“Can the drives be repaired?” Gaston knew the battle was lost and soon the Vorn would begin the harvest of Marsten. He had never believed he would see this day.
Mahler shook his head. “No, it would take a spacedock to repair them. The damage is too heavy.”
The Rogue shook again and more red lights flared up on the damage control console. The lights dimmed brightened and then went out. Dim emergency lighting came on.
“We took another hit to the stern,” Mahler reported as he listened to the ship’s comm. “We’ve lost the rear third of the ship.”
Gaston was about to respond when the Rogue blew apart, killing everyone on board.
-
The last of the enemy ships have been destroyed, sent Military Leader Volmont. The planet is ready to be harvested.
Excellent, Prince Lashall replied. They had lost ten Vorn cruisers while eliminating this food world’s defenses. However, this was supposed to be one of the most powerful worlds in this star cluster. The rest would be easier. Take us in so we can commence the harvest. I am anxious to taste a food pellet from this world.
-
The three motherships settled in above Marsten. From each fourteen large hatches slid open. Black rays flashed forth to strike the surface of the planet below. Wherever one struck any usable organic material was transformed and transported up to the ship. As a black beam swept across an inhabited city, all of its inhabitants were transformed into a black ashy substance that the beam sucked up.
On the planet no one knew what to do. There was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Many still had no idea what was happening. They died where they were standing or in their homes. Across the planet the beams swept, destroying the capital planet of the Gothan Empire. It died without even a whimper.
In the underground bunker, the High Profiteers watched on viewscreens as the people of Marsten were converted into food for the Vorn. They were far enough underground not to be affected. In a few hours they would be the only living biological life forms on the planet.
The two Controllers inside the bunker remained silent. They watched as the deadly black beams eliminated the planet’s population. They were pressing icons on their small handheld computers lowering the value of the property on Marsten.
-
Prince Lashall was in a converter room on board the Ravager. He walked over and pressed a button on a small control panel. Instantly a receptacle slid open and a gray pellet in the form of a small cube was ejected onto a tray. The prince took the pellet and popped it into his mouth, crunching the pellet with his mandibles and feeling the invigorating strength that instantly flowed through him. This pellet was made from the organic material of one of the civilized inhabitants of the planet they had just culled.
The prince was pleased with the taste. These pellets would make an excellent addition to his private collection. Have two hundred of these food pellets taken to my quarters, he ordered. The rest will be going to the Queens. They will be quite pleased with these when they arrive at the Conclave Habitat.
As you command, answered the scientist in charge of the converter.
Lashall was convinced the Queens would find the taste of these pellets pleasing. It might help to increase his standing in the Royal Court.
Returning to the Command Center he saw the harvest was finished. Moments later white energy spheres began falling toward the surface of the planet. The spheres were condensed balls of energy, which burst like bubbles and expanded outward, destroying everything in their path. Across the planet flashes of light indicated the detonation of the energy spheres. Dust, smoke, and ash began to rise into the planet’s atmosphere, cutting off the sunlight. For several decades the planet would be uninhabitable.
Satisfied the fleet had done its work, Prince Lashall gave the order to proceed to the next food world. The harvest would continue.
Chapter Nine
Dacroni Clan Leader Masak sat in his command chair with a stormy look on his face. They had just received word the Destroyers of Worlds had attacked Marsten. Panicked messages had been received from cargo and passenger ships fleeing the system and then later from Profiteer warships leaving the scene of the battle. There was no doubt in Masak’s mind that Marsten had fallen.
“We have unconfirmed reports of a disturbance in hyperspace coming toward us,” Raster, who was second in command, informed Masak. “Several Profiteer ships have reported a region they cannot scan rapidly approaching our star system.”
Masak stood and approached the tactical display showing the space around Dacroni Four. It was covered in green icons representing nearly two thousand Dacroni warships. There were two massive shipyards and three large trading stations orbiting the planet. All heavily armed. “It is the Destroyers of Worlds.”
“How did they find us?”
Masak frowned. “There are still a few raiding fleets going out led by minor High Profiteers. I fear one of them may have led the Vorn back to our star cluster.”
Masak switched his gaze to a secondary tactical display that only showed the ships of his fleet. He had been sent out several months back by the clan leaders to discover how powerful Vorn ships were. He had lost fourteen battleships in only a few seconds while destroying just one enemy warship. It had shaken him to see how powerless his battleships were when compared to a Vorn cruiser. If he had stayed longer he would have lost his entire fleet. Masak had replaced the losses with six new battleships with more scheduled to be delivered in a few months. He had one hundred and twenty specially designed Dacroni battleships in his fleet. His fleet was one of the largest of the Dacroni clan leaders.
“Orbital defense grid is activating,” Raster reported as the sensors detected the sudden activation of dozens of power sources.
“All ships are being ordered to drop down to the defense grid,” reported Fantac from Communications. “Combat with the Vorn is expected shortly.”
Masak’s eyes widened. “What about the shipyards and the orbital stations? Are we not going to defend them?”
It was incomprehensible to him to sacrifice such valuable assets. It had taken years to build the massive stations. Every clan leader paid a small fee to the Dacroni government out of the profits they received for going out on various types of missions. These fees had been used to build the stations.
“They say they’re not defensible,” Fantac answered, his eyes wide in shock at the admission. “The shipyards and the stations are being placed on automatic and the crews being evacuated except for a few volunteers who will man the Command Centers and Engineering.”
Raster shook his head. “They will be sacrificed so we can learn more about the Vorn. We have prepared for this day, let us hope we find victory.”
“All noncombat ships are being ordered to jump to Kubitz,” added Fantac. “Several smaller Dacroni fleets are being sent along as escorts.”
Masak understood the reasoning for this. If they lost, at least some of their people would make it to Kubitz along with enough warships to protect them from Profiteer clans who might attempt to take advantage of the situation. A few Dacroni battleships would ensure that did not happen.
“Pull the fleet back to the defensive grid,” ordered Masak, knowing there was no other choice. “We will add our firepower to the platforms. Contact one of the Command and Control Centers and recommend fleet firepower be used to augment the firing of the individual platforms.” Masak was high enough up in leadership for his orders to be obeyed.
There were three of the massive Control Centers in orbit above Dacroni Four. Masak knew from his experience with the Vorn, it would take a number of ships and platforms firing in unison to overcome the energy shields of the Destroyers of Worlds. Unlike Marsten, Dacroni Four had increased the strength of their own weapon platforms as well as purchased more of the newer ones from Kubitz. When the Vorn arrived they would not like what was waiting for them.
-
All around Dacroni Four, the various mercenary fleets dropped down into the defe
nsive grid which surrounded the planet. Sixty Class One Defense Platforms, three Control Stations, and forty of the newer platforms were in geostationary orbits. Just below them eight hundred energy beam satellites were in orbit tasked with destroying any missiles that approached the planet. There were even some planet-based missiles that could be called upon if necessary.
On board the shipyards and orbiting stations one hundred-megaton antimatter missiles were loaded into missile tubes. Energy projectors, ion cannons, and direct energy cannons were charged up and made ready to fire. The Dacroni had always been warlike, and their stations were some of the most heavily armed in the empire.
-
“Telescopes on the stations are detecting Vorn warships dropping out of hyperspace,’ reported Fantac. “Morlar Station is reporting spotting eight hundred Vorn cruisers, one hundred and four battleships, and two motherships.”
Masak’s face paled at hearing this. He knew the strength of the Vorn cruisers; a battleship would be a hundred times worse. “Contact the Control Center and tell them it’s essential the new platforms target the Vorn battleships. They are a priority target.”
“Message sent,” Fantac replied after a moment.
“Our sensors are not detecting the approaching Vorn vessels,” said Raster with concern in his voice. “How do we fire on something we can’t see?”
“We’ll see them when they open fire,” replied Masak. “Use our viewscreens to spot the targets then hit them with antimatter missiles. We’ll use the missiles’ detonations to lock on with our other weapons.”
“That should work,” said Tomask from Tactical as he began making adjustments to his weapons console.
“I have one of the Vorn battleships on the viewscreen,” reported Ardell from sensors. On the screen, a Vorn 1,200-meter spindle shaped vessel appeared. “This is coming from Morlar Station.”
“That’s a monster,” said Fantac, his eyes glued to the screen.
Masak had to agree. Dacroni battleships were 1,100 meters in length and the most heavily armed in the empire. “I want all of our missile tubes to target just one Vorn vessel. The fleet will fire in groups of ten all targeting the same enemy ship. Groups will continue to fire until the Vorn’s shields collapse.”
“Raster, I want the Iron victory and the nine ships firing with us to target the same Vorn ship the defense platform near us does.”
There were six defensive platforms in the quadrant Masak’s fleet was tasked with defending. Two were of the new type. Masak took a deep breath. The tactical display was now showing the incoming Vorn fleet. It was full of red threat icons all moving toward Dacroni Four. The data was based on interpolations of what the stations were seeing on their telescopes and other long-range observation equipment.
“Vorn will be in combat range in twelve minutes,” reported Ardell. “Morlar Station has been varying the frequencies of their sensor scans and reports they are getting a faint return on sensor frequency V-14.”
“Switch to it,” ordered Masak. “It will help with our targeting.”
A few moments later Ardell turned toward Clan Leader Masak. “Sensors are now picking up the Vorn ships.”
“I have confirmed contacts with our targeting systems,” reported Tomask.
Masak nodded. “Prepare for combat. This battle is not about credits or increased standing as a Draconi mercenary. Today we defend our world and our families.”
-
Prince Lakat gazed questionably at the ship’s primary tactical display. It appears they have detected the presence of our ships.
Yes, sent Military Leader Dabbath. The food species is pulling their warships back to their defensive grid. There are a number of large stations around the planet. Two are shipyards and the other three are either for trade or research. I suspect they may have detected our ships using long-range observation equipment. They have also been changing the frequencies of their long-range scanners.
Are these ships a danger to our fleet?
Prince Lakat had been assured earlier by both Prince Lashall and Military Leader Volmont there were not any vessels in this star cluster that were a major threat. A few Vorn cruisers might be lost due to overwhelming weapons fire, but that was to be expected occasionally in a major battle.
It is strange, Military Leader Dabbath replied as he studied the data coming in on the ship’s sensors. Most of the vessels defending the planet are in the battleship class with only a few battlecruisers. The battleships are 1,100 meters in length.
Prince Lakat did not reply. He flexed the small wings on his back and clicked his mandibles. Very soon he would be tasting a new food species. He could feel the anticipation building up inside at the thought. He was interrupted by a Vorn of the Worker Caste stumbling and falling near the communications panel. The Worker Caste were so clumsy and for the most part nearly useless. They were only capable of doing mundane tasks such as cleaning and simple repairs. Prince Lakat gestured to a guard and sent a thought. The guard helped the worker up and escorted it from the Command Center. It would be taken down to the engineering section and fed into one of the ship’s disposal units. Lakat had always felt there were too many of the worker drones on his mothership.
-
The black Vorn ships continued to close with the waiting fleet. The skeleton crews in the stations waited expectantly, their hands on the controls of their weapons. Every Dacroni in the five stations knew they would not be returning home.
-
In Morlar Station, the station’s commander watched as the Vorn ships reached weapons range. While his weapons were not as powerful as the two shipyards, the station still boasted a large number of energy cannons and missile tubes, enough he hoped to destroy a Vorn ship.
-
Upon reaching weapons range of the two shipyards and the three trading stations, the Vorn opened fire with every weapon they had. From the shipyards the hatches to the missile tubes slid open and eighty hyperspace antimatter missiles launched. Almost instantly brilliant explosions lit up a small section of the Vorn fleet formation. Using the explosions and their sensors the Dacroni locked their weapons on the Vorn ships and began firing their energy weapons. It was fortunate Dacroni Clan Leader Masak had attacked a Vorn vessel to test its strength. The information from that mission led the Dacroni mercenaries to adopt a specific line of attack again the Vorn. Instead of spreading their weapons fire across the entire Vorn fleet they would only focus their weapons on a few.
-
In Morlar Station, the Dacroni commander watched a large viewscreen as every weapon the station possessed struck an incoming Vorn cruiser.
-
In space, the Vorn spindle-shaped cruiser was struck by sixteen antimatter missiles and a barrage of energy beams. Its shield could not absorb so much raw energy and collapsed instantly, incinerating the ship it was supposed to protect. Several other Vorn ships met the same death as the concentrated fire from the other stations succeeded in overloading the shields of the attacking ships. In less than forty seconds six of the small Vorn cruisers died fiery deaths.
-
Explain! demanded Prince Lakat, his eyes focusing intently on Military Leader Dabbath with his twin antennas standing erect in anger.
Dabbath could sense the anger radiating through the thoughts of the prince. They are concentrating their weapons fire on just a few of our ships. Our own vessels are beginning to return fire and will shortly neutralize the stations.
Prince Lakat did not reply but merely switched his gaze back to the tactical display where another Vorn cruiser flared up and then vanished.
Dabbath knew his life was in jeopardy. Those five stations needed to be eliminated as quickly as possible or he could face deletion by being fed into one of the ship’s waste disposal units as the unfortunate worker had been only a short time ago.
-
In space, the Vorn fleet moved steadily forward. The one hundred and four battleships moved to the apex of the fleet, splitting into five smaller formations
to attack the food world’s shipyards and orbiting stations. The energy screens of the battleships were being pummeled by the relentless detonation of antimatter missiles as the stations attempted to puncture or bring down the shields. The ships seemed to be covered in fire as the raw energy washed across them.
Realizing the battleships were much more powerful than the smaller cruisers, the two shipyards suddenly adjusted all of their weapons fire until it impacted just one Vorn battleship. The ship’s shield glowed brighter and brighter and then began to flicker. In a massive blast that lit up space the shield collapsed and the Vorn battleship blew apart, sending glowing debris flying across space with some of it striking the energy shields of nearby Vorn vessels.
In retaliation the Vorn began launching their black energy spheres followed up by their deadly black antimatter beams. The spheres struck the powerful energy shields of the shipyards and stations and began draining them of power. Several of the antimatter beams breached the weakening shields, ripping open huge gashes in the hulls of the stations. Multiple large explosions occurred, shaking the massive structures and threatening to break them apart.
A second Vorn battleship was incinerated as its shield was punctured, releasing all of its stored power. When the glow from the explosion faded all that remained were wisps of plasma and a few pieces of twisted wreckage.
The Vorn black antimatter spheres continued to drain the shields until two of the stations suddenly found their hulls exposed to weapons fire. The spheres promptly attached themselves to the hulls, stealing more energy. Black antimatter beams swept across the vulnerable hulls blasting out huge rents and causing secondary explosions. Weapons fire from the two stations died down and then ceased altogether. Vorn ten-megaton antimatter missiles then arrived, obliterating both stations.
The Star Cross: The Vorn! Page 12