Jasper T Scott [Scott - New Frontiers- The Complete Series

EXCELSIOR

(3rd Edition)

by Jasper T. Scott

www.JasperTscott.com

Copyright 2016 by Jasper T. Scott

THE AUTHOR RETAINS ALL RIGHTS
FOR THIS BOOK

Reproduction or transmission of this book, in whole or in part, by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or by any other means is strictly prohibited, except with prior written permission from the author. You may direct your inquiries to

Cover design by Tom Edwards TomEdwardsDesign.com

This book is a work of fiction. All names, places, and incidents described are products of the writers imagination and any resemblance to real people or life events is purely coincidental.

Acknowledgments

A big thank you to my wife for her support, and to my fans, who've read and reviewed my previous books. Thanks go out to my editor, Aaron Sikes, and to my volunteer editor, Dave Cantrell. Their feedback was crucial to polishing this book. Also special credit goes to William Schmidt for reading through an early draft at an inhumanly fast pace, and to Ian F. Jedlica (pen name, Dani J. Caile), who has eyes like an eagle when it comes to typos. Ohand the coverthat delicious piece of art is thanks to Tom Edwards. He took my concept and made it better than I had imagined. Really amazing work.

Finally, thank you to all of my beta readers who read and gave me feedback on the advance reader copy of this bookBetty Hoffner, Bill Gassoway, Bob Carciofini, Damon Trent, Daniel Eloff, Dave Topan, David Smith, Davis Shellabarger, Dwight Hall, Gage Linville, Gary Watts, Gregg, Gregor Hinckley, Henry Clerval, H. Huyler, Ian Seccombe, Iain Gold, Jay Gehringer, Jeff Moore, Jeff Morris, Jim Meinen, Jim Thrash, Joe Kane, John H. Kuhl, KB Jolley, Paul Burch, Rob Dobozy, Rose Getch, Tony Wilsenham, Wade Whitaker, and William Schmidtyour feedback was crucial to the final stages of editing. As always, I am in your debt.

Thank you, all of you!

Dedication

For my wife and all the other women who have shared Catalinas struggles. And for all the veterans and the soldiers on active duty who know what it is to leave loved ones behind to fight a war you hate for a country that you love.

Dramatis Personae

The Crew of the Lincoln

Bridge Crew (White Deck)

O-6 CAPT - Captain Alexander de Leon

O-5 CDR - Commander Sirena Korbin

Ship's Executive Officer (XO)/Mission Counselor/Medic

O-4 LCDR - Lieutenant Commander Eduardo Stone

Starfighter and Drone Command/Mission Geologist/Head of Security

O-3 LT - Lieutenant Rogelio Williams

Sensor Operator/Mission Meteorologist/Quartermaster

O-3 LT - Lieutenant Luis Hayes

Comms Operator/Mission Technical Specialist/Senior Information Systems Techician

O-3 LT - Lieutenant David Davorian

Helmsman/Mission Astrophysicist

O-3 LT - Lieutenant Guillermo Cardinal

Weapons Chief/Mission Botanist

O-2 LTJG - Junior Lieutenant Viviana McAdams

Chief Engineer/Mission Biologist

O-2 LTJG - Junior Lieutenant Sofia Vasquez

Other Crew

O-4 LCDR - Lieutenant Commander Dr. Diego Crespin

Head of Ship's Medical Corps (Blue Deck)/Mission Microbiologist and Pathologist

O-3 LT - Lieutenant Seth Ryder

CAG, Commander of the 61st Rapier Squadron

O-3 LT - Lieutenant Julio Fernandez

Executive Officer of the 61st Rapier Squadron

Enlisted

E-6 PO1 - Petty Officer First Class Pedro Suarez

E-5 PO2 - Petty Officer Second Class Carlos Ramos

Civilian

Ambassador Maximillian Carter

Mission First Contact Specialist/Mission Documentarian/Minister Plenipotentiary

Alliance Leaders

President Ryan Baker

O-11 FADM - Fleet Admiral John Wilson

O-9 VADM - Vice Admiral Gaulle

O-8 RADM - Rear Admiral Leona Flores

Confederate Leaders

Chancellor Wang Ping

Minister Wang Jun

Admiral Chiangul

Admiral Zhang

Civilian Characters on Earth

Catalina de Leon

David Porras

Dorian Porras

PART ONE: OPERATION ALICE

Such then is the human condition, that to wish greatness for one's country is to wish harm to one's neighbors.
Voltaire

CHAPTER 1

D ont go, Alex.

I dont have a choice, Caty. I go where they send me, remember? That was the deal. Move up North and pay for our upgrades with two terms of service.

But youre almost done! Ten years was the deal. They cant ask you to serve longer than that!

Were at war.

Its a cold war. No ones shooting at you up there.

Fleet Command doesnt see the difference.

It isnt fair. Caty wiped her eyes and shook her head. She looked away, out to Anchor Stations launch platform. Alexander followed her gaze. One of the climber cars sat waiting on the platform, big enough to be a skyscraper. Two more just like it could be seen rising one below the other on the opposite side of the elevator ribbon. The higher of the two was a mere glinting speck against the broad blue sky.

Alexander turned back to his wife. Her lower lip was trembling. As he watched, a tear ran down her cheek and landed on her lips. He leaned in and kissed it away.

Dont cry, he whispered.

How can you ask me not to cry? I dont even know when youre coming backor if.

Shhh. Alexander pressed his forehead against hers. I will come back. Do you hear me? I promise.

Dont make promises you cant keep, Alex.

I dont, Caty, you know that. I promised Id get us out of the South, and I did. Lifes better now.

No, its not. Not if I dont have you. It wasnt supposed to be like this. You signed up for the oceanic navy, then they transferred you to space, and now theyre sending you away indefinitely! They wont tell me how long youll be gone, or where youre going They tricked us, Alex! Theyre sending you because your service is almost up. They dont want to let you go.

Caty

We should have stayed in the South.

Alexander shook his head. No. Even if I dont come back, at least I was able to save you.

For what? So that Ill live long enough to die alone when World War III breaks out?

That wont happen. Neither the Alliance nor the Confederacy is that stupid. Its all just posturing. Alexander took a few steps forward and cupped Catys beautiful face in his hands. Listen to me. Time is nothing to us now. If anything weve got too much of it. If you can wait for me, Ill find you. The maximum period they can send me away for is another ten years. Thats how long I would have been on reserve.

Caty shook her head. Im only twenty-nine. Ten years is a third of my life! Thats not nothing.

Maybe not yet, but it will be.

You really think we can last that long without seeing each other? How do I know youll wait for me?

I can. I will. Ill message you every day. It might take a long time for the messages to reach you, but they will. Count on it.

Caty gave him a pleading look. What about children, Alex? We said wed have three. A girl and two boys. We even had names picked out!

None of that has changed! Its just delayed, and you dont have to worry about your biological clock anymore.

Thats not the point. I dont want you to leave me a widow, Alex!

He shook his head. I wont. He felt a knot forming in his throat, tied so tight he could barely speak. I love you, Caty.

Her face crumpled, and she broke down in tears. She rushed in for a hug and he held her, stroking her head, and offering more empty reassurances. Ten minutes went by like that and then came the final boarding call, booming out from the launch platform.

A pair of petty officers walked up to them, their spotless black uniforms shining indigo in the sun. One of them cleared his throat and stepped forward. He snapped to attention and saluted. Captain de Leon! By your leave, sir we are at T-minus thirty minutes and counting.

Alexander nodded and kissed his wife goodbye.