to me by close of shift tomorrow.

Robert walked out of the med-bay as the others headed out to their cabins. He was grumbling to himself that he had not been provided any EMTs. There were five thousand people on this ship. He needed at least two EMTs for location and rescue work. He also wondered if any of his team were empaths. He knew neither of the doctors were. He would have to check the other’s records.

He looked at the chronometer in his room and saw it was the stroke of twelve hundred hours. The gunslinger’s hour.

All hands prepare for evolution to space. Man your stations and report to your chain. We will initiate thrust in three minutes. All door crew, verify space doors and prepare for separation from the space-dock. Inertial crews, verify full operation of inertial canceling generators. Full artificial Gravity will be maintained during flight. All guns perform operational checks now. Lieutenant Sandal’s voice was still as sexy as a wet dream. Robert found himself wondering how her moans would sound.

Robert chuckled to himself as he entered his cabin. He wondered what the ship would look like exiting the space-dock. It was over two thousand meters long and more than two hundred wide and tall. It was the biggest ship ever constructed by the navy.

Robert laid down on his bunk and waited. The chronometer on the wall ticked away and at the exact time of twelve-oh-three and fifty one seconds he felt the engines throb to life. The Three Reality Drives where active and the ship was underway. Now for the extremely boring part of space flight – space flight.

Robert had heard a rumor that the crew was going to attempt a teleport from the HD 40307 system. They were supposed to teleport a one kilogram message capsule.

Robert got up from his bunk and moved to his desk. The computer came to life as soon as he touched the hand controller. He spoke his directions to the computer interface and waited. Once the scientific calculators came up, he started to estimate the mass of the personnel capsule he had been lifted in. His best estimate was one hundred tons. Then he ran the ranks needed to lift such a mass. The numbers did not work. At his best estimate it would take four R-1s to lift the mass and teleport it to geosynchronous orbit. The basic math was still accurate. An R-20 could lift one kilogram and teleport it one kilometer or they could lift two kilograms and teleport it one half kilometer. It was a constant curve. An R-19 was three times as powerful as an R-20 – that works out to three kilograms/one kilometer or one kilogram/three kilometers. A single R-1 could only teleport a little less than thirty three thousand kilograms to geosynchronous orbit. If the capsule weighed a hundred metric tons it would be just beyond the capacity of three R-1s. There were no living R-1 Teleporters, the only known R-1 had been killed three years ago. He overstressed his ability by trying to port too large a weight too far. His brain had literally caught on fire.

They had said the Telekinetics could join with the power of the new engines and use it to boost themselves. Could it boost them that much?

He reran his calculations and based them on the power of an R-4. Then he set his distance at 40 light years, the distance to HD 40307. His mind faltered. An R-4 could only teleport point two micrograms that distance. They were talking about teleporting a one kilogram message capsule that far. It would take billions of R-4s to accomplish the task.

Was every person on the ship an R rating? Were they really going to try this?

Robert lay back down on his bunk. He did not look forward to treating a ship full of brain fires. If they tried it and wiped out, how would he get back home? Then he thought more clearly. The captain was not an R rating, neither were the surgeon or the viral doctor. So not everyone was a rating. He was going to have to look at the records closely.

He got back up and spoke instructions to the computer again. He waited for the report. When he received it, he saw the one thing he did not believe would be the case. There was only one rating on board. He was the only person on board with abilities. The captain had told him the drive had done the teleport. Now he believed him. How powerful was this drive?

As he looked away from the computer he saw that it was time for them to head to the galley for lunch. He hoped they had something good today. Shipboard food could really suck.

Chapter Two – Teleportation Drive

Robert stood in the observation lounge. He was looking out the viewing window and sipping on his one cocktail allowed today. It was one of the privileges of being an officer. He had given up on the thought of them attempting a message capsule port from that distance.

Pluto had slid by two days ago. Today they would break the heliopause and engage the new drive. He wished