Mona is an exceptional pilot and her ability to rendezvous with space objects is amazing. Her love of space is obvious and her superiors are anxious to get her behind the controls of the next highly anticipated technical marvel. The WAMS Leviathan is the next prize available. It is the first ship to have a quantum computer fully integrated into its operation and cybernetic connectivity available to allow simultaneous and instantaneous communication with the human captain. Coincidentally, the computer for Leviathan was designed and constructed by Mona’s parents Doctors Ben and Peggy Lisa.
Excerpt from the Book
As Mona was ending her voice transmission with Dr. Sue Grammar, another communication appeared on Mona’s console. This one was from World Space Alliance Headquarters. There were data and image files attached. Still stunned by her conversation with Sue, she hesitated to open the new transmission, fearful of what she might find.
The transmission header stated, “Official orders for Captain Mona Ann Lisa of the World Alliance Mother Ship Leviathan.” Mona was shocked because the apprentice designation was missing. Is this what I think it is? raced through her mind.
Her hands shook as she pressed the icon that opened the transmission. The first file to open was the mission designation: the initial launch and shakedown cruise of the WAMS Leviathan. The mission statement and destination was next: “Launch from Orbital Habitat Six Deep Space Center within two months from today, resupply mission to Ceres fuel depot. Pick up existing mineral cargo, and crew due for rotation back to Earth. All other mission requirements will be communicated after launch.”
When Mona saw the encrypted images, she almost lost her breakfast. The first image was expected; it was the landmark on Ceres normally used to establish alignment and orbital synchrony with the massive asteroid. However, the second image shocked Mona. It appeared to be a target grid laid over the central plain of a well-known crater on the far side of the moon. There was also another overlay in blue on a feature; she could only guess at its purpose. Mona immediately wondered if her parents might know something about this image.
Nevertheless, Mona had to be on cloud nine; not since the Gold Medal ceremony at the World Games had she approached such heights of accomplished recognition. At barely over two hundred years of age, Mona had just become the youngest official captain of an off-world ship of any size or mission. If only she felt happy about her phenomenal accomplishments; however, all she could feel was nauseating apprehension.
