Your fleet is nearly ready, sent Addonis to Admiral Norlan, who stood close to him. In two more weeks it will be time for you and your ships to take part in the attack on the Human Empire. This would be the only reserve fleet used in the attack. The rest would be used to patrol Confederation space, while most of the more modern warships took part in the assault.
We will be ready, replied Norlan with confidence. The war in the Human Empire will be short and over very quickly. They have never fought the Morag when we have deployed full fleets of our warships.
Addonis nodded. The Zynth and the Druins will take part in the attack as well. Each will be assigned a sector of Human space to attack.
We will not need either, replied Norlan. Our forces will be sufficient.
Perhaps not, agreed Addonis. But we must not underestimate these Humans. They have shown to be quite cunning and dangerous in past battles.
Norlan did not reply. His gaze was on the massive fleet of reserve vessels that he was to command. He would take over the fleet today and would begin practicing battle maneuvers. Battles, such as were ahead, often led to very good promotions. He hoped to be a fleet admiral before this was over and maybe someday to hold a seat on the Morag High Council. After all, he was a very strong telepath, one of the strongest in Morag space.
-
Admiral Dylan Cleemorl nodded in satisfaction, as he inspected the last of the major inhabited moons in the Hagen Star Cluster. All had powerful defensive grids around them, as well as a few ODPs. The seven major worlds of the cluster had also built a few hundred battlecruisers to add to the cluster’s defense. No dreadnoughts had been built, as the decision had been made to concentrate on quantity for now. Dreadnoughts would come later.
“We’re as ready as we can be,” commented Rear Admiral Fulmar, as he gazed at an orbiting ODP on the main viewscreen.
Dylan nodded. He expected an attack within the next few weeks. All across the Empire, preparations were being made to defend against a massive assault by the Confederation. He was pleased that all his dreadnoughts had been equipped with the new particle beam cannons. When used, they should present a great surprise to the Confederation fleets.
Dylan was also pleased with the number of warships he currently had. Not counting the ones being produced by the worlds of the cluster, he had 1,350 battlecruisers and 129 dreadnoughts. He planned on dividing his fleet into three task groups of 450 battlecruisers and 43 dreadnoughts each.
“How soon will you send Cheryl back?”
“A couple more days,” answered Dylan. He didn’t want her around all the fighting, and he expected the fighting in this star cluster to be quite heavy. “She’s actually enjoyed spending time on Tantula Five. It’s very similar to the core worlds, and she’s been running around with the governor’s wife.”
“Probably asking questions to find out if she can put some of her entertainment bars here in the cluster.”
Dylan smiled. His wife still had that wild side to her, and he enjoyed it. It made her very special. “Probably.”
A more serious look crossed Fulmar’s face. “Do you think we can actually stop them here?”
“We’ll make one hell of an attempt,” answered Dylan, his eyes narrowing. He hoped he hadn’t set this star cluster on a path toward total destruction. In another few weeks he would know.
-
On Tantula Five, Cheryl stayed at a luxury resort that catered to anything she wanted. The food was fabulous; the entertainment was great, and the resort offered so many other things. She also was greatly enjoying her time with Dylan. She so looked forward to the end of this war, when they could be together all the time.
She had seen some of the things he had done in this cluster. There was no doubt in her mind that Dylan intended to end the war right here. Cheryl was so proud of what Dylan was doing. One other thing she wanted to do—take advantage of a huge opportunity in this cluster for her restaurants and entertainment clubs.
She had spoken to the governor’s wife a number of times; Cheryl believed her entertainment bars and family restaurants would be a big hit in the cluster. Once she returned to Golan Four, she would meet with Captain Bryan about extending their operation out of the core worlds and across more of the main worlds of the Empire, particularly this cluster. A fortune could be made here, and she would not miss out on it.
-
Dylan and the Themis were back in orbit around Tantula Five. He was rotating the downtime for the crews of his fleet. He wanted everyone to get some time off over the next ten days, as he knew, after that, the Confederation could attack with overwhelming force, or at least with what they thought was overwhelming force. He was turning command of the fleet over to Rear Admiral Fulmar, while he went down and spent a few days with Cheryl, before she headed back to Golan Four. He knew full well it might be the last time he saw her, until after the Confederation attack.
-
Morag Fleet Admiral Torrant was above the Barsoon’s homeworld. The planet was even protected by a primitive defensive grid, and the Barsoons had managed to arm a number of their civilian ships. This was the last major world still in open revolt in this sector of space. Once crushed, it would be time to turn their attention to the Humans.
Defensive grid is firing, warned the sensor officer. Weapons are weak and ineffective; mostly high intensity lasers.
Torrant looked at the main viewscreen. He saw a few weak energy beams striking his ships’ energy screens. They didn’t even make the screens light up.
Missile launch from the surface, warned the sensor officer. Twenty-seven missiles inbound.
Intercept them, ordered Torrant, leaning forward in his command chair and hearing it creak under his massive weight. Being launched from the surface, they would be easier targets to destroy.
Targeting, replied the tactical officer. All battleships are targeting the inbound missiles with their fusion energy beams.
On the tactical display, the twenty-seven missiles were displayed as small red icons rising from the planet. One by one they blinked out of existence, as they were annihilated, until none remained.
Take out their feeble defense grid, ordered Torrant.
Instantly fusion energy beams leaped from the orbiting warships, striking the defense grid. Bright explosions signified the successful destruction of the energy beam satellites. For the next several hours debris would fall on the planet, creating a bright display in the night sky.
We have twenty cargo ships approaching, added the sensor officer. All are lightly to moderately armed. They also have no energy shields.
Torrant shook his head. These primitive races would never learn. Use antimatter missiles and destroy them.
Missiles streaked from the fleet, and, in brilliant nova-like explosions, all twenty cargo ships vanished, being turned into molten wreckage.
Torrant nodded in satisfaction. Destroy their ten largest cities.
-
The Barsoons lived in massive city hives. They had descended from a species of bees and had developed into a species of medium intelligence. Many of their cities contained tens of millions of inhabitants. At the heart of each city lived the queen and her court. All were quite intelligent and directed the activities of the other Barsoons living in the city hive.
Inside the largest of the city hives, the Queen watched on a viewscreen, as the Morag fleet destroyed the planet’s weak defensive grid and fleet. “They are here,” she said in a high-pitched voice. “Evacuate all essential personnel to the lower levels of all city hives. Our workers can easily be replaced.” Unknown to the Morag, far beneath all the cities of the Barsoons were deep underground caverns, where the egg hatcheries were hidden and where the future generations of the Barsoon waited to be hatched. Also where the Queen, her Royal Court, and other essential workers would go to ride out the attack.
-
From ten battleships, numerous missiles belched forth to fall toward the planet. Above the capital city, a bright flash and a sudden overwhelming
heat signified the detonation of a fusion weapon. Buildings melted, and others were smashed flat from the blast wave. Two other missiles detonated as well, and soon a massive firestorm erupted in the heart of the city. Millions of worker Barsoons died in a matter of just seconds.
Other cities met the same fate. Those Barsoon workers still there all died horrendous deaths, and, in a matter of a few minutes, nearly three hundred million were dead.
Demand their immediate surrender, ordered Torrant.
A few minutes passed, and the communications officer turned toward the admiral. There has been no response.
Torrant frowned. This had never happened before. Destroy the next twenty largest cities. We’ll see if they stay quiet after that.
-
Across the planet, more fusion explosions occurred above heavily populated cities. Nearly a billion more Barsoons died. The atmosphere was already turning dark from all the ash and pollutants hurled high into the air.
-
Once more, demands were sent to the planet to surrender. Again no reply.
Fleet Admiral Torrant took a deep breath. This was unexpected. He knew of only one thing he could do. No planet could be allowed to resist the Morag. Destroy all their cities, and then I want a general bombardment of the surface. We will destroy this world.
-
From the orbiting Morag warships, hundreds and then thousands of fusion missiles rained down upon the planet. The planet’s atmosphere seemed to light up from the tremendous number of explosions. Earthquakes were triggered, and even some volcanoes erupted. When the last missile detonated, not a single Barsoon still lived upon the surface. Nearly sixty billion Barsoons had died from the orbital bombardment. Rising mushroom clouds were visible everywhere across the planet.
-
Morag Fleet Admiral Torrant nodded. It was over. The other less populated worlds would doubtlessly end their revolts after they heard what had happened here. Set a course for home. It’s time we prepare this fleet for the attack on the Human Empire.
-
Deep beneath the ground, the High Queen of the Barsoons listened as her advisors described to her what the conditions on the surface were now like. It would be years before they dared venture out of their underground warrens. “Inform all the other queens that we will remain in our underground cities for the foreseeable future. We have everything we need to continue our civilization. We also have tens of billions of eggs that can be hatched, if needed to rebuild our population quickly. In the meantime, we have sufficient underground production capacity to build warships. We will do so, and, when we emerge, we will be a force to be reckoned with. In time we will have our revenge on the Morag.”
-
Dylan watched sadly as Cheryl boarded a luxury liner to return to Golan Four. It would be part of a convoy going back to the core worlds and would have a heavy escort of two dreadnoughts and twenty battlecruisers. Nearly one hundred supply and cargo ships joined them, as well as a few other passenger liners. He and Cheryl had shared a passionate goodbye, both knowing there was a chance they might not ever see one another again.
Dylan watched as the passenger liner left orbit and took its place in the waiting fleet. A few minutes later the fleet accelerated and made the transition into hyperspace. He stood there, gazing out the large viewing port, where the convoy had been only a few moments before.
“Well, I guess we better get ready for war,” said Governor Dyson, who stood next to Dylan. The governor was on the large space station, inspecting its defenses. He rode on the shuttle with Dylan and Cheryl. “I wish Cheryl could have stayed. She and my wife have been getting along very well.”
Dylan laughed. “Just make sure your wife doesn’t get involved in any of my wife’s crazy schemes. The next thing you know, she will be putting her entertainment bars in the cluster.”
The governor smiled. “She did mention something about that and how much money they would bring to the cluster.”
Dylan shook his head. It seemed that Cheryl, once again, was one step ahead of him.
“How soon do you think it will be before the Confederation attacks?” This question had been at the top of the governor’s mind for several days now. Particularly when he found out Cheryl was being sent back to the core worlds.
Dylan took in a deep breath. He had been wondering this as well. “We could see the first attacks as early as next week. Most likely the Confederation will hit the Human worlds on the outer edge of the Empire. The majority have been told not to resist but to surrender immediately. We want to hold civilian losses to a minimum. Some worlds have very strong defenses and even a few fleet units. These worlds will resist as long as possible. The defenses we’ve set up are designed to force the Confederation fleets to come here.”
Governor Dyson nodded. “I figured that, as strong as you’ve made all the defenses in the cluster. Will the core worlds be sending any more ships?”
Dylan frowned. “I don’t know. I’ve asked for them, but I don’t know if they have any they can spare.”
Governor Dyson went silent for several moments and then asked another question. “Can we win?”
“I would be lying if I said yes. We have a chance of winning. It just depends on what they hit us with and how our new particle beam cannons work against Confederation ships.”
“It’s a shame we couldn’t put some of those cannons on the ODPs.”
Dylan nodded in agreement. “We talked about it, but it would have taken a major redesign.”
“Want to join me on an inspection of this station?” Dyson still had a lot of questions he wanted to ask.
“Sure,” replied Dylan. “I was planning on doing an inspection of both of the stations as well as the shipyards, while I’m up here.”
“Then let’s go,” said the governor.
Dylan followed the governor out of the hatch. He would do a series of inspections over the next few days throughout the cluster. Dylan wanted to make sure they were ready for what was coming.
-
The Great Council of the Confederation was once more in session. Council Leader Ardon Reull had called the meeting at the request of the Morag and the Druins. He suspected they were ready to go to war. However, he had a question he wanted answered first. “Why did Morag Fleet Admiral Torrant destroy the main inhabited world of the Barsoons? They were no threat to the Confederation or to any of its worlds.”
“They had a defensive grid and even some missiles,” replied Damora, dismissing Reull’s attempt to challenge the Morag. “We gave them multiple chances to surrender, and they refused to do so. They left us with no choice but to destroy their world. Also, since then, all the revolts on any Confederation worlds have come to an end, even those in your Lormallian space as well as the Zang space.”
Ardon did not respond. No point in arguing with Damora. The Morag now thought of themselves as the most superior race in the galaxy. “Why have you called this meeting?”
Everyone looked at Morag Councilor Damora.
“To announce that we will move against the Human Empire in eight days. The Morag are committing 14,000 warships, the Druins 2,600 warships, and the Zynth are committing 2,300 warships.” He didn’t mention another 8,000 modern Morag warships were held in reserve, if needed.
Ardon looked surprised. He knew, with all the losses at Earth and in the Empire, that was nearly all the active warships the Druins and the Zynth had left. He wondered if the Morag were intentionally trying to weaken their two allies.
“Don’t think that you can take advantage of us during that time,” added Damora, looking straight at Ardon. “We have activated nearly 16,000 warships out of our reserve, and 12,000 of them will still be available to protect our interests and to ensure no Confederation world attempts to take advantage of our modern warships’ absence.”
Ardon exchanged glances with the Zang councilor. No one had suspected the Morag had such a massive fleet.
“We have constructed several hundred of the new light cruisers,
” said Damora. “In addition the Druins have built a large number of drone transport carriers. Our invasion of the Human Empire will be much different from ones in the past.”
“Their core worlds are very well defended,” pointed out Ardon. “Even your massive fleet might not get through to Golan Four.”
Damora smiled. “Oh, we’ll get through all right. We have a weapon we have kept secret from this council and the rest of the Confederation. That secret weapon will ensure we reach Golan Four and destroy it. Once Golan Four is gone, all resistance in the Empire will collapse.”
“What is this secret weapon?” asked Ardon. He had never heard of this before.
Damora shook his head. “No, that’s our secret for now. Once we use it, everyone will know.”
Ardon leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath. He had no love for the Humans, but they held the best chance of defeating the Morag. He wondered if he should arrange for a message to be sent to Golan Four about the Morag claim to possess a superweapon of some type. It might be possible to have the Visth contact the Humans to pass on the information. Ardon had some serious thinking to do after this meeting.
-
Dylan was on board the Themis, which was in orbit above Gideon. Working with the core worlds, he had arranged for eight more ODPs to be brought to Gideon, instead of the four he had planned on earlier. That made sixteen that were the center of the massive orbital defense here. In addition, they had two thousand energy beam satellites and 180 missile platforms. Also five thousand attack interceptors were at the massive base on the north pole of this moon. All the PDCs and the big base were complete. Drills were being run every day in preparation for the coming attack.
“Any word on more ships?” asked Rear Admiral Fulmar.
“They’re working on it,” answered Dylan. He contacted Fleet Admiral Marloo nearly every day, requesting more warships. Marloo said they were working on it, but it would be a few more days before they knew anything.
The Forgotten Empire: War for the Empire Page 14