The Star Cross: The Vorn!

by Raymond L. Weil

  He came back over to stand close to Councilor Valen. “You just had to push it, didn’t you?” accused Aalik in a quiet voice where no one else could overhear. “I can’t believe what I just heard over the comm. How could you do such a thing?”

  Valen let out a deep sigh. He and Aalik had been friends for a long time. What he had just done had probably ended that. “It was necessary. The Vorn must be exterminated if we want this galaxy and universe to survive. When Lead Councilor Lavin managed to pass a resolution keeping half the fleet here, he didn’t leave me much of a choice. We must destroy the Vorn habitats.”

  “I’m going to set a record being Lead Speaker for the shortest length of time in our long history. I’ll be blamed for allowing this atrocity.” Aalik remained silent for several long moments. “Due to our long friendship, I’m going to allow you to leave this Defense Center and take your shuttle to the fleet.”

  Valen nodded. “Thank you.”

  “Now go,” Aalik said in a strained voice. “And Valen, don’t ever come back!”

  -

  An hour later Lead Speaker Aalik watched as Councilor Valen’s shuttle docked with one of the waiting battleships. Shortly after that the fleet began to move. Aalik continued to watch the large tactical display showing the position of the fleet as it made its way through the nebula. He then turned back toward the communications officer who had summoned him earlier. “Send a message to all councilors. There will be an emergency meeting tomorrow morning of the full council. I have a case of possible treason that needs to be dealt with.”

  The communications officer’s eyes widened but he dutifully began sending the message.

  Aalik stood in the Defense Center watching as the Aggressive fleet finally cleared the nebula and made the jump into the safety of hyperspace. What Valen had stolen was the most valuable piece of technology on the Dyson Sphere. It was also going to be very hard to replace.

  -

  Councilor Valen stood next to Fleet Captain Kriegon. “Well, we’re on our way.”

  “Are we going to enact my plan?”

  Valen nodded. “It’s our only chance.”

  “What have you two done?” asked Gaylith suspiciously. Valen had insisted she and several other Aggressives who worked with him come with the fleet.

  “We did what we had to in order to save the galaxy,” Valen answered softly.

  On one of the viewscreens, the nebula was visible and quickly receding. That was one thing about Glaymon battleships: they could see out from hyperspace. He knew he could never return home and would never see Aalik again. He only hoped Aalik survived the verbal storm which would arise when the council heard what Valen had taken. They would demand a scapegoat and Valen greatly feared Aalik would be put in that role.

  “Set a course for the new habitat Tasid is building,” ordered Valen. “We’ll divide the fleet there and drop off the civilians.”

  “Divide the fleet?” asked Gaylith, looking confused. “Why?”

  Shifting his eyes over to Gaylith, Valen replied. “Part of the fleet will be staying to fight the Vorn harvesting fleets. The rest of the fleet has another mission.”

  “What?” asked Gaylith, her eyes widening with concern.

  Valen let out a deep breath as a troubled looked crossed his face. “The rest of the fleet will be traveling in intergalactic space to the Vorn home system.”

  “Why?” asked Gaylith already knowing the answer but wanting Valen to say it.

  “It’s simple,” Valen replied, his eyes meeting hers. “We go there to destroy them!”

  Gaylith’s eyes widened in fear. She had a suspicion of what Valen was up to and why he had been so secretive the past few days. Suddenly she became very frightened.

  “Gaylith, contact Councilor Marshton and tell him we’re on our way.”

  Valen stood for a long while in the Command Center only now realizing how different his life was going to be.

  -

  Councilor Marshton was in his office in the new capital city of the Aggressives inside the habitat. He stood staring out the window at the recently completed city.

  “I can’t believe he did it,” said Fleet Captain Lilith. “Two hundred and sixty thousand ships.”

  “That’s only half of our total fleet and there will be no more,” replied Councilor Marshton, turning away from the window. “From our latest reports we know the Vorn have committed at least three hundred thousand warships to harvesting our galaxy, possibly more.”

  Lilith nodded. “Our AIs believe the Vorn have updated their warships substantially as well. Do you think they will attack the Dyson Sphere?”

  “Not yet,” Valen replied. “I spoke to several of our strategists. They believe the Vorn will wait until most of the galaxy has been harvested before attacking our home. Most likely they will send additional ships to survey the nebula. Four of the five cruisers they sent were destroyed with the fifth escaping. They never came within scanning range of the Dyson Sphere.”

  “Have you notified Fleet Captain Waelt of the new fleet Councilor Valen is bringing?”

  “Yes, he’s already making plans on how best to use the ships. He wants to make Lakiam Alliance space secure from Vorn attacks. It will allow him to protect thousands of inhabited worlds. He also wants to send some ships to fight the Vorn harvesting fleets.”

  Lilith looked out the window at the distant mountains that were now finished. There was even some snow on the taller peaks. “We still have no way to deal with the Vorn habitats. They can easily replace all of their ship losses where the Dyson Sphere and its ship production is lost to us.”

  Marshton hesitated and then spoke. “Councilor Valen and Fleet Captain Kriegon may have a way to deal with the Vorn habitats.” It was something Valen had mentioned to him in a message a few weeks back.

  Fleet Captain Lilith looked surprised. “How?”

  Taking a deep breath, Marshton explained Kriegon’s plan.

  “That’s crazy!” gasped Lilith, her eyes wide with shock. “That will never work!”

  “Valen and Kriegon think it’s worth the risk. If their plan does work we will never have to worry about the Vorn again.”

  Fleet Captain Lilith looked worried as she considered the ramifications. “How soon before Valen’s fleet arrives?”

  “Two more days,” replied Marshton. “The Vorn are already on the move and will soon be harvesting their first planets. As soon as Valen gets here we will arrange for our fleets to meet the Vorn in combat. Fleet Commodore Dreen wants to resist them at every opportunity and I agree. Our primary target will be the motherships. Our strategist believe the Vorn are near starvation. If Fleet Captain Kriegon fails in his plan to destroy the Vorn habitats, we may still be able to starve them to death if we make it impossible for them to harvest our galaxy.”

  “I’ll contact Fleet Captain Waelt to determine our first targets. My fleet is ready to engage the Vorn. From the message I received from the scout ship, the Vorn have sent forty harvesting fleets from their new staging system. We need to destroy some of them.”

  Marshton nodded. “That’s why we’re here. I’m also going to be contacting Fleet Admiral Vickers. Fleet Captain Kriegon says they may need Human battleships to attack the Vorn habitats. He feels certain the Zero-Point Energy rounds the Humans use will crack the shields on the Vorn habitats if his first plan fails.”

  “It will be a long journey to the Vorn System,” pointed out Lilith. “Much can happen during that time.”

  “Not as long as you think,” replied Marshton. “All of Valen’s fleet has been equipped with the new hyperspace power module which allows for far greater speeds. Since the Human ships have the identical drive, we’ll place them inside our shipyard and make the same modification to their hyperdrives. That puts the Vorn habitats within easy range. I checked and our hyperspace specialists say a fleet equipped with the modified drives can reach the habitats within ten days.”

  Lilith let out a deep breath. “So after all of these million
s of years we’re finally going to do it. We’re going to attack the Vorn habitats.”

  “Yes,” Marshton answered. “As soon as we can get the Human battleships here we will begin making the modifications.”

  “I’d better get back to my flagship. I need to begin making preparations for battle.”

  Marshton watched as Fleet Captain Lilith left his office. He was pleased Valen was bringing an additional two million Aggressive civilians. He had already spoken to Tasid about building a second and much larger habitat. Tasid had been enthusiastic at the prospect of building a larger habitat for the Aggressives. The new one he was already designing would be five hundred and twenty kilometers in diameter. It would also possess several space docks and ship construction yards. If the Vorn were defeated Marshton intended for the Aggressives to play a major role in future galactic civilization.

  -

  At Newton, Kurt was looking over the message they had just received from Councilor Marshton. He was sitting in a small briefing room with Admiral Wilson, Colonel Simms, Captain Randson, and Captain Watkins.

  “Attack the Vorn habitats,” said Andrew, his face turning pale. “The Vorn will have tens of thousands of ships protecting them. Plus the habitats are bound to have their own defensive systems. It may be impossible to cause much damage even if we take a significant part of the available Glaymon fleet.”

  “I don’t think the Glaymons would suggest this if they didn’t feel they had a reasonable chance of success,” said Admiral Wilson. “They want to make modifications to the hyperspace drives on our battleships. If we’re going to do this we need to get our battleships to the Glaymons as soon as possible.”

  “How many will we take?” asked Andrew. He knew from the look on Kurt’s face they were going to do this.

  “All but eight,” replied Kurt, his brow furrowed in thought. “We have four fleets and each one will have two battleships at their disposal as well as some Glaymon vessels. All the heavy battlecruisers will remain as well. That will give us twenty-six battleships plus the Star Cross to use against the Vorn habitats.”

  Henry looked over at Kurt. “It seems as if we’re putting all of our eggs in one basket. This mission to destroy the Vorn habitats sounds like a one-way proposition. Are you sure you want to risk so many of our most powerful ships? The Vorn fleets are already preparing to resume their harvests of inhabited worlds. They could show up here at any time.”

  Kurt blinked his eyes, knowing there was much truth in Henry’s words. It was one of the reasons he had asked his old friend to attend this meeting. “If we ever want to end the war, the Vorn habitats have to be dealt with.”

  Andrew let out a deep breath. “As much as it frightens me to attack what we know will be heavily defended, I have to agree. If we want a life of peace for our children we have to do as the Glaymons have suggested.”

  Admiral Wilson looked from Andrew to Kurt. “I believe with the forces we currently have and with the help of the Glaymons we can keep our Alliance safe from the Vorn while you’re gone.”

  “I don’t like the decision,” said Henry, rubbing his hand over his forehead. “But I to feel it’s the only choice if we ever want to end this war.”

  “Then it’s decided,” said Kurt. He handed a list to Colonel Simms. “Have all of these battleships report to Newton Station. Make sure they’re fully loaded with Zero-Point Energy rounds as well as supplies. I would like to depart for the Glaymons’ new system tomorrow.”

  Simms nodded as he looked over the list.

  Kurt stood up. He was going to go home and explain to Keera where he was going and why. He knew with the dangers there would be on this mission, there was a very good chance he might not return.

  -

  It didn’t take long for Mara to discover what Kurt was up to. Her communications officer had picked up the transmission from the Glaymons requesting Kurt’s battleships.

  “Make sure the Limeira is fully supplied and ready for combat,” she ordered. “We will be going with the Fleet Admiral.” Mara knew it would be risky but she was determined that in a battle of this significance, the Lakiams must be represented and she had her people’s most powerful ship.

  -

  Keera listened to Kurt explain why he had to go. She fidgeted slightly trying to keep her emotions in check. She could not believe what she was hearing. “The Vorn home system,” she said. “No one’s ever attempted to attack them. No one until now even knew where they were. For all we know they could have millions of ships protecting their home. You may be outnumbered hundreds or even thousands to one.”

  “We don’t think they have millions of ships,” Kurt replied. He could tell Keera was having a hard time with this. “Just enough to conduct their harvests and probably to protect their habitats from attack. Keep in mind the Vorn have never faced an opponent with the technology the Glaymons have.”

  Keera walked into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of tea. She took a long drink as she tried to think of some way to talk Kurt out of going. “I want children someday,” she said. “That won’t happen if you’re not here.”

  “I’ll be here,” Kurt promised. “Not even the Vorn can keep me away. Someday I want to play catch with my son and go to ballgames.”

  Keera sniffed, trying not to cry. “Meesa and Dalen will be having their child soon. Dalen is starting on their new house next week. Meesa and I have already been talking about the nursery. They have decided not to know the sex of the child until it’s born. It would be nice for their child to have a little cousin someday.”

  Kurt stepped over and put his arms around Keera. “There will be a little cousin,” Kurt promised. “Maybe more than one. If we’re successful destroying the Vorn habitats, the threat of war in our galaxy will be gone forever. We have the Glaymons here now and they will ensure we have peace.”

  “You’d better come back,” said Keera, feeling secure in Kurt’s arms. “There is so much I want us to do together.”

  “I will,” answered Kurt, kissing Keera on the lips. “We will have a long life together.”

  -

  Later that night Kurt was lying next to Keera listening to her deep breathing as she slept. Their bodies were touching and Kurt was hoping he could experience many more such nights. After their passionate lovemaking, Keera had fallen immediately to sleep with her hand on his chest. Lying there, Kurt thought of everything she had brought to his life. Granted, at first things were a little strange as she had spent so much time on Kubitz but once she adjusted to Newton they had steadily become closer. Now Kurt could not imagine spending the rest of his life with anyone else.

  In the morning Kurt planned to get up early and fix the two of them breakfast. Breakfast was Kurt’s best meal as far as cooking went. Eggs, sausage, hash browns, pancakes, and orange juice. It would be his last meal at home before he went off to fight the Vorn. It was one he wanted to remember.

  -

  The next day Kurt was on board the Star Cross preparing to take his fleet to the Glaymons’ new system. It would be a short trip in hyperspace. Looking at a nearby tactical display, he saw twenty-six battleships represented by bright green icons as well as another large green icon sitting next to the Star Cross.

  “Let me guess; that’s the Limeira.”

  “It is,” Aleea replied from her holographic platform. “Mara informed me earlier that Lakiam needed to be represented on this mission. I could not refuse her request.”

  Kurt let out a deep sigh. Somehow the presence of the Limeira didn’t surprise him.

  “We’ll be ready to depart in ten more minutes at the most,” Andrew reported. He looked over at Kurt. “How was your last night at home?”

  “Keera’s not happy about this mission. I think this time she’s really worried.”

  Andrew nodded in understanding. “My family is also. Emily said if I didn’t come back she would give Alexis a little more latitude in what time she has to come home at night. I stepped out on the porch the other night and caugh
t Alexis and her boyfriend sitting on a lounge chair all wrapped up in one another, kissing. Her curfew does not need to be extended at least until she reaches eighteen!”

  Kurt started laughing. “What did you do when you caught them?” Kurt could well imagine Andrew’s reaction.

  “I told Alexis to come in immediately. She was pretty miffed about my catching them. I later told Emily she and Alexis needed to have a long talk about certain things.”

  “Do you remember back when you and Emily were dating?”

  “Yeah; her father caught us once in the back seat of a car. I’ll never forget that. I don’t think this boy will forget my interruption either.”

  “Alexis has a good head on her shoulders,” Kurt said. “I don’t really think you have anything to worry about.”

  “All ships are in fleet formation,” reported Aleea.

  On the main viewscreen, Newton was showing. “We may be gone around a month,” Kurt said as he gazed one last time at the planet he now called home. It would be nice to be able to come home and not have to worry about the Vorn anymore.

  “We have a full load out on weapons,” announced Lieutenant Mays. “I would like nothing better than to see how a Zero-Point Energy round reacts when it strikes a Vorn habitat.”

  Kurt had informed the entire fleet of where they were going. “I hope you get the opportunity.”

  “Fleet is ready for departure,” reported Aleea.

  “We have departure clearance from Newton Station,” added Lieutenant Pierce.

  “Then it’s time. Aleea, coordinate the jump into hyperspace so all ships maintain their place in the formation.”

  Captain Randson stepped over to his command console. “Lieutenant Styles, initiate jump.”

  Kurt felt the Star Cross accelerate forward and then make the transition into hyperspace. Glancing at the tactical display, he saw the rest of the fleet was in formation. It was time to go to the Glaymons’ system and prepare for the final battle against the Vorn.

  Chapter Twenty-One