Castle Vroman

by Thomas DePrima

  Jenetta had decided there was nothing to be gained by dialogue with the Milori. The attacks were timed so that both ships would reach their target just seconds apart in the very early hours of the day according to Milori military time. Jenetta expected that the work force might be smaller and that those on duty might be sleepy. The two ships left their deployment points at the same instant and, if all went according to plan, their attack would be a complete surprise. As far as Jenetta knew, no one had spotted them yet, but she was aware that the Milori had thought their surprise was complete when they attacked Stewart. A spy in the Hudeerac or Gondusan hierarchy could have warned the Milori of the September 15th attack, which is why Jenetta planned her attack for the 14th.

  After confirming that the Yangtze was ready to commence its assault, Jenetta directed the Colorado's first attack run immediately upon reaching the shipyards around the third planet.

  The physical magnitude of the shipyard was staggering and dwarfed the Space Command facility at Mars. Five hundred spacedocks floated in orbit around the planet. All open docks contained ships in various states of completion— from bare, incomplete skeletons to ships that already wore their outer skin and markings. It was reasonable to assume the enclosed docks were likewise filled.

  Jenetta was mistaken with her expectation that this would be the slowest part of the workday. She couldn't have known that the Milori worked full shifts around the clock.

  The laser gunners aboard the Colorado targeted the Sub-Light engines and temporal envelope generators of the nearly completed ships tethered in open docks first, thus ensuring the ships couldn't move under their own power. As the attack progressed, torpedo gunners fired volleys into the bodies. With their engine sections destroyed, and huge, gaping holes in the mid-sections, there was little likelihood the ships would be going anywhere under their own power very soon. Next, they targeted the closed docks, blasting the structures to scrap, and the partially completed ships with them. Lastly, they destroyed the open docks that contained the new keels and skeletons.

  As the Colorado and the Yangtze conducted their attacks, laser cannons mounted on floating satellites opened fire on the two small ships. A scan of the area hadn't detected the presence of any mines and the dense ring of defense satellites would be ignored unless one suddenly launched a torpedo.

  The Colorado overflew the shipyards repeatedly while the gunners rained destruction down upon the enemy docks. Small shuttles and single occupant transports scattered in every direction as they tried to escape the devastation as quickly as their engines would take them. Complete pandemonium would not be an overstatement.

  Lasting just eighteen minutes, the destruction was complete. What wasn't utterly destroyed, was twisted and broken beyond any practical use. The Colorado had just set the Milori battleship and cruiser program back at least several annuals.

  "The Yangtze reports mission completed, Admiral," the com operator said. "They're proceeding to Milor."

  "Understood. Helm, take us to Milor.

  * * *

  "My Lord, wake up," Exalted Lord Space Marshall Berquyth said as he gently shook his emperor. The emperor's attendants had been too afraid to awaken him after they learned of the attack from the War Planning Chamber secretary.

  "Wha— who is it?"

  "It's Berquyth, my Lord. There's been an attack."

  "Attack?" he said groggily. "Tell me about it in the morning," he mumbled as he rolled over and tried to fall asleep again.

  "But it's the shipyards around Behrooth and Klessith."

  The emperor stirred, then threw off the covers and sat up. "Did you say Behrooth and Klessith?"

  "Yes, my Lord. Both shipyards were attacked."

  "Was there any serious damage?"

  "I'm afraid that it's very serious. We're still trying to get an accurate picture, but it appears the yards have been completely destroyed."

  The Emperor bellowed at the top of his lungs and his attendants ran from the room. He was fully awake now and he fairly leaped out of bed as he screamed, "Who is responsible for this, the Hudeeracs or the Gondusans? I'll have the heads of all their leaders for this assault."

  "We're not sure yet, my Lord. The attack ended just minutes ago, and we're still trying to piece things together. We're downloading all the security footage now. We should have an image of the ships soon and then we'll know who is responsible."

  The Emperor had pulled on a robe and was striding towards the doors with Berquyth a couple of steps behind him. The emperor's attendants huddled in the outer room, trying to appear invisible.

  A group of very sleepy ministers and military leaders, still in their bedclothes, instantly sat up straight when Maxxiloth entered the War Planning Chamber beneath the palace minutes later.

  "Have we identified the attackers yet," Maxxiloth screamed, "and have ALL the new ships been destroyed?"

  The Minister of State said, "Our information is that the yards were completely destroyed. What's left of the ships would require more repair work than the effort to build them new. The space docks are in a shambles."

  "And who is responsible?"

  "The technicians are still working to enhance the downloaded security logs. Here's the best vid of the bunch," he said as he pointed to the large monitor at the front of the room. A dark image appeared to streak by as explosions illuminated the background. "You can see the ship was painted black. It came in fast, with all exterior lights off, using the shadow from the planet to screen it. It was over the yard before anyone knew it was there. It made pass after pass, firing its torpedoes and laser cannons until every ship was destroyed and then sped off, disappearing into the blackness of space."

  "A black ship— obviously designed for just this type of mission," Maxxiloth said thoughtfully. "Then it attacked the other yard?"

  "No, my Lord, there were two of them. They followed the same plan of attack."

  "So it was well planned, coordinated, and probably rehearsed," Maxxiloth said. "That would seem to point to the Hudeeracs."

  The phone near the Minister of State rang and he answered it. "The technicians have completed their work," he said after hanging up. "The enhanced image will appear on the screen in a second. It shows a single frame from the log, with the ship clearly outlined by explosions behind it. Ah, there it is."

  The black image of either the Colorado or the Yangtze materialized on the monitor. Appearing much like a silhouette, the outline was solidly defined, but the features of the ship were indistinct. The enhancement work had only been able to make it somewhat distinguishable.

  "That's nothing like Hudeerac or Gondusan warships," Maxxiloth said.

  "No, my Lord," Berquyth said, filled with dread, "it's a Space Command destroyer. I recognize the distinctive shape."

  "Space Command?" Maxxiloth screamed. "How did Space Command destroyers get here?"

  "They must have dispatched ships after the first invasion attempt and hidden them in our space, just as we hid ships in theirs."

  "Obviously they're better at hiding ships than we are, Berquyth, since they found ours before we could attack the designated targets."

  "My Lord," the Minister of Defense said, "ships matching this description intercepted and incapacitated the Xiouthet before it could leave Galactic Alliance space. The captain of the Xiouthet reported they were impervious to laser cannon fire."

  Berquyth's eyes began shooting daggers of enmity towards the Minister of Defense.

  "That's consistent with reports from the shipyards, my Lord," the Minister of State said. "They report the ships were struck thousands of times, but never slowed or altered their attack. They never even fired at the ring of defense satellites, and acted as if the laser strikes meant nothing."

  "It sounds like that material we heard about several annuals ago," Maxxiloth said. "What was it called? Dakinium?"

  "Yes," the Minister of State said, "Space Command was reported to be experimenting with it as hull plating for their ships."

  "If their
ships are now covered with this Dakinium, it could explain how they defeated our invasion force while suffering so little damage," the Minister of Defense said.

  "We must get our hands on one," Maxxiloth said. "Recall all ships immediately. We must capture or destroy one of these ships at all costs so it can be studied."

  "The nearest ships are fourteen solars away," Berquyth said, "on their way to fight the Hudeeracs and Gondusans. By the time they return, the Space Command ships can lay waste to half our planet."

  Maxxiloth blanched.

  "And what about the Hudeeracs and Gondusans?" the Minister of Defense asked.

  "These Space Command ships represent a greater threat than all the ships in the Hudeerac and Gondusan fleets," Maxxiloth said. "I want them destroyed immediately."

  "Let's send out our fighters," the Minister of State said.

  "To what end?" asked Berquyth. "Fighters don't carry torpedoes, just small rockets. If the Space Command vessels are impervious to laser fire, they'll probably shrug off the rockets as well. We have no ships, my Lord, other than a few transports, shuttles, and space tugs. You ordered even our home guard to the borders."

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-One

  ~ September 15th, 2280 ~

  "Com, see if you can contact their military," Jenetta said, as the Colorado took up a position well outside the planet's protective minefield, directly opposite the Yangtze, which had established an orbit track on the other side of the planet.

  After a couple of minutes the com operator said, "I have a rather rude Milora on the com, Admiral."

  "Put it up, Chief, and feed the signal to the Yangtze."

  "Who are you and why are you using a military frequency?" the nasty looking Milora said, although to human eyes it was difficult to find one that wasn't nasty looking.

  "This is the GSC Colorado. We just destroyed your major shipyards and now I want to speak to your Emperor. Put us through."

  The Milora stared for a few seconds as if he couldn't believe his ears. He had undoubtedly heard about the attacks on the shipyards by now. "The Emperor will be asleep at this hour."

  "I doubt that, but if he is, wake him."

  "Terran scum does not dictate orders to the Milori military."

  Jenetta turned slightly to look at the com operator. "Com, tell the Yangtze to commence its attack. Torpedo gunners, you have your target lists. Commence firing." It hadn't been necessary for Jenetta to give the command to the com operator because the Yangtze was already seeing and hearing both sides of the communication. She did it for the benefit of the Milora. Facing front again, she said, "When your Emperor is awake and ready to talk, you know what frequency we'll be monitoring." Looking towards the com chief, she gave the signal to cut the contact.

  Jenetta sat back in her chair as the Colorado's torpedo gunners went to work. Special high-yield torpedoes threaded their way through the minefield before falling like rain upon the planet. Directed against weapon production facilities, ordnance depots, and military installations, each high-yield device sprouted a non-radioactive mushroom-like cloud where the target had stood unscathed just seconds before. As she watched the explosions from high above, Jenetta reminded herself that the Milori had intended exactly such death and destruction for Earth. The thought made it easier to deal with the death and misery she was sowing.

  The Colorado had completed just one-half revolution of the planet before the com operator said, "I'm receiving a signal from the surface. They want to speak to the commanding officer."

  "Put it up," Jenetta said.

  Instantly, the image of Emperor Maxxiloth jumped into focus on the large screen at the front of the bridge. "You?" he screamed, upon recognizing Jenetta.

  "Yes, me. I understand you've ordered all your space marshals to bring back my head. I thought I'd give you a good look at what you won't be getting." She turned her head from side to side so he could see her profiles before she turned to stare at him again.

  "I order you to stop this attack immediately!"

  "I will, when I receive your unconditional surrender."

  "Never!"

  "I'm sorry you've taken that attitude, but it's hardly surprising."

  "I'll have your head for this!"

  "So you've been saying for years. But it looks like your head is the one on the chopping block."

  "I demand you stop your attack immediately!" Maxxiloth was foaming a bit at the mouth by now. He wasn't used to having someone ignore his ranting and refuse his orders. For the first time in his life, he was powerless to control all events around him.

  "When you surrender unconditionally, we'll stop the attack."

  "Never! I'll never surrender! We'll fight to the last Milora! You just wait until my ships get here. I'll have your head, Carver."

  "You know how to contact me when you're ready to surrender," Jenetta said, giving the sign to the com operator to cut the connection.

  "Think he'll capitulate?" Lt. Commander Gallagher asked from his chair next to Jenetta.

  "No, not a chance. It's as he said, he'll fight to the last Milora. He cares nothing for his people; he only cares about power, and will sacrifice anyone and everyone to get it. I mentally prepared myself for this situation before we left Stewart. There're only two ways to bring about the fall of a tyrannical dictator like Maxxiloth. One is to destroy the empire's infrastructure throughout this sector and the other sectors he controls. We'll have to destroy all his ships and military resources, leaving him nothing to command. It's a daunting task for two small ships."

  Lt. Commander Gallagher nodded. "And the other way?"

  Jenetta looked at him. "Through a palace revolt or military coup when his subjects decide they wish an end to the death and destruction."

  After a dozen orbits of the Milori home world, the two ships had successfully destroyed all of their primary targets and a few of their more important secondary targets. A few torpedoes had failed to make it through the minefield, so they simply destroyed the target on the next pass. The news media all over the planet was pleading for a cessation of hostilities and, as was to be expected in a totalitarian society, announcing enormous death tolls from the enemy's unprovoked and deliberate attacks on hospitals, schools, shopping centers, housing complexes, sports arenas, and other civilian locations. They uttered not a single word about the destruction of the two shipyards, and kept narration about the attacks on military installations to a minimum. But the population wasn't blind, deaf, and dumb to the real carnage around them. Jenetta ordered the destruction to continue until they destroyed all designated secondary targets. If their media wouldn't report the stories honestly, she would see that they didn't report them at all. The secondary targets largely consisted of power plants, broadcasting facilities and towers, and telecommunications facilities. She purposely bypassed the communication satellites in orbit.

  "Confirming all targets destroyed, Admiral," Commander Fannon said.

  "Good work, Captain. We've completed our objectives as well."

  "I would never have believed we would accomplish that without at least one warship making an appearance."

  "It would seem Maxxiloth hasn't much of a military mind. He apparently sent all of his ships off in response to the diversion. If that's true, we'll have at least two weeks of uninterrupted activity. Proceed to the next group of targets on your list that are closest to our estimated position of their outbound warships and commence action. Then work you way down the list for as long as you're able. If you run into any serious problems, break off and proceed to the designated rendezvous point using a zigzag course so they can't plot your travel."

  "Aye, Admiral. Good hunting. See you at the RP."

  "And to you, Captain."

  As the Colorado traveled to its next target, one that the outbound Milori fleet had already passed, Jenetta prepared and sent a report to Admiral Moore about the evening's activities, appending both the Colorado and the Yangtze video logs for the engagement period and the brief conversa
tion with Maxxiloth. It would take more than three weeks for the message to reach Earth, given the distance involved.

  She next prepared reports for the Gondusan and Hudeerac leadership, including video log data from the attacks on the shipyards. She knew the images would hearten their military leaders and show them they had chosen correctly when deciding to back the Space Command initiative.

  * * *

  As Jenetta had predicted, it took two weeks for the Milori ships dispatched in response to the diversions to return to the heart of the empire. The Colorado and the Yangtze had attacked targets nearest the outbound ships and then worked their way back towards Milor, destroying all targets as they moved and drawing the returning Milori ships after them. They continued with their attacks after passing Milor and the Milori warships followed. Their ability to travel to each objective at Light-9375 always kept them well ahead of the Milori fleet. The Milori home guard, pursuing in the Empire's oldest and slowest ships, never had a chance of catching the small SC vessels. The Colorado and the Yangtze had ample time to destroy their targets without interruption.

  The Milori may have felt they were driving Space Command out of their territory, but Jenetta's plan was simply to scatter the ships across the sector. She knew that Maxxiloth, having been attacked once at home, wouldn't permit all the ships to pursue Jenetta. He would hold back part of his force for home defense, not that there was anything left to defend, except his own person. The Milori were struggling to cope with a world in darkness, having lost most of their power and telecommunications systems in the planetary attacks. Military, governmental, and public service facilities such as hospitals had power available from emergency generators, but the civilian population was generally without power unless they were fortunate enough to live near small generating stations that hadn't been listed as a secondary target in the attack.

  Following the initial attack on Milor, and allowing for the distance that the messages had to travel, Jenetta received word from both the Hudeeracs and Gondusans that the Milori had broken off their attacks as soon as news arrived about the attack on their home world. Both allies reported they were retaking their former territories from the Milori personnel who remained on bases and space stations.