Lieutenant Year 4 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798185029176)

Montgomery Hale has been promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade and now has greater responsibilities on the USF Providence. He has junior officers reporting to him for the first time, and a mission list that does not care about the new bar on his collar. The fleet doesn't slow down for a promotion ceremony.

A pathogen outbreak at Hark Mining Station threatens to kill thousands. A mysterious wreck drifting in the Mehlin Corridor raises questions fleet command would rather not answer. And an alien probe broadcasting on an unknown frequency from a species nobody in the Union has met has Captain Price asking, why now?

Three problems for one bridge crew, and a lieutenant who has spent four years lying about who he is - and who is starting to suspect the bill is coming due.