The Edge of Damnation: Book IV of the ROE Chronicles

By Sean M. Campbell

Patricia stood in front of the judge waiting for him to hand down her sentence. She had stolen a large amount of money from a bank using her teleportation ability. For most cases involving psionic crimes, the Navy held the prisoners in the Australian Shielded Detention Facility at Australia Base.
The Navy refused to put a fifteen year old girl into that prison.
Now she was sixteen and nearly a year of trial was over. They had gone to extra ordinary effort to monitor and secure her over the last eleven months.
Patricia was doing her best to fight the tears threatening to come to her. The judge was going to order an operation to remove her Malenkov Organ.
As he began to pronounce his judgment, a woman stood up in the back of the room. Her features were hidden and she offered the judge an alternative.
Patricia realized The Sasha Malenkov-Wraith was in the court room, offering to give her a way to keep her abilities.
Patricia had no idea just how wrapped up she would be in the events leading to the Edge of Damnation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sean M. Campbell
• Release date: Nov 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463907627

Book preview

Book IV of the ROE chronicles

By Sean M. Campbell

Copyright © Sean M. Campbell 2018

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 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 Darryl Thelemann. If being able to teach is a measure of intelligence, he is a genius.

A note to my fans.

I am sorry this took so long to get this book out. I have been battling health issues and a long bout of depression. I have finally reached a point where I can once again, look into the mists of the future.

This is the fourth book in the ROE series and has been very enjoyable for me to write. It sets up a lot of what will happen in the future.

I am also working on a couple other stories as well as planning Mouse 3. I hope to try and turn out a few of my books in the next several months.

Thank you for sticking with me, through a very rough time.

There is also a second point I wish to acknowledge. I named the ship Johnny traveled on as the AJV Louis and Clark. I have since then been informed the proper spelling is AJV Lewis and Clark.

For those history buffs and fans who hate these kinds of mistakes I do apologize. The name has been corrected in this book.

Sean M. Campbell

Author’s notes:

I am including this to show the convention I used for the different modes of speech in this story.

Quoted text in the Georgia font is normal speech.

"Quoted text in bold Georgia font is emphasized speech."

"Quoted text in italic Georgia font is mental speech."

"Quoted text in bold italic Georgia font is emphasized mental speech."

"Quoted text in bold ‘Franklin Gothic Medium’ font is translated from a different language."

There is one last point I wished to clarify. Since the end of the first book, ‘ROE’ has been pronounced as ‘Row’. If it is written as ‘R-0E’, then it is pronounced ‘Are-Zero-Ee’. Therefore the proper term is ‘a ROE’ not ‘an ROE’. This is meant to show the popularization of the ‘ROE’ title, hinted at in the end of the first book.

Some people will notice, Robert never calls them ROEs. He always uses the term R-0E.

***

There is one additional thing placed in this book. By popular request, I have again placed the appendices at the end of the book.

What has Gone Before

The human race became a growing interstellar community with the discovery and rescue of Sasha Malenkov from her enslavement as an interstellar warship's engine. After being contracted to provide transportation services to the human colonies, her teleportation of materiel through the initial Interstellar Teleport and Communications Incorporated (ITCI) station was noticed by a damaged ship of another interstellar race - the Chansim - which requested passage back to their home planet.

This was the seed from which the Alliance grew, and which came to fruition in the aftermath of the first battle with Dagannian leviathans, from which Sasha Malenkov-Wraith and Victor Tepes emerged as heroes.

During the preparations for the battle, an invention was created by a young engineer, Ensign Richard Jamesworth. The Telepathic Interface Communications Transducer (TICT) became the backbone of communications across the galaxy. Through it, a Telepath could talk to a non-telepath, and send mental pictures of what they could see. Telepaths could also act as conduits to project calls from one colony to another.

The fame of the Wraith family, however, was a burden. Although some worshiped them as heroes and celebrities, others reacted in fear of what they could do. The minority, by far, were those who took the time to know them and become their friends.

Although the fledgling Alliance was too late to prevent the near total destruction of the Tnadkian people's home world by a Dagannian ship, the Tnadkians chose, as a proud race and with the help of the Alliance, to remain on, and rebuild, their ruined planet.

Eighteen years later, Katarina Victoria Wraith, the oldest natural daughter of Robert Wraith and Sasha Malenkov-Wraith, with the help of her fiancé, Anthony Tinder, defeated nine Dagannian leviathans to again save the Alliance.

Three years after the Battle of the Nine Leviathans, Jonathan Gregor Wraith began a voyage with beings from all three races to bridge the gap to the Andromeda Galaxy in search of the home world of the Dagannian ships, in hopes of finding a way to shut them down. There they found a being using a powerful weapon to turn a leviathan's primary weapon against itself, but although the last known survivor of the race which created the Dagannian ships had been found, the quest ended in ashes and dust.

***

There were now three races in the Alliance: humans, Chansim, and Tnadkians.

The human race consists of thirty-one colonial worlds with their moons, several of the planets around the Earth’s sun, Sol, and one colony with no planetary base, the Sasha Malenkov Station, which is the home of ITCI. Many ITCI stations and substations, considered ITCI embassies as well as centers of business, are scattered on the moons of the human colonies.

The Chansim tend to hunt for planets with multiple moons to colonize, and the Chansim Federation consists of twenty-two planets and moons. By treaty, each of their colonized moons is considered an independent colony. At the start of this chapter in the ROE chronicles, six ITCI stations exist on the Chansim worlds, with sixteen ITCI substations on the moons of these planets.

Tnadka was devastated by the attack of the Dagannian leviathan, its atmosphere so choked with dust caused by the discharge of a leviathan's primary weapon into the surface of the planet that the warmth of their sun barely reaches the surface. In an effort to help their world recover, an industrial station was built on and in their largest moon, allowing continued manufacturing of goods without adding to the pollution within the planet’s atmosphere. The Alliance has also been helping the Tnadkian survivors in their recovery by shipping supplies and technological help through an ITCI station on the planet, and a sub-station on their Moon. Due to a discovery by Katy, they are able to help filter the atmosphere, but it is estimated the surface of the planet will remain cold and barren for at least another twenty-three years.

This brings the total of ITCI stations and substations (facilities on a moon or other body in the system) to thirty-five stations and forty substations, and ITCI needs an R-1 ranked teleporter to run each one. Unfortunately, R-1 teleporters are almost as rare as ROEs; the new T-10 ESPI-generators are the only thing closing that gap. Without them, the eleven adult ROEs could not handle the traffic because the R-1s could not reach the nearest colony. Fortunately, there are now seventy-three R-1s and almost seven hundred R-2s working for ITCI. With their help, the ROEs are still managing.

However, traffic is still increasing at an incredible rate.

Finally, there are the catapedes. These 'pets' have proven to be highly intelligent and fiercely loyal. It has also been hinted that they may be just a little more than an eight-legged cat. Johnny discovered, when his friend Cerberus was returned to him after Cerberus’s death, they definitely have a hive mind and the personalities of the individuals are never lost to the whole.

There is also a puzzle from the stone spaceship found on the Traian home world, where a hieroglyphic representation showed a catapede that was as tall as a man at the shoulders.

With a treaty finally signed, the Alliance has been fully formalized and celebrated across all the colonies of all three races. The full impact of this treaty, though yet to be felt, has not yet evidenced a harmful effect on any of the races. It has meant, however, that the council of Earth has had to step back from their control of the human colonies, in favor of the Alliance Council, of which they are only a part. This has not set well with all the members of the council. For one thing, it means they actually have to start paying their debts to other colonies. The treaty also has a few clauses that were insisted on by Robert Wraith, through his wife Sasha, who, as the leader of the Sasha Malenkov Station Colony, has a seat on the Alliance Council.

***

This chapter in the ROE Chronicles opens up almost two years after the return of the AJV Lewis and Clark from the Andromeda galaxy. The crew of that good ship have a new mission: find and destroy any Dagannian leviathans in the Milky Way Galaxy. A secondary mission is to make contact with other interstellar-capable races in the hopes of finding possible allies.

Prologue

The courtroom was full of reporters, as they scribbled notes on the sentencing hearing being held.

The girl on trial, Patricia Louver, had been arrested in late February of the previous year, after she had lifted twenty thousand credits worth of gold notes from a bank. She had been in the bank and the vault door had been open.

The bank had caught her because they had a Telekinetic/Empath on the payroll. That person had easily detected the girl lifting the bonds.

The jury selection had been a nightmare. The defense wanted every person of the thirteen members, to have abilities. The prosecution did not want any psionics on the jury. That alone had taken nearly a month. The judge had to force a compromise.

The trial had been full of ups and downs. The prosecution had called the bank’s psionic teller to the stands. The defense had challenged her ability to detect a Telekinetic at work. The prosecution had provided testing, which had evaluated her abilities.

It had taken eleven months for Patricia’s trial to finish and the jury to return with a guilty verdict.

It had all boiled down to today. On March the fifth of Earth Standard year, 3098, Patricia would be sentenced.

Here was the problem. How do you put someone who can teleport into prison? Only the military had shielded prisons. Holding her for the eleven months had required extraordinary effort. She had to be guarded twenty-four-hours a day by someone strong enough to stop her from teleporting.

That left only a few options.

They could place her in a military prison, but even the most hardened judges would not place a sixteen-year-old girl into a military prison. The criminals there were the worst of the worst.

The next option was probation. The people would have a fit if she basically got away with stealing twenty thousand credits in gold notes.

There was one more option. They could perform a brain surgery and remove her ability to teleport. Then confine her. That was barbaric in the judge’s eyes. To remove her Malenkov organ would be the same as cutting off a thief’s hand for stealing. As a judge, he had the power to strip her of her rights and force the surgery to happen. This did not make it any less barbaric.

That was the problem. He had deliberated for more than a month on her sentence. He had weighed all the pros and cons. He had written copious notes on every aspect of her possible punishments, and he had come to one conclusion. The only way to ensure she never used her telekinesis to steal, or escape, was to remove it.

As the judge walked to his bench, to render his decision, a figure in a cloaked robe entered the back of the room. The face of the figure was hidden in deep shadow, but something about the walk said the person was a she. Flanking her were a pair of Marine guards in dress blue uniforms. The judge unconsciously swallowed.

The cloaked woman looked at the girl’s parents. She knew the courts had opted not to charge them after the investigation. The crimes of a minor could be charged to the parents as well. The courts had dropped any case against them for a promise of good behavior from Patricia.

If they knew how important the judge’s decision was, they would be trembling in fear, instead of crying in grief.

If the reporters had bothered to turn around, the news would have become a breaking bulletin.

The figure stood in front of a seat as the judge stepped up onto his platform. Then, once the judge was seated and had tapped his gavel, the figure sat with all the rest.

The judge studied the audience of reporters and the young girl, crying at the desk in front of him. His heart was breaking, as he saw her soft features and long dishwater blond hair. Her green eyes were darkened, with tears, until they were almost hazel. Her figure was just starting to show the woman she would grow up to be.

The judge sighed as he began to address Patricia. His heart was heavy with the words he now had to speak.

It’s my sad duty to establish a precedence for the law. We must be able to appropriately punish Telekinetics who misuse their abilities, and ensure they won’t again commit a crime using them. Until recently, this wasn’t a problem because people with the teleport ability were so very rare. He paused for just a slight moment. He had to swallow because his throat felt dry and broken. His gray eyes held the edge of tears as he continued. He could not believe what he was saying. It ruins my heart to pronounce a sentence on a young girl in the prime of her youth, and to hurl our race back into the barbarism we’ve fought so hard to overcome.

The figure in the back of the room stood and waited.

The judge stopped as he saw the figure. This was uncommon, but the person was obviously waiting to be recognized.

The judge’s pause caused all the reporters to turn and see the cloaked figure.

The judge studied the figure for a moment before he said anything. This is irregular behavior in a court room. Is there any reason your business cannot wait?

The soft female voice that drifted out of the hood was calm and in even tones, but could clearly be heard in the suddenly dead silent room.

Your Honor. I have an alternative to the sentence you consider. If you’ll grant me only a moment to approach the bench, I may be able to save us all from our own folly.

I’m not in the habit of allowing unidentified people to approach my bench. Pull back your hood, and allow me to identify you.

From the shadows the glint of teeth in a smile could be seen. Your Honor, you’re well aware of my identity, and your safety will be assured, by not only myself, but by the brave young men who accompany me as well. Never let the honor of the Marines be doubted.

The judge took in the figure’s appearance, and the two guards who now stood beside her. It dawned on him fully who was in his courtroom, and a flash of fear slid through him. Then he set that fear aside. She had come not to stop him but to offer him an alternative to the barbarism he was about to pronounce. He sighed softly. He was willing to listen to anyone who could save him from this course of action. He popped his gavel on the desk. We’ll take a short recess, while I confer with the lady. Bailiff, please escort her to my chambers, where we may talk in private.

The judge then left, as people rushed to stand. By the time the reporters turned to look for the woman, she was gone along with her guards.

The judge entered his chambers at the same time there was a knock at his door. He glanced at himself in the mirror to see if his grey hair was still in place. He was, after all, about to meet a demigod. He wondered if his iron grey eyes would show the fear he felt.

He sent a silent prayer toward the ceiling. He was not sure if he was grateful, or asking for protection.

He called out for the guest to enter. As the door opened, he heard the bailiff running up behind the woman and her guards. He was trying to catch up to them.

All four entered the room as the judge motioned for them to be seated. The lady sat, as the door was closed, but the Marines stood on either side of her.

The judge chuckled lightly. Ma’am, if you don’t mind me saying so, you having guards is a little like fleas guarding their dog.

The CEO of ITCI and Leader of the Sasha Malenkov Station Colony, Mother Superior Sasha Marie Malenkov-Wraith of thirty-six colors shook her head as she lowered the hood. The Marines feel it’s their duty and honor to guard me when I’m here. It’s the same honor they’d give any member of the council, or ambassadors from other worlds. I’d never be the one to harm their honor. I owe the military my life.

The judge nodded. Is it true…

Sasha held her hand up to stop him. Yes, I was imprisoned in a nutrient tank by Professor Longman. He used mental conditioning to convince me I couldn’t escape.

The judge nodded. Now there’s a man I’d have gladly turned barbarian on.

Your Honor. That’s why I’m here. I can give you an alternative sentence for Patricia. She’s a young girl who made a few mistakes and should be punished, but to resort to mutilating her wonderful mind should never even be considered.

What’s this alternative you’d offer? The judge had an idea what she was talking about.

You may pass a sentence, remanding her to my custody, and banishing her from Earth for the duration of her sentence. I’d use the time to teach her the ethics of her abilities. I’d promise, on her return to Earth, she won’t even consider repeating her crimes, or committing any new ones.

And, you’d get a new employee the government has to pay for…

Sasha smiled, she had known he would go there first.

No, your honor. She would be unable to work for ITCI while under the auspices of the law. She’d perform community service when not being actively schooled in etiquette and ethics. That would consist of such things as cleaning the connecting halls.

Why would you be willing to do this?

There’s a war coming, Your Honor. That war is going to rip the very fabric of society apart. I’m trying to delay that war and navigate it with the minimum damage to both sides. There are over a million holes in my vision and I’m steering us down a rapidly-changing path.

Who’ll we be fighting in this war? The judge had been startled by her answer. Were they going to face an alien race?

It’ll be a war between the psionics, and the non-psionics. Some of the paths lead to hideous futures and others lead to extinction. The human race is in its growing pains, and it isn’t ready to face its own evolution. Sasha paused and took a deep breath. Help me avoid the paths to the edge of damnation.

The judge looked into her eyes for the first time. Those electric blue windows to her soul were haunted. He could see the pains her visions were causing her. You know this will set a precedence of sending psionic criminals to the Sasha Malenkov Station. Your station will become a prison.

It’s a better alternative than the Earth becoming a wasteland.

What about hardened criminals? What’re you going to do when someone becomes a serial killer, or rapist? The judge was not sure this was a good idea.

Those will have to be dealt with separately. If they become part of our colony, then the path leads to slavery and ruination. ITCI would be willing to assist in the building of a prison on an uninhabited world for those criminals.

***

The judge again entered the courtroom, as Sasha and her guards slipped into the back.

She was again encouraging the reporters not to notice her. It was a trick her husband had taught her. Simply suppress their natural urges to be nosey about the people around them. It really did not violate their ethics. There was no direct reading of the mind, or even a light melding. It was a simple matter of encouraging them to look the other way, much like broadcasting calming emotions.

The judge sat and banged his gavel to let everyone sit. He then directly addressed Patricia.

Miss Louver, you’ve caused a lot of trouble for myself and the legal system. I was on the verge of turning the clock back two thousand years. However, you have a guardian angel who’s convinced me that there’s an alternative to barbarism. It’s the decision of this court, you’re to be remanded to the custody of Mother Superior Sasha Malenkov-Wraith, for a period of not less than ten years. You won’t be allowed to leave the Sasha Malenkov Station or return to Earth for the entire duration of your sentence. During this time, you’re to learn ethics and etiquette from Sasha and her family. You’re further sentenced to forty hours of community service for each week you’re there.

The girl started to cry. Sasha could feel the sense of relief the girl felt. She also could feel the surprise and hope from the parents.

"Don’t think this’s going to be a vacation, young lady! You betrayed your family and every other psionic in existence! I’ll give you a chance to say goodbye to your family before we leave, but it’ll be a while before you see them again!"

The voice thundered and echoed in her head like a hurricane. She had never heard anything even close to the level that Mother Superior Sasha Malenkov-Wraith projected. The only way to describe it was pounding in nails with a pile driver.

Patricia turned to look at the cloaked figure. Her eyes were wide open as she realized who had come to talk to the judge.

"Turn around and face the judge, before he adds another year for contempt of court!"

Patricia’s head snapped around so fast, Sasha was afraid the girl would injure herself.

Do you understand the sentence I’ve given you? The judge asked for the second time.

Yes, your honor.

The judge pounded his gavel on the desk. Missus Malenkov-Wraith, if you’ll take custody of your charge, the paperwork will be forwarded to the station as soon as possible.

Sasha began to walk through the crowd as reporters began to ask questions. The gavel pounded for silence, but the reporters were ignoring it. Sasha swung the little door out of her way with her mind as she stepped onto the floor. The Marines followed her as silently as statues.

When Sasha reached the desk the girl was standing behind, she spoke in a soft voice. If your lawyer has any need to contact you or you need to contact him, you’ll be allowed. Now, come with me, young lady.

The girl reacted fearfully. This woman supposedly had the power to crush people from a million light years away.

"Stop thinking so loudly, Sasha sent in a softer tone, then turned to face the judge. Thank you, your honor. If you’ll allow it, I’ll answer a couple of the reporter’s questions."

The judge nodded. You have the floor, ma’am.

Sasha turned and faced the reporters. They all started to shout questions until it was just a confusing jumble of sound.

Please calm down. I’ll answer several questions.

As the reporters started to quiet down and organize to ask questions. Rear Admiral, Consort Prime Robert Vincent Wraith, of twenty-seven colors, slipped into the back of the courtroom with two Marines, and asked Patricia’s parents to come with them. They had a conference room held for them to see their daughter before she was taken to the station.

Sasha, why have you chosen to offer this alternative to the judge? One of the reporters called out.

Sasha smiled. First, thank you for using my name. I made my offer because no one should be mutilated to serve a sentence, and no one should be reduced to ordering that mutilation.

How’re you going to keep her confined to the station, when she can just hop into a pod and be teleported to any location she wants?

Sasha started to laugh. Do you honestly think we would teleport a pod with her in it, when she’s being confined? No pod leaves the station without my knowledge, and no cargo gets transported without a manifest. I doubt seriously the manifest will have one sixteen-year-old girl written on it.

Is this just a way of getting a new employee?

Sasha shook her head. She won’t be allowed to work for ITCI until after her sentence is served. At that time, she may apply for a position.

The questions went on for around fifteen minutes before Sasha turned to face the judge. With your leave, Your Honor.

The judge nodded, then saw Sasha, Patricia, her lawyer, and the two guards disappear in a flash of light.

The bailiff breathed out an explosive sigh, then he whispered to the judge. She has a presence like a thunderstorm.

The judge nodded and adjourned the court.

***

Patricia’s parents nearly jumped out of their skins when the five people appeared in the room.

Patricia ran to her mother and father. For the last eight months, she had only been allowed to talk to them through a glass wall.

Sasha gave them a few minutes to just be together, before she spoke. Missus and Mister Louver, your daughter will spend the next ten years confined to Station One. For the first year, she won’t be able to have visitors. She’ll be free to receive and send written correspondence. Simply address anything to her care of ITCI, Station One. It’ll be forwarded on to her as soon as possible. Once a month, she’ll be allowed to make a TICT to TICT call. Don’t worry, we’ll have a TICT unit placed in your apartment.

Sasha paused a moment before continuing. Your daughter has made a serious mistake, but it isn't irrecoverable. If she keeps her nose clean and listens to her teachers, she’ll do fine. She’ll also be invited to attend college at our new school for the talented. It’ll be her choice if she wishes to attend. Now we’re going to step out and give you time to visit while we give her lawyer all the contact information.

***

Devain sat in her chair as seven people arrived at the incoming pad. She had felt her mother from half a planet away with no problem. She sent out her greetings and hugs to her parents.

The four Marines with them waited until everyone’s identity had been established before they left their charges. This was ITCI soil and only a lunatic would attack a station run by a ROE who had generators backing them up.

Patricia was quiet and subdued, as she was led to the base of the tower. When they arrived at the top of the tower, a young woman caught Sasha and Robert in a hug.

Patricia was starting to calm down as they talked. She started to look around the room. The jewelry sitting on a table caught her attention. That tennis bracelet was cute.

She reached out with her mind to pick it up. She never even got close to it. She felt a mental force like a bull elephant charging through a china shop. Her telekinesis was shut down so hard and so fast it made her head hurt.

She snapped her head around to see Mother Superior Sasha Malenkov Wraith’s electric blue eyes.

"Lesson number one! You don’t touch other people’s property without their permission! Sasha’s mental voice rang in her head. You need to understand! You’ll be learning the code of ethics we all live by! You must ask permission to touch! You never read someone’s mind without permission! You never use your abilities to steal! You absolutely must have a sense of honor and moral fortitude! That’s what separates humans from animals!"

Patricia was just about in tears, when she asked her question. "Why’d you save me, if you hate me so much?"

Sasha’s mental voice softened. "I don’t hate you. I saved you because I have not given up on you, and feel you’re worth saving. The saving has only just begun. There’s a simple way to learn the lessons you need to learn. Before you do anything, ask yourself, would you want people to do it to you or your things?"

***

The pod’s hatch was pulled open from the outside. Patricia knew what the station would look like. It would be cold and sterile with nothing to look at but steel walls.

"You need to learn not to think so loudly." Sasha’s tone was so much softer than it had been back on Earth. It still held a power that frightened Patricia, but at least she was not afraid of wetting herself.

Admiral Robert Wraith stepped out of the pod first, followed by Sasha. Then Patricia stepped to the hatch and saw the admiral’s hand, waiting to help her.

She stepped out of the capsule and looked around. The sight drew an instant gasp from her. The dome was huge and covered in glass. She stood near the middle of a huge duraglass half-bubble, and was surrounded by midnight-black space, dotted with stars and brushed with great clouds of dust and gas.

Then she noticed the other domes outside. One of them actually had lawns and ponds in it. There were also huge trees. Hundreds of them.

Another dome had a massive building in the center, but still had trees. Patricia had never actually seen a tree outside of pictures. Now she was so close she could see them, but they were beyond her reach."

Rosa, could you take Patricia down to Central Supply for apartment assignment. Then help her select furniture and clothes. She likes to show off her assets when she dresses, so help her select things that’ll enhance her features, not reveal them.

Patricia looked up to see a woman approaching her.

You must be Patricia. I’m Rosa, Sasha’s personal assistant.

Chapter 1: A New Mission and the Beginning

Johnathan Gregor Wraith stood in the dome looking at his reflection in the duraglass. Behind him, Cerberus and Silk lounged on one of the conforming chairs, while Sonja lay back in the second one. The rest of the ITCI crew were down in the break area.

Outside the Lewis and Clark, floated a fleet of ten ships.

Two warships, the ANS Landslide and the ANS Hurricane, floated serenely in space. Both ships were equipped with four torpedo tubes. They were also stocked with three-reality torpedoes, as well as rounds for their normal combat guns and missile tubes.

There were two research vessels: the ASRS Washington DC and the ASRS Moscow. These were attached to the fleet to help with the study of the leviathans, and anomalies. They were minimally armed and armored.

There were five scout ships: The ANS Hoary, the ANS Timeworn, the ANS Longstanding, the ANS Ancient and the ANS Longtooth. Their twenty-man crews were trained to be observant. These would scout other systems near the fleet.

The only other ship was an all-new design.

During the endless meetings after the Traian home world fiasco, the use of one-man fighter craft had been discussed. The Astosian tactics had proved to be amazingly successful.

Prior to this all carrier ships had carried smaller craft. The smallest had been gunboats, with a crew of five. These ships had no quarters or galley facilities, so they needed a carrier to transport them from one place to another.

This new ship, the ANS Russia, was a new breed of carrier. It had four great arms that extended out to the sides. These were docking points for the scout ships. One more scout ship could dock just below the front of the craft. Inside the carrier were two thousand, one-man fighter craft, and pilots for them all.

Each fighter had an individual launch tube and all two thousand fighters could launch in less than ten seconds. It took a lot longer to use the slide capture system to land them all on the upper deck, and place them back into the launch tubes.

The carrier still had its compliment of gunboats and small crew craft as well.

The Lewis and Clark made the eleventh ship in this fleet. She was the flagship of alliance diplomacy. Johnny found it a little odd, the flagship was owned by ITCI and the others by the Navy.

Johnny looked away from the fleet as it maneuvered into formation. They would be teleporting the fleet to start the mission soon.

As he looked at Sonja, his visions came to the front of his mind. He hated the flashes of the future he saw lately.

Johnny shivered as his inner vision showed him a flash of a possible future. Sonja stood on a platform with a metal ring grafted to her head. A voice Johnny could not identify, was saying. Commander, Mother Anterior Sonja Jynnai Legassi-Wraith of 4 colors, you’ve been found guilty of treason against Earth.

Johnny shivered as the vision faded.

What’s wrong, my love? Sonja asked, as Silk stood and stretched her long back into an arch, raising her middle sets of legs into the air.

It has started. No matter what happens in the next few months, I will always love you.

Johnny, you’re scaring me. What’re you talking about? Sonja knew the tone in his voice. It was the withdrawn Johnny she had first met.

Within the month, the Earth Council will pass a psionic licensing act. All people of ability will be required to register their abilities and signature vibration with the government, Johnny said softly.

Is that a bad thing? Sonja asked.

No worse than you being required to register your fingerprints, so they can check to see if you have ever committed an unsolved crime. It is not a problem, as long as every human registers their DNA in a government database, so they can solve more crimes by not needing a warrant to check your DNA.

But we aren’t required to do those things.

Johnny sighed. That is my point. They do not have the right to compare everyone’s DNA against every crime, but they will be able to check every psionic’s signature against every crime. It is a violation of their basic rights, but something will cause them to pass the law.

That’s terrible. How do you know they’ll pass the law? Sonja was worried now. She would be caught in the middle. As a naval officer, she would be required to uphold the law. As a psionic, she could not obey it.

Johnny closed his eyes and the hole in his vision was still sitting there. He could see her being arrested and the aftermath of his anger.

They still can’t require people who don’t live on Earth to register. Their laws can’t extend that far, Sonja said, trying to calm her own fears.

Johnny nodded and again looked at the haunted look in his reflection’s eyes.

Commander Wraith, Commander Legassi-Wraith, you’re needed in the situation room, the intercom announced in the ITCI section.

We are on our way, Commander Johnathan Wraith called back, as he depressed the talk button with his mind. He then extended his arm for Sonja. He needed her to know how much he loved her. It was the only thing that gave them a chance.

He hated the future, foreseen glimpses. He hoped his love was strong enough to stop her from siding against him and his family. There were so many paths that navigating them would be nearly impossible.

His reads on the future were so incomplete. He knew the glimpses could be years in the future, but he did not know when.

After the Andromeda mission, the Navy had discovered that among the Tnadkians, the mated pair held the same rank in the eyes of their society. They spoke as one voice. This led them to realize they were sexually discriminating against the male Tnadkians. They usually accepted the Navy application from the female, and the male just seemed to be along for the ride. This could not have been more wrong.

Somehow the male and female were both involved in the decision-making process and as such, were actually a single unit. The male was the arm of battle and the female was the arm of strategy. This led to a massive shift in thoughts for the Navy. The Tnadkians were now inducted as pairs, and the male and female shared the same rank. Their caste rank was added to their military rank. In the case of Ssonssiss and Isstissi; her caste was Sstazgill, and his caste was Zussiliss. Sstazgill was a female title meaning great director, while Zussiliss was a male title meaning martial master.

This also extended to the Chansim. Their social titles and colors became part of their rank.

Because many humans and Tnadkians had won status among the Chansim, the titles were also extended to them. By protocol, for Navy purposes, a person’s rank was spoken as Navy rank, social titles in order of importance, name, and number of colors. Because this got very lengthy at times, their full title was usually only used during ceremonial events. Under day-to-day communications and work, only the Navy rank was spoken.

Sonja and Johnny walked to the front of the ship and knocked on the door to the situation room. This was being used as the fleet command room. Rear Admiral Lower Half Edward Featherby Potter of four colors was in charge of the human contingent. Rear Admiral Lower Half, Mother Superior Targaszk of twenty-eight colors was in charge of the Chansim contingent. Rear Admiral Lower Half, Sstazgill, Ssonssiss Ssupississ of four colors and her mate Rear Admiral Lower Half, Zussiliss Isstissi Ssupississ of four colors were in charge of the Tnadkians with the fleet.

These four people and several other commanders and captains were in the room with a group of reporters

Admiral Potter nodded. Thank you for joining us, commanders. He then turned to address the whole group. Today we launch on our new mission. We’re under orders not to hide anything from the reporters with the fleet. He focused on Commander Wraith. That means you’ll have to allow them access to the ITCI section as well.

He gave a moment, expecting Johnny to explode. He smiled when the young man held his tongue. However, they’re under orders not to interfere. If they cause problems, report it to Commander Dickerson. She’s our press liaison for the mission.

A woman with the look of a hardened warrior raised her hand to be acknowledged.

Admiral Potter nodded. She has the authority to relieve any reporter of their status cards.

Several of the reporters in the room chuckled nervously.

Admiral Potter continued. The fleet will teleport to the starting point and we’ll be underway in three hours. Let’s use the time to button up our coats and lock all our lockers. I want this mission to be completely emergency-free.

Admiral Potter then nodded to Admiral Targaszk and sat down.

Admiral Targaszk rose to her feet and began to speak. To te Chansim people on tis mission, I say. Tis is the purpose of our lives and tribe. We are explorers first and foremost. Tere is an old Chansim saying, ‘Azzisk tasi liszk miszki drupszk Siszkiszkzis’. ‘Only te brave find te pat’. I call on my people to be brave and travel beyond te realm of our knowledge.

As she sat down, the mated Tnadkian pair stood. The female of the pair, Admiral Ssonssiss, spoke as her giant mate, Admiral Isstissi, towered behind her. We have the opportunity to look toward our future again. With the help of the alliansse, our home will onsse again flourissh. It will sstand ass a new world full of the promisse of paradisse. They require nothing of uss to repay their help, but we undersstand the honor of warriorss. No debt can be allowed to sstand. Our friendss and alliess have given of themsselves, now we musst give of oursselves. We will defend them to the end of our livess and beyond.

Admiral Ssonssiss sat down, while Admiral Isstissi remained standing. Johnny had not expected that particular speech, but it did make sense for their race. They were not unjust or cruel, but their highest art form was combat.

***

After the meeting, Johnny and Sonja returned to the ITCI section. The door opened to reveal a reporter asking questions of the crew. It took an effort for Johnny to swallow his anger. He did not have a good track record with the press.

Good afternoon, Commander Wraith, Commander Legassi-Wraith. I hope you’re both doing well, The reporter said as he shut off his recorder and stuck it into his pocket. If I get in the way, just let me know. Is there any chance I can conduct an interview with you both at some time in the future?

The first word to try to come out of Johnny’s mouth was a denial. The look on Sonja’s face stopped him though. Her smile gave him the courage to say the words he never thought he would say to a reporter. Yes, I think we can arrange that. We are going to be busy preparing for the fleet teleport in forty-five minutes. Feel free to observe from behind the safety barricades.

As Johnny spoke a cargo pod arrived to settle into one of the cradles.

Johnny heard the reporter ask one of the ground crew, If Commander Wraith is out here, who teleported that in?

He did, the worker said, as he grabbed his hatch wrench to open the pod and check the contents.

Johnny and Sonja stepped into the dome and started their checks. Tracy and Chantilly both came in a few moments later and started their checks.

Johnny had problems with Tracy during the Andromeda mission. After he had come down on her, she had shaped up. She had turned into a fantastic Scheduler, and had even formed an attachment for a member of the ground crew. They were sharing a cabin now.

The generators are reporting perfect numbers, Sonja reported.

Tracy added her report. All shipments are verified and accounted for. We’re clear for teleport.

Chanty followed with, Communications is on the ball and all messages have been delivered.

Johnny reached out with his mind and gathered them into a meld. He also gathered the psionic members of his ground crew. "Lieutenant Cartland, report status."

"All pods have been verified as captured and locked. The three hazardous cargo labs are completely decontaminated and ready," Nicolas replied.

Johnny contacted the bridge TICT. "Admirals, the ITCI section is secured, and standing by for teleport."

Thank you, Commander Wraith. The fleet is readying for the ‘portation. We’ll give you the word when preparations are complete, Admiral Potter replied.

They waited as the ships gathered themselves for the teleport. The scouts docked with the carrier and the fleet pulled into a tighter formation. Now they just had to wait for the ship’s crews to go through their checks.

***

Patricia was in one of the park domes. Her day began at six AM, five days a week. She would leave her apartment, and get breakfast at the ITCI kitchen. She had to admit the food here was incredible. They used only fresh natural foods.

Next, she would attend a two-hour class on psionic etiquette. The class began at seven AM, and the instructor was a nice older woman whom Patricia just adored.

She would then do four hours of community service. This was at this time assigned by Sasha. She had been told once she knew the station better, she would be able to pick her own community service tasks. That gave her a little bit of something to look forward to.

After morning work, she would have lunch at the kitchen.

Next, she would attend her afternoon class on ethics. This two-hour class was the one she was having trouble with. Her instructor, a middle-aged man with a huge bushy mustache, would tell her a story. Then, he would ask her what was unethical about the way the main character acted. This was where she had problems. Sometimes the character had not acted unethically. This caused her to stumble as she looked for something wrong with their actions.

She would then start her afternoon task. This was usually something along the lines of helping the kitchen prepare the evening meal. This had a wonderful side effect. Patricia was learning to cook.

Today, she had been assigned to pick up trash as her morning task. Even in a space station, bits and pieces would get dropped and needed to be taken to the recyclers.

She had a canvas bag and a stick with a spike on the end of it. She loved this particular community service. Picking up trash was a little low on the totem pole, but she was among the trees. She would often stop to touch the trees and feel their bark.

She had never seen a tree in her life, until her second day here. Now she knew she could come see them just about any time. Sasha only required her confined to her quarters at night. During day shift hours, when she had free time, she was free to move about the