Colonel Trist nodded. He knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as that. It never was. “Do we launch our fighters and bombers?”
“No,” replied Hedon, slowly. Then, looking at his two subordinates, he added, “Have the carriers in both fleets move to the center of our formations for maximum protection. We have a long trip back home and we may need them later.” He didn’t want his two subordinates to know how concerned he was. If these ships they were about to engage had a lot of the sublight antimatter missiles, it could be disastrous.
“What about the Altons?” Trist asked. He knew they would be the key to their escape. There were Alton ships in both fleet formations and they still had plenty of the large sublight antimatter missiles.
“Captain Duncan, contact Admiral Cleeteus,” Hedon ordered. “I need to speak with him.” They needed to come up with a battle plan and quickly. Already, the forward ships in both fleets were beginning to exchange weapons fire.
-
Commodore Versith gazed at the tactical display noting that if the Human ships did not slow down, his pursuing ships would not be able to catch them. Commodores Tantil and Parco had joined their ships to his command and he now had a sizable force with which to attack the Humans.
“Fleet Commodore Resmunt must slow the Human ships,” War Leader Trion rasped, his cold dark eyes looking inquiringly at Versith. “They are still far outside of our weapons range.”
“The Humans won’t slow down,” Versith said as he studied data on his command console. He knew that if he were in the Humans' situation, he wouldn’t.
His large eyes narrowed as he thought over his options. He could launch his fighters; they could probably catch the Human ships before they jumped into hyperspace. But he had nothing to arm them with that could cause any significant damage.
“Honor escapes us,” Trion spoke solemnly, knowing there was nothing they could do to change that. It would be disappointing to watch Fleet Commodore Resmunt engage the Humans knowing they would not be able to play a significant part in the battle.
“For today, honor will have to wait,” Versith agreed, as he watched the tactical display, noting that the Humans would shortly be in engagement range of the main part of Fleet Commodore Resmunt forces. He'd already sent Resmunt a message suggesting that multiple Hocklyn ships target individual Human vessels so as to be able to bring down their energy screens.
Second Leader Jaseth watched in frustration as the Human ships stayed just outside the reach of his weapons. He had no more of the powerful sublight missiles to throw at them, but he had lesser missiles that might do damage. His large reptilian eyes moved across his console, seeking a weapon that could reach the Humans, but there were none. His seething anger against the Humans would have to wait for another day to be fed.
-
In space, the Federation ships rapidly closed with the waiting Hocklyn fleet. At every moment, more Hocklyn warships were beginning to enter the gravity well of Kenward Seven in an attempt to stop the Human ships or, at the very least, slow them down so Commodore Versith and his fleets could come within range.
The Human fleets closed up their formation, gathering their battlecarriers in the center where they would be the most protected. Missile tubes were loaded and all targeting systems were active. Crews waited tensely as the fleets neared.
“Standby to fire,” Hedon ordered as he checked the tactical displays once more. “Concentrate our remaining antimatter missiles on the Hocklyn’s dreadnoughts and our Devastator Threes upon their warcruisers. I want all tubes reloaded as quickly as possible and fired again. Continue to do so until we are down to ten percent of our Devastator Threes.”
“Are you sure you want to use all of our antimatter missiles?’ Colonel Trist asked uneasily. “We won’t be able to replenish them until we return to Careth.”
“Yes,” responded Hedon, decisively. “I want to hurt the Hocklyn fleet as much as possible and the antimatter missiles are our best option.”
“Antimatter missiles loaded and Devastator Threes on standby,” Major Weir reported. “We'll be in weapons range of the main Hocklyn fleet formation in twenty seconds.”
Hedon glanced over at Janice; he could see that her face was full of worry. Hell, he didn’t blame her. He just hoped they were both still alive when this was over. There was obvious anxiety on a number of faces in the Command Center as they contemplated the massive Hocklyn fleet ahead of them. This fleet was larger than the one that had attacked New Tellus. They all knew what had happened there and the massive losses suffered by the Federation.
“Weapons range,” Major Weir reported.
“Fire!” ordered Hedon, gripping the armrests of his command chair and leaning forward.
“Antimatter missiles launching,” Tactical reported.
From the StarStrike and the other Federation capital ships there were brief blurs of movement in the missile tubes as the deadly sublight missiles launched. From every battlecruiser, battlecarrier, and strikecruiser the deadly missiles took aim at the Hocklyn fleet. From the Monarchs, Devastator Threes launched. Their targets were the large dreadnoughts and warcruisers that stood in the way of the fleet’s escape.
For several heart-stopping seconds, time seemed to slow, and then massive explosions began tearing apart the Hocklyn fleet formation as the powerful missiles started detonating. All twenty of the dumbbell shaped Alton battlecruisers were launching antimatter missiles in rapid-fire mode. Their Human crews were showing no mercy toward the Hocklyns as they rained death upon dreadnought after dreadnought. One hundred-megaton explosions rolled across the Hocklyn fleet, obliterating warships.
-
Fleet Commodore Resmunt seethed in anger as his ships died. Every fighter the fleet had was launching, but the sublight missiles were so fast they barely registered on the targeting systems before they struck their targets. On one of the main viewscreens, he watched as the dreadnought Anvil's Heart burned. The ship struggled for a few more seconds and then its self-destructs went off, finishing its destruction. Resmunt had formed both of his fleets into one massive formation in order to deny the Humans any possibility of escape.
“We’ve lost twenty-eight dreadnoughts and thirty-four warcruisers,” First Leader Ganth uttered in disbelief at the carnage ravishing the fleet.
“But they’re in range of our weapons now,” Resmunt responded his eyes glittering dangerously. “Fire all weapons, particularly any antimatter weapons our ships might still possess.”
Unfortunately, their AI antimatter missiles were few in number and not all dreadnoughts and warcruisers had them. Resmunt knew if his ships had more of the deadly missiles that the Human fleets advancing on his formation could easily be destroyed. As it was, once the few antimatter missiles they had were launched they would have to rely on more conventional weapons to destroy the Humans.
-
The fighting between the fleets grew more intense as the ships began to penetrate each other’s formation. Antimatter missiles from both sides were now knocking down energy screens with impunity. On the Humans’ side, a single missile would knock a screen down and often damage or destroy the unfortunate Hocklyn ship. On the Hocklyns’ side, it took several missiles to knock down a Human screen, which was then followed up by energy beams, standard nuclear missiles, and railgun rounds.
The battlecruisers Redstar and Harding were the current focus of the Hocklyn attack. Numerous 50-megaton antimatter missiles smashed away their shields and then energy beams and railgun rounds began tearing the hulls apart. Several well placed nuclear missiles finished the two battlecruisers off as nuclear fireballs reduced them to shattered wrecks.
-
“Battlecruisers Redstar and Harding are down,” reported Captain Reynolds, trying to sound calm. Those were not the first ships to be lost and he knew they wouldn't be the last. He swallowed loudly as he saw two light cruiser icons swell up and vanish from his screen. “Light cruisers Vanity and Serenity are down.”
“All ships, contin
ue to fire,” Hedon ordered his face taking on a grim look. “All ships are to jump as soon as they clear the gravity well.” They had no choice but to bull their way through the blockading Hocklyn fleet and hope for the best.
“More Hocklyn ships are coming within range,” Colonel Trist reported as they neared the edge of the gravity well. “All antimatter missiles have been expended except those on the Alton ships. Switching over to Devastator Threes.” He looked intently at the tactical display nearest him as he designated targets to Major Weir. The tactical display was full of red threat icons.
The StarStrike rocked violently as several nuclear missiles detonated against her screens and multiple lights on the damage control board turned a worrisome amber. The ship's weapons continued to fire unabated.
“We could use the particle beam weapons,” suggested Colonel Grissim, holding on to one of the tactical projection tables as the ship shuddered violently once again and several lights on the damage control board turned from amber to red.
“Those are for the AIs,” replied Hedon, shaking his head. “Continue to fire Devastator Threes. They will be more effective against the Hocklyns than the particle beam weapons.”
Hedon’s heart was racing as his gaze shifted to each of the two colonels, he could see the growing worry on their faces. “We’ll make it,” he said determinedly. “Another few minutes and we'll be out of the gravity well.”
-
In space, weapons fire grew even heavier. Antimatter missiles, Devastator Threes, Hocklyn nuclear missiles, power beams, energy beams, pulse laser beams, and railguns were all in heavy use. The Hocklyn fighters had moved away from both fleets as the weapons fire was too intense to survive between them.
Four Hocklyn antimatter missiles struck the strikecruiser Dayton. For a brief moment, her shields resisted and then failed. Part of the ship’s hull became molten hot as her desperate crew rushed to bring the shields back online. Then railgun rounds began smashing into the vulnerable hull, tearing huge, jagged rents in the armor. There were screams throughout the ship as crewmembers were sucked out into the dark vacuum of space.
The ship’s commander saw the damage control board aglow with red warning lights. The Command Center was full of smoke and he knew his ship was dying around him. Two blue energy beams reached out from a nearby Hocklyn warcruiser, cutting deeply into the ship and wrecking Engineering. Moments later, the valiant ship died in a blaze of light as its nuclear self-destructs detonated.
In the Hocklyn fleet, the deluge of antimatter weapons had decreased as the Human ships ran out, but now the Humans were launching Devastator Threes, which were almost as bad. The death of Hocklyn ships had slowed some, but space was already full of burning and dying ships.
-
“Strikecruiser Dayton is down,” Captain Reynolds reported in an emotionless voice. Too often in the last few minutes, he'd reported the death of Federation warships. He knew that each time he called out a ship’s name it meant that hundreds of Federation fleet personnel had died.
“Our forward ships are starting to exit the gravity well,” Colonel Grissim informed Admiral Streth. She felt relieved that some of the ships were finally reaching safely. Now if just the rest of them could make it.
Suddenly, another alarm sounded on the main sensor console. Immediately a multitude of alarm klaxons began to sound and red lights began to flash.
“What is it?” demanded Hedon, looking intently over at the sensor console and Captain Reynolds. Were the AIs jumping back in?
“We have numerous spatial vortexes opening just behind the Hocklyn fleet,” Reynolds stammered as he tried to make sense of his sensor readings. “There are large ships exiting hyperspace, but they’re not in our data base.”
“Another alien race?” Trist asked his face looking concerned.
“It can’t be another alien race,” Colonel Grissim uttered as she gazed at the new threat icons appearing in the display feeling a knot growing in her stomach. Just when she thought they might escape to safety, they were now facing another new and unknown threat.
“I have an emergency message from Admiral Cleeteus,” Captain Duncan interrupted. “He reports the new aliens are Borzon. They are one of the other proxy races that serve the AIs in another sector of the galaxy. He says their ships are better armed than the Hocklyns and they possess a rudimentary sublight missile.”
“We need to get out of here!” Colonel Trist spoke with conviction, his eyes focusing on Hedon. “We’re out of antimatter missiles and even the Altons are beginning to run low. We can’t fight this new fleet as well as the Hocklyns.”
“I know,” Hedon replied, his eyes turning toward one of the main viewscreens showing one of the new ships. It was slender in design, and sensors estimated it at 1,200 meters in length. “Order all ships to break off contact with the Hocklyns and to go to max acceleration. We need to get out of the gravity well and jump into hyperspace.”
He knew that by breaking off contact it would allow the Hocklyns a better opportunity to fire upon his fleet as it fled. He looked uneasily at the new alien ship displayed on the screen. Where had they come from and what did this mean for the war? He let out a long breath, realizing he had been thrown another curve ball.
The orders were hurriedly passed and the Federation and Alton ships quickly accelerated, fleeing toward the edge of the gravity well and safety.
“The new ships are firing,” Colonel Grissim reported as flashes of light could be seen on the hulls of the Borzon ships. She braced herself against the holographic plotting table, not sure what to expect.
-
The Borzon targeted the Alton battlecruisers. Hundreds of sublight missiles began hitting the shields of the Alton ships. The shields became covered in glowing energy as missile after missile detonated. The Human crews, with the help of the Altons, were intercepting over sixty percent of the inbound missiles, but that still allowed large numbers to reach their targets. On one of the Alton ships, a small hole in the shield developed and a Borzon sublight missile flashed through to explode against the hull. Instantly, hundreds of tons of armor and metal were vaporized and the ship’s shield failed completely. More missiles arrived and the Alton ship died as it was consumed by nuclear fire.
“Alton ship Starlight is down,” Captain Reynolds spoke in a breathless and stunned voice. He had not expected to see an Alton ship destroyed.
“We’re crossing the gravity well,” Colonel Trist reported.
“The new aliens are targeting the Alton battlecruisers,” Colonel Grissim reported as she studied the data coming across her screens. “They’re trying to overwhelm the Alton shields!”
“Initiating jump,” the Navigation officer reported.
Moments later, a blue-white spatial vortex formed in front of the StarStrike and the battleship jumped into the safety of hyperspace. Around her, the rest of the Federation ships and the Altons did likewise. Weapons fire ceased and a sudden eerie silence filled the ship. The viewscreens were now filled with the swirling deep purples of hyperspace and the battle was over.
-
High Leader Nartel smiled in satisfaction at the success of his attack. The Borzons had managed to destroy three of the supposedly indestructible Alton battlecruisers. Of course, it had taken the entire firepower of their fleet to do it.
Nartel turned to War Leader Caltrin and spoke. “Contact Fleet Commodores Resmunt and Versith. I want to meet with them and all of the other commodores immediately.”
He gazed in anger at the tactical display, seeing that all four of the shipyards were gone, destroyed by the Humans and the Altons. All that remained of years of work were shattered ruins. He would look closely at the battle report from Fleet Commodore Resmunt to ensure that everything possible had been done to protect those valuable assets.
The Empire had other shipyards, but Kenward Seven had been the largest and closest to the home worlds. He would order more slaves brought in immediately. The mining operations still existed, and new shipyards
could be built. It would be time consuming, but it would be done. He knew many slaves would die, but the Empire had billions at its disposal. Nartel’s right hand reached down to touch the knife at his waist. The Humans may have won a victory today, but they were soon to face their final defeat.
-
The StarStrike exited hyperspace in system C-315 as numerous other space vortexes opened around her, expelling more Federation and Alton ships.
“Jump complete,” the Navigation officer reported.
“Report all contacts,” barked Hedon as his eyes snapped toward the four tactical displays.
“Picking up only Federation and Alton ships,” Captain Reynolds reported.
“I have Admiral Telleck on the com,” Captain Duncan informed Hedon. “He says he has a number of damaged ships that will need repair time before they can jump again.”
“What about the Alton ships?” Hedon asked as an Alton battlecruiser was displayed on one of the main viewscreens. The ship had a hole in its side as if it had been struck by a giant hammer.
“They lost three battlecruisers with another six damaged,” Colonel Grissim reported. “The Borzons concentrated their attack on the Alton ships, trying to overwhelm their shields.”
“What were the losses to First Fleet and Ceres Fleet?”
Anne took a moment longer to reply as she studied the data coming in on her console. “We lost five battlecruisers, four strikecruisers, six Monarchs, and eighteen light cruisers. Numerous other ships are reporting various degrees of damage.”
Hedon winced at hearing the losses. He'd hoped with the new screens and weapons to get out of Kenward Seven with much lighter losses. There were so many more men and women to haunt his dreams at night. He let out a heavy sigh. Hedon blinked his eyes and looked around the Command Center, taking stock of the situation. For the most part, everyone seemed calm and were going about their jobs.
“We'll stay here for four hours, and then we need to plot a jump to put more distance between us and Kenward Seven,” spoke Hedon, reaching a quick decision. “Once that jump is complete, we'll take a full day to work on repairs and see to our wounded.”
The Slaver Wars: Galactic Conflict Page 25