The story is about a crew that is punished by being sent to the outer reaches of the galaxy. They encounter a derelict ship that appears to be haunted. A doll keeps following the crew and they hear a girls laughter. The girl is alive but in suspended animation. I think she's a genius with propulsion tech. Can't remember much else.
I thought it might be Project: Prometheus by CH DarkStrider but after reading the synopsis don't think so, but you can have a look for yourself. Your clues due make me think I read the story though
https://storiesonline.net/s/10647/project-prometheus
You're right this wasn't it. I was thinking about the story again an I want to say the reason the girl was in suspended animation was that the crew of the derelict ship had gone to a plant close by and were almost wiped out by alien animals. The rest of the survivors suspension pods were damaged I think, so the little girl was the only survivor.
Try this series by Monbade
https://storiesonline.net/series/570/the-alderian-wars
I don't think the haunting shows up until the second book.
@moondog I think you're on the right track as it's Monbade, but I think it's the Destroyers Series (New Federation); the haunting figure is a character named 'Jessica'
https://storiesonline.net/s/57060/the-destroyers-book-1-a-new-beginning
Not listed on SOL but a similar series (minus the haunting) would be Ryk Brown series that starts with 'Aurora CV-01'
I read these, and sadly they're not it. Good reads though, so thanks for the good suggestions.
It IS the series by Monbade. I reread it recently.
She shows up in the second story, and it takes a while to resolve that story arc.
I'm sorry but these are not the stories I'm looking for. I've checked both monblade series recommended. The stories I'm looking for don't invlove war(Alderian Wars). The derelict ship is found floating in an alien solar system not on buried on earth(Destroyers).