The Trials of Commander Lamarr

By A.H. French

For a shake down cruise that was to be ordinary, this cruise is anything but. Imagine his surprise when hearing a female computer voice. "What is going on here?" This ship has an organic brain in place of a positronic computer is the answer he gets. Things go down hill from there.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.H. French
• Release date: Dec 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463457634

A.H. French

I am originally from New York . After retiring in 1998 I took my dream girl and relocated to a town just outside of Nashville TN. After 20 years of retirement life was getting dull. Taking the advice of an English teacher I had in 1961, I thought I would try my hand at writing. If nothing else, it keeps me thinking. One of my daughters is an art teacher and a very good one. She offers advice and encouragement along with my wife Carolyn. Now that I've managed to get thruogh one book , I'm thinking of adding and making a series. Time to return to my outline book..

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The Trials of Commander Lamarr

By A.H.French

Published By A.H.French @ Smashwords

Copyright © 2019 A.H.French

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

CHARACTERS

Commander Lamarr, Deruvian hero

Melody, Robot? human form

Miranda, organic mind enmeshed in ship

Doctor Steely, helpful human doctor

George, stalker

Gladys, mixed up suicidal girl

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 The New Light Cruiser

CHAPTER 2 The Female Robot

CHAPTER 3 Field Testing

CHAPTER 4 Melody

CHAPTER 5 Miranda's Abilities

CHAPTER 6 Suicide

CHAPTER 7 Someone in Trouble

CHAPTER 8 Help Needed

CHAPTER 9 Trouble

CHAPTER 10 An Offer is Made

CHAPTER 11 More Trouble

CHAPTER 12 Choices

CHAPTER 13 Birthday Party

CHAPTER 14 Unknown Craft

CHAPTER 15 Callus Four

CHAPTER 16 Meet the Dolphin

CHAPTER 17 Undercurrent of Trouble

CHAPTER 18 Space Station 9

CHAPTER 19 Anger, Revenge

CHAPTER 20 S.O.S.

CHAPTER 21 Home, Deruvia

CHAPTER 22 Finishing the Circuit

CHAPTER 23 Close Call

CHAPTER24 Life, Death, Dr. Steely

CHAPTER 25 New Life

CHAPTER 26 Melody and the Robot

About the Author

Log of Commander Lamarr

Commander Lamarr

Beta ship 933- (300 yds axis/900 yds radius)

Shake down cruise

Light cruiser class

New offensive weapons

" defensive components

Procedure--- Check on reliability of new positronic brain. Lab scientists expect vast improvement over level 5 brain.

Brain not named yet.

Crew- Commander Lamarr, Brain, 300 stored robots. twenty cleaning robots

Living quarters -20 not counting Captain’s suite.

Library, Fitness room, Medical suite, Hologram room.

Added ten specialist robots to clean and repair ship and engines.

Results of testing will be transmitted every ten days.

Last minute addition to crew. Female, human, standard robot. *

* gift from psych team. Good luck!

History of Commander Lamarr:

Distinguished himself in the Tolamar wars. Though his fighter was partially disabled he managed to take out two of their heavy battle cruisers that were bombarding a dreadnought with engines off line. That gave them the time to restart and defeat the enemy at Hellis five. At the height of the war, as captain of a light cruiser, he managed to evade enemy ships and fire a planet killer drone that destroyed the moon that provided sixty percent of their ships and weapons. The enemy surrendered less than forty eight hours later. He was hailed as a hero and promoted to the rank of commander, the youngest commander ever, at the age of two hundred and seventeen. The supreme commander stated he was still wet behind the ears, then slapped him on the back and welcomed him into their ranks. Over the next few years, he proved he could handle most ships better than any pilots they had at the time. In simulations he was at the top of the list. Unknown to him, he was about to be given the severest test yet.

CHAPTER 1 The New Light Cruiser

When the new cruiser was fully functional He was chosen to take the helm and find out just how good it was. They never knew how happy he was to get back into space and away from crowds. He set a course for the Galactic rim to check out the arms and shields. While taking his time getting there, it gave him the opportunity to learn about the brain and its capabilities. Imagine his surprise at finding it was a female voice that answered him.

What is this all about? he asked. The answer he received back wanted to know the meaning of his question. There has never been a female voice in a positronic brain. Commander, there is no positronic brain on this vessel. In that case, what are you? I am a large organic brain that has had all the programs taught during my growth period. The scientific community wants to see if I fit into being part of this vessel. If I fail, a positronic brain will replace me. I don't suppose they named you. No, Commander, they left that up to you. How does Miranda sound to you? I don't know about the sound, but I like the name. Well, that takes care of that problem. He proceeded to have Miranda scan the vessel and see if there were any irregularities. Next, he needed to know her efficiency in handling the ship and weapons, also the defensive capabilities. When finished, she was to review her findings with him.

She immediately started giving the answers he asked for. After a few minutes, he raised his voice and said stop. It got really quiet for a minute, then he remarked that she had given an acceptable report. To which she answered, Thank you, Commander. From that moment on, he knew this shakedown cruise was going to be a challenge. For the next hour, he sat in the command chair and used the computer to check each level of the ship. Satisfied with what he saw, he turned it off. He was about to call for something to drink when a robot carried a tray in with a drink and a plate of food. Setting it down in front of him, the robot turned and exited the bridge. After Lamarr had finished, that voice asked if the meal was satisfactory. It was fine, he answered.

Seeing as the ship was acting as programmed, he left the bridge and went down to the observation deck. Shortly after sitting down and opening his personal log, another robot appeared with a snifter of Brandy. This was a drink he picked up on when he visited the planet the humans called Earth. On the star charts it was named Terra. He had had great vacations there. He would have to check and see if the clothes from that last trip were in his wardrobe. After making a few notes in his log, he set it aside and punched up some soft music. That and the Brandy really relaxed him. A soft female voice whispered, Is there anything else I can get you? Without thinking he answered, No thank you. Only after that, did he realize he had answered Miranda. About an hour later he rose and headed to his quarters. Thinking to himself he was behind in his workout ethic, he changed into a loose fitting exercise jumpsuit and headed for the hologram suite. Inside he punched the code for martial arts and