The Griffin Series: Genesis

By G. Benjamin Alexander

General Saigon Alexander is the honorable captain of the ESS Battleship Sphinx. He is an officer of the Galactic Police, a law enforcement branch created by the Unified Galactic State. His crew is talented, driven, and composed of many of his childhood friends. Together, they are a hard-working team often looked to for secret interstellar missions by the UGS.

One such mission involves the successful apprehension of a notorious enemy of the state, charged with plotting terrorist activities against the regime and the president. Saigon is proud of his accomplishment, and yet he is soon shocked to witness the inhumane treatment of their captive. He protests but is threatened with imprisonment himself.

Saigon, ever loyal, feels a need to pull away. He resolves to combat the tyranny of the Galactic Police, and with the help of his crew, a new ship is commissioned. The Griffin will be their safe haven as news spreads of their betrayal. Soon, they are named outlaws, but Saigon will not stop fighting for the good of the galaxy and justice for all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491711644

G. Benjamin Alexander

G. Benjamin Alexander is a graduate from Syracuse University in New York. A science fiction enthusiast, he currently lives in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. This first work in a planned series is derived from a recurring childhood dream.

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Copyright © 2011, 2013 G. Benjamin Alexander.

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-1163-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-1165-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-1164-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013918809

iUniverse rev. date: 10/14/2013

Cover Design by Justin Pitts

Contents

AUTHOR’S NOTE

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

XI

XII

XIII

XIV

XV

XVI

XVII

XVIII

XIX

AUTHOR’S NOTE

With this, the first act in The Griffin Series, we embark on this journey surrounding Saigon Alexander and his crew. Saigon is an accomplished warrior and a hero among the ranks of the Galactic Police. The Galactic Police is an organization which operates as half law enforcement and half Galactic military. As such, the organization borrows from the titles and rank order of the United States military. It should be noted that the similarities in title are only in name. The Galactic Police General and the actual military General are completely different titles.

I thank you, the reader, for your interest in this series and for your support in this endeavor. This book is the beginning of a series derived from my very heart and soul. The characters are reflections of people I’ve met over the course of my life. This series is not merely science fiction. It is action, adventure, military, romance, youth, and political commentary. I am delighted that I have the privilege to share my vision with you. Enjoy.

Sincerely,

G. Benjamin Alexander

I

It was March 2, 3457; five years after the Federation of Planets had reorganized to form the Unified Galactic State following the defeat of the Neptunian threat. General Saigon Alexander, a hero in his own right sat in his chamber aboard the ESS Sphinx, reflecting on what had been a tumultuous career that had seen him go through boot camp and single-handedly defeat the Neptunian leader and an army of 15,000 Neptunian foot soldiers. The decorated champion of the Galactic Police got very little sleep, partly due to chronic insomnia, which had plagued his family for generations, but also due to a feeling of unrest. He and his crew were flying out in search of the most notorious criminal in the galaxy, a Mercurian by the name of Tsu’lakti. Over the span of eleven years, Tsu’lakti had orchestrated attacks on the hotel on Olympus Mons in which dignitaries from several planets were staying, destroyed a Gliesian moon, and ordered the mass slaughter and cleansing of the entire Beta-Cancrean system. When Unified Galactic State President O’rrrrah, the Libraean, saw the danger such a criminal posed to galactic safety, he sent the Galactic Police’s best team to find him and bring him to justice.

Saigon wasn’t restless because of a fear of inadequacy. He knew his crew, composed of friends from his youth, was up for the challenge. They had all achieved incredible rank for their ages and their battle résumés were far more impressive than those of their peers. Rather, something didn’t sit right with him and he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. Realizing that he was accomplishing nothing all alone with his thoughts, Saigon exited his chamber and headed to the war room, where his crew awaited him. General, began Giovanna Milan, the Sphinx’s Navigator, I think we have intel on the whereabouts of Tsu’lakti. He appears to be in hiding on SWEEPS-04.

Good job, Vice Admiral, He started to thank her, keep a safe distance from the planet.

She smiled, revealing two perfect rows of white teeth. She admired Saigon, she always had, but due to their professional relationship, she never thought to tell him. They had been friends since they were six and now, nearly twenty years later, they were still inseparable. She placed the craft in a test pattern just far enough from the planet to remain unseen in the clear skies of the SWEEPS night. She stood up and stretched her toned legs, which poked out from under blue fatigue Capri pants. Her long black hair rested in a ponytail atop her head. Her golden-hued, olive skin glowed in the light of the war room. Her wheat-colored almond-shaped eyes squinted shut as she looked away from her screen. Her abs were visible, unconcealed by the belly shirt she wore to show off her curvaceous figure. Light from the ship’s interior glinted off the badge she placed on her shirt. She turned. Take a picture, Sergeant, it’ll last longer.

Yeah but I’m enjoying the view, replied their friend Zoser Rice, the weapons specialist. He had been the mastermind behind the thermal melee weapons the Galactic Police had become accustomed to using, yet instead of having business savvy, his passion was for the battle field, on which he was a fierce warrior. Madame Vice Admiral, forgive me for being blunt but your body does look incredible in that outfit.

Focus on the task at hand, Giovanna said.

Ma’am, yes, ma’am, Zoser said in a slightly perverted tone as he turned away to help equip Saigon and the rest of their compatriots.

We do this by the book, Saigon said in his deep, somewhat raspy voice that pointed out his seasoned hardness, even at the tender age of 25. He had enlisted just under eight years ago and after a six week boot camp, joined the Galactic Police. His commitment inspired his friends, causing many of them to enlist and join his crew, especially after his triumph over the Neptunians on the water-covered planet. Beside him as they prepared to embark stood his Lieutenant, Admiral Konan Muldrow. Konan was a hot head, but he was in many ways one of Saigon’s closest friends. The two would never admit it to anyone, not even each other, but they secretly needed each other to balance them out. Saigon acted as a voice of reason whenever Konan became too quick to rush into battle, which often saved all of their lives due to Konan’s incessant recklessness. When Saigon took too long or was thinking too hard, Konan often quickly made the decision for him, which saved their lives because when pulled into battle, Saigon was unmatched. On Saigon’s other side stood Sergeant Groucho Horne. He stood second-tallest behind Zoser and he fell into his role entirely by accident. He had signed up and enlisted just so he could enjoy the benefits that Galactic Police officers had, but fell in love with the idea of serving the very republic he held dear and stayed on. He was adept in repairing ships, and this skill was often used after a brash and near-fatal rush-in perpetrated by Konan. Far off, in the corner, sat Corporal J’Quon Rah’Khalil, known throughout the galaxy as JJ. He was the oldest by far of the crew and acted as a big brother to everyone aboard. He had saved Saigon from what would surely have been a life of crime and put him on the right track, a feat for which Saigon was eternally grateful. His thick braids covered his shiny copper head and he looked on with a look of indifference with a hint of despair.

Something wrong, JJ? inquired Saigon, leery of his friend’s countenance, which bore an all-too-familiar look that was often a harbinger of bad things to come.

JJ shook his head It’s nothing, sir, just getting a bad feeling is all.

Well alright, you stay here and keep Giovanna and Chinemelu company, you’ve earned some rest. That’s an order, soldier.

Sir, yes, sir.

Chinemelu Onyeji, the on-craft medic, strapped a miniature first aid kit onto each man before they left. His partially sunken features and large flowing scrubs hid an Adonis-like physique with the heart of a lion. While he was a relative stranger to combat, he was still known to bring the pain when necessary. The men suited up for ship-to-planet travel and set out. As they entered the SWEEPS atmosphere, Saigon felt an immediate wave of dread wash over him. SWEEPS-04 was desolate and was a home to dozens of races, including a vast Mercurian population. Mercurians were notorious for their open refusal to extradite one of their own, no matter what. Through the visor of his Ship-to-Planet suit, known as an STP, he saw his friends’ faces as they began their descent to the coordinates of Tsu’lakti’s hideout.

General, I’ve got a visual on the building, reported Zoser.

Roger that. Sergeant Horne, send a probe so we know we’re not on a wild goose chase, ordered Saigon.

Sir, yes, sir, replied Groucho as they all switched their STP suits to hover. He released a small silver ball that floated lightly like snow into an open crack in the