The Firestorm Conspiracy

On long-term leave from the UESF, Fleet Commander John Thompson is drifting through life until an old war buddy-turned-politician swoops in and shatters his carefully constructed illusion of contentment. In fewer than fifteen minutes, John's worries go from avoiding the attentions of a professor with marital baggage to saving the human race - again. Done with ships, and space, and fighting wars, John insists on maintaining his civilian persona for the duration of the mission. However, adjusting to life on board a warship proves more complicated than he imagined. John is horrified to discover he actually enjoys aspects of a journey he thought would be hell. Of course, anything that seems too good to be true always is. A disaster with a quantum generator vaporizes nine crewmembers—including the captain and executive officer...