“Where are the other Overlords?” demanded Harmock sharply. How dare they not acknowledge his presence! “Where is Supreme Overlord Xatul?”
“Did you not receive my message?” asked Darthu, his large triangular head turning to face the Military Overlord.
“What message?”
“The one telling you that Xatul has disappeared,” Darthu replied.
He didn’t want to upset Harmock but strongly suspected what he was about to say would. He looked nervously past the Supreme Military Overlord at the heavily armed bodyguards who had entered with him. His coming words might very well mean his death.
“Disappeared?” responded Harmock, suspecting treachery. “Where has he gone?” He took several steps closer to Darthu, his six legs making clicking noises on the stone floor of the council chambers.
“No one knows. He boarded one of the exploration cruisers in orbit and shortly after that, the entire fleet jumped into Fold Space. No one has heard from him since.”
“What about the rest of the council; where are they?”
Harmock could feel his anger growing. Xatul and the other council members had demanded he appear before them. He was growing tempted to send his bodyguards searching through the building for the missing Overlords. They would be dragged into the council chamber where they would suffer his wrath for their failure to appear.
Darthu shifted uneasily on his six legs. “Before Supreme Overlord Xatul left, he called a meeting of the council and disbanded it.”
“What!” roared Harmock, his long dark hands turning into tightly clenched fists.
“He disbanded the council,” repeated Darthu, not caring for where this conversation was going.
“The other council members agreed?”
Harmock could scarcely believe what he was hearing. The Council of Overlords had ruled the Kleese race and empire for thousands of years. The council ensured the Kleese did not fight amongst each other, but instead focused their aggressiveness toward growing the empire. Without the strong hands of the council, the empire would shatter into hundreds of small, competing fiefdoms.
“Several of the less important Overlords objected, but they were overruled by Supreme Overlord Xatul, Overlord Bixutl, and Overlord Syndat.”
Harmock walked over to the head of the table and stood quietly for a moment. He would reinstate the council and include several of the former Kleese Overlords, but the majority of the new Overlords on the council would be Zaltule. By including them, it would ensure its legitimacy. He also wondered just what Xatul was up to. He didn’t like the fact that he’d disappeared with so many exploration cruisers. He suspected Bixutl and Syndat were in on whatever Xatul was planning.
For now, Supreme Overlord Xatul had escaped the challenge Harmock had planned. Harmock knew as long as Xatul and the others with him stayed out of his reach there was little he could do. Xatul had obviously been planning this for a while and Harmock had to admit some respect for the now former Supreme Overlord of the Kleese. The big question for Harmock was what was Xatul planning?
“Send messages to all the trading stations; I want to know the status of their exploration ships,” ordered Harmock. If the ones that had been in orbit over the home world had gone with Xatul, what about others? “I also want messages sent to all of our bases asking the same thing. There are over twelve hundred exploration ships in our empire. I want to know the current location of every one of them!”
“What about the trading stations the humans and their Alliance took?” asked Darthu. “How soon before we launch an attack to bring them back?”
“Not until the new fleets are completed,” answered Harmock. “I will be taking the new fleets as well as three thousand of our regular Zaltule battlecruisers. It’s time this human led Alliance is crushed once and for all.”
“And the humans?”
“Their system will be cleansed,” Harmock replied in a cold and harsh voice. “We will search their system, all of the Alliance worlds, and the space between to ensure not a single human vessel escapes our wrath. I expect heavy casualties in this attack, as the humans won’t surrender and will fight until their last ship is blown out of space.”
“What about our new Queens?”
“They shall be taken to form new nests,” Harmock answered. “It’s time the Zaltule grow in numbers and take our place as the dominate Kleese caste. We will rule the empire and expand it across the galaxy. None will stand in our way.”
Darthu nodded, fearing to say anything else that might upset the Military Overlord, who was now also the Supreme Overlord of the Kleese race. Darthu was deeply concerned as to what former Supreme Overlord Xatul was up to. He was worried that when the messages went out to determine where all the exploration ships were, they were going to find many more were missing. Darthu strongly suspected they’d not heard the last from the former Kleese Supreme Overlord.
Chapter Eighteen
Admiral Rivers gazed at the main viewscreen in the Command Center of the Independence. It showed a gas-shrouded planet with no visible surface.
“Composition?” inquired the Admiral, looking over at Colonel Greerman. They had only recently arrived in the system and he was anxious to get the fleet hidden from detection.
“Primarily hydrogen and helium with trace amounts of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen,” the colonel reported. “Preliminary scans indicate the atmosphere is composed of 82 percent hydrogen and 12 percent helium, with minute traces of other gases. It’s very similar to Jupiter’s atmosphere.”
“There are strong storms in some sections,” cautioned Lieutenant Hertz. She’d spent the last twenty minutes monitoring some of the more powerful storms with wind speeds in excess of three hundred kilometers per hour. “The planet has a molten core with a temperature of 42,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Its diameter is one hundred twenty thousand kilometers and has a rotational period of fourteen hours.”
“That should suffice to hide the fleet,” Rivers said, satisfied the planet’s turbulent and gaseous atmosphere would conceal the fleet from scans. “Notify the fleet to enter the upper regions of the atmosphere.”
Rivers then changed the setting on his comm channel so he could speak to Fleet Commander Achlyn. He knew the Delton was anxious to get his rescue operation underway. Achlyn had brought forty battlecruisers, sixteen passenger liners, and twenty-eight cargo ships, which had been converted to hold evacuees. The passenger liners and converted cargo ships were unarmed though they had a decent energy shield for protection.
“You can begin your rescue operation, Fleet Commander,” Rivers spoke over the comm channel.
“That’s good news,” Achlyn replied. “We’ll be launching our stealth shuttles shortly as soon as the Marines have finished boarding. Once we arrive at Delton, I’ll contact my family so they can aid in the evacuation. My cousin is high in the government and should have access to security files telling us where the members of my race we wish to evacuate are living.”
“Remember, if you run into trouble send an FTL message and I’ll bring the fleet.” Rivers had already stationed one of Fourth Fleet’s light cruisers on the far outskirts of the star system just in case Fleet Commander Achlyn ran into trouble in his rescue efforts. Delton was only a few light years distant, which would allow them to receive a distress call within minutes.
“Hopefully that will not be necessary,” Achlyn replied. He was taking his flagship as well as one of his fleet’s battlecruisers. They would make orbit just outside the last planet of his home system. Both ships had been covered in a special composite material, which should make them invisible to scans.
“Good luck, Fleet Commander,” Rivers said. This was going to be a delicate and dangerous operation. If the Kleese detected what was going on everything could fall apart rather quickly.
“Thank you, Admiral,” Achlyn replied.
“All scans show the system is still clear,” reported Lieutenant Hertz.
The fleet needed to be hidden in the planet’s deep at
mosphere before a Kleese ship passed through the system. They were a little over a week out from the Kleese home world so their presence in this area of space was bound to be heavier. Lieutenant Hertz was keeping a close watch on her sensors in case a Kleese vessel showed up.
Around the planet, the ships of Fourth Fleet began to enter the gaseous atmosphere of the planet. Two hundred and eighteen ships slowly vanished beneath the cloud layers. The Independence was the last to descend and then only after seeing the Delton battlecruiser 236-557 detach itself from the fleet as well as the Delton flagship. With their flock of large shuttles, the two Delton cruisers began to accelerate away into deep space. After a few minutes, the small fleet jumped into Fold Space and vanished from the ship’s sensors.
“They’re gone,” reported Lieutenant Hertz. There were no other contacts.
“Take us into the atmosphere,” ordered Admiral Rivers, knowing now they would be playing a waiting game.
The Independence would be hovering in the outer regions of the planet’s atmosphere where she could still receive messages from the light cruiser out on sentry duty as well as detect any returning shuttles with evacuees. When that happened, the shuttles would be directed to the nearest passenger or cargo ship for unloading.
“Do you think this will work?” asked Colonel Greerman. The entire plan was fraught with danger.
“Maybe,” Admiral Rivers replied. “We’re going to give Fleet Commander Achlyn two uninterrupted weeks to remove his people from Delton, then we’re going to send a couple of assault ships to the Kleese home system. I want to know the exact coordinates of their shipyards as well as any other targets that might be worth hitting. Once they’re back, we’ll check additional systems where the Kleese might have major infrastructure for their war effort. We’ve gotten information from the computers on the captured trading stations and Colonel Nelson has gleaned considerable intel from his captured Kleese, Betel.”
“Can we trust what that arachnid is telling the colonel?”
“I think so,” Admiral Rivers said with a dangerous grin. “Colonel Nelson has made it very clear to Betel that if he’s caught in any lies, he’ll be tossed out the nearest airlock.”
“I hope Colonel Nelson catches him in a lie, then,” uttered Greerman. He had no love for the Kleese, not after what they’d done to Earth.
-
Fleet Commander Achlyn sat nervously in his command chair. His small fleet had entered Fold Space and would shortly be arriving at his home system. It had been many months since he’d last seen Delton, and he was anxious to see how it had suffered under Kleese rule. He just hoped no antimatter weapons had been used on its surface as had on Kivea.
“It will be good to return home,” said Second Commander Baylith. “It was a sad day when we were forced to withdraw and leave our people to the Kleese.”
“It’s no longer our world,” responded Achlyn with a heavy sigh. “The Kleese now tell our people what to do. I fear many of those we wish to rescue will be wearing the Kleese collars of obedience.”
“At least the Kiveans have given us a way to remove them,” answered Baylith, referring to the special scanning program Marken and his people had designed to neutralize the explosive collars.
“We’ll be landing at ten sites just outside the major cities,” Achlyn said, thinking over the plan they’d come up with. “We have two shuttles assigned to each evacuation site as well as a platoon of human Marines.”
“The primary site outside the capital has four shuttles and nearly a full company of Marines,” said Baylith.
“Yes, Captain Jamie Stern is in charge of the Marine contingent. I’ve met her and she’s a very capable officer,” Achlyn replied. “Daebenn is going down with her group and will be attempting to contact my cousin. He has a list of other influential people to contact as well.”
“I hope he’s successful,” replied Baylith. He didn’t say anything, but there was a chance the fleet commander’s cousin might not have survived the Kleese invasion.
The fleet commander became quiet as he looked around his Command Center. Delton ships were highly automated, relying on super efficient computers to operate their ships. This allowed for smaller crews, who were primarily responsible for ensuring the ship’s systems functioned as required. Even in battle, the computers did much of the fighting. The computers could control the ship’s movements, the targeting sensors, and even fire weapons as needed. The newer ships they were going to build in the human system wouldn’t be quite so dependent on computers. The humans had demonstrated time and time again how important and effective a highly trained crew could be in warfare. It would be an adjustment for the Deltons to make, but Achlyn reminded himself that in their early history, they had been a savage and warlike race. In order to survive, it might be necessary to embrace that distant heritage.
-
On the Kleese home world, Supreme Military Overlord Harmock gazed in anger at Darthu and the report he’d just delivered. It had taken nearly four weeks, but they now knew the extent of Xatul’s treachery.
“Tell me again what’s missing,” demanded Harmock in a cold and deadly voice. If he had been wearing his battlesuit, it would have been tempting to use his Energy Lance to decapitate his scientific advisor.
“Four hundred and eighty-two exploration cruisers are missing,” Darthu answered evenly, trying not to allow his voice to quiver, as he knew the Military Overlord was extremely unhappy with his report. “In addition, two more trading stations are also missing, as well as thousands of assault ships.”
“Which two trading stations?” Harmock’s eyes turned frigid as his triangular shaped head focused on Darthu.
“The ones in Sectors Four and Five,” Darthu answered.
“Close to Strell space,” said Harmock, wondering if there was a significance to that information.
“Yes,” answered Darthu. “Nearly every exploration cruiser and assault ship controlled by former Supreme Overlord Xatul, Overlord Bixutl, and Overlord Syndat are missing. The two trading stations were also under Syndat’s control.”
“I want the empire searched!” ordered Harmock sharply. “I want those three found.”
“We will have to use our own battlecruisers,” replied Darthu. “It will take months to search even a fraction of our empire.”
“What about the remaining trading stations and exploration ships?”
“They’re needed to keep the recently conquered nonaligned worlds in line as well as the numerous worlds from which we take conscripts.”
“We don’t take conscripts!” roared Harmock, rising to his full height on his six legs and glaring at Darthu. “Only the normal Kleese require conscripts; the Zaltule fight their own battles.”
“What are your orders?” Darthu asked. He knew his life was hanging in the balance.
“Send a squadron of Zaltule battlecruisers to each remaining trading station. I want all stations under our control. All Kleese currently in command are to be replaced with members of our own caste. Once we have firm control of the stations, begin sending out the exploration cruisers and the station’s assault ships to search for former Supreme Overlord Xatul’s forces. They have to be somewhere in the empire. I want them found!”
“It will be done,” Darthu said. He then turned and left the council chamber, relieved he was still alive.
“Those stations are the property of some of us,” commented Overlord Martule in a worrisome voice. The taking of the trading stations by the Zaltule would greatly affect the wealth of a number of powerful Kleese families. Martule and three other regular Kleese were all that remained of the original Council of Overlords.
“Not anymore,” Harmock replied, his multifaceted eyes focusing on Martule. “All trading stations are now the property of the empire and will henceforth be operated and commanded by the military caste. Does anyone object to my decree?” He allowed his eyes to roam over the four regular Kleese Overlords. All looked away.
Harmock turned toward several of
his bodyguards who were always present. “Make my shuttle ready, I’m returning to the Warrior’s Fire. I wish to inspect the shipyards and our new battle fleets.” This problem with Xatul was threatening to delay his planned assault upon the humans and their Alliance. Until he could locate the former Supreme Overlord, Harmock was hesitant to launch an attack. There was a possibility that while he was gone Xatul might return and attempt to retake control of the council and the empire. That could not be allowed to happen.
-
Captain Jamie Sterns looked about her with worry as she tried to set up a defensive perimeter around the four grounded shuttles. They were in a heavily wooded area forty kilometers from the planet’s capital. Even worse, there were several small cities just a few kilometers away.
“I don’t like this,” Sergeant Dawson said as he walked up to the captain in his Type Three battlesuit, which was what the entire company wore. None of the platoons with Type Fours had been sent down to serve as security for the evacuation sites.
“We should be safe here,” spoke Daebenn, who was standing just in front of Jamie.
Daebenn was a Delton and slightly less than four feet tall. In contrast, the Type Three battlesuit was ten feet tall and weighed nearly one thousand pounds.
“We’re awfully close to those two small cities,” Dawson said, looking down at Daebenn. “What’s to stop some of your civilians from wondering into these woods and spotting our shuttles?”
“These woods are part of a nature preserve,” Daebenn explained in a patient voice. He sometimes felt these humans became too excited over the unknown. “It’s closed to the public during certain times of the year when the animals within are bearing their young. We have landed in the midst of that time period. It will be another five weeks before any Deltons venture into this forest.”
“I hope you’re right,” Jamie said. “Sergeant Dawson, we have four hover tanks with us. I want a perimeter set up one thousand meters out with motion detectors. The hover tanks need to be three hundred meters behind that, and I want them manned at all times.”
Galactic Empire Wars: The Alliance (The Galactic Empire Wars Book 4) Page 26