Trafford Publishing: Space Command: Journey Into the Universe

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Space Command: Journey Into the Universe - Book I

by G. M. Leahy

156 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-1370; ISBN 1-4120-3542-2; US$17.50, C$20.00, EUR14.00, £10.00

An inexperienced crew find themselves hurled into deep space on an experimental ship. Join the crew as they explore the unknown on their journey through space.

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about the book about the author excerpts catalogue info

About the Book

The book is a concept that began in the minds of a few college students, sort of a "what if?" It mushroomed into a full-blown project that involved the U.S. Navy, Army and the federal government. It started out as an experiment to design a technologically-advanced craft to be used for deep space exploration. The project went awry very early on and the novice crew found themselves accidentally hurled into space.
The pages come alive with spine tingling adventure, unexpected danger and encounters with several alien civilizations - both hostile and friendly. The crew of the USS Constellation face hazards, battle and near death experiences as they learn how to manoeuvre their way back home to the planet earth.

About the Author

Girard Leahy was born on Staten Island, New York in 1954. He moved to Des Moines, IA in the mid 1960's where he still resides with his wife Minda. He enjoys the outdoors, boating and observing wildlife in their natural habitat. His other interests include music, history and photography. Throughout his life he has been an avid science fiction fan and has a strong interest in the American space program.

Excerpts:

THE BEGINNING Early into the 21st century a group of college friends were in a field gathered around a campfire. They were gazing up at the dark star lit sky just outside the capital city. As they sipped down some cold brews the conversation turned to space and intergalactic travel.
John Marsh, who was majoring in Design and Construction Engineering asked a question of the group.
"Wouldn't it be cool if we could build some sort of spaceship and travel into outer space and take our time exploring the universe seeing if there is any other life out there?"
Steve Williams, the Computer Engineering major of the group said, "Yeh, it would be cool to do something exciting, instead of doing the same old 9 to 5 routine, but the cost of building such a ship would be astronomical and I have to worry about repaying all my student loans first."
They all laughed at that.
Bill Stevens, a medical student jumped in and asked, "Why couldn't we make up some silly assed joint departmental project and have the fucking university foot the bill? Hell, the university is always looking for ways to get free money. The bastards are always getting grants for anything?" Everybody at the campout looked at each other with dazzled looks and spontaneously said, "WHY NOT?" Bill grabbed a pen and a writing pad from his tent and the group started to jot down some ideas for a project they could propose to the university board.
That following Monday morning John, Steve, Bill, and several others from the group arranged a meeting with the heads of the Science and Engineering Departments. It turned out that the department heads advised the group that this matter should go before the Dean of the university and board members at their next meeting. The next meeting was coming up fast, it was scheduled at the end of the week, but they were promised time to air the idea before the board. The meeting was long and drawn out, and with the project proposal being the last item on the agenda, the would-be space explorers were having a hard time staying awake while they listened to the mono-toned rhetoric of the university board members. After hearing details of the proposal, some of the department heads and members of the board started shaking their heads in disbelief, with one department head asking them if they were on drugs or were they just out of their minds? A few members were outraged by the amount of time wasted discussing such an outlandish proposal. After further arguments both pro and con, it was finally brought forward that this 'IDEA' should be given some more thought and that it would be brought up at the next board meeting, to be held in one month. As one board member put it, that would give the 'SPACE CADETS' more time to gather facts and figures that would be looked over when the board reconvened.
In the days ahead the members of the campfire were all assigned jobs as to the gathering of information that was needed for the presentation to the university board. It would be a hard sell to gain the support needed for the space adventure.
The majority of the board thought the concept was just a joke and were very skeptical as to the sincerity of the group. The group, looking to show that they were serious about their quest came up with a name for their group and were now calling themselves STAR COMMAND. Steve was doing some research in the university library on space travel and space ship construction when he stumbled upon a naval officer who was preparing to give a lecture to a ROTC class on the history of naval aviators in the N.A.S.A. space program. They started talking about the concept of Star Command and the naval officer seemed to be very interested in its possibilities. Steve asked the officer if he would be interested in becoming part of the team and the officer accepted the invitation.
The naval officer then stated, "Oh by the way, Steve, I may be able to get some support for the project from the navy. Stop down and see me tomorrow at the Naval Reserve Center and we can go over a few details. In the meantime I'll make a few calls."
Steve replied and asked, "GREAT, that sounds like a plan, but who should I ask for. What is your name, sir?" Yates answered, "My name is Yates, Commander Alex Yates, but you can call me Al. See you about 0800 hours. By the way, that is 8 a.m. in civilian language."
Steve got back to his dorm room. He couldn't wait to tell his friends about the possible support he had found from his new acquaintance, Commander Yates. He called John and Bill on the phone and advised them of what may be a very promising avenue to explore, and if things went well with the navy, it would lend credibility to the project. Steve advised them that he would be meeting with the Commander the next morning and invited them to attend. Both
John and Bill agreed to attend the meeting. It looked like things may be happening to get Star Command off the ground and into space.
Yates, in the mean time went back to his office and started making some phone calls. He eventually reached an Admiral Trout at the Pentagon. After hearing some of the initial details of the plan, the Admiral expressed more than a little curiosity and interest. He told Yates that he and some of his colleagues felt the navy should be playing a more active role in the space program. If this project were to get off the ground, the Admiral would insist that the navy play a major part in its development. The Admiral was pressed for time and asked the Commander for his home phone number. He or one of his staff would get back to Yates later that evening on what criteria must be met if the navy was to get involved.
The next morning the meeting took place in the office of Commander Yates at the Naval Reserve Center. After greetings and introductions were exchanged, Commander Yates presented a new member to the team, a Lt. Commander Ralf Edwards, who had served as a navigation officer aboard many ships of the fleet. Ideas were discussed, problems brought up, and speculations were made as to what kind of help would be needed to persuade the university board to fund the project.
Commander Yates broke in and said, "Gentlemen, I have been on the phone most of yesterday afternoon and most of last night talking to the boys in Washington. Let me tell you, they are very interested." The commander looked at the group with a very serious scowl on his face and said, "We do have a slight problem. The navy is willing to fund 95% of the whole ball of wax only if it were a 90% navy team effort as far as the so-called crew is concerned. At this time it seems that only 5% of us are salts. Now, how can we change that?"
Bill jumped to his feet and said, "Well, Captain Hornblower, why don't you just fucking draft us and we can all (singing) In The Navy."
The Commander replied, "Damn, you're pretty smart for a college boy. That's just what I was going to say, smartass." "Well, I guess we better go down to the local five and dime store and get ourselves some sailor suits," Bill snapped back.
Commander Yates said, "Wrong, we have been authorized to wear blue B.D.U's and black boots as our uniform. I just hope you're not too disappointed."
Over the course of the next several weeks the university Star Command group, now members of the Special Naval Space Command Unit and the two salts from the U.S. Navy met constantly, gathering up information and preparing the presentation that they were to give at the next meeting. Finally, on the eve of the board meeting they finished compiling the information for the packet that they would present at the meeting. They were now ready to meet with the university board.
The board meeting, like the last one, was quite long and drawn out. For the second time in as many meetings the Star Command Project was the last item on the agenda. Finally the Dean sarcastically called for the 'SPACE CADET PROJECT UPDATE'. To the astonishment of the board, Commander Yates gave the presentation, and after hearing that the government would foot 95% of the research and building cost, the university board quickly started to change their tune about the project. Not only did the board promise 100% cooperation from all the departments of the university, but also donated 3 aircraft hangers from an old airport that the university had purchased for an avionics program that had never come to life. Space Command was truly in the works and would be a reality soon.
After the meeting Yates, Edwards, and the Naval Space Command Unit members went out to celebrate at a local drinking establishment. Yates toasted, "Enjoy yourselves now, for when the wind fills your sails, you will be hard fast at work with your brow to the grind. So men, down the hatch!"
The old airport that the university purchased years ago for a never developed aviation program was now becoming a top secret base for the construction of Space Command's first star cruiser and the training of her crew. At the dedication ceremony the Space Command team was on hand, as were officials from the university, N.A.S.A., top naval brass, and members of the House and Senate.
Numerous speeches were given about how this project would be the most advanced in the world, utilizing the newest technology from both the military and civilian sectors. Finally, Commander Yates gave a short speech on the history of famous ships of this nation and how fitting it would be to name the first space craft the U.S.S. CONSTELLATION.
"The Constellation, an aircraft carrier -she carried aircraft on her decks. A Constellation, the clusters of stars that were used as a guide for navigation of the early sailing ships, the stars that we wish to explore to expand our horizons of our universe. May the USS CONSTELLATION take us to the fields of stars called constellations."
As he finished his short speech he revealed the crest of the star cruiser that would be displayed inside the aircraft hanger while the ship was being built. Then it was to be mounted inside the ship's hanger deck when the ship was completed.
The crest was a large blue and gold circle with a rope braid on its outside. Inside the circle was the silhouette of an old tall masted sailing ship. Toward the foreground was an image of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation CV-64. A trail of exhaust smoke spiraled upwards off the bow, coming from the Star Cruiser CONSTELLATION as she lifted up into space.
After the dedications were complete, Commander Yates and LCDR Edwards toured the facilities. They checked to see what kind of modifications would be needed on the 3 large hangers and to convert the terminal building into housing quarters and office space.
The runways were still in good condition, so supplies and building materials could be airlifted into the facility. Some of the perimeter fence would need to be repaired and security check points established, but all in all things were not in that bad of shape.
Maintenance crews would be on hand within the next day to take care of the untidy grass that hadn't been cut in years and also the vegetation that was growing up between the cracks in the sidewalk and on the tarmac. The buildings needed some repair inside and out, several windows needed to be replaced, but most of all a fresh coat of paint would do wonders for the appearance of the born again airport. The navy was in a rush to get things started, so the building materials needed for repairs would be brought in at the same time as the supplies for the ship. It would be confusing for the first days of the project, but that would soon pass when the construction of CONSELLATION began. As Yates and Edwards were leaving the facility, a navy security detail was arriving to take control of the old airport. A sentry station was set up at the main gate and several mobile units started to patrol the area. Life was indeed starting to return to the old facility.
The old vacated air traffic center was now under the control of the navy, and construction of the CONSELLATION would soon be underway, whisking in a new age of technology that would soon change the world forever. Man was taking his next step in achieving his destiny of exploring deep space.

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