The Slaver Wars: Retaliation (The Slaver Wars Book Five)

by Weil, Raymond L.

  The Slaver Wars: Retaliation

  (The Slaver Wars Book Five.)

  By

  Raymond L. Weil

  Books in the Slaver Wars Series

  Moon Wreck: First Contact (Book One, part one of three)

  Moon Wreck: Revelations (Book One, part two of three)

  Moon Wreck: Secrets of Ceres (Book One, part three of three)

  The Slaver Wars: Alien Contact (Book Two)

  Moon Wreck: Fleet Academy (Book Three)

  The Slaver Wars: First Strike (Book Four)

  The Slaver Wars: Retaliation (Book Five)

  Website: http://raymondlweil.com/

  Copyright © February 2014 by Raymond L. Weil

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover Design by Humblenations.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The Slaver Wars: Retaliation

  Chapter One

  Blue-white spatial vortexes suddenly formed in system 884-K and Second Fleet flashed into being as the vortexes collapsed into dark nothingness behind them. In just a matter of a few moments, the entire fleet had exited hyperspace. Where before there had been nothing, now a full sized Federation warfleet had flashed into existence. Battlecruisers, battlecarriers, strikecruisers and their support ships moved quickly into position.

  “Status!” barked Admiral Amanda Sheen as she gazed across the Command Center of the 1,200-meter Conqueror Class Command battlecruiser WarStorm. The Command Center buzzed around her as the crew worked with increased activity checking their consoles and preparing for battle.

  “Jump complete,” reported Commander Samantha Evans as the ship’s systems stabilized and the sensors came online. The main viewscreen on the front wall cleared of static and a sea of unblinking stars appeared.

  “No enemy contacts within engagement range,” Lieutenant Benjamin Stalls reported as his sensors probed the immediate area around the fleet for any threats and then began searching further out.

  “Battle Carrier Endurance is launching the CAP,” Commander Evans added as she listened to fleet communications over her mini-com. “All ships are at Condition One and ready for combat.”

  “Enemy ships detected!” Lieutenant Stalls called out as his sensors probed deeper into the enemy held system and two red threat icons suddenly flashed into being on the main sensor screen. “Two Hocklyn escort cruisers at eight million kilometers and closing. They have detected us.”

  Amanda nodded; she had expected this. The stealth scouts had reported that this system held a moderate size Hocklyn base protected by a small fleet of warships. Over the past two months, Operation First Strike had rolled over Hocklyn controlled space, destroying every Hocklyn base they came across. Thus far, the Hocklyns had not managed to throw a fleet in front of Second Fleet to cause them to pause in their reign of destruction.

  They had freed a number of former slave worlds as well as destroyed all Hocklyn bases across an eight hundred light year front and extending over three hundred light years into Hocklyn controlled space. Amanda’s current orders were to continue probing into Hocklyn space until they mounted a defense capable of stopping her.

  “Sensors are detecting more ships farther in-system,” Lieutenant Stalls continued. “The enemy base is now on sensors.”

  Amanda gazed at the holographic tactical image now being projected above the plotting table and the red icons it was displaying. She walked over to stand next to it and gazed warily at the enemy fleet’s disposition.

  “They’re getting smarter,” Commander Evans commented as she looked at the display from Amanda’s side. “All of their ships are outside of the planet’s gravity well and will probably jump away as soon as we reach engagement range. This base is a small one, so I doubt if they will stay to protect it. They seem to be getting self conscious about their fleet losses recently.”

  “If they do jump out, it will make it that much easier for us to destroy their base,” Amanda replied in a cold and determined voice. She felt no compassion for the Hocklyns, not after what they had done to her home worlds. In her mind, she could see the old Federation dying under the brutal nuclear bombardment of Hocklyn warships. Over fourteen billion people had been massacred as the Hocklyns killed without mercy.

  “What’s the makeup of their fleet?”

  Lieutenant Stalls carefully studied one of his data screens before replying. “One war cruiser and four escort cruisers, plus the two that are currently closing on our position.”

  “A small force for one of their bases,” Commander Evans stated and then added with a note of concern in her voice, “I don’t like this; something doesn’t feel right. Why haven’t they already jumped out?”

  “Me neither,” Amanda replied as she turned toward the communications console. “Lieutenant Trask, have you detected any outgoing FTL communications from the Hocklyns?” She wondered if the Hocklyns were setting a trap for her fleet. She knew that, at some point in time, they were bound to mount an attempt to stop Second Fleet from rampaging through their territory.

  “No, Admiral,” Lieutenant Angela Trask replied as she checked her communications console once more. “Just standard communications and nothing going out of the system.”

  “So they’re not screaming for help,” Evans commented with a growing frown, her eyes focusing intently on the admiral. “Why not?” In other systems they had attacked, the Hocklyns had sent out frantic calls for help as soon as Second Fleet put in an appearance.

  “They knew we were coming,” Amanda stated, her eyes widening at the realization. “They must have detected the stealth scouts somehow.”

  Amanda knew this was something that Admiral Streth had been deeply concerned about. While the Hocklyns didn’t have the technology to detect the Federation’s stealth scout ships, there had always been the remote possibility that the AIs did. This seemed to indicate that the AIs might have furnished that advanced technology to the Hocklyns.

  “They may be setting a trap for us,” warned Commander Evans, looking with growing concern at the admiral. “Lieutenant Stalls, keep a close watch on sensors, it looks as if the Hocklyns may have been expecting us. We may have a welcoming party showing up shortly.”

  Amanda activated her mini-com and changed it to ship-to-ship to communicate with all the commanders of her fleet. “This is Admiral Sheen,” she said in a calm and commanding voice. “We were sent out by Fleet Admiral Streth to see how far we could push into Hocklyn space until they could mount a force powerful enough to stop us. I believe they are about to make
that attempt.” She paused and looked over at Lieutenant Stalls. “We think the Hocklyns may have detected our stealth scouts and are preparing to launch a major attack against Second Fleet.” Amanda glanced inquiringly over at Lieutenant Stalls.

  “Nothing yet, Admiral,” Stalls reported with a shake of his head as he watched his screen fixedly “Sensors are still clear of any new threats.”

  “We will maintain our current position until further notice,” Amanda continued, keeping an eye on Stalls and the tactical display. “All ships will stay at Condition One. Battlecarriers are to prepare their Anlon bombers for a shipping strike against enemy fleet units. If this is the enemy’s attempt to stop us, all ships are to be ready to jump back to our failsafe position in system 920-J. If an AI ship is detected all ships are to jump immediately, even without direct orders from the flag. The preservation of your ship is your first priority if an AI is involved.”

  “You don’t want to engage an AI?” asked Evans, surprised.

  They had four of the heavy strikecruisers in the fleet, which had the new computer program and heavier forty-megaton Devastator Three missiles. Ariel and Clarissa had both said the new computer systems and missiles could destroy an AI ship. The two friendly AIs had already demonstrated that in the attack on the main Hocklyn fleet base when two AI ships had jumped in and engaged the fleet. Ariel and Clarissa had destroyed both AI ships, much to the surprise of their commanders.

  “No,” Amanda replied as she went back to her command console and sat down, deep in thought. “The AIs know they inflicted heavy damage on First Fleet the first time we tangled with two of their ships. If not for Ariel, First Fleet would have been annihilated. We don’t want them to know that we have updated the tactical computers on the strikecruisers and increased the explosive yield of the Devastator Threes from twenty megatons to forty.”

  “We’re going to set our own trap, then,” spoke Evans, nodding in sudden understanding.

  “Yes,” Amanda replied, her deep blue eyes gazing at her executive officer. “Admiral Strong is setting up a strong point in the bears’ home system. It will be a death trap for the Hocklyns and the AIs if they dare to attack it. Admiral Streth is doing the same thing at the main Hocklyn base we captured. Between the two, we hope to bleed the Hocklyns heavily before we retreat back toward Federation space. I intend to do the same thing here if possible.”

  Amanda turned back and gazed at the holographic tactical display as she weighed her options. “Commander Evans, place the fleet into defensive position Alpha Four and move us toward the Hocklyn base at five percent sublight. I don’t want the fleet to be stationary if this is indeed a trap.”

  “Yes, Admiral,” Evans replied as she moved to the plotting table to carry out the order. She noticed the increased tension in the Command Center as the crew realized that shortly they might be engaged in major combat.

  Amanda leaned back in her command chair and thought about what had brought them to this point. Fleet Admiral Johnson had talked the new Federation of Worlds into activating the entire Ready Reserve Fleet and turning it over to Fleet Admiral Streth. Admiral Streth and sixty-seven others had been in cryosleep for nearly four hundred years waiting to be awoken to lead the human worlds against the Hocklyns.

  After being brought out of cryosleep and going through training to adapt to this age and the new Federation, Admiral Streth had led five fleets deep into Hocklyn space in a daring First Strike against the Hocklyn Slave Empire. So far, it had succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. The goal of the attack had been to buy the new Federation some much-needed time to switch to a war footing and finish the defenses needed to protect the inhabited planets. Amanda had been one of those in cryosleep.

  Long minutes passed and still nothing new was showing up on the sensors. All seventy-four ships of Second Fleet were now in a defensive formation and slowly moving in system. Half a dozen small Talon fighters flew on the outside of the fleet searching for any unseen threats that might have slipped by the fleet’s sensors.

  Amanda’s mind turned to her husband who was back at New Tellus working on the massive asteroid fortresses. At least he was safe from harm. The fortresses were so powerful that not even an AI ship would have an easy time taking one out. Amanda hadn’t seen Richard in over three months, and that was a long time for a married couple to be apart. The long nights without him were very lonely.

  “Contacts!” Lieutenant Stalls called out as his sensor screen began to light up with red enemy threat icons. “Enemy ships emerging from hyperspace at two million kilometers.”

  Immediately the alarm klaxons began to sound and red lights began to flash, indicating that engagement was imminent. Commander Evans strode over to the command console and turned the alarms and flashing lights off.

  “At least they didn’t jump in too close,” Evans commented, taking a deep breath as she studied the new data appearing in the tactical hologram.

  Amanda activated her mini-com so she could speak with the two battlecarriers. “Commanders Marsh and Reynolds, you are not to launch your Anlon bombers until I give the order. Your fighters should be ready to launch at a moment’s notice if the Hocklyns deploy theirs.”

  Amanda’s penetrating gaze returned to the main sensor screen as even more red threat icons continued to appear. She could feel her pulse beginning to race; this was looking as if it was going to be a major battle. Somehow, the Hocklyns had managed to rush a large fleet of ships to the system. From the very beginning of her push deeper into Hocklyn space, she had expected this to happen eventually. It just surprised her that it had taken so long.

  “How did they respond so quickly?” Commander Evans asked as she turned back to face the admiral. “There are no major bases close by for a fleet of this size to have come from.”

  “We have been steadily advancing in this sector, destroying one fleet base after another,” Amanda replied as she thought about what the Hocklyns must have done. “I would guess they stationed several large fleets in our path and just waited for us to put in an appearance.”

  “No more enemy fleet units are appearing,” Lieutenant Stalls reported. For the last few seconds, the number of Hocklyn ship units in the system had remained constant.

  “What are we up against, Commander?” Amanda asked as she looked over at Evans and the tactical hologram.

  “It’s a big fleet,” Evans stated as she studied data on a computer screen. “It looks as if we’re facing six dreadnoughts, twelve war cruisers, and forty-eight escort cruisers.”

  Amanda nodded. It seemed as if the two fleets were evenly matched in numbers, but Second Fleet actually had more firepower. She could take the Hocklyn fleet although not without suffering heavy ship losses, but she couldn’t retreat without at least challenging the enemy. Admiral Streth had a plan, and it was her job to make sure it worked. She let out a deep breath, knowing what was expected of her.

  “Advance on the enemy fleet,” Amanda ordered in a grave and determined voice. “Increase sublight speed to thirty percent and stand by to engage. Switch to formation Beta Two and prepare to fire all weapons upon my command!”

  The human fleet turned and sped toward the waiting Hocklyn fleet as the individual ships adjusted their position into a more offensive orientated formation. On board the warships, crewmembers prepared for battle. Missiles were placed in readiness and targeting systems activated. Pulse laser turrets swiveled until they faced the enemy, and energy shields were brought to full power.

  -

  On board the 1,200-meter Hocklyn Dreadnought IronHand, Commodore Krilen smirked as the human fleet turned to engage him. He had long waited to get his opportunity to crush these vermin. He had heard the rumor running rampant throughout the fleet that the humans had destroyed two AI ships, but he had discarded that as just a rumor. No one could damage one of the master’s ships. He suspected it was a ruse from the High Council to encourage Hocklyn Commodores and War Leaders to fight harder against the humans.

  Krilen turned towa
rd First Leader Angoth. “Launch our war wings; it is time to destroy these humans.”

  “It will be a great day for honor,” Angoth replied as he carried out the order.

  Angoth’s six-digit hand strayed to the blade he always carried at his waist. He was tall for a Hocklyn at well over two meters and wore light gray colored battle armor as was customary for all Hocklyns in positions of leadership. His skin was a light green, looking almost scaly. His eyes were large and set wide apart on his head

  “A great day for honor indeed,” answered Krilen as his cold, dark eyes focused on the tactical sensor screen. He had long wanted to test his battle skills against these upstart humans.

  Almost instantly over four hundred small fighters launched from the Hocklyn ships and accelerated rapidly toward the approaching human fleet. Each fighter was armed with two small missiles to be used against the human support ships. The missiles contained high explosive warheads and, if enough impacted a ship’s screen, it should collapse under the bombardment.

  -

  “Enemy fighters inbound,” Commander Evans reported calmly as she saw the blossoming red threat icons on the tactical display and understood instantly what it meant.

  “They have launched close to four hundred fighters,” Lieutenant Stalls reported, his eyes growing wide at the number. His sensor screen was now covered in red icons.

  “Launch our own fighters,” Amanda ordered as her eyes narrowed. She leaned forward, gazing intently at the tactical display.

  From the two battlecarriers, over three hundred Talon space superiority fighters launched, their targets the inbound Hocklyn fighters. The fighters were armed with Hunter interceptor missiles and two 30 mm cannons.

  “Entering extreme combat range,” Commander Evans reported as the two fleets narrowed the gap between them.

  “Slow to combat speed and prepare to engage,” Amanda ordered evenly, fastening her safety harness.