Deep Space Probe: Kronos

A manned deep space mission goes horribly wrong.

Decades in the future, when near-light-speed space travel is a reality, an explosion rips through deep space probe Kronos, crippling it, killing half the crew, and terminating their assignment.

The Perseverance, a new class of military ship with the capacity to catch up to Kronos, is launched, carrying the uncanny Colonel Bruce on board. His ability to overcome every obstacle, coupled with a secret mission he can't reveal, makes him a formidable, if inscrutable hero.

Murder and sabotage become commonplace onboard ship. It is up to Colonel Bruce to unravel the mystery . . . and live long enough to tell all that he knows.

When President of the United States Robert Hughes Daley saves a survivor of a flying vehicle off the coast of the Seychelles:

"What say we take your helmet off and let you breathe some fresh air, Captain."

"Good idea," the pilot exasperated wearily. He then touched a button at his wrist, and the helmet came off with another hiss of an airtight seal being broken. The pilot then reached up and removed the helmet completely. Daley could only stare in confusion. The skin color, the shape of the eyes, texture of hair, the teeth - oh, my God - the teeth!

The pilot, for gross appearances was human, but upon further examination was no more human than the orangutans of Borneo.

(About the Author)

John B. Macurdy grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, received two degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and currently resides with his wife Michelle in Santa Barbara, California. He originally wrote this story in 1990, and has updated it.