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Excerpt from book 3 of the Henry Gallant Saga, Henry Gallant and the Warrior. Henry Gallant and the Warrior AMAZON Going Up 1 Lieutenant Henry Gallant plodded along the cobblestone streets of New Annapolis—head down, mind racing . . . My orders say take command of the Warrior immediately . . . but no promotion . . . Why not? He pondered the possibilities, but he already knew the answer. Though he had steely gray eyes, a square jaw, and was taller than nearly everyone around him, what distinguished him most was not visible to the naked eye—he was a Natural—born without genetic engineering. Is this my last chance to prove myself? By the time he reached the space elevator, the welcoming breeze of the clear brisk morning had brightened his mood and he fell into line behind the shipyard personnel without complaint. Looking up, he marveled: That cable climbs into the clouds like an Indian rope trick. When it was his turn at last, the guard scanned his comm pin against the access manifest. The portal light blinked red. “Pardon, sir. Access denied,” said the grim-faced sentry. “Call the officer of the guard,” demanded Gallant. The officer of the guard appeared but was no more inclined to pass Gallant through than the sentry was. The guard touched the interface panel and made several more entries, but the portal continued to blink red. “There’s a hold on your access, sir.” Trouble already? Gallant thought. Then he asked, “A hold?” “Yes, sir. Your clearance and authorization are in order, but SIA has placed a hold on your travel. They want you to report to SIA headquarters, A.S.A.P.” “I need to go to the shipyard and attend to important business before going to the Solar Intelligence Agency,” clarified Gallant, but even as he said it, he knew it wouldn’t help. “Sorry, sir. Orders.” Gallant noticed the four gold stripes of a captain’s sleeve. The officer was waiting to take the next elevator. “Captain?” he said, hailing the man before he recognized him. Captain Kenneth Caine of the Repulse marched to the guard post, frowning. “What can I do for you, Gallant?” Of all the luck, he thought. Caine was the last person he wanted to impose upon, but it was too late now. Several uncomfortable moments passed with the three of them standing there—Caine, Gallant, and the officer of the guard—staring at each other, waiting for someone to break the silence. Finally, Gallant addressed Caine: “Well, sir, I’ve received orders to take command of the Warrior, but apparently all the T’s haven’t been crossed and my shipyard access has a hold from SIA.” Caine’s frown deepened. Gallant turned to the officer of the guard and said, “Is it possible to allow me go to my ship and complete my business? I’ll report to SIA immediately afterward.” The officer of the guard fidgeted and squirmed. He understandably did not like being placed in such a position while under the scrutiny of a full captain. Caine shrugged. Gallant was puzzled for a moment, wondering how to win Caine’s support. He tried the officer of the guard again, “Perhaps, you could send a message to SIA headquarters stating that you informed me of my requirement to report and that I agreed to attend this afternoon after I assume command of my ship. I’ll initial it.” Caine nodded. The guard brightened visibly. “That should be acceptable, sir.” He made a few entries into his interface panel and the portal finally blinked green. Gallant stepped through the gate and joined Caine. Together they walked to the elevator doors and mingled with the group waiting for the next available car. “Thank you for your help, captain,” said Gallant. “I’m sorry to have troubled you.” Caine merely nodded. Unwilling to miss the opportunity to reconnect with his former commanding officer, Gallant asked, “How’ve you been, sir?” Caine’s frown returned. “Well, personally, it’s been quite a trial . . .” Gallant resisted the temptation to coax him onward. After a minute, Caine revealed, “I lost a lot of shipmates during the last action.” He sighed and took a moment to silently mourn their passing. “I’m sorry, sir,” said Gallant, who was sensitive to the prickling pain in Caine’s voice. Gallant then took a long look at the senior officer. He recalled a mental image of his former commanding officer—solidly built and squared shouldered with a crew-cut and a craggy face. In contrast, the man before him now was balding and flabby, with a puffy face and deep frown lines. “Humph,” grumbled Caine, recognizing Gallant’s critical stare. “You’ve changed too. You’re no longer the lanky callow midshipman who reported aboard the Repulse nearly five years ago.” “Thank you, sir,” said Gallant, breaking into an appreciative smile. Caine returned the smile and, warming to the conversation, he said, “We had a few good times back then—and a few victories as well—a good ship, a good crew.” A minute passed before Caine added, “As for the Repulse—she’s suffered along with her crew . . . perhaps more than her fair share. As you know, she’s has been in the forefront of battle since the beginning of the war, but when the Titans attacked Jupiter Station earlier this year, we took a terrible beating—along with the rest of the fleet.” Caine’s face went blank for a few seconds as he relived the event. “ The Titans used nuclear weapons to bombard the colonies. The loss of life was staggering. Jupiter’s moons are now lifeless, scorched rocks. The colonists fled on whatever transport they could find and they’re now in the refugee camp on the outskirts of this city,” said Caine. Then, trying to sound optimistic but unable to hide his concern, he added, “We gave the Titans some lumps as well. It’ll be some time before they can trouble us on this side of the asteroid belt.” “So I understand, sir.” SWOOSH! BAM! The elevator car doors opened with a loud bang. Caine stepped inside. Gallant grabbed the strap and buckled himself into the adjacent acceleration couch. A powerful engine pulled the glass-encased car along a ribbon cable anchored to the planet’s surface and extended to the Mars space station in geostationary orbit. A balance of forces kept the cable under tension while the elevator ascended—gravity at the lower end and the centripetal force of the station at the upper end. The tiny vehicle accelerated swiftly to seven g’s and reached orbit in less than ten minutes before braking to docking speed. Gallant enjoyed a spectacular view as the car sped through the clouds. Below him was the receding raw red and brown landscape of Mars spread over the planet’s curvature; above him was one of man’s most ambitious modern structures; —a space station, replete with a shipyard that housed the newest space vessels under construction including Gallant’s new command, the Warrior, as well as ships in need of repair, including the Repulse. Gallant tried to pick out his minute ship against the much larger battle cruisers nested near it, but the rotation of the station hid it from view. “Repulse is completing extensive repairs. She’ll be back in action before long. I have a fierce loyalty to my ship and I know she’ll acquit herself well, no matter what comes,” said Caine. “I’m sure she will, sir,” said Gallant. “I haven’t congratulated you on your first command, yet” Caine said, extending his hand. “You’ve earned it.” “Thank you, sir,” said Gallant, shaking hands, while a thought flashed through his mind, If I earned command, why wasn’t I promoted? “Do you have any idea of your first assignment, yet?” “No, sir. It could be almost anything,” said Gallant, but he was thinking, Probably involves the Warrior’s special capabilities. Caine said, “At least you’ll get a chance to strike the enemy.” Gallant said, “We still know so little about the aliens’ origins or intentions. Since they’ve taken Jupiter, they’ve expanded their bases from the satellites of the outer planets. They’ve also penetrated into the asteroids. That puts them in a position to launch raids here.” Caine said, “I once asked you, ‘What’s the single most important element in achieving victory in battle?’” “Yes, sir, and my answer is the same: surprise.” “Yes,” Caine said, “but to achieve surprise, it’s essential for us to gather more intelligence.” “I agree, sir.” “Tell me, Gallant,” Caine said, as he shifted position, “are you aware there are many people who hold you in contempt? They still doubt that a Natural can serve in the fleet.” Gallant grimaced. “I’ve always done my duty to the best of my ability, sir.” “And you have done admirably, from what I know of your actions, but that hasn’t fazed some. I’ve heard little about your last mission.” “I can’t discuss that mission, sir. It’s been classified as need-to-know under a special compartment classification,” said Gallant, as he thought, I wish I could tell you about the AI berserker machine. I can only imagine what’s in store for the Warrior. “Nevertheless, I’ve heard that Anton Neumann was much praised for that mission. He was promoted to full commander and given the cruiser Achilles, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if his father’s influence played a role in that.” Gallant said nothing, but stared down at his shoes, Neumann always wins. Caine grunted and then said, “Neither of us is in good standing with Anton’s father.” Caine and Gallant had previously run afoul of Gerome Neumann, President of NNR, Shipping and Mining Inc., and an industrial and government powerbroker. Gallant nodded. Upon arriving at the space station platform, the elevator car doors opened automatically and once again banged loudly. SWOOSH! BAM! A long, enclosed tunnel formed the central core of the station with twenty-four perpendicular arms that served as docking piers. The tunnel featured many windows and access ports to reach the twenty-four ships that extended from the docking arms. The two men chatted about the war news while they rode a tram along the tunnel causeway. Finally, Gallant left Caine at the Repulse and continued to his new command. A swarm of workmen buzzed along the Warrior’s scaffolding, cranes hauled machinery to and fro, and miscellaneous gear lay haphazardly about. An infinite amount of preparation was under way, servicing the ship in anticipation of her departure. Gallant gaped . . . There she is. He leaned forward to take in every line and aspect of the ship. Despite the distractions, he saw the ship as a thing of exquisite beauty. The Warrior featured a smooth rocket shaped hull and while she was smaller than her battle cruiser neighbors, she weighed thirty-thousand tons with an overall length of one hundred and twenty meters and a beam of forty meters. She was designed with stealth capability, so she emitted no detectable signals and remained invisible until her power supply required recharging. Her armament included a FASER cannon, several short-range plasma weapons, and several laser cannons. She was equipped with an armor belt and force shield plus electronic warfare decoys and sensors. The ship’s communications, navigation, FTL propulsion, and AI computer were all state-of-the-art. The crew of 126 officers and men, was highly trained and already on board. When the Warrior traveled through the unrelenting and unforgiving medium of space it would serve as the crew’s heartfelt home. The brief, relaxed sense of freedom that Gallant had enjoyed between deployments was coming to an end; his shoulders tightened in anticipation. He stepped onto the enclosed gangplank and saluted the flag that was displayed on the bow. Then he saluted the officer of the watch and asked, “Request permission to come aboard, sir?” “Permission granted, sir,” said Midshipman Gabriel in a gravelly voice that was totally at odds with his huge grin, dimpled cheeks, and boyish freckled face. Was I ever that young? thought Gallant before he recalled he was only a few years older. Boarding the ship, Gallant’s eyes widened as he sought to drink everything in. He was impressed by the innovative technologies that had been freshly installed. The novelty of his role on this ship was not lost on him. Upon reaching the bridge, he ordered Gabriel to use the ship’s intercom to call the crew to attention. “All officers, report to the bridge!” Gabriel ordered. When the officers had gathered around him a minute later, he said, “All hands, attention!” Drawn together on every deck, the crew stopped their work, came to attention, and listened. Gallant recited his orders, “Pursuant to fleet orders, I, Lieutenant Henry Gallant, assume command of the United Planet ship, Warrior, on this date at the Mars’ Space Station.” He continued reciting several more official paragraphs, but from that moment forward, the Warrior was a member of the United Planets’ fleet and Gallant was officially her commanding officer. With the formal requirements concluded, Gallant spoke over the address system: “At ease. Officers and crew of the Warrior, I’m proud to serve with you. I look forward to getting to know each one of you. For now, we must outfit this ship and prepare to do our job as part of the fleet. There are battles to be fought, a war to win, and the Warrior has a key role to play.” Satisfied with his brief statement, Gallant nodded to Gabriel. Over the address system Gabriel announced, “Attention! All hands dismissed! Return to your regular duties.” Gallant stood before the officers on the bridge, addressed each by name and shook their hands, starting with the executive officer and then the department heads; operations, engineering, and weapons; followed by the junior officers. His first impression was that they were an enthusiastic and professional group. “I will provide prioritized work items for each of you to address in the next few days as we prepare for our upcoming shakedown cruise. For now, you can return to your duties. Thank you.” Gallant entered the Combat Information Center and pulled on a neural interface to the ship’s AI. The dozens of delicate silicon probes touched his scalp at key points. It sensitively picked up wave patterns emanating from his thoughts and allowed him to communicate with the AI directly. Gallant formed a mental image of the Warrior's interior. While Gallant could use the interface for evaluating the ship’s condition, the controls remained under manual control. He hashed out his priorities for his department heads to work on and sent them messages. He ordered them to address the myriad of items he had been mentally considering for hours. While he would have liked to have had a discussion with each officer individually, that would simply have to wait. It was time to get back to the space elevator. Gallant frowned in frustration at being pulled away by his appointment: I’d better hustle to SIA.

excerpt from the suspense thriller drama book Dark Genius. Dark Genius AMAZON Time Off (Excerpt) The next morning, Lawrence gazed up at the impressive face of Mont Blanc. The chill air penetrated even his warm clothing. He resolutely tugged on his ski gloves, slung his MIT scarf around his neck, and hefted his freshly waxed skis to his shoulder—he was all set. Boots climbing across the snow, he headed for the gondola. He could see the tiny figures of skiers already skimming down the steep slopes above, and his pulse quickened. As the group shuffled toward the gondola, he nodded to several familiar faces, relieved to find neither Proust nor Maurice among them. He thought he’d seen Emma in line ahead of him and fidgeted through the whole ride, oblivious to the spectacular view that spread below him. When he reached the advanced level, he got off, pulled his goggles down, and stepped into his skis. He picked Emma out immediately, even under her goggles and sporty ski hat. “Hi,” he said with a big smile, glad they both had the morning free from meetings. “Hi,” she replied, moving to his side in one smooth fluid push. Several others said, “Hello.” He returned a nod and pulled his jacket tightly around him against the chill air. A veteran skier strolled past with weathered skin and disrupted hair. He wore a turned-down smirk that challenged all comers to prove their worth. These were all experienced skiers, dressed for warmth, and equipped with the best quality gear. The first pair left together, plunging down onto the black runs. Others quickly followed, separated enough to avoid interference. Finally, he and Emma were the only ones on the top of the world. They felt as though they had the mountain all to themselves. Lawrence breathed in the crisp Swiss mountain air. It felt different somehow—cleaner, freer, better. The temperature was 5 C. He said, “Wow, what a fantastic day! This is an amazing resort, and the snow looks perfect.” “Something tells me I’m going to like this place.” “Me too.” Emma tugged on his scarf, and with mischief in her eyes, dared him, “Race you to the bottom.” He started to ask, “What do I get if I win?” when he realized she was already ten yards ahead. Though not an expert, he was a good skier. He shoved his poles hard into the snow and leaned forward, propelling himself down the slope after her. The skis hissed smoothly on the packed powder as he pulled himself along with his poles. Picking up speed on the gradually steepening slope, he was still falling behind. Going over the first vertical drop with spine-chilling ease, he found his rhythm and felt the adrenaline rush of speed, snow, and slope. Concentrating on his own maneuvering, he couldn’t watch Emma but could tell he still wasn’t gaining on her. He leaned over his skis, pulled up his poles, and dropped into a tuck. Instantly his speed increased, and his skis drifted a little farther apart than good style dictated. His hips and knees swiveled left–right–left–right–left in smooth, sweeping micro-turns, shoulders barely moving. Still, Emma held her lead ahead of him. A cluster of trees loomed ahead. He shifted his weight to come around, the right edges of his skis, biting hard into the slope and swung past them cleanly. He straightened up and turned to avoid several rocky obstacles. He maneuvered through a series of flags on the run, carving an extended S in the snow. He was close behind Emma now and could see her looking back at him, her face alive with pleasure. He was delighted. He aimed his skis straight down the slope again and felt the joy of zooming down a 45-degree drop. The thrill of speed and mastery of the terrain far outweighed any concern of potential danger. As he followed the curve of the mountain to the left, he came upon another row of flags, black and red, fluttering in the wind. The slope suddenly rose up under him, his knees compressed, and at this speed, he felt the lift as he caught air. He gave a shout of pure glee. Emma was near, and she ran an S-turn through his track. The slope eased a bit, and he jammed his left pole into the snow for leverage, pushing his skis down hard. The snow sprayed out from the abrupt stop and hung, crystallized, for a moment in the still air as he looked across a shoulder of the mountain. It plunged down toward a grove of trees, black in the distance. Breathing hard, he glanced over his shoulder but couldn’t see Emma. A momentary concern flashed through his mind, but then he caught a glimpse of her through some trees to his left. He swung back downhill and zig-zagged through the mounds beneath the gondola cables, driving his poles in hard with each knee-pounding bump. With her more direct route, Emma was ahead of him again. He pushed harder, trying to catch up to her, his knees straining on each turn. Without warning, his right ski caught an edge. He flailed, struggling to regain control, skidded, and fell. Shaking himself off, he quickly regained his feet, gasping for breath, and wiped the snow off his face and goggles. He stamped his feet to make sure his bindings were still tight, then set off in pursuit of Emma once more. Gaining speed, he schussed across the undulating ground, his skis intertwining with Emma’s tracks. A row of bright-orange warning signs made him check his speed sharply. This run had taken him dangerously close to a ravine. Behind the crossed sticks he could see where the cliff dropped and didn’t stop to think how far down it went into nothingness. He carved another hard turn, angling his skis back toward the left, and raced for the tree line. Keep forward. Get your hands in front of you. Set shoulders downslope, keep knees, and hips loose. The wind buffeted him, a pounding wall of resistance against his increasing speed. The wild schuss was nearing an end. Pine and spruce trees rushed by him, blurring into an impenetrable wall. The sun glistened over the snow’s surface, a sharp stretch of rocks and ravines was marked by warning flags thrown into high relief. Dark shadows obscured the terrain, making the slopes more dangerous. He knew there were sheer drops on each flank of the run. He felt an absurd desire to kick off his skies and run. Instead, he kept his focus on the track ahead and ignored the folds in the landscape. Finally, he saw an opening through the trees that had hemmed him in. He veered more left and shot through it. As he straightened his course, Emma whizzed by him, so close that he felt a spray of snow. Is she really that good, or did she misjudge her position? Trees pressed against the uphill side as the run curved around the mountain’s flank, their branches brittle against the white cold of the sky. Lake Geneva, now spread out in a breathtaking panorama below them. The thermometer had dropped precipitously to -3 C, and flakes of snow began to prick Lawrence’s cheek. Speed seemed no longer possible against the cold resisting wind. As the slope leveled out to the end of the run, he saw Emma out of the corner of his eye, only a few yards and scant seconds behind him. He angled his skis to cross the finish line. As his momentum slowed, he suddenly felt exhausted. His head throbbed, and his muscles ached from a combination of exertion and dehydration. His joints ground and creaked. His fingers refused to release their grip on the poles. Every sense seemed to have turned against him, and he blinked hard, his breathing labored. With an effort, he pulled off his soaked gloves and unzipped his jacket, sweating heavily. Stabbing his poles into the ground, he groaned as he bent over to unlatch his skis. Luckily the bindings sprang open easily, and he straightened painfully. The snow was falling faster now. He hadn’t noticed before. He cradled his stiff hands to his chest like a drowning man trying to catch his breath. The bracing wind stung his cheeks, leaving a bittersweet icy red welt. He was spent. As he looked for Emma, he wondered . . . Did I win?

book excerpt from the science fiction novel Captain Hawkins. Captain Hawkins AMAZON Only the Brave After twenty-four hours of non-stop brutal violence and cruel bloodshed, the soldiers had had no sleep and little food or water. They had repeatedly engaged in hand-to-hand combat against the demonstrators. Even though the soldiers were heavily armed and armored, they had taken serious casualties. Now, tired and angry, everyone they found looked like a rebel. The hospital had been a place of healing—now it became a makeshift prison. In a large observation room, the soldiers sorted people into three groups: the wounded men, a smaller group of women and children, and the medical personnel including Hawkins and Joshua. With bloodthirsty eagerness, the ranking officer repeated, “Take these rebels out and shoot them,” pointing to the first group. As the first group was headed toward the door, Hawkins stepped forward, planted his feet wide apart, and shouted, “Stop, Colonel!” Outraged at the ruthlessness of the order, he put his hands on his hips and said, “You can’t execute these men.” The officer turned toward the disturbance and said harshly, “It is my duty to safeguard the nation. Am I to care for the lives of rebels?” “For the sake of humanity, yes,” said Hawkins, his voice strong and vibrant. With an unyielding stare, he added, “This is still a civilized world, not a lawless state.” Crossing his arms without taking his eyes off the interloper, the immaculately attired colonel seemed disconcerted. Hawkins said, “These men have not been properly charged.” The colonel remained unimpressed. “There are always witnesses to any massacre, Colonel.” Making a grand sweeping gesture with his arms, he added, “Just look around.” The colonel frowned as he surveyed the frightened faces of the women and children. Then seeing the uncertainty on the faces of his own men, his frown deepened into an angry scowl. “Eventually, there’ll be a reckoning,” said Hawkins, waving his hand to take in the hellish carnage throughout the city. “The government will look for scapegoats to justify this harsh reality. It wouldn’t be prudent to be so easily identified with merciless acts.” The colonel stared daggers at Hawkins. For a moment his hand hovered over his pistol, as if he were considering putting a bullet in Hawkins’s head right then. Instead, his eyes narrowed as recognition dawned on his face. He sneered, “Why, I know you. I served with you at Gambaro Ridge.” A smile crept across his face, and he said with a strange blend of sarcasm and irony, “You were killed.” “Not quite,” responded Hawkins with an outlandish grin. “I saw you shot to pieces when you recklessly charged the enemy stronghold,” said the colonel, smirking, and nodding his head. He laughed, “That was insane. You were definitely killed.” “As you say,” said Hawkins, letting a chortle escape his lips. “Your assault gave the rest of us a chance to escape,” the colonel remarked thoughtfully, considering the memory in a new light. Undecided on how to deal with such an uncommon man, the colonel pointed at him and exclaimed to his troops, “Ha! Here’s something you rarely see—a disgruntled ex-Marine.” A roar of laughter erupted from his soldiers. Hawkins threw his head back and laughed as well, “Ha!” The colonel stepped closer to inspect him. A small, jagged scar over his right brow was nearly hidden behind the shock of unkempt sandy brown hair, which draped over his forehead in a careless manner. He was tall with an athletic build, and he stood forward on balls of feet, like a boxer. His strong jaw and intense gray-blue eyes purported an iron will. The colonel remembered Hawkins as a courageous, but utterly reckless, officer. Hawkins recognized the colonel as well. Anthony Rodríguez was swarthy, ruggedly handsome with a broad mustache and a muscular physique. Hawkins remembered him as a fashionable man, his uniform always well-tailored. What he lacked in imagination, Rodríguez made up for as a stickler for protocol, meticulously carrying out orders to further his career. After a long moment, Rodríguez barked, “Don’t be foolish enough to believe I feel any obligation to you. You did your job. Now I’m doing mine.” Throughout the observation room, frightened people waited for the tension to burst. They realized that in many ways their fate was bound together with this tête-à-tête. Rodríguez said, “I don’t believe your battlefield antics were ever acknowledged. Some might have thought you a fool.” Stone faced, Hawkins retorted, “Then you stand here today—alive—as a testament to my folly.” Coloring slightly, Rodríguez took a moment to recall his orders and began parsing the words to extract their broader intent. Finally, he asked, “What are you doing here? Are you a rebel?” “I’m no rebel,” said Hawkins adamantly. “The generators were failing. No technicians were left to bring up the backups, so I was called here to protect the women and children.” “Called here? By whom?” “What does that matter?” asked Hawkins. “I’ll decide what’s important,” Rodríguez snapped. Joshua spoke up, “It was me.” “What was your business here?” “I came to help.” “Help whom? Were you with the demonstrators?” “Yes, but I was looking for my mother . . .” “There. By his own admission, he’s a member of the rebels,” said the colonel delighted at finding something clearly within the bounds of his orders. Joshua tried to explain, “I not a rebel. I just wanted to …” Rodríguez ordered, “Put him with the rest of the rebels.” As the soldiers pulled Joshua away and placed him with the group of rebels, Hawkins said, “He’s just a boy. He was involved in things beyond his understanding.” Rodríguez shot a disdainful look at Hawkins and asked, “Oh! Were things beyond your understanding, when you aided the rebels hiding in this building?” “I came to succor the weak and helpless, as is the duty of any man of honor,” said Hawkins. Offended and enraged, Rodríguez stormed, “No! You were aiding a rebel force attacking our nation’s capital.” “I—was—saving—lives,” spat Hawkins. “Once again!” The veiled reference to Gambaro Ridge made Rodríguez flushed crimson—the emotional cocktail of anger and humiliation was so powerful that his face looked as if it would explode. His voice contorted into a rapid-fire staccato of orders, “Place this man under arrest—along with the rest of these rebels—march them all to prison.” Several pairs of hands reached out and grabbed Hawkins, but as he twisted free several more soldiers joined in the brawl. Six soldiers were as battered and bruised as Hawkins before they managed to pin him down. They bound his wrists and flung him against the wall with the rebels. His dark eyes blazing with contempt, Hawkins’s deep voice boomed, “Anthony Rodríguez, if I survive this barbarity,” he took a deep breath, and said slowly, “I hope to chance upon you—once again.” Other distraught prisoners began yelling their own protestations, but Rodríguez bellowed over the clamor, “Take them away! Take them away!”

Excerpt from the eighth book in the Henry Gallant Saga, Rear Admiral Henry Gallant. Rear Admiral Henry Gallant AMAZON Chapter 1 Far Away Captain Henry Gallant was still far away, but he could already make out the bright blue marble of Earth floating in the black velvet ocean of space. His day was flat and dreary. Since entering the solar system, he had been unable to sleep. Instead, he found himself wandering around the bridge like a marble rattling in a jar. His mind had seemingly abandoned his body to meander on its own, leaving his empty shell to limp through his routine. He hoped tomorrow would bring something better. I’ll be home soon, he thought. A welcoming image of Alaina flashed into his mind, but it was instantly shattered by the memory of their last bitter argument. The quarrel had occurred the day he was deployed to the Ross star system and had haunted him throughout the mission. Now that incident loomed like a glaring threat to his homecoming. As he stared at the main viewscreen of the Constellation, he listened to the bridge crew’s chatter. “The sensor sweep is clear, sir,” reported an operator. Gallant was tempted to put a finger to his lips and hiss, “shh,” so he could resume his brooding silence. But that would be unfair to his crew. They were as exhausted and drained from the long demanding deployment as he was. They deserved better. He plopped down into his command chair and said, “Coffee.” The auto-server delivered a steaming cup to the armrest portal. After a few gulps, the coffee woke him from his zombie state. He checked the condition of his ship on a viewscreen. The Constellation was among the largest machines ever built by human beings. She was the queen of the task force, and her crew appreciated her sheer size and strength. She carried them through space with breathtaking majesty, possessing power and might and stealth that established her as the quintessential pride of human ingenuity. They knew every centimeter of her from the forward viewport to the aft exhaust port. Her dull grey titanium hull didn’t glitter or sparkle, but every craggy plate on her exterior was tingling with lethal purpose. She could fly conventionally at a blistering three-tenths the speed of light between planets. And between stars, she warped at faster than the speed of light. Even now, returning from the Ross star system with her depleted starfighters, battle damage, and exhausted crew, she could face any enemy by spitting out starfighters, missiles, lasers, and plasma death. After a moment, he switched the readout to scan the other ships in the task force. Without taking special notice, he considered the material state of one ship after another. Several were in a sorrowful dysfunctional condition, begging for a dockyard’s attention. He congratulated himself for having prepared a detailed refit schedule for when they reached the Moon’s shipyards. He hoped it would speed along the repair process. Earth’s moon would offer the beleaguered Task Force 34, the rest and restoration it deserved after its grueling operation. The Moon was the main hub of the United Planets’ fleet activities. The Luna bases were the most elaborate of all the space facilities in the Solar System. They performed ship overhauls and refits, as well as hundreds of new constructions. Luna’s main military base was named Armstrong Luna and was the home port of the 1st Fleet, fondly called the Home Fleet. Captain Julie Ann McCall caught Gallant’s eye as she rushed from the Combat Information Center onto the bridge. There was a troubled look on her face. Is she anxious to get home too? Was there someone special waiting for her? Or would she, once more, disappear into the recesses of the Solar Intelligence Agency? After all these years, she’s still a mystery to me. McCall approached him and leaned close to his face. In a hushed throaty voice, she whispered, “Captain, we’ve received an action message. You must read it immediately.” Her tight self-control usually obscured her emotions, but now something extraordinary appeared in her translucent blue eyes—fear! He placed his thumb over his command console ID recognition pad. A few swipes over the screen, and he saw the latest action message icon flashing red. He tapped the symbol, and it opened. TOP SECRET: ULTRA - WAR WARNING Date-time stamp: 06.11.2176.12:00 Authentication code: Alpha-Gamma 1916 To: All Solar System Commands From: Solar Intelligence Agency Subject: War Warning Diplomatic peace negotiations with the Titans have broken down. Repeat: Diplomatic peace negotiations with the Titans have broken down. What this portends is unknown, but all commands are to be on the highest alert in anticipation of the resumption of hostilities. Russell Rissa Director SIA TOP SECRET: ULTRA - WAR WARNING He reread the terse communication. As if emerging from a cocoon, Gallant brushed off his preoccupation over his forthcoming liberty. He considered the possibilities. Last month, he sent the sample Halo detection devices to Earth. He hoped that the SIA had analyzed the technology and distributed it to the fleet, though knowing government bureaucracy, he guessed that effort would need his prodding before the technology came into widespread use. Still, there should be time before it becomes urgent. The SIA had predicted that the Titans would need at least two years to rebuild their forces before they could become a threat again. Could he rely on that? Even though he was getting closer to Earth with every passing second, the light from the inner planets was several days old. Something could have already transpired. There was one immutable lesson in war: never underestimate your opponent. A shiver ran down his spine. This is bad. Very bad! Gone was the malaise that had haunted him earlier. Now, he emerged as a disciplined military strategist, intent on facing a major new challenge. Looking expectantly, he examined McCall’s face for an assessment. Shaking her head, she hesitated. “The picture is incomplete. I have little to offer.” Gallant needed her to be completely open and honest with him, but he was unsure how to win that kind of support. He rubbed his chin and spoke softly, “I’d like to tell you a story about a relationship I’ve had with a trusted colleague. And I’d like you to pretend that you were that colleague.” McCall furrowed her brow, but a curious gleam grew in her eyes. He said, “I’ve known this colleague long enough to know her character even though she has been secretive about her personal life and loyalties.” McCall inhaled and visibly relaxed as she exhaled. Her eyes focused their sharp acumen on Gallant. “She is bright enough to be helpful and wise enough not to be demanding,” continued Gallant. “She has offered insights into critical issues and made informed suggestions that have influenced me. She is astute and might know me better than I know myself because of the tests she has conducted. When I’ve strayed into the sensitive topic of genetic engineering, she has soothed my bumpy relationship with politicians.” He hesitated. Then added, “Yet, she has responsibilities and professional constraints on her candidness. She might be reluctant to speak openly on sensitive issues, particularly to me.” McCall’s face was a blank mask, revealing no trace of her inner response to his enticing words. He said, “If you can relate to this, I want you to consider that we are at a perilous moment. It is essential that you speak frankly to me about any insights you might have about this situation.” She swallowed and took a step closer to Gallant. Their faces were mere centimeters apart. “Very well,” she said. “The Chameleon are a spent force. After the loss of their last Great Ship, they are defenseless. They agreed to an unconditional surrender. They might even beg for our help from the Titans. Their moral system is like ours and should not be a concern in any forthcoming action. However, the Titans have an amoral empathy with other species.” He gave an encouraging nod. She added, “Despite the defeat of Admiral Zzey’s fleet in Ross, the Titans remain a considerable threat. They opened peace negotiations ostensibly to seek a treaty with a neutral zone between our two empires. But we can’t trust them. They are too aggressive and self-interested to keep any peace for long. One option they might try is to eliminate the Chameleon while they have the opportunity. Another is to rebuild their fleet for a future strike against us. However, the most alarming possibility would be an immediate attack against us with everything they currently have. They might even leave their home world exposed. But that would only make sense if they could achieve an immediate and overwhelming strategic victory.” Gallant grimaced as he absorbed her analysis. She concluded, “This dramatic rejection of diplomacy can only mean that they are ready to reignite the war—with a vengeance. They will strike us with swift and ruthless abandon.” Gallant turned his gaze toward the bright blue marble—still far away.

Excerpt of the book Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space. Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space AMAZON Joining the Fleet 1 A massive solar flare roared across the sun, crackling every display console in the tiny spacecraft. “No need to worry, young man. We’re almost there,” said the aged pilot. “I’m not concerned about the storm,” said newly commissioned Midshipman Henry Gallant. Eagerly, he shifted in his seat to get a better view of the massive battlecruiser Repulse that would be his home for the next two years. She was a magnificent fighting machine, a powerful beast in orbit around Jupiter. The pilot maneuvered to minimize the effects of the x-ray and gamma radiation until the craft slid into the cold black shadow of the Repulse. Gallant could hardly contain his delight as the tiny ship quivered in the grip of the warship’s tractors. By the time the docking hatch finally slid open, Gallant was waiting impatiently for his first glimpse inside the warship. He hurried to the bridge. The officer of the watch stood next to the empty captain’s chair, surrounded by a dizzying array of displays and virtual readouts. The officer rested his hand on the panel that concealed the Artificial Intelligence (AI) tactical analyzer. “Midshipman Henry Gallant, reporting aboard, sir.” Drawing his gangly seventeen-year-old figure to its full height, he gave a snappy salute. He tugged at his uniform jacket to pull the buttons into proper alignment. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Gallant. I’m Lieutenant Mather.” Mather was of average height, barrel-chested with angular facial features and a stoic look. Beyond a glance, he showed little interest in the new arrival. “Give me your comm pin.” Gallant handed over his pin, Mather made several quick selections on a touch screen, then swiped it past the chip reader. While his ID loaded into the ship’s computer, Gallant took the opportunity to look around. The semicircular compartment, though spacious, bristled with displays, control panels, and analysis stations. From his academy training, he could guess most of the functions. There were communications, radar, weapons, and astrogation, plus a few he couldn’t identify. Several of the positions were vacant operating automatically. Gallant’s fingers twitched, eager to be a part of the bridge’s efficient operation. A huge view screen dominating the compartment displayed Jupiter. An orbiting space station was visible against the vastness of the gas giant. He marveled at the spectacle. “Junior officer authorization verified. The ID pin has been updated with Repulse’s access codes,” a computer’s voice announced from a nearby speaker. Its neutral, disinterested tone reminded Gallant of a rather cold and distant teacher he had had in basic math years ago. ”Did you bring your gear aboard?” asked Mather. “My duffle bag is at the docking port, sir.” The aged pilot had helped Gallant carry his gear from the shuttlecraft onto Repulse. Then, after a cheery smile and a friendly, “Good luck,” he climbed back in his shuttle and left. Having no family of his own, Gallant had found some faint comfort in the good wishes. ”I’ll have your gear sent to your quarters. But, for now, you had better see the captain,” said Mather, raising an eyebrow at Gallant. “Aye aye, sir,” said Gallant. Mather turned to one of the bridge’s junior officers, a young woman. She wore a single thin gold stripe on her blouse sleeve, indicating her rank as Midshipman First Class, one-year senior to Gallant. He ordered, “Midshipman Mitchel, take Mr. Gallant to the captain’s cabin.” As they left the bridge, Mitchel said, “Henry Gallant . . . I remember you from the academy. I’m surprised you’re still in uniform.” Gallant gritted his teeth, as he had done many times before when confronted with what he perceived as overt disapproval. He didn’t recognize her, but he couldn’t help but observe that she was an attractive brunette with a trim figure. “Will you be training as a fighter pilot or missile weapons officer?” she asked. “I had basic fighter training on Mars and will be taking advanced pilot training with Repulse’s Squadron 111.” “I’m a qualified second-seat astrogator in 111. Most likely, we’ll wind up flying together at some point.” Because her demeanor revealed nothing about whether that idea repelled or appealed to her, Gallant nodded. When they reached the captain’s cabin, she said, “I’m Kelsey, by the way.” Then, as she turned to leave, she added as an afterthought, “Good luck.” Gallant watched her walk away. He wondered if her remark was sincere. *** Gallant stood like a statue inside the open hatch. Captain Kenneth Caine was seated with his back to him, reviewing Gallant’s military record, which was displayed on a computer screen. Clean-shaven with close-cropped graying hair, Caine was solidly built with square shoulders and a craggy face. His well-tailored uniform hugged his robust frame, accentuating his military bearing. From his brief time onboard, Gallant had already realized that Repulse was an orderly ship, and that Kenneth Caine was an orderly captain. Precision and discipline were expected. He was suddenly conscious that his tangled brown hair was longer than regulations allowed. The cabin was sparsely furnished in a traditional, starkly military fashion. A desk in one well-lit corner held the single personal item in the room: a photo of an attractive, mature woman with a pleasant smile. The sadness in her eyes hinted at the difficult bargain she had made as the lonely wife of a dedicated space officer. While the captain flipped through the personnel folder, Gallant’s gaze wandered to the compartment’s viewscreen. The solar flare had subsided, leaving gigantic colorful Jupiter filling most of the view. “At ease, Mr. Gallant,” said Caine, finally turning to face the newcomer. “Welcome aboard the Repulse.” Gallant relaxed his stance and said in a strong, clear voice, “Thank you, sir.” Caine looked him up and down and scrunched his face before asking, “What do you know of this ship’s mission, Mr. Gallant?” “As the flagship of the Jupiter Fleet, Repulse must prevent alien encroachment along the frontier, sir,” ventured Gallant. “Quite right, as far as that goes. But you’ll find, Mr. Gallant, that this task is more nuanced and layered than may be apparent. As a United Planets officer, you must find shades of meaning that can affect your performance. What would you surmise is behind this frontier watch?” The captain’s brisk voice demanded a resolute answer. Gallant spoke guardedly at first, but as his confidence grew, his voice gained assurance. “Well, sir, UP knows little about the aliens’ origins or intentions. They appear to have bases on the satellites of the outer planets. Clashes with their scout ships have proven troublesome, and Fleet Command wants to gather more intelligence. With so little known about alien technology, it isn’t easy to assess the best way to repel it. Still, this fleet must forestall an invasion of Earth by preventing the aliens from gaining a foothold in this sector.” ”And what would you say will be essential in achieving victory in battle?” Leaning forward with his hands behind him to balance out his jutting jaw, Gallant said with fierce intensity, “Surprise, sir! I assume that is why you’ve dispersed most of the fleet. So you can search the widest possible region of space for the first signs of significant alien activity.” Caine examined the young man again as if seeing him for the first time. “Good. We will not be the ones surprised. We will be prepared. You can appreciate how important it is that Repulse performs well.” Then, he added, “And I will allow nothing, and no one, to interfere with our mission.” “Yes, sir,” said Gallant, feeling the sting from the pointed comment. “Tell me, Mr. Gallant,” said the captain, shifting in his chair to find a more comfortable position, “why did you apply to the academy?” Gallant’s voice swelled with passion. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to pilot spaceships and explore the unknown, sir.” ”You are undoubtedly aware that many people wanted your hide raised up the flagpole.” Caine’s eyebrow twitched. “Although your progress for two academic years at the academy was respectable, many doubt that a Natural can compete in the fleet. Today, your real qualification for advancement is your double helix.” Caine continued, “Frankly, I’m astonished you have gotten this far without the advantages of genetic engineering. You’re a bit of a mystery that has yet to unfold.” Gallant didn’t like being referred to as a mystery, but he had his own uncertainty about how his future might evolve. Caine said, “Now that you are commissioned, you must serve a two-year deployment on Repulse. Then, if you complete all your qualifications and receive strong ranking marks, you may be recommended for promotion to ensign.” He gave a weak smile and added. “Learn your duties, obey orders, and you will have nothing to fear.” Caine searched Gallant’s face. “Well, nothing to say for yourself?” Gallant thrust his chin out and said, “I am prepared to do my duty to the best of my ability, sir!” “It is exactly ‘the best of your ability’ that is in question, young man,” responded Caine.

Excerpt from the sixth book in the Henry Gallant Saga, Commodore Henry Gallant. Commodore Henry Gallant AMAZON Chapter 1 Unidentified Flying Object Lieutenant Rob Ryan was bored. He hated the mundane tasks of being a squadron leader. He liked ‘fast’—the faster, the better. But that wasn’t happening today as he cruised over Earth in his Viper. He was stuck with the tedious job of training his new wingman, Glenn Holman, in strafing maneuvers against the Antarctic target range. As he executed a simple wingover in his starfighter, he wa s about to comment on the poor performance of his novice companion when out of nowhere, the world changed, shifting with shocking suddenness. That’s not possible! He instinctively flung an arm across his face to ward off the seemingly endless wall of steel that had materialized in front of him. I must be hallucinating! Heart-throbbing fear gripped him. But there is something delicious about fear. It starts with bitter panic and grows into sour excitement—until, at last, comes sweet courage. Ryan pulled his arm down, tightened his grip on the thruster, and yelled, “Hard to port! Max thrust! Flip gyros!” Over the next several seconds, he concentrated on avoiding a collision with the mountain of metal. In the first second, he felt the chest-crushing weight of 14 g’s as his Viper began the pivot. In the next second, he fought down the blackness of his vision, narrowing into a tunnel as 20 g’s tested the limitations of his pressure suit. By the third second, he felt as if he was being squashed like a ripe tomato—right before he blacked out. Several seconds later, he came to, blinking against the glare of the sun. Even as he aimed his ship toward it, he heard Holman gasp, “I can’t . . . make it . . .” Almost immediately, Ryan saw the brilliant red-white explosion of Holman’s Viper as it went splat against the steel wall. He sighed with relief when he saw an escape pod spiral toward Earth. *** The July blizzard howled across the high plateau of the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Antarctic Station, leaving a record snowfall of crystalline ice in its wake, and blustering so hard that the Earth defense sensor arrays were blanketed under the full fury of the whiteout. So powerful was the blizzard that sharp flecks of ice pierced the multilayered protective gear of the technician sent to investigate some minor static interference. As the man crawled toward the besieged sensors, his hands lost feeling despite the well-insulated flex-gloves. A large scavenger Skuas bird dive-bombed him, causing him to grab hold of the lifeline tether to keep from falling off the sheer rock cliff. “Damn!” “What’s wrong?” Against the howling of the wind, he could barely hear the question. During the six-month southern hemisphere ‘night,’ the wind blew at 160 km/h, and the temperature dropped to minus 89 °C. Despite the harsh conditions, the dry atmosphere and extended darkness made the station the Earth’s best location for astronomical observations. It had every conceivable type of sensor from microwave telescopes to neutrino detectors. The sensors were so accurate and dependable that the people of Earth rested reassured of their absolute safety. The man gripped the taut cable as he spoke into the mic, “Why do I always get the crap jobs?” “Just do it. And better hurry. Something big is brewing.” Inside the station’s geodesic dome, a sensor operator screamed, “Contact! Contact over Melbourne. It’s massive!” The duty officer came over to the operator’s station. “What’s the problem?” The operator pointed, his finger trembling in shock at the image that filled his screen. Flabbergasted, the duty officer asked, “Where did that come from? No unidentified contacts have been reported!” “It just popped up out of nowhere.” “That’s impossible.” “I’m telling you. Everything was normal, nothing but standard traffic patterns, and then WHAM! There it was.” “Have you run a diagnostic on your equipment?” “Look at the other sensors. They all show the same thing. We have a man outside checking some minor glitches, but nothing that would explain this.” “It isn’t a colossal malfunction? Do you think this is a bona fide contact?” “Yes, sir!” In the stunned silence, the senior chief operator said, “Designate contact as Tango 101, in geosynchronous orbit over Melbourne.” Still unable to grasp the situation, the duty officer asked again, “Why didn’t you spot this earlier?” “I’m telling you; it wasn’t there before. It came out of nowhere. As if it dropped out of cloak.” The dark eyes of the duty officer met the senior chief’s gaze. “That’s impossible. Even in a blizzard, our active sensors can penetrate any cloaking device within a million kilometers of Earth.” As he shook his head, the chief’s white hair fell across his grizzled face, but his eyes stayed steady. “Until now.” The officer asked, “What type of craft is it?” “Nothing in our databases even comes close. Visual images are starting to come in now. Man, it’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.” The officer’s eyes bugged out. “Oh, my Gawd! That’s incredible. It’s enormous. What the hell is it?” His hand smacked the red alert button, and his voice echoed over the base-wide intercom. “Activate planet defenses. Scramble standby fighters.” A second later, he said into the emergency radio, “Put me through to Admiral Devens, immediately.” When Admiral Devens responded, the duty officer said, “We have an unidentified flying object over the capital.” “Notify all missile and laser batteries to target the contact, but hold fire until further notice,” said the admiral, unruffled. “Have fighter command scramble all fighters and intercept the UFO.” *** “Fighter command, this is Lieutenant Ryan flying Constellation’s Viper 607. I have Tango 101 in sight.” Like a minnow swimming next to a blue whale, Ryan flew alongside the alien craft examining its features. He said, “Tango 101 is a monster ship that looks like a giant squid. It has an ellipsoid body thirty kilometers in diameter with protruding spikes seventy kilometers long. This Great Ship is beyond the combined resources of all the planets.” “Is it broadcasting?” asked the command center. “Negative, according to my sensors. It has not responded to radio communications, and I can detect no emissions at all, hostile or otherwise.” “Shadow it, but do not engage.” *** Twelve hours later, President Kent addressed the nation. “My fellow citizens, what you have heard is true. We have detected an alien vessel over Earth, but there is no immediate cause for alarm. Planetary defenses are on full alert. Our space fleet and fighters have surrounded the unknown spaceship. We do not know who these beings are, but they are not our Titan enemy. And though victory against that enemy may still seem a long way off, we are prepared to face any challenge they set against us. This new arrival has so far taken no hostile action, and our hope is that they will prove to be a benefactor rather than an adversary. “So, we must be patient until our visitor decides to speak. Until then, I am certain that you will all remain as brave and resolute as our proud space navy that stands guard protecting us at this moment.” Over the next several hours, news stations maintained uninterrupted coverage around the world. Opinions were divided over accepting the president’s optimism. Some listened to the vitriolic counterargument made by presidential candidate Gerome Neumann. He advised swift and total annihilation of the aliens who had violated Earth’s space. When it seemed that the tension couldn’t get any greater, an astounding event occurred. A shuttlecraft departed the Great Ship and landed at the Melbourne spaceport.

Excerpt from the second book in the Henry Gallant Saga, Lieutenant Henry Gallant. Lieutenant Henry Gallant 1 RUN AMAZON Gallant ran—gasping for breath, heart pounding—the echo of his footsteps reverberated behind him. He hoped to reach the bridge, but hope is a fragile thing. Peering over his shoulder into the dark, he tripped on a protruding jagged beam, one of the ship’s many battle scars. As he crashed to the deck, the final glow of emergency lights sputtered out, leaving only the pitch black of power failure—his failure. He lay still and listened to the ship’s cries of pain; the incessant wheezing of atmosphere bleeding from the many tiny hull fissures, the repetitious groaning of metal from straining structures, and the crackling of electrical wires sparking against panels. Thoughts flashed past him. How long will the oxygen last? He was reluctant to guess. Where are they? The clamor of dogged footsteps drew closer even as he rasped for another breath. Trembling from exhaustion, he clawed at the bulkhead to pull himself up. His hemorrhaging leg made even standing brutally painful. Nevertheless, he ran. The bulkhead panels and compartment hatches were indistinguishable in the dimness. Vague phantoms lurked nearby even while his eyes adjusted to whatever glowing plasma blast embers flickered from the hull. As he twisted around a corner, he crashed his shoulder into a bulkhead. The impact knocked him back and spun him around. Reaching out with a bloody hand, he grasped the hatch handle leading into the Operation’s compartment. Going through the hatch, he pulled it shut behind him. He started to run, then awkwardly fought his own momentum, and stopped. Stupid! Stupid! Going back to the hatch, he hit the security locking mechanism. It wouldn’t stop a plasma blast, but it might slow them down, he thought. At least this compartment is airtight. Finally, able to take a deep breath, he tried to clear his head of bombarding sensations. He should’ve been in battle armor, but he’d stayed too long in engineering trying to maintain power while the hull had been breached and the ship boarded. Now his uniform was scorched, revealing the plasma burns of seared flesh from his left shoulder down across his back to his right thigh. He had no idea where the rest of the crew was; many were probably dead. His comm pin was mute, and the ship’s AI wasn’t responding. He had only a handgun, but, so far, he didn’t think they were tracking him specifically, merely penetrating into the ship to gain control. Gallant tried to run once more, but his legs were unwilling. Leaning against the bulkhead, like a dead weight, he slid slowly down to the deck. Unable to go farther, he sat dripping blood and trembling as the potent grip of shock grabbed hold. The harrowing pain of his burnt flesh swept over him. Hope and fear alike abandoned him, leaving only an undeniable truth; without immediate medical treatment, he wouldn’t survive. I’m done. Closing his eyes, he fought against the pain and the black vertigo of despair. He took a deep breath and called upon the last of his inner resolve and resilience . . . No! I won’t give up. Exhaling and opening his eyes, he caught sight of a nearly invisible luminescent glow of a Red Cross symbol, offering him a glimmer of hope. He stretched his arm toward the cabinet. “Argh.” He heard a cry of agony and only belatedly realized it had escaped his own lips as he strained to pull away twisted metal from the door to a medical cabinet. Reaching inside, he grabbed a damaged medi-pack. Painstakingly he used the meager emergency provisions to stop the bleeding and to infuse blood plasma. His limited mobility prevented him from reaching awkward areas, but he managed to insert an analgesic hypodermic into his raw, blistered flesh. Next, he crudely bandaged his suffering body. He relaxed momentarily as the medication coursed through his veins, working to stifle the worst effects of shock and blood loss. His parched throat demanded . . . Water. He looked at more cabinets but was unable to make out their markings in the dark. Stretching his fingers, he opened the nearest one, groping for something familiar inside. No. He opened the next. No. And another. Yes. Finally, he snatched a half-buried survival kit. Greedily he drank and even managed to take a few bites of an energy bar. A surge of adrenaline helped him shift his position to sit more comfortably as his mind came into sharper focus. As he examined his surroundings in the faint light, he spotted an interface station. He was about to reach up and patch into the ship’s AI to get an update on the ship’s defensive posture when he was disturbed by the dismal clangor of footsteps. He held his breath. Are they coming this way?

Excerpts from my books and projects to encourage engagement. Excerpts Writing Porfolio Finding Inspiration in Every Turn The Henry Gallant Saga Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space Lieutenant Henry Gallant Henry Gallant and the Warrior Commander Gallant Captain Henry Gallant Commandor Henry Gallant Henry Gallant and the Great Ship Rear Admiral Henry Gallant Midshipman Henry Gallant at the Academy Dramatic Novels Youngblood Dark Genius Captain Hawkins Short Stories All Androids Lie Computer Books Connections Thinking on the Web The Semantic Web The Intelligent Wireless Web E-Video Computer Apps Graphic Novels Screenp lay

An excerpt from the non-fiction technology book Thinking on the Web. Thinking on the Web AMAZON Chapter 2 Gödel: What is Decidable? In the last chapter, we suggested that small wireless devices connected to an intelligent Web could produce ubiquitous computing and empower the Information Revolution. In the future, Semantic Web architecture is designed to add some intelligence to the Web through machine processing capabilities. For the Semantic Web to succeed the expressive power of the logic added to its mark-up languages must be balanced against the resulting computational complexit y. Therefore, it is important to evaluate both the expressive characteristics of logic languages, as well as, their inherit limitations. In fact, some options for Web logic include solutions that may not be solvable through rational argument. In particular, the work of Kurt Gödel identified the concept of undecidability where the truth or falsity of some statements may not be determined. In this chapter, we review some of the basic principles of logic and related them to the suitability for Web applications. First, we review the basic concept of logic, and discuss various characteristics and limitations of logic analysis. We introduce First Order Logics (FOL) and its subsets, such as Descriptive Logic and Horn Logic which offer attractive characteristics for Web applications. These languages set the parameters for how expressive Web markup languages can become. Second, we investigate how logic conflicts and limitations in computer programming and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been handled in closed environments to date. We consider how errors in logic contribute to significant ‘bugs’ that lead to crashed computer programs. Third, we review how Web architecture is used to partition the delivery of business logic from the user interface. The Web architecture keeps the logic restricted to executable code residing on the server and delivers user-interface presentations residing within the markup languages traveling over the Web. The Semantic Web changes this partitioned arrangement. Finally, we discuss the implications of using logic in markup languages on the Semantic Web. Philosophical and Mathematical Logic Aristotle described man as a “rational animal” and established the study of logic beginning with the process of codifying syllogisms. A syllogism is a kind of argument in which there are three propositions, two of them premises, one a conclusion. Aristotle was the first to create a logic system which allowed predicates and subjects to be represented by letters or symbols. His logic form allowed one to substitute for subjects and predicates with letters (variables). For example: If A is predicated of all B, and B is predicated of all C, then A is predicated of all C. By predicated, Aristotle means B belongs to A, or all B's are A's. For instance, we can substitute subjects and predicates into this syllogism to get: If all humans (B's) are mortal (A), and all Greeks (C's) are humans (B's), then all Greeks (C's) are mortal (A). Today, Aristotle's system is mostly seen as of historical value. Subsequently, other philosophers and mathematicians such as Leibniz developed methods to represent logic and reasoning as a series of mechanical and symbolic tasks. They were followed by logicians who developed mechanical rules to carry out logical deductions. In logic, as in grammar, a subject is what we make an assertion about, and a predicate is what we assert about the subject. Today, logic is considered to be the primary reasoning mechanism for solving problems. Logic allows us to sets up systems and criteria for distinguishing acceptable arguments from unacceptable arguments. The structure of arguments is based upon formal relations between the newly produced assertions and the previous ones. Through argument we can then express inferences. Inferences are the processes where new assertions may be produced from existing ones. When relationships are independent of the assertions themselves we call them ‘formal’. Through these processes, logic provides a mechanism for the extension of knowledge. As a result, logic provides prescriptions for reasoning by machines, as well as, by people. Traditionally, logic has been studied as a branch of philosophy. However, since the mid-1800’s logic has been commonly studied as a branch of mathematics and more recently as a branch of computer science. The scope of logic can therefore be extended to include reasoning using probability and causality. In addition, logic includes the study of structures of fallacious arguments and paradoxes. By logic then, we mean the study and application of the principles of reasoning, and the relationships between statements, concepts or propositions. Logic incorporates both the methods of reasoning and the validity of the results. In common language, we refer to logic in several ways; logic can be considered as a framework or system of reasoning, a particular mode or process of reasoning, or the guiding principles of a field or discipline. We also use the term "logical" to describe a reasoned approach to solve a problem or get to a decision, as opposed to the alternative "emotional" approaches to react or respond to a situation. As logic has developed, its scope has splintered int o many distinctive branches. These distinctions serve to formalize different forms of logic as a science. The distinctions between the various branches of logic lead to their limitations and expressive capabilities which are central issues to designing the Semantic Web languages. The following sections identify some of the more important distinctions. Deductive and Inductive Reasoning Originally, logic consisted only of deductive reasoning which was concerned with a premise and a resultant deduction. However, it is important to note that inductive reasoning – the study of deriving a reliable generalization from observations – has also been included in the study of logic. Correspondingly, we must distinguish between deductive validity and inductive validity. The notion of deductive validity can be rigorously stated for systems of formal logic in terms of the well-understood notions of semantics. An inference is deductively valid if and only if there is no possible situation in which all the premises are true and the conclusion false. Inductive validity on the other hand requires us to define a reliable generalization of some set of observations. The task of providing this definition may be approached in various ways, some of which use mathematical models of probability. Paradox A paradox is an apparently true statement that seems to lead to a contradiction or to a situation that defies intuition. Typically, either the statements in question do not really imply the contradiction; or the puzzling result is not really a contradiction; or the premises themselves are not all really true (or, cannot all be true together). The recognition of ambiguities, equivocations, and unstated assumptions underlying known paradoxes has often led to significant advances in science, philosophy and mathematics. Formal and Informal Logic Formal logic (sometimes called ‘symbolic logic’) attempts to capture the nature of logical truth and inference in formal systems. This consists of a formal language, a set of rules of derivation (often called ‘rules of inference’), and sometimes a set of axioms. The formal language consists of a set of discrete symbols, a syntax (i.e., the rules for the construction of a statement), and a semantics (i.e., the relationship between symbols or groups of symbols and their meanings). Expressions in formal logic are often called ‘formulas.’ The rules of derivation and potential axioms then operate with the language to specify a set of theorems, which are formulas that are either basic axioms or true statements that are derivable using the axioms and rules of derivation. In the case of formal logic systems, the theorems are often interpretable as expressing logical truths (called tautologies). Formal logic encompasses a wide variety of logic systems. For instance, propositional logic and predicate logic are kinds of formal logic, as well as temporal logic, modal logic, Hoare logic and the calculus of constructions. Higher-order logics are logical systems based on a hierarchy of types. For example, Hoare logic is a formal system developed by the British computer scientist C. A. R. Hoare. The purpose of the system is to provide a set of logical rules in order to reason about the correctness of computer programs with the rigor of mathematical logic. The purpose of such a system is to provide a set of logical rules by which to reason about the correctness of computer programs with the rigor of mathematical logic. The central feature of Hoare logic is the Hoare triple. A triple describes how the execution of a piece of code changes the state of the computation. A Hoare triple is of the form: {P} C {Q} where P and Q are assertions and C is a command. P is called the precondition and Q the post-condition. Assertions are formulas in predicate logic. An interpretation of such a triple is: Whenever P holds of the state before the execution of C, then Q will hold afterwards. Alternatively, informal logic is the study of logic that is used in natural language arguments. Informal logic is complicated by the fact that it may be very hard to extract the formal logical structure embedded in an argument. Informal logic is also more difficult because the semantics of natural language assertions is much more complicated than the semantics of formal logical systems. Mathematical Logic Mathematical logic really refers to two distinct areas of research: the first is the application of the techniques of formal logic to mathematics and mathematical reasoning, and the second, the application of mathematical techniques to the representation and analysis of formal logic. The boldest attempt to apply logic to mathematics was pioneered by philosopher-logician Bertrand Russell. His idea was that mathematical theories were logical tautologies, and his program was to show this by means to a reduction of mathematics to logic. The various attempts to carry this out met with a series of failures, such as Russell's Paradox, and the defeat of Hilbert's Program by Gödel's incompleteness theorems (which we shall describe shortly). Russell's paradox represents either of two interrelated logical contradictions. The first is a contradiction arising in the logic of sets or classes. Some sets can be members of themselves, while others can not. The set of all sets is itself a set, and so it seems to be a member of itself. The null or empty set, however, must not be a member of itself. However, suppose that we can form a set of all sets that, like the null set, are not included in themselves. The paradox arises from asking the question of whether this set is a member of itself. It is, if and only if, it is not! The second form is a contradiction involving properties. Some properties seem to apply to themselves, while others do not. The property of being a property is itself a property, while the property of being a table is not, itself, a table. Hilbert's Program was developed in the early 1920s, by German mathematician David Hilbert. It called for a formalization of all of mathematics in axiomatic form, together with a proof that this axiomatization of mathematics is consistent. The consistency proof itself was to be carried out using only what Hilbert called ‘finitary’ methods. The special epistemological character of this type of reasoning yielded the required justification of classical mathematics. It was also a great influence on Kurt Gödel, whose work on the incompleteness theorems was motivated by Hilbert's Program. In spite of the fact that Gödel's work is generally taken to prove that Hilbert's Program cannot be carried out, Hilbert's Program has nevertheless continued to be influential in the philosophy of mathematics, and work on Revitalized Hilbert Programs has been central to the development of proof theory. Both the statement of Hilbert's Program and its refutation by Gödel depended upon their work establishing the second area of mathematical logic, the application of mathematics to logic in the form of proof theory. Despite the negative nature of Gödel's incompleteness theorems, a result in model theory can be understood as showing how close logics came to being true: every rigorously defined mathematical theory can be exactly captured by a First-Order Logical (FOL) theory. Thus it is apparent that the two areas of mathematical logic are complementary. Logic is extensively applied in the fields of artificial intelligence and computer science. These fields provide a rich source of problems in formal logic. In the 1950s and 60s, researchers predicted that when human knowledge could be expressed using logic with mathematical notation, it would be possible to create a machine that reasons, or produces artificial intelligence. This turned out to be more difficult than expected because of the complexity of human reasoning. In logic programming, a program consists of a set of axioms and rules. In symbolic logic and mathematical logic, proofs by humans can be computer-assisted. Using automated theorem proving, machines can find and check proofs, as well as work with proofs too lengthy to be written out by hand. However, the computation complexity of carrying out automated theorem proving is a serious limitation. It is a limitation that we will find in subsequent chapters significantly impacts the Semantic Web. Decidability In the 1930s, the mathematical logician, Kurt Gödel shook the world of mathematics when he established that, in certain important mathematical domains, there are problems that cannot be solved or propositions that cannot be proved, or disproved, and are therefore undecidable. Whether a certain statement of first order logic is provable as a theorem is one example; and whether a polynomial equation in several variables has integer solutions is another. While humans solve problems in these domains all the time, it is not certain that arbitrary problems in these domains can always be solved. This is relevant for artificial intelligence since it is important to establish the boundaries for a problem’s solution. Kurt Gödel Kurt Gödel (shown Figure 2-1) was born April 28, 1906 in Brünn, Austria-Hungary (now Brno, Czech Republic). He had rheumatic fever when he was six years old and his health became a chronic concern over his lifetime. Kurt entered the University of Vienna in 1923 where he was influenced by the lectures of Wilhelm Furtwängler. Furtwängler was an outstanding mathematician and teacher, but in addition he was paralyzed from the neck down, and this forced him to lecture from a wheel chair with an assistant to write on the board. This made a big impression on Gödel who was very conscious of his own health. As an undergraduate Gödel studied Russell's book Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy. He completed his doctoral dissertation under Hans Hahn in 1929. His thesis proved the completeness of the first order functional calculus. He subsequently became a member of the faculty of the University of Vienna, where he belonged to the school of logical positivism until 1938. Gödel is best known for his 1931 proof of the "Incompleteness Theorems." He proved fundamental results about axiomatic systems showing that in any axiomatic mathematical system there are propositions that cannot be proved or disproved within the axioms of the system. In particular, the consistency of the axioms cannot be proved. This ended a hundred years of attempts to establish axioms and axiom-based logic systems which would put the whole of mathematics on this basis. One major attempt had been by Bertrand Russell with Principia Mathematica (1910-13). Another was Hilbert's formalism which was dealt a severe blow by Gödel's results. The theorem did not destroy the fundamental idea of formalism, but it did demonstrate that any system would have to be more comprehensive than that envisaged by Hilbert. One consequence of Gödel's results implied that a computer can never be programmed to answer all mathematical questions. In 1935, Gödel proved important results on the consistency of the axiom of choice with the other axioms of set theory. He visited Göttingen in the summer of 1938, lecturing there on his set theory research and returned to Vienna to marry Adele Porkert in 1938. After settling in the United States, Gödel again produced work of the greatest importance. His “Consistency of the axiom of choice and of the generalized continuum-hypothesis with the axioms of set theory” (1940) is a classic of modern mathematics. In this he proved that if an axiomatic system of set theory of the type proposed by Russell and Whitehead in Principia Mathematica is consistent, then it will remain so when the axiom of choice and the generalized continuum-hypothesis are added to the system. This did not prove that these axioms were independent of the other axioms of set theory, but when this was finally established by Cohen in 1963 he used the ideas of Gödel. Gödel held a chair at Princeton from 1953 until his death in 1978. Propositional Logic Propositional logic (or calculus) is a branch of symbolic logic dealing with propositions as units and with the combinations and connectives that relate them. It can be defined as the branch of symbolic logic that deals with the relationships formed between propositions by connectives such as compounds and connectives shown below: Symbols Statement Connectives p q "either p is true, or q is true, or both" disjunction p · q "both p and q are true" conjunction p q "if p is true, then q is true" implication p q "p and q are either both true or both false" equivalence A ‘truth table’ is a complete list of the possible truth values of a statement. We use "T" to mean "true", and "F" to mean "false" (or "1" and "0" respectively). Truth tables are adequate to test validity, tautology, contradiction, contingency, consistency, and equivalence. This is important because truth tables are a mechanical application of the rules. Propositional calculus is a formal system for deduction whose atomic formulas are propositional variables. In propositional calculus, the language consists of propositional variables (or placeholders) and sentential operators (or connectives). A well-formed formula is any atomic formula or a formula built up from sentential operators. First-Order Logic (FOL) First-Order Logic (FOL), also known as first-order predicate calculus, is a systematic approach to logic based on the formulation of quantifiable statements such as "there exists an x such that..." or "for any x, it is the case that...”. A first-order logic theory is a logical system that can be derived from a set of axioms as an extension of first-order logic. FOL is distinguished from higher order logic in that the values "x" in the FOL statements are individual values and not properties. Even with this restriction, first-order logic is capable of formalizing all of set theory and most of mathematics. Its restriction to quantification of individual properties makes it difficult to use for the purposes of topology, but it is the classical logical theory underlying mathematics. The branch of mathematics called Model Theory is primarily concerned with connections between first order properties and first order structures. First order languages are by their nature very restrictive and as a result many questions can not be discussed using them. On the other hand first-order logics have precise grammars. Predicate calculus is quantificational and based on atomic formulas that are propositional functions and modal logic. In Predicate calculus, as in grammar, a subject is what we make an assertion about, and a predicate is what we assert about the subject. Automated Inference for FOL Automated inference using first-order logic is harder than using Propositional Logic because variables can take on potentially an infinite number of possible values from their domain. Hence there are potentially an infinite number of ways to apply the Universal-Elimination rule of inference. Godel's Completeness Theorem says that FOL is only semi-decidable. That is, if a sentence is true given a set of axioms, there is a procedure that will determine this. However, if the sentence is false, then there is no guarantee that a procedure will ever determine this. In other words, the procedure may never halt in this case. As a result, the Truth Table method of inference is not complete for FOL because the truth table size may be infinite. Natural deduction is complete for FOL, but is not practical for automated inference because the ‘branching factor’ in the search process is too large. This is the result of the necessity to try every inference rule in every possible way using the set of known sentences. Let us consider the rule of inference known as Modus Ponens (MP). Modus Ponens is a rule of inference pertaining to the IF/THEN operator. Modus Ponens states that if the antecedent of a conditional is true, then the consequent must also be true: (MP) Given the statements p and if p then q, infer q. The Generalized Modus Ponens (GMP) is not complete for FOL. However, Generalized Modus Ponens is complete for Knowledge Bases (KBs) containing only Horn clauses. An other very important logic that we shall discuss in detail in chapter 8 is Horn logic. A Horn clause is a sentence of the form: (Ax) (P1(x) ^ P2(x) ^ ... ^ Pn(x)) => Q(x) where there are 0 or more Pi's, and the Pi's and Q are positive (i.e., un-negated) literals. Horn clauses represent a subset of the set of sentences representable in FOL. For example: P(a) v Q(a) is a sentence in FOL, but is not a Horn clause. Natural deduction using GMP is complete for KBs containing only Horn clauses. Proofs start with the given axioms/premises in KB, deriving new sentences using GMP until the goal/query sentence is derived. This defines a forward chaining inference procedure because it moves "forward" from the KB to the goal. For example: KB = All cats like fish, cats eat everything they like, and Molly is a cat. In first-order logic then, (1) KB = (Ax) cat(x) => likes(x, Fish) (2) (Ax)(Ay) (cat(x) ^ likes(x,y)) => eats(x,y) (3) cat(Molly) Query: Does Molly eat fish? Proof: Use GMP with (1) and (3) to derive: (4) likes(Molly, Fish) Use GMP with (3), (4) and (2) to derive: eats(Molly, Fish) Conclusion: Yes, Molly eats fish. Description Logic Description Logics (DLs) allow specifying a terminological hierarchy using a restricted set of first-order formulas. DLs have nice computational properties (they are often decidable and tractable), but the inference services are restricted to classification and subsumption. That means, given formulae describing classes, the classifier associated with certain description logic will place them inside a hierarchy. Given an instance description, the classifier will determine the most specific classes to which the instance belongs. From a modeling point of view, Description Logics correspond to Predicate Logic statements with three variables suggesting that modeling is syntactically bound. Descriptive Logic is one possibility for Inference Engines for the Semantic Web. Another possibility is based on Horn-logic, which is another subset of First-Order Predicate logic (see Figure 2-2). In addition, Descriptive Logic and rule systems (e.g., Horn Logic) are somewhat orthogonal which means that they overlap, but one does not subsume the other. In other words, there are capabilities in Horn logic that are complementary to those available for Descriptive Logic. Both Descriptive Logic and Horn Logic are critical branches of logic that highlight essential limitations and expressive powers which are central issues to designing the Semantic Web languages. We will discuss them further in chapter 8. Using Full First-Order Logic (FFOL) for specifying axioms requires a full-fledged automated theorem prover. However, FOL is semi-decidable and doing inferencing becomes computationally untractable for large amounts of data and axioms. This means, than in an environment like the Web, FFOL programs will not scale to handle huge amounts of knowledge. Besides full first theorem proving would mean maintaining consistency throughout the Web, which is impossible. Description Logic fragment of FOL. FOL includes expressiveness beyond the overlap, notably: positive disjunctions; existentials; and entailment of non-ground and non-atomic conclusions. Horn FOL is another fragment of FOL. Horn Logic Program (LP) is a slight weakening of Horn FOL. "Weakening" here means that the conclusions from a given set of Horn premises that are entailed according to the Horn LP formalism are a subset of the conclusions entailed (from that same set of premises) according to the Horn FOL formalism. However, the set of ground atomic conclusions is the same in the Horn LP as in the Horn FOL. For most practical purposes (e.g., relational database query answering), Horn LP is thus essentially similar in its power to the Horn FOL. Horn LP is a fragment of both FOL and nonmonotonic LP. This discussion may seem esoteric, but it is precisely these types of issues that will decide both the design of the Semantic Web as well as is likelihood to succeed. Higher Order Logic Higher Order Logics (HOL's) provide greater expressive power than FOL, but they are even more difficult computationally. For example, in HOL's, one can have true statements that are not provable (see discussion of Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem). There are two aspects of this issue: higher-order syntax and higher-order semantics. If a higher-order semantics is not needed (and this is often the case), a second-order logic can often be translated into a first-order logic. In first-order semantics, variables can only range over domains of individuals or over the names of predicates and functions, but not over sets as such. In higher-order syntax, variables are allowed to appear in places where normally predicate or function symbols appear. Predicate calculus is the primary example of logic where syntax and semantics are both first-order. There are logics that have higher-order syntax but first-order semantics. Under a higher-order semantics, an equation between predicate (or function) symbols, is true, if and only if logics with a higher-order semantics and higher-order syntax are statements expressing trust about other statements. To state it another way, higher-order logic is distinguished from first-order logic in several ways. The first is the scope of quantifiers; in first-order logic, it is forbidden to quantify over predicates. The second way in which higher-order logic differs from first-order logic is in the constructions that are allowed in the underlying type theory. A higher-order predicate is a predicate that takes one or more other predicates as arguments. In general, a higher-order predicate of order n takes one or more (n − 1)th-order predicates as arguments (where n > 1). Recursion theory Recursion is the process a procedure goes through when one of the steps of the procedure involves rerunning a complete set of identical steps. In mathematics and computer science, recursion is a particular way of specifying a class of objects with the help of a reference to other objects of the class: a recursive definition defines objects in terms of the already defined objects of the class. A recursive process is one in which objects are defined in terms of other objects of the same type. Using a recurrence relation, an entire class of objects can be built up from a few initial values and a small number of rules. The Fibonacci numbers (i.e., the infinite sequence of numbers starting 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, …, where the next number in the sequence is defined a s the sum of the previous two numbers) is a commonly known recursive set. The following is a recursive definition of person's ancestors: One's parents are one's ancestors (base case). The parents of any ancestor are also ancestors of the person under consideration (recursion step). Therefore, your ancestors include: your parents, and your parents' parents (grandparents), and your grandparents' parents, and everyone else you get by successively adding ancestors. It is convenient to think that a recursive definition defines objects in terms of "previously defined" member of the class. While recursive definitions are useful and widespread in mathematics, care must be taken to avoid self-recursion, in which an object is defined in terms of itself, leading to an infinite nesting (see Figure 1-1: “The Print Gallery” by M.C. Escher is a visual illustration of self-recursion). Knowledge Representation Let’s define what we mean by the fundamental terms “data,” “information,” “knowledge,” and "understanding." An item of data is a fundamental element of an application. Data can be represented by populations and labels. Data is raw; it exists and has no significance beyond its existence. It can exist in any form, usable or not. It does not have meaning by itself. Information on the other hand is an explicit association between items of data. Associations represent a function relating one set of things to another set of things. Information can be considered to be data that has been given meaning by way of relational connections. This "meaning" can be useful, but does not have to be. A relational database creates information from the data stored within it. Knowledge can be considered to be an appropriate collection of information, such that it is useful. Knowledge-based systems contain knowledge as well as information and data. A rule is an explicit functional association from a set of information things to a specific information thing. As a result, a rule is knowledge. We can construct information from data and knowledge from information and finally produce understanding from knowledge. Understanding lies at the highest level. Understanding is an interpolative and probabilistic process that is cognitive and analytical. It is the process by which one can take existing knowledge and synthesize new knowledge. One who has understanding can pursue useful actions because he can synthesize new knowledge or information from what is previously known (and understood). Understanding can build upon currently held information, knowledge, and understanding itself. AI systems possess understanding in the sense that they are able to synthesize new knowledge from previously stored information and knowledge. An important element of AI is the principle that intelligent behavior can be achieved through processing of symbolic structures representing increments of knowledge. This has produced knowledge-representation languages that allow the representation and manipulation of knowledge to deduce new facts from the existing knowledge. The knowledge-representation language must have a well-defined syntax and semantics system while supporting inference. Three techniques have been popular to express knowledge representation and inference: (1) Logic-based approaches, (2) Rule-based systems, and (3) Frames and semantic networks. Logic-based approaches use logical formulas to represent complex relationships. They require a well-defined syntax, semantics, and proof theory. The formal power of a logical theorem proof can be applied to knowledge to derive new knowledge. Logic is used as the formalism for programming languages and databases. It can also be used as a formalism to implement knowledge methodology. Any formalism that admits a declarative semantics and can be interpreted both as a programming language and a database language is a knowledge language. However, the approach is inflexible and requires great precision in stating the logical relationships. In some cases, common sense inferences and conclusions cannot be derived, and the approach may be inefficient, especially when dealing with issues that result in large combinations of objects or concepts. Rule-based approaches are more flexible and allow the representation of knowledge using sets of IF-THEN or other conditional rules. This approach is more procedural and less formal in its logic. As a result, reasoning can be controlled through a forward or backward chaining interpreter. Frames and semantic networks capture declarative information about related objects and concepts where there is a clear class hierarchy and where the principle of inheritance can be used to infer the characteristics of members of a subclass. The two forms of reasoning in this technique are matching (i.e., identification of objects having common properties), and property inheritance in which properties are inferred for a subclass. Frames and semantic networks are limited to representation and inference of relatively simple systems. In each of these approaches, the knowledge-representation component (i.e., problem-specific rules and facts) is separate from the problem-solving and inference procedures. For the Semantic Web to function, computers must have access to structured collections of information and sets of inference rules that they can use to conduct automated reasoning. AI researchers have studied such systems and produced today’s Knowledge Representation (KR). KR is currently in a state comparable to that of hypertext before the advent of the Web. Knowledge representation contains the seeds of important applications, but to fully realize its potential, it must be linked into a comprehensive global system. Computational Logic Programming a computer involves creating a sequence of logical instructions that the computer will use to perform a wide variety of tasks. While it is possible to create programs directly in machine language, it is uncommon for programmers to work at this level because of the abstract nature of the instructions. It is better to write programs in a simple text file using a high-level programming language which can later be compiled into executable code. The ‘logic model’ for programming is a basic element that communicates the logic behind a program. A logic model can be a graphic representation of a program illustrating the logical relationships between program elements and the flow of calculation, data manipulation or decisions as the program executes its steps. Logic models typically use diagrams, flow sheets, or some other type of visual schematic to convey relationships between programmatic inputs, processes, and outcomes. Logic models attempt to show the links in a chain of reasoning about relationships to the desired goal. The desired goal is usually shown as the last link in the model. A logic program may consist of a set of axioms and a goal statement. The logic form can be a set of ‘IF-THEN’ statements. The rules of inference are applied to determine whether the axioms are sufficient to ensure the truth of the goal statement. The execution of a logic program corresponds to the construction of a proof of the goal statement from the axioms. In the logic programming model the programmer is responsible for specifying the basic logical relationships and does not specify the manner in which the inference rules are applied. Thus Logic + Control = Algorithms The operational semantics of logic programs correspond to logical inference. The declarative semantics of logic programs are derived from the term model. The denotation of semantics in logic programs are defined in terms of a function which assigns meaning to the program. There is a close relation between the axiomatic semantics of imperative programs and logic programs. The control portion of the equation is provided by an inference engine whose role is to derive theorems based on the set of axioms provided by the programmer. The inference engine uses the operations of resolution and unification to construct proofs. Faulty logic models occur when the essential problem has not been clearly stated or defined. Program developers work carefully to construct logic models to avoid logic conflicts, recursive loops, and paradoxes within their computer programs. As a result, programming logic should lead to executable code without paradox or conflict, if it is flawlessly produced. Nevertheless we know that ‘bugs’ or programming errors do occur, some of which are directly or indirectly a result of logic conflicts. As programs have grown in size from thousands of line of code to millions of lines, the problems of ‘bugs’ and logic conflicts have also grown. Today programs such as operating systems can have over 25 million lines of codes and considered to have hundreds of thousands of ‘bugs’ most of which are seldom encountered during routine program usage. Confining logic issues to beta-testing on local servers allows programmers reasonable control of conflict resolution. Now consider applying many lines of application code logic to the Semantic Web were it may access many information nodes. The magnitude of the potential conflicts could be somewhat daunting. Artificial Intelligence John McCarthy of MIT contributed the term ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) and by the late 1950s, there were many researchers in AI working on programming computers. Eventually, AI expanded into such fields as philosophy, psychology and biology. AI is sometimes described in two ways: strong AI and weak AI. Strong AI asserts that computers can be made to think on a level equal to humans. Weak AI simply holds that some ‘thinking-like’ features can be added to computers to make them more useful tools. Examples of Weak AI abound: expert systems, drive-by-wire cars, smart browsers, and speech recognition software. These weak AI components may, when combined, begin to approach the expectations of strong AI. AI includes the study of computers that can perform cognitive tasks including: understanding natural language statements, recognizing visual patterns or scenes, diagnosing diseases or illnesses, solving mathematical problems, performing financial analyses, learning new procedures for problem solving, and playing complex games, like chess. We will provide a more detailed discussion on Artificial Intelligence on the Web and what is meant by machine intelligence in Chapter 3. Web Architecture and Business Logic So far we have explored the basic elements, characteristics, and limitations of logic and suggested that errors in logic contribute to many significant ‘bugs’ that lead to crashed computer programs. Next we will review how Web architecture is used to partition the delivery of business logic from the user interface. The Web architecture keeps the logic restricted to executable code residing on the server and delivering user interface presentations residing within the markup languages traveling along the Internet. This simple arrangement of segregating the complexity of logic to the executable programs residing on servers has minimized processing difficulties over the Web itself. Today, markup languages are not equipped with logic connectives. So all complex logic and detailed calculations must be carried out by specially compiled programs residing on Web servers where they are accessed by server page frameworks. The result is highly efficient application programs on the server must communicate very inefficiently with other proprietary applications using XML in simple ASCII text. In addition, there is difficulty in interoperable programming which greatly inhibits automation of Web Services. Browsers such as Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator view Web pages written in HyperText Markup Language (HTML). The HTML program can be written to a simple text file that is recognized by the browser and it can call embedded script programming. In addition, HTML can include compiler directives that call server pages with access to proprietary compiled programming. As a result, simple-text HTML is empowered with important capabilities to call complex business logic programming residing on servers both in the frameworks of Microsoft’s .NET and Sun’s J2EE. These frameworks support Web Services and form a vital part of today’s Web. When a request comes into the Web server, the Web server simply passes the request to the program best able to handle it. The Web server doesn't provide any functionality beyond simply providing an environment in which the server-side program can execute and pass back the generated responses. The server-side program provides functions as transaction processing, database connectivity, and messaging. Business logic is concerned with logic about: how we model real world business objects - such as accounts, loans, travel; how these objects are stored; how these objects interact with each other - e.g. a bank account must have an owner and a bank holder's portfolio is the sum of his accounts; and who can access and update these objects. As an example, consider an online store that provides real-time pricing and availability information. The site will provide a form for you to choose a product. When you submit your query, the site performs a lookup and returns the results embedded within an HTML page. The site may implement this functionality in numerous ways. The Web server delegates the response generation to a script, however, the business logic for the pricing lookup is included from an application server. With that change, instead of the script knowing how to look up the data and formulate a response, the script can simply call the application server's lookup service. The script can then use the service's result when the script generates its HTML response. The application server serves the business logic for looking up a product's pricing information. That functionality doesn't say anything about display or how the client must use the information. Instead, the client and application server send data back and forth. When a client calls the application server's lookup service, the service simply looks up the information and returns it to the client. By separating the pricing logic from the HTML response-generating code, the pricing logic becomes reusable between applications. A second client, such as a cash register, could also call the same service as a clerk checking out a customer. Recently, eXtensible Markup Language (XML) Web Services use an XML payload to a Web server. The Web server can then process the data and respond much as application servers have in the past. XML has become the standard for data transfer of all types of applications. XML provides a data model that is supported by most data-handling tools and vendors. Structuring data as XML allows hierarchical, graph-based representations of the data to be presented to tools, which opens up a host of possibilities. The task of creating and deploying Web Services automatically requires interoperable standards. The most advanced vision for the next generation of Web Services is the development of Web Services over Semantic Web Architecture. The Semantic Web Now let’s consider using logic within markup languages on the Semantic Web. This means empowering the Web’s expressive capability, but at the expense of reducing Web performance. The current Web is built on HTML and XML, which describes how information is to be displayed and laid out on a Web page for humans to read. In addition, HTML is not capable of being directly exploited by information retrieval techniques. XML may have enabled the exchange of data across the Web, but it says nothing about the meaning of that data. In effect, the Web has developed as a medium for humans without a focus on data that could be processed automatically. As a result, computers are unable to automatically process the meaning of Web content. For machines to perform useful automatic reasoning tasks on these documents, the language machines use must go beyond the basic semantics of XML Schema. They will require an ontology language, logic connectives, and rule systems. By introducing these elements the Semantic Web is intended to be a paradigm shift just as powerful as the original Web. The Semantic Web will bring meaning to the content of Web pages, where software agents roaming from page-to-page can carry out automated tasks. The Semantic Web will be constructed over the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and Web Ontology Language (OWL). In addition, it will implement logic inference and rule systems. These languages are being developed by the W3C. Data can be defined and linked using RDF and OWL so that there is more effective discovery, automation, integration, and reuse across different applications. These languages are conceptually richer than HTML and allow representation of the meaning and structure of content (interrelationships between concepts). This makes Web content understandable by software agents, opening the way to a whole new generation of technologies for information processing, retrieval, and analysis. If a developer publishes data in XML on the Web, it doesn’t require much more effort to take the extra step and publish the data in RDF. By creating ontologies to describe data, intelligent applications won’t have to spend time translating various XML schemas. An ontology defines the terms used to describe and represent an area of knowledge. Although XML Schema is sufficient for exchanging data between parties who have agreed to the definitions beforehand, their lack of semantics prevents machines from reliably performing this task with new XML vocabularies. In addition, the ontology of RDF and RDF Schema (RDFS) is very limited (see Chapter 5). RDF is roughly limited to binary ground predicates and RDF Schema is roughly limited to a subclass hierarchy and a property hierarchy with domain and range definitions. Adding an Ontology language will permit the development of explicit, formal conceptualizations of models (see Chapter 6). The main requirements of an onotology language include: a well-defined syntax, a formal semantics, convenience of expression, n efficient reasoning support system, and sufficient expressive power. Since the W3C has established that the Semantic Web would require much more expressive power than using RDF and RDF Schema would offer, the W3C has defined Web Ontology Language (called OWL). The layered architecture of the Semantic Web would suggest that one way to develop the necessary ontology language is to extend RDF Schema by using the RDF meaning of classes and properties and adding primitives to support richer expressiveness. However, simply extending RDF Schema would fail to achieve the best combination of expressive power and efficient reasoning. The layered architecture of the Semantic Web promotes the downward compatibility and reuse of software is only achieved with OWL Full (see Chapter 6), but at the expense of computational intractability. RDF and OWL (DL and Lite, see Chapter 6) are specializations of predicate logic. They provide a syntax that fits well with Web languages. They also define reasonable subsets of logic that offer a trade-off between expressive power and computational complexity. Semantic Web research has developed from the traditions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ontology languages. Currently, the most important ontology languages on the Web are XML, XML Schema, RDF, RDF Schema, and OWL. Agents are pieces of software that work autonomously and proactively. In most cases agent will simply collect and organize information. Agents on the Semantic Web will receive some tasks to perform and seek information from Web resources, while communicating with other Web agents, in order to fulfill its task. Semantic Web agents will utilize metadata, ontologies, and logic to carry out its tasks. In a closed environment, Semantic Web specifications have already been used to accomplish many tasks, such as data interoperability for business-to-business (B2B) transactions. Many companies have expended resources to translate their internal data syntax for their partners. As the world migrates towards RDF and ontologies, interoperability will become more flexible to new demands. An inference is a process of using rules to manipulate knowledge to produce new knowledge. Adding logic to the Web means using rules to make inferences and choosing a course of action. The logic must be powerful enough to describe complex properties of objects, but not so powerful that agents can be tricked by a paradox. A combination of mathematical and engineering issues complicates this task. We will provide a more detailed presentation on paradoxes on the Web and what is solvable on the Web in the next few chapters. Inference Engines for the Semantic Web Inference engines process the knowledge available in the Semantic Web by deducing new knowledge from already specified knowledge. Higher Order Logic (HOL) based inference engines have to greatest expressive power among all known logics such as the characterization of transitive closure. However, higher order logics don't have nice computational properties. There are true statements, which are unprovable (Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem). Full First Order Logic (FFOL) based inference engines for specifying axioms requires a full-fledged automated theorem prover. FOL is semi-decidable and doing inferencing is computationally not tractable for large amounts of data and axioms. This means, than in an environment like the Web, HOL and FFOL programs would not scale up for handling huge amounts of knowledge. Besides full first theorem proving would mean to maintain consistency throughout the web, which is impossible. Predicate calculus is the primary example of logic where syntax and semantics are both first-order. From a modeling point of view, Description Logics correspond to Predicate Logic statements with three variables suggesting that modeling is syntactically bound and is a good candidate language for Web logic. Other possibilities for inference engines for the Semantic Web are languages based on Horn-logic, which is another fragment of First-Order Predicate logic (see Figure 2-2). In addition, Descriptive Logic and rule systems (e.g., Horn Logic) have different capabilities. Both Descriptive Logic and Horn Logic are critical branches of logic that highlight essential limitations and expressive powers which are central issues to designing the Semantic Web languages. We will discuss them further in chapters, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Conclusion For the Semantic Web to provide machine processing capabilities, the logic expressive power of mark-up languages must be balanced against the resulting computational complexity of reasoning. In this chapter, we examined both the expressive characteristics of logic languages, as well as, their inherit limitations. First Order Logics (FOL) fragments such as Descriptive Logic and Horn Logic offer attractive characteristics for Web applications and set the parameters for how expressive Web markup languages can become. We also reviewed the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how logic is applied in computer programming. After exploring the basic elements, characteristics, and limitations of logic and suggesting that errors in logic contribute to many significant ‘bugs’ that lead to crashed computer programs, we reviewed how Web architecture is used to partition the delivery of business logic from the user interface. The Web architecture keeps the logic restricted to executable code residing on the server and delivering user interface presentations residing within the markup languages traveling along the Internet. Finally, we discussed the implications of using logic within markup languages on the Web through the development of the Semantic Web. Our conclusions from this chapter include: Logic is the foundation of knowledge representation which can be applied to AI in general and the World Wide Web specially. Logic can provide a high-level language for expressing knowledge and has high expressive power. Logic has a well-understood formal semantics for assigning unambiguous meaning to logic statements. In addition, we saw that proof systems exist that can automatically derive statements syntactically from premises. Predicate logic uniquely offers a sound and complete proof system while higher-order logics do not. By tracking the proof to reach its consequence the logic can provide explanations for the answers. Currently, complex logic and detailed calculations must be carried out by specially compiled programs residing on Web servers where they are accessed by server page frameworks. The result is highly efficient application programs on the server must communicate very inefficiently with other proprietary applications using XML in simple ASCII text. In addition, this difficulty for interoperable programs greatly inhibits automation of Web Services. The Semantic Web offers a way to use logic in the form of Descriptive Logic or Horn Logic on the Web. Exercises 2-1. Explain how logic for complex business calculations is currently carried out through .NET and J2EE application servers. 2-2. Explain the difference between FOL and HOL. 2-3. Why is it necessary to consider less powerful expressive languages for the Semantic Web? 2-4. Why is undeciability a concern on the Web? Website http://escherdroste.math.leidenuniv.nl/ offers visualize the mathematical structure behind Escher's Print Gallery using the Escher and the Droste effect. This mathematical structure answers some questions about Escher's picture, such as: "what's in the blurry white hole in the middle?" This project is an initiative of Hendrik Lenstra of the Universiteit Leiden and the University of California at Berkeley. Bart de Smit of the Universiteit Leiden runs the project. Interlude #2: Truth and Beauty As John passed with a sour look on his face, Mary looked up from her text book and asked, “Didn’t you enjoy the soccer game?” “How can you even ask that when we lost?” asked John gloomily. “I think the team performed beautifully, despite the score” said Mary. This instantly frustrated John and he said, "Do you know Mary that sometimes I find it disarming the way you express objects in terms of beauty. I find that simply accepting something on the basis of its beauty can lead to false conclusions?" Mary reflected upon this before offering a gambit of her own, "Well John, do you know that sometimes I find that relying on objective truth alone can lead to unattractive conclusions." John became flustered and reflected his dismay by demanding, "Give me an example." Without hesitation, Mary said, "Perhaps you will recall that in the late 1920's, mathematicians were quite certain that every well-posed mathematical question had to have a definite answer ─ either true or false. For example, suppose they claimed that every even number was the sum of two prime numbers,” referring to Goldbach's Conjecture which she had just been studying in her text book. Mary continued, “Mathematicians would seek the truth or falsity of the claim by examining a chain of logical reasoning that would lead in a finite number of steps to prove if the claim were either true or false." "So mathematicians thought at the time," said John. "Even today most people still do." "Indeed," said Mary. "But in 1931, logician Kurt Gödel proved that the mathematicians were wrong. He showed that every sufficiently expressive logical system must contain at least one statement that can be neither proved nor disproved following the logical rules of that system. Gödel proved that not every mathematical question has to have a yes or no answer. Even a simple question about numbers may be undecidable. In fact, Gödel proved that t here exist questions that while being undecidable by the rules of logical system can be seen to be actually true if we jump outside that system. But they cannot be proven to be true.” “Thank you for that clear explanation,” said John. “But isn’t such a fact simply a translation into mathematic terms of the famous Liar’s Paradox: ‘This statement is false.’” “Well, I think it's a little more complicated than that,” said Mary. “But Gödel did identify the problem of self-reference that occurs in the Liar’s Paradox. Nevertheless, Gödel’s theorem contradicted the thinking of most of the great mathematicians of his time. The result is that one can not be as certain as the mathematician had desired. See what I mean, Gödel may have found an important truth, but it was – well to be frank – rather disappointingly unattractive," concluded Mary. "On the contrary,” countered John, “from my perspective it was the beauty of the well-posed mathematical question offered by the mathematicians that was proven to be false. Mary replied, “I’ll have to think about that.”

H. Peter Alesso wrote a self portrait to reveal his history and experiences that helped him on his writing journey. My Story I love words, but that wasn't always the case. I grew up with a talent for numbers, leading me to follow a different path. I went to Annapolis and MIT and became a nuclear physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Only after retiring was my desire to tell stories reawakened. In recent years, I have immersed myself in the world of words, drawing on my scientific knowledge and personal experience to shape my writing. As a scientist, I explored physics and technology, which enabled me to create informative and insightful books, sharing my knowledge with readers who sought to expand their understanding in these areas—contributing to their intellectual growth while satisfying my own passion. But it was my time as a naval officer, that genuinely ignited my imagination and propelled me into science fiction. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy and serving on nuclear submarines during both hot and cold wars, I witnessed firsthand the complexities and challenges of military operations that seamen face daily. This allowed me a unique perspective, which I channeled into creating Henry Gallant and a 22nd-century world where a space officer fought against invading aliens. Through this narrative, I explored the depths of human resilience, the mysteries of space, and the intricacies of military conflict. My stories let me share the highlights of my journey with you. I hope you enjoy the ride. 1/9 Contact First name* Last name Email* Write a message Submit

Excerpt from Captain Henry Gallant book within the HEry Gallant Saga. Captain Henry Gallant AMAZON Chapter 1 Streak Across the Sky Cold night air smacked Rob Ryan in the face as he stepped out of the Liftoff bar—a favorite haunt of pilots. He was still weaving his way through the parking terminal looking for his single-seat jet-flyer when a familiar face appeared at his elbow. Grabbing his arm, his friend said, “You shouldn’t fly. Let me give you a ride.” Ryan straightened to his full six-two height and shrugged off his friend’s hand. “I’m fine,” he said, swiping a lock of unkempt brown hair out of his eyes. “Don’t be pigheaded. There’s a difference between self-reliance and foolishness.” He pushed past his friend. “Nonsense. I fly better when I’m . . . mellow.” As he left his buddy behind, he noticed a young woman who had come out of the bar after him. He had spent the past hour eyeing this smokin’ hot redhead, but she had been with somebody. Now she was heading out on her own. She glanced at him and quickened her pace. A thought penetrated the fog in his mind. I’ll show her. At his Cobra 777 jet-flyer, he zipped up his pressure suit, buckled into the cockpit, and pulled on his AI neural interface—all the while imagining a wild take-off that would wow the redhead. He jockeyed his jet along the taxiway onto the runway. When the turbo launch kicked in, the black-and-chrome jet spewed a cloud of exhaust and dust across the strip. He jammed the throttle all the way in and gave a whoop of pure joy at the roar and explosive thrust of the machine. The exhilaration—a primitive, visceral feeling—increased by the second, along with his altitude and speed. His love of speed was only matched by his almost unhealthy fascination with flying machines—too fast was never fast enough. For a few seconds, his mind flashed back to his very first flight. The thrill only lasted a few minutes before the mini flyer spun out and crashed. Without a word, his father picked him up and sat him back down in the seat, restarting the engine with a wink and a grin. Clearest of all was the memory of his father’s approval as he took off again and soared higher and faster than before. Now he sliced through the crisp night air in a military jet that had his name engraved on the side. He ignited an extra thruster to drive the engine even hotter. Riding the rush of adrenaline, he pulled back on the stick to pull the nose up. Atmospheric flying was different than being in space, and for him, it had a sensual rhythm all its own. As he reached altitude, he pulled a tight loop and snapped the jet inverted, giving himself a bird’s-eye view of the ground below. But instead of reveling in admiration as expected, he found himself fighting for control against a powerful shockwave as a Scorpion 699 jet blew past him. The blast of its fuel exhaust was nothing compared to the indignation and shame that burned his face. It was the redhead. Damn. She’s good. His pulse raced as he became fully alert. Determined to pursue her, he angled the ship across air traffic lanes, breaking every safety regulation in the book. Instinctively his eyes scanned the horizon and the edges around him, watching for threats or other machines that might interfere with his trajectory. Pinwheeling in a high-G turn, he felt the crush of gravity against his chest, yet still, his hand on the throttle urged ever more speed from the machine. He lost track of the Scorpion in the clouds, and in mere seconds she maneuvered behind him. He tried to shake her using every evasive maneuver he had learned in his fighter training but couldn’t do it. His eyes roamed the sky, watching for potential dangers. The night sky was dark, but several landmarks lit up the ground below him. Earth’s capital, Melbourne, glowed with activity to the north; a mountain range stretched across the horizon 50 km to the west, and an airport lay to the south at the edge of the ocean. As he scanned the skyline, he noticed a radio-telescope antenna. Impulsively he dove toward it, the Scorpion on his tail. At the last moment, the redhead broke pursuit to avoid the antenna, but in a moment of reckless folly, Ryan crashed through the flimsy wire mesh, no more substantial to his Cobra than a wisp of cloud. “That’ll need a patch,” he chuckled. But once more, the Scorpion blew by him. He watched it roar away as if he were in slow motion. As the redhead curved back toward him for another pass, he gritted his teeth in frustration. With thrusters already at max burn, he punched the afterburner to create his own shock wave and turned head-on into her path. “Damn!” he screamed as the other ship twisted away. His golden rule for staying alive while flying was “never yield but always leave yourself an out.” Folly had made him reckless, and he knew his reflexes were sluggish, but he was pissed at himself for letting this pilot provoke him. Recovering his reason, he leveled off and threw down the skid flaps to reach a more reasonable speed. The jet took the torque and inertia strain, and the flashing red lights on his display turned yellow and then green. Despite his irritation, he allowed himself a faint smile when his AI read the Scorpion’s registration: Lorelei Steward. Good sense advised that he throttle back, but pride won out. Spotting the Scorpion silhouetted against a cloud, he jammed the throttle forward yet again. Finally, behind her, his smile broadened. She wouldn’t slip away this time. She pulled her jet into a violent oblique pop, rolled inverted until the nose pointed to the ground then returned to upright. He stuck with her, move for move. Abruptly she angled for the nearby mountain range. He chased her, low and fast, through a pass and down into a twisting canyon, rolling and pitching in a dizzying display of aerobatic skill. He kept close on her six until they blew out of the ravine. In a desperate ploy to shake him, she turned back toward Melbourne’s airspace and headed straight into a crowded flying highway. Ryan was so close behind that it took a few seconds before he realized her blunder. She had turned into an oncoming traffic lane. The cockpit warning lights lit up the cabin as Ryan dodged a stream of oncoming vehicles. Up ahead, Lorelei ducked under a passenger liner that swerved directly into his path. Time slowed to a crawl as he foresaw his fate—he could escape by pulling up—but that would force the crowded passenger liner to dive and crash into the ground. “Damn it all!” he yelled and dove—leaving the liner a clear path to safety. Through the neural interface, his AI shrieked, TOO LOW! PULL UP! TOO LOW! PULL UP! He used every bit of expertise he could muster to twist, turn, and wrestle his jet into a controlled descent. His vision narrowed as the lights of city and ships gave way to a line of unyielding rocks zooming toward him. In a blink, he ran out of time—and altitude. BRACE FOR IMPACT! The Cobra plowed a trough a hundred meters long across the desert floor. Ryan sat in the cockpit, stunned and disoriented amid the flames and wreckage until his lungs convulsed from the dense smoke. An acidic stench and the taste of jet fuel assailed his nose and throat, rousing him from his stupor. Fumbling to unbuckle the safety harness, he held his breath until he could release the hatch and climb out of his ruined machine. Shaking hands searched his body for broken bones. To his relief, he was intact . . . if he didn’t count the ringing in his ears and the blood that coursed down his face. The maxim from flight school ran through his mind: “Any landing you walk away from . . .” But as he limped away, his beloved Cobra burned into a twisted mound of molten metal, its nose buried in the dusty red ground. He shook his head at the wreck. “Captain Gallant is going to have my ass.”

Excerpt of book Midshipman Henry Gallent at the Academy. Midshipman Henry Gallant at the Academy AMAZON 1 Threadbare Still a boy, not yet a man, Henry Gallant dug his stiff fingers deep into his pockets. He shivered as the bitter-cold wind clawed through his threadbare clothes . “Do you see it?” asked the elderly woman beside him, pulling her shawl tight around her. The overhead streetlamp offered little illumination as they squinted down the dark, winding dirt road. “Not yet,” said Gallant, standing on his tiptoes. The woman was a head shorter than him with a careworn face that the chill air made rosy. Her elegant features revealed that she had once been a beauty, and while time had weathered her, she had aged gracefully. Gallant stomped his feet impatiently while his mind was already racing, considering the prospects for his future. She asked, “Will you visit me when you get liberty?” “Of course, Grandmother,” he said, but he had no idea when that might be. “You know I’ve always tried to do my best, ever since . . .,” Gallant took a deep breath and wrapped his arms tight around his chest. “They were heroes, you know,” she said softly. “I know,” he said as the painful memory boiled up. She had told him many times about the meteor that struck the family outpost on Phobos when he was a child. His parents had only seconds to seal him in an escape pod and couldn’t save themselves. The picture his mind conjured up was of their selfless act. Since that ordeal, he had become obsessed with controlling his emotions. He had learned to set his own rules of behavior, things he would allow himself to express and things he wouldn’t. He kissed her gently on her forehead. “You gave meaning to my parents’ sacrifice by caring for me all these years.” Her work as a clerk by day and a seamstress at night had been taxing but necessary to make ends meet. She said, “You have been a blessing to me. Your freelance programming helped us manage.” She brushed back a tangled lock of brown hair from his forehead and said, “I wish I could have done more to mend your clothes.” “There’s nothing wrong with them,” he said. He stretched his arms wide as proof, but he was careful not to tear open a seam. “They’re perfect.” Anxiously, he stared down the road, wishing the bus had wings. Several minutes later, he said, “I think I see lights.” She brightened. “You’ll soon have a brand-new uniform.” While the bus approached, his grandmother continued to give him last-minute advice and encouragement, but he couldn’t concentrate on her words. As he looked into her eyes and saw her love, he could only feel guilt at leaving her alone. He planned to send her his meager midshipman’s allowance. It wouldn’t be much, but it was all he could do. It will be all right , he thought. The bus sputtered to a stop in front of them. A creaking door opened. Gallant barely had time for a quick hug and kiss before getting aboard. He carried a small bag that contained a change of underclothes and a few toiletries. He made his way to a rear window seat and waved as the bus departed. He watched her figure wave back as it faded into the shadows. The darkness seemed to swallow her like a living thing. Gallant sat next to a woman holding a small spaghetti-armed child. He remained quiet, staring straight ahead. The night was dark and cold along the remote, meandering mountain road. During the first hour of his journey, he worried about leaving his grandmother alone in their tiny mountain cabin. Although it was set in a pastoral valley with a natural spring, it lacked many modern conveniences. Besides his financial contribution over the years, he helped her by taking care of daily necessities. He cleaned the solar panels and maintained the storage batteries. Unfortunately, home delivery in rural areas had not yet taken hold, so he undertook the long jet-flyer trip to the nearest store. Now she would have to manage on her own, and her arthritis had been acting up. How will she manage without me? His emotional baggage shifted during the second hour. While he bounced around in the obsolete vehicle, self-doubt crept in. All his weaknesses, failings, and fears blossomed full form into his mind. He had never been aboard a spaceship, wasn’t a legacy, and didn’t even know a space officer. Most likely, he would be hazed, ridiculed, and driven out as undesirable within a week. His frown deepened with each passing mile, and he began to wish he had never applied for admission to the academy. Finally, he considered getting off and catching the return bus. I’m getting too good at predicting adverse outcomes, he thought. Gallant decided that untrustworthy emotions wouldn’t control him. Instead, he would let his logical mind guide him. He tried to calculate his chances of success. Then, after weighing the pros and cons, he thought, I must be bold. He straightened his spine, lifted his head, and vanquished guilt and fear. Either I make it, or I die trying! That’s all there was to it. Everything changed after that. As daylight trickled over the last hill, the road broadened into a smoothly paved highway. The sun’s resilient brightness lifted his spirits. He couldn’t wait for the adventure to begin.