Galactic Empire Wars: Rebellion (The Galactic Empire Wars Book 3)

by Raymond L. Weil

  “No,” replied Wade, shaking his head. “From all reports, the Kleese had the Strell outnumbered and outgunned. The Strell weren’t expecting an attack from the Kleese and suffered some serious losses at the beginning of the war, which seriously hampered their ability to defend their Empire.”

  “So, where does that put us?”

  “Seventh Fleet is going to escort several civilian diplomatic ships that will be traveling to some of the nearer nonaligned worlds to try to talk them into joining into an alliance with us,” Wade explained. “We’ll also be taking both of the marine transports as well as several supply ships.”

  “We’re taking two hundred assault ships,” mentioned Commander Shepherd, gazing intently at Colonel Nelson. Nelson had a reputation of always being where the heaviest fighting was. “Why so many?”

  “Yes, we’re taking a large complement of assault ships,” Wade confirmed. “If the Kleese launch an attack on any of the nonaligned worlds we’re seeking to add to the Alliance, we’ll aid in their defense as a gesture to encourage all the nonaligned worlds in our sector of space to join.”

  “If we’re talking about fighting the Zaltule, we could be looking at some serious ship losses,” Adamson said his eyes narrowing sharply. “Those three kilometer disk ships of theirs are built for war and will not be easy to destroy.”

  His new fleet might not last long against the dangerous warrior caste of the Kleese. He well recalled what had happened when just six of the Zaltule warships attacked the solar system six years back.

  “It will probably be the Zaltule you'll face if there is indeed combat,” Marken spoke in a calm voice. “The Zaltule are the warriors of the Kleese and seem to have taken over the combat role for the Empire. During the time the Kleese were fighting the Strell, there has been very little expansion of their Empire in other areas.”

  “From our last combat with these Zaltule ships, our ship weapons and theirs are pretty evenly matched,” Commander Shepherd said her eyes narrowing in thought. It worried her since they would only have four battlecruisers in the fleet.

  “That may be true, but we’ve come to believe the six Zaltule ships that attacked our solar system were not being operated by the warrior caste but regular members of the Kleese race,” Wade informed her. “We may not have won if the ships had been commanded by the Zaltule.”

  “Which means we’re going to have a major problem on our hands if we have to fight Zaltule battlecruisers,” Adamson reiterated with a frown.

  “We may have a solution to that,” Marken responded as he reached down in front of him and picked up two red folders. He handed one each to Admiral Adamson and Commander Shepherd.

  “This is a new sublight missile developed by the Kivean scientists,” Wade explained as Adamson and Shepherd opened up the folders and began looking through the contents.

  “It’s slightly larger than a normal sublight missile and contains six antimatter warheads,” Marken explained. “Each warhead has a yield of twenty megatons and can be independently targeted.”

  “How did you get that many warheads inside the missile?” Commander Shepherd asked as she studied the design specs. “It doesn’t seem to be that much larger than our standard sublight missiles.”

  “Miniaturization,” Marken explained. “Our Kivean science plus some of the information from the computer drive furnished by the nonaligned worlds allowed us to drastically reduce the size of some of the missile’s components without compromising the integrity of the missile. The three new battlecruisers and the sixteen light cruisers have all had their missile tubes modified to handle this new weapon.”

  “In addition, engineers will shortly begin upgrading the missile tubes on the Constellation,” Wade added. He had already spoken to Ethan Hall about this and Ethan had assured him it could be done very quickly.

  “When do we leave?” asked Adamson, leaning back and taking a deep breath. He had a feeling this was going to be a long and complicated mission. They always were when Nelson and Marken were involved.

  “Four weeks,” Wade answered. “You have that much time to get your fleet ready for combat.” He leaned forward with a serious look upon his face. “We’re going to be facing off against the Zaltule. Our new missiles should give us an advantage in the first engagement; we need to make sure it’s decisive so we can buy the time we need to organize the Alliance.”

  “If any of the nonaligned worlds will join,” interjected Shepherd with a worried frown. She wasn’t certain any of the nonaligned worlds would make such a commitment.

  “Surely with the threat the Kleese now represent they’ll be more inclined to join the Alliance,” suggested Adamson, glancing over at Sandra.

  “They’ve refused to so far,” Sandra was quick to point out. “Why should they change their minds now?”

  “If they don’t join then the Zaltule will over run those systems and add them to the Empire,” Wade declared his eyes flashing with deadly seriousness. “We know some are supportive of our cause due to the computer drive they provided us as well as the warning about the impending attack from the Kleese they gave us years back. Some of those races will surely see the wisdom of joining us. That’s why we’re taking the fleet and making this final push to form the Alliance.”

  “We can only hope they see the wisdom of joining,” Adamson said, drawing in a sharp breath. “How long will it take to make the modifications to the Constellation’s missile tubes?”

  “Six days,” Marken answered. “A group of Kivean and Human technicians will start on it later today.”

  “Ethan Hall told me earlier that the three new battlecruisers will be ready for their trials in three more days,” Wade added. “Their crews have already been selected and gone through extensive training.”

  “Most of those will be newbies,” groaned Shepherd, shaking her head.

  “We managed to transfer some experienced people also,” Wade informed them. “Can you get them knocked into shape in time for us to leave in four weeks?”

  “It’ll be tough, but we can do additional training on the way to the nonaligned worlds,” Adamson answered as he thought over what would be needed to bring the crews up to acceptable operational levels. “I’ll schedule a meeting with their commanding officers for later today.”

  -

  Later, Marken, Beth, and Wade toured the cloning facility. Over the years, it had grown into a massive complex as slightly over one hundred thousand clones a year were now being produced and imprinted with basic Human knowledge. It was also heavily guarded and admittance was restricted to authorized personnel only.

  They were in an observation room where they could watch the new clones being awakened. Medical personnel, both Human and Kivean were in the room below dressed in sterile white gowns as they helped the new Humans take their first steps.

  A dozen cloning chambers had been brought into the room and were in the process of being opened. Each chamber contained a fully grown clone and was filled with a gas that resembled a heavy fog. The gas was pumped out and then the top of the chamber was opened.

  “They look so helpless,” Beth murmured as she watched a female take her first hesitant steps and then look at the attending nurse with a pleased and excited look.

  “I hate that they miss out on their childhood,” added Wade, thinking about all of those childhood memories he treasured. They had helped to make and mold him into the person he was today. The clones missed out on that important aspect of life.

  “We implant some basic memories about growing up,” Marken informed them as he watched the awakening process going on in the room. He had lost track of how many awakenings he had attended over the last six years. Each day, nearly two hundred and seventy-five clones were awakened and processed.

  “What’s the failure rate?” asked Wade, shifting his gaze to Marken. He knew that not all awakenings were successful.

  “Less than two percent,” Marken answered in a sad voice. “For some reason, a small percentage of the clones wo
n’t take the imprinting process and their bodies fail as soon as we attempt the awakening process. Harnett is working on a solution, but she’s still mystified by what’s causing the problem.”

  Wade nodded, it was not common knowledge that nearly two thousand clones a year never awoke and their bodies had to be disposed of. If it were, the public outcry against the clones would only increase.

  “What is the procedure once a clone has been successfully awakened?” Beth asked curiously, looking over at Marken. This was the first time she'd been allowed to watch the awakening process.

  “For the first month, the clones stay with surrogate Human parents who help them with their emotional development. After the first month, they’re transferred to a dormitory with twenty other clones where they’re closely monitored. They go through classes taught by Humans and their Human surrogate parents stop by periodically to check up on them. After six months, they begin specialized schooling to prepare them to enter either the Academy here on Vesta or the fleet training facility on the Moon.”

  “From the time they’re awakened, how long before they’re fully capable of taking over their military responsibilities?” Beth asked.

  “Five years,” Marken answered, promptly.

  “How many decide not to join the military?”

  Marken hesitated for a moment. “Actually a slightly larger percentage than we originally projected. Currently, nearly twelve percent of the clones elect to take civilian jobs, though most of those jobs do involve the military in some way.”

  Beth nodded; she had already been familiar with some of this from what Wade had told her in previous conversations. She knew Wade came to the cloning facility on occasion to check up on its progress as he had been instrumental in talking President Randle into instituting the program to begin with.

  “The clones plus our regular Human volunteers are allowing us to greatly expand the fleet as well as our ground forces,” Wade added as he watched another clone take its first hesitant steps. “Nearly one hundred and twenty thousand Human born volunteered for military duty last year and we expect about the same this year.”

  “Not bad out of eighteen million people,” commented Beth, thoughtfully.

  Wade watched as several more clones were awakened and processed. They seemed so innocent in their newborn state. He turned and looked over at Beth, who was watching the awakening process with keen interest.

  “We’re taking both the military troop transports,” Wade informed her. They had some important decisions to make as far as personnel went. “I’m putting you in charge of the Fire Fox and Major Jeffries in charge of the Crimson Star. Both of you need to pick your command staffs and what marine companies the two of you want deployed on each ship. For this mission, the assault ships will only have a small complement of marines on board.”

  Beth turned her attention away from the awakening chamber to focus her eyes on Wade. “I want Captain Stern and Captain Foster’s two companies for sure,” she responded without a moment’s hesitation. “I suspect Major Jeffries will want Captain Perry’s company.”

  Wade nodded. He'd expected that. “We’ll be gone from two to six months,” he added in a softer voice. “You need to tell your mother, and I need to speak with my parents.”

  “What about Ryan?” asked Beth her eyes focusing intently on Wade. “Are you going to talk to him?” She knew her mother wouldn’t be happy with her being gone for such an extended time, particularly after moving into the retirement center.

  “Probably just a short message. When we return, he should be finished with his training and will be getting his first assignment.”

  Wade let out a deep breath. He knew Ryan would easily qualify in the Type Four suits; it also meant he would be getting some of the toughest and more dangerous assignments. The Type Four battlesuits were designed to take on armored members of the Kleese race, most likely the Zaltule.

  Harnett and I will be accompanying you on this mission,” Marken said his narrow eyes focusing on the two Humans. “There will also be ten other Kiveans going along to give support from a technical perspective as well as assisting in the negotiations. There are several Kiveans from our home world highly familiar with some of the races we’ll be speaking to.”

  “Marken?” Beth said, inquiringly. “What do you think the odds are that some of the nonaligned worlds will join us?”

  “We’ve pretty much determined which ones were involved with giving us the information on the computer drive as well as the nonaligned world ship that gave us the warning about the Kleese attack,” he said slowly as he thought hard about the different races. “I’m certain we can turn six or seven of them to our cause, but we need more. The Kleese have an Empire to draw their resources from, whereas we will only have a few worlds.”

  “Unless we can sow discontent on more of the Kleese controlled planets,” Wade pointed out. He had spoken in considerable length with General Mitchell about launching more clandestine attacks in an attempt to tie down some of the Kleese warfleet.

  “What concerns me is what the Kleese and the Zaltule are up to now,” Marken said his eyes showing worry. “They may start moving against some of the nonaligned worlds any day now, particularly those closer to the central part of their Empire.”

  Wade nodded; he knew they needed to get the mission launched as soon as possible. He was afraid they were rapidly running out of time.

  -

  Harmock winced as his flagship, the Warrior’s Fire, was bracketed by multiple antimatter missiles. The ship’s energy screen was showing stress as it glowed brightly under the mounting attack. Harmock stood upon the Command Pedestal of his flagship, gazing with rapt attention at the numerous viewscreens and tactical displays showing the fighting around the Warrior’s Fire. He'd brought two hundred Zaltule warships to the Talt system to pacify the nonaligned world and bring it permanently into the grasp of the Empire. The Talts were a humanoid species with large yellow eyes and a very dark complexion.

  His fleet had been met by sixty smaller warships, all with incredible weaponry. Twelve of his warships lay in ruin, split apart by some type of massive plasma round that smashed through a ship’s energy screen and caused tremendous damage to the interior. Fortunately, the weapon took time to recharge or his fleet would have suffered far heavier losses.

  “Firing primary pulse fusion beams,” Minor Overlord Gareth reported as the Warrior’s Fire unleashed twenty powerful fusion beams upon the nearest Talt ship.

  The Talt ships were four hundred meters long and spindle-shaped. Their maneuvering ability was remarkable, making them even more difficult to hit. A pulse fusion beam needed a few seconds on target to inflict appreciable damage. The beams on a Zaltule warship were powered by dual fusion reactors and could project a massive amount of energy.

  The Talt ship darted out of the way after only suffering a microsecond's worth of fire from the deadly beams. It spun around and a fiery red plasma bolt darted toward the Warrior’s Fire. It struck the energy shield, clung to it, and then burned through, striking the ship’s heavy armor and penetrating into the interior of the ship, setting off several large explosions.

  Harmock felt his flagship shake violently and warning alarms began sounding. He cursed silently to himself, knowing his flagship had been seriously damaged.

  “Secondary Engineering has been destroyed,” Gareth reported nearly stumbling off the Command Pedestal as the ship shook violently. His six legs managed to keep him upright as he continued to study the data coming in on the damage done to the ship. “Fusion cannons seven, nine, and twelve have been destroyed. Energy beam turrets twenty, twenty-one, and thirty are no longer responding. We are streaming atmosphere and I’m locking down the damaged areas of the ship.”

  “I want our ships to attack in groups of four,” Harmock ordered, infuriated that a lesser race would dare to damage his flagship. “Switch to sublight antimatter missiles and use volley fire upon these vermin. We’ll see if their ships can dodge a hundred missiles c
oming toward them at sublight speeds.”

  The orders were quickly passed and the remaining Zaltule ships formed up into their designated groups. Once assembled, they began advancing toward the waiting enemy.

  -

  The Talt reformed their fleet and waited to see what the Kleese would do next. The Talt commander had hoped that if enough Zaltule ships were destroyed in the early part of the engagement the Kleese would decide to honor the neutrality agreement. Now the Talt commander was beginning to have his doubts. His greatest weapon was the plasma rounds and the speed of the Talt ships, but he was badly outnumbered.

  With trepidation, he watched the Kleese warships form up into groups of four and begin advancing. He was outnumbered by nearly three to one, which would mean that each of his warships would have to engage a group of Zaltule ships. However, he would not play into the Zaltule’s hands. If his fleet was to be destroyed and his world conquered by the Zaltule, then he would teach the Zaltule a lesson that might make them hesitant about attacking other nonaligned worlds.

  The commander had already sent word back to his home planet that all the designs for the plasma weapon were to be destroyed as well as all military research. The plans for the highly maneuverable sublight drive his ships were equipped with were also to be destroyed. That type of advanced technology would not be allowed to fall into the hands of the dreaded Kleese.

  “It is time,” Commander Cribbs spoke, his large yellow eyes focusing on his second in command. “Send word to Commander Pasha that his mission is confirmed.”

  Sub Commander Leyen stepped over to Communications and quickly passed on the message to the ships hidden behind the home world and away from the Kleese sensor scans. Four ships waited in their world’s shadow; there were two warships and a couple of large passenger ships. In the past few years, rumors had spread through the nonaligned worlds of a civilization far out on the edge of the Empire, which had dared to challenge the Kleese. These ships would be leaving in an attempt to find that world. The two largest ships contained scientists and their families who, if all else failed, would flee to the far edge of the galaxy to begin a new Talt civilization.