The Chosen Race (Space Empires Book 2)

by Caleb Selby

  “The Unmentionables must have upgraded the Krohn missiles! It’s the only explanation!” Jonas shouted down.

  “Should we send rescue teams in?” Etana asked, her gaze still fixated on the utter carnage before her eyes.

  “Not now,” Fedrin responded. “We don’t have time! Let’s finish off these monsters and pick up the pieces later.”

  Commander Searle and her entire crew had just blinked out of existence but there was no time to mourn them now. In the far distance tiny dots of light in tight, well-trained formations, could be seen growing larger.

  “Krohn fighter groups en route!” Jonas announced.

  “Send in interceptor squadrons!” ordered Fedrin. “And move up the Hornell and the Defiant! I want to use their point defenses against the enemy fighters!”

  “Aye Sir!” the fighter control officer answered hastily.

  The Hornell Carrier, which was already near the front of the fleet, accelerated toward the oncoming fighters. Several wings of her own fighters maintained close formation with her to provide protection while the rest of the Idok and Hornell attack groups raced toward the oncoming Krohn squadrons.

  Small traces of yellow and green light suddenly erupted all over as the opposing fighter groups finally clashed.

  “Magnify!” shouted Fedrin, anxious to see the scrimmage so he could better direct advances or call retreats as required.

  The observation view on the main screen zoomed up into the middle of the main fighter skirmish. It was dizzying! Fighters flew back in forth in a wild frenzy of twisted metal and firepower. It was a wonder that each side knew who was who. Back and forth they flew trying to shoot down an opposing fighter before them without being a steady target for the pursuing fighter behind. The fight raged on for what seemed like an eternity with neither side decisively prevailing over the other until a pair of large, menacing shadows crept over the battlefield.

  “Zoom out one step,” Fedrin ordered.

  “Zooming out one step,” Etana answered and then looked up as the screen adjusted to reveal the Hornell and Defiant, now hovering above the intense fighter battle. One moment the battlefield was as ferocious as ever with laser fire and explosions littering space, the next, Krohn fighters were being torn to pieces by the point defenses on the capital ships.

  “Hoorah!” shouted Jonas as he raised a clenched fist at the screen. “Take that you overgrown, ugly lizards!”

  “Recall the Hornell back to the fleet,” Fedrin said once it was clear the skirmish had been won. “We can’t risk her getting damaged.”

  “I’m on it,” answered Etana.

  “More missiles are inbound!” Jonas exclaimed.

  Fedrin looked on his screen and shook his head as he watched six new missiles burn through space toward the Idok on the far left flank. “Shoot them down!” Fedrin ordered. “Bring them down now! Got it, Jonas?”

  “All point defense batteries and incinerator beams are firing at maximum revolutions, Admiral!” yelled Jonas. “We just can’t get a lock!”

  Fedrin watched helplessly as the missiles closed in on his wife’s former ship, now commanded by Kesler and Tarkin. The projectiles were nearly there when from far behind the Sixth Fleet, several bright rays of light smashed into the missiles, igniting a series of fiery explosion.

  “Ummmmm...what was that?” asked Jonas as he watched the surreal scene unfold before his eyes...for once dumbfounded.

  “Three Sion warships have just appeared behind our formation!” Etana joyfully announced. “They’re coming up fast!”

  “Thats not possible!” Fedrin said as he looked on his own screen. “Trab said that all their fleets were destroyed!”

  His eyes could not lie however. Three beautiful Sion ships, shimmering in the light of the distant sun, came up from seemingly nowhere, hard and fast. As they approached, their mighty weapons roared to life, racing past the Sixth Fleet and striking at targets in the enemy midst.

  “The remnants of the Sion high counsel extend their greetings and offers these vessels to aid your efforts to reach the Grimsin Tree!” a Sion voice spoke up over the Iovara’s tele-link.

  “My greetings and heartfelt thanks,” Fedrin replied over a general channel. “Your assistance will be most invaluable, although your presence here is quite perplexing. I was under the impression the Sion war ships were all destroyed?”

  “I am Vice Chancellor Merik of the Sion High Counsel,” the Sion answered. “My three ships were separated from the main Sion fleet when the Unmentionables attacked our home world. By the time we returned, the battle was over and I was the only High Counsel member still alive. I have instructed my ships to meet up with you and escort you to the moon. It is all we can do. It is all we have left to give.”

  Fedrin smiled. “It is more than I could have ever hoped for! Your ships may make the difference in this war!”

  “Let us hope so,” Merik answered.

  “Distance to plasma firing time is just under one minute!” Etana announced.

  “Alright, Vice Chancellor,” Fedrin said. “Help us finish off these Krohns once and for all!”

  “With pleasure, Fedrin,” Merik replied.

  “Let’s give them some good old fashioned plasma before the Sions take all the fun out of it!” Kesler said to Tarkin and smiled.

  “Sounds like a plan!” answered Tarkin as he released the firing pin. The Idok’s plasma round slammed into a Krohn destroyer, engulfing it in a blanket of consuming fire. The destroyer churned and twisted under the crushing blow until it finally snapped, exploding into a huge fireball that lit up the battlefield.

  “Target destroyed!” Tarkin announced with pride.

  Kesler smiled. “Care to get some more?”

  Tarkin nodded. “Sion incinerator beam armed and ready to create havoc.”

  “Let’s give it to them!” ordered Kesler with a victorious smile.

  “Aye, Sir!” answered Tarkin.

  The remnants of the Sixth Fleet and newly arrived Sion warships were all in weapons range of the Krohn Armada. The resulting battle was as decisive as could be. With several sweeping rays of the incinerator beams, the Krohn fleet was incapacitated in mere moments. It was progressively easier from there.

  “Plasma weapons in range sir!” Jonas announced.

  “Target that lead ship and fire!” ordered Fedrin, pointing to the largest ship on the screen.

  The Iovara’s twin plasma chambers rumbled to life, sending tremors throughout the ship. Upon release, the plasma rounds tore through space with brutal intent until they slammed into their target with terrific effect. Half of the struck vessel was melted on contact into a massive chunk of twisted and contorted metal that bore no resemblance to the ship it was moments prior. The other half of the ship broke apart ignominiously as massive sections of the superstructure broke free of their rivets and unceremoniously floated away.

  Jonas watched the preceding with great content. The moment the target was obviously incapacitated for good, he took a small blade from within his boot and carved a tally mark into his desk beside a host of other marks.

  “Report,” ordered Fedrin, as he watched a detachment of fighter squadrons, strafe the remnants of yet another Krohn cruiser.

  “It appears,” Etana started while comparing one screen with another, “it appears that the Krohn fleet is totally defeated.” She finished and examined the battlefield scan one more time before nodding in confirmation. “It’s done,” her words echoed with an air of surreal finality, as this could indeed be the last major battle with the Krohns for all time.

  Fedrin was unable to refrain a small smile from creeping over his face upon hearing Etana’s report. “What is the condition of our ships?” he asked.

  Etana tapped several keys into one of her panels. “We lost Commander Searle and the Revenge,” she said with a sad shake of her head. “The d
amage incurred by the surviving ships was negligible though.”

  “Details, Jonas?” asked Fedrin.

  Jonas glanced at one of his screens. “The Arbitrator was hit once on her stern quarter and is suffering some electrical problems due to a contained hull breach near the impact sight. Commander Colby is reporting the situation is under control and that they are ready to get underway for phase two.”

  “And my carriers?” Fedrin inquired.

  “The Hornell is fine,” Etana answered. “Kendrick states no damage taken.”

  “And the Idok?”

  Etana nodded. “Also fine. Tarkin reports she’s shipshape and ready to roll!”

  “Kesler and Tarkin seemed to handle her fairly well,” Fedrin commented with a smirk. “Maybe we should make that arrangement permanent?”

  Etana raised her hand. “I want my ship back,” she said, half playfully, half seriously. “I like being here with you and all, but my ship is my ship and I want her back.”

  Fedrin smiled and shook his head.

  “Did you guys know that I offer marriage counseling services at very reasonable rates?” Jonas called down. “I can pencil you in for next week if you’d like?”

  “Shut up, Jonas!” Etana said, rolling her eyes.

  Jonas chuckled.

  “Admiral,” Ensign Gallo spoke up. “Captain Carter is asking if he should proceed with his landing orders?”

  Fedrin looked out the window thoughtfully. “Have we been able to get a fix of what’s on the other side of the planet yet?”

  Etana shook her head. “That’s a negative. We’ve been trying since we entered the system, as have our Sion allies. Still nothing!”

  Jonas called down from his perch. “Either we are being jammed by some wicked powerful jammers or there’s nothing over there...which is as likely as me getting married someday!”

  “I thought you were a marriage counselor?” remarked Gallo.

  Jonas laughed. “My counseling revolves around the merits of voiding marriage contracts as soon as possible.”

  “You are a moron!” Etana exclaimed.

  “Carter signaled me again, Admiral,” Gallo stated. “He wants to know what to do. Should he land or stay put?”

  Fedrin nodded his head slowly as he thought deeply on his various options. “I want to modify Carter’s orders slightly,” he finally said.

  “Standing by Sir,” replied Gallo as he prepared to transmit whatever Fedrin decided to Carter.

  “Have Carter take his B-18 with a fighter wing escort and fly to the other side of the planet,” said Fedrin. “Have him establish a picture of what’s over there. Maybe a visual flyby will give us the info we need. The B-18 has superb optical scanners and is fast enough to get out of there in a pinch if needed.”

  “Aye, Sir,” Gallo replied. “Excellent idea.”

  “And while Carter runs the recon, have the rest of the shuttles and transports begin their descent,” ordered Fedrin as he stared out the main window at the massive planet below.

  “I thought you wanted Carter to lead the counterattack?” Etana commented. “He won’t be able to do that if he’s running recon.”

  “Carter will catch up with the landing force and take command after he gives me a picture of what’s waiting for us,” Fedrin answered. “The B-18 is appreciably faster than the shuttles. He should be able to spot the enemy on the other side of the planet and regain the convoy lead with plenty of time to spare.”

  Etana slowly nodded, gradually convinced of the merits of Fedrin’s plan.

  “It’s time to reclaim our home folks,” Fedrin then said inclusively to his command crew. “Lets make it happen!”

  “Aye, Sir!” the bridged echoed as officers turned to their stations and diligently managed and coordinated their various responsibilities.

  As the other officers busied themselves with their tasks, Etana promptly stood and walked over to Fedrin. She had a question that wasn’t going to wait. “So why did we risk everything to get a data device to fix Clear Skies if it never even fired?”

  Fedrin shrugged. “Maybe the system has a purpose that we don’t understand.”

  “Like what?” Etana exclaimed, still dismayed at the heavy collateral costs that had been invested to retrieve a device that had yet to prove its worth.

  Fedrin shook his head, himself feeling some of Etana’s sentiment. “I have no idea Etana. Maybe we’ll find out in this next confrontation.”

  Etana shook her head skeptically and returned to her station without another spoken word.

  As she stepped away, Fedrin sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, considering what Etana had said and coupling it with his own thoughts that had been nagging at him. Questions without answers were growing in his mind and he didn’t like it.

  It was one thing to have Jabel, a scientist and a patriot, encourage the mission to get the data device with which to fight back the Krohns; but why had Trab so passionately encouraged them? Why had Trab prompted Fedrin at every opportunity to cross the entire Federation, to fight disproportionately powerful enemies and risk everything including Trab’s own life, just to retrieve a device that may or may not provide a benefit? Surely there was more to the story than Fedrin was privy. What that story was however, was anyone’s guess.

  “Get the Sion Vice Chancellor on the tele-link for me,” Fedrin ordered, resolving to find out all he could before the final encounter.

  CHAPTER 16

  Incarnate Evil

  Darion, Reesa, and Professor Jabel made their way in uneasy silence toward the makeshift tunnel leading to the Clear Skies missile silo. Within the silo, a small ship was being constructed out of the residing missile. If completed, Defuria would use the craft to acquire the Grimsin from the moon and begin a reign of unparalleled terror upon all worlds and sentient life forms in the galaxy. The three companions knew he must be stopped, but how they were going to accomplish such a monumental task seemed beyond their grasp. Even with Trivis’s pledge of help, their odds seemed bleak at best. Still though, they pressed on. Knowing that the unaltered Clear Skies program was being uploaded even as they walked gave them a level of accomplishment that they drew courage from. Even if they failed in stopping Defuria, Clear Skies would be repaired and unleash furry on the orbiting enemy ships (themselves not realizing that the battle with the Krohns had already been decided).

  The group was just emerging into an annex between passageways when a series of loud explosions followed by rapid laser fire sounded out from a short distance away. Following the startling commotion, dozens of uniformed soldiers intermingled with poorly armed volunteers, came running past the junction, many yelling things to each other in seemingly unintelligible shouts and barks. The scene was chaos!

  “The Krohns have breached this level,” Darion said aloud, interpreting the shouts of the soldiers for his cohorts.

  Reesa shook her head, realizing that Krohns on their level could spell doom for thousands upon thousands of refugees.

  The three companions waited for the surge of fighters to pass before venturing out into the annex. As they entered, Reesa spotted a familiar face running with the group that had just passed. “Zane!” she called out loudly, her shout startling Darion and Jabel. “Zane stop!”

  Zane slowed his run and turned to face Reesa, clutching the heavy lydeg she had given him the day earlier. He looked confused and overwhelmed as he approached. His demeanor portrayed panic and dismay. His eyes were puffy and red.

  “What are you doing here?” snapped Reesa stepping ahead of the group. “Where are the kids? I told you to watch them!”

  “Kids?” asked Darion.

  “Long story, Darion!” said Reesa sharply.

  Zane shook his head. “They’re gone Reesa,” he said, shaking his head in despondency.

  Before anyone could stop her, Reesa took hold
of Zane’s collar and thrust him against the rocky passageway wall. “What do you mean they’re gone?” she yelled, her angry voice echoing through the intersecting passageways. “I asked you to watch them! I asked you to take care of them!”

  Tears suddenly filled Zane’s eyes as Darion and Jabel struggled to pull Reesa off of him.

  “I tried to!” he yelled as he took a shaky step away. “I tried to!”

  Reesa shook off Darion and Jabel’s hold of her. “Doesn’t look like it to me!”

  “They were kidnapped!” Zane shot back, wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeve. “Dozens of kids are missing from the super bunkers. Someone has been taking them!”

  “Taking them?” remarked Reesa. “What does that mean?”

  “Who? Who has been taking them?” asked Jabel, stepping nearer to Zane, taking up his cane and holding it close to him. “Who has been taking them Zane? Speak up!”

  Zane shrugged. “I’m not sure. No one is sure.” He paused. “Someone thought they saw a Sentinel take a little girl last night but no one is certain. They’ve just been disappearing.”

  “You didn’t see who took them?” Reesa snapped. “Where were you? What were you doing that this could have happened?”

  “Standing in line to get food and water rations for them!” Zane yelled, his face momentarily flashing anger. He shook his head sadly as he relaxed his stance. “When I came back to our hiding spot, they were gone. Within ten minutes of their disappearance, six other kids vanished in our vicinity too. I’ve been looking for them since.”

  “Who was that group you were with?” asked Darion.

  Zane glanced down the passageway at the other end of the annex. He shook his head. “Parents, caregivers, volunteers, I’m really not sure...” his voice trailed off. “We were following a lead where some kids were sighted earlier this afternoon. Haven’t found anything yet.”

  Reesa shook her head, tears building in her own eyes. She turned to speak to Zane but lost the words, turned back and walked away.

  “I’m sorry, Reesa,” Zane called out after her, profound sincerity mixed with sadness echoing in his own voice.