Andrew nodded. He was relieved to hear they would all be allowed to go home. “I believe all that can be done. My people have connections with most of the major governments, so we should get the right people to the meeting.”
“Excellent,” replied Lena with a smile. She stood and looked at the other Council members, as well as those in the viewing stands. “Today is an important day, as it marks the beginning of us actively engaging in war against the Druins and the policies of the Confederation. For over one thousand years we have prepared this base and have built up our fleet. If we are successful in taking over the software running the Druin interdiction system then we stand a very good chance of someday returning to our homeworlds and freeing them from the clutches of terror they have been forced to endure.”
“Will the Empire even be remembered?” asked one of the spectators. “We don’t know what the Druins have done back home.”
“No, we don’t,” admitted Lena. “But sometime very soon, we’ll send a mission back to the Empire to determine exactly what remains and what we’ll need to do to free it. However, we must contact Earth first and get the software engineers working on this project.”
“So what do you want me to do?” asked Andrew, wanting a little clarification.
“Go with Captain Masters. He will take you to our communications center, where there is hyperlight communication equipment. Contact your people and inform them of what’s going on. Just remember. For the time being, don’t reveal our exact location.”
Andrew nodded. “I won’t.”
Captain Masters stood and indicated for Andrew to follow him. Once they were out of the Council chambers, the captain paused and turned toward Andrew. “This is a big step we’re taking. There’s a big difference in preparing for war and participating in war. It was very difficult for the Council to come to this decision, but it is the right one.”
-
Captain Masters then led Andrew through the complex and into the communications center. Stepping inside, Andrew was surprised at what was here. Dozens of viewscreens on the walls revealed current media programming from Earth.
“We monitor Earth’s communications constantly,” explained Masters. “Reports are given to the Council on a weekly basis on current advancements and political movements.”
Masters led Andrew to a large communications console. “This is our hyperlight transmitter and receiver. Put in the coordinates of where you want the message to go and press Transmit.”
Andrew sat down. He had brought his laptop with him. “Can I link this to the console?”
One of the technicians standing nearby stepped over and, after a few moments, had the laptop connected.
Taking a deep breath, Andrew pressed the Send button, which should put him in contact with Major Henderson on Earth’s space station.
-
On board the space station, Major Henderson was startled when a red light on a nearby console started blinking.
“What’s that?” asked Colonel Gleeson, the station’s commanding officer.
Major Henderson walked over and turned off the blinking light. “Defective warning light. I’ll have it replaced.” Henderson returned to his command chair and then, after a few minutes, informed the colonel he was going to go inspect one of the small landing bays in the station.
A few minutes later Henderson was in his quarters and had retrieved a laptop, like the one Andrew had. “Andrew?”
“I’m here,” replied Andrew. “I’ve found Sanctuary and have made some new friends. They want to bring a ship to the station, but they have a few requests to make first.” For the next twenty minutes Andrew explained what the Imperials on Pallas wanted.
“Wow! That’s a big list,” said Henderson, impressed. “I’ll have to get in contact with Brett and see what can be arranged. I also understand why your friends don’t want to reveal their location, even though I can guess pretty close to where it must be. How soon do we need to plan this meeting?”
“As you probably have guessed, their ships are quite a bit faster than ours. I’ll be traveling in a stealth light cruiser and one the Druin interdiction system should not be able to detect. Travel time from here to the station will only be a few hours.”
Henderson thought over what he would need to do. First thing would be contacting Brett. “Contact me again in forty-eight hours. I should know something by then.”
“Sounds good,” replied Andrew. “One more thing. Would you tell my parents I’m still alive?”
“Definitely. That will be one job I’ll thoroughly enjoy.”
-
On Lydol Four, Governor Swen met with the admiral in command of the small fleet they were preparing to launch. “If this erupts into a battle between us and the Druins, it will not end well for us. We hope by showing a fleet and a defensive grid above the planet, the Druins will realize we’re serious about this independence declaration. We’re making some promises in the declaration that we hope the Druins will accept.”
“Such as?” asked Admiral Cleemorl.
“Our fleet will not venture out of our system. It will only deal with pirates. None of our ships will venture into Confederation space. We will only trade with nearby Imperial worlds, and we will limit technological advancements.”
Admiral Cleemorl let out a deep sigh. “I don’t think the Druins will see it our way.”
“What do you think their response will be?”
Admiral Cleemorl stood and walked over to the window, looking up at the stars. “They’ll hit us with one of their fleets and then level all the cities on the planet. We’ll lose, at a conservative estimate, 60 percent of our population. Maybe more.”
Governor Swen shook his head. “I don’t know what else to do. If we do nothing, our people will revolt. If they do, the Druins may destroy the entire planet.”
“A rock and a hard place,” uttered Admiral Cleemorl. “Our combined fleet consists of eight battlecruisers and twelve support ships. That’s not a lot to oppose a Druin battle fleet.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“When will you make the announcement?”
“Tomorrow. We’re putting up the defensive platforms tonight, and the last of the fleet units will be here in the morning.”
Admiral Cleemorl returned to the governor’s desk and sat down. “It will take the Druins a few days to respond. Maybe a week before the nearest fleet can get to us. I would suggest we evacuate all the larger cities and get as many people underground as possible.”
Governor Swen nodded. “What do you expect will happen?”
Admiral Cleemorl looked directly at the governor. “If the Druins attack, I expect to die. I will do my duty to the Empire, but I don’t see this ending well.”
Governor Swen watched as the admiral left his office. Swen decided to call his wife. It might be a good idea if she took the kids and went to visit her aunt out in the country.
-
Andrew was in the Council chambers, making the final arrangements before they left for Earth. Brett, Professor Mallory Stark, and a few other Earth Imperials would be on the LaGrange Point station, as well as government representatives of five of the most major countries involved in the space program. The representatives didn’t know for sure what was going on, other than it involved the Endeavor and what happened to it.
“Once we arrive,” Andrew stated, “we’ll board the station, and I’ll introduce you to two members of Earth’s Imperial Council. They, in turn, will introduce you to the government representatives who will be there. Once everyone’s been introduced, Brett Newcomb will give a brief history of the Imperials on Earth to the representatives. Once that’s done, he will have one of you explain exactly what the Human Empire is, the Confederation, and what happened with the Druins.”
“Will they believe us?” asked Admiral Bract. “We’ll be giving them a lot of information they will find hard to believe.”
Andrew smiled. “We will have the Destiny to back up our c
laims. I have spoken to Captain Masters, and he has proposed making a short trip to Mars and back. That demonstration of advanced technology should easily convince the Earth representatives what they’re hearing is the truth.”
Lena nodded, as if satisfied with what she heard. “We will need to open up an embassy on Earth, where we can begin to work on rapidly advancing Earth’s sciences, particularly its space program. If we can successfully implant a virus to control the Druin interdiction system then I see no reason why we can’t drastically improve Earth’s spacecraft, putting the entire Solar System within their reach. We have the science to completely terraform Mars within a twenty-year period, particularly after the discovery of so much liquid water beneath its surface. Venus can be terraformed as well, though its living conditions will never be like Earth or Mars due to its proximity to the sun.”
Andrew nodded. “All you suggest will be strong reasons for the Earth governments to agree to our requests. While it’s not necessary at this time that the entire planet be united, its space services need to be united under one agency.”
-
They spent another hour discussing some of the finer details and then Andrew returned to his quarters. He was surprised to find both Rachael and Kala there, waiting for him. Rachael had finally started speaking to him again and had told him she knew about Kala spending the night. The two women had evidently worked everything out between them with no animosity. He led them both inside his quarters, pointing them to the two matching chairs.
“So, we’re going home,” said Kala, smiling. “It will be good to get back to Earth.”
“We will all be glad to be back,” said Rachael. “I just wonder how much will change with the revelations about the Imperials and the Druins?”
“Not a lot at first,” replied Andrew, sitting down across from the two women. “At first this knowledge will be limited. It will be a strictly need-to-know basis, except for the higher levels of people in the space program. As more and more Imperial technology is introduced, we’ll expand that group until we reach the proper time to reveal the existence of Pallas and what is here.”
“Professor Marcus is staying here for now,” said Rachael. “Adrian says she has so much to learn here that she’s thinking about staying for a year or two. She doesn’t have any close family back on Earth, and she enjoys being on Pallas.”
Andrew nodded. “That won’t be a problem. I suspect ships will regularly travel back and forth between Pallas and Earth once we gain control of the interdiction system.”
“I might come back myself,” said Kala. “I expect an influx of scientists and technicians from Earth coming to learn Imperial technology and science. I want to be a part of that group.”
“Life will change,” replied Andrew. He knew his would. “We will be leaving late tomorrow.”
Rachael stood to leave. “I better go check on Adrian. She was going to one of the habitats, and there’s a good chance she’s gotten herself lost again. I’ll probably have to get Brenda to help me find her.” Rachael left Andrew’s quarters, leaving him alone with Kala.
Kala gestured for Andrew to come sit down beside her. When he did, she leaned into his arms. “This is our last night together on Pallas. Let’s make the most of it.”
Andrew bent down and kissed her. He had no problem with what Kala suggested.
-
Above Lydol Four, Admiral Cleemorl was in his flagship, watching the approaching Druin fleet.
“It’s not as big as I was expecting,” said Captain Fulmar.
“Two hundred of their battleships is still far larger than what we have,” replied Cleemorl. “Governor Swen will try to contact the Druin admiral and see if he can arrange a meeting to discuss the current situation. Even if they don’t agree to our demands, they may be willing to reduce some of the restrictions they’ve placed on us to avoid an armed confrontation.”
Captain Fulmar nodded. “The odds against us are not good. The Druins still have their fusion cannons and their antimatter weapons. If they attack our fleet, I’m afraid the battle will be very brief.”
“The governor is trying to contact the Druin admiral,” reported the communications officer. “So far there has been no response.”
Several more minutes passed as the Druin fleet drew nearer.
“Governor Swen is now sending the list of our demands for peace.”
Admiral Cleemorl’s gaze was glued to the tactical display, hoping to see the Druin fleet come to a stop. It did not and continued to advance.
“No response,” reported the communications officer.
Admiral Cleemorl drew in a sharp breath. “I was afraid of this. Take the fleet to Condition One and pull us back closer to the defensive grid. We’ll add its firepower to ours and hope for the best. Maybe it will be enough to cause the Druins to pause and to consider our offer.”
“I doubt that,” said Captain Fulmar. “These are Druins, and they are cold-blooded. I don’t believe they will talk. They have come here to destroy us and our world, and I’m afraid that’s just what they’ll do.”
-
The small Human fleet moved closer to the defensive grid of Lydol Four. The grid consisted of seventy energy beam platforms and twenty missile platforms. All were protected by weak energy shields.
-
Beneath the surface of the planet, near the capital city, Governor Swen was in a deep underground bunker. It had been built as a secret Command Center, in case the Druins ever attacked the planet. It was also connected to the massive secret underground base.
“No response to our messages,” reported the communications officer.
“They are still advancing on the planet,” added the colonel, sitting in front of the sensor console. “They will be in attack range of our fleet and the defensive grid in another seven minutes.”
General Creel stepped closer to the governor. “What do you want to do?”
Governor Swen let out a deep sigh. “What can we do? We’ve evacuated all the major cities, and many of our people are hiding in the mountains and in what underground shelters we have. The Druins and their policies forced us to this point.”
“Admiral Cleemorl wants to know if he is cleared to fire on the Druins if they fire first?”
Swen leaned back in his chair. The chance of this working had been very small to begin with. “Keep attempting to contact the Druins. Tell them we’re willing to stand down if they are willing to negotiate with us. No one needs to die today.”
The communications officer spent several long minutes attempting to contact the approaching Druin spacecraft. “No response, sir. I’m positive they’re receiving. They’re refusing to acknowledge our communications.”
Swen looked at the general. “Contact Admiral Cleemorl. He has permission to defend himself. If the Druins fire, the defensive grid will be activated immediately. Also order all bunkers and underground facilities to seal themselves in and to prepare for surface bombardment up to and including antimatter missiles.”
Messages were quickly sent out as the people in the Command Center watched the tactical display and viewscreens with growing apprehension. All the media stations were now reporting that a Druin fleet was in the system, and there was a good chance the planet would be attacked. Everyone was told to take cover.
Governor Swen felt ill over what was about to happen. A little over two billion people lived on Lydol Four. He wondered how many would be alive in the following days.
-
“Engagement range,” reported the tactical officer.
Admiral Cleemorl gazed tensely at the tactical display, hoping the Druins would not fire.
“Detecting missile launches and energy beam fire!” called out the sensor officer in a panicked voice.
The Themis shook slightly as an energy beam brushed its energy shield. On the viewscreens, massive explosions filled space, as antimatter missiles slammed into the energy shields of the small fleet of defenders.
“Return fire!” ordered Adm
iral Cleemorl, gripping the armrests of his command chair.
“Defense grid is firing,” reported Lieutenant Bedell from Tactical. “Launching missiles.”
Admiral Cleemorl felt the Themis shake slightly as missiles left the tubes. On the viewscreens, he saw two of his support craft vanish in antimatter explosions, which turned them into molten wreckage.
The Themis shook violently, and red lights appeared on the damage control console.
“Energy beam strike near the stern, close to Engineering,” reported Captain Fulmar. “Emergency bulkheads have closed, sealing off the damaged compartments.”
The defensive grid was now firing. Missiles and energy beams struck the incoming Druin battleships. The shields on the enemy ships glowed but did not go down.
“We can’t bring down their shields!” cried out Lieutenant Bedell. “We’ve hit them with multiple fusion missiles to no effect. The same with our energy weapons.”
On the viewscreens, another Human battlecruiser blew apart as its energy shield collapsed. The defense grid was also being blasted apart from heavy Druin fusion beam fire.
“Message from Governor Swen,” reported Communications. “We’re to withdraw and implement something called Last Resort.”
Captain Fulmar looked at the admiral in confusion. “What the hell is this Last Resort?” It sounded ominous.
“I’ll explain later,” replied Cleemorl. “Communications, contact all our ships and inform them to transition into hyperspace and to meet at the Delius System.” The Delius System was a red giant located twelve light-years from Lydol Four.
The Forgotten Empire: Banishment: Book One Page 15