Chapter Twenty-Three
“What’s the status of Defenders of Zorn fleet,” demanded Jeremy as he tried to put out of his mind the destruction of the Intrepid and the deaths of Councilor Bartoll and Admiral Kalen. The entire fleet was still reeling from what had just transpired.
Kevin changed the view on the main viewscreen, which showed heavy weapons fire between the Defenders of Zorn and the Eternal fleet. “Engaged against the Eternals. They don’t stand a chance. Why are they doing this?”
“It does not matter to them,” replied Aaliss. “I spoke to Albate briefly a moment ago. He says now there never will be peace. The war will go on until the Eternals are destroyed and wiped from existence.” Then she turned and looked worriedly at Jeremy. “He said it is the wish of Councilor Zorn.”
Jeremy let out a deep breath. “It is as I feared. Another stasis facility of the Defenders of Zorn does exist, and Commander Alvord and Albate have found and activated it. Councilor Zorn must have been in stasis there as well.”
“I don’t understand,” said Kevin, gazing at the intensifying battle on the viewscreen. “Why are they sacrificing themselves?”
“They are forcing us into a battle,” Aaliss answered simply. “They did not know the peace talks had failed. I didn’t have time to tell Albate before they attacked the Eternals.”
“Hold our position,” Jeremy said to Ariel. “Let the Eternals come to us. Aaliss, is there any way to discover where that fleet came from.” It was now a high priority that they find the hidden stasis facility and Councilor Zorn before he caused even more trouble. Dealing with the deaths of Councilor Bartoll and Admiral Kalen was going to be bad enough.
Aaliss nodded. “I already know. It is from the Shrieel in Galaxy X-128. I managed to trace the dreadnaughts using the registration numbers on their hulls.”
“I want that Shrieel quarantined. No ships in or out. Contact the Communications and Transport Hub and inform them of what has transpired. I want Major Wilde and every available Marine sent to that Dyson Sphere to find Commander Alvord and Councilor Zorn. I want them captured alive if possible. Have Grayseth take his fleet there as well. The new battlestations can defend the Hub if necessary.”
“Message sent,” replied Aaliss. “The council will be shaken to its core when they hear this was not an actual peace conference and that Lead Councilor Bartoll has been killed.”
On the viewscreen, the last dreadnaught of the Defenders of Zorn exploded in a ball of fire. All of their battlecruisers had already been annihilated by the advancing Eternal fleet.
“Albate’s ship has been destroyed,” confirmed Aaliss. “That’s one problem we won’t have to deal with.”
“Eternals are in combat range,” added Kevin. The viewscreens were full of advancing Eternal battlecruisers. The tactical displays were covered in red threat icons.
“All ships fire!” ordered Jeremy over the ship-to-ship comm. “Aaliss are the nanite projectors ready to send the shutdown command?”
“Yes, Admiral.”
“Then do so. We can’t defeat a fleet of this size with the forces we have here.” Jeremy took a deep breath. Now they would find out if the shutdown command for the Eternal mechanical nanites would actually work.
-
Eternal Fleet Commander Dalon studied the tactical display as his fleet advanced on the waiting Originator fleet. He had already sent a message to the fleet outside the galaxy reporting First Councilor Clondax’s death and requesting their support. He was surprised the Originators had attacked sacrificing their own ships to kill the First Councilor. It was a tactic the Eternals might use, but not expected of the Originators. Perhaps these mysterious Humans were behind it.
“We will close with the Originator fleet and destroy it,” he ordered. Even with the death of the First Leader, it would still be a great victory for the Eternals if this large fleet of the Originators could be annihilated.
-
The two fleets began exchanging intense weapons fire. The Eternals were launching thousands of 100-megaton antimatter missiles while the Originators were in turn launching thousands of 400-megaton dark matter missiles. Energy beams, ion beams, antimatter beams, gravitonic beams, and dark energy beams filled the void between the two fleets. Ships began to die in bright flashes of light as shields were quickly overwhelmed.
The front of both fleets looked to be on fire as millions of megatons of raging energy was being released every few seconds.
-
“Admiral Lankell’s flagship has just been destroyed,” reported Kevin as the icon representing the powerful heavy dreadnaught flared up and vanished from the tactical display. “It was hit by too many antimatter missiles causing the energy shield to fail. It was sudden; they probably never even knew what happened.”
Jeremy winced. He had just lost an admiral. He was deeply afraid he would lose more before this battle was over.
“Firing nanite shutdown projectors,” reported Aaliss. “It will take a few minutes to cover the entire Eternal fleet.”
-
Commander Zafron felt rage flow through him like he never imagined possible. He had witnessed the destruction of the Intrepid and the deaths of Admiral Kalen and Councilor Bartoll. It was unthinkable that an Originator Councilor had died such a violent death.
“Fire our blue energy spheres at the highest rate possible,” ordered Zafron, his voice as cold as ice. “Today we will destroy this Eternal fleet and let them know the price for killing a councilor of the Originators.” Zafron knew that Albate had been responsible, but it was the Eternals who had brought everyone to this farce of a peace conference.
Kazak nodded. He had liked Councilor Bartoll. His hands flew over the tactical console as he used his neural link to control the Dominator’s weapons fire. Hundreds of blue energy spheres exited the ship’s launchers as he overrode the safety protocols. He picked out an Eternal battlecruiser and fired the ship’s two dark energy cannons watching on a viewscreen above his console as the two beams penetrated the ship’s energy screen and cut deep inside. Secondary explosions rattled the Eternal vessel. Several well placed dark matter missiles finished the ship off. The Dominator had just become an avenging angel of death.
-
Rear Admiral Mann had witnessed the destruction of Admiral Lankell’s dreadnaught. It had been in the fleet formation next to hers. Without hesitation she took over command of Lankell’s fleet adding its ships to her own. “Intensify weapons fire,” she ordered. “I want all ships firing in four ship groups.” That would better allow them to overwhelm the Eternals’ energy shields.
“Avenger reports the nanite projectors are broadcasting,’ reported Commander Sutherland. “We should begin seeing some affects shortly.”
“If it works,” Hailey replied. She knew if it didn’t they were going to lose a major portion of the fleet if not all of it. “Keep pouring our weapons fire into the Eternal fleet.” Hailey leaned forward, feeling her pulse race. She didn’t know what would happen if they were to lose this battle. On one of the viewscreens, a sudden massive explosion of light marked the destruction of the Eternal battlecruiser her ship had been targeting.
-
Rear Admiral Barnes took a deep breath as the Distant Horizon shook violently. A few red lights blossomed on the damage control console. She couldn’t believe Admiral Kalen was gone. She had known him since she was a child. It was difficult to imagine the fleet without him.
“Our fleets are taking a lot of damage,” reported Commander Grissim. “We can’t take this much longer.”
“Nanite shutdown projectors have been activated,” reported Clarissa. “I’m scanning the Eternal fleet so see if there are any affects.”
Everyone in the Command Center turned toward Clarissa. If they were going to win this battle, the new projectors had to work.
-
Jeremy winced as more ships of his fleet were destroyed. Brilliant explosions littered space throwing wreckage in all directions. Some ships were being
damaged and even a few destroyed as a result of collisions with massive pieces of debris. “The projectors?”
“No affect yet,” reported Ariel, sounding disappointed. “The four dreadnaughts equipped with the projectors are boosting the power to the signal.”
“It has to work,” said Kevin, his eyes focused on his sensors.
“Give it time,” answered Jeremy, his hands clenched into fists as he gazed intently at the nearest tactical display. The two fleets were within a few thousand kilometers of each other. Weapons fire was very seldom missing.
“The frequency being produced by the projectors is being varied,” added Aaliss. “We should see results shortly.”
“We just lost Commander Belson,” reported Kevin, his face turning pale. “His ship was hit with over seventy antimatter missiles. It just disintegrated.”
Jeremy blinked his eyes. He couldn’t afford to keep losing admirals and fleet commanders.
“Jeremy!” called out Kevin. “The weapons fire from several sections of the Eternal fleet has just dropped substantially. It’s also becoming erratic.”
Jeremy’s eyes widened. “All ships,” he spoke over the ship-to-ship comm. “Concentrate your weapons fire on the sections of the Eternal fleet that seem to be affected by our new projectors. We must destroy as many of their ships as possible while the Eternals are suffering from the influence of the nanite shutdown command.”
-
In space, on the Eternal vessels there was pandemonium. Eternals fell to the floor thrashing about as if they couldn’t control their bodies. Their eyes glazed over as if their thought processes were frozen. On some ships weapons fire stopped completely. On others, computers took over the ship’s weapons sensing the crew had become incapacitated. Weapons fire stopped being coordinated and became more sporadic.
Fleet Commander Dalon was sitting in his command chair when he suddenly felt nauseous and dizzy. He stood up and found he had no control over his legs. He fell to the deck his body twitching uncontrollably. His mind seemed unable to focus. All around him the rest of his crew collapsed as well.
-
The Originator fleet suddenly shifted it weapons fire to those sections of the Eternal fleet that seemed to be floundering. Eternal battlecruiser after battlecruiser was blown out of space. Very little weapons fire was being returned as computers waited for commands which did not come. After a few moments defensive programs kicked in and the computers took control of firing the weapons. A few energy beams flicked out and then some missiles launched.
The projectors continued to play across the Eternal Fleet. Soon the entire Eternal fleet was demonstrating the affects of the projectors as the Eternals became incapacitated. The battle suddenly shifted heavily in the direction of the Originator fleet as their fire was coordinated and the Eternals was not. The computers on the Eternal vessels were still firing missiles and energy weapons, but they had not been designed to fight a battle. That was the job of the Eternals and not one they trusted to machines. Their computers were also nothing in comparison to an AI. They were programmed with a designated set of parameters they could operate within. Fighting a major battle was not one of them.
-
“We’re destroying four Eternal vessels for every ship we lose,” reported Kevin, his eyes showing relief at the sudden turn in the battle. “That rate should increase as almost all of the Eternal fleet is now affected by the projectors. Their weapons fire is becoming very erratic.”
Jeremy nodded. “Activate the hyperspace interference fields. I don’t want any of their fleet to escape.” Jeremy was still furious at the loss of Councilor Bartoll and Admiral Kalen. He was taking out his fury on the Eternal fleet and he intended to destroy it! After the battle, he would turn his attention to the Defenders of Zorn.
-
Fleet Commander Dalon lay unmoving on the floor in the Command Center of his flagship. He was finding it difficult to breathe let alone move. For minutes he had lain in the same spot trying to determine what had happened. His mind seemed sluggish and incapable of making decisions. Finally making a great effort he managed to stand and stumble to his command chair. His legs felt heavy and he could barely raise his arms. It was something he had never experienced before in his long life as an Eternal.
Taking several deep breaths, he gazed at the viewscreens. It was evident whatever had happened had affected the entire fleet. The Originator ships were closing in for the kill.
The hatch to the Command Center suddenly opened and Strold came stumbling in. Strold was responsible for seeing to the health of the Eternals on the ship. “It is our mechanical nanites. Somehow the Originators have found a way to shut them down.”
“Our nanites,” responded Dalon, forcing the words from his mouth. “How?” Now he knew why he felt so weak and his mind sluggish.
“I don’t know. I never thought it could be done.”
Other members of the crew were also attempting to stand. Some made it to their consoles others remained on the deck moaning.
Fleet Commander Dalon shifted his eyes to the tactical display. The Originators were decimating his fleet. The computers were fighting back but they had not been programmed for a major fleet engagement like this.
“Can you inject us with new nanites?”
Strold shook his head. “I checked before I came here. All have been neutralized.”
Before Fleet Commander Dalon could reply, the ship began to shake violently. Red lights filled the damage control console and then a white light filled the Command Center.
-
“There is a second Eternal fleet inbound,” reported Kevin as the long-range sensors picked up the new threat. “Forty thousand detected.”
“Two of the ships with the nanite projectors have been destroyed,” added Ariel worriedly.
Jeremy looked at the tactical displays. There were still over twenty thousand Eternal ships left though many of them were damaged. “Can we neutralize the nanites on the inbound fleet?”
“Yes,” replied Aaliss as she did some quick calculations. “But it will take some time depending on the formation of the fleet once it exits hyperspace.”
“How many ships do we have remaining?” Jeremy looked over at Ariel for an answer.
“Over forty-six thousand,” she replied. “Many are damaged.”
“Correction,” said Kevin excitedly. “The Eternal fleet is changing course. They are starting to move away.”
Jeremy looked over at Aaliss for an explanation.
“They’re confused,” she explained. “They must see on their sensors how poorly their ships are doing against us.”
“Some of the weapons fire from a few of the Eternal ships is increasing,” reported Ariel. “I suspect their crews are starting to recover.”
“Then let’s end this,” said Jeremy, leaning forward in his command chair. “All ships are to close with the Eternals. I don’t want a single ship to escape.”
-
For the next twenty minutes the battle raged. As the Eternals managed to regain control of their bodies, the number of Originator vessels being destroyed increased. However, the Eternals could not match the efficiency they once had with their nanites. At the best, the Eternals were losing three ships for every Originator vessel they destroyed.
-
Jeremy watched a viewscreen as the Dominator closed on the last seven surviving Eternal battlecruisers. Blue energy spheres struck the seven ships and a few moments later all that remained was space dust.
“It’s over,” said Kevin in disbelief. “All 114,000 Eternal vessels have been destroyed!”
“Get me a status on all fleet ships and the condition of their crews.” Jeremy knew he had lost over half of his fleet as well as some valuable commanders and admirals. It was the nanite projectors which had been the difference between defeat and victory.
“It will take a while on the casualty figures,” Ariel answered. “We lost 42,317 battlecruisers and 6,223 dreadnaughts. We also lost Admirals Akira
and Lankell as well as Commander Belson.”
Jeremy let out a deep sigh. Commander Belson had impressed him as a military commander. The Originator had been instrumental in saving the sleeping Originators back in the Lost Originator star cluster. “The other Eternal fleet?”
“Still headed away,” answered Kevin. “It’s almost out of sensor range.”
Jeremy nodded. “Let’s return to the Dyson Sphere. Many of our ships are going to need to be repaired before we return to the Hub.” Looking at the viewscreens, they were full of wreckage from destroyed warships. Some still seemed to be burning. That would stop when their oxygen was depleted.
Before they left Jeremy contacted Rear Admiral Barnes and asked Kathryn to remain at the battle scene with the undamaged vessels from her fleet. She would comb the debris for anything that might be useful as well as destroy any Originator technology that might be in the wreckage. She was also to leave and head for the Dyson Sphere if the other Eternal fleet was detected returning.
“What now?” asked Kevin. “That other fleet is bound to report how strange their ships were behaving in the battle. They were close enough to take some sensor readings.”
Jeremy leaned back in his command chair. “I don’t know the answer to that. I’m not even sure where we stand with Councilor Bartoll dead. It could change everything at the Communications and Transport Hub.”
“The council wouldn’t make us leave?” asked Kevin horrified at the thought. “It’s our home now.”
“It was theirs first,” Jeremy reminded Kevin. “Once we get back there will be a lot of decisions to be made. I’m afraid things are going to change again.” Jeremy had come to trust Councilor Bartoll and over time, the two had become close friends. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like if all the Federation races were forced to leave the Hub.
“Everything will work out,” said Ariel, stepping over close to Jeremy. “It always has.”
Jeremy did not reply. He wasn’t sure what would happen this time.
The Originator Wars: Conflict Unending: A Lost Fleet Novel Page 33