The Lost Fleet: Into the Darkness

by Raymond L. Weil

  “The fleet will advance and engage the enemy,” order Admiral Bachal. “Those battlestations won’t long under that type of bombardment.”

  -

  All the fleets were now closing with the enemy in a brave attempt to support the battlestations. Two more Carethian cruisers exploded as Simulin energy beams riddled them. Four human light cruisers vanished as Simulin antimatter missiles slammed into their hulls after their energy screens failed. A human battleship collided with a Simulin battlecruiser and both vanished in a fiery blaze of light. The battle was growing more intense as the defenders closed to put an end to the invaders.

  -

  “We’re taking heavy losses,” reported Commander Arnett in a worried voice as the WarHawk shuddered from an antimatter missile strike to the energy shield.

  “So are the Simulins,” Race answered as he watched the tactical displays. “The battlestations are starting to take a heavy toll on the enemy. At the range they’re at now almost all of their particle beam and power beams are penetrating the Simulins’ shields.”

  “Battlestation Reliant is reporting catastrophic damage,” reported Lieutenant Davis. On one of the tactical screens, the blue icon representing the battlestation suddenly swelled up and vanished. “Battlestation Reliant is down.”

  “How many Simulin ships remain?” demanded Race. He knew the battle still could go either way. Space was full of destroyed and damaged ships.

  “One hundred and eighty-seven,” Colonel Cowel answered as he studied some data on a screen near him. “Many of them are damaged with weakened energy screens.”

  “Our own ships are suffering the same type of damage,” Commander Arnett said with a worried frown. “We might not have the ships we need to finish this.” She grimaced as another battlestation vanished from the tactical screen.

  “We have one more card to play,” Race answered with a deep sigh. It would be costly, but he had no other choice. Pressing the small button on his mini-comm, he contacted Rear Admiral Rance Wyler. “Rance, it’s time to send the bombers in. Once they’ve been launched, move your battlecarriers into combat range. We’re going to need their firepower.”

  “Squadrons will be launching in thirty seconds,” Rance replied. “We’ll do you proud, Admiral.”

  “I know you will,” responded Race, knowing he was sending most of those pilots to their deaths. The pilots’ quarters on those carriers would be mostly empty when this was over.

  -

  From the eight battlecarriers, nearly seven hundred Anlon bombers launched. Each was armed with four Shrike missiles carrying twenty-kiloton nuclear warheads. In addition to the Anlons, nearly one thousand Talon fighters launched as well. The Talons would serve to take some of the pressure off the bombers so they could launch their missiles at the damaged Simulin vessels. The fighters and bombers made several circles around the carriers as all squadrons finished launching and formed up into their attack formations.

  “Target the damaged Simulin vessels only,” ordered Rear Admiral Wyler over the joint squadron comm channel. “If we can take out the majority of the damaged Simulin warships we can win this battle.”

  “We’ll take them out,” promised Major Terrill, who was the CAG for the Saratoga and in charge of the strike. Terrill looked down at his small sensor screen and saw it was full of hundreds of small green icons. “All squadrons, begin your attack runs. There’ll be a lot of energy beam fire and missile fire as we close. Try not to get hit by friendly fire.”

  The bombers were in ten ship squadrons and the fighters fanned out to form a protective globe around the Anlons. It was essential the bombers get in close enough to deliver their missiles.

  -

  “Bombers and fighters have been launched,” reported Commander Arnett as one of the tactical screens lit up with nearly seventeen hundred small green icons.

  “I want all ships to continue to press the Simulins regardless of the damage they’ve suffered,” Race ordered grimly. “We need every particle beam, power beam, and missile. Order all ships to begin firing one hundred-megaton antimatter missiles. Let’s light the Simulins up.”

  -

  The remaining Simulin High Commander gazed impassively at the ship’s tactical display. The other four High Commanders had died along with their flagships.

  “These organics are unusually dangerous,” he said as several more Simulin escort cruisers died beneath the onslaught of the weapons assailing the beleaguered fleet. “In many areas their technology level seems to be on a similar level to ours.”

  “The same was reported of the fleets which made transit into the galaxy we just left,” his second in command replied. “However, there was a wide diversity in the strength and type of weapons deployed. This fleet seems to be relying more on their particle beams and now antimatter missiles.”

  “Numerous small vessels have appeared,” the sensor operator warned. “The battle computer is identifying them as some type of small assault craft.”

  “Target them with our defensive weapons when they come within range,” the High Commander ordered. “Our defensive batteries should be able to destroy them.”

  This battle was going to be costly, but if he could manage a victory, he could still deploy enough energy collector stations to allow him to send a message in a few short weeks requesting additional reinforcements.

  -

  Major Terrill winced as heavy Simulin defensive fire began to focus on his incoming bombers and fighters. “Spread out, don’t give them too easy a target.” His words were cut short as a Simulin defensive energy beam vaporized his bomber.

  Major Paxell felt shock at seeing the CAG’s green command icon blink out. “This is Major Paxell; I’m taking over. All bombers spread out and continue on your attack runs. Fighters, try to draw some of that defensive fire off the Anlons.”

  Space was lit up with the fiery deaths of fighters and bombers as the Simulins defensive fire blew the small ships apart. Three hundred fighters and over two hundred bombers died before they entered launch range. Even though the Anlons had a forward defensive screen, the Simulin energy fire was cutting right through it.

  “All Anlons, lock on targets and fire,” ordered Captain Gail Swenson. All other officers above her had died in the heavy Simulin defensive fire. Space was crisscrossed with deadly energy beams seeking targets. “Once your missiles have been released, get the hell out of here!”

  Gail heard her targeting system beep loudly as it acquired its target. Pressing the missile release switch she fired two of her Shrike missiles at a nearby Simulin escort cruiser, which was heavily damaged and only had a few weapons still firing. The two missiles slammed home and the ship blew apart as the twenty-kiloton warheads detonated. Pulling up, she targeted the next Simulin vessel. Firing her remaining two missiles, she felt disappointment when they exploded harmlessly on the still operating energy screen. However, her missiles must have weakened the screen as another bomber’s missiles penetrated, blowing the stern off the vessel.

  Kicking in the bomber’s turbos, she turned and accelerated back toward the inbound carriers. All around her Shrike missiles were striking targets. Many found Simulin hulls to explode against while others struck still impacted operational energy screens. Gail just hoped they were causing enough damage so the fleet could finish off the remaining Simulins.

  Looking out of her cockpit window, she saw the Indomitable Battlestation Invictus. It was under heavy attack and even as she watched she saw its energy screen waver and several Simulin antimatter missiles slam into the hull, blasting huge glowing craters into the thousand-meter station. A titanic explosion suddenly blew the station apart, sending debris into another nearby station as well as several Simulin vessels. She took a deep breath and looked away. Too many people were dying. She didn’t want to think about how many friends she’d lost in the last few minutes.

  -

  Admiral Victell found himself too deep in the Simulin formation as his ship became cut off from the other Alto
n warships. He felt his flagship, the Ralus, shake violently and warning alarms sounded on the damage control console. On the large viewscreen, he saw a heavily damaged Simulin battlecruiser turn toward the Ralus.

  “Continue on course,” Admiral Victell ordered in a calm voice. From the lights on the damage control console, he knew his ship was mortally damaged. The least he could do was ensure another Simulin ship died along with her.

  Moments later, the two ships collided and space was lit up as glowing suns appeared where the two ships had been. When the light faded all that remained was a glowing and scattering debris field.

  -

  “Alton battleship Ralus is down,” uttered Lieutenant Davis in shock. “It rammed a Simulin battlecruiser.”

  “Fighters and bombers are returning to the carriers,” Colonel Cowel reported, his face a ghastly white. “We lost seventy percent of the bombers and forty percent of the fighters. We also lost every one of the CAGs. A squadron captain led the strike at the end.”

  Race swallowed hard at hearing the casualty report. He’d known they would lose a lot of them. “How badly did we hurt the Simulins?”

  “They’re down to eighty-two ships still operational and almost all of them are damaged to some extent,” Commander Arnett reported. “With the remaining battlestations and our ships we should be able to take them.”

  “Let’s finish this, then,” Race ordered, his eyes flashing with a glint of steel. “I don’t want a single one of their ships to escape!”

  -

  An hour later, it was over. The last Simulin ship had been changed into stardust and the fleet had gone back to Condition Two as it began search and recovery operations.

  “How badly did they hurt us?” Race asked as he leaned back in his command chair and tried to relax. He knew they’d come dangerously close to losing the battle.

  “Bad,” Commander Arnett replied with a grim look. “We lost all five hundred of the particle beam satellites, eighteen of the Type Two stations, eight of the Indomitable stations and the remaining four will need major repairs.”

  “What about our fleet units?” Race was deeply concerned about what would happen if the Simulins tried to come through with another fleet anytime soon. It would take awhile for reinforcements to reach the galactic center once the report of this battle went out.

  “Third Fleet losses are four battleships, seven battlecruisers, nine strikecruisers, two battlecarriers, and eight light cruisers,” Commander Arnett reported in a strained voice. Many of those ships had been with Third Fleet for several years. She’d known some of those ship commanders and their officers very well.

  “Admiral Jackson lost one battleship, two battlecruisers, and three strikecruisers. The Altons lost six battleships and four battlecruisers including the Ralus and Admiral Victell. The Carethians lost sixteen of their cruisers and, finally, the New Providence fleet lost nine of their battlecruisers.”

  “Seventy-one ships,” Race spoke in a low voice. These were the largest fleet losses since the war with the Hocklyns and the AIs.

  “What about damages?”

  “Heavy,” replied Madelyn, shaking her head. “Every ship is going to need some repair time; a few will need to be towed to a shipyard.”

  “Let’s get the four battlestations repaired first,” Race ordered. “They can remain on guard at the vortex site while we start on repairs. With any kind of luck, we’ll see substantial reinforcements before the Simulins attempt to come through again.”

  At least Race hoped they would. The nearest reinforcements would have to come from Astral, New Providence, and Careth. There were a few small fleet bases deep in what was formerly the Hocklyn Slave Empire, but Race wasn’t certain it would be wise to raid those bases of their ships.

  “What if they come through before we’re reinforced or finish our repairs?” asked Colonel Cowel.

  He was still feeling shaken at how close they had come to losing the battle. He knew all too well that if not for the Indomitable Class Battlestations, the Simulins would have blown right through Third Fleet and the other defenders.

  Race looked over at the colonel and then replied. “We’re in no shape to fight another battle. If the Simulins come through in force we’ll have no choice but to withdraw and destroy the capacitor stations.”

  “Then what about the relief fleets?” Cowel asked, his eyes growing wide. “We won’t be able to send them.”

  “I know,” Race said solemnly. “Let’s just hope the Simulins don’t come too soon or Admiral Strong and those with him will be on their own, permanently.”

  Race turned away, lost in thought. He needed to get his battle report and assessment done. One of those reports needed to go to Fleet Admiral Streth. Time was about to run out for the relief fleets. If they weren’t launched soon, they never would be.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jeremy was sitting in a beach lounger at one of the large ocean side resorts built to allow the crews of the orbiting ships to enjoy some quality leave time. Kelsey had finally demanded he take a few days off to relax before he burned himself out from constant worry. He’d relented and agreed to come down to Gaia. One thing he feared more than the Simulins was an angry wife.

  “How are the wedding plans going?” asked Katie, looking over at Angela sitting on a lounger next to Brace. “Are Ariel and Clarissa helping?”

  Angela brushed her brunette hair back from her eyes and grimaced. “They’re full of suggestions,” she said. “You wouldn’t believe all of the ideas the two of them have managed to come up with. You’d think they were the ones getting married.”

  Brace laughed and nodded his head. “Those two AIs are enjoying helping with the wedding. I don’t believe they’ve ever done something quite like this before.”

  Jeremy grinned. He could well imagine what the couple was going through. He was glad he’d asked General McGown if he could spare Brace for a few days. This was the first time since the Distant Horizon had arrived at Gaia months back that all six of them managed to take some leave time together.

  “Have you decided where the wedding’s going to be?” Kelsey asked. She was wearing a dark blue two-piece, which did a good job of accenting her figure.

  “We’re thinking about here on the beach,” Angela replied. “It’s a beautiful setting.”

  “That might be a problem,” Katie said with a frown. “I strongly suspect Ariel and Clarissa will demand to be in attendance.”

  “Can you set up some holographic projectors on the beach for them?” Angela asked. “I was thinking about having them in the wedding.”

  Katie pursed her lips in thought. “Maybe,” she said after a moment. “I’ll need to talk to Mikow. We’ve never projected their holograms this far.”

  “I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” said Kevin. He took a deep sip of the fruit drink he was having, and then looked over at Jeremy. “You really need to try this drink. It tastes very similar to the ones they serve at the beach resorts on New Tellus.”

  At the mention of New Tellus, everyone became quiet. It was hard to accept they would never see those resorts again or be able to go home.

  Kelsey cleared her throat and looked at Kevin. “How are the hamburgers here?”

  “Passable,” Kevin replied grudgingly. “Katie wouldn’t let me bring any down from the Avenger or the Distant Horizon.”

  Everyone laughed at Kevin’s predicament. Katie had brought cases of hamburgers on the Distant Horizon and was rationing how many Kevin could have each day. Hamburgers and french fries were Kevin’s favorite food and he’d been vastly disappointed a few years back when the Lost Fleets had run out of the meat they’d brought from the Federation.

  “Brace, how do you like your new post?” Jeremy asked.

  “We’ve been busy,” replied Brace, taking Angela’s hand and squeezing it. “The base is finished and the Marines have been settled in.”

  “You saw the scavenger robot on the Distant Horizon?” asked Kevin.

  �
��Yeah,” Brace replied. “Damn scary looking thing. I wouldn’t want to meet one of them in a dark alley. I wasn’t involved in the fighting on the surface when we encountered them but several of the Marines that were told me all about it.”

  “They’re actually called Conqueror Drones,” Katie said brusquely. She didn’t like talking about the killer robots. “Mikow and I found that out after looking more into their programming.”

  “Conqueror Drones,” repeated Brace with a frown. “Sounds ominous.”

  “Let’s go for a swim,” suggested Angela, standing and pulling Brace up with her. “The water looks great!”

  Jeremy watched the two run off into the water, splashing each other and laughing loudly. He wished every day could be like this one.

  “They look good together,” Kelsey said, coming over and sitting down next to Jeremy.

  “I’m glad,” Katie commented as she watched the two in the water. “They have a lot to look forward to.”

  Kelsey looked down at the sand and dug her toes into it. The sand here felt the same as the sand on the beaches of New Tellus. “Jeremy, how much danger are we in?”

  “We don’t know,” he replied truthfully. “Andram and several other Alton scientists have been studying the Simulin tracking device we found on the Distant Horizon. We’re not certain how far its communication system could have penetrated through the nebula. There’s little doubt the Simulins probably tracked the Distant Horizon to its last hyperspace drop out point. That was eight light-years away. The Simulins should be able to put two and two together and figure out where we’re hiding eventually.”

  “What will happen if they show up here?” asked Katie with a deeply concerned look in her light green eyes.

  “We’re building more particle beam satellites,” Jeremy answered. He’d decided it would be better to build more of the satellites than the Type Two battlestations. The satellites could be built faster and in much greater numbers.