“That’s when the Zodarks showed up, right?” asked another rear admiral, a grim look on his face.
Hunt nodded. He reached for his glass of water, noticing a slight tremor in his hand. He tightened his grip on the glass so his hand wouldn’t shake. Just talking about the experience was causing him to feel like a panic attack was about to happen.
“That’s right,” Hunt continued. “At first, it was just a couple of Zodark cruisers and then a battleship. Nothing we hadn’t seen or battled before. Our fleet tore into them while the Alts continued to battle the Orbot ships. Then this massive ship jumped right in the middle of our formation. It was the first time I had ever seen a Zodark star destroyer. The ship was massive, as I’m sure you’ve seen from the videos. It was nearly twice as big as the GW, and man, did it pack a punch. I ordered our engines to full speed, and we attempted to run a circular path around the enemy fleet so our vessels could continue to use our magrails and pound them.”
As Hunt continued to recount the battle, more of the officers sitting nearby stopped talking and eating to listen. “The GW got hit by a particle beam from that star destroyer. It ripped into the lower four decks of the ship and nearly cut through us. It took half of our secondary weapons offline with a single blow. By this point, though, we had positioned ourselves so the majority of our primary gun systems were now able to fire on them. We opened up with everything we had. We hit them with a spread of twelve plasma torpedoes, two dozen Havoc missiles, and hundreds of slugs from our primary weapons…the enemy ship just took it. We were scoring hits, we could see secondary explosions rippling across its decks, but we weren’t scoring the knockout blows we needed. Meanwhile, that particle beam weapon knocked another one of our battleships out.
“Captain Zamani’s ship had already been critically hit when he ordered his ship to ram the star destroyer. I don’t think the Zodarks knew what he was doing, at least not right away. Once it became clear he wasn’t just maneuvering for a better shot but was lining up to ram them, they turned all their weapons on the New York. Zamani somehow managed to get his MPD thrusters almost up to full speed when the ship was practically blown apart by an Orbot ship. They hit it with a particle beam that sliced the entire rear half of the ship off. Fortunately, for us, the forward momentum of the fore section of the ship was still headed right for the star destroyer. The front of the ship plowed into the midsection of the Zodark vessel. It continued to impale itself all the way up the rest of the ship until it had completely pulverized the command section.
“At that point, chains of explosions rippled along the star destroyer. By then, the Altairians had all but destroyed the Orbot ships, and there were only a few Zodark vessels left. With the star destroyer taken out, we were able to finish the rest of the enemy fleet off,” Hunt finished explaining.
One of the captains commented, “I saw that video. I couldn’t believe Captain Zamani was able to get the New York turned around like that and was able to hit them. That was some real heroic stuff right there.”
Hunt nodded solemnly. “Yes, it was. I think he single-handedly won the battle for us. I think if he hadn’t sacrificed his ship like that, the GW and the rest of the fleet might have been destroyed by that particle beam weapon. He and his crew died so the rest of us could live. I want to personally let you all know that I’ve recommended him for the Medal of Honor and valor medals for the entire crew. It’s the least we can do to honor their sacrifice and loss.”
Another captain asked him, “If the Altairian ships they’re going to help us build are as good as they say they are, do you think we have a chance at beating the Zodarks and the Orbots? I mean, is there any hope that we can win this war, or are we just prolonging the inevitable?”
A few of the officers shot the captain a dirty look for sounding defeatist, especially in front of Admiral Hunt and the other admirals, but Hunt came to the man’s defense.
“That’s a good question, Captain. It’s one I’ve struggled with as well. I think we have to believe that we can win. Otherwise, what are we doing this all for?” Hunt paused for a second. He wanted to be truthful with them, but he also needed them to know that there was hope, even if it was small. “I think there are some long, dark days ahead of us, and we are certainly in for some rough times. However, I also think that as long as we continue to adapt, overcome, and never give up, we’ll make it. Remember, it was just five decades ago we developed interplanetary travel. Less than two decades ago, we developed faster-than-light travel. Eight years ago, we discovered the Zodarks and the Sumerians. Eight months ago, the Altairians made first contact with us. Humanity has come a long way in a very short time. Let’s not forget that.”
Hunt sat up straighter, feeling emboldened. “The Altairians have agreed to let us join their alliance, and they’re helping us build a naval force to defend our territory and be an active member of their alliance. It’s up to us to use that time to build up a substantial navy and find new ways to integrate their technology and advance it further. We can do this, and more importantly, we must do this. I couldn’t be prouder of the officers and enlisted we get to serve with, and together, we are going to win this war, no matter how long it takes.”
After that rousing little speech, everyone in the dining facility that heard it cheered and clapped. Humanity had been kicked in the nuts, but now humanity was recovering and was about to unleash holy hell on its enemies.
*******
When everyone had finished lunch and returned to the briefing room, Trigdolly went over the new training requirements that needed to be put in place to get the human crews ready to operate and maintain these advanced new warships. This part of the briefing, frankly, bored Hunt to death. From his point of view, it was a colossal waste of his valuable experience and time. To think his shore leave with his wife was canceled so he could sit through this part of the briefing ticked him off—he’d probably been gone from his wife more than nearly any other military officer in the last eight years. All Hunt wanted was a handful of months with nothing to do other than write his memoirs and spend time with his wife and his two grown kids.
His son, Ethan, was blossoming into a real capable officer himself. Despite only having a few years of service in the fleet, he had been promoted twice and received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with V device, and a Purple Heart. He was well on his way to one day becoming an admiral like his father.
Admiral Bailey must have sensed Hunt’s annoyance. He sent him a short note via their neurolink for him to join him in his office.
It took Hunt a few minutes to find the place. The entire headquarters building was brand-new, and this was his first time visiting the new base after all the changes. Even now, the base was crawling with Synths expanding the sprawling facility. They had already completed the command center and bunkers deep below the facility. Now they were building the aesthetically pleasing upper levels of the massive edifice.
Rounding a corner, Hunt was greeted by Admiral Bailey’s assistant, an old battle-axe of a woman. She was nice to Hunt, mostly because he’d shared a lot of baby pictures with her when his kids were little and continued to share more throughout the years. She was a brute to everyone else, though.
“There you are, Miles. It’s so good to see you. I heard your mini-me, Ethan, is turning into a real war hero like his dad,” she said as she gave him a gentle hug.
“He sure is, Yvette. It’s good to see you as well. How are you liking the new digs?” Hunt asked.
“Oh, you know me, I’m comfortable wherever I go. I do miss Florida, though,” she said cheerfully. She led them down the hall and into her outer office. Everyone had to get past Yvette if they wanted to see the admiral. That used to be a challenge until the Altairians had demonstrated that teleportation was actually possible.
“The weather was much nicer there than here, but I’ll make do. You can go on in; Chester’s expecting you,” Yvette said, motioning toward the office door.
As he walked into the room, Hunt saw Admiral
Bailey sitting on one of the couches with two Altairians. The three of them stood when he entered.
“Come on in, Miles. Take a seat. We have something we’d like to talk with you about. Oh, and call me Chester, it’s just the four of us,” Bailey said, wanting to put Hunt at ease that this would be a casual conversation.
Hunt took his seat on the couch, unsure what to make of this impromptu meeting. It sure beat going over training requirements.
“Miles, there is much we don’t know about this galaxy and military alliance we’re now a part of. Handolly—you remember him, don’t you, Miles?” Chester asked as he reintroduced the Altairian liaison to Earth.
“Of course I remember Handolly. It’s a pleasure to meet with you again,” Hunt said, giving an Altairian greeting in their native language. He was sure he was butchering it, but it was the thought that counted.
For the first time since meeting the Altairians, Hunt noticed a facial expression from Handolly. He said something in his language Hunt couldn’t understand, but he nodded anyway.
“Pandolly speaks very highly of you, Miles,” said Handolly. “He says you are an exceptional military commander—not afraid to take risks when needed, but not so cavalier that you would put your ship or fleet in any more danger than is absolutely necessary to win a battle. This is a hard trait to find in military commanders.”
Hunt felt his cheeks reddening a bit. This was the first time he’d ever received praise from an Altairian. They were not accustomed to this human trait.
“Miles, Pandolly is not just a ship captain in our navy,” Handolly continued. “He is an admiral of equivalent rank to yours. He is part of a first contact team that helps us assess and determine if a race should be allowed to join the Galactic Empire. If it is believed they can make a contribution, then he helps to integrate them into our coalition.
“Your ship, the George Washington, is going to need more than twelve months of repairs before it will be operational again. It is also going to take nearly two years to build your new ships, given the rudimentary size and capability of your shipyards. I have proposed to Chester that he allow you, along with many of your leading scientists, engineers, and military officers, to accompany me back to our home world, Altus. By your units of measurement, Altus is close to three million light-years away from Earth. With our advanced travel capabilities, we can traverse that distance in several weeks.”
Hunt took a deep breath in and let it out. This was a lot to take in.
“I would like to take your people on a tour of the Galactic Empire,” Handolly explained. “This would be an opportunity for you to meet your new allies and gain a better understanding of what you are fighting for, who you are fighting with, and what you are fighting against. When we eventually arrive in Altus, we will spend some intensive time training and educating you on many of our ways. Your scientists and engineers will be taught many new technologies and ways to understand how the universe works. While this is taking place, your new star carrier and human flagship will be built by our shipyard. When it is completed, you and the rest of your people will return to Earth with your new star carrier. This will be a long trip if you come with us, nearly three of your years in length. Would you like to go?” Handolly asked as his eyes surveyed Hunt.
Bailey chimed in to add, “You’d be able to bring Lilly, Miles. If you wanted to bring your daughter or Ethan, I could arrange it. I’m not going to order you to go, but this is a great opportunity, Miles. Something I wish I could do but can’t do myself.”
Hunt smiled as he thought about it all. This was a great opportunity—the chance to see not one but multiple new planets and races along the way.
“Wow, Chester. This is an interesting proposition. Are you sure my presence here wouldn’t be missed or needed?”
Bailey leaned back on the couch. “Your presence and leadership would always be missed; there’s no doubt about that. But you’d be returning to Earth with an incredible new warship for us. Frankly, we need someone of your caliber to learn as much as possible about our new coalition and develop those trading and military alliances we’ll need long-term. I couldn’t think of a better person to represent Earth than you, Miles.”
“As long as Lilly can come with me, count me in,” Hunt replied. “I’ll talk with Ethan and our daughter and see what they think. I certainly don’t want to hurt their military careers or anything.”
Pandolly stood up. “Excellent, then it is settled. Please inform your wife and the others. We will leave Earth in three days.”
Chapter Nineteen
Task Force Intus
Space Command HQ
Jacksonville, Arkansas
“I don’t like it, Admiral. It leaves my forces way too exposed on the ground,” General Ross McGinnis said.
General Pilsner, the head of the Republic Army, agreed.
Shaking his head as he sighed, Admiral Bailey looked at the planet and the disposition of the enemy fleet around it.
Admiral Halsey interjected, “We could break the assault force down into two task forces. The first one swoops in to attack the enemy ships and break the blockade. During the cover of battle, we could have several of our Special Forces units conduct an orbital assault to take out the ground-based laser defense systems. Once they’re taken out, and the battle around the planet is in full swing, my second task force jumps in to finish off the enemy ships. Then we can disembark the rest of the infantry to support the Special Forces already on the ground.”
No one said anything for a moment as they each looked at the disposition of the troops and ships Admiral Halsey had just mentioned. They were running through the various scenarios in their heads.
“It’s risky, but it just might work,” General Pilsner finally said.
General McGinnis grunted at the suggestion. “If your force doesn’t break up the blockade and get those reinforcements planetside quick, you’d be leaving a lot of Special Forces alone to die on that planet,” he countered.
“Then my ships had best not fail,” Halsey shot back, confident that they could get the job done.
“What kind of support are the Primords going to give us?” asked General McGinnis.
“You mean on the ground or in space?” clarified Admiral Halsey.
“I mean in space. My guys can handle the ground operations. I’m more concerned about us either getting trapped on the planet or not getting enough forces dirtside fast enough to make a difference,” McGinnis countered.
Admiral Bailey walked up to the holographic map floating in front of them. “I’ve been assured by the Altairians that a fleet of twenty Primord ships will support our operation. Once we begin the ground operations, they have some two hundred thousand soldiers they’ll be dispatching to assist us in recapturing the planet.”
The generals and admirals didn’t say anything right away. They looked at the planet and the data at hand. This was a tall order they’d been given. It was their first real military operation with the Galactic Empire. They’d been given six months to prepare to help their new allies, the Primords, retake a planet they had lost thirty years earlier to the Zodarks.
The planet had been a Primord colony for three hundred years until the Zodarks had managed to wrestle it away from them. The leaders of Earth had hoped to have more time to build and prepare themselves to battle the Zodarks again, but the Altairians said the recapture of this planet was important in keeping the balance of power in this region of space tilted in the Galactic Empire’s direction. They’d been tasked with assisting the Primords in retaking the planet with the existing ships and troops they had on hand.
Nodding in acceptance, General Ross McGinnis looked the others in the eye. “Admiral Halsey, if your task force can break that blockade business, I’m confident my Special Forces can carry out an orbital insertion to take out those ion cannons on the planet. Once they’re down, though, you’ve got to have a path cleared and ready for the infantry. If you’re certain your forces can do it, then I say we move forward
with this.”
Halsey paused for just a moment before she responded, and a smile crept across her face. “My forces will clear you a path, General. You take those Ion cannons out, and I’ll get you that infantry.”
With nothing more to be said, Operation Intus was officially a go.
From the Authors
Miranda and I hope you’ve enjoyed this book. If you’re ready to continue the action with book three of the Rise of the Republic Series, simply click on the following link to preorder your copy of Into the War.
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