She had divided up her command. She was in charge of her dreadnought and all twenty battlecarriers. Rear Admiral Krest on board the dreadnought Tetrex was responsible for the defense of the battlecarriers.
Looking at her executive officer, she gave an order. “All carriers are to stand by to launch. Inform Major Barkley that Admiral Cleemorl wants a medium-range launch of missiles and then for the squadrons to return and rearm.”
On the main viewscreen, she saw the fleet slowing down, and then weapons fire erupted as the Confederation fleets lit up with explosions. At the same time the entire front of Admiral Cleemorl’s fleet lit up as well. The battle had started.
“Launch!” ordered Carrie. She felt the adrenaline flowing through her, as her heart beat rapidly. She knew what was at stake in this battle, and she had no intentions of letting Admiral Cleemorl down.
-
Dylan winced from the sheer volume of weapons fire striking his fleet. Already a number of battlecruisers and a few dreadnoughts had been destroyed. But the Confederation forces were suffering as well, as Imperial particle beams tore through ships, leaving lifeless hulks in space, and Rear Admiral Barnes’s accelerator cannons blew enemy ships into oblivion.
On the main viewscreens, Dylan saw the attack interceptors launching and forming up into squadrons. After only a few minutes they moved toward the Confederation fleet in two waves. Dylan needed their extra missiles to help push the Confederation fleet closer to Gideon and the heavy weapons of the base.
-
“Activate defense grid,” ordered General Flynn, as he watched the nearing enemy fleets on the viewscreens and tactical displays. The Confederation fleets were now in range of most of the grid. The ground-based PDCs were still out of range, but the distance was still dropping.
“The enemy fleets are still heading directly toward the north pole and this base,” reported Colonel Jensen. “They will be in range of our primary cannons in three more minutes, if they keep moving at their current speed and direction.”
“Have our primary cannons target enemy battleships. The more of them we can take out, the weaker their fleets will become.” A wolfish grin spread across General Flynn’s face. The Confederation fleets had no idea what was waiting for them when they engaged this base.
-
Morag Admiral Norlan was surprised by the heavy firepower coming from the moon’s defensive grid.
Enemy attack interceptors coming in range, warned the sensor officer. They’re launching their missiles. Missile count is 10,200 and still rising.
Shoot down as many of those as possible, ordered Norlan. The Humans were attempting to overload his fleets’ energy screens by massive missile bombardments.
Norlan wished he had some of the new light cruisers, designed to take out the Human interceptors, but Morag Fleet Admirals Torrant and Colane had all of them, since the two fleet admirals felt they would be needed in the Golan Four System, where they expected to face large numbers of the dangerous interceptors.
Order the Druins and the Zynth to engage the Human fleet. We’ll take out the moon’s defensive grid and that huge base.
-
The ODPs in range of the Confederation fleets were in full launch mode. They had extra-large supplies of missiles, and every ODP commander was intent on launching every missile he had into the enemy fleets. Fusion energy beams slammed into energy shields, and energy beam satellites intercepted a few missiles aimed toward the moon.
In the Confederation fleet formation, a large number of Druin and Zynth ships were destroyed by the particle beam cannons and the accelerator cannons. Everywhere along the front line near the Human fleets, ships were dying. Space was lit up like a massive nova from all the explosions going off.
The Morag, Druin, and Zynth fleets adjusted their formations, so the Morag were now actively engaged against the moon, and the Druin and the Zynth were engaged against the Human fleets. The battle grew more intense, as the weapons fire steadily increased when more defensive grid elements came into range.
In the Druin formation, a battlecruiser had a huge portion of its hull blown off, leaving dozens of compartments open to space. More explosions rattled the vessel, as it came apart. An antimatter missile finished off the ship, as a small nova appeared where the ship once was.
In the Human fleet, a dreadnought was being hammered as its screen became weaker and weaker. The screen suddenly flared up and failed, leaving the ship open to weapons fire. The ship was hit by so many fusion energy beams and missiles that it simply vaporized.
The defensive grid was now under fire from the Morag. Dozens of energy beam satellites were being blown apart and even a few missile platforms. The sky above Gideon was full of explosions. Occasionally a missile was intercepted by either an interceptor missile or shot down by a defensive energy beam turret, before it could hit the surface.
-
I want 10 percent of all our missiles fired to target that moon, ordered Admiral Norlan. I want to turn it into a wasteland.
On the main viewscreen, the Morag fleet was nearly over the pole. Norlan planned on hitting that massive base with nearly every weapon his fleet possessed. If he could hit the core tap, this moon would be history.
-
In the underground Command Center beneath the base, General Flynn watched the tactical displays and the viewscreens, as the Morag fleet moved into position above the base. Already orbital ODPs and parts of the defense grid above the base were firing on the enemy fleet.
“Morag fleet is almost in engagement range for our big fusion cannons,” reported Colonel Berks. “Estimate they will be in optimum firing range in two minutes.”
General Flynn nodded. He could have already fired the larger fusion cannons, but he wanted to kill as many Morag ships with the first firings as possible. “How are our energy shields?” Multiple energy shields protected the massive base.
“All at 100 percent,” replied Berks. “Core tap is functioning at 98 percent efficiency. We have plenty of power.”
“Locking on targets,” reported Colonel Harkin, who was at the massive tactical console, along with over twenty other officers.
On the main viewscreen, a highly magnified view showed the Morag fleet. Battleships and battlecruisers filled the screen. The fleet was already in heavy combat with the defensive grid, as energy beams and antimatter missiles struck the Morag fleet. Occasionally a Morag vessel would explode, as its energy shield was overloaded.
Wait until our main cannons fire, thought General Flynn. He doubted the Morag had ever encountered such firepower.
“Targeting Morag battleships,” reported Colonel Harkin. “We’ll be ready to fire in twenty seconds.”
On one of the viewscreens, the energy screens above the base suddenly lit up.
“In coming fire,” warned the sensor officer.
“Shields are holding at 97 percent,” added one of the tactical officers, whose job was to monitor the shields and to adjust power as needed.
“Optimum firing range and targets are locked in,” reported Colonel Harkin looking over at the general.
This was it. Time to see if their trap worked. “Fire!” ordered General Flynn, leaning forward in his command chair, his gaze focused on the viewscreens.
-
From the base sixty-two heavy fusion cannons fired in unison. Their beams shot up through the atmosphere and struck the energy shields of the targeted Morag battleships. They clung to the shields, as they grew brighter and brighter, and then they shot through, striking the armored hulls of the battleships. The beams smashed through the hulls, tearing though the compartments beneath. Secondary explosions rattled the battleships, as power conduits were torn apart, and multiple compartments were exposed to the uncaring vacuum of space.
Antimatter missiles arrived from the missile platforms, and, in a matter of less than a minute, the Morag lost fifty-eight of their first-line battleships.
-
Morag Admiral Norlan reeled in shock, as he watche
d his battleships destroyed by the massive fusion energy beams.
What are those? Norlan had never seen energy beams of such power before.
Fusion energy beams powered by the core tap, reported First Officer Kenold. They’re at least 30 to 40 percent more powerful than the energy beams of one of our battleships.
On the viewscreens, Norlan saw the beams fire again. Switch all of our weapons fire toward that base. Forget about bombing the moon. We must destroy that base, or it will destroy us! The Humans had forced him to change his battle plan again.
-
Krista and Cheryl watched breathlessly, as the main viewscreens showed the carnage inflicted on the Morag fleet. Battleship after battleship were blown out of space.
“We’re winning!” said Cheryl excitedly.
“So far,” said Governor Dyson. “But the Morag have one hell of a fleet out there. The battle is a long way from over.”
Krista moved her focus to where she knew the Themis was. She shook her head. It seemed to be in the middle of the fighting. She would expect no less from Dylan. Krista was being careful not to point out the location of the Themis to Cheryl, as it would probably freak her out.
Looking over at Mathew, Krista noted he spoke to several officers at once, as he directed the attack interceptor squadrons. She was very proud of him.
-
Admiral Cleemorl felt the Themis shudder, as it flew through a barrage of antimatter missiles. For a moment the ship’s energy screen had dropped to 62 percent.
“Ground-based attack interceptors are being launched,” reported Colonel Bidwell. “Major Barkley is ordering the interceptors to fly above the Morag fleet, to release all their missiles, and then head to the battlecarriers to rearm.”
Dylan nodded his approval. They needed to hammer the Morag fleet, the juggernaut for this attack. Destroy it and the battle was over.
“How are we doing on destroying the Druin and Zynth battleships?”
“Forty-eight percent have been destroyed. Some are deep in the fleet formations and hard to reach. We may have to clear a path to them.”
“We will continue to press the attack.” At the moment the Human fleets and the Zynth and Druin fleets were pretty evenly matched, with the new particle beam cannons and accelerator cannons giving the Human fleet a slight edge. “Contact Major Barkley and inform him that I want the next two interceptor attack waves to concentrate on the Druins and the Zynth. After that they are to focus on the Morag fleet.”
On one of the viewscreens, a Human battlecruiser was torn apart by Druin fusion energy beam fire. Beam after beam struck the ship, ripping through it. He saw crewmembers sucked out into the vacuum of space. Finally an antimatter missile arrived, putting the ship and its crew out of their misery. Dylan shuddered, thinking about all the lives lost on those warships.
“Get me Rear Admiral Barnes, Rear Admiral Fulmar, and Rear Admiral Manson,” ordered Dylan. In moments he had them on the comm. “Rear Admiral Fulmar, I want you to concentrate on the Druin ships. Rear Admiral Manson, I want you to concentrate on the Zynth. My section of the fleet will concentrate on both. Rear Admiral Barnes will continue to target the enemy battleships in both fleets. I want them destroyed.”
-
Druin Admiral Falorr looked over at his first officer. “How many flight-worthy drones do we have? I don’t care if they’re combat capable. I just want them to carry a load of missiles.”
First Officer Dagor did some checking and then reported. “We have 617 flight capable.”
Falorr nodded satisfied. “Get them loaded with missiles and then have them target the moon. Those that can launch their missiles are to do so and then return. Those that can’t are to crash into any Human city they can find.” Falorr was intent on causing as much damage to the Human moon of Gideon as possible. It was already evident the Morag were intent on destroying the massive Human base on the pole. At the moment they weren’t having a lot of luck.
The Humans had installed a core tap and were using that energy to power tremendously powerful fusion energy beam cannons—if they could even be called fusion. This was just pure energy fired off in a beam form toward targets. Those targets at the moment were the Morag battleships.
On one of the viewscreens, drones began launching from one of the drone carriers; at the same time Falorr’s flagship shook violently, as an energy beam penetrated the ship’s shield.
“Minor damage to one of the aft cargo holds and supply areas,” reported the damage control officer.
Admiral Falorr frowned. “Move us back farther into our formation.” He had no plans on dying here.
-
What’s Admiral Falorr doing with his drones? demanded Morag Admiral Norlan. He reached out with his mind and was stunned when he was blocked. Falorr was wearing a nullifier! Where did he get that?
The drones are targeting the moon with antimatter and fusion missiles, replied First Officer Kenold. They are going up and around our fleets to avoid combat. Cancel that. A number of Human attack interceptors have just changed course to intercept them.
Admiral Norlan was aggravated. Druin Admiral Falorr should not have taken such an action without permission. When this was over, Norlan would speak to Falorr about taking such an initiative without first speaking to him.
-
In space, the Druin drones had been detected, and Major Barkley had redirected a number of squadrons to intercept. He suspected what the drones were up to because Vice Fleet Admiral Masters had once done the same thing to the Druin homeworld.
Four hundred and fifteen attack interceptors were directed to intercept the drones and destroy them. The interceptors had recently been rearmed and were on their way to launch their missiles at the Morag.
“Target those drones,” ordered Lieutenant Mallory, as his interceptor locked on a drone. “We can’t let them get through to Gideon.”
The interceptors dove on the drones, only to find the drones were not firing back. They dodged and wove an intricate pattern in space designed to avoid fire, even as so many of them were still destroyed.
They came within range of the defense grid, and energy beam satellites locked on and took out more of them. Space was full of explosions, but, in the core of the Druin drone formation, twenty-three drones were not capable of launching their missiles. Instead they accelerated to their top speed flying through the defensive grid which could not lock on. From the surface, interceptor missiles and additional energy beam fire took out a few of them. Several exploded as the terrific heat of their passage through the atmosphere brought down their energy shields, and the incredible heat melted the hulls, destroying the drones.
A few more were picked off by ground fire, and then fourteen of them slammed into the surface, detonating the fusion and antimatter missiles in their holds. The entire moon shook slightly from the detonations. Huge debris clouds rose into the air. Massive blast waves radiated outward, leveling buildings, setting forests on fire, and contaminating the surrounding countryside. Huge mushroom clouds rose into the atmosphere to the very edge of space. Dust, smoke, and pollutants rose, the sky darkening.
-
In the underground Command Center, General Flynn turned pale, as reports of the damage came in. Early estimates pointed to nearly 23 percent of the surface now being uninhabitable. An estimated twelve million people had died in the blasts.
“We have rescue personnel already on their way to the affected areas,” reported Colonel Berks. “The drones were moving at nearly sublight speeds, and we couldn’t stop them all.”
Several viewscreens revealed the damage. Fires raged out of control; roadways were blocked or were now nonexistent; dams had burst, and power stations were just leveled.
“Did any drones survive?” asked Flynn.
“None,” answered Colonel Edison. “Our attack interceptors and Rear Admiral Carrie’s interceptors took out all the rest.”
General Flynn returned his attention to the battle in space. Already his main fusion ene
rgy cannons had destroyed hundreds of Morag battleships, and the base’s other weapons were blowing apart numerous Morag battlecruisers. Space was littered with debris.
“ODP eleven is under heavy fire!” called out Colonel Harkin. “It’s energy shield is failing.”
On one of the viewscreens, the stricken ODP appeared. It was covered in explosions, as its energy shield was battered down. Huge sections of the station were torn apart, as fusion energy beams ripped open the hull, causing more explosions, hurling hull material off into space. In a massive explosion, the ODP blew apart, scattering flaming debris in every direction.
“Several other ODPs are reporting damage,” added Colonel Harkin.
General Flynn knew what the Morag were doing. They were attacking the defensive grid directly above the base, so they could hit the base with more of their weapons. “All we can do is keep hitting them and hope we hurt them bad enough to force them to withdraw.” General Flynn leaned back, knowing this battle was a long way from over, and Gideon would probably be hit again.
-
Krista and Cheryl looked on in shock at the huge mushroom clouds rising above Gideon.
“At least most of Gideon’s population is safe in the underground bunkers and in the mountains,” explained Governor Dyson.
“It’s horrible,” said Krista, realizing that could easily have been Tantula Five or even Golan Four. Now she understood why Layla and Derrick wanted her safely away from the Imperial Palace.
“Who is winning?” asked Cheryl. She saw so much destruction on both sides that it was hard to tell. Her gaze searched for and then found the Themis. She hadn’t told Krista that she had known which green icon was Dylan’s ship.
“Right now we have a slight advantage,” answered the military officer, sitting with them. “The Empire’s particle beam cannons are inflicting heavy damage on the enemy’s battleships. The same for the accelerator cannons on Rear Admiral Barnes’s ships. The big base at Gideon’s north pole is causing considerable damage as well.”
The Forgotten Empire: War for the Empire Page 28