Free Test of Mettle (A Captain's Crucible Book 2) by Isaac Hooke Page A

“Take a snapshot of an AI ship’s performance at any given moment in time, and it will easily outmatch the capabilities of a mixed AI-human crew whose non-machine members are experiencing the best possible morale.”
    “I’m not in the mood to argue with you at the moment.” Jonathan rubbed his eyes.
    “I’m trying to get you in the proper state of mind to address the crew,” Maxwell said. “By putting you in a social state.”
    “It’s not helping. You’re putting me in an anti-social state.”
    “My apologies.”
    “Just give me some quiet time,” Jonathan said. He got up from the soft couch and sat down in the firm chair behind the desk instead.
    “You do intend to address the crew, don’t you?” Maxwell asked.
    “I said some quiet time!” he snapped.
    Finally Maxwell remained silent.
    Jonathan sighed, and then retrieved the speech he had saved on his aReal. He mentally reread it one last time. He could have had his aReal act as a teleprompter while he read it, but he had always been taught that the best speeches were those that were recited from memory. The human brain was the best teleprompter there was, after all.
    “Maxwell,” Jonathan said. “I’m ready to make my announcement to the crew. Activate audio and visual, please.”
    The audio component would be played over the main circuit, while the video would appear in a dismissible window on the aReals of the crew.
    “Cameras and microphones active,” Maxwell said. “Sending preview image to your aReal. Would you like me to transmit the announcement to the captains of the task group?”
    “I would.”
    The captains could either replay the message directly to their crews, or issue their own statements, at their discretion.
    “Transmission will start in five,” Maxwell said.
    “Four.”
    Jonathan straightened. He regarded his realtime image in the video preview area of the aReal, and then tilted his head slightly so that his face appeared perfectly level on the display. He quickly selected the “optimize posture” option from the menu beside the preview.
    “Three.”
    The aReal applied a 3D map to his face, and replaced the video feed with a computer-generated duplicate that would automatically keep his face centered in the frame at all times. From that moment forward, even if he slouched, to the crew it would appear he was sitting with flawless posture, his face pointed directly at the camera.
    “Two.”
    He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and mentally prepared himself.
    “One.”
    Jonathan opened his eyes.
    “Crew of the Callaway ,” he said. “Some of you may have heard the rumors. That we are no longer in our own galaxy. That we’ve traveled through a Slipstream and somehow arrived at a far-flung location across the universe.
    “I’m sad to say, these rumors are true. But we’re not going to give up. Once we have secured this system, we will build a return Gate. Yes, I know. You’ve already waited six months to get home. And now you must wait another six, at the minimum. Probably more.
    “The hope is that the new Gate will take us back to Vega 951. When we have returned to our own galaxy, we’ll find a way to restore the properties of the Slipstream to allow us to reach Prius 3. I have our best scientists and engineers working diligently on the problem.
    “In the meantime, we’re heading toward the inner planets to seek asylum in case enemy reinforcements arrive via the Slipstream behind us. We will remain in hiding for some time, and if the enemy arrives, we will strike from the shadows and destroy them. Once the system is secure, we will return to the wormhole and begin construction of the Gate.
    “We must be diligent. Now is the time when heroes are made. Do not stray from the path. Do not lose hope. This is our greatest test of mettle yet. We will prevail. Captain out.”
    He focused on the terminate icon and the transmission ended.
    “How did I do?” he asked Maxwell.
    “Do you want the lie, or the