Admiral Donlur was almost thrown to the deck from the furious pounding his ship was taking. “Have all ships return fire. I’m on my way to the Command Center.”
He could not believe the Humans had dared to attack his fleet here at the red dwarf. Leaving his quarters, he hurried to the Command Center. Along the way he passed numerous crew personnel, rushing to their battle stations.
Already he heard reports of emergency bulkheads shutting to seal off damaged compartments. He was nearly to the Command Center when a loud explosion echoed through the ship, throwing him to the deck. For a moment he felt stunned and then, rising to his feet, made it into the Command Center.
Inside the room was chaos. Several consoles had shorted out, and a thick pall of smoke hung in the room, making the air almost unbreathable. “Activate the emergency air system,” he ordered. This was a special system devised just for the Command Center to keep it clear of smoke during battle. “What’s our current status?”
“Five hundred Human battlecruisers and forty-three dreadnoughts are attacking. We’ve already suffered widespread losses, as many of our ships were unable to get up their energy shields in time. So far we’ve lost seventy-four battlecruisers and twelve battleships. Many other ships are reporting damage.”
Admiral Donlur made it to his command chair with his large yellow eyes drawn to the ship’s main viewscreen. On it he saw several large Human dreadnoughts firing nonstop at his fleet.
“Our weapons effectiveness is down to 65 percent,” reported the tactical officer. “We’ve lost a number of weapons turrets, as well as sustained damage to a number of missile tubes.”
“We have several fires burning in the aft storage compartments,” added First Officer Zakor. “In addition I’ve ordered a number of emergency bulkheads to be sealed, cutting off damaged areas. Crew losses are significant.”
On another viewscreen, a Zynth battlecruiser blew up in a massive fireball, sending debris flying across space and slamming into the energy shields of several nearby ships.
“We cannot win this battle,” uttered Admiral Donlur, as he witnessed the damage his fleet was taking. “Order all ships to jump to the fallback location. We’ll reevaluate our situation there.”
The ship suddenly lurched violently to one side. Warning alarms sounded, and a console exploded, sending a shower of hot sparks across the Command Center.
“Take us into hyperspace!” ordered Admiral Donlur. He knew, if they stayed much longer, his flagship would be destroyed. It was now a matter of saving what ships he could.
“Fleet is jumping,” reported First Officer Zakor. “We have a large number of vessels too damaged to make the transition into hyperspace.”
Zynth Admiral Donlur had been afraid of that. The Humans had taken them by surprise, and his fleet was now paying the cost for that. He also had ensured his fallback hyperspace coordinates were not anywhere near any Morag vessels. After listening to the Humans’ announcement of Morag telepathy and how the Morag could control others, Donlur planned to maintain considerable distance between his ships and any Morag.
-
Admiral Cleemorl breathed out a sigh of relief, as the enemy fleet began jumping out. The First Fleet had taken the Zynth by surprise, hitting them with a missile barrage before they could even react. Obviously they had never expected to be attacked.
“How many of them did we get?”
“One hundred and thirty-eight,” answered Captain Fulmar. “That includes the heavily damaged ones we’re still in the process of destroying.”
Dylan nodded. “This should prevent any further attacks on the cluster, at least for the foreseeable future.” In four more weeks, the cluster should be ready to withstand any conceivable attack by the Confederation. More defensive grid elements arrived every day, including ODPs. In addition, the major worlds of the cluster now produced their own defensive elements, as well as large numbers of attack interceptors. On all seven major worlds of the cluster, large instruction classes were ongoing for the interceptor flight crews. In just four more weeks, the Hagen Star Cluster would be nearly as heavily held as the core worlds.
On the main viewscreen, the last Zynth battlecruiser was blown apart, ending the brief battle in this system.
“What were our losses?” Dylan knew his fleet had not suffered many.
“Sixteen battlecruisers and one dreadnought,” replied Fulmar. “We have about a dozen ships that will need some yard time.”
While those losses were painful, they were nothing compared to what the Zynth had lost. “Take us back into hyperspace and return to Tantula Five. I believe we’ve taken care of our Zynth problem for the foreseeable future.”
-
Above Golan Four in the core worlds, the Destiny had gone into orbit. Derrick had just activated the intrafleet comm system, where every crewmember on board all of Fifth Fleet’s ships heard his voice. Captain Audrey Banora stood beside him, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“Attention, all Fifth Fleet personnel. I have an important message for all of you regarding this fleet. Effective today I am promoting Captain Audrey Banora to the rank of rear admiral and giving her command of the fleet.” With a smile, Derrick took out a small case from his shirt pocket and, opening it, revealed the shiny silver officer symbols to the shocked captain. “I will still be using the Destiny as my flagship when necessary. However, when I am not on board, Rear Admiral Banora will have full command of the fleet.”
Derrick took the small symbols out of the box and placed them on Audrey’s shoulders. He noticed tears in her eyes. Tears of joy. He knew she had not been expecting this. He then stepped back and saluted his new rear admiral. “Rear Admiral Banora, I hereby present you with the command of Fifth Fleet and the heavy dreadnought Destiny.”
Audrey returned the salute. She felt faint and was in a state of disbelief. “Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t,” replied Derrick, with a huge smile.
The Command Center suddenly erupted with cheering and clapping. Time to do some celebrating!
-
Late that evening Derrick returned to the palace. The crew had gone way into the night, celebrating Audrey’s promotion. As soon as he entered the palace, he was met by Layla, standing there, her hands on her hips, frowning. “I expected you three hours ago,” she admonished unhappily. “I had the Royal Chef prepare a special meal just for the two of us. It’s cold now.”
“Sorry,” replied Derrick, knowing he was in trouble. “We were celebrating Captain Banora’s promotion to rear admiral, and I guess the time got away from me.”
Suddenly Layla looked embarrassed. “I forgot about that. Still, you should have called.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” promised Derrick.
“Yes, you will but later, after we get married,” replied Layla, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Now let’s go see if the chef can warm our food.” With that, Layla took Derrick’s hand, and they headed toward the small dining room, which was reserved exclusively for the Royal Family.
-
Later, as they ate, they discussed the events of the last few days. While they talked, two attendants served them the different courses of their meal, with the chef making sure everything was just right.
“Admiral Cleemorl launched an attack against the Zynth fleet harassing the Hagen Star Cluster,” reported Derrick. While he was away, he had kept abreast of everything with regular communications with Fleet Admiral Marloo. “He inflicted heavy losses and drove the fleet away.”
Layla frowned. “Should we be attacking right now? We still need to build a lot more ships.”
“Admiral Cleemorl is making a fortress out of the Hagen Star Cluster. In another few weeks he will have it as strongly held as the core worlds are. Already all seven of the major worlds are building warships, with the first coming out of the shipyards next week. They’ve already built several thousand attack interceptors and are in the process of training the crews.” D
errick took a bite of his food. It tasted a lot like a game hen and was extremely delicious with the gravy that accompanied it.
“Krista and Emira have been helping me finalize our wedding plans. All that’s really left is for us to decide where we’re going on our honeymoon.”
“I was thinking about Glimmer,” said Derrick. He had been impressed with the planet, when he had visited it. “It has some wonderful beaches and great resorts. How about spending a few days there and then heading to Aquilla Three? I understand it has some really nice ski resorts.”
“Snow,” said Layla, laughing. “You’ll take me someplace cold on our honeymoon?”
Derrick smiled. “Just gives me a better excuse to warm you back up later.”
Layla’s face flushed, and she shook her head. “Are all men like you?”
Derrick laughed. “Most.”
“I spoke to Fleet Admiral Marloo briefly today. He said he will have Fifth Fleet up to full strength in two more weeks. All the warships currently coming out of the shipyards above all the core worlds will be contributing to the fleet. Fleet Admiral Marloo plans on a fleet of one thousand battlecruisers and two hundred dreadnoughts. All the dreadnoughts will have the new particle beam cannons on them. Even the ships already built will be pulled back into the shipyards, and the cannons added.”
Derrick leaned back, folding his arms across his chest, as the servers brought in dessert, a cake with what looked like vanilla ice cream. “I think the new particle beam cannons will make a huge difference in the war. If we can get enough dreadnoughts built that have the cannons, we may drive the Confederation forces completely out of the Empire.”
Layla looked surprised. “That would be wonderful. You really think it’s possible?”
Derrick nodded. “Yes, I do.”
-
The two continued to talk, while they ate their dessert. After the meal, they took time to thank the chef and the two servers. They then headed up to one of the sky towers to stand on a balcony that overlooked the city. Of course they were followed discreetly by two Imperial Guards.
“I love being up here,” said Layla, as she leaned into Derrick’s arms.
“So do I, especially when I’m with you.”
“Are you going anywhere with the fleet before our wedding?” This greatly concerned Layla. Derrick would not shirk his duty, even if it meant delaying their wedding.
Derrick shook his head. “Nothing planned. Rear Admiral Banora can handle the fleet for now.”
This seemed to satisfy Layla, as she gazed out over the multitude of lights that lit up the city. “The House of Worlds is now complete. I’ve turned over more responsibility for the government and the military to the Imperial Council. It’s time for me and Krista to take a step back. If everything goes as I hope, in another four to six weeks, we will have over two hundred worlds in the Empire.”
“Our fleets are growing with every passing day.” Derrick didn’t mention that, with the new particle beam cannons, there was a chance the other worlds of the Empire could be freed quickly. He was also curious about what else was going on in the Confederation, since Layla and Rear Admiral Carrie had made their momentous announcement.
-
In the Confederation, Morag Fleet Admiral Torrant was over the capital world of the Creetins—an insect race, very similar to a praying mantis, standing six feet tall. The Creetins were spread across twenty-two star systems that the Confederation controlled. However, on six of those worlds, including the capital, now widespread riots protested the domination of the Morag. The Creetins demanded more rights and for their worlds to be allowed to leave the Confederation, if they voted to do so. The Morag could not allow this, for it would cause the Confederation to splinter, so an example needed to be made.
The planet was not defended, as the seven Confederation worlds did not allow any of their subservient planets to have any defenses. This was due to Morag intervention using their telepathy. On the main viewscreen, the massive cities of the Creetin were plainly visible. Even though the population of the Creetins had been greatly reduced in the past, the planet now held nearly twelve billion of the insect people.
“We’ve received messages from the surface, demanding we leave their orbit immediately,” reported the communications officer.
Admiral Torrant merely shook his head. “No, their planet will serve as an example to their other systems and to any other world that thinks about revolting. Stand by to initiate orbital bombardment.” Torrant planned on reducing the planet to rubble. After this demonstration the revolts across the Empire should subside.
The fleet of 220 battleships spread out above the planet, until they were all in position. Then the order was given to bombard. Instead of antimatter missiles, they would use fusion ones. They wanted to make the planet uninhabitable for decades to come.
From the orbiting fleet, hundreds of deadly fusion missiles flashed out of their launch tubes, heading toward the helpless planet below. The first missile detonated over the capital city, immediately killing twenty million inhabitants. At the center of the blast, the deadly heat melted and vaporized everything it touched, including the inhabitants. A massive blast wave radiated outward, toppling buildings and smashing through everything in its path.
Then a second and third missile detonated, spreading the death and the destruction even farther. In just a matter of minutes, everything within a radius of twenty kilometers had been destroyed. Thousands of fires and a thick pall of smoke hung over the stricken city. Three massive mushroom clouds rose into the atmosphere.
Across the planet this scene was played out time after time. When the bombardment finally stopped, over two thousand mushroom clouds were visible. The radiation level climbed, and the atmosphere turned dark from the smoke, dust, ashes, and debris which the blasts had hurled upward into the atmosphere.
Three large space stations were in orbit as well. Each were targeted, and antimatter weapons were used. In brilliant flashes of light all three were easily eliminated. Throughout the system, ships with hyperspace drives jumped out, fleeing the Morag fleet. Word was already spreading as to what the Morag had done.
-
Lormallian Councilor Ardon Reull was on Bator Prime, speaking with his brother, Marlon, who was the head curator of the Confederation archives.
“Is there any record of the Morag being telepathic?” Ardon was determined to free himself and his people from control of the Morag. He wondered about all the atrocities committed by the Confederation and if they would have still occurred if the Morag had not encouraged them with their telepathy.
Marlon sat in front of the main interface for the massive computer complex in this building, as well as in the underground vaults. The underground archives ran for kilometers in specially sealed and shielded vaults. Even a direct hit from a fusion missile would not penetrate. Through a port in the back of his neck, Marlon currently searched the archives for any record of the type Ardon had asked about.
“It seems, when the Confederation was first formed, it brought many worlds under its control peacefully. The original plans were for those worlds to join the Confederation and to become full members.”
“What changed?” asked Ardon, surprised at this revelation. The Confederation had been in existence for over thirty thousand years.
“After several hundred years no world was allowed full admittance to the Confederation as promised. In every vote of the Great Council the planet requesting full admission was turned down unanimously. Shortly after that, the seven races began using force to reduce the population levels on all the planets the Confederation controlled. They also sent out warfleets into Confederation space to bring other worlds under their control.”
Ardon shook his head. “What was our race like before we joined the Confederation?”
Marlon gestured for Ardon to take a seat next to him. Once seated, Marlon placed a special headset on Ardon’s head, which would show him the same thing Marlon saw in the computer archives. “You ma
y not like what you’re about to see.”
-
For the next hour Ardon saw his race as it once was. A peaceful and scientifically advanced race that lived in harmony with others and discouraged violence. Ardon listened to the music of that time and witnessed much of the fantastic and wondrous artwork.
When the recording was over, he took off the headset, breathing hard. He could not believe what the Morag had taken from his race. Not only that but they had probably done the same thing to the other races as well.
“I have found some further archives that have been sealed since the early days of the Confederation,” reported Marlon, with surprise. “I will have to go underground in order to enter the vaults to access them. There’s a chance they may contain the information you are seeking. I would suggest you wait in the visitor section. Food and refreshment are there, if you would like. You can also relax, until I return. This may take several hours.”
-
Ardon was in the lounge area for nearly four hours before his brother made an appearance. Not many people were here, as most made requests of the archives from their home planets. As a result not a lot of visitors came to Bator Prime.
Marlon indicated for Ardon to follow him, and they were soon in Marlon’s private office. His face was pale, and his breathing a little ragged. “You won’t believe what I found. A few years after the Confederation formed, suspicions grew that the Morag were telepathic and were controlling the Great Council. A group of scientists got together from several of the council worlds and worked in secret to develop a protective device against Morag telepathy.”
“Were they successful?” Ardon was most interested in this.
Marlon nodded. “Yes, they were, but, before they could implement manufacture of the device, the Morag learned of their research and moved in and destroyed the research facilities and killed everyone involved.”
“Then how is knowledge of this device in the archives?” Something didn’t sound right.
The Forgotten Empire: War for the Empire Page 5