“Sir?” A young man said to me with a stern question about his voice. “What do you want?” I asked with out looking up at him. I knew what he wanted the same thing they all want: just before they go in. I noticed his shoes all spit and polished I need not look any higher. I coughed, cleared my throat and slowly raised my head until I was looking him straight in the eyes.

“I see they have already got to you haven't they son?. And how about you young lady is it too late for me to talk you out of this?” the young lady snapped to attention why I swear she grew another two feet just with pride. “Sir all responsible citizens of the union knows that it an honer to serve in the corp.” It was about then she noticed the hole in my face where my eye used to be as I reached up to wipe away the red, green slime that was slowly making it way down my face from the same hole. She tried not to show but but she cringed a little. “And how about you my young friend are you ready to see things in your night mares and are you ready to put her through it as well?” “We have seen worse.” the young man said “oh believe me you haven't but if you insist pull up a peace of ruble sorry but that's all there is when you live under a bridge after a life time of serving the corp. But you do get a good view of the city from here. OK I will tell you what you think you want to know.”

Quit often things happen in life that we simply do not understand, At least not right away. One such time occurred about three years ago. And it changed the world and life forever.

We were very much in the same mess as we are today. The world was sitting on the brink of war and like every other war before this was to be the war to end all wars. I can’t count the number of times I had heard that while I was growing up and my years at the academe. But the thing is, with the advancement made in the last two years; folks really stared to believe it this time. But come on lets get real as long as there are people getting made at each other; somebody will always come up with a bigger gun then the fellow before him.

By the time we got to the end of the last war, I had seen more suffering then I ever wanted to see again. So I did the only natural thing anybody in my position could do. I became a chaplain in the world military forces, and I climbed in rank rapidly to where I was soon the head chaplain over seeing two thousand other men whose job it was to bring aid and comfort to the masses of the sick injured and dying.

It wasn’t until we were in the fifth year of the war that I decided that I could more good in the military then I ever could as a chaplain. As a chaplain you are limited as to where and when you can go to certain places. But in the military, most often, you are right in the middle the most desperate places on the planet.

It was about know that they came up with the solitaire project.

The solitaire project was the first ever-planetary wide mission that man kind had ever under taken. It seems that a bunch of big shots got together and decided that since we don't know who or what was waiting for us in deep space. And considering the currant planetary wide battles that were going on, Perhaps it would be a good thing to take steps to be the first to great what ever was getting ready to great us. After all what if what ever was out there was not the friendly sort?

Nobody with any intelligence acutely thought it was going to be a real concern, but it was and a lot sooner then anybody had expected. That's way it was a good thing those same powers decided to proceed with the solitaire project.

The solitaire was to be the most advance craft ever conceived by the mind of man. Not only could she travel faster then light, but also when needed, the ship, they say can travel through time. And since time travel was still an untried science the whole thing was nothing but speculation. Dreamed up to make the population happy.

It took five years and twenty billion dollars to build the ship. But that was just the start, a ship like this had to have a very special crew and lets say a unique command staff. Which is where I come in. They seemed to think that with my experience I would be the best choice to command the solitaire.

Who am I you ask my name is John Baxter commanding the solitaire? All the hype was true; she was the most advanced ship ever built for space flight. But four years after she was built and christened we still don't know if all the on board commands functioned properly. Yea we were able to test the short-range weapons and the maxim speed, all that seemed to be fine. But we have never tried time travel. I don't know why but the upper brass just would not give the go ahead for that test. I think as dose most of the crew, there is a problem that they do not want us to know about. All I can do is pray that if it is ever needed, when it is needed the thing will work.

I remember the first time I had seen the ship my mouth dropped to the floor. "That thing really fly's?"

"Yes commander." was the only response I got. The ship interior very nice I would even say laves for the day’s standards we were living in.

You walk up to the outside of the ship and there was no visible means to get in the thing. The ship computer had to perform a retina scan of every one wishing to come on board. At which time the side of the ship just sort of shimmered and a door way opened up about six feet wide by eight feet high from there you stepped on a lift plate that took the rider to which ever level you were to be on.

Upon entering your assigned level a friendly human but still very much a computerized voice welcomed you on board. Once all that was out of the way you then could ask directions if you needed to and the computer would light the way to your destination by a series of blinking lights along the bulk head.

The bridge was a whole other world you stepped out of the lift and the bridge was lad out in a full circle with command seated in the middle. This way every station was the same distance from the commander. When you sat down in the seats at each station the chair would almost come alive, it was like sitting in firm Jell-O as it would grow and form it's self loosely around the body of whom ever sat there. In crises mode the chair would tighten up effectively holding the person in place only allowing for the movement of the arms and head. We were still not sure how well this system was going to work,

The front wall of the bridge was a huge view screen from where you could see ever section of the ship both inside and out. The only place you could not see was a small dark closet down on the sixth level. Every body came to know that closet simply as the hole. The solitaire was also the first ship to use carpet on the decks instead of the cold gray steel of the artafsual gravity plating. Again one of the big shots thought that a happier environment would lead to a happier crew.

The commanders cabin was dark all but the little bit of light coming thorough the windows from the stations running lights and the occsanel search beacon from the ships as they flew by in perfectly timed procession as if they were seeking approval from their commander. A soft crackle is heard as brown clicks his COM badge. " Attires, this is Commander Brown you have a slight lag in your port thrustsers." and with in seconds.

"Yes commander, we will get right on that. Attires out."

"Bill"

" John when did you come in? Do you not know about a little thing called the door bell?"

" I used it but you weren't in here." Bill spins around with a forced smile on his face and his hand extended towards his friend. "What do you mean, I wasn't in here I have been."

"Bill that's not what I mean. You were thinking of her again weren't you?" Bill drops his hand back to his side with no trace of a smile.

"And what if I was? We both know that if I had done things a little different." Bill stops and looks back out the window. "If I had followed procedures she would still be alive." John walks over to his long time friend and gently puts his hand on his shoulder. "We don't know that."

"Yes but."

"And you do not know that either."

"Yes I do" said bill shoving the hand off his shoulder and begins to make his way to the cabin doors as they silently slide open. With out looking back at his friend.

"And you, down inside, you also know It." bill steps through letting the door go shut behind him. He just stands there a few seconds leaning with his back against the bulkhead his body lightly shacking fists clinched tight as the dark echoes of a moonlight serenade reverberates through his thoughts.

The mess hall had never looked as good as it did that night. The first year cadets had been told what an honor it was to be selected as hosts for the upper class men at the graduation ball. A comment I remember was not exactly true.

The upper classes were dressed out in their formal uniforms all spit and polished, not a button out of place, and every shoe so shiny they could see there future reflected in every toe. The big mirrored ball slowly spun high from the ceiling sending little shafts of light dancing across the air as the moon light serenade played softly in the back ground.

Then He saw her standing on the far side of the room. The most beautiful woman he has ever seen. It was clear even this far away she had light brown hair and hazel eyes and the voice of an angel. This angel was Dressed all in white save for just a trace of sliver trim at the bottom of her dress that was just long enough that she appeared to be floating every time she moved. All over the dress were little sparkles of light that he supposed were the tears of all the men she had said no too.

 “Commander “ his thoughts were interrupted. “Commander this is smith sir.” The commander straightened up, head in a proper commander position.“uh yes smith what is it?” “you asked to be informed when we arrived at the star field one, we have done so, sir.” The commander hurried up his trip back to the bridge.

"This is Commander Baxter commanding the solitaire requesting permission to dock." a soft crackling noise was heard coming back from communications. "I say again this is Commander Baxter commanding the solitaire requesting permission to dock. And come on board the station"

"We read you just fine commander." the crackling was replaced by the voice of a lady in a very formal and very military style. "May we ask the purpose of your visit commander?"

"I am bringing your supply's and new crew assignments."

"That's great commander." all the formality in her voice was gone. "With this load we are now a fully functional space station. You are cleared for docking at Alpha bay. And commander welcome aboard the star field one, station clear."

"This is the solitaire, clear." Baxter could hardly wait to get his ship unloaded, he had some down time coming and he had ever intention of taking it right here on the station. It was after all the only place in the known universe that had a forty something singly lady with light brown and hazel eyes and the voice of an angel. Good thing his view screen worked and hers did not. That gave him a clear advenseg. She did not recanige him.

"Star one to the solitaire." there it was again that voice. "This is the solitaire, go ahead station."

"Sorry for the mix up still have some bugs to work out in the system. But I've been told that alpha bay is a no go it's in use. You will need to go to Zulu instead." he didn't want her to know but if she asked him he would go all the way to the moon to unload . "Understood station, solitaire out."

The star one station had the most advanced communication system ever built. Some of the equipment was considered to be above top secret and no one person on board knew everything there was to know about communication command.

It was believed that we could talk our self's out of any problem that came along. But there were still twelve banks of disruptor lasers, over seven hundred torpedoes and countless numbers of hand weapons just in case that talking thing didn't work out.

Carefully and with great care the solitaire was maneuvered around the other spacecraft in orbit around the station. There were generals flagships nestled in next to freight hailers, which under any other circumstance would never happen. You know given the size of it space is very crowded place, but it's not every day a station goes on line.

Just as they got to the place they need to be the huge doors in the side of the station slide up and out of sight and at long last with a gently thud the ship came to rest on the station. The ship computer told every one that all systems were now sucaur and commander Baxter walked up behind his pilot and laid his hand on his shoulder.

"Good flying Mr. Brown, as soon as the ship is unloaded take a few days of rest you have earned it for not scratching the generals ships." Baxter turns on his heals and heads back to his command "communications ship wide if you please."

"You’re on sir."

"Everyone of you did excellent in your duties the last few weeks. I want all of you to take a couple days of rest. Then when you get back we must ready the ship for what ever it is were are to do next. Baxter out."

As Baxter made his way to the exit he couldn't help but still be amazed at the things this ship could do. But there was still that nagging feeling that something was not right with the time warp components. Enough of that now he wanted to get to the station to meet his angel.

The air was pierced “Attention all hands and special guests. It is time on my count the station will began rotation and we will be a fully active station.” you could almost here it through out the sector even one took a deep breath and held it. As the countdown began. “3, 2, 1, anceate.” and with that the thrusters jumped to life and slowly and methodically the station began moving. “Lady s and Gentlemen star one Is open for Business.” a very loud shout was heard across the universe.

The interior of the station was not at all what you would expect. As you entered the main docking bay the first thing that great you is the most interesting sight. An animated hologram is there to welcome you on board. It had about five minuets of information for the new visitors it told of the stations do's and don’t s and the fact that the bridge was strictly off limits to all guests unless you were invited to go there.

All long the walls you could find computer panels to aid the guest if they

Found that they were very much the same system as on the ship. Baxter thought to himself.

"Commander Baxter?" a soft-spoken rather young nervous voice got my attaching. "Yes." a

"I am privet Smith, sir" the young privet snapped to attention, buttons shinnying in the corridor lights. Every hair was in place and just the right length and he had the regulation smile.

"O my dear privet I see they got you to."

"Pardon!"

"Never mind it's to late any way.

"Yes sir any way I was sent to escort you to the bridge sir." young Mr. smith turned sharply on his heels and started in the other direction then stopped when he noticed that his charge was not moving as requested.

"Sir if you will please follow me the others are waiting as we speak." Baxter hurriedly took a few steps to catch up with his guide.

"Can you tell me what this is all about. After all I had." smith abruptly cut Baxter off in mid sentence and just for moment slowed his pace. "You had better ask them that for your self sir."