Johnny: Book 3 of the ROE Chronicles

Book III of the ROE chronicles

By Sean M. Campbell

Copyright © Sean M. Campbell 2016

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 kid sister. She who I terrified of the Whistling Wiggies. An older brother has done his duty, when he has instilled a lifelong fear in his kid sister. Love Ya, Pooh.

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’. Therefor 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. Yes, it is a nitpick, but I wanted to clear it up since several of my Review Crew decided it should be corrected throughout the book. If more than half of the crew is confused -- well, I must not be doing my job properly.

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

What has gone before.

The three races of the alliance are; Humans, Chansim, and Tnadkians. The alliance formed in the ashes of the first battle of the Leviathans. Sasha Malenkov and Victor Tepes had been the heroes of that battle.

Unfortunately, they were too late to save the home world of the Tnadkian people. It lay in ashes and ruin.

The Tnadkians are a proud race and they chose to remain and rebuild their ruined planet, with the help of the alliance.

The human race now consisted of twenty-one colonial worlds, with their moons, plus several of the planets around the Earth’s sun, Sol. The Sasha Malenkov Station is a colony in this group, bringing the total to twenty-two Interstellar Teleport and Communications Incorporated (ITCI) stations and fourteen of the new substations.

A substation is a facility on a moon or other body in the system. ITCI needs an R-1 ranked teleporter to run these. The problem is, an R-1 is almost as rare as an R-0E. There are now eight adult ROEs, counting the adult children of Sasha and Robert. Fortunately, there were now forty-three R-1s and almost three hundred R-2s working for ITCI. With their help, the ROEs are still managing.

The new T-10 ESPI-generators made it all possible. Without them, the ROEs could not handle the traffic; because the R-1s could not reach the nearest colony.

However, traffic is still increasing at an incredible rate.

The Chansim Federation consists of six planets and their associated moons. The Chansim tend to hunt for planets with multiple moons to colonize. As of the start of this chapter in the ROE chronicles, one station exists on the Chansim home world of Chasma. The Chansim however, have asked for stations to be built on all their colonial worlds.

The Tnadkian home planet was devastated by the attack of the Dagannian leviathans. The atmosphere is filled with dust so thick the sun barely reaches the surface. This dust was caused by the discharge of a Dagannian primary weapon into the surface of the planet.

The alliance has been helping the Tnadkian survivors continue to survive through supplies and technological help and due to a discovery made by Katy, they are able to help filter the atmosphere. It is estimated the surface of the planet will remain cold and barren for at least another thirty years. There is now a station on Tnadka.

Then there are the Catapedes. These pets have proven to be highly intelligent and fiercely loyal. It has also been hinted at, they may be just a little more than an eight legged cat.

***

This chapter in the ROE Chronicles opens up a year and a half after the epilogue of the second book. ITCI has matured into a formidable business with a formidable CEO – Sasha Malenkov-Wraith.

Johnathan Gregor Wraith, or Johnny to those who know him, the oldest natural son of Sasha and Robert Wraith, is preparing for his voyage into the unknown between galaxies.

Prologue

Johnny sat at the table and listened to the Deep Ranger project construction lead, drone on about all the problems they had run into. It seemed to him the man was not an electrical engineer, he had to be a justification engineer. He could design excuses better than anyone, Johnny had ever seen.

The program had run into delay after delay, and was running way over budget. The Councils had started to shut the project down due to overruns, when an anonymous donor had footed the one hundred sixty-five billion credit costs and put the project back in operation.

Mister Siebil, when is the new estimate of completion for the operations room? Johnny asked, trying to shortcut all the excuses and get to the reason for the meeting.

This will set us back another six months. The wiring for the generators is going to have to be replaced completely. The night shift crew drew the wrong gauge wire out of supply and no one noticed until yesterday. The walls will have to be torn out of the equipment room and the wiring will have to be redone.

A simple question and he still managed to slide an excuse in there. The man looked like a rat. That was the only way to describe him. He was thin, wiry, and had a nose that could have been used to steer an ancient sailing vessel. His eyes were tiny and close set and his ears looked like wings on the side of his head. Johnny had been listening to his excuses for almost two years now.

Can this be sped up at all? Rear Admiral Lower Half Stephen Jeffan asked. He was the naval point of contact for the project.

I am afraid the work is going to be exhaustive, Mr. Siebil answered.

You may be excused, mister Siebil, The admiral said stiffly and waited for him to leave the room. So what do we do now? The council is not going to accept another six month delay.

I tink we are going to have to face te fact, our esteemed Mister Siebil is delaying te project on purpose. Te more he overruns te cost, te more money his company makes. Siksziner said quietly. She was the representative of the Great Mother of the Chansim. Her brightly painted carapace had twenty-seven colors and Johnny fully understood what the three primaries; red, yellow, and blue, meant, she had performed heroic acts. Her eyestalks were bowed low, as she thought about the project and its imminent failure.

Johnny knew this was the time to bring up his solution. We could contract ITCI to build the operations room. Let’s face it, they have more experience at building them, than anyone.

Thiss cannot be ussed ass a ssolution. If the project ussess any ITCI fundss or sservissess it will be in violation of the fair bussinessss act. The Tnadkian ambassador said softly. Her sibilant voice whispering across the table.

Behind her stood her mate, his massive body blotting out most of the window behind him. His golden yellow eyes with their W shaped pupils watching every movement in the room.

What if someone were to anonymously donate the work? The project would not have to pay for it, Johnny asked quietly.

The admiral turned to look at this young man. He knew without a doubt who had donated the money to revive the project. There was only one family who had the financial backing, to donate that kind of money. Johnny, your family has dropped enough money on this project. We couldn’t ask this of them. I think it may be time to let it go. The councils are not going to keep funneling money into contractor pockets and getting nothing in return.

They do not need to ask, A soft female voice said from the shadows at the end of the room.

The male Tnadkian spun and brought his hands up in a defensive posture while the female moved her chair away from the source of the voice. The Chansim’s eyestalks stood straight up in surprise. The Admiral nearly jumped out of his skin, and the council representative turned his head so fast, it looked like it was on a swivel. Johnny was the only one in the room who was not startled.

Moter Superior, we were not aware you were in te room, Siksziner said, her surprise evident by the squeak in her voice.

Sasha stepped out of the shadows with her husband on her arm. ITCI will take over the financial burden of building the ship. However, if we do this, we have complete contactor control.

The council will never agree to that. The council representative, Davin Quatar, said softly.

Mister Quatar, the council will agree, because, if they don’t, then we will build the ship ourselves, and cut them out of the project completely. It will become a purely private venture, Robert said softly, making the admiral at the table chuckle.

If that is settled will you kindly invite Mister Siebil to come back into the room? Sasha said, as she sat in one of the empty chairs around the table.

When Gary Siebil stepped back in the room Sasha spoke in a calm measured voice. Mister Siebil, your company has three days to get the construction of the ship back on schedule or your contract is null and void. The mistake made in the wiring was an error on your company’s part and you are financially responsible for it.

Who are you and what right do you have to tell me how to do my job? Gary Siebil knew how to handle upstart government bureaucrats.

You may have heard of me before. I am Sasha Malenkov-Wraith, and my engineering staff is dying to design a new spaceship for the Navy. I am sure they could have it built well within the six months you are estimating to get this ship back on schedule. On second thought Mister Siebil. I do not like your attitude. Have your crew off the shipyard premises by close of business today. My staff will be handling the project from now on.

"But…

This is not negotiable. You had a contract to finish the work on this ship within one year. We are now closing in on the end of the third year and the ship is less than half finished. My staff assures me they can have the ship stripped apart and rebuilt within two months. This conversation is over, please leave.

As Sasha finished speaking the Male Tnadkian seemed to swell. His three and a third meters of height, towered over Gary like a mountain.

You have not heard the last of this.

Sasha arched an eyebrow and smiled. Since you feel you have the right to threaten me, you can inform your corporation their shipping contract with ITCI will not be renewed next month. They will have to find another way to get their products shipped to the colonies.

I… I… I…

Goodbye Mister Siebil.

When Gary left the room, Admiral Jeffan spoke into the silence. You do realize they will file a suit against the council for allowing this?

Sasha put her hand out in front of her and smiled. A file folder appeared in her hand. If they try, just show them this. It is documents proving intentional delays to raise costs, illegal use of government funds, and graft. Their entire board of directors would be spending time in prison, if these documents hit the courts.

Sasha stood up and walked back to take Robert’s arm again. One other thing, you might want to start selecting your crew. The ship will be making her maiden voyage in about three months.

Once she was gone, the council representative let out his breath explosively. That woman has a very commanding presence. How did she get into the room without any of us seeing her?

Johnny shrugged. He knew she had been in the room the whole time. She had been using her empathic broadcasting to encourage people not to notice her. It was not a violation of the privacy rules they so strictly followed, because she had not read any of their thoughts. It wasn’t really mind control either. Any one of the people in the room could have turned and noticed her. They were just encouraged to keep their minds on the meeting and not the couple standing in the shadows.

The admiral turned to face Johnny. She wouldn’t really leave them without shipping would she?

Johnny shook his head. We take our family obligations very seriously. She will make his company sweat a little though.

Chapter One – Sonja

Johnny looked at himself in the mirror. His suit looked sharp, with the creases perfectly in line down his legs. His hair was freshly trimmed and his face clean shaven. His nimble fingers were tying the knot in his tie as he gave himself one last look over.

His brown eyes and chiseled features had turned quite a few female heads. His daily workout routine had kept him in peak physical shape.

He was ready for his date.

Tonight he was taking his girlfriend to an exclusive restaurant in the coastal colony shopping dome. They had been dating for two weeks now and tonight he would lay it all on the line. Tonight he would tell her who he really is.

Johnny glanced at his Catapede, Cerberus, lying on his dresser. I am pretty sharp looking, even if I do say so myself. So what do you think?

Cerberus looked away and made a loud wet raspberry sound.

Nice. I guess you wouldn’t know a sharp dressed man, if he snuck up and fed you.

Cerberus made a hacking sound like he was about to cough up a fur ball.

Yeah. Yeah. Clothing is a waste of time, we humans just want to get somewhere private and take it all off anyway. But we get into trouble, if we run around in public without it.

The catapede made a chuckling sound, then meowed out a questioning sound.

Late tonight. Dianna is handling on-call duty.

Johnny bent down and placed his face right in front of Cerberus’ face. You, be good tonight, and don’t be singing on the balcony again.

Loud raspberry sound.

I know. Everyone is a music critic. Johnny laughed, as he grabbed the bouquet of flowers and headed out the door.

Johnny was only three steps down the hallway when he teleported himself to Trishia’s residence dome. He arrived near the tram station. He couldn’t teleport directly to her house. Not yet. Maybe for their next date, he could teleport them someplace special. She would know who he is by then.

He was feeling on top of the world. This girl was spectacular. She was good looking, intelligent, had a wonderful personality and did not seem to be money hungry.

He caught an air-cab and directed the automated system to her address. The few minutes it took to get there passed quickly.

When the cab landed in the street in front of her parent’s house, he slid his card through the pay slot and told the cab to wait.

He climbed out of the cab and double checked his appearance. Then he walked to her door and knocked politely.

Trishia’s father answered the door. Good evening Johnny. Trish will be down in just a minute. You know how women are. Why don’t you come in and sit down?

Johnny smiled, as he entered the house. She is worth waiting for Mister Sampson.

Son, you will do well with my daughter, as long as you keep that attitude. Where were you planning on going tonight?

We have reservations at Barillio’s at eighteen hundred hours. Then I was thinking about taking her to the Zero-G dance club.

Are you sure you can afford that, son? I know Barillios’ is expensive and to get short notice reservations costs an arm and a leg. You don’t want to put yourself in debt trying to impress her.

I have it covered, sir. As Johnny answered, movement on the stairs caught his eye. He turned to see Trishia, standing on the bottom step. She was wearing a simple flower print, country cut, short dress with her light blond hair spilling down her back in a wavy mane. Her bright blue eyes were traps a man could lose his soul in, and her smile could capture a man’s heart, with unbreakable chains.

Johnny stood up, as she entered the room. He had been taught his manners, a gentleman should stand, when a lady enters the room. You look stunningly beautiful, Trishia.

Trishia’s mother came down the stairs, as they exchanged greetings. Johnny, you make sure she stays safe tonight, you both stay out of the miner’s quarter.

Johnny looked at her mother in shock. Ma’am, I would not take a lady anywhere near those domes.

Missus Sampson started laughing. You take everything entirely too seriously, Johnny. Lighten up a bit. Sometimes I wonder just what you do for a living that makes you so serious.

I…

You will tell us when you’re ready. Just don’t wait too long. Now, you two get along, or you’re going to go bankrupt paying the taxi.

Trishia took his arm and Johnny’s so serious face took on a shy smile. They walked out arm in arm to the waiting cab.

***

They were sitting in the restaurant, waiting for their meal to arrive. Trishia, there is something I need to tell you. I have to tell you the truth about who I am, or I won’t feel right going any further.

Trishia smiled her heart trapping smile. I know who you are, Johnny. I figured it out on our third date.

You know, and you never told me?

Johnny, I know how hard it must be for you at times. I understand that trusting someone comes a little slowly.

How did you figure it out?

When you pay for things, you are careful to cover your ID, so no one can see your name, but your ID was issued at the Sasha Malenkov Station. There are few enough of those around, as it is. Add that on top of the news dispatches about ‘Station Master Johnathan Wraith’ and it doesn’t take a genius to add two and two. Johnny we are just dating and having fun. You didn’t need to hide from me.

I am sorry. I… Every time I have dated someone they act differently, when they find out who I am. They are either afraid of me or credit symbols appear in their eyes and they start talking marriage before we even know each other. Johnny said softly."

Is it really that rough? I would’ve thought spotting the gold diggers would be easy. Trishia reached over and took Johnny’s hand in hers.

There are times when they treat me like a monster. Others fall down and act like I am some kind of idol. I just want to be Johnny. I haven’t done anything special. Johnny felt a little hurt when she gave a light laugh.

Johnny, I know you don’t want to be treated special, but you have done wonderful things. I read about the battle of the nine leviathans. I know about the rebuilding of the Mine Rim domes. You will just have to live with being a special person.

The dinner arrived and the conversation was sidetracked to other subjects. They had both ordered steaks and the chef had prepared them perfectly. They were finishing up the meal when Johnny mentioned his upcoming trip.

I am going to be stationed on an exploratory ship for a while. I am allowed to take a companion with me. Please tell me you will go with me.

Trishia’s smile brightened. A trip? Where would we be going? How long would we be gone?

I can’t say where we are going, it is classified. The mission duration is scheduled for ten years.

The smile fell off of Trishia’s face suddenly. Ten years? Johnny that is not a trip. That is a deep exploration mission. There was a pause before she said her next words. Oh God! I am so sorry Johnny. I didn’t realize you. Tears started to roll down her cheeks.

What is wrong, Trish? Tell me, please.

I didn’t realize you were getting serious about us. I am not looking to settle down yet. I am just dating for the fun of… Trishia quit talking when she saw the pain in Johnny’s eyes. Johnny, I am so sorry.

It’s fine, Trish. I just thought we got along so well and you knew who I… Johnny quit talking. This was another one that would end badly. Johnny pushed the pain down, as he had so many times before. I still have us a booth reserved at the Zero-G Club and we have a lot of dancing to do tonight.

***

Johnny paid the cab at Trishia’s home and walked her to the door. When she turned to face him she saw the cab pull away from the walk. Johnny your cab…

I won’t need it, Trish. The pain was back in his eyes.

Trish had thought he had shaken it off during the night. He had been the perfect date. Fun loving and they had danced until they were tired. Johnny…

Johnny shook his head. Don’t. We both know where you stand. Good night, Trishia.

Trishia felt a tear run down her cheek as he turned and walked back down the walkway. Then, in a flash of light, he was gone.

The door opened behind Trishia. Honey, how was your date?

Trishia turned and looked at her mom standing in the doorway. The tears were rolling freely down her face. I broke his heart, momma! I broke his heart!

What happened, baby?

***

Johnny appeared in the operations room of Tanishaw tower. He was thinking back on the parade of pretty faces, who had broken his heart. He thumbed on the lights and walked to the conforming chair.

He had no sooner sat back in the chair, when Cerberus jumped up and piled in his lap.

Johnny absently reached out and stroked the catapede and listened to the soothing sound of its growly-purr. The ring on his right hand flashed in the lights of the tower. He still wore his birthday gift from the Chansim Mother Superior Danit and The Great Mother Tahackana. It was the last gift he had received from his adopted Chansim grandmother. He had discovered the simple band of metal helped him concentrate and focus on a task. It had given him an almost unfair advantage over other engineers.

He absently stroked the catapede and watched the night crew shuffle the scheduled pods. He was just about to head to his apartment and try to get some sleep when his personal communications device beeped in his pocket.

He pulled it out and noticed it was Trishia’s number. He hit the voice only button and lay the little box on the table next to his chair.

Hi, Trish.

Johnny, it’s not Trish, it is her mother. Can you tell me what happen tonight? Trish has been crying since she got home and all I can get out of her is she broke your heart.

I asked her to travel with me as my companion on a very long trip. She let me know she was not as serious about us as I am.

Why is she so upset about it and you sound so calm?

I am accustomed to it, Missus Sampson. Being rejected is just part of my life. If you will excuse me, ma’am. I have a lot of pods to teleport tomorrow and really should get some sleep.

Johnny, why are you so accustomed to being rejected? What is going on? Who are you?

Ask your daughter, ma’am. She knows who I am. Good night, ma’am, and pleasant dreams.

Johnny tapped the top of the device and disconnected the call.

It was several hours before he rose from the chair and put on a pot of coffee for the crew, when they got there. He had a lot of work to do in about an hour.

Dianna arrived in the tower and found him sitting in his chair slowly petting Cerberus. You’re a little overdressed for work this morning. I gather your date went well last night. Dianna said, as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

No.

The lost tone in his voice sent a cold spike down Dianna’s spine. She quickly turned and looked at his eyes. All of the bright, happy, young man she knew, was gone from those lovely brown eyes. She sat her cup down and walked over to his chair. Then she hugged his head to her chest and held him with all the concern a mother can give another woman’s child. I am so sorry, Johnny. Would you like to talk about it?

Johnny shook his head. It won’t do any good. She knew who I am and she didn’t want to bow down or run away. Then I asked her to go with me and she told me she wasn’t in it for love.

All of Dianna’s carefully prepared pep talks ran out of her head and were lost. She could not tell him he would find a girl that wasn’t afraid of him and he could get past the gold diggers to find a true love. She couldn’t tell him once they knew him they would quit worshiping him. None of it fit. She had never even thought the girl would not love this young man. He was such a good and kind person.

She did the only thing she could. She held him and tried to comfort him.

Am I interrupting something? The female voice that drifted across the room was soft spoken but confident.

Dianna turned her head to see a young woman in a, navy white, dress uniform. Her red hair looked like a flare of sunlight and her eyes were as green as the spring grasses of Earth. If Dianna had to guess the woman was at the most twenty-four and she already had Lieutenant Commander’s insignia on her collar. No. Johnny just had a rough time last night. Dianna answered, giving Johnny time to wipe his eyes if he needed to. She hoped he needed to. "Please, let him release it this time," she sent in silent supplication, but when she stepped away the dry pain of his broken heart was still in his eyes.

Johnny placed Cerberus on his worktable, then stood up, straightening his jacket and tie. Good morning. I am Commander Wraith. May I help you Lieutenant Commander?

My name is Sonja Legassi, sir. I was told by Admiral Vanzant, that I was to report here and help one commander Wraith choose his team for a mission. I would be handling the military paperwork and scheduling the interviews for him.

Sonja was shocked when this young man stood up. She could not believe this was a Commander and her immediate superior, for the mission. He seemed so young and way too much of a pretty boy to be a commander. He must have something very special about him, if he had been put in charge of the ships teleportation and communications team. He was also out of uniform and showed no visible sign it bothered him to be caught in civilian clothes. Why would he be out of uniform while on duty at an ITCI station? Then there was the pain she could feel. Johnathan Wraith was a man with a broken heart. Her empathy felt it like an open wound.

Johnny did his best to put a smile on his face. I was not informed I would have an assistant for this part of my duties.

I was told I would have to pass muster first, Sir. She came forward and handed Johnny a file folder with her military service record in it.

Why don’t you two move to the conference room? Most of the workload is light for the first half of the day. Dianna told them, as she moved to her operations chair.

Johnny smiled to Dianna. Thank you. Let me know if anything comes up you need help with.

Dianna nodded, as Johnny guided Sonja out of the room. When she turned to take the reclining chair she saw Cerberus staring at his young friend’s back. What are we going to do with him? She asked softly.

The catapede made an odd harrumphing sound and then sighed.

He is trying to find a mate, he just seems to attract the wrong ones.

Cerberus made that odd growly-purr.

No, I do not think he should settle down with a nice catapede lass. He needs a human mate, just as you need a catapede mate. Diana climbed into the chair, as her furry herd of catapedes trotted into the operations room.

***

Johnny led the Lieutenant Commander to the conference room, three floors below the top. Then he motioned for her to make herself comfortable as he reviewed her file. He saw something that surprised him quite a bit. She was an R-1 telepath with R-8 teleport R-9 clairvoyance and R-10 empathy. She also had a very distinguished career. Johnny read through her long list of commendations and accomplishments. Have you ever worked with a teleport station before?

No, sir. I have merged with an ESPI-Field for communications purposes before.

That is good. The first time someone touches the field can be a bit unsettling. Will you have a problem working with a team of psionics, to maintain the duties of the operations room on the ship? Some of them may be civilian contractors.

I understand the joint nature of this mission even if I have not been told anything about the destination. I believe I will be able to work well with anyone.

Johnny stood up and walked to the window. He looked out over the Tarmac at the pods ready for shipment. This mission is going to last a long time. You may have to work for me without much chance of advancement for the entire duration. I can promise the work will be hard and you will be drained every night when you finally find your bunk. You will be awoken at odd hours for emergency shipments and communications. You will be expected to push your knowledge and skills to their limit and beyond on a regular basis. The work will be its own reward and recognitions will be far and few, but you will be making history. Your name will be on a list taught in school books a thousand years from now. People will claim to be related to you long after your family line is lost.

Sir, I couldn’t care less about fame or fortune. When my career is done, I want to look back and know I made a difference. I will go to my rest a happy person, if I know I accomplished something worthwhile.

Welcome aboard, Lieutenant Commander. I need to assemble an operations team for the ITCI facility on a long distance ship. We will go well beyond the range for generators to be much help and we will be expected to do our job to the best of our ability at all times. As we go through the candidates for the positions, we need to keep in mind, mental stability is as important as anything else.

Sir, if we are going so far beyond the reach of generators, we will need a ROE on this trip. I looked through all the files and there is no one even approaching those qualifications. Do you have the list of ROE candidates?

Johnny smiled at his reflection in the Dura-glass window. This is where he learned if he had made the right choice. We have a ROE for the team already. Mister Johnathan Gregor Wraith will be the main teleporter on the team.

Sir, I do not have a file for him. Do you have his file already?

Johnny was actually enjoying this. He was getting to reveal who he was without all the relationship worries. She had not even skipped a beat, when he told her there already was a ROE. I know more about Mister Wraith, than any file could tell you. He is eighteen years old, has sandy blond hair and brown eyes. He is an accomplished ROE teleport tech for ITCI and a direct descendant of Sasha Malenkov-Wraith. He took part in the battle of nine leviathans and won three colors from the Chansim for his actions in that engagement, as well as a special civilian commendation from the Navy and the Tnadkian Battle Cross from the people of Tnadka. He has worked closely with High Command and the councils to design the ship in which we will be traveling and is an accomplished engineer that came up with the new design of the colony domes.

Commander Wraith all this is very good, but we should have a file… Sonja’s words trailed off. When she had called him by his name again, something had clicked.

Johnny held his breath this is where he learned. Would she be a worshiper or a fearful person?

That was a cruel jest at my expense, sir. If I am to work with you, I must be kept informed of all the capabilities of the team.

Johnny’s smile fell off his face. This was not what he had expected. He had never had anyone react with an admonishment. He glanced at her reflection in the window and wondered about this woman. She was confident in herself. She was confident enough to… To what? She was actually slightly annoyed with him. She was sure enough with herself to get annoyed with him. I apologize, Lieutenant Commander, I thought they would have at least let you know who the team lead was.

I was unaware any member of the Wraith family, other than Admiral Wraith, was a member of the service. The Lieutenant Commander replied.

Technically I am a civilian contractor, however, I have attended basic training and graduated West Point Joint Officer Academy at Buenos Aires. You said you have previewed the files for the candidates. Tell me any of them you would not appoint to the team and why.

I have separated a group of people I have reservations about. These are their files and my notes.

As Johnny turned around a stack of files appeared on the table in a flash of light. He smiled. This girl was going to make a great Complex Director for the ship.

Johnny picked up the first file. It was for a young man, and there was a piece of paper with a handwritten note pinned to the front of the folder.

Candidate’s psych profile mentions a tendency toward anger. May be unsuitable for any long voyage.

Johnny turned to the psych profile and read through it. The mention of anger problems was a single line of information buried in the report. Johnny now had no doubt about her ability to review the candidates. He probably would not have found that buried in the file.

Johnny pulled the note off of the jacket and set the file to his left. Then he crumpled the note into a ball and tossed it in the air. At the top of its arc, he hit it with a puff of pyrokinetic heat and it vaporized like flash paper.

He picked up the second file and turned to her note.

The candidate has a bit of a wildcat streak in him. He has gone outside of orders in the past to accomplish his goal, not the goal of the mission.

This note also was gone in a flash, as he set the file on the left hand pile.

He was on the fifth file when he read the note that made him smile. It only had one word written in all capital letters and underlined.

SLUT

Johnny smiled and looked at Sonja. It is going to be a long voyage…

Sonja grimaced and pulled the