The Forgotten Empire: War for the Empire

by Raymond L. Weil

  Admiral Marloo looked over at Colonel Marst. “Get it done.” Marloo was concerned that Derrick had been forced to pull back into the defensive grid. He would only do that if his fleet were taking heavy losses. “General Gantts, warn all ground commands that we can expect some missiles to be coming through shortly.”

  Gantts nodded and sent off messages to the various ground commands.

  -

  Layla sat pensively in the Royal Bunker, watching what was occurring in space. “We’re losing, aren’t we?” She looked over at Andrew. What she had been watching on the viewscreens was frightening. She knew that tens of thousands of good men and women had already died, and the battle still had a long way to go.

  Andrew nodded. “For now. Derrick has pulled back into the defensive grid, so he can add its firepower to his fleet. This is a long way from over. Don’t give up yet. Have faith in Derrick.”

  Kala took Andrew’s hand. “Are we in danger here?”

  “I don’t think so,” replied Andrew. “We’re deep underground, and this bunker is very heavily reinforced. Don’t forget about the energy shield above us, protecting the Palace.”

  They all looked back at the viewscreens. Several of them showed interceptors taking off from nearby bases.

  “Looks as if Derrick’s calling in the interceptors for a mass attack. We have 12,000 of them on the bases, though I understand one thousand of them are being used as a missile defense.”

  Layla looked deeply concerned. “Do you think some missiles will get through?”

  This was a question Andrew did not want to answer, but he knew he had to. “If the Morag continue to attack and are willing to take major losses, eventually a few missiles will get through. Most of our larger cities sit inside a ring of energy beam turrets and have energy shields. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

  “We’ll make it,” said Chancellor Stein. “We won’t allow the Morag to destroy our world.”

  -

  Derrick had his fleets tucked inside the defensive grid. The interceptors from the surface bases were assembling, just behind the battlecarriers. Derrick had ordered Rear Admiral Carrie to give her interceptor crews a break, while the ground-based interceptors took the fight to the enemy.

  “Where are you sending them?” asked Colonel Bryant, as he stared at the huge number of green icons around the battlecarriers.

  “To attack the damaged ships in front of Rear Admiral Collison. He’s taken out most of the battleships in that section, as well as those small light cruisers. They’ll have the best chance of survival by hitting that section of the Morag fleet.” Derrick had to reduce the number of enemy ships he faced and had to reduce the incoming weapons fire, or this battle would not last much longer.

  -

  Orders were passed, and soon the amassed squadrons of interceptors swept through the defensive grid and headed for the Morag fleet—eleven thousand attack interceptors, all armed with four fusion-tipped missiles.

  -

  Fleet Admiral Colane gazed at the mass of Human interceptors coming toward his fleet. Bring up the light cruisers that still survive. It had been a mistake earlier to have them scattered throughout the formation. He had lost over half of them in the early stages of the battle.

  Detecting over 11,000 Human interceptors, reported the sensor officer.

  Colane looked once more at the massive wall of interceptors coming toward his portion of the fleet. Pull us back farther into the fleet, he ordered. He would not take the risk of a few lucky hits damaging his flagship.

  -

  Major Lisa Conroy led the attack. She was the senior commander and had originally been on the Orion. Major Barkley had her transferred permanently to help train the interceptor crews, and now, as the most senior pilot and officer still on the planet, she led the attack.

  “We will not fly into the fleet as they probably expect,” she explained over the comm, which connected her to all the squadron commanders. “We will fly to the optimum range to launch our missiles and then do so. Once we launch, we will turn and get the hell out of there. Expect a massive wall of defensive fire, as well as antimatter missiles. Because of that I want all squadrons to practice maximum distancing. Now, let’s go kill us some Morag!”

  The squadrons spread apart and accelerated toward the waiting Morag fleet. Before they got to their missile release point, a wave of defensive fire broke out. Looking out her cockpit window, Major Conroy saw numerous small bright explosions that marked dying interceptors, like flying through a wall of flak. The interceptors dodged, twisted, and changed course to throw off enemy tracking systems. The interceptors did have a powerful forward-facing energy shield that could take one hit, but the second hit would often knock down the shield, destroying the interceptor.

  Several times Major Conroy narrowly missed being hit. She saw her wingman vanish in a bright fireball several hundred meters off her wingtip. Her interceptor was shaken several times by weapons fire but, so far, had escaped damage.

  “Almost there,” reported her weapons officer. “Ten seconds.”

  For a moment they seemed to burst out of the wave of destruction, and then the interceptor shook as its four fusion missiles were launched.

  Without hesitation, Major Conroy kicked in the turbos and turned sharply, straining the gravity inertia controller. She felt herself pressed back briefly into her acceleration couch, and then the pressure vanished as the turn was complete. Now she had to fly back through the weapons fire to reach the safety of the battlecarriers.

  Behind her thousands of fusion-tipped missiles slammed into the weakened energy screens of hundreds of Morag warships. Bright explosions walked across the forward section of the Morag fleet, turning night into day.

  -

  Fleet Admiral Colane stood in range as hundreds of his damaged ships were blown apart in the massive attack by the Human interceptors. Not only that but they had targeted his light cruisers, destroying twenty-three more. However, his fleet had inflicted devastating losses on the Human interceptors, destroying thousands of them. They would not make this type of attack again. Space was littered with their debris.

  -

  Derrick watched as the surviving interceptors returned to the battlecarriers to be rearmed. Already the squadrons on the carriers had launched again.

  “How many did we lose?” He knew many of the interceptors had been destroyed, but it had been necessary to further weaken the Morag fleet.

  “Four thousand two hundred and seventy,” reported Colonel Bryant. “From our scans, they took out 512 Morag warships.”

  Derrick nodded. Now the battle would once more increase in intensity, as the Morag fleet was now in range of the ground PDCs. “Inform Rear Admiral Carrie that her interceptor squadrons are to go back to medium-range missile launches. I want to hold their losses to a minimum.” Derrick knew he might need them for a major attack later. On the tactical display, he saw dozens of SAR craft attempting to pick up crews from damaged interceptors and those who had ejected safely.

  -

  Morag Fleet Admiral Torrant shook his head. The Human interceptor attack had been far more successful than expected. The Morag just didn’t have enough of the light cruisers to make a major difference. Not when faced with an attack numbering in the thousands. Taking a deep breath, he knew it was time to put more pressure on the Humans. Time for Admiral Norlan to pay for his mistakes in the Tantula System.

  -

  Morag Admiral Norlan had his orders. He was to take the surviving vessels of his reserve fleet and destroy the planet’s largest shipyard, which was destroying the forward section of Fleet Admiral Colane’s fleet. Its powerful particle beam cannons had already destroyed most of Colane’s battleships. Norlan had a little over 2,047 surviving warships from his battle in the Hagen Star Cluster. He had also lost some ships in the current battle.

  Stand by to begin our attack, he sent, as he leaned back in his command chair. This was a chance to prove himself, after his defeat in t
he Tantula System.

  Fleet is ready, reported First Officer Kenold.

  Norlan nodded. Advance the fleet. We will attack in an open-ended cone formation. That would allow him to partially englobe the shipyard and bring more weapons to bear.

  -

  Rear Admiral Collison saw part of the Morag formation break apart, as over two thousand warships headed for the shipyard. “Contact Rear Admiral Krest and tell her to move her fleet to help cover the shipyard the Morag are headed for.”

  Collison hated doing this, but, if he didn’t, the shipyard had no chance of surviving. He also knew that Rear Admiral Krest did not have enough ships to adequately protect the shipyard, yet, with her fleet there, it would allow the shipyard to keep firing for a little bit longer. And, right now, they needed its heavy weapons.

  -

  Rear Admiral Krest saw what the Morag were doing. “Stand by to get underway,” she ordered. “We will take up a position just behind and above the shipyard. That way we won’t get in the way of its weapons fire.” Krest knew, if she hoped to survive, she needed that shipyard to last as long as possible with its heavy weapons. She currently had twenty-two dreadnoughts and ninety-eight battlecruisers, thanks to the extra ships Admiral Cleemorl had sent with her.

  -

  Colonel Long saw a large segment of the Morag fleet break away from one of the main formations and head directly toward her shipyard. “Guess we made them mad.”

  Major Kurtley nodded in agreement. “Guess we destroyed too many of their battleships.”

  “Colonel, Rear Admiral Krest has been ordered to bring her fleet to help defend the shipyard,” reported the communications officer.

  Long saw that, indeed, the rear admiral had already headed toward the shipyard. “That will help, but I don’t know if it will be enough.” She was glad she had gotten most of her crew off already.

  -

  Fleet Admiral Marloo gazed at one of the main viewscreens, showing the planet’s biggest shipyard. Already its energy screen was covered in weapons fire.

  “Can we save it?” asked Colonel Hillstrum.

  “I don’t know,” replied Admiral Marloo, as he watched the developing battle. Rear Admiral Krest’s ships were nearly in position. “It’s being attacked by over two thousand Morag warships. I don’t know if anything would survive that.”

  Marloo had a heavy frown on his face. Since the battle began, they had already lost nearly 12 percent of the defensive grid and two ODPs. The sky above the planet was constantly full of bright flashes, indicating explosions or the destruction of elements of the grid. Already seventeen missiles had been intercepted that had made it through the grid, and that would only get worse.

  Leaning back in his command chair, Marloo turned his attention to the viewscreen, showing a closeup of the shipyard.

  -

  Rear Admiral Krest quickly maneuvered her fleet into its position just behind and above the shipyard. That would keep them out of the shipyard’s weapons fire, while allowing her fleet to fire all of its weapons.

  “Contact in forty seconds,” reported Major Every.

  Krest nodded. She would not allow this shipyard to be destroyed, if she could help it.

  -

  Derrick closely watched what was going on at the shipyard. He knew Rear Admiral Krest didn’t have enough ships to stop the Morag attack. She would need some help. Without hesitation, he contacted Rear Admiral Carrie. “I need you to prepare an attack on the Morag fleet heading toward the shipyard. What can you give me?”

  “I still have 7,057 interceptors combat ready. Some of those are out on raids.”

  Derrick had a plan, a risky one, but it might just work. “I want four thousand of your interceptors armed and ready to attack. They will follow four hundred of my battlecruisers. We’ll use the battlecruisers to clear the way to the Morag fleet attacking the shipyard. This will be a point-blank attack. We need to destroy as much of that fleet as possible. I’ve scanned the attacking fleet, and none of the Morag light cruisers are in the force.”

  “I’ll make the arrangements,” replied Carrie. “We’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

  Derrick nodded. “So will we. I need to start organizing the battlecruiser force.” He just needed to decide who would command it. He knew this might be a suicide mission.

  -

  Rear Admiral Krest had pulled her flagship, the Tetrex, away from the developing battle. She had put another captain of one of her dreadnoughts in charge of the fleet. She had volunteered to lead the attack of the four hundred battlecruisers and four thousand attack interceptors. She knew the chance of survival was not high.

  Krest waited impatiently, as the battlecruisers and the squadrons formed up just below the defense grid. When it was time, she gave the order, and the entire force accelerated and headed toward the Morag fleet attacking the shipyard. Already the shipyard had been hit several times, and its energy shield was weakening, glowing brighter and brighter as more Morag weapons hit.

  -

  Colonel Long shouted orders, trying to keep her command intact. Already several fusion energy beams had penetrated the weakening shield, causing considerable damage to the shipyard. Many sections were already sealed off and in vacuum.

  “Rear Admiral Krest is inbound,” reported Major Kurtley. “They’ll be in range in less than a minute.”

  On the tactical display, a massive force of green icons headed toward the Morag fleet. Unfortunately only four hundred of those icons were major warships; the rest were interceptors. The shipyard shook again, and the damage control console filled with more red lights. The shipyard would not last much longer. Already nearly 40 percent of the shipyard’s weapons had either been destroyed or were nonfunctional. She was still directing her remaining particle beam weapons at Morag battleships, though her supply was becoming scarce.

  -

  Rear Admiral Krest flinched, as the Morag fleet turned some of its firepower toward the fleet she led. She saw two of her battlecruisers explode, as their energy shields were battered down, and numerous bright flashes indicated where attack interceptors were dying. However, the Morag fleet was almost in point-blank range.

  -

  Morag Admiral Norlan saw the Human attack coming in on his flank. He tried to adjust his formation to face it, but, before he could, the Human battlecruisers were inside his formation. Moments later the Human interceptors were as well. Instantly carnage filled the Morag fleet. The Human battlecruisers fired every weapon they had, and the interceptors were making close-in attack runs, then releasing their missiles. The Morag were handicapped, as they had to be careful not to hit their own ships when firing.

  -

  Morag ships died in large numbers, as the Human battlecruisers and attack interceptors let loose thousands of missiles. Space was full of small explosions, as the desperate Morag battlecruisers fired at the interceptors, sometime hitting their own ships. Once the interceptors had fired all their missiles, they made attack runs on damaged Morag ships, using their fusion beams to inflict even more damage.

  “Order the interceptors to break off and to return to the battlecarriers,” ordered Rear Admiral Krest. She didn’t see the point in allowing them to sacrifice themselves, once their missiles were expended.

  -

  Morag Admiral Norlan was angry at the damage the Humans were causing. All ships, use all your weapons, even antimatter missiles. I want that Human fleet destroyed!

  -

  The weapons fire inside the Morag fleet suddenly intensified, as antimatter missiles detonated everywhere. Some of the Morag fire even hit and destroyed their own ships.

  Rear Admiral Krest felt the Tetrex shake violently, as it was hit by multiple antimatter missiles. Red lights filled the damage control console, and smoke was everywhere in the Command Center. Two consoles suddenly exploded, sending huge showers of sparks across the room. There was a nearby explosion, and two major support beams broke free from the ceiling and fell, crushing several of the crew and des
troying a console.

  Krest heard the sound of tearing metal, and she thought she heard distant screaming. “Helm, do you see that big Morag battleship in front of us?”

  “Yes, Admiral,” answered the helm officer.

  “I think that’s the Morag flagship for this fleet. It has had other ships protecting it throughout the battle. Think you can ram it?”

  The helm officer looked shocked and then nodded. “Yes, Admiral. I can hit it dead center.”

  Rear Admiral Glenda Krest drew in a deep breath. “Then do so!”

  Major Every looked respectfully at her admiral. “It’s been an honor to serve with you.”

  Glenda smiled. “The honor’s been all mine.”

  On the viewscreen, the enemy flagship grew larger. In moments the two ships would collide.

  -

  Morag Admiral Norlan stared in shock at the Human dreadnought about to collide with his flagship. Increase speed and change direction! he sent hurriedly.

  Just as the flagship obeyed his orders, the Human dreadnought slammed into the energy screen, knocking it down. The next moment the Morag ship shook violently, as part of the Human ship crashed into its stern. Instantly the power went off in the Command Center, and everything quit working. Admiral Norlan was surprised he was still alive. The emergency lights came on, his Command Center in wreckage. Nearly everything was smashed, and over half his crew was dead. He saw First Officer Kenold lying on the deck, impaled by a structural beam.

  Do we have any power, and can we maneuver?

  Yes, Admiral, answered the helm officer. We have battery power for about ten more minutes, and some power to our sublight drive but not much.

  Admiral Norlan squared his shoulders. He had failed the Morag race once more, but he would not fail in his final act. Target the Human shipyard and ram it! His ship was dying, but he could still use it as a weapon.

  -

  The heavily damaged Morag flagship moved forward, heading directly toward the shipyard. The shipyard was so heavily damaged that only a few beam weapons were still working. Most of Rear Admiral Krest’s original fleet was gone as well. Only a few battlecruisers still survived, and they were heavily damaged, only capable of firing a few energy beams.