The Commander Read Online Free Page A

back toward the hangar. Luke had to walk quickly to keep up.
    Inside the hangar, Sam stopped next to one of the shuttles and pointed. “See that red line on the floor?”
    “Yeah.”
    “That’s an industrial size replicator. Keep people out of it. George?”
    “Yes, Sam.”
    “I’m taking my shuttle. Can you give Luke a replacement? I want him to have at least two shuttles after I take Lucy .”
    “Certainly, Sam. Have a good trip.”
    A warning horn sounded and red lights flashed along the walls next to the indicated area. The air shimmered and a shuttle began to appear. The shape solidified and after two minutes the flashing lights and warning horn stopped.
    “Fabrication complete,” George announced quietly. “This is Duffy .”
    The small shuttle looked exactly like Sadie .
    “Okay,” Sam announced. He reached out and shook Luke’s hand. “I think I’ve covered everything. George, you take care of Luke and answer any other questions.”
    “I will, Sam.”
    “Wait a second,” Luke shouted. “What are you talking about? You’re leaving?”
    “Gotta run, buddy. This ain’t the only star system that needs saving.”
    “You said you’d be here for weeks! I just met you today.”
    “Hey, who do you think built this Moonbase? These things don’t happen by themselves. A little gratitude would be nice.” Sam spoke to his shuttle, “ Lucy , open up. We’re leaving.”
    “Ready to go, Sam,” Lucy replied.
    The door opened and Sam stepped into the cargo bay. He looked back at Luke. “Good luck, kid. Knock ’em dead. I’m counting on you.” Sam waved good-bye as the cargo door closed, hiding his smiling face within.
    Luke’s protestations went unheard as the shuttle lifted up and zoomed out of the hangar and up into space. He watched the spacecraft disappear into the distance, a fading dot that vanished all too soon.
    “Transfer of authority complete,” said George. “Welcome, Commander Blackburn. Bakkui invasion five years away and counting. What are your orders?”
    “Five years? Sam said it was ten years at the earliest.”
    “Please accept my apologies, Commander. Sam is a PR guy, not a military strategist. He is known to exaggerate quite frequently.”
    Luke clinched his fists in frustration. “Of course. Why am I even surprised?” Luke walked slowly back toward the food court, lost in thought. The task set before him was unbelievably staggering. His mind whirled dizzily as he sorted through the permutations. Maybe I’ve just gone insane. That would be nice. It would be easier to accept, certainly, and probably a lot less stressful.
    A quiet voice spoke in the back of his mind. No, Commander. You are not insane . Luke realized with a start that it was George.
    “Do we have telepathy or something?” Luke asked aloud.
    Not as such, Commander. But I wanted you to be aware that we can communicate directly. Simply speak to me as though we are in a room together. Even if you are on Earth, I will receive that communication.
    “Sounds a lot like telepathy,” Luke observed. Can you hear me now?
    “Loud and clear, Commander,” George responded verbally.
    Not sure I like this, Luke thought. He threw the cheeseburger and fries, already cold, into an opening that looked like a trash receptacle built into the counter. A momentary buzz and flash of light from within seemed to confirm his theory.
    “Give me a beer,” he said to the replicator.
    “ That object is not programmed ,” the tinny voice replied.
    “What do you have programmed?”
    “ Cheeseburger and fries are the only items in inventory .”
    “Figures.”
    “ That object is not programmed .”
    “Never mind.”
    “ That object is not programmed .”
    There were obviously varying levels of AI. Luke returned to his shuttle.
    “Hey, Sadie .”
    “Yes, Commander?”
    “Can you take me back to the hangar in Baggs?”
    “Of course, Commander.”
    “You know, I haven’t filed a flight plan or anything. Will they see us