The Slaver Wars: Galactic Conflict

by Raymond L. Weil

  “What now, Admiral?” Susan asked. She knew that if the Hocklyns and AIs had not broken off their attack, they all would have died above Careth. They were in a desperate situation and she didn’t see any way out of it.

  Jeremy let out a deep sigh of frustration at the situation they now found themselves in. “We hurt the AIs and the Hocklyns badly in the battle. Grayseth, your people’s sacrifice probably saved us. I think it shook the Hocklyn commodore enough to force him to call off the attack. We also used nearly ninety percent of our remaining Devastator Threes.”

  “The evil ones will not be stopped next time,” Grayseth spoke, his large eyes taking on a sad look of hopelessness. “We will fight until the last warrior has passed. It will be a great hunt and a proud way to die.”

  Jeremy was silent as he thought over his options. He could think of only one way to save the situation. It would be dangerous and risky, but he didn’t see any other choice.

  “You’re planning something, I can tell from the look in your eyes,” spoke Susan, arching her eyebrows. “What is it?”

  “It’s the AIs,” Jeremy responded as his gaze shifted to each of the other two. “If we could destroy their remaining ships or make them withdraw, then I think the Hocklyns would call off the next attack.”

  “And how do you propose we do that?” Grayseth asked, his large eyes focusing on Jeremy. “We will soon be out of Devastator Threes and once those missiles are gone we have nothing that can harm an AI ship. Just one ship would be capable of wiping us out.”

  “We have eight strikecruisers left, counting the Avenger,” Jeremy began. “I propose to take all eight of those ships and attack the AIs in system K-774.”

  “Attack the AIs?” Susan repeated not believing what she had just heard. She looked at Jeremy shaking her head. “That would be suicide! You can’t do that.”

  “Not without Ariel,” countered Jeremy, leaning forward. “If I turn the Avenger and several other of the strikecruisers over to Ariel’s control, I believe we could destroy enough of the AI ships to force them to leave. It’s our only hope of surviving.”

  “It’s a daring plan,” spoke Grayseth, hoping that his Human friend was not about to sacrifice himself. “But it may be the only plan that might have a chance of success.”

  “But what good will it do?” Susan asked her eyes showing deep concern over Jeremy’s suggestion. “Even if you do drive the AIs off, it will only be a matter of time before they return with more ships.”

  “I’m buying time,” Jeremy responded in a determined voice. “If I can get us a few more weeks, surely Admiral Streth will be here with the relief fleet.”

  Susan didn’t know what to say. She knew as well as Jeremy did that if the Federation had lost at New Tellus then there was no relief fleet coming. “When would you leave?”

  “Tomorrow,” Jeremy replied. “That will give us twenty-four more hours to do basic repairs to some of the damage the strikecruisers have suffered. We also need to make sure they have plenty of Devastator Threes for this attack.”

  “It will take half of our remaining stockpile to fully arm them,” Grayseth commented as he placed his large hands upon the conference table. “But it may be worth the risk.”

  “What are our orders?” asked Susan, knowing she would not be able to talk Jeremy out of this decision. She also knew that Jeremy was doing the only thing that might have a remote chance of saving Careth and the remaining Federation ships.

  “Pull the fleet in around the station,” Jeremy ordered, satisfied now that he had put his decision into words. “Make sure the two surviving type two battle stations are fully loaded with Devastator Threes. If I fail and don’t return, at least they can still destroy an AI.”

  “It is a brave thing you are proposing,” Grayseth spoke, his large brown eyes gazing deeply into Jeremy’s eyes. “It is the way of the hunt.”

  Jeremy nodded. “We need to start getting our more heavily damaged ships into the repair bays. If I fail, you’re going to need every ship we have. May we live long and hunt together.”

  “Hunt together, my friend,” replied Grayseth, reaching across the table and clasping Jeremy’s right hand.

  -

  Jeremy walked back through the station along its many wide corridors toward the docking port where the Avenger was waiting. Numerous bears and Humans were hurriedly rushing to conduct emergency repairs to get the station back up to being as fully operational as possible. He knew the outside of the station had a number of rents and tears in it where Hocklyn energy beams and a few railgun rounds had struck. The armored hull looked burned in some sections from the heat of nuclear explosions. They had been fortunate that none of the nukes had struck the station’s armor.

  Jeremy thought about the decision he had made. He knew that every day that passed without the relief fleet showing up was a bad sign. He hadn’t said anything to the others, but he was starting to feel that a relief fleet wasn’t coming. If Admiral Streth could have returned, Jeremy was certain that he would have by now.

  -

  Kelsey and Katie were eating a quick meal and discussing Kelsey’s engagement. Suddenly the air next to Kelsey seemed to glow slightly and Ariel’s hologram materialized.

  Kelsey jumped slightly and frowned at Ariel. “I wish you wouldn’t do that,” she complained, shaking her head. “You scare me every time you just appear out of nothing.”

  “Sorry,” Ariel apologized not wanting to upset Kelsey. “When are you and Jeremy going to have children?”

  Katie burst out laughing because she knew full well what was behind the question. “You just want more children to raise like you did with me.”

  Ariel looked surprised and then nodded. “Of course. The five of you are my friends; it’s only natural that I would want to help raise your children.”

  “Oh God!” Kelsey mumbled her eyes growing wide at the thought. “If and when Jeremy and I have children, they won’t be raised on a starship. If anything they will be raised in the safety of Ceres where I know no harm can come to them.”

  Ariel nodded her youthful head in agreement. “I won’t always be on a warship,” she spoke in a soft and yearning voice. “I really enjoyed my time on the old Avenger with Jeremy’s father and yours, Katie. It was an exciting time, especially when the Fleet Academy came into existence.”

  Katie only nodded. Well did she remember those days and how she had tricked Ariel into helping her stow away on the New Horizon. In those youthful days, she had a crush on Jeremy. What fifteen-year-old wouldn’t have? It also made her feel sad thinking about her mother and father. It had been a hard decision to go into cryosleep and leave them behind.

  “What about you, Katie?” asked Ariel, focusing her attention on her blonde friend with the light green eyes. “When are you and Kevin going to have children?”

  “Whoa, girl!” Katie spoke her face growing red. “Kevin and I haven’t even discussed marriage yet!”

  “You’ve discussed having a life together after the war,” Ariel pointed out.

  “You’ve been listening to our private conversations again,” Katie said accusingly.

  “A few,” Ariel confessed.

  “Before we can even discuss children, we need to survive this mission of Jeremy’s,” Kelsey added with deep concern in her voice. Jeremy had told her what he planned to do, and she was not pleased with his decision; it was just too risky.

  “Jeremy has suggested that you, Angela, and Katie not go,” Ariel reminded her.

  “We’re the Special Five,” Katie put in. “We do everything together. I’m not letting Jeremy and Kevin go off on this mission without me!”

  “Me neither,” added Kelsey, nodding her head in agreement. “Besides, he may need us if something goes wrong. I’m the best navigator in the fleet and Katie is by far the best computer expert we have.”

  Ariel nodded. She had expected this answer. “It will be dangerous, but I think we can do it. I've been running battle simulations all day and if the H
ocklyns stay out of the battle, I think we can take out the AIs.”

  “What if the Hocklyns intervene?” Katie asked, her light green eyes looking worried.

  “Then none of us will be coming back,” replied Ariel, in a softer voice.

  -

  “You don’t have to go,” Jeremy was telling Angela in the Command Center. You, Kelsey, and Katie can stay here at the space station where you'll be safe.”

  “You know where you can put that idea,” responded Angela, shaking her head in rejection. “What would my marine captain think if I didn’t go on this mission?”

  Jeremy frowned in frustration. He knew, after talking to Ariel, that there was nearly a fifty percent chance the Avenger would not be returning from this mission. He'd hoped to protect the girls by allowing them to stay on the space station. In hindsight, he should have known better. Particularly after all they had been through together.

  “Get a good night’s sleep,” Jeremy spoke as he turned away. “It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”

  Going back over to the command console, he saw Kevin waiting for him. “She turned you down also, didn’t she?”

  “Yeah,” Jeremy replied as he sat down. “I don’t know about those three girls; I just want them to be safe.”

  “They wouldn’t be the people they are if they'd accepted,” said Kevin, earnestly. “That’s why you’re in love with Kelsey and I’m in love with Katie.”

  “You’re right,” admitted Jeremy, knowing what Kevin had said was true.

  He leaned back in his command chair and thought about his father. Admiral Jason Strong had found the crashed spaceship Avenger on the Moon, later formed the Fleet Academy, and then along with Kati’s dad Greg had gone on to help form the New Human Federation of Worlds. He wondered what his dad would have said about the current situation.

  “We will launch our attack at 0800 in the morning,” Jeremy said after a moment. “All strikecruiser commanders have reported that essential repairs will have been completed by then.”

  Kevin nodded. He ran his left hand through his fiery red hair. “I just hope Admiral Streth is on his way; if not we won’t last much longer.”

  “So do I,” replied Jeremy, looking over at his best friend. “If Admiral Streth and the relief force aren’t here in another two weeks I’m afraid the battle for Careth will be over.”

  -

  Commodore Krilen had just finished talking to War Leader Versith. Versith was very unhappy with the way the last battle had been fought. Krilen had gone against the War Leader’s advice and divided the fleet. He'd never dreamed that the Carethians would use suicide tactics to defend their world. In hindsight, he knew he should have known better. From the records, it was reported that the Carethians were a very ferocious species and would do anything to protect their females and young.

  “War Leader Versith is still angry,” spoke Krilen, looking over at First Leader Angoth. “I should have listened to him and not split the fleet.”

  “What now?” Angoth asked, his cold, dark eyes focusing on the commodore. “It will be another seventy hours before the fleet has finished enough repairs to go on the offensive again.”

  “I have asked Versith to come up with a new battle plan,” replied Krilen, letting out a long, rasping breath. He gazed down at the six digits on his left hand and then made a tight fist, feeling the long nails dig into his palm. “The AIs are also not pleased with my decision to withdraw; they feel that the Humans are nearing the end of their supply of those sublight missiles that have destroyed so many of our ships.”

  “What did they say?” Angoth asked with interest as his eyes strayed to a large viewscreen on the front wall of the War Room that was focused on one of the huge 1,500-meter spheres of their masters.

  “We will not be allowed to withdraw during the next attack,” Krilen replied in a quieter voice. “If we do, the AIs say they will destroy all of our surviving ships themselves.”

  Angoth nodded, not surprised by this revelation. “This war with the Humans has changed many things already. We now know the AIs are not as invincible as we were once led to believe.”

  “Even our honor system is changing,” Krilen added, his right hand instinctively touching the long knife in its protective scabbard at his waist. “Honor is no longer our first priority; it has now become doing what we must to preserve the Empire.”

  Krilen allowed his eyes to roam across the busy War Room. Numerous Hocklyns were manning their consoles and coordinating repairs across the fleet. He'd already sent a request back to the High Council asking for more ships, explaining that the defenses protecting Careth were much more powerful than originally thought. He didn’t know how the High Council would react to his request or if the ships could get here in time.

  -

  Jeremy was sitting behind the command console watching the main viewscreens. They showed a sea of stars ahead as the Avenger and the other seven strikecruisers moved slowly out toward the edge of the planet’s gravity well.

  “All ships report ready for jump into hyperspace,” Colonel Malen reported from her position in front of the tactical display.

  “How close can you put us to the AIs?” asked Jeremy, looking over at Ariel.

  Ariel got that faraway look in her eyes as she checked on the latest data from the two stealth scouts that were still watching system K-774. “If they stay in their current location, I can put all eight strikecruisers within three thousand kilometers of the AIs.”

  Jeremy nodded. He looked over at Kelsey, who was busily inputting the jump coordinates into the system that she and Ariel were constantly updating. He could feel his pulse quickening and his breathing becoming more rapid. Jeremy knew this next battle could well decide their survival as well as the Carethians.

  One thing that Jeremy had done was place Rear Admiral Marks in charge of the defense of Careth. He had full confidence that she would do everything in her power to protect the planet. He'd said his goodbyes to Grayseth; the large bear had gripped Jeremy’s hand tightly and swore that Jeremy would always be a member of the bear’s family clan.

  “Ten minutes until we reach the edge of the gravity well,” Kevin reported in a steady voice. He looked back at Katie, who was busy at her computer console. He felt more nervous than usual about going into battle. He really wished the girls had agreed to stay behind, but he understood why they hadn’t.

  “Devastator Threes are loaded in all missile tubes,” Lieutenant Charles Preston the tactical officer reported. “Ready to fire on your orders.”

  The minutes slowly passed and then Ariel announced, “We’re clear of the gravity well and can jump. AIs are still holding their same position.”

  “Jump!” ordered Jeremy, clenching his jaw tightly.

  In front of the eight strikecruisers swirling blue-white spatial vortexes formed. Ariel had full control of the navigation systems of all the ships and expertly maneuvered them into the vortexes. Moments later, the vortexes collapsed in upon themselves and there were no sign of the ships or the vortexes.

  -

  Grayseth let out a deep and heavy breath as he watched Admiral Strong’s ships jump into hyperspace. In many ways, he had wanted to accompany Jeremy on this mission, but he knew his place was here, defending Careth. “Hunt well, my friend,” Grayseth spoke in a soft voice. He hoped his Human friend would return.

  -

  In system K-774, seven AI ships floated twenty million kilometers distant from the Hocklyn fleet. Two of the AI ships were damaged and undergoing repairs. The Command AI watched as the status of the two ships continued to change as repairs to various systems were completed.

  “Some of the Human ships have jumped,” the AI at the sensors reported, the glowing orb that served as its head glowing brightly.

  The Command AI turned to study the sensors. “They may be trying to escape,” it commented as it studied the data from the sensors. They had been using their long-range sensors to monitor the system. The maximum effective range was four
light years and due to the distance, it was difficult to ascertain the ship types that had left.

  “This battle must end quickly,” the AI next to the weapons console added. “If the Altons and Humans show up to rescue those we have trapped here we will have no choice but to withdraw.”

  “I have already instructed Commodore Krilen that the next attack will be the final one. He will not be allowed to withdraw again.”

  The room seemed to be filled with electricity as the AIs contemplated what it meant to find living Altons. The Altons had created the AIs thousands of years in the past. It had been believed that the ancient race had died out. It had been a massive shock to the AIs to learn that some Altons had survived and allied themselves with the Humans.

  “I have spoken to AI Command and they are developing a plan to deal with our creators,” the Command AI responded as he waved one of his metal tentacles at the Communications console. “Our ships in the galactic center are even now being equipped with additional advanced weapons and more powerful shields. Next time our ships encounter the Altons, they will find their weapons will not be quite so dangerous to our ships.”

  “What about the Great Project?” another AI asked. “We must complete it as soon as possible.”

  “Work on the project has been speeded up,” the Command AI reported. “The first tests should begin within the next year.”

  “Finally,” the AI at the sensors spoke. “We will be rid of the organic races once and for all.”

  -

  Jeremy stared impassively at the counter on the bottom of the tactical display. It was a forty-minute trip to system K-774. Without the help of Ariel and Kelsey, it would have been impossible to plot a jump with the accuracy they were attempting.

  “Two minutes to jump termination,” Colonel Malen reported as she checked the different control stations using her mini-com. “All stations report combat ready. Missiles are loaded and power beams are standing by to be charged.”

  Jeremy nodded as he clenched and unclenched his fists. There were seven AI ships waiting for them and he had eight strikecruisers. In normal situations, he wouldn’t stand a chance. However, he had Ariel and she would have full control over the Avenger and the Nemesis in the attack. She'd already demonstrated her ability to destroy AI ships, but this would be the first time she would be taking on more than one.