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

by Weil, Raymond L.

  “Where will your fleet be, Admiral?” Richard asked as he looked at the defenses. He could well recall how he had felt when he was aboard the space station above New Providence as the Hocklyns attacked. They had been hopelessly outnumbered, and he had expected to die. He hoped Admiral Streth wasn’t putting himself in the same position.

  “The fleet will be positioned just inside the gravity well of the planet,” Hedon answered as he studied the planet’s defenses, which he had helped design. “We will lure the enemy down toward the planet and then retreat to a position between the second and third defensive satellite layers. We have to make them believe we are trying to defend the planet and don’t intend to abandon it.”

  Admiral Teleck nodded and then asked his next question. “The outer layer doesn’t look as if it is defended very well. What’s to stop the Hocklyns from destroying it and blowing right through it with their ships and fighters?”

  “Our fighters will give the outer layer cover until the platforms fire their missiles, at which point they will retreat to the second layer.” Colonel Grissom explained.

  “I notice the defensive battle stations are all in the second outer layer,” Richard said as he studied the makeup of the satellites. “Is there a reason for this?” He suspected that Admiral Streth had a number of surprises set up for the Hocklyns. He wondered if this was one of them.

  “We have more of our laser satellites in this layer as well as another one hundred and sixty missile platforms,” explained Hedon, nodding his head.

  “But these missile platforms are different,” Colonel Grissom interjected with a wicked smile. “They are much larger and instead of being equipped with Klave class missiles, all the platforms are equipped with ten Devastator class missiles, each with a ten kiloton warhead.”

  “I wondered what you were doing with all of those missiles,” spoke Admiral Teleck, recalling all the questions that had been raised back home when Admiral Streth had requested nearly two thousand additional Devastator missiles.

  Admiral Teleck looked at all the defensive satellites that had been deployed. Between Admiral Streth and Admiral Strong, they had been sent a major portion of the Federation’s defensive satellite production for the last two months. A number of Federation planets and mining colonies were still screaming, demanding to know where their defensive satellites were.

  “Besides the defensive battle stations, we will have forty of our destroyers mixed in, adding their defensive fire to that of the satellites and battle stations and ensuring their maximum survival,” Admiral Streth added. “We hope to inflict significant damage on the Hocklyn fleet at this juncture.”

  Admiral Teleck stepped over closer to the tactical hologram, inspecting the deployment of the laser satellites and the missile platforms. “We are doing something similar at New Tellus, but on a much larger scale. What happens when the Hocklyns manage to penetrate this defensive layer?”

  “Then it becomes a major fleet action,” replied Hedon grimly, knowing he might lose a major portion of his fleet at this point in the battle. “We will engage the Hocklyn fleet in a running skirmish as we make for the edge of the planet’s gravity well. Our Devastator Three missiles should allow us to blow right through the Hocklyn fleet, inflicting heavy damage upon it. Once we reach the edge of the gravity well we’ll jump and begin our retreat back toward New Tellus.”

  “What about AI ships?” asked Richard, worriedly. He had witnessed firsthand back at New Providence what they could do to a fleet and satellite defenses. “What if they jump a large number of them inside the gravity well, or even inside the satellite defensive rings?”

  “We will have our heavy strikecruisers in position to respond if they do,” Hedon replied evenly. “If it’s only a few we can handle them, but if the AIs bring a major fleet we could have problems.”

  The AIs were the big unknown in his plans. He hoped after showing that they could destroy an AI ship that the Hocklyn’s masters would hold back and let the Hocklyns do most of the fighting in this system. If they did become involved, then his losses would become much higher.

  “I assume they have all been updated with the new program that Lieutenant Johnson and Ariel designed?” Admiral Teleck asked.

  He had already made sure the new program was being installed in all the new strikecruisers coming off the production lines, as well as the older ones in the Federation. It had been necessary to slightly upgrade all the older strikecruiser’s computer systems to handle the new program.

  “Yes, Sir,” Hedon replied with a nod. That had been one of his first priorities since they were so far from the Federation. “Clarissa and Ariel have checked the programming on all of our strikecruisers and confirmed that they are ready. Our two AIs are fully confident that the new program and heavier Devastator Three missiles will allow us to destroy an AI ship.”

  “I hope so, Admiral,” Teleck replied grimly.

  A lot was riding on that assumption. Clarissa and Ariel had already demonstrated that they could destroy an AI ship. The new program was still untried and, until it was, there were some questions as to whether it would actually work, even though the two friendly AIs and Lieutenant Johnson swore that it would.

  They continued their tour, inspecting the next two defensive rings, then went down to the planet to look at the defenses around the spaceport. The alien slaves that had been working at the spaceport had been transported off a few weeks back and taken to their home planets. It had been difficult to convince a few of them to go; only after explaining that the spaceport was going to be destroyed by nukes had they agreed to leave. The former Hocklyn slaves intended to stay hidden on their home planets and hope the Hocklyns would believe they had all died in the nuclear explosions at the spaceport.

  -

  The next day, Richard was aboard Admiral Teleck’s flagship and on his way back to the Federation. They had left a large number of warships behind in the Carethian system. Richard hated leaving Amanda, knowing the next time he saw her it would be after the big battle in the system Admiral Streth was planning to defend. He knew his wife would be playing an important role in that conflict. He just prayed she would come through unharmed and make it back to the New Tellus system safely. Unfortunately, when she did, he also knew that the Hocklyns and the AIs would be right behind her.

  -

  Commodore Krilen stood upon the command pedestal in the War Room of his flagship, the dreadnought IronHand. He had a look of deep satisfaction upon his face as they had just finished landing Protectors on the next slave world in his campaign to retake all of the former Hocklyn worlds the humans had freed. He was surprised that the humans seemed to be avoiding contact. Since that first battle, their ships had been strangely absent. It was just as well; with each world that he put back into the Hocklyn Empire, his honor grew. If things continued, he would be a full Fleet Commodore when this was over.

  “What planet is next?” Krilen asked in his cold rasping voice as he gazed at his First Leader.

  “There is another inhabited planet in a system eighteen light years distant,” First Leader Angoth replied. “It produced agricultural goods for the Empire before the humans destroyed the two escort cruisers and the space station that was in orbit.”

  “Very well,” Krilen replied as his dark eyes looked at the large viewscreen on the front wall of the War Room. “Prepare all ships to make the jump. We will land our Protectors on it and then continue on to the world of Careth. It is a high tech system and will bring us much honor when we bring it back into the Empire.”

  It was a shame the humans had destroyed the space stations above so many of the slave worlds. All would have to be rebuilt at tremendous expense to the Empire. Of course, the cost of rebuilding the space stations would eventually be passed on to the inhabitants of the planets the stations orbited.

  The fleet had been heavily reinforced since its initial engagement with the humans. Part of that was due to the fact that the High Council had felt there was a possibility of a major
engagement as Krilen’s fleet proceeded deeper into the space the humans had taken from the Hocklyn Empire. Krilen had strict orders not to approach any of the six former major fleet bases. It was felt that the humans would be waiting at these strong points to attempt to stop the Hocklyn advance.

  The fleet currently under his command was composed of eight dreadnoughts, fourteen war cruisers, and sixty escort cruisers. Krilen also had stern orders to withdraw rather than suffer major losses. With the current size of his fleet and after the earlier battle with the humans, he was not too concerned. He felt confident that he could handle anything the humans threw at him.

  -

  Fleet Commodore Resmunt gazed at the latest report from Commodore Krilen. He was continuing to advance unopposed through former Hocklyn space retaking slave world after slave world. He shook his head, knowing that Krilen was becoming too overconfident. This was the biggest danger when fighting the humans, which Resmunt had learned the hard way after nearly having his fleet annihilated. Resmunt had seen what the humans were capable of and was worried that they were luring Krilen into a trap. He debated sending Krilen a warning but strongly suspected the commodore would ignore it. The commodore would have to learn his lesson the same way Resmunt had.

  Looking at the main viewscreen of his flagship, the dreadnought Liberator, he looked with distaste at what was on the screen. A 1,500-meter AI ship was setting in orbit above Kenward Seven after returning from human occupied space. The AIs were even now evaluating the new weapons systems that were being installed on Hocklyn ships against what they had learned about human technology. From what Resmunt had heard so far the AIs seemed certain that the new weapons and energy screen would be effective against human warships.

  “The AIs seemed satisfied with our progress,” Ganth commented as he gazed impassively at the screen. “The shipyard the AI is in orbit next to has reported that they will be leaving shortly.”

  “Let them go,” Resmunt hissed; he had no love for the AIs. “As the worlds of this galaxy are our slaves, we are slaves to the AIs.”

  “It is dangerous to speak that way,” Ganth cautioned, though he felt the same about the metal monstrosities. “We have no choice but to obey them. There is no power in the galaxy that can stand up to their ships and technology.”

  Resmunt nodded. He thought about the coming war with the humans. They had already demonstrated that they could destroy an AI ship. What if they were a much bigger threat to the AIs than the High Council believed? The commodore let out a deep breath and shook his head. Those were dangerous thoughts and best left alone. It was his duty to get his fleet ready for combat, and that time was rapidly approaching. There was much honor waiting in the future for all members of the Hocklyn military, and he intended to get his share. That seat on the High Council was beckoning, and Resmunt intended to have it someday.

  Chapter Five

  Fleet Admiral Karla Johnson was on Earth visiting with President Kincaid about the current status of the fleet and preparations for defending the Federation. The president was also briefing the Darvonian ambassador as to the current status of Operation First Strike and the likelihood of a Hocklyn attack. The Darvonian star systems were sixty-eight light years from Earth and consisted of their home system, six highly developed colony worlds, and fourteen additional worlds that were under development. They had numerous scientific and mining outposts in twenty more star systems and a highly advanced exploration program.

  The Darvonians had actually made contact with the Federation when one of their exploration ships had found the human colony of Bliss at Epsilon Eridani. They had become good trading partners, and it was not unusual to see Darvonians on all of the planets of the Federation. The Darvonians were similar to Humans in many ways and had even grown to like Earth music, which was in high demand on the Darvonian worlds, along with other forms of Earth entertainment. In return, art from the Darvonian worlds was highly prized by Earth collectors. Some of their paintings were truly breathtaking and had taken the art world by storm.

  Of even greater importance was the fact that they had the next largest warfleet after the Federation. The Darvonians preferred smaller warships and had 440 ships slightly larger than a Federation destroyer. They also maintained twenty command ships, which were similar in size to a Monarch heavy cruiser. After being informed of the threat the Hocklyns posed to them, the Darvonians had updated all of their ships as well as surrounded their key worlds with dense minefields as well as defensive satellites.

  “This coming war is worrisome,” spoke Ambassador Flay, raising his eyebrows. “My government is deeply concerned about what will happen if we have to face an AI ship. Currently we have nothing that can stop one.”

  President Kincaid looked over at the ambassador. He had known the Darvonian Ambassador for quite some time. Most Darvonians were the same height as humans with a red tinge to their skin. They were also bulkier, had six digits on their hands, and no hair upon their heads. Their eyes were widely set with large, flaring nostrils.

  “We may have a remedy for that,” President Kincaid responded. He had already discussed what he was going to propose with Fleet Admiral Johnson. They could not afford for one or two AI ships to show up and wipe out one of their allies. “Your people have done everything we have asked to prepare for this war. As you may have heard, Fleet Admiral Streth successfully destroyed two AI ships in his battle above the Hocklyn’s primary fleet base.”

  “Admiral Johnson has briefed me on that,” responded Flay, nodding his head slightly toward the admiral. “But you also suffered considerable fleet losses in doing so.”

  “It was a learning experience,” President Kincaid confessed with a deep sigh. He didn’t want the ambassador to know just how close the AI ships had come to stopping Operation First Strike and wiping out First Fleet. “We did manage to destroy the two AI ships and have adopted a new strategy to ensure that we can do so in the future. Admiral Johnson, will you please inform the ambassador what we are willing to do.”

  “With your government’s permission, we will position two small fleets in your space,” Fleet Admiral Johnson began. “The fleets will each consist of one battlecruiser, two of our heavy strikecruisers, and four light cruisers. The heavy strikecruisers will be equipped with the technology and weapons needed to destroy an AI ship. We are also willing to allow your military to place observers on the battlecruisers if you so wish.”

  Ambassador Flay leaned back in his chair and placed his right hand upon the president’s desk as he considered the offer. The fingers on his hand were slightly longer than a humans, and he was unconsciously tapping his index finger upon the wood of the desk. “I will have to speak to my government about this,” he said as his eyes narrowed in thought. “I assume the battlecruisers will be the flagships of the two fleets?”

  “Yes, Ambassador,” Admiral Johnson replied. “We will allow your military to decide upon the best locations to position the two fleets to protect your worlds from the AIs.”

  “Keep in mind Ambassador, that we expect the AIs to attack here before they engage your worlds,” President Kincaid added. “If we can stop them, your worlds may never need to worry about facing an AI ship.”

  “Perhaps,” Ambassador Flay replied thoughtfully. “But it would be comforting to my government and our people if we knew we could handle one if it became necessary. I believe my government will accept your offer as long as we can place observers upon the flagships. I will make the recommendation to my government to accept the offer and get back to you once I receive their response.”

  Fleet Admiral Johnson watched the ambassador depart and then turned back to face the president. “The Kessels and the Zanths have already agreed to accept our fleets. What concerns me are the Albanians; they’re still refusing to believe that the Hocklyns and the AIs are a threat.”

  President Kincaid leaned back in his chair and rubbed his brow with his left hand, then looked over his desk at the Fleet Admiral. “Karla, the Albanians have acted st
rangely ever since we told them about a potential attack. They have closed off their borders and are now refusing trade of any kind. In the last few weeks, even their research and exploration ships have remained within their area of space.”

  “Sir, they can’t be expecting the Hocklyns and the AIs to leave them alone,” Karla said, her hazel eyes looking worriedly at the president. “Even with their advanced technology, it will mean nothing if they have no warships with which to defend themselves.”

  “And that’s the big question,” Kincaid replied as he stood up and walked over to a large map of the galaxy that showed Federation controlled space, their allies and, of course, Albanian controlled space. The space the Albanians controlled was larger than what the Federation and its allies controlled combined.

  “Why are they ignoring this war? They have to know what will happen to them if we lose,” Karla asked as she came to stand next to the president. “They have sixteen highly developed worlds and numerous smaller colonies as well as their mining operations and scientific outposts. They have more to lose than anyone.”

  “Their embassy here is still open even though the one we had on their home world has been shut down at their request,” Kincaid informed the Fleet Admiral. With a deep sigh, he turned to face Karla. “I just feel we are missing something with the Albanians. They have been in space far longer than any of our allies and have explored a major portion of this section of the galaxy. There is even speculation that they may have visited Earth centuries before the Federation survivors arrived.”

  “They are a mystery,” admitted Karla, feeling frustrated that the Albanians would not take an active role in the war. “Their science could give us the key to defeating the Hocklyns and possibly the AIs; I just don’t understand how they can refuse not to get involved.”