“You’ve scared them,” said Second Officer Newman. “They were not expecting us to return with word about the Zaltule.”
“I wasn’t either,” replied Bree, with a deep sigh. “This could change how we’re fighting the Kleese. The Zaltule could be the greater danger.”
“One thing I don’t understand,” said Newman with a look of confusion on his face. “Didn’t the Kleese kill all of the Zaltule Queens?”
Bree nodded. “That’s what we thought. However, now it appears at least one might have escaped. I don’t believe the Zaltule would be making long term plans such as conquering that star system we were in unless they still had a living Queen.”
“Helm, take us to Centerpoint and dock. I need to speak to Admiral Kelly.” Bree took in a deep breath. This would probably be a long meeting and not a good one. The Zaltule were a terrifying threat and one they would now have to deal with.
-
Rear Admiral Amelia Stinson could not believe the message she had just received. Zaltule in the Zadole System! It was the primary system in this sector and the center of trade for dozens of worlds. She currently had her fleet spread out through three star systems conducting drills.
“Lieutenant Williams, contact all of our ships and have them rendezvous with the flagship,” Amelia ordered as she sat down in her command chair. “As soon as all ships are present we will set out for the Zadole System. Once you have contacted all of our ships send a message to Lanolth as well as Centerpoint informing them of the situation. Tell Admiral Kelly I intend to take Eighth Fleet to the Zadole System and destroy the Zaltule ships there. We will then stay in the system until relieved.”
Amelia hoped it would be that simple. From the reports she was receiving they would be facing nine Zaltule battlecruisers. Her own fleet was composed of six heavy battlecruisers, twelve standard battlecruisers, fourteen light cruisers and thirty assault ships. She prayed that would be enough.
-
Minor Overlord Lazorth stared in disgust at the Human in front of him. This was a female of the species and seemed unbelievably weak. “What is the current ship strength of the Humans? Answer correctly or you will be punished.”
“I don’t know,” replied Linda. She was an ambassador. It was beyond her understanding how anyone could treat her like this. She also wondered what the black box the Zaltule was holding was for. The Zaltule didn’t seem pleased with her answer and used one of his long fingers to touch a button on the box. Instantly she dropped to the floor screaming as excruciating pain spread from the ring around her neck. The pain finally stopped and she fought to regain her breath. “I can’t tell you what I don’t know!” She was really scared now and began to fear for her life.
-
Lazorth was not pleased with the answer. This Human was not going to be of any use. Without hesitation he pressed another button on the device, setting off the small explosive charge in the obedience collar. The charge detonated, ending the Human’s life. He looked at a Zaltule warrior who was standing nearby. “Clean up this mess and remove the Human carcass.”
“What have we learned from our other prisoners?” Nearly two hundred Zadolians had been brought on board and were currently being questioned.
“It seems the Humans and the Alliance have made vast gains in the outer regions of the Empire since we left,” replied Minor Military Overlord Vandeem. “The Kleese have evacuated many worlds as well as pulled back all of the remaining trading stations toward the heart of the Empire. At the moment it seems the Kleese are fighting a defensive action and are not openly engaging the Humans or the Alliance aggressively.”
“They are weak,” replied Lazorth coldly. “They should have allowed us control of the Empire and none of this would have happened. Now we will have to destroy these Humans as well as the Alliance before we turn our might against the Kleese and retake what is left of the Empire. War Overlord Tetus will be greatly displeased when we bring him the information we have gathered.”
“A number of our assault ships have returned and have found the same situation in other systems as we found here. The inhabited worlds have been freed by the Humans and the Alliance and in most there are only small fleets of warships.”
Lazorth nodded his triangular shaped head. “It takes time and resources to build a fleet. In time many of these worlds will do so. We must strike while they are still weak.”
Looking at the main viewscreen, Lazorth could see the blue-white world they were orbiting. Ship traffic in the system had ceased as soon as word of the Zaltule had spread. It pleased Lazorth they were feared so much by the other races. It was only right as the Zaltule were the superior species. Someday the Zaltule would rule all the star systems in the galaxy and then begin to expand beyond it.
“How many assault ships have not returned?”
“Twelve,” replied the sensor operator. “All should be back with the fleet in the next twenty to thirty hours.”
Once all the assault ships returned Lazorth would take his fleet and return to Warmik to inform Military Overlord Tetus what they had discovered. It was time to return to the Empire and retake what was rightly the Zaltules’.
Chapter Seven
Rear Admiral Amelia Stinson sat nervously in her command chair waiting for her fleet to drop out of Fold Space. The fleet was at Condition Two and would go to Condition One as soon as they entered the Zadole System. Eighth Fleet consisted of sixty-two warships though thirty of them were assault ships. She hoped it would be enough. In her career as rear admiral and even before then as a commander of a battlecruiser she had never fought the Zaltule.
“Status?” she asked, looking across the Command Center.
“All systems are powered up and working at optimum levels,” reported the systems officer.
“Weapons ready to go online,” reported Captain Smith from tactical.
“We’re as ready as we’re going to be,” reported Commander Hill.
Amelia took a moment to study the tactical display. Several assault ships in advance of the fleet were sending back sensor information on the Zadole System. There were nine confirmed Zaltule battlecruisers in the system as well as a number of assault ships.
“Assault ships and light cruisers will engage the Zaltule assault ships,” ordered Amelia as she thought over her battle plan. “The heavy battlecruisers and the standard battlecruisers will engage the Zaltule battlecruisers.”
Commander Hill looked over at the admiral with a concerned look in his eyes. “We’re going to take some losses; probably quite a few.”
Amelia let out a deep sigh. “I know, but as soon as our assault ships and light cruisers finish with their targets they will join us in attacking the Zaltule battlecruisers.”
“Are there any other forces we can call upon?”
Amelia shook her head. “There’s an Alliance fleet at Zanbarr Three but they’re a good two days away. They’re coming but they won’t get here in time.”
“Why don’t we wait?”
“I wish we could but long-range scans from our assault ships indicate the Zaltule have already destroyed the second largest city on Zadole Four. Sensor scans indicate casualties are in the millions. We can’t allow the Zaltule to strike the planet again. They’ve also destroyed two of the large space stations which were in orbit of the planet. The assault ships report two expanding debris fields where the space stations once were.”
Commander Hill nodded. “We have no choice then. We have to go in.”
“Fold Space drop out in twelve minutes,” reported Lieutenant Jones. “We’ll be exiting three million kilometers from Zadole Four.”
“Upon exit we’ll form up into a half diamond formation with the heavy battlecruisers and standard battlecruisers in the center,” ordered Amelia. “The light cruisers and assault ships will form a screen around us.”
“Multi warhead antimatter missiles have been loaded in the missile tubes,” reported Captain Aaron Smith, the tactical officer.
Amelia felt her hear
t begin to pound. She knew she was putting her fleet in danger but she couldn’t allow the Zaltule to kill more innocent civilians. “We’ll drop out of Fold Space and take detailed scans of the Zaltule. I suspect once they detect our ships they will come to us.”
“There’s a good chance they’ve already detected us,” said Commander Hill. “Their sensors are probably at least as good as ours.”
Amelia felt her breath catch in her throat. There was no way to know the outcome of the coming battle. They would need a little luck to take out all the Zaltule battlecruisers and assault ships. Eighth Fleet would have to be rebuilt after this battle if any of it was left.
-
“Ships detected,” reported the Zaltule sensor officer. “Long-range sensors indicate a fleet of over sixty vessels inbound. From the power readings they are all warships.”
Minor Overlord Lazorth looked at the tactical display showing the incoming enemy ships. “Contact our other ships at Zadole Five and have them rendezvous with us immediately. They are to use their Fold Space drives to get here. We will meet this new enemy together. We are the Zaltule, the mightiest warriors in the galaxy. If they dare to attack us we will destroy them.”
Lazorth was well aware of the strength of his ships. They were all updated with the latest Zaltule weapons and technology. Defeating this fleet would show the Alliance and the Humans exactly who was the dominant species in the galaxy. It was an example he would set before returning to report to Supreme Military Overlord Tetus.
-
Rear Admiral Stinson felt the Dauntless drop out of Fold Space. Instantly the viewscreens flickered and then showed the stars. In the center of the main viewscreen was a blue-white planet. The view was greatly magnified.
“All ships set Condition One throughout the fleet. Standby to fire weapons,” announced Amelia over the fleet comm.
“All ships are moving into formation,” reported Commander Hill. “Fleet will be ready for combat in two minutes.”
“Zaltule warships are still near the planet,” added Lieutenant Jones. “Sensors indicate the battlecruisers at Zadole Five are moving this way.”
Amelia nodded. Her nerves were calming as they neared the time for combat. “No doubt moving to join the other Zaltule ships. At least we won’t have to go hunting for them.”
On the main screen, the image shifted to show a Zaltule battlecruiser.
As Amelia watched the viewscreen, her heart sank and breathing quickened. How was her fleet going to destroy nine of those giant vessels without sustaining massive losses?
“Sublight drive half speed,” ordered Amelia. “Let’s see what the Zaltule are going to do.”
“Half speed,” replied Lieutenant Jennifer Hines.
“Fleet is in formation,” added Commander Hill.
At this velocity it would take them a few minutes to reach the Zaltule. It would give her time to evaluate their formation and how best to attack it.
“The Gauntlet is reporting problems with their sublight drive and can’t keep up,” reported Lieutenant Susan Williams.
Amelia frowned. The Gauntlet was one of the fleet’s standard battlecruisers. “Tell Commander Dawson to get it repaired as quickly as possible. Lieutenant Hines, reduce fleet speed to one-third perhaps that will give the Gauntlet time to initiate repairs and catch up.” She didn’t want to engage the Zaltule without all of her ships present. “Commander Hill, assign two assault ships to fall back and cover the Gauntlet until they can rejoin the fleet.”
“Yes, Admiral,” replied Hill as he quickly sent the order.
-
Minor Overlord Lazorth nodded his triangular shaped head in satisfaction as the rest of his battlecruisers dropped out of Fold Space and took their places in his fleet. Without hesitation he ordered the fleet to move forward with the assault ships, taking screening positions around the larger battlecruisers. The incoming warships had been identified as Human. They were a foe worthy of combat. He would advance and engage the Humans, destroying their fleet and once more establishing the superiority of the Zaltule.
“Sensors are showing twelve capital ships and twenty lighter support vessels including thirty assault ships,” reported the Zaltule at the sensors. “Human fleet is advancing toward us. Estimated weapons range in twelve minutes.”
Lazorth stepped down from the command pedestal. “Prepare our missiles. I want to hit the Humans with our sublight antimatter missiles followed by the pulse fusion weapons. We will annihilate the Humans before they even realize their puny vessels are under attack.”
On the outside of the Zaltule battlecruisers missile hatches slid open. Pulse fusion turrets turned until they were facing the approaching Human fleet. Energy shields snapped into place ready to repel any attack. The Zaltule fleet was ready for battle.
-
“Five minutes to weapons range,” reported Lieutenant Jones. “Zaltule fleet is moving toward us. Fleet is in a double line, five battlecruisers in the top line and four in the bottom. The assault ships have formed a protective ring around the major warships.”
Amelia gazed at the tactical display. She had thought long and hard about how to engage the Zaltule fleet. There was no way to give her fleet a better advantage. They would have to meet the Zaltule head on and hope the Eighth Fleet had the firepower to destroy all of the enemy vessels.
“Hit them with our multi warhead sublight missiles first,” ordered Amelia. She studied the tactical display and then shifted her eyes to the viewscreens showing the Zaltule ships. “Concentrate the fire of our heavy battlecruisers and standard battlecruisers on just two Zaltule battlecruisers. Light cruisers and the assault ships will target the enemy assault ships. I want one light cruiser and two assault ships targeting the same enemy vessel. Let’s see if we can thin them out by concentrating our fire.”
Commander Hill acknowledged the order and began speaking to the other ships of the fleet.
“Three minutes to weapons range,” reported Jones in a nearly monotone voice.
“The Gauntlet has repaired its sublight drive and is moving up to take its place in the fleet formation,” reported Lieutenant Williams.
Amelia nodded. At least she would meet the Zaltule with her full fleet. She studied the main viewscreen showing a Zaltule battlecruiser. She could see the open missile ports as well as the hundreds of weapons turrets on its hull. She thought she could actually see the weapons turrets moving to point toward Eighth Fleet.
Amelia leaned forward in her command chair sensing the tension in the Command Center. People were speaking in hushed tones and everyone’s eyes kept glancing over at the viewscreens. Unfortunately Amelia knew shortly many of the talented crewmembers in her fleet were about to die and there was nothing she could do to prevent it. This was war and unfortunately good people died in combat.
“We have incoming contacts,” reported Lieutenant Jones. “It’s the assault ship Destiny and it has twelve Zadole medium sized cruisers with it. They will be dropping out of Fold Space in seven minutes just to the rear of our formation.
Twelve cruisers were the total number of warships the Zadole had. Captain Higgins must have gathered together every ship he could from the Zadole colonies. “Have them form up with us.” The additional ships would help. “Have the Zadole cruisers target the Zaltule assault ships.” Amelia suddenly felt a little better about the battle. The odds had shifted a bit more in her favor.
-
“We’re in weapons range,” reported the Zaltule officer at the weapons console.
“Then destroy those ships in front of us,” said Minor Overlord Lazorth coldly. “I want every vessel annihilated.” He stepped back up on the command pedestal to oversee the battle.
-
“Weapons range!” called out Lieutenant Jones. “Zaltule are launching missiles.”
“All ships launch missiles!” ordered Amelia over the fleet comm network. “We need to take out as many of those Zaltule battlecruisers as quickly as we can. Defensive batteries, target those
missiles!”
“Launching missiles,” reported Captain Smith. “Defensive batteries activated.”
-
The Dauntless shook slightly as twenty-four missiles left their tubes. The sublight missiles each contained four twenty-megaton warheads. Just before they reached their targets the missiles MIRVed, giving the Zaltule more targets to try to destroy.
Defensive batteries in both fleets were firing at the incoming missiles. However, the missiles were traveling so fast it was nearly impossible to track and destroy one of the incoming warheads. Some missiles were intercepted and bright explosions indicated their destruction. Hundreds of antimatter missiles began striking the Zaltule warships. Two battlecruisers were the primary targets of the Human battlecruisers and standard sized cruisers. The energy shields of the Zaltule battlecruisers lit up as antimatter energy was released in massive amounts to pummel the shields. After a few seconds the shields went down and both battlecruisers blew apart as dozens of antimatter warheads detonated against their heavily armored hulls.
-
“We got two of them!” said Lieutenant Jones elatedly.
“All ships switch to the next two targets,” ordered Amelia. Those two had been the easy ones. Now her own ships were under attack. Even as she watched a Human assault ship blew apart followed moments later by a light cruiser.
-
Minor Overlord Lazorth stared in shock as two of his battlecruisers were destroyed. He felt his anger grow and his multifaceted eyes focused intently as his fleet’s own missiles began exploding in the Human fleet formation. With satisfaction he saw Human ships start to die.
-
The top section of a standard battlecruiser exploded and debris started drifting away from the ship. An antimatter missile slammed into the stern of the cruiser and the ship vanished in a fiery explosion. Pulse fusion fire slammed into the main part of a light cruiser setting off massive explosions and hurling glowing debris into space. In a fiery detonation, the ship blew apart.
Final Conflict Page 9