-
Talog found himself in the water. He had been blown off the deck of his ship from the force of the blast. Looking desperately around, he saw no sign of his brother. There were a few others in the water nearby calling for help but no one he recognized. His people were excellent swimmers and could swim underwater for hours as they had gills, which they could use to breathe. Talog knew it was useless; there was no longer any place to go. There was nothing he could do but wait for death and hope that it was quick.
-
The battlecruiser descended lower and powerful energy beams flicked out playing over the wreckage ensuring there were no survivors. Where it touched wood, canvas, or survivors flames flared briefly up and then died out. Shortly the calm ocean water was void of any wreckage as if the fleet of sailing ships had never existed. The commander of the battlecruiser satisfied that his mission was a success ordered his ship back up into orbit to seek other targets.
-
In the water, Talog resurfaced and looked around. The battlecruiser was rising up higher into the air and soon vanished from sight. With a deep sigh, Talog scanned the ocean near him seeing no other survivors. Kicking his feet, which had webs between the long toes, he began swimming toward a nearby island that had a small village under the water near a deep ocean trench. His only hope was that the enemy had missed the village and he could find refuge there. If not, perhaps he could find enough in the wreckage to allow him to survive.
-
The Battle Commander of the Trellixian fleet looked down at the once inhabited world his ships had conquered. A sentient ocean-dwelling species had inhabited the blue-white globe with their tall sailing ships traveling from city to city. They had adapted to living on both the land and in the deep ocean waters. The Olcons, as they called themselves, had spread their civilization across the world including numerous small chains of islands. Where their massive cities once floated on beds of kelp now only blackened ruins remained. Across the entire planet, every visage of civilization had been wiped out. Their lasts ocean-going ships had been annihilated wherever they gathered for mutual protection.
Currently, Trellixian soldiers in heavy combat suits were sweeping the planet and the deeper parts of the oceans to ensure there were no survivors. Already word had been sent back to the Trellixian High Command advising them the planet was now ready for colonization. Sometime in the next six weeks, the first of hundreds of colony ships would begin arriving. Within ten years, the planet would be a thriving Trellixian world.
“Ships are ready for departure,” Second Officer Jaltor reported.
Commander Balforr nodded his head. Balforr was taller than an average human with dark green skin due to his Saurian ancestry. The commander had a large lizard like head with sharp tearing teeth and large eyes.
“We’ll leave in two hours,” Balforr replied, his eyes looking coldly at the ship’s main viewscreen. “I wish to make one more sensor sweep of the planet, particularly the deeper parts of the oceans to confirm there are no major Olcon population centers surviving.”
Second Officer Jaltor frowned. “Some areas of those oceans are twelve kilometers deep. Our sensors have difficulty scanning at those depths.”
“I am aware of that,” replied Balforr, turning to gaze with narrowed eyes at his second in command. “However, I want those areas scanned anyway; we might detect a power source or one of the Olcons’ deep water submersibles. If we do not, then I’ll feel it’s safe for us to leave this world in the hands of the soldiers we’re leaving behind.”
“It will be done,” replied Jaltor. “We’re leaving a battlecruiser in orbit; if any Olcon communities have been overlooked they’re capable of making short work of them.”
“I believe in thoroughness,” responded Commander Balforr. “We were given the responsibility of clearing this planet of its inhabitants to make room for the continued expansion of our race.”
“And we have done that,” said Jaltor. “This race did not have the capability to defend itself against our superior weapons. Have you heard what our next mission will be?”
Commander Balforr was silent as he recalled the FTL transmission from the High Command, which had informed him where to take his fleet. “A world called Earth,” he answered. “It’s in the early stages of interplanetary spaceflight, and its population must be annihilated before they become a serious threat to the Empire. They’re a warlike species and there will be additional ships and soldiers going on this mission.”
“A warlike species,” mused Jaltor thoughtfully. “It’s very seldom we encounter such a civilization. Has the High Command suggested how we deal with this race?”
Balforr showed his sharp teeth and nodded. “Subterfuge and negotiations to begin with. We have much to offer that this species will be highly interested in. While we talk, we will learn their strengths and more importantly, their weaknesses.”
“It is a wise decision,” commented Jaltor.
Balforr turned toward the navigation officer. “How long will it take to travel to Earth’s star system?”
The navigation officer spent a few moments studying some star charts on his computer screens. “Two weeks travel in hyperspace. The system is far out on the very edge of explored space.”
“I am curious as to why the High Command chose our fleet for this mission,” said Jaltor, showing some confusion in his eyes. “There are other conquest fleets much closer.”
“It’s due to the difficulty of this particular mission,” Balforr responded. “Our fleet has the highest efficiency rating in using limited resources to annihilate civilizations which inhabit worlds which are needed for the continued expansion of our race.”
Jaltor nodded his understanding. The planet Earth would be the fleet’s next conquest and the race that currently inhabited it would become extinct.
Other Books by Raymond L. Weil
Available on Amazon
Moon Wreck (The Slaver Wars Book 1)
The Slaver Wars: Alien Contact (The Slaver Wars Book 2)
Moon Wreck: Fleet Academy (The Slaver Wars Book 3)
The Slaver Wars: First Strike (The Slaver Wars Book 4)
The Slaver Wars: Retaliation (The Slaver Wars Book 5)
The Slaver Wars: Galactic Conflict (The Slaver Wars Book 6)
The Slaver Wars: Endgame (The Slaver Wars Book 7)
The Slaver Wars: Books 1-3
-
Dragon Dreams
Dragon Dreams: Dragon Wars
Dragon Dreams: Gilmreth the Awakening
Dragon Dreams: Snowden the White Dragon
-
Star One: Tycho City: Survival
Star One: Neutron Star
Star One: Dark Star
Star One
-
Galactic Empire Wars: Destruction (Book 1)
Galactic Empire Wars: Emergence (Book 2)
Galactic Empire Wars: Rebellion (Book 3)
Galactic Empire Wars: The Alliance (Book 4)
Galactic Empire Wars: Insurrection (Book 5)
Galactic Empire Wars: The Beginning (Books 1-3)
-
The Lost Fleet: Galactic Search (Book 1)
The Lost Fleet: Into the Darkness (Book 2)
The Lost Fleet: Oblivion’s Light (Book 3)
The Lost Fleet: Genesis (Book 4)
The Lost Fleet: Search for the Originators (Book 5)
-
The Star Cross (Book 1)
The Star Cross: The Dark Invaders (Book 2)
The Star Cross: Galaxy in Peril (Book 3)
The Star Cross: The Forever War (Book 4)
The Star Cross: The Vorn! (Book 5)
-
The Originator Wars: Universe in Danger (Book 1)
The Originator Wars: Search for the Lost (Book 2)
(All dates are tentative)
The Originator Wars: Conflict Unending (Book 3) December 2017
Earth Fall: Invasion (Book 1) February 2018
p;
Raymond L. Weil, The Star Cross: The Vorn!
The Star Cross: The Vorn! Page 37