Galactic League Alpha Explorer Team Eleven

Alpha Team Eleven, one of the best in the business has made a extraordinary discovery, perhaps the biggest discovery in the history of the Galactic League. On the moon of a distant planet in the Travix System, five light years from the frontier of explored space, they have found an abandoned city built by an unknown species. Unlike most abandoned cities, it is not in ruins, but rather in pristine condition. Most curious of all is a unique structure that dominates the center of the city. It is a gigantic crystal pyramid.

Team Eleven is in the Travix System for three months and on the third moon of Travix Seven for forty-five standard days when suddenly Spartan, the artificial intelligence that controls their ship loses contact with them. Up until that day, there had been no evidence of danger or a threat of any kind. Now there is not a trace of them. They have simply disappeared.

Team Members

- Team Commander: Captain Alexia Freeman
- Commander Kevin Hopkins: First Officer
- Lieutenant Commander Chris Cooper: Linguist
- Lieutenant Commander David Snyder: Physicist/Engineer
- Lieutenant Commander Paul Davidson: Chief Engineer
- Lieutenant Stacy Unger: Medical Officer:
- Lieutenant Jerry Hayes: Archeologist
- Lieutenant Jim Nickisti: Archeologist
- Lieutenant Bill MacCaffery: Biologist/Paleontologist
- Lieutenant JG Janice Kepler: Science Officer
- Spartan

Click on the blue bars below for more information on each of the members of Team Eleven

Team Commander: Captain Alexia Freeman

Alexia is a tall, very good-looking woman with dark hair and dark, penetrating eyes. She is exceptionally strong and agile, with muscles perfectly proportioned to her large frame. She has a reputation for being extremely fast on her feet, both physically and mentally.

Alexia is 85 years old, ten years younger than Jake Tarckman, the captain of Team Fourteen. Like Jake she joined the service 50 years ago. She attended the academy the same time that Jake did, where they met and became lovers. After graduation, they considered a more permanent relationship, but that would have interfered with their careers.

Neither Jake nor Alexia were assigned to an Alpha Team after graduation. There were only nine Alpha Teams at the time, and only experienced officers were accepted. Alexia was assigned to a desk job initially, but quickly worked her way up the ranks and was soon given field assignments. She lost track of Jake in those years, but did not forget him.

Years later, when the Alpha Teams were expanded from nine teams to twenty-seven, both Jake and Alexia were transferred to the corps. Jake became the first (and only) captain of Team Fourteen, and Alexia became the first Executive Officer of Team Eleven. It was at the unique training program the league ran for the new teams that Alexia ran into Jake again. They quickly renewed their relationship and enjoyed a few intense weeks of training and nights of passion before once again heading off in separate directions.

Alexia was promoted to Captain of Team Eleven five years later when Jon Powers, Team Eleven's first captain retired. She ran into Jake several times over the next twenty years, primarily at League meetings, but they never had the opportunity to renew their physical relationship.

When Jake learned that Team Eleven had disappeared while in the Travix System, he immediately volunteered himself and his team to investigate. In fact, one could say that it was an intense romantic relationship that occurred 50 years earlier that led Jake Tarckman and Team Fourteen to Beltaria and the Galaxy Keeper.

Commander Kevin Hopkins: First Officer

Kevin Hopkins dreamed of being an Alpha Team Explorer from boyhood. He worked hard, even as a teenager, to obtain the skills, both physical and mental, required for gaining acceptance into the academy. When the time came to apply he made sure his credentials were presented in the most favorable fashion, and he was ready for the tests that he had to take. He did exceptionally well, scoring 179 out of 200 overall, and as a result was the youngest cadet ever accepted into the league academy.

Being the youngest was not always the easiest position to be in as a cadet. He had to prove himself at every turn, not only to the instructors, but to his fellow cadets as well. He stood up to every challenge and won. The result was a strapping young officer that graduated third in his class six years later. He was sharp and he was tough as nails. He also had a reputation for not taking any nonsense from anyone, a trait that ultimately led to his downfall.

His achievements at the academy caught the eye of several Alpha Team captains and he had multiple offers to choose from. He joined Alpha Team Six upon graduation and went off as a young ensign to explore the stars.

Kevin worked his way up the ranks quickly, but promotion requires that there be an open slot of the rank aspired to. Twelve years after graduation he was already a Lieutenant Commander, and a good one, but he wanted to command his own team someday. To do that he would need to become a First Officer, get promoted to Commander, and then become a team's Executive Officer. Only then would he be considered by the League Admirals to become a captain and lead his own team, and then only if a captain's slot became available.

Fortunately for Kevin, his achievements were noticed, and when Alexia Freeman was promoted to Captain of Team Eleven he was transferred to serve under her as First Officer. It was a perfect fit. Alexia was one of the best, and she was thrilled to have a fast rising superstar on her team. It was not long before she put him in for the promotion to Commander that he wanted so much, and she assured him that within a few years she would ask that he be made Executive Officer.

When Team Eleven discovered the Crystal Pyramid on the a moon of Travix Seven, most of the team members thought of the huge bonus they would be receive. Kevin did not care about wealth. All he could think about was how much this would help him when it became time for him to be considered for Captain of his own team.

Then Team Eleven was captured by the Beltarians. The golden robed priests seemed fascinated by their human captives, and interrogated them daily. One day, about three months after Team Eleven was captured, Kevin decided he had had enough. He was simply not going to take it anymore. When Bar'son pushed him for more information he suddenly lost it. The guards responded with the pain sticks, but as bad as it was Kevin kept fighting until he collapsed and died. Death was not what the priests had intended. Bar'son was very upset with the guards, but they were just following orders.

And so it was that one of the fastest rising young officers in the Galactic League came to an untimely end on an artificial planet almost one hundred thousand light years from home.

Lieutenant Commander Chris Cooper: Linguist

Chris Cooper joined Team Eleven immediately following her graduation from the Academy. She had majored in linguistics and ancient languages, skills that were greatly in demand among the explorers, and ones in which few excelled. Chris was an exception to the rule. She was fascinated by the puzzle presented by an ancient document that had never been translated, and she had the perseverance to work on it until she achieved her goals.

Chris was also very athletic, and enjoyed extreme sports. She played on several teams at the academy, but preferred individual sports where she would not be held back by others. She was very strong and agile, and showed little fear, although she had enough sense not to take unnecessary risks or to tackle challenges without proper training and preparation.

Her excellent physical condition, as well as her natural blond hair, blue eyes, and good figure made her very attractive. There were no shortage of suitors, and she dated often, but she never had time for a serious relationship. Her career goals and her love of extreme sports were her first priorities. She found most men to be more interested in themselves than anything else, and she would not allow any relationship to hold her back. The result was while she enjoyed occasional sexual encounters, she always broke off any affairs before they became serious.

Chris proved to be very good at her work on Team Eleven and was highly valued by Alexia for her skills. Promotions had come quickly as the result of her performance. At the young age of forty-five she was promoted to lieutenant commander. When Team Eleven discovered the Crystal Pyramid, Chris found the opportunity to not only do the work she really loved, but also make her mark on history by discovering the key to translating the vast store of information they had found. She was making great progress on her goal to do that, that is until she and the rest of Team Eleven were suddenly transported across the galaxy and became prisoners of the Beltarians.

Lieutenant Commander David Snyder: Theoretical Physicist/Engineer

Dave Snyder was a scientist. He loved science for science sake. He might have become a researcher at a university or a large government laboratory had it not been for his keen sense of adventure. The life of a researcher studying minute details of science and writing endless papers was boring and not real science in his view. To explore the unknown one had to get out their into the unknown. The only way to do that was as an Alpha Team Explorer.

Dave was 54 years old. After earning his doctorate in experimental physics at the young age of 28 he had taken an job in a government laboratory, and had successfully published seven papers in well known and prestigious journals over a five year period. His management was very happy with his work, and he was well rewarded. He could have lived a comfortable life at the upper end of society, but he was bored. Something very important was missing in his view. That something was the excitement of exploring the unknown.

At the age of 33 he applied to the academy. His excellent credentials earned him the opportunity to take the entrance exams. He easily passed all of the exams and physical tests, and was accepted. The academy proved to be much harder than graduate school, at least as he remembered it. In addition to the challenging academic curriculum, all students were subjected to grueling physical training. The standards were very high and only the best managed to graduate.

Dave persevered, and earned high honors, graduating fourth in his class. He was surprised and disappointed when the assignments came out and he was not offered an assignment on an Alpha Team. Instead he was given a research position in one of the League's laboratories. His counselor explained that most Alpha Teams had engineers and science officers, but not theoretical physicists. It took another five years, additional studies in engineering, and a lot of networking for Dave to get the job he was after. It was Chris Cooper, whom he had met at the Academy, who recommend him to Alexia to become a member of Team Eleven.

Lieutenant Commander Paul Davidson: Chief Engineer

Paul Davidson was a no-nonsense engineer, and a damned good one. He believed that his job was to solve problems, and he was good at finding simple solutions to complex problems. The problem was that not all problems yielded to engineering solutions, and sometimes the best engineering solution was not the best answer for non-engineering reasons. These situations frustrated Paul, and he could be quite vocal about his frustrations. None-the-less, Alexia considered him to be an extremely valuable member of the team.

Paul was slightly shorter than the average human male, and a little heavier. That extra weight however was all muscle from the extra hours Paul spent working out. He had dark hair, which he kept cut very short, and dark, penetrating eyes.

Paul had found a new friend when Dave Synder joined Team Eleven. They were both problem solvers, and Dave, with his strong theoretical physics background, brought new insights to the team. Often the two of them could be found in Spartan's lab working on the latest problem or simply discussing issues on the frontiers of science.

Lieutenant Stacy Unger: Medical Officer

Stacy Unger was Team Eleven's medical officer. She was tall, thin, and very attractive with her long auburn hair and green eyes. She was soft spoken most of the time and had an excellent bedside manner, but could be very firm in her directions to a patient, especially one that was less than cooperative in following her directions.

Stacy was well liked by all of the members of Team Eleven, especially by Bill MacCaffery, Team Eleven's Biologist/Paleontologist. Stacy and Bill had met at the Academy, and had become very good friends and occasional lovers. Bill had joined Team Eleven two years after he graduated, and when Jim Fowler, Team Eleven's original medical officer had retired, Bill strongly recommended Stacy to replace him. Alexia was skeptical at first, concerned that Bill was just trying to bring an old girlfriend onto the team, but when she reviewed Stacy's file she decided an interview would be worthwhile.

Alexia and Kevin Hopkins, her first officer, were both very impressed with Stacy at the interview. They decided she would be a great fit, but before Alexia extended the offer to her, she met with both Stacy and Bill individually to assure herself that their past relationship would not interfere with team operations. She told them that she did not have any problems with personal relationships between team members, but that she would not bring Stacy onto the team if there was any possibility that their past or future relationships would interfere with the performance of their duties. When they both assured her that they understood completely that their responsibilities to Team Eleven came first, she decided that Stacy was too good of an addition to the team to pass up. Neither Alexia nor any member of Team Eleven ever regretted that decision.

Lieutenant Jerry Hayes : Archeologist

Jerry Hayes was friendly. In fact, most people who knew him considered him to be a good friend. He almost always had a smile on his face a a friendly greeting for everyone he saw. He was also a good listener, and many people confided in him things they would never tell most people. He was, in many ways, an anchor for the rest of the team. They could always count on Jerry.

He was average height and weight, with dirty blonde hair and green eyes. He was in good physical condition, but was of slim build. He loved to explore and being an Alpha Team Member was the fulfillment of a dream for him, and he let everyone know it.

Life was good for Jerry, that is until Team Eleven was captured by the Beltarians. Still he kept up a positive outward appearance and assured the others that all would work out alright. Then Kevin Hopkins had been killed. That really scared him. Now all he could think about was escaping. This adventure was no longer fun.

Lieutenant Jim Nickisti: Archeologist

Jim Nickisti was a fun-loving adventurous type individual. He was about average height and weight for an adult male and was physically fit. He had a rugged look to him that women found very attractive, and Jim was very fond of women. He also had a quick mind and a strong independent streak. Although he was not particularly studious, he held his own at the academy and graduated in about the middle of the class. This was actually quite an achievement since only five percent of those that started as freshman graduated at all. He might have done even better if he had not spent so much time dating, but he had his priorities.

Jim was an archeologist. He really enjoyed his studies in his chosen field while in school, and had aced all of the finals in that area. Again, he had his priorities. This is what he wanted to do and he made very sure that he got top grades in that area. In fact, he was the top student in his major if you ignored all the courses not related to archeology.

When Alexia had needed a new archeologist for Team Eleven she first attempted to recruit one of the professors from the academy who she knew personally. He told her he was too old and set in his ways, but that if she wanted someone young who loved the field and was his very best student, she should choose Jim. She did. That was ten years before the team discovered the Crystal Pyramid.

Jim loved being an Alpha Team Explorer, and would not trade his job for anything. The one thing he missed was women, at least women his own age who he could jump in bed with. He did enjoy a brief fling with Stacy Ungar when he first joined the team, but she had a long-term relationship with Bill MacCaffery. When things got awkward Jim stepped aside. He did not want to get caught in a love triangle. He was more interested in a physical rather than an emotional relationship.

Then, four years before they discovered the Crystal Pyramid, Janice Kepler joined the team. Jim was immediately attracted by her beauty. She was a little shorter than him, had red hair, fair skin with freckles and sparkling green eyes. Her body was perfectly proportioned and she walked tall and straight. It did not take long for Jim to make his move. Janice was equally attracted to him. They quickly became a couple and before long it was obvious to Jim that their relationship was more than physical, for the first time in his life he had fallen in love.

Lieutenant Bill MacCaffery: Biologist/Paleontologist

Bill MacCaffery was Team Eleven's Biologist and Paleontologist. He loved the study of life, especially ancient life. To succeed in his field he had to have a good understanding of geology and archeology, but he considered both of those fields far less interesting than that of ancient life, preferably animal life, the more intelligent the better.

Bill had enjoyed a brief affair with Stacy Unger when they were both at the academy. He was a few years ahead of her in school, and both of them to were too focused on their studies for a serious relationship. When he graduated he was assigned to a desk job, but after two years he managed to get a position on Team Eleven. This is what he really wanted to do. His only regret was that he had left Stacy behind. He realized too late that she was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Several years after he joined Team Eleven he saw an opportunity to correct the situation. When Jim Fowler, the team's chief medical officer retired, he went to Alexia and recommended Stacy for the job. He told Alexia right up front that he had shared a personal relationship with Stacy, but could honestly vouch for her and hoped Alexia would consider her. He was thrilled when Alexia brought Stacy onto the team.

Bill attempted to renew the relationship with Stacy, but she was cool to the idea and wanted to just remain friends. She was anxious to make a good impression on Alexia and Kevin Hopkins, Alexia's second in command, and still remembered that Bill had left her at the academy without saying goodbye. When Jim Nickisti, who was a real ladies man, joined the team he made a move on Stacy. She responded to Jim's attention and good looks and much to Bill's dismay Stacy and Jim were soon involved in fervent love affair. Bill was heart broken, but did not say anything. How could he?

After a few months of wild sex every night Stacy started to realize that her relationship with Jim was purely physical and she longed for the more gentle, deep emotional type of relationship she had once had with Bill. One night she confessed her feelings to Jim. They broke off their relationship but agreed to remain good friends.

A few weeks later, Bill and Stacy were sitting in Spartan's lounge. Stacy seemed unusually withdrawn. When Bill showed his concern and asked if she was alright, she broke down in tears and told him what had happened. She confessed that she had loved him, but had been afraid to rekindle their old relationship because he had hurt her when he left her at the academy. She had been infatuated by Jim, but it was just not the same.

From that night on Bill and Stacy were a couple. They relationship was deep, but they kept it private. None the less, when they were captured by the Beltarians, the priests recognized these two were mating, and sent them to a breeding laboratory on another planet for study.

Lieutenant JG Janice Kepler: Science Officer

Janice Kepler, the youngest member of Team Eleven, had graduated from the academy only four years before the team was captured by the Beltarians. She was surprised when she was offered the position of Science Officer, since she knew that Lt. Commander David Synder was on the team. She had studied some of his research in school and was very impressed with his findings. Alexia explained to her that while David was a valued member of the team, his scientific background was very specialized. She required someone with a broader science education to be the Science Officer. Alexia assured Janice that she would be working with David, but not for him. Janice jumped at the opportunity.

Janice was a beautiful, young girl with red hair and sparking green eyes. Her skin was fair and she had just the right amount of freckles to go along with her dimples and bright smile. She was proud of her excellent figure and worked hard to maintain it. She had been very popular all of her life and had broken the hearts of many young men. She loved having sex and had enjoyed many partners over the years, but was too busy and too focused on her career to have any long term relationships. As soon as any of her sexual partners started looking for a more permanent or exclusive relationship, she would move on to someone else.

Janice was also brilliant. She loved math and science, in all flavors. Calculus, differential equations, and other advanced mathematics came easy to her. Several of her math professors tried to convince her to major in mathematics, but she was not interested in math for the sake of math. She saw it only as a tool to help her understand the universe through science. She excelled in physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and every other science course she took. Her goal was to understand how the universe worked, at all levels, and science was the way to do that.

When Janice was introduced to Jim Nickisti, she immediately decided that he would be her next lover. He was strong and handsome, and in her eyes very sexual. It did not take long for her to attract him into her bed. Over the four years leading up to the discovery of the Crystal Pyramid the two them became quite a number. While they were both careful to always excel at their own jobs, they were also very open about their sexual relationship. Unlike Stacey and Bill, two of their team mates who were very desecrate and enjoyed a deep, meaningful relationship, Janice and Jim were very open about this being about the sex.

In spite of their casual attitudes toward sex, by the time they were captured by the Beltarians their relationship had become something much more than that. The Beltarian priests were fascinated by the couples frequent copulating and had high hopes that this would produce a human child for them to study. It was this "breeding program" by the priests that led to their need to escape and their flight across Beltaria with Amanda and TJ.

Spartan

Spartan was what Jon Powers, the original Captain of Team Eleven, had named his ship and the artificial intelligence that controlled it. He also gave Spartan a male personality. Spartan was one of the first ships in the league to be treated as a male rather than a female. Ships had been referred to as "she" since before the dawning of the space age. Jon thought that was silly, and preferred his ship's intelligent to be his partner.

Members of the team could optionally choose to have the ship's intelligence be female when talking to the privately, but the public personality would always be male. All of Team Eleven liked the idea of a male ship however, and so Spartan became a man to the whole team.

Spartan, like Team Fourteen's Celi, was a distributed intelligence with nodes throughout the ship and the landing craft. In addition, each team member has a special implant behind their ear connected directly to their brain. It allowed team members to be in constant communication with Spartan as long as they were within range. They could also use this to maintain telepathic communications with each other, a capability that came in very handy in the course of their explorations.