The Originator Wars: Explorations: A Lost Fleet Novel

by Raymond L. Weil

  Occasionally they would stop and Jolban would examine rooms with open hatches. It was strange they were not finding any bodies. “It’s almost as if whoever won this battle stripped the ship of its crew, both dead and alive.”

  “Or other ships survived the battle and removed the dead themselves,” suggested Camlin.

  Jolban stopped and entered a room containing equipment and what looked like control panels. He spent a few minutes examining the panels and then stepped back out. “That room appears to be some type of auxiliary Life Support center. The power is completely dead though there are a few computers we might want to attempt to access on our way back out.”

  The group continued to make their way through the ship. Camlin was carrying a sensor device she was using to scan the rooms and corridors around them. It was this sensor device they were using to guide them to the Command Center.

  After nearly an hour they reached a large sealed hatch.

  “If I’m reading my sensors correctly this appears to be the Command Center. All the wiring controlling various functions on the ship seems to originate from here.”

  “Open the hatch,” Captain Barkley ordered the two leading Marines. They stepped forward and attempted to open the hatch but it didn’t budge. “Use the combat robots.” The combat robots were much stronger.

  The two combat robots stepped forward and grasping the handles on the hatch, turned them. The door swung outward revealing darkness beyond.

  Barkley sent the two combat robots in first followed by his Marines.

  “All clear,” called out Corporal Bennings. “There are not any bodies in here either.”

  Camlin stepped through the hatch looking around. The lights on the combat robots’ shoulders were doing a good job lighting up the room. They were in an expansive circular room with large consoles. The chairs in front of the console were a little bit larger than what a Human would use. Numerous screens hung from the ceiling as well as the walls.

  “It appears to be undamaged,” said Jolban as he came in and started examining some of the consoles. The other AIs with them began doing the same.

  “We need to download the data from as many of these computer consoles as possible,” said Camlin as she stood in front of one she assumed was the navigation computer. “We can learn where this ship has been and if there are more worlds which belonged to this race.”

  “That information will be useful,” agreed Jolban. “There should also be some engineering specifications in the computer files. It will give us a good idea about their technology level.”

  “We’ll need a power source,” said Camlin as she looked over at a nearby combat robot. Fortunately, the robots could be used as an auxiliary power source for the consoles.

  The five AIs quickly got to work connecting the power from the robots to the different consoles. It was a simple matter of opening up panels and locating the incoming power source and splicing the robots’ power to it.

  Captain Barkley watched as some of the panels powered up and others did nothing. “Why are some of the panels not working?”

  “Unknown,” replied Jolban as he finished wiring one. “In the consoles not powering up we’ll remove their memory storage devices. We can rig up something back on the New Horizon to read them though it might take us a while to understand what we find.”

  For an hour the five AIs worked, going from console to console. Each had a miniature computer pad they were using to store the data they were downloading. When one failed to power up Jolban would come over and take the computer apart to remove its memory core.

  Captain Barkley kept a watchful eye. So far there had been no indications of any type of danger to the team.

  Finally Camlin looked around and announced they were done. “Now, let’s go to Engineering and see what we can find there. We should be able to get a good feel for their technology in the engineering spaces.”

  “We also want to stop at that Life Support room and download the data from its computers,” Jolban reminded them.

  Captain Barkley nodded and ordered everyone out of the Command Center. They shut the hatch and made their way back through the ship the way they had come. Barkley wished this exploration jaunt would be over. It was spooky as hell walking through the ship. There was no power so there were no lights. The scariest part was not finding any of the crew.

  They stopped at the Life Support center where Jolban and one of the other AIs removed the data storage devices from the computers. Satisfied he had everything they needed Jolban informed Captain Barkley they could continue.

  They finally reached Engineering after going through several massive hatches and stood staring at the power systems and the ship’s space drive.

  “Fusion energy,” announced Jolban as he examined several consoles as well as what appeared to be a fusion power plant. “A very advanced and efficient system.”

  “The drive system?” asked Camlin as she looked around the large compartment. There were several systems showing damage and it appeared there had been multiple fires in the room.

  Jolban spent several minutes examining more consoles and what appeared to be part of the ship’s space drive system. “Sublight and hyperspace engines. They are on a par with what is being used in the Human Federation of Worlds.”

  “That would indicate their weapons might be similar,” suggested Captain Barkley.

  “Perhaps,” replied Jolban. “We’ll have to examine them in more detail later. Once we have successfully translated their language I would suggest we come back to this ship with a much larger team and begin dismantling some of the equipment so we can better understand it.”

  “Very well,” replied Barkley. He was ready to get off this ship. “Let’s return to the New Horizon and you can make your recommendations to Rear Admiral Barnes. She in turn can speak with Fleet Admiral Strong.”

  “Fascinating,” commented Jolban as he looked around. “There is so much research we need to do here.”

  “After we get back to the New Horizon,” replied Captain Barkley firmly. “Let’s go people. Back to the landing bay.”

  -

  Twenty minutes later the two shuttles left the bay and headed back to the massive super exploration dreadnought. In the cockpit of one of the shuttles, Camlin was studying some of the data downloaded to her computer pad. Much of it seemed to be encrypted. This didn’t surprise her as the information had been taken from the computers of a warship. She was feeling excited about what they might learn from it.

  However, one thing which did concern Camlin was the fact there were no bodies on the ship. It indicated someone had removed them. The question was who? She realized they would need to send teams to other ships and see if they found the same thing there. This was a mystery and one she wanted to solve.

  -

  On the Avenger, Jeremy saw the shuttles exit the large ship and head back to the New Horizon. He wondered what they had discovered. So far the teams he had sent down to the planet were not finding much. All of the large cites and settlements had been destroyed by antimatter weapons. In areas where no bombs had fallen vegetation had overrun the few remaining buildings. It was beginning to look as if any usable information would have to come from the ship wrecks scattered across the system. He would continue the missions down to the planet as well as send some to the other planets, moons, and asteroids. Jeremy was determined to find out just what or who had destroyed this system.

  “The damage to the planet appears to have happened several hundred years ago,” reported Clarissa. “The amount of plant growth in the outlying area which has overrun buildings is indicative of a long period of time passing. There is also considerable plant growth in the cities destroyed by antimatter weapons.”

  “Any idea of how many people there were on the planet at the time of its destruction?” asked Jeremy.

  “Several billion at least,” replied Clarissa.

  “Could it have been the Eternals?” asked Kevin, stepping over close to Jeremy.

&n
bsp; Jeremy shook his head. “I doubt it. We’re too far out.” Jeremy just hoped they hadn’t stumbled across another dangerous enemy. The Eternals were bad enough.

  Chapter Ten

  Admiral Tolsen was in the Command Fortress speaking with General Wilcox. They were in the center of the massive asteroid fortress reviewing the plans for defending New Tellus. The Command Center was huge with hundreds of viewscreens, consoles, and personnel. The Command Center and the supporting structure around it were like a miniature city containing several thousand people. People could stay in the fortress for years without ever having to leave.

  General Wilcox was sitting in her office off to one side of the huge Command Center. On one of the many viewscreens on the wall was a view of one of the new asteroids which had been towed into orbit around New Tellus. Numerous shuttles and other small craft were visible working on the surface. Several boring machines were busy drilling into the asteroid.

  “How long before the asteroids are finished?” Race knew a massive amount of resources were being dedicated to getting the asteroids ready to defend the planet.

  “We’ve moved two new asteroids into orbit. Both are quite large, around twenty kilometers in diameter. The surface of the asteroids will be covered in battle armor as well as the most powerful defensive and offensive weapons we have.”

  “We’re going to provide you with dark energy cannons,” replied Race. “We’re also going to allow you to arm all eight asteroids with dark matter missiles. However, only the asteroids will be allowed to have those weapons.”

  General Wilcox nodded. “That should be sufficient. We’re equipping the shipyards and the Indomitable Class Battlestations with antimatter cannons and missiles. We estimate it will take us three months to finish the conversions. We’re also adding new antimatter power systems as well to replace the fusion ones we currently employ.”

  Race nodded. If they had the time he was certain they could make New Tellus nearly impregnable to an Eternal attack. “What about the Type Two Battlestations?” These were much smaller stations which surrounded the shipyards.

  “We’re improving their fusion reactors. Their primary weapons will continue to be particle beams. We’re also building more to put around New Tellus mixed in with the defense grid.”

  “What about the defense grid?” Race knew there were already hundreds of small particle beam satellites orbiting the planet.

  “We’re doubling the number of particle beam satellites. Their primary function will be to prevent any Eternal missiles from getting through. We’ll also be deploying large numbers of Talon fighters and Anlon bombers to shoot down any missiles that might penetrate the grid.”

  “What about ground defenses?” Race knew the Eternals had ground troops as well as killer combat robots.

  “We have troops on the ground ready in case the Eternals manage to reach the surface. We also have a considerable number of interceptor missiles to shoot down any attack craft that come within range.”

  Race studied the viewscreens showing the defenses the general was talking about. On every screen there was intense activity as the military and civilians in the system prepared for all out war.

  “What will your fleet do when the Eternals come?”

  “Most of us will probably die,” replied Race with a solemn look on his face. “There’s no doubt in my mind the Eternals will attack in overwhelming force. The job of my fleet will be to cut them down in size so your defenses and Admiral Crown’s ships can finish them off.”

  General Wilcox was silent for several long moments. “I can assure you we’ll do everything in our power to keep them away from New Tellus.”

  Race hoped the general was right. New Tellus was the first world, other than Ceres, settled by the survivors from the old Human Federation of Worlds.

  -

  In the Solar System Fleet Admiral Nagumo was speaking to President Treadway. They were on board the admiral’s flagship, the battleship Luna. They were currently in orbit around Earth near one of the twelve massive battlestations protecting the planet. Each battlestation was three thousand meters in diameter and heavily armed.

  “Still having trouble with the council?” asked Nagumo.

  Evelyn nodded with a tired look in her eyes. “A few of the senators are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect their worlds, then you have others like Senators Adams and Hanford who are rejecting every one of our defensive proposals.”

  “At least we have the discretionary funding to begin beefing up the fleet and our defenses here in the Solar System,” replied Admiral Nagumo.

  Evelyn looked at the main viewscreen in the conference room. It showed one of the Originators’ large Acceleration Rings being assembled in orbit around the Moon. Within another week the first evacuees would be leaving the Solar System and going to the Dyson sphere in Shari space.

  “We’ve already asked for volunteers to go to the Dyson sphere. We’re starting out gathering young couples with children.”

  “A wise decision. How many people are you hoping to evacuate from the Solar System?”

  Evelyn let out a deep sigh. “I’m hoping for several hundred million. There are many who will refuse to leave their homes. There will be others who will not believe the threat is real. I spoke to Councilor Tureen yesterday; the Altons are much more pragmatic. They plan on moving nearly four billion of their people to the Dyson sphere. Another forty million are moving to the City of Lights in the center of the galaxy. They plan on defending their home system and two others. That leaves a lot of others undefended.”

  “I know,” replied Nagumo. “They’re sending most of their science ships to the Dyson sphere and many of their most esteemed scientists. Those who don’t wish to go to the Dyson sphere are going to the City of Lights.”

  Evelyn had never been to the City of Lights. It was a massive city on the Altons original homeworld. “I would like to see the City of Lights once the Altons are moved in.”

  She could well imagine what the city would look like with inhabitants once more. The Altons had a major military presence in the system as they were studying the massive computer complex under the city, which held all the Alton’s ancient knowledge.

  “What’s being done to the shipyards here in the Solar System?”

  “Adding defenses,” replied Nagumo. “We’re also building more Indomitable Class Battlestations, a large number of Type Two Battlestations, and massively increasing the defensive grid above both Earth and Mars.”

  Evelyn took a deep breath and then gazed directly into Fleet Admiral Nagumo’s eyes. “Can we save Earth and Mars?”

  Nagumo had a pained look in his eyes. “I honestly don’t know. It depends on how badly the Eternals want us dead. Even if we hold Earth and Mars against the expected attack what’s to prevent the Eternals from returning again and again until they finally defeat us?”

  Evelyn’s eyes widened as she realized what Fleet Admiral Nagumo was saying. “Then all we can do is hope to buy additional time to evacuate more of our people to the Dyson sphere.”

  “I’m afraid so,” replied Nagumo. “If the Eternals continue to attack they will eventually weaken our defenses to the point where they can get through to the planets.”

  President Treadway was silent as she thought over what the fleet admiral had just said. She looked over at a viewscreen showing the blue and white globe of Earth. Nearly seven billion people were currently living on the planet with almost two billion more on Mars. There were also small colonies on the moons of some of the planets as well as the major asteroids.

  “Do the best you can. The longer we can hold out the more of our people we can evacuate to the Dyson sphere.”

  -

  After the president left, Fleet Admiral Nagumo instructed the Commander of the Luna to take the flagship to the Moon to inspect the lunar defenses. They were quite powerful as the Fleet Academy was located there as well as other training facilities. Leaning back in his chair he closed his eyes, thinking about
what was ahead. War was coming to the Human Federation of Worlds, one they could not win.

  -

  Councilor Barnes had returned to the Communications and Transport Hub. He gazed around him as his shuttle took him to the Dyson sphere inhabited by the Humans, Altons and Carethians. Massive structures were everywhere. Thousands of shuttles were constantly moving between the titanic constructs. Warships and the forty-kilometer battlestations were gathered in a defensive posture around the structures. In the center of all the structures were the four Dyson spheres.

  It didn’t take long for his shuttle to land and for an air car to fly him to the Tower where he was meeting with the rest of the council. Councilor Tureen was still back on the Alton homeworld making arrangements for a mass evacuation. The Altons were a more logical race and getting them to move to the Dyson sphere was much easier than it was for the Humans. Humans had a tendency to doubt everything they were told even when shown overwhelming evidence. Councilor Barnes suspected once the attack by the Eternals began, there would be a mass rush by the Human population to evacuate.

  As the air car landed, Councilor Barnes couldn’t help but notice how busy the ultra modern city was. Everywhere people were going about their business running the massive city. As they flew in Barnes had noticed more cities being constructed in the distance. Once the evacuation of the Human Federation of Worlds was complete as well as the Alton worlds, the populace would be moved gradually from the Dyson sphere in the home galaxy to this Dyson sphere. There was room here for more than one thousand times the population of the Humans, Altons, and Carethian worlds combined.

  Entering the Tower Councilor Barnes quickly made his way up to the council chambers in one of the upper levels. The Tower was busy as always since it was the governmental and military center for the hub. There were members from the Originators, Humans, Altons, Carethians, and Originator AIs working on nearly all levels. The Tower also held the main Communications Center.

  Reaching the council chambers, Councilor Barnes went inside to find the other councilors already present.