Looking at the tactical display, Cheryl saw the nine red threat icons representing the pursuing Lamothian warships. She shuddered as she remembered what she had recently gone through. “Where’s Daryl?” She wanted to thank the Marine for everything he had done for her.
Trisha laughed. “Still asleep. From what I heard, he ate a huge meal, downed several beers, and then headed to bed.”
“He’s a good man,” said Cheryl. “I’m glad we had him and Mark onboard.” She knew Mark had probably saved her life. She would never forget him.
-
Hours later Admiral Cleemorl watched the tactical display. They were nearing the star system where they would rendezvous with Cheryl’s ships. A communications check earlier had confirmed Cheryl’s small fleet was still on course and on schedule.
“How do we handle this?” asked Captain Fulmar. “This must be coordinated for it to work.”
“We’ll drop out of hyperspace and form up in a half arc—facing toward where we expect Cheryl’s fleet to drop from hyperspace—and power down. As soon as they’re in range, we’ll have them drop out directly in front of the Themis, in the center of the arc. Once Cheryl’s fleet has joined us, the dreadnoughts will power back up and will move forward to cover her ships. A soon as the Lamothians appear, our battlecruisers will power up to move in to engage. With a little luck we’ll catch the Lamothians by surprise before they realize a fully armed fleet is waiting for them.”
Captain Fulmar frowned and slowly shook his head. “What you’re suggesting is risky. We’ll need Cheryl’s ships to drop out of hyperspace within one thousand kilometers of our warships.”
Dylan nodded. “We’ll give them better coordinates when they get closer. That should allow them to appear where we want them.”
-
A few minutes later the Themis dropped from hyperspace in the X-248-B star system, a red dwarf star with two ancient planets in orbit. The most distant planet was frozen solid and smaller than Mars. It resembled a giant ice ball, floating in space. The second planet was a large gas giant with six moons in orbit.
“Fleet assuming arc formation,” reported Captain Fulmar.
On the tactical display, the ships quickly moved into their assigned positions. On the main viewscreen, only a few of the ships were visible as the arc curved outward for nearly two thousand kilometers.
“Ships powering down.”
“The trap is set,” said Dylan. “How far out is Cheryl?”
“Two hours and twelve minutes,” reported Lieutenant Trisha Marks.
“Everything seems to be on schedule,” said Captain Fulmar.
Dylan leaned back in his command chair. “Yes, it does. Now we just wait and hope everything works out as we’ve planned.”
Dylan knew this would be a long two hours. Two hours in which he would worry constantly because Cheryl’s life and those with her would be at risk.
-
Cheryl was in the Command Center of the Princess Haven as it exited hyperspace, along with her two escorts and the two stolen cargo ships. Her gaze went to the main viewscreen, searching for the Themis and finally zoomed in on the flagship of First Fleet. Cheryl felt relief just knowing Dylan was so close.
“Detecting sixty battlecruisers and eleven dreadnoughts,” reported Luke Monty from his sensor console. “They seem to be in an arc formation, and we’re in the center. Dreadnoughts are moving toward us.”
“How soon before the Lamothians arrive?” asked Captain Bryan worriedly.
“Now!” replied Monty, as nine red threat icons appeared behind the Princess Haven. “Battlecruisers are moving forward as well.”
“Move us behind the dreadnoughts,” ordered Bryan. “Do it now!”
-
The Princess Haven and the two cargo ships surged forward, with the two escorts covering their rear. Even as they started moving, weapons fire erupted between the two opposing forces. The dreadnoughts and the battlecruisers opened fire as soon as the Lamothian ships dropped out of hyperspace. In massive explosions, four of the Lamothian ships were blown apart before their shields could stabilize. The other Lamothian ships found their energy shields covered in bursts of energy from exploding antimatter and fusion missiles. Energy beams flicked out, seeking any weaknesses in the shifting and wavering screens.
-
The Lamothian commander’s eyestalks quivered. “Send a hyperlight message back to the Confederation and to our home planet that we have flown into a trap. I doubt any of our ships will survive. Send data on the ships we face.”
The battleship suddenly shook violently, and numerous alarms sounded. The sound of tearing and stressed metal was prevalent. Smoke filled the Command Center as showers of sparks from overtaxed consoles exploded across the compartment.
The Lamothian commander used four of his six appendages just to stand upright, as his battleship fought desperately to survive the onslaught.
“Hyperlight message sent,” reported the communications officer. “I sent a data package as well.”
The lights in the Command Center suddenly dimmed and stayed that way. Several consoles shut down completely from a lack of power.
“I’ve diverted all power to the energy screen,” the systems officer informed the commander. “Energy screen is down to 18 percent effectiveness.”
The Lamothian commander’s eyestalks focused on the ship’s main viewscreen still locked on the five small ships they had chased. The Humans were now out of his reach, and he wondered what the consequences would be for his home planet in allowing them to escape. Suddenly a loud tearing noise was heard, followed by the sound of escaping atmosphere. The lights went out, and suddenly it felt very cold. Then, in a searing blast of heat and light, the Lamothian commander and his crew died.
-
Admiral Cleemorl watched the main viewscreen, as the last Lamothian warship was blown apart. The trap had worked, and the Princess Haven and the ships with her had survived.
“Admiral, Cheryl is coming over in her shuttle,” reported Lieutenant Newsome. “She wants to talk to you about the other Human captives still held in the Lamothian system they escaped from.”
Dylan and Captain Fulmar exchanged glances.
“Is there anything we can do?” asked Fulmar.
Dylan slowly shook his head. “I don’t see what. We only have a portion of our fleet, and, even if we had all of First Fleet, I would hesitate risking it by going that deep into Confederation space. Those Lamothians surely sent at least one transmission to the Confederation before they died. No chance of surprising them again.”
-
Cheryl went onboard the Themis and was quickly escorted to the Command Center, where Dylan waited. As soon as she entered, she wanted to rush into his arms, but just too many people were watching, and he was an admiral.
Even so, she was surprised when Dylan rose from his command chair and crossed the room to give her a big hug and a long kiss on the lips. Several of the officers in the Command Center laughed, and the women smiled.
“I’m glad to see you’re back,” said Dylan, as he released Cheryl. “You had me worried.”
“I screwed up,” confessed Cheryl. “I should have listened to you. I just never expected the Lamothians to do what they did.” A serious look crossed Cheryl’s face. “Dylan, they are holding several million Humans captive, as well as tens of thousands of aliens taken from the Highland Station System. The Lamothians have entire families. Men, women, and even children. If you don’t do something, they’ll all be consumed as food.”
Dylan let out a deep sigh. “What do you expect me to do? I only have a portion of my fleet with me, and that Lamothian system will be heavily defended now, with the escape and the loss of this Lamothian fleet.”
Cheryl bit her lip and then answered. She had been thinking about this for several days now. “Threaten to destroy their world if they don’t turn over their captives.”
“Destroy their world?” replied Dylan, as a frown crossed his face. “They
no doubt deserve it, but I don’t see how we can accomplish that with the fleet I’ve currently got at my disposal.”
“That’s why you’re an admiral. Please figure something out.” Cheryl couldn’t bear the thought of all those families dying in such a gruesome manner.
Dylan returned to his command chair and sat down. “Several million people?”
“Or more,” replied Cheryl.
-
Dylan blinked his eyes. Cheryl was asking him to do the impossible.
“What if we dropped out of hyperspace close to their planet?” suggested Captain Fulmar. “We inform them that we’ll nuke their cities unless they turn over all of their captives.”
Dylan looked at Fulmar. His captain really wanted to rescue the captives too.
“Contact Captain Bryan and see if this planet has a defensive grid around it.” If it did, Fulmar’s plan would never work. The fleet would be blasted to bits as soon as it exited hyperspace.
Dylan considered if it was even conceivable to do as Captain Fulmar had suggested. Most likely a number of Lamothian warships in orbit would have to be dealt with. It would take a few minutes at least for his threat to reach the proper government authorities. During that time they could be engaged in heavy combat.
“No defense grid,” reported Lieutenant Newsome, as he spoke to the communications officer on the Princess Haven. “However, several very large space stations and shipyards are in orbit, and all are armed.”
“Have Captain Bryan send over any scans he may have taken. I want to see what we would be up against, if we attempt a rescue.”
Cheryl reached out and squeezed Dylan’s hand. “I better get back to the Princess Haven, in case you decide to try.”
Dylan nodded. “I’ll assign a couple battlecruisers to escort you to the Empire.”
Cheryl smiled. “Don’t be gone too long.”
Dylan watched as Cheryl left the Command Center. He wanted to ask her so much and to tell her even more, but now was not the time.
“Putting the scans up on the main screen,” reported Captain Fulmar.
-
For nearly an hour, Dylan and Captain Fulmar studied the scans, made plans, discarded them, and then started over. Finally they had a plan that had the potential to work.
“It’ll be dangerous,” said Fulmar, folding his arms across his chest.
Dylan nodded in agreement. “If we’re going to do this, we must go now. Who knows how many of the captives the Lamothians are eating even as we speak.”
Captain Fulmar shuddered. The thought grossed him out, as well as everyone else. The Lamothians must be taught a lesson. “I’ve assigned two battlecruisers to escort the Princess Haven and the other four ships back to the Empire. They should be leaving shortly. I’ve also assigned a few engineers to help onboard the cargo ships.”
Dylan nodded. “As soon as they’re gone, we’ll leave as well. Set a course for the Lamothian world where the captives are being held.”
-
A few minutes later the Princess Haven and her escorts vanished from the system, as they entered hyperspace for the journey back to the Empire. At nearly the same time the Themis set out for the Lamothian planet. It was time to teach the Lamothians a lesson they would never forget.
Chapter Three
Dylan was in the Command Center of the Themis. In another hour they would drop from hyperspace in one of the primary Lamothian star systems. Dylan and Captain Fulmar had spent hours working on a plan that would protect the fleet as well as force the Lamothians to turn over all of their captives, both Human and nonhuman.
“So we drop the fleet out in three separate formations 1,800 kilometers above the planet,” said Captain Fulmar. “Can our hyperspace drives handle that?”
“I spoke to our chief engineer, and he says they can. He thinks we could go as low as eight hundred kilometers, but that would be pushing it.”
On the tactical display, the Lamothian planet appeared, as well as all the space stations and shipyards in orbit. Locations were marked where the three sections of the fleet were to go into orbit. Once in orbit, the Themis would broadcast a prerecorded message. The message was very simple. If the fleet was fired upon, it would bombard the planet with antimatter weapons until all life had been extinguished. In order to avoid this, the planetary government must contact the Themis.
Captain Fulmar blinked his eyes and stood up straight. “I think we’re ready. No matter what we do, this will be dangerous.”
Dylan leaned back in his command chair and took a long drink from the cup he held. It was an iced tea, and it felt extremely refreshing. “Have all ships go to Condition Two, since we’re deep in Confederation space. We’ll go to Condition One ten minutes before emergence.”
Captain Fulmar nodded and quickly gave the order. The fleet had already been at Condition Three.
Looking at the tactical display, Dylan noted the nearer star systems. Most were uninhabited. Those that were inhabited had Confederation warships in them. The Confederation controlled over sixty thousand inhabited star systems in this section of the galaxy. Every year it grew larger and larger. If something wasn’t done, a time would come when the Confederation would control the entire galaxy. Once that happened, all hope of freedom would be lost forever.
-
The hour passed, and the Themis and the rest of its fleet exited hyperspace around the Lamothian planet. As soon as it did, the message Admiral Cleemorl had recorded began broadcasting. The fleet made no hostile move, other than to raise its energy shields and to open its missile tubes.
“Scan those space stations,” ordered Dylan. “I want to know how many Humans are on them.” Dylan hoped many of the Humans who had been brought to this system were still onboard. It would make everything much easier.
Lieutenant Casella spent nearly a full minute doing scans and then turned toward the admiral with a confused look. “I’m not detecting any Human life signs, sir.”
Captain Fulmar looked concerned. “Where are they? As many as they took, I would have expected some to still be onboard the space stations.”
“On the planet,” said Dylan, looking at a viewscreen that showed the Lamothian world. “They’ve all been taken down there.”
Captain Fulmar and Dylan exchanged glances. They both knew what this could mean.
“Admiral, Lamothian battlecruisers and battleships are moving toward our vessels.”
“Message from the surface,” reported Lieutenant Newsome. “If we fire one single missile, our fleet will be destroyed. We are to surrender and to allow our ships to be boarded.”
Dylan had expected that response. “Tell them we won’t fire one single missile but hundreds. Also tell them we want to speak with a top government official immediately.”
“All the Lamothian warships in the system are converging on our ships,” warned Lieutenant Casella.
“We’ll be greatly outnumbered,” said Captain Fulmar, as he watched the tactical display.
Looking at the display, Dylan saw multiple red threat icons. “Tell them if a single one of their ships fires upon us, we’ll launch every missile we have at the planet.” Dylan hoped it didn’t come to that. But the Lamothians had to know he was serious.
-
On the surface of the planet, the Lamothians stared at one another with consternation at the appearance of a heavily armed Human fleet in orbit.
“We must destroy them immediately,” declared the Lamothian in charge of food allocations.
“Why are they here?” asked another.
“They threaten to attack our world. We must find out what they want,” said the Lamothian in charge of the orbital space stations.
The planetary governor listened and then made his decision. “We will contact their leader and see why they are here. In the meantime, the military will move our fleet into position to destroy them. We do not negotiate with inferior races.” The governor just wanted to stall for time until his fleet was in position, and then they would ann
ihilate the intruders.
-
Dylan watched worriedly as the Lamothian fleet closed in around his ships. “Scan the surface for signs of Human life.”
Lieutenant Casella nodded and focused the ship’s powerful sensors downward to sweep the planet. It would not take long to locate any Humans who might be on the planet’s surface.
“I have the planetary governor on the comm,” reported Lieutenant Newsome.
Dylan nodded. He was actually a little surprised the governor had answered. “This is Admiral Cleemorl of the Human Empire dreadnought Themis. We have come for the Humans and other intelligent species you took forcefully from Highland Station.”
“You are in Confederation space without permission,” replied the governor in a cold and steady voice. “The penalty for that is death. There is no longer a Human Empire.”
“I will ask only one more time,” replied Dylan, unfazed by the governor’s threat. “I want all the Humans and other intelligent species you are holding against their will on your planet brought up to the space stations and loaded onboard cargo ships. If you fail to do this, I will bombard your entire planet with antimatter missiles.”
Silence came from the comm, as Dylan looked at Lieutenant Casella. “What are you picking up?”
“Nothing,” she said, her face turning pale. “I’m not picking up any signs of Humans and only a few nonhumans.”
“What happened to them?” asked Lieutenant Marks.
The comm suddenly became active again as the Lamothian governor spoke. “The food animals you refer to have already been consumed in our annual feasts of celebration. It is our right as Lamothians to feed upon subintelligent species. We have done so for tens of thousands of years and will continue to do so for thousands more.”
Dylan leaned back in his command chair, stunned. Several million Humans had been taken from the Highland Station System. Now he was being told they had all been consumed by the Lamothians. He suddenly felt nauseous and very angry. There had been women and children who had been taken. Now this Lamothian governor was telling him they had all been eaten.
The Forgotten Empire: The Battle For Earth: Book three Page 3