Galactic Alliance 3: Honor Thy Enemy Read Online Free PDF Page B

blackness of space.
    For several minutes Stricklen stood in silence, sipping the rum, and wondering what the hell he was doing back in space. As if on their own, his thoughts began to focus on his departed wife. Suddenly, he felt terribly alone and his stomach knotted up into a tight ball. It took a monumental effort and a healthy slug of rum to force the depression away. Shaking his head to clear it he returned to the terminal.
    “Computer, start training program.”
    Several hours later, the intercom emitted a tone. Ken reached over and flipped the acknowledge button down, “Stricklen.”
    “Care to join me in the ship’s galley for dinner?” Doug asked.
    Ken wasn’t really hungry but he was getting tired of sitting in front of the computer. For a moment he thought about declining the offer thinking he would much rather be alone but then thought better of it. “I’ll meet you there in fifteen minutes,” he replied.
    Fifteen minutes, later Captain Ken Stricklen, dressed in the unmistakable black uniform of the Alliance space force, entered the ship’s galley. He paused in the doorway and scanned the small room looking for Doug. The buzz of conversation dropped in volume. People had stopped talking and were looking in his direction.
    “You’re a bit of a celebrity,” Doug said from behind.
    Ken turned around and replied, “Celebrity? You’re kidding.”
    As the two officers made their way toward the food service area Doug replied, “The adventures of the Komodo Dragon following our discovery of the Kyrra time stasis device are now part of the historical curriculum at the academy. Whether you like it or not Ken, you’re part of history now.”
    A few minutes later the two old friends seated themselves at an unoccupied table. For awhile nothing was said as the two officers attended to their food. After about five minutes Doug could no longer stand the silence. Through a mouthful of steak he said, “I see the uniform fits you well. You do, however, look as nervous as a cat in a dog pound.”
    Ken swallowed his mouthful of salad and replied, “Nervous? What makes… ”
    “Fifteen years may have passed but I can still read your face pretty good. I know you’re nervous about the uniform. You keep looking down at it and adjusting the collar and you keep looking around to see who's staring at you. Things haven’t changed that much since you retired.”
    Ken stabbed his fork into his salad several times, held it up, and smiled, “The food’s gotten better.” After popping the food into his mouth he continued, “In all seriousness Doug, I was a bit nervous at first. But I’ve been doing some catching up and, from what I’ve seen so far, you’re right – not much has changed. What bothers me right now is the larger question of why I am even going on this mission?”
    Doug washed down a mouthful of potatoes with a gulp from his coffee then replied, “First and foremost, you are here because the Kyrra specifically requested your presence. Why they asked for you by name is something only they can explain. I would guess it’s because they are familiar with you, they know you are familiar with them, and they know you are familiar with the Chroniech.”
    “I don’t know Doug. It just doesn’t seem right. I’ve been out of the loop for fifteen years.” Ken put his fork down, slid his chair back, grabbed hold of his shirt, and acted like he was inspecting it. “This just doesn’t feel right. I’ve been retired for over fifteen years. I don’t have the right be wearing this uniform.”
    “Nonsense!” Scarboro shot back. “The space force would not have offered to reinstate your military rank if they didn’t think you deserved it.”
    “Bull shit!” Ken angrily replied, raising his voice and sliding his chair back to the table. “I’m wearing this uniform because the space force wanted to appease me. The only evidence of a Captain you see here is the uniform – the man it covers is a