The Forgotten Empire: Earth Ascendant: Book Two

by Raymond L. Weil

  “The Confederation won’t be expecting this,” commented Captain Banora. “As far as I know, none of the Confederation races use small attack craft.”

  “We just need to figure out how to use them,” replied Derrick. He had a few ideas, and he would try a few things out during the drills he had planned over the next week. “Lieutenant Viktor, as soon as the battlecarriers have joined our formation, set a course for Saturn. We’ll practice a few formations as we go.”

  “What hyperspace jumps are we doing?” asked Audrey.

  Derrick grinned. “I’ve got permission to make a jump to Alpha Centauri. That will give us an entire star system to play around in.”

  Audrey nodded. “That way, if we screw up, no one will notice.”

  “I would rather screw up there than in battle against a Confederation fleet.”

  “I understand some stealthed battlecruisers are setting out for the Human Empire next week.”

  “Yes,” answered Derrick. “Before we launch our attacks, we want to know just what we’re up against. We also need to know the exact locations of the Confederation fleets so we can use our computer virus against them. That attack has to be coordinated, as Linda Martin feels we’ll only have this one chance to use the biggest virus against Confederation fleets. So we want to make it count.”

  -

  Suddenly the Destiny moved, and all of Fifth Fleet accelerated along with the flagship. They were in a long cylindrical formation, with the battlecruisers on the outside and the battlecarriers and the dreadnoughts on the inside. For the next two hours they varied formations and tried not to collide with each other. Fortunately the computer navigation systems would initiate collision-avoidance maneuvers automatically if two warships came too close to one another.

  -

  “Lieutenant Viktor, jump the fleet to the orbit of Pluto on the far side of the system. Captain Banora, as soon as we exit hyperspace, I want the fleet to form up into an attacking wedge formation. We won’t give the other ship captains advance warning. We’ll announce the formation as soon as we drop out of hyperspace.” Derrick would get the fleet used to rapidly changing formations. He didn’t want to become too predictable in battle.

  A minute later Derrick felt the slight wrenching sensation in his gut as the Destiny slipped into hyperspace. Twenty seconds later the flagship dropped back into normal space, her fleet appearing around her.

  “All ships go to formation W1 and prepare for rapid maneuvers,” announced Captain Banora over the fleet comm channel.

  Derrick leaned back in his command chair, his gaze focused on the tactical display as ships moved in every direction. In the background, he could hear Captain Banora barking out orders at ships way out of position or that didn’t seem to know what they were doing. After ten minutes the fleet was finally in its wedge formation.

  “I think we all just died,” commented Derrick over the fleet comm channel. “All ships will regroup into our cylinder formation, and we will do this again. Some of you will be getting messages from myself and Captain Banora on how poorly you just performed. Don’t be so sloppy and so slow again, or you’ll be missing next week’s leave time.”

  -

  For the next hour Derrick and Captain Banora spoke to various ship captains, explaining what they had done wrong. At the end of the hour, Derrick looked at Audrey. “Okay, let’s try this again. Same wedge formation and let’s hope this time it looks more like a wedge than a hurriedly cut slice of pizza.”

  “All ships implement formation W1 immediately,” ordered Banora over the fleet comm.

  Derrick settled back in his command chair, watching the tactical display. This time the fleet managed to get into formation in a little over eight minutes, and the formation was not nearly as ragged as the first time.

  “That was better,” Derrick announced over the fleet comm. “However, it was still not good enough. We need to adjust formations in less than five minutes. Also keep in mind that, while we’re adjusting formation, we may be in a battle and being fired upon. We’ll take thirty minutes before we try again. Once more, during that time, I will be contacting a few ship captains. Captain Banora will be doing the same.”

  -

  For the next three days Fifth Fleet practiced rapidly changing formations. Sometimes they would make a short hyperspace jump and change formations upon emergence. Overall there was steady improvement until the fleet finally getting into the correct formation well under the five minutes Derrick was demanding.

  “We’re getting there,” commented Captain Banora, after the fleet finished forming up into a defensive globe formation.

  Derrick nodded. “I think it’s time for us to make our trip out to Alpha Centauri. Lieutenant Viktor, set a course to drop us near Alpha Centauri’s largest asteroid field. It’s time we did some target practice.” Explorations of Alpha Centauri had revealed three large asteroid fields in the system.

  The announcement was made throughout the fleet, and soon they were ready.

  “Lieutenant Viktor, take us to Alpha Centauri.” Derrick leaned forward, anticipating the hyperspace jump to the Centauri system, which was 4.37 light-years distant. Alpha Centauri A and B were sunlike stars of the G and K class. Alpha Centauri C was a red dwarf, though it did have several planets.

  The Destiny suddenly made the transition into hyperspace for the short journey to the neighboring star. On the tactical display, all the ships of Fifth Fleet surrounded the Destiny. Even in hyperspace, Derrick kept the fleet in a tight formation, so they wouldn’t be scattered upon exiting.

  -

  Twenty minutes passed, and the fleet emerged from hyperspace.

  “Coordinates confirmed,” reported Lieutenant Viktor. “We are two hundred thousand kilometers from the main asteroid swarm.”

  “Put the swarm up on the viewscreen,” ordered Derrick. On the screen several large asteroids appeared. “Captain Banora, launch a target drone and have it land on the largest of those two asteroids.”

  A few minutes later the drone was in position.

  Derrick nodded, satisfied. “Now I want to practice launching our attack interceptors. They are to make strafing runs on that asteroid, as if it were a damaged Druin battlecruiser.”

  -

  On board the battlecarrier Orion, the Condition One alert sounded, sending all the interceptor crews rushing to their ships.

  Captain Barkley was one of the first to reach his waiting interceptor. Crawling into the cockpit, followed by Lieutenant Simmins and Lieutenant Kline, Mathew quickly closed the cockpit and went through his prelaunch checks. “I want to be launched within two minutes,” he said to the other two.

  His interceptor was already lined up, facing one of the launch tubes and being hooked up for a quick launch. Only one more was ahead of his.

  “All systems check out,” reported Rod.

  “Weapons are a go,” added Linda.

  Mathew watched as the interceptor in front of him was pulled into the launching tube. A moment later the hatch to the tube opened, and his fighter was pulled in. “Stand by.”

  Suddenly the launching mechanism engaged, and the interceptor was hurled from the launch tube.

  “Black Dart squadron, form up on me,” Mathew said over the squadron comm system.

  Mathew flew his interceptor in a tight circle around the Orion until all of his squadron was launched and in formation. He activated a beacon, so the rest of his squadron could find his interceptor among all the rest. Looking out the cockpit window, he watched as other interceptors were launched. He knew it would take less than five minutes to clear all four landing bays of their fighter complements.

  After a few minutes, all his interceptors were in formation.

  “All right, everyone, listen up. From now on we will attack in pairs. Stay with your wingman and coordinate your attack runs with each other. Remember. If this were a real Druin battlecruiser, we would be facing considerable defensive fire. As a result, you’re ordered to weave and to vary your angl
e of approach to reduce the chance of being struck by incoming fire. The target for today’s drill is the large asteroid the Destiny has placed a target drone on.”

  Mathew turned his interceptor toward the target, the rest of his squadron following. “Lieutenant Vick, you will make the first run.”

  Lieutenant Vick flew toward the asteroid, followed by his wingman. The two interceptors approached rapidly, weaving a complicated pattern to escape incoming fire. When they reached the asteroid, the two interceptors flew low, firing their twin cannons. Small explosions erupted across the barren and jagged landscape, until the two interceptors pulled up.

  “Not bad,” commented Mathew. “Lieutenant Gains, you’re up next.”

  For the next forty minutes Mathew watched as his squadron tore up large sections of the asteroid. When he was finally satisfied with their performance, he ordered them back to the Orion.

  “We’ll be doing this for the next several days, so we’ll get a lot of flying time in,” Mathew said.

  “The more, the better,” replied Rod. “It won’t be that long until we’re deployed against the Confederation.”

  -

  Derrick nodded as the interceptor squadrons returned to the Orion. They had performed very well in the drill. He planned on staying in the Centauri System for a number of days and do considerable target practicing. All the vessels in his fleet would practice attack runs, as well as more complicated fleet maneuvers. When Fifth Fleet went to the Empire, he planned on being fully ready. He would not let down Princess Layla. He would do everything in his power to restore the Empire and the Royal Monarchy.

  Chapter Eighteen

  It was time. Princess Layla was in the underground Command Center at Pallas, watching the massive viewscreens. The screens showed hundreds of Imperial warships in orbit of the massive asteroid and home of the Human Imperials. Her light-blue eyes focused on one ship in particular. The flagship of the Fifth Fleet, the dreadnought Destiny.

  “They will be leaving shortly,” said Admiral Reynolds.

  Layla nodded. She knew three fleets would head directly for the Empire, as well as a fourth fleet comprised of the two mobile shipyards and numerous cargo ships carrying supplies and missiles for the fleet. That fleet would leave in forty-eight hours. Layla and Krista would be with that fleet on board the stealth destroyer Starburst. It was time to return home.

  “Must you go so soon?” asked Admiral Reynolds. “Wouldn’t it be better for you to wait a few more days?”

  “My people will expect to see me. Even in the time of the Confederation’s invasion of the Empire, my brother led the fleets. I can do no less. I will be where I am needed.”

  “The Fifth Fleet is preparing to enter hyperspace,” reported Captain Moore.

  On the main viewscreen, ships began to vanish. After just a few moments all of Fifth Fleet was gone. Layla felt a sudden loneliness, knowing Derrick was already far away.

  “First Fleet is preparing to jump.”

  More ships vanished from the viewscreen, until only Second Fleet remained.

  “Second Fleet is preparing to jump.”

  The remaining ships were gone, and Layla let out a deep breath. The ships to attempt to free the Empire were now on their way.

  “Well, it’s started,” said Admiral Reynolds. “Let’s hope we’re successful.”

  “How long will it take them to reach the Empire?” asked Councilor Tristan.

  Reynolds turned to face the councilor. “A little over three weeks. They’ll need to rendezvous with the stealth battlecruisers we sent earlier to learn of the location of any Confederation fleets. Then they’ll have to coordinate a synchronous attack to take them out.”

  “What if the virus is ineffective?”

  “Then we’ll have a battle on our hands. We have committed nearly two thousand warships to this attack. If we ever want to free the Empire, this attack cannot fail.”

  Layla knew they were taking a chance. However, if they had waited longer, they risked the chance of the Confederation sending a fleet to destroy the Solar System. This way they had moved the battle away from Earth. Now she would join Krista. It was time for them to prepare for their return to the Empire.

  -

  Cheryl inspected her yacht. She had taken it out of stasis and was in the process of having it updated to modern standards. The same for her two escort ships. Fortunately she was bringing in quite a bit of money from her family restaurants and the more rowdy entertainment bars for the fleet crews. She was anxious to get back to the Empire to see how some of her assets had fared over the years. She had been careful to set them up so they would survive over the long term. Some of them Dylan knew nothing about as they were not totally legit.

  “How soon are you leaving?” asked Major Carter. He stood next to Cheryl, gazing at her yacht. Admiral Reynolds had sent him to check on Cheryl.

  “A few weeks at least. I still need to find crews for my ships.”

  “Why don’t you let the military supply you with your crews? I know some older fleet people who can’t qualify for our battlecruisers and dreadnoughts but would love the opportunity to serve in your ships.”

  Cheryl looked at the major, interested. “Some things I’m involved in are not considered completely legal.”

  Carter laughed. “I’m familiar with your background. I think I can find you three crews who would fit in very well with what you do. Admiral Cleemorl would want to make sure you stay safe. I have a few officers in mind who are a little unscrupulous and would complement your organization.”

  Cheryl nodded. “I don’t condone violence, unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

  Carter nodded. “I think you will like these officers. Why don’t I send them over to the yacht tomorrow, and you can interview them.”

  “Very well, let me see what you’ve got.” Cheryl was curious as to what kind of officers Carter would send her. She wondered what Dylan would think about what she was doing. He would probably disapprove, but she wouldn’t be true to herself if she didn’t do this.

  -

  Admiral Cleemorl was in the Command Center of the dreadnought Themis, thinking about what would happen when they reached the Empire. They had three regions they wanted to take completely from the Confederation. The Mall Star Cluster and its sixteen heavily populated star systems, including the capital of Golan Four. The Vortex Worlds also had a number of Human worlds with heavy industry and large Human populations. Then, of course, the region around Lydol Four, which included Cleetus Three and Bratol Three.

  The attack plans called for eliminating all the main Confederation fleets in the Empire with the advanced virus application and then concentrating on the three Human regions specified to bring in those Humans quickly into the war to aid the Earth Humans. Most of those Human worlds had shipyards and space stations that could be rapidly converted to the war effort.

  “Still thinking about the upcoming battles?” asked Captain Fulmar.

  Dylan nodded. “I wonder if we’re really ready. We have no idea what we may be facing. We have no idea how many warships the Confederation actually has.”

  “What choice do we have?” replied Fulmar. “If we don’t do this now, we’ll never know if we could have freed the Empire. We also have no idea what the Confederation may think about fighting a real interstellar war. In the past they had all the advantages. That won’t be true this time. Our weapons are as powerful as theirs, and our ship crews are well trained. Plus we have the element of surprise.”

  On the main viewscreen, a sea of stars was visible. Very soon they would be in range of the Empire, and the stars would begin to take on familiar patterns. The main tactical display showed the 620 battlecruisers and 30 dreadnoughts in First Fleet. It was a powerful force. Dylan just hoped it was enough.

  -

  Druin Admiral Kreen stood in his Command Center, studying the latest reports from around the Human Empire. There was limited unrest due to the fact the Humans knew what the punishment would be. Overall, t
he Empire was quiet, too quiet.

  “I don’t like this,” said Kreen, looking at First Officer Falorr. “I fear the Confederation is moving too slowly in taking action against these new Humans.”

  “We have the new firewalls,” replied Falorr. “They have been installed in all our ships. We’re ready for them, if they show up here.”

  “I wonder,” responded Kreen. “I want battlecruisers spread out across the Empire to search for any strange or unknown ships. I want a line of battlecruisers out around the Ridge Star Cluster where Highland Station is.”

  Falorr looked confused. “What good will that do? We can’t detect a ship while it’s in hyperspace, unless it’s very close.”

  “No, but if the Humans of Earth are coming here, I strongly suspect they’ll send scouts first. I want to find those scouts. That will tell us an attack is imminent.”

  Falorr slowly nodded his head. “Do we request more battlecruisers from the Confederation or use the ones we already have?”

  “We’ll request more battlecruisers first. If we get no response, then we’ll use our own.”

  Kreen had a very uneasy feeling about these new Humans. They just did not act as a civilized race should. Looking up at the main viewscreen, his fleet was still in orbit around Golan Four. If the Earth Humans did attack, they were bound to make a try for the Human Empire’s former capital. He had already positioned two of his fleets just outside of the space claimed by the former Empire. He would use those two fleets to destroy the Humans if they attempted to use another virus. He felt relatively certain his ships’ new firewalls would protect them, but he would not take any chances. Logic dictated that he consider the possibility that his ships might once more find themselves vulnerable to one of the Earth Humans’ computer weapons.

  -

  Across the Human Empire, twenty stealthed battlecruisers carefully surveyed the main worlds of the Empire. Locations of Druins warships were noted, and stealthed battlecruisers were assigned to track Druin fleets. The battlecruisers stayed at a safe distance to ensure they were not detected. At a given date and time, they would send hyperlight messages with the coordinates of the ships and the fleets they were tracking. Those would be passed on to the attacking fleets fast approaching the Empire.