The Slaver Wars: First Strike (The Slaver Wars Book Four)

by Weil, Raymond L.

  Ankler had been so certain these new humans would not be a major threat. He wondered now if he should have sent Resmunt the six fleets he had requested from the beginning. If only his ancestor, War Leader Sigeth, had done his duty and upheld the family honor! With resignation, Ankler knew he might not be able to prevent the council from agreeing with Ruthan this time around if it came to a vote. He needed to find a way to buy more time! The council must not learn that War Leader Sigeth was his direct ancestor.

  Striding over to the window, he gazed upward into the night sky. The sunlight reflecting off of the numerous shipyards and habitats was enough to make it seem almost like daylight on a heavily clouded day. Ankler knew he would have to play a secret he had been keeping now for several days if he were to avoid discovery.

  He had met with a representative of the AIs just a few days back. They had agreed to allow the Hocklyns to settle four more nearby star systems. The AI representative had also warned Ankler that there would be no more concessions after that. There were very few things in the galaxy that had ever frightened Ankler, but meeting an AI was one of them. He shuddered at just recalling that meeting. It was hard to describe an AI since he had only actually seen one on four different occasions over the years. Each time the AI had looked drastically different from the one before.

  Walking over to the wall, he pulled his knife free and placed it in the scabbard at his waist next to his body armor. He would tell his fellow council members of the AI offer. He would also mention that if the AIs discovered that the High Council had withheld information about the new humans the addition of four new star systems to colonize could be put in jeopardy. That should buy him at least a few more weeks. Surely, by then Bisth would be back and would be reporting that the new human worlds were now part of the empire.

  -

  Admiral Streth was having his final meeting with Fleet Admiral Johnson on New Tellus Station. “All the ships are ready, and we will be departing for fleet maneuvers tomorrow,” he reported.

  Karla looked over at the admiral, wondering what to say. “Hedon, I know I have placed a lot of responsibility on you. All of our shipyards are now working 24 hours a day on new construction. Training of new recruits has reached an all time high, and we are strengthening our defensive grids above all of our worlds, including the mining colonies. My experts say we are six months away from peak war production and nine from finishing the deployment of all the defenses we need to protect our civilized worlds. Buy me nine months and we will be ready to turn the full might of the Federation and our allies on the Hocklyns.”

  “Speaking of our allies, what are they doing?” Hedon asked. He had not, as of yet, had the opportunity to meet any representatives of the three alien races that were allied with the human race in this coming war.

  “They are preparing also,” answered Karla, recalling her latest conversation about that with President Kincaid. “We sent them videos of the battle at Caden’s World and some of the Hocklyn bodies for them to examine. All three have switched their economies to war production. The Hocklyns will not like this part of the galaxy.”

  “And the Albanians?” continued Hedon, wishing they knew more about what was going on with the highly advanced aliens. “What about them?”

  “We don’t know,” confessed Karla, allowing frustration to show in her voice. “Since Admiral Tolsen’s first battle in Gliese 667C they have closed their borders to our ships. They still have an embassy on Earth, but they are saying very little.”

  Hedon nodded, understanding the Fleet Admiral’s frustration. “I spoke with General Abercrombie. We are taking 20,000 marines in twenty marine transports along with us.”

  “As well as half a dozen fully equipped hospital ships, twenty ammunition colliers, and forty supply ships,” the Fleet Admiral added, her eyes narrowing. “That’s a lot of Federation ships we’re putting at risk.”

  “This is war, Admiral,” answered Hedon, thinking of the logistics involved. “We will need those supplies. It will take a resupply convoy ten to twelve days to reach us.”

  “Don’t let me down, Hedon,” Karla continued somberly, her eyes focusing intently on the admiral. “The Federation is depending on you. Don’t do anything heroic. Come back alive, the Federation needs its heroes.”

  “I don’t know about being a hero,” Hedon responded with a frown. He had grown to dislike that term being used when people spoke about him. “I am just an admiral doing my job. Speaking of heroes, how is Admiral Tolsen doing?”

  “He’s still in the intensive care hospital in Ceres,” Karla responded, her eyes looking sad. “He was badly injured. Only three people in the Command Center of his flagship were found alive. The doctors say it will be months before he is fully recovered.”

  “He’s a good man,” responded Hedon, recalling how Tolsen had fought in the battle at Caden’s World. “We can’t afford to lose officers of his caliber.”

  “We won’t,” Karla replied fully in agreement. “Once he has recovered and gone through rehab, I’m giving him another fleet.”

  “That’s good,” Hedon responded pleased to hear that. “I hope to see him when I return from First Strike.”

  After the meeting was over, Karla leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. She wondered if Admiral Streth truly understood just what he meant to the Federation. Every Federation child was taught in school what Hedon had done to save the survivors from the original Human Federation of Worlds and that the great Fleet Admiral Hedon Streth would be awoken someday to destroy the Hocklyns. That time was here! Children believed that the great Fleet Admiral would save them, and so did Karla. Shifting her thinking, she had one more important meeting scheduled for today. This was a meeting she was going to enjoy.

  -

  Jeremy, Kelsey, Kevin, Angela, and Katie had been summoned to Fleet Admiral Johnson’s office. They were all nervous, wondering if something had happened or if their group of five was going to be split up.

  “What did you do now?” asked Kevin, glancing accusingly over at Katie. “Did you modify the entire defense mainframe for the system without telling anyone?”

  Katie glared at Kevin and then realized he was only teasing. “No, at least not yet.”

  “I hope they’re not going to split us up,” Angela spoke with concern. “I don’t know what I would do if the rest of you weren’t on the same ship I am.”

  “I guess we will find out shortly,” Jeremy said as they reached the Fleet Admiral’s office.

  One of the two marine guards stepped over and opened the heavy metal hatch, allowing them entrance. They stepped inside and were surprised to see Admiral Teleck and a large number of other strangers in the room. Some were dressed in standard fleet uniforms and others in civilian clothes.

  “Ah, here they are now,” Admiral Johnson spoke with an expectant look upon her face, which quickly grew into a friendly smile.

  “Rear Admiral Strong, reporting as ordered,” Jeremy spoke as the group of five came to attention.

  “At ease, Admiral,” the Fleet Admiral responded. “For this meeting we will be using first names only.”

  “First names?” Kevin blurted out in shock. How could he call the Fleet Admiral by her first name? It seemed like a very strange request.

  “I’m sure all of you are curious as to why you have been called to this get together,” Admiral Teleck spoke with a mystifying smile. “The reason is very simple; all five of you recently awoke from a cryosleep of over two centuries. Everyone you knew has long since passed away, even though from my understanding you were all left video and voice recordings from your families.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Jeremy said, feeling confused. “We have all listened to those recordings, and they have helped tremendously.”

  “Then I have another surprise for all of you today,” added Admiral Johnson, breaking out into a larger smile. “All of you still have relatives living in this day and age and that’s who all of these people are. I will start first.” Adm
iral Johnson walked over and stood in front of Katie. “Katie, I am your niece. I am a direct descendent of your brother Mathew. Mathew was my great great grandfather.”

  Katie stood there speechless, not sure what to do or say. She suddenly realized she was not alone; she had others besides her friends.

  Admiral Johnson stepped forward and placed her arms around Katie. “I’m so proud of you, and there are others here to that are related to us as well.”

  Over the next hour, more introductions were made. Kelsey discovered she was related to Admiral Teleck, who was a distant cousin, and the others found out they had numerous relatives scattered throughout human occupied space. All five were deeply touched, and the girls had to continuously wipe tears from their eyes as they were introduced to more people. Even Jeremy and Kevin felt themselves tearing up at times as they realized they still had close family.

  Jeremy found himself talking to a Colonel Don Strong who was a direct descendent of Jeremy’s younger brother. Jeremy remembered how happy his parents had been when his brother had been born six months after the New Horizon incident.

  “It’s hard to believe I am actually standing here talking to you,” Don said with an excited smile on his face. “All my life I have heard so much about you and our family in those early years.”

  “Do you have any sisters or brothers?” asked Jeremy, curiously.

  “Yes,” replied Don, nodding. “I have another younger brother and an older sister, but they couldn’t make it today. David is a captain in the marines and is out on training maneuvers. Annette is nine months pregnant and due at any time. Her doctor didn’t want her traveling. She was really disappointed she couldn’t come and meet you.”

  After awhile, Karla announced that they would be eating in one of the station’s cafeterias that had been set up for this special occasion. They all made it there to find that each table was set up so the five could sit with their newfound relatives.

  Jeremy found it interesting to note that each of the five had at least six people sitting at their table with them. He also knew that it had to have been a monumental task to find and bring all of these people here at the same time. Someone had expended a lot of effort as well as money.

  The meal was excellent; it was perhaps the best meal that Jeremy had eaten since he had awoke from cryosleep. As the meal progressed and they continued to talk, Jeremy became more relaxed and began to really enjoy himself. Don was sitting next to Jeremy and another young woman, who was a cousin, both were informing Jeremy about their family history and what had happened after he went into cryosleep. Jeremy listened intently as a lot of what they were describing was truly interesting. They described the continued growth of the Fleet Academy, the colonization of the new worlds, and finally the earthshaking revelation when the existence of the Federation survivors on Ceres was revealed.

  Jeremy could only shake his head as he realized what they had all missed. But his parents and the Johnsons had been involved in all of it. They were considered to be the true pioneers and heroes of the modern space age.

  Kelsey was sitting next to Admiral Teleck and several other cousins. She was fascinated to hear what had happened on Ceres after she had gone into cryosleep. Looking around the table, Kelsey was amazed that all of these people were her relatives. She had found her family or, to be more precise, they had found her.

  Kevin and Angela were going through the same thing. Talking to people and meeting people who knew a lot about them and could fill in the holes in their family history since going into cryosleep. It was almost like returning home again.

  At last the meal was over and Fleet Admiral Johnson stood up. The room grew quiet as everyone’s attention focused on her. “I want to propose a toast,” she said as several waiters suddenly appeared setting glasses of sparkling red wine down in front of each person. “To the survivors of the New Horizon and the current crew of the heavy strike cruiser Avenger. May their future history be as glorious as their past.”

  -

  Later, the five were returning to the Avenger still in awe over what had just happened.

  “All those people,” spoke Katie, excitedly. “I can’t believe I am related to Fleet Admiral Johnson.”

  “I think it was just what we needed,” Kelsey added with a smile. “It makes us all feel we still have a home. Some of the people I met were really nice and fun to talk to.”

  “Same here,” Kevin added. “I have a cousin whose sister is married to a Federation senator!”

  “I think it was wonderful that Fleet Admiral Johnson and Admiral Teleck did this for us,” Angela said with a big grin. “I have several cousins I would like to get to know better. Next time we have some leave, I’m going to spend some time with them.”

  Jeremy nodded his head in agreement. Don was coming over to the Avenger later, and Jeremy was going to show him around. It had truly been a remarkable day.

  -

  Several days later, Jeremy watched the main viewscreen carefully as the Avenger was undocked from New Tellus Station.

  “We’re on our way,” Ariel said from where she was standing next to him.

  Looking over at the AI, Jeremy noted that she was dressed in a standard dark blue fleet uniform without insignia. Her eyes were not quite as dark as they once were, and her hair was slightly shorter. It came to a stop just above her shoulders with just the barest hint of a curl.

  “We’re going to the outer system to join up with the rest of our fleet,” Jeremy informed Ariel.

  The AI had been a great help to Jeremy keeping everything organized. He was still trying to get used to the idea that she was now a hologram and could walk around in the Command Center. If one didn’t know better, they would think she was a regular crewmember until she walked through someone. Katie had to remind her several times not to do that as it made people nervous.

  “The new ships assigned to us will give us a very powerful fleet,” Ariel responded. “In any battle with the Hocklyns we should be able to defeat them.”

  “I hope so,” Jeremy responded. They were only a week or two away from launching First Strike, and Jeremy wanted a week to work with the new ships and their commanders. It was essential that they understood the tactics he would be using.

  After clearing New Tellus’s gravity well, the Avenger made a short micro-jump and exited the blue-white swirling spatial vortex close to a group of waiting ships.

  “I have the fleet on sensors.” Kevin reported as he transferred the information over to the holographic tactical image above the plotting table.

  Jeremy gazed at his fleet and the new ships that he had been given. He strongly suspected that Admiral Teleck had been involved in getting Jeremy some of the ships, as they were brand new warships directly from Ceres and not part of the Ready Reserve. He now had two battle carriers, four heavy strike cruisers, four Monarch cruisers, eight light cruisers, and ten destroyers in his fleet.

  Jeremy’s fleet had been renamed Fourth Fleet and would be working directly with Fleet Admiral Streth and First Fleet. Jeremy now had twenty-eight warships under his command. He was particularly pleased with the extra battle carrier and the two strike cruisers. The two extra Monarchs would add considerably to the fleet’s firepower, and Jeremy was already coming up with a plan for their use.

  “What first, Jeremy?” asked Ariel, curiously. She very seldom called him admiral if no one else could hear. She would always consider the Special Five her family.

  “I want to meet with all the commanders to discuss tactics, particularly using micro-jumps. The program Katie and you designed to allow precise entry into the spatial vortexes needs to be installed in all of the new ships.”

  “When would you like to meet with the commanders?”

  “In two hours,” responded Jeremy, looking at the main viewscreen, which was now focused on the new battle carrier Cygnus from the Ceres fleet. Jeremy knew it was the latest battle carrier out of the Ceres construction bays. He was anxious to tour the new ship to see what modific
ations it might have compared to the rest of the ships in the fleet.

  Kelsey was also looking at the new battle carrier when she heard a familiar voice over her mini-com.

  “Quite impressive, isn’t she?” Kevin commented on the channel that Ariel provided so no one else could hear the five talking privately to one another.

  “She’s new out of Ceres,” replied Kelsey, feeling pride knowing this ship was built by the Federation survivors as were all the ships that made up Fourth Fleet.

  All of the heavy strike cruisers in the fleet were new construction as well as all of the new ships from Ceres. She suspected it was Admiral Teleck’s way of ensuring all five of them stayed safe by giving them the best ships that Ceres had built recently. Someday, she would have to thank the admiral.

  “I guess we will be leaving for Hocklyn space shortly,” Angela added in a pensive voice. “I just hope we make it back.”

  “We will,” Katie broke in, sounding unusually calm for her. “Jeremy and Ariel will keep us safe.”

  Ariel smiled to herself upon hearing Katie’s words. She would do everything in her power to make sure the Special Five returned safely. That was why she was here.

  -

  Admiral Streth was having his final meeting with Rear Admiral Sheen before they departed for six days of war games. It would be Second Fleet against Third Fleet.

  “This is the final makeup of Second Fleet,” he commented as he slid a computer pad with the ships on it across his desk. “You’re getting six battle cruisers, two battle carriers, twelve Monarch cruisers, four strike cruisers, thirty light cruisers, and twenty destroyers.”

  “I hate losing the extra battle carriers,” commented Amanda, but she was pleased to see the increase in her light cruisers.

  “You will be working in conjunction with Third Fleet most of the time,” Hedon explained. “Your battle carriers will primarily carry the newer Talon fighters with two bomber squadrons, whereas Admiral Adler’s carriers will primarily carry bombers with only two squadrons of the newer fighters.”