“Get them out of here,” ordered Novak. Looking at the viewscreens, he did not think this battle would last much longer. The Morag fleet was now at optimal combat range, and damage to his remaining ships would mount rapidly.
-
Morag Admiral Voxx grew angry. He had already lost several hundred valuable warships, and the losses still grew. The ODPs and the two space stations, which were his main orbital targets, still existed and were actively engaged against his fleet. I want more firepower directed at our primary targets, ordered Admiral Voxx. Particularly those six ODPs.
As you ordered, replied First Officer Bale. Changing targeting.
On the ship’s main viewscreen, the energy screens around the ODPs suddenly brightened even more, as more missiles and energy beams struck them.
Yes, that’s better, sent Admiral Voxx. Under this kind of firepower, the ODPs would not last long. Once they were gone, he would turn his attention to the two space stations.
-
Colonel Phillips instantly noticed the sudden increase in firepower directed at his ODPs. “We should have gotten the crews off earlier.” With the kind of firepower now directed at the ODPs, it would be impossible to safely launch a shuttle. “Direct all ODPs to go into full launch mode and get all their missile magazines emptied. We won’t have a lot of time before our shields fail.”
“What about the warships protecting us?”
Phillips saw the energy screen on one of his ODPs fluctuate. A moment later an antimatter missile penetrated the energy screen, blasting a huge hole in the side of the ODP. Then its energy shield failed, and a barrage of Morag missiles tore apart the ODP. “Have them report to Rear Admiral Anderson. Perhaps they can help protect the space stations.”
The message was sent, and soon all the Resistance ships protecting the ODPs headed toward the rear admiral’s fleet. Perhaps combined they could defend the two space stations, or at least ensure they survived long enough to inflict more losses on the Morag.
-
In the underground Command Center, General Marley shook his head, as the Morag took out the ODPs. First one was destroyed and then, less than two minutes later, two more met the same fate. In the sky above the planet, fiery debris fell through the atmosphere.
“It’s nearly over,” Marley said, looking at Governor Stewart.
“The bunkers?”
“Eighty-six percent full,” replied the general. “We’ve already intercepted over two hundred missiles aimed at the planet. As soon as we lose the first city, I’ll order the bunkers to be sealed.”
Governor Stewart nodded. “What about the evacuations in the cities?”
“As good as expected. However, we estimate that over 40 percent of the population is still in the cities. It will still take us hours to evacuate everyone.”
“You think I should surrender, don’t you?”
Marley nodded his head. “It might save over one billion lives if you did.”
Stewart’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll keep your suggestion in mind.” Stewart did not want to surrender. He hated the Confederation. But could he allow that hate to cause over one billion of his people to possibly die? He had a lot he needed to think over and not a lot of time to do it.
-
The command ODP shook violently and had a hard time staying in orbit. Massive explosions slammed into the ODP’s energy screen, threatening to bring it down at any moment.
Captain Turner noted the growing number of red damage icons on the main damage control console. “Colonel, we won’t last much longer.” Already three of the other ODPs had succumbed to the heavy Morag weapons fire.
Colonel Phillips nodded. “I know. But we’re taking a lot of them with us.” On the main viewscreens, he saw the debris from a number of destroyed Morag ships. Even as he watched, another Morag battlecruiser blew apart in a nova-like explosion.
Phillips heard the sounds of tearing metal and an occasional scream. He wished he could get his crew off the ODP, but the weapons fire was too intense. The air in the Command Center was smoky. A number of consoles had shorted out, showering some of the personnel with hot sparks. The air circulation system had a hard time keeping the air clear.
“We did what we had to do,” he said loud enough for the entire Command Center crew to hear. “We destroyed a lot of Morag ships, and they will have second thoughts before ever attacking a Human world as heavily defended as ours was. We have set an example for the rest of the worlds of the Empire, and we should all be proud.”
Several of the crew stood and saluted the colonel.
-
A sudden massive explosion shook the ODP, knocking it out of orbit. The gigantic structure drifted down into the atmosphere. The Morag did not let up. An antimatter missile slammed into the hull, vaporizing a good one-quarter of the massive structure. The ODP’s energy shield failed completely, and now fusion energy beams riddled the falling structure. As the ODP hit the thicker regions of the atmosphere, it came apart, soon nothing more than a lifeless hulk. Its flaming pieces would soon impact the planet it had been protecting.
-
Rear Admiral Anderson watched the viewscreens, showing the falling pieces of the command ODP.
“The last two ODPs are under heavy attack, and they expect their energy screens to fail in the next few minutes,” reported Lieutenant Proston.
Anderson nodded. He had split the surviving Resistance ships, sending half to Captain Novak’s position. “They’ll hit us next, with everything they’ve got.”
-
From the ground, the massive PDC hammered the Morag fleet. This particular PDC was nearly twice the size of those on other worlds. Governor Stewart had wanted it to protect the capital. It and the capital both were protected by powerful energy shields. Not only that, the capital sat in a ring of interceptor missiles and energy beam turrets. It was the only city on the planet so heavily protected.
-
In the Command Center, General Marley kept abreast of the situation in orbit. He watched the viewscreens, as the last two ODPs were blown apart. “We’ve got some pretty large wreckage descending through the atmosphere,” he told the governor.
“Anything we can do about it?”
“Maybe. I’ll have some of our energy beam turrets target the wreckage and try to break it up into smaller less-dangerous pieces.”
The governor’s gaze moved over to the main tactical display. Nearly all the green icons once in orbit were now gone. All that remained were the two space stations and Rear Admiral Anderson’s fleet.
“Evacuation status?”
“Bunkers are 98 percent full, and I’m ordering them sealed up. The cities are at 72 percent empty, and I doubt if we’ll achieve too much more. I’m pulling all our troops to defensive positions outside the cities, in case the cities are bombed. Have you made a decision on surrender?”
Governor Stewart nodded. “We’ll surrender but under certain conditions. No Confederation troops can land on the planet, and the PDC stays intact.”
General Marley was surprised the governor had changed his mind. “Should we contact the Morag now? We might save both space stations, as well as the rest of Rear Admiral Anderson’s fleet.”
The governor let out a deep breath and slowly nodded his head. “Yes, the least we can do is try to save some lives.”
-
Morag Admiral Voxx listened to the message from the surface. His gaze drifted to the viewscreen, showing the massive PDC. He had already lost over four hundred ships. Ships he had not planned on losing.
What about the Human fleet? he demanded.
The fleet is not under control of this planet but of the Empire. They will depart shortly, answered First Officer Bale.
Voxx hated leaving the PDC and the space stations intact, but he had already lost four hundred ships, with many more damaged. To take out the PDC, the two space stations, and the Human fleet would probably cost him at a minimum two hundred more. I agree. Hostilities will en
d as soon as all Human forces stop firing.
A minute later the weapons fire from the PDC, the space stations, and the Human fleet ceased. Voxx then ordered his own fleet to stop its weapons fire. Moments after that, all the Human ships entered hyperspace and were gone from the system.
We will leave ten battlecruisers and a battleship in high orbit, sent Voxx. If any of our ships are fired upon, we will return and destroy this planet.
The message was sent, and soon a verbal peace agreement was agreed upon. The war for the planet Astor was over, and the Morag were once more triumphant.
-
Rear Admiral Anderson’s fleet dropped from hyperspace in a blue giant system. “What do we have left?”
“All three dreadnoughts, thirty-nine battlecruisers, six Resistance battlecruisers, and eleven Resistance support ships,” replied Lieutenant Proston.
Anderson leaned back in his command chair. He knew that many of his ships were damaged, including his flagship. “What’s the nearest heavily defended Imperial world that has a decent shipyard?” He needed to get his ships repaired before they went into combat again.
“Xnea Two has everything we need.”
Anderson nodded. “Set a course immediately. For the time being, our part in this war is over.”
A minute later all the ships vanished once more into hyperspace.
Chapter Eighteen
“That’s another system we’ve lost,” said Fleet Admiral Marloo, as he finished listening to Rear Admiral Anderson’s report. “I fear, if this continues, we’ll lose the entire periphery of the Empire.”
“At least they didn’t bomb the planet,” commented General Gantts. “The people survived.”
“Astor also took out nearly four hundred Morag warships,” added Colonel Hillstrum. “If all of our planets could do that, we could win this war.”
Admiral Marloo nodded. “But it would cost us a lot of resources, as well as people. Just because the Morag didn’t bomb Astor doesn’t mean they wouldn’t bomb the next planet.”
“What do you think their strategy is?” asked Chancellor Stein. He had been in the busy Command Center for the last several hours.
Marloo leaned back in his command chair, rubbing his forehead. “I wish I knew. The best our analysts have come up with is that these attacks on the periphery are, indeed, a diversion. The Morag have divided their reserve fleet up into two sections of four thousand ships each. These two fleets are rampaging across the periphery, attacking worlds, perhaps in the hope we will commit a major portion of our core worlds fleet to stop them.”
“We did commit quite a few ships at Astor,” pointed out Colonel Hillstrum.
Admiral Marloo replied, “Nearly everything we had in that section of the Empire. Rear Admiral Anderson is taking what’s left of his fleet to Xnea Two for repairs. I’ll order him to stay there for the time being, until we know more about what the Morag are actually doing.”
Chancellor Stein looked up at the huge viewscreens that showed views from across all the core worlds. “You still think their main targets are the Hagen Star Cluster and the core world?”
“My gut feeling says so,” answered Marloo. “We should know in a few days, if the Hagen Star Cluster is struck.”
“Is Admiral Cleemorl ready?”
Marloo turned toward Chancellor Stein. “If any of our admirals is ready, it’s Admiral Cleemorl.” Marloo was well aware how heavily the Hagen Star Cluster was fortified. Admiral Cleemorl wanted the cluster to become a killing field for the Morag.
-
Above Tantula Five, Admiral Cleemorl was in his personal quarters, reviewing his battle plan. He had received a few more ships, plus the ones that had been constructed in the shipyards of the seven main star systems in the cluster. Currently he had his fleet divided into three sections. Rear Admiral Manson had four hundred battlecruisers and forty dreadnoughts. Rear Admiral Fulmar had the exact same size fleet, while Dylan had 550 battlecruisers and forty-nine dreadnoughts.
Only the seven primary star systems would be defended by the fleets. All had massive defensive grids and powerful ground-based weapons systems. Dylan was certain the enemy would recognize Tantula Five and Gideon as the primary dangers to the Confederation in the cluster and would most likely attack here first. If they did, Rear Admirals Manson and Fulmar would bring their fleets to the Tantula Five System immediately. Not only that, Rear Admiral Carrie would be called in as well. Dylan had his trap set, but he had no idea what he would be up against. No matter what, Dylan suspected this would be the biggest battle fought so far in the war.
Later in the day he had meetings scheduled with both Governor Dyson of Tantula Five and Governor Anna Bloom of Gideon. He wanted to make sure that both were ready for what was ahead. With a deep sigh, he leaned back in his chair. He needed to send a recorded message to Cheryl. Not a goodbye message but he wanted to tell her how important she was to him and how, someday, they would be free of this war and would be together permanently.
-
The High Council of the Morag was once more in session.
Admiral Voxx is using his reserve fleet to attack the periphery worlds of the Human Empire, reported Addonis. He hopes to lure the Human fleets away from their core worlds and the Hagen Star Cluster.
What if he is unsuccessful? asked Delann. So far there has been no sign of any of those fleets moving.
Then we do it the hard way, and Fleet Admirals Colane and Torrant will destroy the Human fleets and conquer both the core worlds and the Hagen Star Cluster. Admiral Torrant has orders to destroy Golan Four, and that should bring an end to all resistance by the Humans.
What about the Hagen Star Cluster? asked Hiram, not completely convinced they could take both. If it survives, it could rebuild the Empire.
Admiral Norlan has instructions to destroy Tantula Five and the inhabited moon of Gideon, explained Addonis. Once those are gone, no hope remains of ever reforming the Human Empire, even if the rest of the Human worlds in the cluster survive.
Morag Councilor Damora stood, his massive size hovering above the table. I propose we drastically reduce the populations of all the Human worlds, so they will be more manageable in the future.
The other councilors looked at one another. This had been done in the past to prevent worlds from becoming too big of a danger. They all nodded in agreement.
Very well, sent Addonis. Once we have conquered the Human Empire, we will have the Druins reduce the Human population, since they seem to enjoy such widespread destruction.
What about the Lormallians and the Zang? asked Morag Councilor Damora. What will we do about them? I have confirmed reports they are expanding and updating their fleets, as well as building defensive grids around large numbers of their worlds. That was not the intent of our original agreement. They are also becoming much more difficult to control in the Great Council. Both the Lormallian councilor and the Zang councilor are wearing telepathic nullifiers at all times.
Addonis looked at Councilor Damora and replied. In the next meeting of the Great Council, you are to demand they explain why they are violating our agreement. You will also tell them to stop immediately or face the consequences.
Councilor Damora nodded. I will do so.
Addonis dismissed the council. Some important decisions were to be made shortly, but first they had to know the results of the attacks on the Human Empire. Once those were successful, and the Human Empire was back under control of the Confederation, then it would be time to address the situation with the Lormallians and the Zang and eventually Earth.
-
Admiral Cleemorl met with the two governors, Dyson and Bloom, in the underground Command Center on Gideon. The center was a beehive of activity, as it monitored the space traffic across the system.
“We’re ready,” said General Flynn. “Thanks to you, we have crews for all the attack interceptors, and they fly combat drills nearly every day.”
“Most of our major cities sit in a ring of missile interceptor
s and energy beam turrets,” added Governor Bloom. “Nearly half of our population will go into underground bunkers, and the rest will head for the mountains.”
“We have soldiers ready to ensure an orderly evacuation of the cities,” said General Flynn, “though we expect some people will refuse to leave their homes. We estimate we’re looking at around 10 percent of the population.”
Dylan examined the viewscreens, seeing the busy cities. Aircars and surface transportation were prevalent. All of the cities were extremely modern and very clean. Other screens showed the landscape. No signs of pollution. Forests were pristine, and the taller mountains were covered in deep snow. The oceans were an azure blue and full of life. Dylan hoped this world pulled through the coming attack. He already felt guilty for putting it in so much danger, but, in order to preserve the Human Empire, he felt he had no other choice.
“Do you think they will attack both Tantula Five and Gideon at the same time?” asked Governor Dyson, concern in his voice.
Dylan nodded. “I would expect so. They’ll want to pin down our forces on both worlds, so one world cannot aid the other. How are we set up for rescue efforts, once the battle ends, assuming we win?”
“We have considerable rescue equipment and personnel on standby in safe locations away from the cities,” answered Governor Bloom. “As soon as the battle is over, we’ll send them in to the worst hit areas.”
“Same for us,” added Governor Dyson. “We’re prepared for a huge rescue effort, in case some of our cities are hit.”
Dylan looked over at General Flynn. “What about the civilian space traffic?”
“They’ll be sent to other worlds, as soon as the enemy is detected. We should clear the entire system in less than twenty minutes.”
“How soon do we expect the attack?” asked Governor Bloom.
“Within the next fifty hours,” replied Dylan. “We have scout craft in many of the outer systems of the star cluster, searching for any signs of the enemy. With a little luck we’ll get a few minutes’ warning at least.”
On one of the viewscreens, Dylan saw two squadrons of attack interceptors taking off and heading toward space. He knew at all times at least three to four squadrons were on patrol around Gideon. The same for Tantula Five.
The Forgotten Empire: War for the Empire Page 22