Read Galactic Alliance 3: Honor Thy Enemy for Free Online

civilian.”
    This was getting ugly fast. The room had gone quiet again and people were openly staring at them. Ken’s sudden outburst had given Doug a wealth of information. He was no psychologist but he had become very good at reading people and Doug was suddenly very worried about Ken’s mental stability. He needed something quick to bring Ken back to reality. He chewed on a piece of steak in silence examining the possibilities until an idea popped into his head.
    Casually, as if he was changing the subject, he said, “I wonder if engineering ever managed to get aux fusion reactor two back online. They were having some major issues with the primary converter.”
    Ken instinctively placed his hand flat on the table so he could feel the tiny vibrations that permeated through the ship’s frame. Each piece of equipment had its own distinctive vibration pattern. Experience had taught him how to interpret the harmonics of those vibrations allowing him to literally feel the pulse of the ship. Without any hesitation he replied, “I’m not familiar with this ship but I can tell you there are four aux reactors online right now.”
    Doug smacked his hand down on the table hard enough to rattle the silverware startling Stricklen. “That’s what I’m talking about! You have the instincts it takes to be a great Captain. You haven’t lost them Ken. The only thing you’ve lost is your confidence.”
    For a brief second Doug thought he had won. Something stirred within his friend and Ken’s face started to change but it was quickly replaced by a look of utter sadness. Ken’s head dropped. He seemed to concentrate all to much on the food in front of him. Ken, however, had stopped eating and now only pushed the salad around with his fork.
    After an uncomfortable silence, Doug heard Ken whisper, “I’ve lost a lot more than that.” Without another word, Ken got up from the table and walked out of the mess hall leaving his unfinished meal sitting on the table.
    Doug’s thoughts were filled with concern for Ken as he watched his ex commanding officer leave the room. It was quickly becoming apparent that Tasha’s death had put Ken into a deep state of depression and it was beginning to look as if he might not come out of it. Doug was wondering if he should recommend not allowing Ken to join the mission but decided that the message from the Kyrra would carry more weight than his own opinion.
    The Captain of the Meerkat, Captain Jeramey Jenkins, paid Ken a courtesy visit on the second day out but did not stay long. Immediately after the visit, J. J. (his preferred nickname) made a beeline to Scarboro’s quarters.
    “You have a major problem on your hands Commodore,” the Captain said as soon as Doug had opened the door.
    Captain Jenkins was an imposing figure. He had the darkest skin of any man Scarboro had ever met. He religiously spent two hours a day, every day, in the ship’s gym lifting weights. At 173 centimeters, he was not incredibly tall, but his 100 kilograms of hard muscle more than made up for it. He was naturally bald and he sported a thick black mustache under his wide nose.
    Doug motioned for the Captain to enter and replied, “I know… but I’m not sure how to snap him out of it. The loss of his wife hit him pretty hard.”
    “That was eighteen months ago,” J. J. said, shaking his head. “I’ve read his dossier and I’m glad I’m not in your shoes. If our rolls were reversed I would be having serious reservations about including him on the mission. Perhaps we should insist he talk to the ship’s councilor.
    Doug shook his head. “Not yet… Let me try talking to him first.”
    J. J. shrugged his shoulders. “It’s your call. Let me know if there’s anything I might be able to do.”
    Later that evening, Ken heard the door chime sound. He was in no mood for visitors so he ignored it and continued to stare out the fake porthole into the vastness of space. The chime was repeated multiple times then