The Lost Fleet: Search for the Originators: A Slaver Wars Novel
Page 7
As Katie and Mikow made their way over to the main computer console, Kelsey looked at the massive viewscreen surrounding them on all sides. It provided a 360-degree panoramic view of space. She could see the Avenger, the Clan Protector, Gaia, other ships, and even a few of the massive Indomitable Class Battlestations that protected the planet. Other than that, there was nothing but darkness. Gaia was located inside a dense nebula, which blocked out the light from other stars.
Jeremy had wanted the two of them to take some time off and go to one of the new seaside resorts for a few days. After speaking to Kazak, she realized it might be best for her to remain on the Dominator. She didn’t trust the Originator AI and as much as she disliked being in command of the ship, Kelsey knew it was the best place for her.
Turning her attention to Katie and Mikow, she watched as they downloaded the data from the ship’s computer to the handheld one Mikow always carried. It only took a few minutes and then Katie looked over and nodded.
“Kazak is back in one of the labs speaking to one of the Alton research scientists,” Ariel said softly. “I tampered with the ship’s computer system just enough to ensure Kazak didn’t notice the data download. I’m now turning back on the audio and video recorders. I’ve also created a false recording so he won’t notice they were turned off briefly.”
Kelsey nodded. She wasn’t sure what Katie and Mikow wanted with the data. She would wait until they were all off the ship before she asked. With a deep sigh, she looked at the viewscreen showing the Avenger. She really wished she could have taken a few days off to be with Jeremy.
-
Grayseth clenched his teeth as the Warrior’s Pride shook violently. Warning alarms sounded, and red lights flashed on the damage control console.
“We have several compartments open to space,” reported Ganlon as he studied the damage control board, which now had several glaring red lights showing. “We took an energy beam hit to the stern just above Secondary Engineering. Emergency bulkheads have activated. Several members of our clan have met their deaths with honor.”
Grayseth looked at one of the nearby tactical displays. The Simulins had set a trap for his fleet. It was evident they had expected him to attack this base which was the last one in the sector where Gaia resided. On one of the viewscreens, a Carethian cruiser was burning. Fires were jetting out from huge rents in its hull where the oxygen was escaping. Even as he watched, the ship suddenly blew apart as four Simulin energy beams finished destroying the warship.
“This hunt goes the way of the Simulins,” growled Grayseth.
They had jumped just outside the orbit of the seventh planet where the Simulins maintained a large shipyard. Moments later two Simulin fleets had exited hyperspace and immediately attacked Grayseth’s fleet. He had quickly formed the fleet into a globe formation, which offered the most defensive protection while he figured out what to do next.
“What are we facing?” Grayseth could see the worry on the faces of his clan brothers. Many of them had mates and cubs back at Gaia.
“Thirty-nine Simulin battlecruisers and sixty-one of their escort cruisers,” reported the sensor operator.
“We’re outnumbered,” Ganlon said. “There are too many Simulin battlecruisers. If we remain, we will suffer heavy losses. Even the AI warspheres will not be able to hold up to that kind of firepower.”
Grayseth’s attention was drawn to one of the other viewscreens where an AI warsphere was under heavy attack. Its energy screen was glowing brighter and brighter as Simulin energy beams and antimatter missiles battered the vessel. Then the screen seemed to flicker and an antimatter missile penetrated, detonating against the hull. When the explosion cleared, there was a glowing chasm that reached nearly to the center of the ship.
“Warsphere WP-103 reports terminal damage. Self-destructs have been activated,” the communications officer informed Grayseth.
The viewscreen suddenly lit up with light and when it faded, all that remained of the AI ship was a glowing cloud of spreading debris.
Grayseth studied the tactical display for a long moment and then reached a decision. Their goal was not necessarily to destroy the Simulin fleets but to obliterate their bases, limiting their ability to supply and repair their ships. There was still a way he could salvage a victory out of this disaster.
Activating the ship-to-ship comm, he gave his order. “All ships stand by to enter hyperspace. We will make a short jump to the seventh planet and engage the shipyard. Once it’s been destroyed all ships are to jump out and rendezvous at the red giant.” Before making the hyperspace jump into the system, Grayseth had set up an emergency rendezvous at a red giant star fourteen light years away.
-
In space, the Simulins pressed their advantage. Having heard of the attack on their other shipyard in this sector, they guessed the one at System X247-029 would be next. They had gathered their remaining ships and waited for the fleet from the Fitula Nebula to arrive. When it did, they sprung their trap.
Six Simulin battlecruisers were firing all of their energy beams at a Gaia class battlecruiser. The ship was resisting with all of its might and returning fire. Particle beam fire ripped through one of the large energy beam pylons on a Simulin battlecruiser, tearing it from the ship. A Devastator Three missile blew off the stern of another battlecruiser leaving it drifting in space. But even that was not enough.
Two Simulin energy beams tore through the energy screen of the Gaia class battlecruiser ripping open compartment after compartment to space. Debris drifted away from the ship and secondary explosions blew open even more compartments.
On board the battlecruiser crewmembers rushed to contain the damage. Fire suppression systems activated, emergency bulkheads slammed shut, and damage control crews in full protective spacesuits moved into the affected areas looking for survivors.
More energy beams flashed through the screen. One of them destroyed the Command Center, sending the ship drifting helplessly through space. Its energy screen seemed to glow brighter and then it vanished altogether as the ship’s power failed. A single Simulin antimatter missile turned the battlecruiser into molten ruins, killing everyone on board.
-
“The Huntress and Night Clan are down,” reported Grayseth’s sensor operator. The Huntress was a Gaia class battlecruiser and the Night Clan was a Carethian cruiser. Grayseth was becoming painfully aware that the smaller cruisers were no match for Simulin battlecruisers. He would not be bringing them on hunts again. He would have to speak to Daelthon about building more Carethian battlecruisers along the lines of the Humans’ Gaia class.
“Fleet is jumping,” reported Ganlon.
-
Around the fleet blue-white swirling vortexes formed. The ships rapidly accelerated, entering them and fleeing into the momentary safety of hyperspace. That safety didn’t last long since only a few seconds passed and the fleet dropped back out of hyperspace around the shipyard.
-
Grayseth heard the hull of the Warrior’s Pride groan as the ship dropped out of hyperspace into the gravity well of the seventh planet. For a moment the ship’s viewscreens and other systems were down and then rapidly began to power back up. The emergence from hyperspace always affected a ship’s systems. For a scant few seconds the ship was vulnerable to enemy weapons fire.
“Energy screen is up,” reported Ganlon. “Other systems are coming online.”
As the viewscreens flashed on Grayseth saw two AI warspheres suddenly explode as powerful Simulin energy beams from the shipyard targeted them before their screens were fully recovered from the hyperjump. Both 1,000-meter ships were turned into tumbling wreckage. Grayseth knew that could just have easily been the Warrior’s Pride.
“All ships,” Grayseth ordered over the ship-to-ship comm. “Fire antimatter missiles until the shipyard’s screen is down.”
-
From the surviving AI warspheres, Gaia class battlecruisers, Carethian battlecruisers, and the smaller cruisers hundre
ds of sublight antimatter missiles began slamming into the powerful protective energy screen of the shipyard. The shield glowed brighter and brighter and then failed. When it did dozens of antimatter missiles detonated against the unprotected hull. In a matter of microseconds an expanding nova appeared at the shipyard’s location. As it died down all that remained was glowing plasma and a few pieces of drifting wreckage.
“Simulin shipyard has been destroyed,” confirmed the sensor operator.
“Simulin fleets are jumping in,” warned Ganlon. “They will be in range shortly. What are your orders?”
“The red star,” Grayseth answered without hesitation. “Jump us to the red star. We have fulfilled our mission and this hunt is over.”
“Other ships are jumping,” the sensor operator reported.
On several of the viewscreens, Grayseth could see Simulin seventeen-hundred-meter battlecruisers appearing around his fleet. It would do them no good. By the time they had their weapons powered up his fleet would be gone.
“Entering hyperspace,” Ganlon reported as the Warrior’s Pride accelerated and entered the swirling vortex that had formed in front of it.
Grayseth allowed himself to relax as the ship made the transition into hyperspace. He had accomplished his mission. Both shipyards in the sector surrounding Gaia had been neutralized. He wouldn’t know the exact cost until they reached the rendezvous point, but the Simulins would find it much more difficult to operate their fleets in this sector in the future without any support bases.
Grayseth knew Fleet Admiral Strong intended to deploy a number of small fleets to keep the sector secure from the Simulins. Once this sector was secure, they would move on to others, including the one where Admiral Jackson was. Ornellia was the key to their future victory over the remaining Simulins. If they could rebuild Ornellia and then use it as a base to search for and find other allies, then the Simulins’ dominance of the Triangulum Galaxy would be facing its end.
Once they reached the red star, Grayseth would check on his fleet damage and make repairs. When that was complete, it would be time to return to Gaia and make his report to Jeremy. It would also be good to return home after a successful hunt. There would be much celebrating by the clans as well as services to honor the dead.
-
Jeremy had made a quick trip down to the Fleet Academy on Gaia to visit with Rear Admiral Susan Marks, who was the chief administrator. Susan had formerly commanded the Battlecarrier Retribution and acted as Flag Admiral for all small craft combat operations. She had excelled at training new fighter and bomber pilots as well as combat tactics. For these reasons and others Jeremy asked her to head the new Academy.
Jeremy stood gazing out the large window in Susan’s office at all the work that had been done. Tall white buildings indicated dorms, teaching centers, and training facilities. The Academy was located well north of the green habitable area of the planet to better allow for combat training. The landscape surrounding the Academy was arid and saw very little rainfall as was true with most of the planet except for the green area around the equator. The harsh surroundings made it an excellent training location for the cadets. An energy shield protected the Academy complex, keeping out the hot temperatures, occasional sandstorms, and strong desert winds. Inside the screen, everything was green and immaculate. From the air the Academy looked like an oasis in the middle of a forsaken environment.
Looking toward a small hill, Jeremy could see the granite obelisk and walls, which listed everyone who had died since coming to the Triangulum Galaxy. A series of wide steps led up to it. Unfortunately it was a very long list and would only grow longer in the future. He still felt great sadness whenever he looked at the obelisk, knowing it signified the loss of Rear Admiral Barnes, her crew, and the Distant Horizon. Every cadet was required to make a trip to the top of the stairs to view the obelisk once every semester. Jeremy knew that Katie had a hard time coming here just because of the obelisk. There was a depiction of Clarissa in her fleet uniform without insignia displayed on the structure. Katie very seldom spoke of Clarissa anymore. It was too painful and the memories of her lost AI friend greatly saddened her. They all missed her and Jeremy had been greatly surprised just how important the flirtatious AI had been in his life.
“Is Grayseth back yet?” Susan asked. Susan was sitting at her desk watching Jeremy.
Jeremy turned around and came back and sat down. “No, not yet. I’m expecting him anytime.”
A smile spread across Susan’s face. “I’ll bet he’s really enjoying himself. The Bears live for the hunt, and it’s been too long since they’ve been allowed to go on a mission as important as this one.”
“He has a strong enough force that he should be able to handle anything he runs across. I sent along forty AI warspheres and that should ensure the Carethians stay safe.”
Jeremy had been hesitant to send Grayseth on this mission, as he would be risking ships that contained a large number of Bears. Jeremy was particularly concerned about the Carethian cruisers. In the end, he had relented knowing how important the hunt was to the Bears and their way of life.
“Speaking of the AIs, I recently took a group of cadets out to Borton to inspect the AI shipyards. I was amazed at how rapidly they’re building new ships.”
“Three new warspheres every five days,” Jeremy said. “I’ve stood inside the construction bays and watched. It’s absolutely amazing. The Command AI is planning on adding another shipyard in the near future and it should allow them to produce one new warsphere every day.”
“Are they still creating new AIs?”
Jeremy nodded. “Yes, but Kurene and Jeeneb have been monitoring the new AIs and have helped with their programming. Both have been given unrestricted access to the Master Codex.”
Jeremy was still amazed at how cooperative the AIs were. They seemed to go out of their way to help with anything Jeremy suggested. He had spoken at length about this with Kurene and Jeeneb and they claimed it had to do with the atrocities the AIs had committed back home in the Milky Way Galaxy, even though the Simulins had played a big role in that due to their tampering with the Master Codex.
“This is going to be a long war against the Simulins, isn’t it?”
“Yes, even with Kazak’s help there are still a lot of Simulin worlds in this galaxy, and there’s always the possibility that at some point in time the other Simulin galaxies may be able to send substantial reinforcements.”
“Kazak could construct more black matter warheads if necessary,” Susan said, referring to the deadly missiles capable of destroying a planet or even a star.
“Destroying entire planets makes us as bad as the Simulins,” Jeremy said somberly. “Besides, I suspect by now the Simulins have come up with a battle plan to deal with the Dominator. In the last battle at Malkor, they jumped two of their battlecruisers to the same spatial coordinates the Dominator was occupying. It caused the ship to lose power. If we hadn’t arrived when we did, the ship would have been destroyed by the other Simulins battlecruisers or by the nova.”
A noise outside drew their attention as a flight of four Talon fighters took off from the small spaceport just outside the protective energy shield of the Academy. The fighters formed up into a tight diamond formation circling the Academy once before heading upward.
“We have some very talented cadets,” Susan said as the two watched the fighters climb toward space. Susan had a large window put in just so she could see the spaceport from her desk. It allowed her to watch the Talon fighters launch on their training missions.
Jeremy let out a deep sigh. “I just wish we had a bigger population base. There are less than six hundred thousand of us on Gaia and aboard our ships.”
“The population will grow rapidly,” promised Susan, with a knowing grin. “I hear the hospitals at New Eden and Clements have been quite busy delivering babies recently. The Carethians normally have twins so their population will quickly grow. I also understand Angela is due any day now.”
“You five have been together for a long time,” Susan said, her eyes focusing on Jeremy. “I don’t think you realize what Angela’s baby will mean to Gaia. I know the five of you don’t like the name, but you are the Special Five. Your families started the Federation and the five of you have been a big part of that. Nearly every important event in Federation history either your families or you five were involved in. You were even on Earth’s first interstellar flight.”
“We’re just normal people,” Jeremy protested with a frown. “I wish people would realize that. They put us on a pedestal and we shouldn’t be.”
“You will always be the Special Five to our people, and your children will be a sign your legacy will continue, and that’s very important to the people of Gaia. It offers hope for the future and a sign that our lives here can be peaceful and productive.”
“There will be other children born,” said Jeremy, wanting to change the subject. “There will be more Carethians and even Altons.”
“A lot more Carethians,” said Susan. “However, I strongly suspect that the children of you five will always play an important role in our future. There are others as well whose children will be important.”
Jeremy laughed as he thought about his Bear friend. “Yes, I’m just waiting for Grayseth to settle down and start a family. He told me before he left on this mission that it was his responsibility as a clan elder to grow the clan.”
“More Grayseths,” said Susan, shaking her head with a humorous glint in her eyes. “His people understand the importance of family and carrying on traditions. We are fortunate to have so many Carethians amongst us.”
Then she took on a more serious look. “I guess we will continue to have to depend on the AIs to carry on this war. Is the Command AI okay with the idea of them carrying the burden of most of the fighting?”