The Lost Destroyer (Lost Starship Series Book 3) by Vaughn Heppner Read Free Book Online Page A

three considerations hindering me from doing exactly that,” Maddox said. “One, the professor is unbelievably sly. He tricked the New Men. It’s more than conceivable he can trick me. Two is the stakes involved—control of Victory . This is a reckless place to practice the questioning, especially as he’s already sealed away.” Maddox had given Galyan orders to stay out of the professor’s room. “No. I’m thinking of putting the professor in stasis and—”
    “Negative,” Galyan said.
    Both men stared at the holoimage before exchanging glances with each other.
    “Could you expand on your comment?” Maddox asked Galyan.
    “I cannot allow you to place the professor in stasis,” the holoimage said.
    “Do you have a reason?” Maddox asked.
    “Negative,” Galyan said.
    “That’s illogical,” Maddox said. “The law of cause and effect dictates you must have a reason for saying what you did.”
    “Nevertheless—”
    “Let me rephrase the question,” Maddox said. Speaking with the ancient AI could be challenging at times. “What compelled you to say what you just did?”
    “I do not know,” Galyan admitted.
    “Do you plan on freeing the professor or speaking with him?”
    “Negative.”
    “Will you head straight to Earth as I’ve ordered?”
    “That is affirmative, Captain. I am under your command.”
    “Just not if I attempt to put Ludendorff in stasis,” Maddox said.
    “That is correct.”
    Maddox eyed the holoimage, finally motioning Riker. The two of them walked away from Galyan.
    “What do you make of that, sir?” Riker whispered.
    “Dana guessed it. The professor did something underhanded while ridding the AI of the Swarm virus.” Maddox spoke louder. “Galyan, can you pinpoint the moment the professor instructed you to shift your star drive jump so we appeared where we first did in this system?”
    “I do not understand the query,” Galyan said.
    “How did we arrive by the magnetic storm when we did? It wasn’t a coincidence. Do you recall the professor making any adjustments to the flight path?”
    “Negative.”
    Maddox considered that. He whispered to Riker, “It appears Ludendorff can control Galyan in a way that’s beneath the AI’s perception.”
    “What are we going to do about it, sir?”
    Maddox considered the question. Once more, he raised his voice. “Galyan, will you keep Ludendorff and his people locked in their quarters for the remainder of the voyage?”
    “Affirmative.”
    Maddox leaned near Riker, whispering, “We’re going to get home to Earth as fast as possible to report on the victories in the Tannish and Markus Systems and also tell Intelligence about the ghostly vessel. Then, we’ll get ready for the next battle against the New Men.”
    “What about the professor?” Riker whispered.
    “He’s locked away from harm. I’ll let Star Watch decide his punishment.”
     

-6-
     
    Over one hundred and fifty light years away from Maddox, Commander Kris Guderian of the Star Watch Frigate Osprey exited a Laumer-Point into the New Arabia System.
    The bridge crew and the frigate’s computers were presently in the grip of Jump Lag.
    The system had a G class star with five planets and millions of comets in the outer region. In the inner area were two Earthlike worlds in nearly identical orbits. The farther planet in relation to the star was named Al Salam, the closer world was Riyadh. They were the twin home worlds of the Wahhabi Caliphate.
    Osprey was a Patrol vessel, part of the scouting arm of Star Watch. Normally, Patrol craft went into the Beyond, surveying new star systems. Her crew was composed of hardened explorers and scientists accustomed to spending years at a time away from port.
    Commander Guderian had been with the Fifth Fleet under Admiral Fletcher. Almost nine months ago, she had first brought the admiral word of the approaching New Men. The attacking star cruisers had brought about the ill-fated Battle of Caria 323. Osprey had fled with