Conflict Unending

by Raymond L. Weil

  “Twenty heavy dreadnaughts and two hundred battlecruisers are more than I need. There should be no danger on this mission. We are going to Galaxy X-346 to inspect eight fleet bases. All should be finished with their current modifications. There will be four construction ships accompanying us which will be installing the new dark energy cannons on the bases.”

  “Yes, that’s to help ensure they can survive an Eternal attack. As for why you have such a large escort fleet, the Eternals have already attacked one of our galaxies destroying its fleet base and are no doubt going on to the next. Even in Galaxy X-346, which does not possess a Dyson Sphere, there is always a chance of encountering an Eternal fleet. Unfortunately that is our new reality. We must always be prepared for combat.”

  “You are wise,” Grayseth replied. “I should be back before the first of my people arrive from Careth. It will be good to expand upon the packs we already have here and add several new ones. This is a good world to raise our cubs with many forests and mountains to teach them the ways of the hunt.”

  “To the hunt,” replied Jeremy.

  “To the hunt,” replied Grayseth.

  Grayseth turned to go and then stopped. “Perhaps by the time I return you will have a young one. Kelsey will make a good mother and example for your child. Someday he or she will be going out on the hunt with my own cubs. We will have many stories of our adventures to tell around our fire pits in the future.

  Jeremy smiled. He knew Kelsey was due any day. He also knew Grayseth was right; someday their children would be going out on missions against the Eternals. That was one part of being a father Jeremy was not looking forward to.

  -

  The next day Grayseth stepped on board his new flagship. The new Warrior’s Pride was much more powerful than the previous one. There was no doubt in Grayseth’s mind if he’d had this vessel in the Median Galaxy his ship would not have been destroyed.

  Stepping inside the Command Center, he smiled upon seeing a few familiar faces. Shantor was at the Sensors, Makeb at Communications, Belmar at Damage Control, and Farsalk the Navigation and Helm. Antolth was now Chief Engineer and in the engineering section. Hawthorn was his new second in command. The former Carethian Marine had served Grayseth well on the planet where they had all been marooned. There had only been twenty survivors when Jeremy managed to rescue them from the Median Galaxy. All were aboard the new Warrior’s Pride.

  “Fleet is ready to depart,” reported Hawthorn.

  “It is time to go on the hunt,” said Shantor. “We have a fine ship.”

  “To the hunt,” replied Grayseth with a wide grin. “Farsalk, take us out.” The new Warrior’s Pride had a much smaller crew than the previous one. Grayseth had learned his lesson when his ship had been destroyed and taken so many Carethian lives with it. Many had been lifelong friends.

  “The Accelerator Ring is ready to activate,” reported Kamdel from the Science Station. He was an Originator AI, one of twelve on the large warship. Two others were assigned to different shifts in the Command Center and the rest were in Engineering.

  Grayseth sat down, feeling the command chair adjust to his large proportions. “Then activate it. It is time for us to go.”

  “Travel time to Galaxy X-346 will be seventy-eight hours,” Kamdel informed Grayseth as he pressed several icons on his computer screen.

  On the ship’s main viewscreen, the massive Accelerator Ring began to power up. Suddenly a swirling blue vortex formed, filling the void inside the ring.

  -

  The Warrior’s Pride and her attending fleet accelerated and entered the vortex. Moments later the Accelerator Ring shut down and the vortex vanished.

  On the Avenger, Jeremy smiled to himself seeing the departure of the Warrior’s Pride and her fleet. Grayseth was off on the hunt and he knew his Bear friend would be pleased. As leader of the Carethians on the Dyson Sphere, he preferred to lead by example. Jeremy was certain, knowing Grayseth, the Bear would find some type of trouble to get into somewhere in Galaxy X-346. He always did.

  Chapter Seven

  Commander Zafron watched the tactical displays as his fleet approached the target system. From the long-range scans, it appeared this star system held two large shipyards of the Eternals. Two convoys from the Stralon Star Cluster had entered it and gone into orbit around the system’s fifth planet.

  “Sensors are detecting only nine Eternal battlecruisers,” reported Captain Grayson. “They’re all in orbit around the planet.”

  “None hiding under stealth?” This was a concern of Commander Zafron. The Eternals had advanced stealth capabilities. However, the sensors on the Dominator should be able to detect Eternal stealth fields as a void area in space.

  “None detected,” reported Grayson.

  “Our own stealth fields are activated,” pointed out Kazak. “It is doubtful the Eternals even know we’re in the area. They probably assume we are still in the Stralon Star Cluster seeking additional worlds to target.”

  Commander Zafron gazed for several long moments at the tactical display. For some reason this system made him feel uneasy. “Kia, take the fleet in. Put us two million kilometers away from the planet.”

  “We could jump closer,” said Kazak, looking confused. “There’s no reason not to jump within weapons range and immediately engage the shipyards. They will be easy targets.”

  Zafron shook his head. “This seems too easy. The Eternals in this system must know of what we’ve done to the other system containing shipyards as well as our attacks in the Stralon Star Cluster but it appears they have taken no precautions to defend against an attack. When we drop out of hyperspace I want additional scans taken of the entire star system, particularly planet five. There may be defenses on the planet the Eternals are counting on to handle our fleet.”

  “Hyperspace dropout in four minutes,” reported Kia.

  “All ships are at Condition One,” confirmed Kazak.

  -

  In the targeted star system on the far side of the sun, a massive Eternal warfleet was hovering as close to the star’s surface as possible to avoid detection by the inbound Originator fleet. One of their own stealthed vessels was following the Originators at extreme range, monitoring their approach.

  “We shall eliminate this threat,” boasted Fleet Commander Durant as he watched the tactical display. Special sensor satellites deployed away from the star were sending updated tactical information to the ship’s computer, which was then displaying it on the tactical display.

  “We are the Eternals,” said Carmmod, the second officer. “This will be a swift victory for us.”

  “We must not underestimate the Originators,” cautioned Durant. “They have powerful vessels and have demonstrated the ability to be able destroy our ships.”

  Carmmod nodded his understanding. “We have over two thousand of our battlecruisers. While we may take a few losses we have the firepower to obliterate this fleet. It should send a message to the Originators to stay away from our empire.”

  “Prepare the fleet to enter hyperspace,” ordered Durant. “We will swing around the star and drop out of hyperspace within combat range of the Originators. They won’t know we’re even here until it’s too late.”

  On the ship’s main viewscreen, the star they were hovering over was visible. They were so close the screen was showing the violent fusion explosions occurring on its surface. Huge masses of material were being flung upwards only to fall back down. The energy shields were actually showing signs of stress. However, being so close and on the far side of where the Originators would be approaching the planet made the Eternal fleet invisible to the sensors of the Originator fleet. This trap had been well thought out. The Originator fleet would make it into the system but it would never leave.

  -

  The Dominator and her fleet dropped out of hyperspace and instantly began scanning the system for hidden threats. For several long minutes the fleet held its position as the planets in the system were scanned. Particular
care was taken to scan the surface of planet five for hidden weapon emplacements.

  “Sensors are clear,” reported Captain Grayson. “No changes from our previous scans. If there’s anything here we’re not detecting it.”

  This satisfied Commander Zafron though that uneasy feeling still persisted. “Kia, take the fleet in. Kazak, I want both of those shipyards targeted and then we’re leaving.”

  “There are mining facilities on several of the moons in this system,” replied Kazak, looking over at Commander Zafron. “Are you certain you don’t want to take them out as well?”

  “We’ll leave them for now. Something in this system just doesn’t feel right.” Commander Zafron leaned back in his command chair, studying the tactical display. The display was showing eleven red threat icons, the two shipyards and the nine Eternal battlecruisers. Commander Zafron wondered what he was overlooking. He also didn’t understand why there were only nine battlecruisers defending these two large shipyards. It just didn’t make any sense.

  -

  The Dominator rapidly closed on the two shipyards orbiting planet five. The nine Eternal battlecruisers had moved into defensive positions to try to protect the valuable shipyards upon detecting the Originator warships. The fleet was nearly within engagement range when the sensors began picking up a danger.

  “Commander Zafron, there is a large void area moving toward us in hyperspace,” warned Captain Grayson. “It came from around the star and is rapidly approaching.”

  “An Eternal fleet,” surmised Kazak as his hands flew over his tactical console. “It must have been hovering dangerously close to the surface of the star for us not to be able to detect it. They were waiting for us.”

  “Kia, prepare to take the fleet back into hyperspace.” Commander Zafron had no intention of allowing his fleet to fall into this trap. Better to flee than risk major losses.

  “Commander, the two shipyards are transmitting a hyperspace distortion field, locking us out of hyperspace,” reported Kia, her brow creasing in a frown. “We can’t enter hyperspace. This field is different from the previous ones our fleets have encountered. It’s going to take awhile to counter it.”

  “A trap,” said Zafron, seeing his worst fears realized. “All ships form up in defensive formation D-2 while we try to find a way through the jamming field.” Defensive formation D-2 was a spherical formation with the Dominator at its center.

  “We’re within range of the shipyards,” reported Kazak. “I’m targeting them with our dark energy cannons. If we can destroy both of them, it should bring the distortion field down.”

  More alarms began sounding as the Eternal fleet began emerging from hyperspace. On the viewscreens of the Dominator, hundreds of the huge four-kilometer battlecruisers of the Eternals were materializing into normal space.

  “All ships, fire!” ordered Commander Zafron. Looking at the tactical display, it was obvious his fleet was heavily outnumbered.

  “Two thousand three hundred and seventeen Eternal battlecruisers detected,” reported Captain Grayson.

  “We’re receiving a message from the Eternal command ship demanding our surrender,” reported Captain Franklyn.

  Commander Zafron considered replying and then shook his head. “Ignore them; we have a battle to fight.”

  -

  From the Dominator two dark energy beams flashed out, ripping through the energy shield of one of the stations. The beams struck the hull, blasting out a huge chasm. Secondary explosions rattled the shipyard blowing huge pieces of it out into space. Dark matter missiles from the Dominator slammed into the energy shield, detonating with devastating force. The shield wavered but held.

  From the two shipyards and the Eternal battlecruisers heavy energy beams and antimatter missiles targeted the Originator fleet. Triplex screens fought to resist the massive onslaught and then began to fail. In massive nova-like explosions, Originator battlecruisers began to die. The firepower being poured into the Originator fleet was too much for even the new triplex energy shields to resist.

  Energy beam fire from the Eternal battlecruisers slammed into the central section of an Originator warship, setting off massive explosions and hurling glowing debris into space. The ship began shaking violently as internal explosions began tearing it apart. In a massive explosion the vessel blew up, spreading more debris across space. Several large pieces slammed into the shields of nearby ships but failed to penetrate.

  An Originator dreadnaught came under heavy fire. Its own weapons were firing nonstop at an Eternal battlecruiser, causing severe damage. Suddenly an Eternal energy beam penetrated the dreadnaught’s energy screen, striking the top section of the ship and blowing glowing debris off into space. Several Eternal antimatter missiles arrived through the gap in the screen caused by the energy beam. In a bright flash of light, the dreadnaught ceased to be. In its place a fiery nova appeared which quickly died away.

  The Originator fleet was losing the battle as its energy shields were being overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the much larger Eternal fleet. A pair of antimatter missiles slammed into the stern of a battlecruiser and the ship vanished in a fiery explosion, leaving glowing debris in its wake. An Eternal energy beam penetrated the weakened energy shield of a dreadnaught, blowing a gravitonic cannon emplacement to shreds and blasting out a deep gouge in the hull. Damage to the fleet was growing rapidly as it fought back trying to survive.

  -

  “We’re taking a lot of damage,” reported Kazak as he continued to use the ship’s dark energy cannons to slowly tear apart the shipyard he was firing upon.

  “We’re still locked out of hyperspace,” added Kia as she worked at her console.

  Commander Zafron could see the worry and concern on the faces of his command crew. “Kazak, use the blue energy spheres to destroy those two stations.” Zafron had been holding them back to use against the Eternal fleet but if he waited too much longer, he wouldn’t have a fleet left. Already space was littered with the wreckage of destroyed Originator vessels.

  “Launching,” replied Kazak as he began sending a steady barrage of the deadly energy spheres toward the shipyard he was slowly decimating.

  On the huge viewscreen covering the front wall of the Dominator, the blue spheres penetrated the shipyard’s energy screen and struck the hull of the large shipyard. Almost instantly large sections of the structure began to grow hazy and come apart as it was converted into space dust.

  The ship’s dark energy cannons continued to pummel the shipyard and then suddenly a massive explosion split the shipyard in two.

  “Shipyard’s energy shield is down,” called out Captain Grayson.

  Almost instantly Kazak fired two dark matter missiles, which finished obliterating the shipyard in a pair of titanic explosions.

  “Hyperspace distortion field is still in effect,” reported Kia. “Hyperspace drive remains offline.”

  Commander Zafron took a deep breath. “Kazak, target the other shipyard. Kia, how close is the computer to finding a way through the hyperspace distortion?” Several Originator scientists had designed a computer program, which was supposed to be able to analyze the Eternals’ distortion fields and find a way around them.

  “Five to ten minutes,” Kia replied.

  “Not good enough,” said Commander Zafron, his eyes narrowing. “Kia, move the fleet closer to the second shipyard. We must destroy it.”

  “That might not work,” said Kazak as he re-targeted his weapons on the other shipyard. He sent off a barrage of blue energy spheres as well as half a dozen dark matter missiles. “The Eternal fleet is no doubt broadcasting the same energy distortion field.”

  “Kazak’s correct,” Captain Grayson said as he looked over at Commander Zafron. “Sensors are detecting the same distortion field being broadcast by a number of the attacking Eternal vessels as well.”

  Zafron’s forehead furrowed in a frown. “Nevertheless, destroy the shipyard and then turn the blue energy spheres lose on the Eternal vesse
ls.”

  Zafron knew if they didn’t crack the frequency of the distortion field quickly, he could lose most if not all of his fleet. He was angry he had allowed himself to fall into the Eternals’ trap. He should have trusted his instincts when he felt there was something wrong coming into this system. Now his fleet was paying a steep price for his error.

  -

  Fleet Commander Durant nodded in satisfaction. The Originator fleet had fallen into the trap he had set. Even as he watched, it was slowly being blown into oblivion by his fleet’s superior firepower.

  “They have destroyed one of the shipyards,” second officer Carmmod reported.

  “A minor loss for destroying this enemy fleet,” Durant said dismissively. The empire had thousands of shipyards scattered through the more than ten thousand galaxies that were part of the growing Eternal Empire. “We can build new ones later.”

  “The enemy flagship has switched its fire to the other shipyard. It won’t last long.”

  “Then it too shall die,” Durant said coldly. “While the flagship is concentrating on destroying the shipyard we are destroying its fleet.” On several viewscreens, Originator battlecruisers were in the process of being destroyed. Their screens were down, and Eternal energy beams were carving them up.

  A sudden flash of light caused the screens to dim.

  “That was the shipyard,” Carmmod reported. “It’s gone.”

  Durant had been expecting this. “Focus our firepower on the ships of the Originator fleet and the flagship. If possible I want to disable it. It’s by far the largest vessel the Originators have deployed against us. I am sure the Eternal Council would be interested in its technology.”

  -

  The fighting between the two fleets intensified. Ships on both sides were being destroyed with the battle tipping more and more in favor of the Eternals due to their vaster ship numbers. Even so, one Eternal ship was dying for every two Originator vessels destroyed. Space was becoming littered with the wreckage of obliterated vessels.