“The Imperials say they can terraform the planet and make it completely habitable,” answered General Brier. “If we’re to survive, it’ll be necessary to increase our population. I suspect, in just a few decades, we’ll have thriving colonies on Mars as well as on other planets and moons in our Solar System.”
Colonel Simpson, in charge of Pentagon security, frowned deeply. “Should we send some people to Pallas, just to confirm what we’ve been told? We’re assuming they’re telling the truth about everything. What if they’re not?”
“We’ll make sure everything they’ve told us is confirmed,” replied General Brier. “In about two weeks the Destiny will be returning and taking some of our people to Pallas. As a matter of fact the ship will have to make several trips, considering all the people we want to send.”
“I would like to go,” volunteered Simpson. “I would feel much better about all this if I could see it firsthand and if I can verify what they’ve been telling us.”
General Brier thought about it for a minute and then replied. “Why don’t I assign you as a liaison officer to Andrew Wilcox? He will be overseeing the development of the virus, as well as its delivery. That should put you right in the middle of everything.”
Colonel Simpson nodded. “That should work fine, sir.”
“Excellent, you have two weeks to prepare.”
-
The meeting lasted the rest of the afternoon with a long list of priorities made and a second list of wishful priorities. All of these would be discussed with Brett Newcomb and several other members of the Earth Imperial Council. For now they would be the go-to intermediaries between the Earth’s governments and the Imperials on Pallas.
-
When the meeting was over, General Brier and Vice President Hicks remained behind.
“We need to be careful to keep all this off the airwaves,” said Hicks. “From what the Imperials have told us, the Druin interdiction system monitors all of Earth’s communications.”
General Brier nodded. “We’re taking precautions to ensure this doesn’t get out. Only those with the need to know will be brought into the loop. General knowledge of the Imperials and the Confederation will not be released until after we have control of the interdiction system.”
Vice President Hicks looked concerned. “What happens if our virus fails and then the Druin system launches its attack drones against Earth?”
“We have to hope the Imperials can stop the drones. The bigger worry will be what happens if one of the AIs in the interdiction system manages to get a message off to the Druins.”
“We can’t fight the Druins, can we?”
Brier shook his head. “No. In that case, I suspect the Imperials on Pallas would evacuate the Solar System and flee even farther into deep space. To stay here and fight the Druins would probably be a losing proposition, particularly since they don’t have the people to crew all their warships they’ve been building.”
Vice President Hicks leaned back and folded his arms over his chest. He couldn’t believe how complicated everything had become in the last few weeks. “What do you think the chances are that we can take over the interdiction system and not be attacked?”
“I don’t know. We’ve never done anything like this before. In the early years of this century, some of the more rogue countries launched successful virus attacks against electrical grids and other systems to make political points. We know it can be done. We just must hope we get it right. We only get one shot at this.”
“Starting tomorrow I have to leave and begin briefing other world leaders. We need to get the ball rolling on some of these projects as soon as possible.”
General Brier nodded. “The same here. I have meetings scheduled with numerous defense contractors and key military personnel. We need to start thinking about recruiting crews for some of the warships on Pallas. While not all of them will be activated anytime soon, enough will be to ensure the safety of the Solar System.”
Vice President Hicks leaned forward. “You do realize we’re discussing eventually entering into an interstellar war with a Confederation of ancient races that has never been defeated.”
“Sounds frightening,” replied Brier. “But what other choice do we have? Someday the Druins will realize we have neutralized their interdiction system, and, when they do, they’ll be coming for us. It’s a war we don’t want, but a war we can’t avoid.”
-
On Earth, Andrew sat on the front porch of the family home, speaking with his father. He had already told his parents about his plans.
“Just promise me one thing,” said the older Wilcox. “Before you go into cryosleep, come see your mother and me one last time. It’ll be very hard on her when she realizes she will never see you again.”
“I realize that,” replied Andrew, feeling guilty for upsetting his mother. She had cried when Andrew had told them his plans in more detail.
Andrew’s father took in a deep breath and continued to talk. “I understand you wanting to see the beginning of the war. It’s what all of us have been working toward. Hell, if I were younger, I might consider doing the same thing.”
“It was a difficult decision,” admitted Andrew. Looking off in the distance, he could see the sun about to set. They were in the suburbs, and the view wasn’t obstructed by any tall buildings. “There may be others who decide as I have.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” replied Andrew’s father. “Let’s go back inside where your mother is, and let’s not discuss you going into cryosleep any more tonight. We need to give her time to accept it.”
Andrew nodded. “Why don’t I order some pizza, and we can watch a movie together?”
Andrew’s father nodded. “Yes, I think that would be good. We’ve had enough excitement for today.”
They stood and went into the house. Behind them, the sun slowly set beneath the horizon.
Chapter Fifteen
Admiral Cleemorl gazed at one of the viewscreens focused on Cheryl’s yacht and the three ships that accompanied it. The yacht was of moderate size, but he couldn’t help but notice it was armed.
“Have them fall into formation, and we’ll make our first jump into hyperspace,” ordered Cleemorl.
The sooner they got away from this system, the better he would feel. Cheryl had made good on her promise. The Themis was fully loaded with supplies and spare parts. Supposedly the cargo ship had everything else they would need. Once they were safely away, they would drop out of hyperspace and transfer supplies to the other ships in the small fleet.
“Captain, I’m detecting Druin battlecruisers and several battleships dropping out of hyperspace on the far side of the system,” reported Lieutenant Casella worriedly.
Captain Fulmar looked alarmed. “Can they detect us?”
“We’re mixed in with a bunch of asteroids. I doubt if they can get a clear image.”
“Inform all our ships we’re making the transition into hyperspace. It’s time for us to leave.” Captain Fulmar stepped over to a console and called up a star map of the local region. “Set a course for Xenia Four. It’s a red giant without any planets or asteroids. We’ll get the fleet organized there and resupply our other vessels.”
The navigation officer quickly imputed the hyperspace coordinates and transmitted them to the other ships.
“The Druins are headed toward Highland Station,” reported Casella. “Numerous ships are jumping out.”
Admiral Cleemorl nodded. No one wanted to be around when Druin battlecruisers showed up. “Excellent, it will help disguise our own exodus.”
On the tactical display, dozens of ships vanished as they fled the system. No one wanted to stay around to see what the Druins wanted.
“Ready to jump,” reported Captain Fulmar.
“Do so. We need to put some distance between us and the Druins.”
Cleemorl felt the ship vibrate slightly and then a slight wrenching sensation as the ship made the transition into hyperspace. The Druins co
uldn’t track them in hyperspace or attack them. From now until they arrived in the Xenia Four System, they would be safe.
“All other ships have made the transition,” reported Casella. “No problems reported.”
Cleemorl nodded. “Contact all our ships and inform them to avoid any unnecessary communications between vessels. We don’t want to risk the Druins picking up any stray signals.”
Captain Fulmar looked at the admiral. “What do you think the Druins will do to Highland Station?”
“They’re Druins,” replied Cleemorl. “If they discover we were there, I imagine they will launch a punitive assault against the station. Fortunately much of it is deep underground, so most of the civilians should be safe.”
“If they’re smart, they’ll never admit we were there,” commented Fulmar.
“Maybe,” answered Cleemorl. “But it wouldn’t surprise me if the Druins have a few spies inside the station. After all, it didn’t take them long to arrive once we docked. I suspect someone tipped them off we were there.”
Admiral Cleemorl leaned back in his command chair, not wanting to think about what might be happening soon to Highland Station. Someday he hoped it would be him teaching the Druins a lesson. However, for that to happen, he needed the old Imperials who were stranded on Earth to have thrived and to have built up a robust civilization. For, without it, all his hopes would be for naught.
-
Admiral Kreen gazed at the tactical display, showing a mass exodus of ships from the star system. This had been expected. He had ten ships with him, which would be sufficient to teach the refuse who lived in this system a lesson they would not soon forget.
“Are there any signs of the Human ships?”
“No,” answered the sensor officer. “They may have left, or they could still be docked to the station.”
Admiral Kreen was aggravated that this remnant of the Human fleet was taking up so much of his valuable time.”
“The station is trying to contact us,” reported the communications officer. “They say there will be no resistance and want to know why we have come here.”
“Ask them where the Human ships are,” ordered Kreen. Normally he wouldn’t even respond to communications from inferior races, but, in this instance, he was curious as to what they would say.
The communications officer sent the demand and waited for a reply. Finally there was a response. “They left the station a few hours ago, and only one battlecruiser docked to the station.”
Kreen’s cold eyes narrowed. “Send a company of our soldiers to the station. I want to know if they’re telling the truth. Have our other ships comb the system to ensure the Human ships are not hiding behind an asteroid.”
Kreen’s second in command nodded and went to carry out the order.
-
Inside Highland Station there was near panic as the civilians rushed to the safety of the civilian sectors buried deep beneath the surface. Along the main streets—where the stores, bars, and businesses were located—the doors and windows were hurriedly closed and locked. Inside, the owners waited nervously, not sure what to expect. The Druins were not known for being peaceful. Most knew, if the Druins did not find what they sought, there would be repercussions.
At the main docking terminal, the guards stood nervously watching as several large Druin shuttles descended to the station and docked. Out of each came heavily armed and armored Druins. The doors to the terminal remained open, as everyone inside knew, if they were locked, the Druins would simply blow them open and then execute everyone inside. They were hoping, if they answered the Druins’ questions, that would be sufficient.
The Druins rapidly made their way to the terminal, where the guards and one of the terminal officials waited.
“Where are the Humans who came in the battlecruiser!” demanded the Druin officer in charge of the soldiers. “They are to be turned over to us immediately.”
“They’re no longer here,” stammered the terminal official. “They were here for two days and left only a few hours ago.”
“What did they want here?”
The terminal official looked frightened. He knew his life hung on his next words. “Supplies. They cashed in a large collection of jewels and then went into the city to seek supplies for their ship.”
“Where are they going?”
The terminal official shook his head. “I don’t know. They never said, and we didn’t ask.”
“A mistake on your part,” said the Druin, as he pulled his energy pistol and shot the official in the chest. Before the guards could react, they too were gunned down by several of the Druin soldiers.
“Spread out and search the terminal for any indications of where the Humans went. Execute anyone who refuses to cooperate,” the officer ordered his second in command. “The rest of us will go into the city and see what we can discover there.”
-
Admiral Kreen waited patiently for the reports from his soldiers. He knew it wouldn’t take long for them to discover any signs of the Humans who had dared to defy the Confederation. He had already sent some of his battlecruisers to search the asteroids in the system as well as several nearby star systems the Humans might have fled to. He was determined to find this pitiful fleet and destroy it. No one who defied the Confederation could be allowed to survive.
-
The Themis and the other ships in her small fleet dropped out of hyperspace in the Xenia Four System. A quick scan indicated no other ships present.
“Secure from Condition One and go to Condition Three,” ordered Admiral Cleemorl, as he relaxed. Even if the Druins were pursuing them, it would take them hours to search all the systems between Highland Station and Xenia Four. That should give the fleet time to resupply before setting out for the Bacchus Region.
“All ships report being secure with normal operations,” said Captain Fulmar. “The supply ship is moving closer to the Rhys for resupply. They will be using shuttles to transfer the supplies. As soon as the supplies have been transferred, the ship will send supplies to our three support ships.”
Cleemorl nodded. “We need to get the supplies transferred as quickly as possible. We should have at least a few hours before any Druin ships show up.”
“We’ll get it done quickly,” promised Fulmar.
Admiral Cleemorl leaned back in his command chair, wondering about what was ahead for his fleet. The journey to the Bacchus Region would take at least six weeks. He had no intention of going there directly. For the next week he would make a series of random jumps to throw off any Druins who might be searching for his fleet. Once satisfied no one followed them, Cleemorl would set off for the planet the old Imperials had been marooned on. He just hoped all this wasn’t for nothing.
-
Admiral Kreen had just received the latest reports from his soldiers inside Highland Station. It was confirmed the Humans he sought had once more escaped. Not only that but a Human woman had assisted them and had added four ships to the Human fleet. One was a very large supply ship.
“Pull our soldiers back. They are to destroy the main docking terminal and then return to our ships. Once they have all returned, we will use our fusion weapons to destroy all the docking ports on the station. That will teach this refuse to deal with fugitives wanted by the Confederation.”
-
An hour later Admiral Kreen watched coldly as fusion beams from his flagship tore apart the docking ports of Highland Station. Jagged pieces of wreckage were hurled away from the station, and several fires could be seen burning inside. A large explosion blew out a section of the docks where a ship waited to be loaded.
Admiral Kreen nodded. He knew the rabble that lived inside the asteroid would eventually rebuild everything. For now they had been taught a valuable lesson. “We will continue to search the nearby star systems for any trace of the Humans. They must not escape.”
Moments later all the Druin battlecruisers and battleships entered hyperspace, traveling to different star syste
ms. The search would continue.
-
Inside Highland Station, emergency crews sealed off parts of the dome as well as the underground sections. Fire-fighting crews battled the fires, while others examined the damage. Loss of life this time had been minimal. The docks could easily be rebuilt and should be back in full operation in a few months. Note was taken of the Human battlecruiser that had been the cause of the attack. It would not be allowed to dock again. Also Cheryl Bannon’s assets were to be confiscated, and she would never be allowed to set foot back on the station.
-
In the Xenia Four System, Cheryl was in the Command Center of her yacht. The ship was lavishly furnished with a half-dozen guest quarters. Even the crew had better-than-normal living quarters.
“How soon before the resupply is finished?” she asked Captain Tucker. He had been with her for years and had been essential in completing many of her illegal transactions.
“Another thirty minutes,” Tucker replied. “Are you sure we’re doing the right thing? We have no idea where we’re going.”
Cheryl smiled. “Our time on Highland Station was about over anyway. We still have some hidden assets, if we ever decide to return.”
Tucker nodded. “Well, I’ve always wanted to go exploring.” He was quiet for a moment. “Does Admiral Cleemorl know I’m commanding the yacht?” He had met Cleemorl briefly in the past.
“Not yet,” answered Cheryl. “I’ll tell him next time we’re together.”
Cheryl wondered what her feelings were for Dylan. They had been so close once, and then she had fled to Highland Station when she had learned he was going into the military. For years she had wondered if that had been a colossal mistake.
With a deep sigh, she looked at a viewscreen focused on the Themis. The ship had a few burn marks on its hull from the battle with the Druins which the Themis and the other ships had escaped from. Cheryl hadn’t asked Dylan too much about the battle and what had happened to the planet, though rumors indicted it had been heavily hit by the Druins. The Confederation had no remorse when it came to killing citizens of lessor races. Someday Cheryl hoped someone would teach them a lesson.
The Forgotten Empire: Banishment: Book One Page 20