The Star Cross: The Forever War

by Raymond L. Weil

  “They will not find us,” Lavin responded patiently. “We have remained hidden in this nebula for over twenty-two million years, and we will remain hidden for two million more. At that time the Vorn will cease to be a threat as we will send them back to their universe.”

  “A good plan except for one serious error on your part.”

  Councilor Lavin frowned. “What error are you referring to?”

  “This time the Vorn know we exist! They have fought our ships and know we are a serious threat to them. They will send thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of ships to seek us out. I promise you, before the end of that two million years, the Vorn will find us. Then you will fight this war whether you want to or not. And you will fight the Vorn alone because you will have let them destroy the other races in this galaxy who might have stood at your side.”

  “I do not see your point,” Lavin said, shaking his head. “Even if they find us, the defenses of this Dyson Sphere and our fleet will hold them back. We have no fear of the Vorn.”

  “It will be war,” pointed out Lilith carefully. This was where she had hoped the head councilor would go. “You are proposing war in the future to protect our people and the Dyson Sphere. Why not commit our ships now while we have allies willing to fight at our side. We have all the information from the files on the mothership to know where to strike the Vorn. At this moment, we know where they live, but they do not know where the Dyson Sphere is. At this very moment in time, we have an advantage. An advantage that might not exist in the future!”

  A few encouraging comments came from some of the councilors in the chamber as they demanded to know what the point was in waiting if they had to fight the Vorn anyway.

  “We do not know if any of that will happen,” Lavin responded. “The Vorn may never find us until it is too late. We cannot endanger all our work to send them back in the future to fight a space war now.”

  Lilith looked slowly around the council chamber. “But what if they do find us? We have an opportunity to strike now before they become stronger. What if, in two million years, we send the Vorn back to their universe only to learn later they have built more habitats in other regions of our universe? We know where they are now. We know their strengths and their weaknesses. We cannot wait any longer! Let us go to war and end the Destroyers of Worlds once and for all!”

  “That is enough!” said Lavin, stopping Lilith from speaking further. “This discussion is pointless as we are not going to war. Councilor Aalik, escort Captain Lilith to her quarters while we debate her fate.”

  Aalik stepped forward, placing his hand on Lilith’s arm. “Come with me. You did your best, but now it’s over.”

  Lilith let out a deep sigh of defeat. She bowed her head and followed Aalik. She knew from the tone of Lead Councilor Lavin’s voice that she would not be returning to Fleet Captain Waelt. Her time in the war against the Vorn was over.

  -

  Marshton and Valan sat in their seats in the council chamber. They had carefully noted the responses from other councilors to Lilith’s testimony in front of the council. They had the names of nearly two hundred councilors who had reacted positively to what she said. They just needed twenty of those to come over to their side so they could enact their plan.

  “She did it,” gloated Valan with a wide smile as they shut down their holograms and returned to their private conference room. “I will contact the other councilors who we know will support us and have them make some discreet inquiries into those who responded to Captain Lilith. Just maybe we’ll have what we need to move on to the next stage of our plan.”

  “We can only hope,” Marshton replied. “Now I must see if I can get Captain Lilith released into our custody.”

  Valan nodded. “I hope so. I think we have put her through enough.”

  -

  Lilith was surprised the next day when Aalik returned to her quarters and informed her that she would be released into the custody of Councilor Marshton. Her travels would be limited to the four habitation squares currently under control of the Aggressives.

  “You tried,” Aalik said as they walked toward the small ship waiting for her. “The council is set in its ways, and most will not consider a change such as what you proposed.”

  “And you?” asked Lilith. “What do you believe?”

  Aalik looked around and then spoke in a lower voice. “I fear you are correct, but the council will never see it that way. Go to Marshton. Your crew has already been sent.” Then Aalik spoke to her telepathically. You have done well. All is not as it seems. Valan and Marshton will explain.

  Lilith boarded the small ship, confused by Aalik’s cryptic telepathic words. While she was not a telepath, she could receive thoughts from one. However, her mind could also not be read because the telepathic gene, inside her, was recessive and not dominant.

  The small ship flew for nearly an hour until it reached one of the habitation squares of the Aggressives. During that time Lilith watched out one of the large viewports at the numerous habitation squares the ship flew over. They were so beautiful, and she still found it hard to believe her people had built this over twenty million years in the past. However, back then, her people had been more aggressive, not like the Glaymons who inhabited most of the habitation squares in this day and age. They had grown soft and more self-centered over the long years. Lilith guessed she couldn’t blame them. It was evolution. Even the Aggressives had to use gene manipulation occasionally on some generations to keep the Aggressive gene dominant.

  The small ship landed at a large spaceport near one of the magnificent cities spread across the four habitation squares the Aggressives controlled. Several thousand ships were parked at the spaceport. Some larger than the one she was on and others even smaller. It was necessary due to the distances involved in traveling from one square to another.

  As Lilith stepped off the ship, Marshton waited for her.

  “You’re crew is already here,” said Marshton.

  “And my ship?” Lilith wanted her ship returned to her; without it, she was trapped on the Dyson Sphere. Somehow or another she had to get to Fleet Captain Waelt.

  “You’re not getting it back,” replied Marshton, shaking his head. “The council refuses to turn it over, claiming they need the information in its computer concerning the Vorn.”

  Lilith looked crestfallen. Her mission had ended in a complete disaster.

  Marshton saw the look on Lilith’s face. “Don’t worry. We’re giving you another one.”

  “What!” exclaimed Lilith. “Why?” She didn’t understand what was going on.

  Marshton grinned. “Why, to return to Fleet Captain Waelt, and you won’t be going alone!”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Prince Brollen was ready. He had combined all his fleets into two massive formations. Both of his military leaders agreed that it was best to jump into the Protector World system in one huge battle formation. A group of battleships would lead the way, screened by Vorn cruisers. However, one thing Prince Brollen had learned from his battles with food species 236 and food species 111 was not to take anything for granted.

  As a result, he had ordered Military Commander Vasterus to hold back with his fleet in case something went wrong. With the military commander’s two thousand battleships and six thousand cruisers, he could be summoned to handle any unknown adversary or unexpected strategy the Protector World might employ.

  Is the fleet ready? asked Prince Brollen.

  Yes, confirmed Military Leader Ansolk. We will exit hyperspace 220,000 kilometers from the planet. The food species has gathered their entire fleet around their world to protect it. If we jump in at that range, it will give them time to gather their fleet and come out to meet us in combat, where we can destroy their fleet. We have fought ships of this food species before, and they have no weapons that are a serious danger to our ships.

  However, added Military Leader Gallet, they fight in squadron-size units and have had some minor success in destroyin
g a few of our cruisers in the past. Our long-range scans indicate they have gathered a fleet of over six thousand warships to oppose us. In addition, they have one of the most powerful defense grids we have come across. We will lose some cruisers in this battle, but it will not be a significant loss.

  Prince Brollen’s multifaceted eyes turned toward the tactical display, lit up with red threat icons. The food species’ fleet was packed in so tightly around its world that it appeared as a solid blob of red encircling the planet.

  Take the fleet into hyperspace, ordered Brollen, clicking his mandibles. It is time I tasted this food species to see if they are worthy to add to my private collection.

  Once this food world and its colonies were harvested, only one other insignificant food species remained to be harvested. Then it would be time to move on to the next sector or possibly even return to the Conclave Habitat. Queen Alithe would be emerging from the egg chambers soon, and Prince Brollen’s plan to become the High Prince of the Vorn would be set into motion. Timing would be everything. He would arrive soon enough after Queen Alithe’s demise to claim the rulership. Very soon he would be the leader of all the Vorn in this universe.

  -

  Captain Callast watched the tactical display as the massive Vorn fleet jumped into hyperspace on its way to the Zumwald System. A second smaller fleet remained behind.

  “Here they come,” reported Fabold from his sensor console. “If they exit hyperspace close to Zumwald Four, as we expect them to, they’ll be here in three hours and fourteen minutes.”

  Callast drew in a deep breath. “Inform High Protector Vormalt the Vorn are inbound and their estimated arrival time.” The Vorn were using their sensor-dampening fields, but the Glaymon sensors could see right through them.

  Callast then activated a secure line between the Destonn and Captain Latimeer. “They’re coming.”

  “We see them,” Latimeer replied. “As soon as they exit hyperspace, we will move behind their fleet.”

  “We’re ready also,” said Callast. “Let’s just hope this works.”

  -

  High Protector Vormalt readied his fleet. They were currently at War Condition Three and would stay so for the next hour. He had already sent word to the Zumwald government, and preparations were well under way to get as much of the population underground as possible. The Glaymons had confirmed that three hundred feet of dirt and bedrock would adequately protect people from the effects of the black harvesting beams. Hundreds of thousands of citizens had been chosen to go to the deeper shelters, cave systems, and mines. There were old mine shafts which extended kilometers deep into the planet. Frantic work had been done to make some of these shafts suitable for people to take refuge in.

  “Defense grid will power up in one hour and forty minutes,” Low Protector Caatler reported. “Same for the shipyards and the two space stations.”

  Vormalt nodded. They did not want the Vorn to realize their fleet had been detected, at least not yet. Vormalt wished they had had the time to update his fleet with the newer antimatter chambers. It would take a major refit as the power would be too great for the fleet’s current systems to handle. The energy weapons would melt from the amount of power the new system would generate. However, if by some miracle they survived this battle, then the fleet would be upgraded immediately.

  Caatler gazed at a viewscreen, showing Zumwald Four. “Do you think we will ever go home again?”

  “Perhaps,” Vormalt answered, his gaze shifting to his second in command. “We have the Lakiam Alliance fleet here, along with some Glaymon vessels. We know they have both defeated the Vorn before. We can only hope they can do it again with our help.”

  On the viewscreens, shuttles departed the space stations and shipyards. Not a mass rush but a calculated evacuation. Only minimal crews would remain to help repair damage during the battle. The Lakiams had even agreed to keep some of their small repair robots on board to help.

  “Just think, a few months ago we were well on our way to Enlightenment,” commented Caatler, recalling what it had been like before the Vorn came to their sector of space. “Now where are we?”

  Vormalt watched as the viewscreen shifted to show one of the new defensive platforms. Its direct energy projectors and force beam cannons were all aimed away from the planet and toward deep space. The Vorn would receive a shock if they came near one. “I spoke to Captain Callast about that very subject yesterday. He suggested that maybe Enlightenment was a mistake. He said many Lakiams are coming to believe that Enlightenment is a dead end, and the races who achieve it reach a plateau in emotional development and become stagnant.”

  “Interesting,” replied Caatler. “If true, the entire galaxy has lived a lie for millions of years.”

  “Perhaps,” Vormalt answered. “I would be curious to know where this path of Enlightenment actually began in the past.”

  “I suspect no one knows,” Caatler responded. “It’s one of those institutions that has always been around, and people don’t question it.”

  “Well, it’ll be questioned now.” Vormalt wondered what would become of his planet and people if they survived this coming attack. One thing he knew for sure: they would never be the same.

  -

  Prince Brollen watched as the fleet drew nearer the target system. The tactical screen was showing a lot of movement of shuttles or small spacecraft between the planet and the orbiting stations. Have we been detected? Brollen didn’t believe this much traffic was normal.

  I think it is possible, Military Leader Gallet responded after a moment of thought. It would explain the movement of the ships between the planet and the orbiting stations.

  When we exit hyperspace, the fleet is to remain stationary while we scan the space around the planet as well as the surface. Something does not appear right. Prince Brollen had learned through multiple battles not to take anything for granted. It was always possible a food world had developed a weapon deadly to Vorn ships. The fact they might have been detected seemed to indicate this food species had access to some very advanced technology.

  Military Leader Ansolk studied the tactical display for several moments. I see nothing abnormal. The ship count has not changed in the last few days, though more defensive platforms are in orbit. There is a possibility we were detected in the system where the fleet rendezvoused. Perhaps a cargo ship or even a scout vessel spotted our fleet.

  Perhaps, Prince Brollen replied. However, if that were the case, why did we not pick them up on our sensors?

  Ansolk did not reply as he had no answer.

  Nevertheless, we will do a thorough scan before we advance and engage this food world’s fleet. Brollen walked closer to the tactical display, tilting his triangular-shaped head to study it in more detail. His twin antenna stood straight up as he wondered if they were missing something. This was one of this galaxy’s Protector Worlds, but the Vorn had only found two in this entire galaxy able to withstand the might of the Vorn. He doubted if this was another. Even though this was a Protector World, it was still just a food species.

  -

  Captain Callast watched anxiously as the Vorn fleet neared Zumwald. In another few minutes they would drop from hyperspace.

  He had arranged his fleet into three sections. The 1,200 Alliance vessels, minus the Lakiam ships, would attack from beneath the Vorn formation. The 1,300 Lakiam battlecruisers would attack from above the Vorn formation. High Protector Vormalt and his 6,000 thousand battleships and battlecruisers would attack the Vorn head-on, firing dark matter missiles and their energy weapons. Callast would take 200 battlecruisers to act as a screening force for the 30 Glaymon disk ships. They would assault the Vorn formation from the rear, once the other fleets launched their attack.

  Callast knew the mission he had chosen for himself was probably suicidal. However, if he could get the Glaymon ships close enough to the Vorn motherships, they might just save Zumwald Four from the Vorn and blunt this attack. Callast had refused to allow any other ship captai
n to lead this deadly mission.

  “Three minutes to Vorn fleet dropout,” reported Fabold from his sensor console.

  “Set Alert Status One,” ordered Danall, over the ship’s comm. “Weapons are ready to fire. All systems are powered up and working at optimum levels.”

  The last few minutes ticked by, and suddenly Vorn ships erupted from hyperspace.

  “Sensor contacts,” Fabold reported. “Vorn fleet is emerging 220,000 kilometers from Zumwald Four.”

  Callast gazed at the tactical display, full of red threat icons.

  “Our fleets are moving in to attack,” confirmed Fabold.

  Captain Callast watched the tactical display intently. The Lakiam battlecruisers and the rest of the ships from the Alliance were still running under their sensor-dampening fields. The Vorn sensors would eventually burn through these fields once the Alliance ships got close enough, exposing them. However, Callast intended to get one full missile strike in before the Vorn realized what they were up against.

  -

  Prince Brollen eyed the viewscreens and the tactical displays, looking for any signs they had underestimated this enemy. On the tactical display, the defending fleet now moved forward in one massive formation. Opposing them were 1,200 Vorn battleships screened by 4,000 cruisers, which were in front of the main Vorn fleet, preparing to engage the food species’ fleet.

  Sensors are not picking up any irregularities, though a number of the newer defensive platforms are showing much higher power readings than expected. Same for the stations orbiting the planet, reported Military Leader Gallet.

  That is not unexpected, Military Leader Ansolk added. The food world would have strengthened the stations to the maximum, and any new platforms would have the latest updates once they knew we were in their sector.

  Enemy fleet is nearing weapons range, reported the Vorn at Sensors.

  Stand by to fire, ordered Ansolk, looking at Prince Brollen for confirmation.