by Jay Allan
“You’re lucky to have a family like them,” Adrienne said, her eyes looking sad. Her parents had never made it out of Seattle, and she strongly suspected they had died when the first massive tidal wave struck. She just hoped that their deaths had been quick and that they died together.
Mason nodded; he knew that Adrienne was more or less alone with no family in Smithfield. In recent months, she had really dedicated herself to doing her job well. “We need to do this again,” he ventured after a moment. “I really enjoyed myself tonight.”
“I would like that,” responded Adrienne, demurely. She liked Mason and would truly enjoy spending more time with him. It made her feel warm inside knowing she wasn’t quite so alone.
Moments later, they arrived at her apartment complex, and she was surprised when Mason leaned forward and kissed her gently on the cheek.
“See you in the morning,” he said as he turned to go. “I have an early meeting with Marken and General Mitchell. They have something they want to speak to me about.”
Adrienne nodded and watched as Mason left. She wondered where this relationship would go. With a smile, she went inside. Only time would tell.
-o0o-
The next morning, Mason was seated at his desk when Adrienne announced that Marken, General Mitchell, and Major Nelson had arrived. After a moment, she opened the door to his office and ushered them in.
“Hello,” Mason greeted them, rising to his feet. “I understand you want to talk to me.” He gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk and sat back down.
“We have been studying the refugee problem you have,” General Mitchell began after taking a seat. “Even with the Kivean’s advanced technology it’s going to take several years to get the survivors off Earth and during that time we’re going to lose a lot of them.”
Mason sighed and leaned back in his chair. He had seen the reports and the computer estimates that predicted close to thirty percent or more of the people in the camps could die. “I know,” he replied despondently “But unless you have another option, there isn’t much else that we can do. Even with Kivean technology we can only build the new habitats so fast.”
“We have a proposal,” Marken responded, his eyes looking intent as he gazed at Mason. “What if I told you there was a way to get everyone off the Earth within six months.”
“That’s impossible,” gasped Mason, his eyes focusing on Marken. “It can’t be done!”
“We have a plan,” began General Mitchell, looking over at Marken and then at Major Nelson. “If it works we can do exactly what Marken just said.”
“What’s the plan?” Mason asked as an uneasy feeling spread over him. He had a hunch he wasn’t going to like this proposal.
“We want to take some of our ships and return to the Kleese space station,” Mitchell explained in an even voice his eyes steady. “Once there, we will take full control of it and then use its Space Fold drive to return to Earth.”
“The entire station?” Mason spoke in shock, shaking his head in disbelief. “Is that even possible?”
“The Kleese have all of their big stations equipped with Space Fold drives,” explained Marken, patiently. “The stations are built in the Kleese’s home systems and then moved to wherever they need them in their Empire. Due to the huge size of the stations, the Space Fold drive will operate much slower than normal. From the time we take the station and activate the drive, it will take us nearly four weeks to return to Earth.”
“The station is covered with habitation domes,” General Mitchell informed Mason. “Enough that we could put most of the survivors from Earth in them until the new habitats on the Moon, Mars, and the asteroids are completed. The rest can be put inside the station itself.”
“This idea sounds insane,” protested Mason, shaking his head doubtfully. “What if the Kleese are expecting you to try something like this?”
“They won’t be,” Marken said reassuringly. “The Kleese will not expect us to attack the station.”
“Why not?” Mason asked. He could see this entire plan ending in disaster.
“The Kleese don’t think that way,” explained Marken, calmly. “Their way of thinking is totally alien when compared to the humanoid races of the galaxy. They will never expect us to return and attempt to take the station.”
“What if they resist? What if several of their disk ships try to stop you?”
“That’s why we want to take the Armageddon and the assault ships that have been equipped with the new particle beam weapons,” explained General Mitchell. “If we time it just right, we can destroy the disk ships before they can become a danger to us. It might delay a future attack upon the solar system for several years.”
“Enough time for us to build up a real fleet,” Major Nelson added.
“Keep in mind, Mr. Randle, that the station has some extensive manufacturing capabilities,” Marken continued. “It is fully capable of building more assault ships as well as anything else your people might need. As Major Nelson suggested, we can use it to create a sizable fleet to protect this solar system.” Marken didn’t add that the fleet could someday be used to take the war to the Kleese.
Mason closed his eyes, knowing this was not a decision he could make on his own; too much was at stake. “I will need to speak to some other people before we can approve such a mission,” he finally said. Mason knew that, at the very least, he needed to talk to General Wainright, Lawrence Henderson, and probably Mayor Silas on the Moon.
“We expected that,” General Mitchell replied. “This is a big decision, but we firmly believe it’s the right thing to do.”
“How soon can you be ready to go if we approve it?” Mason asked. He knew, after thinking about it for a few moments, that they might not have much of a choice, not if they wanted to save all the survivors on Earth.
“Four more weeks,” General Mitchell replied. “Major Nelson will be taking four hundred marines with battle suits aboard two transport ships. We’ll need the Armageddon and six of the assault ships if we want this to succeed.”
“How hard is this going to be?” Mason asked. He didn’t see how four hundred marines, even equipped in the powerful battle suits, could take a station with a crew of over one hundred thousand.
“We left a few surprises behind in the station’s computer systems,” Marken confessed with an all knowing smile. “If we can take out the disk ships, we can take the station.”
“Keep in mind that there are also nearly fifty thousand military personnel still in stasis there as well,” Nelson added. He badly wanted to rescue them; they didn’t deserve to go through what his marines had experienced.
Mason nodded. “Make your plans and I will talk to the others. You will have your answer tomorrow.” Mason leaned back and closed his eyes briefly. He just hoped they were making the right decision. If they approved this crazy mission and it failed, they might have just signed the death warrant for the entire Human race.
CHAPTER 17
Major Nelson was aboard one of the assault ships standing next to Marken. For this mission, it had been decided he would command the marine operation from Marken’s ship, which was acting as the command vessel. On board the two large transport ships were four hundred marines under the command of Lieutenants Williams and Jeffries. Beth had agreed to command one of the marine detachments, as she was intimately familiar with the Type Three battle suits and the station. Unfortunately, only two hundred of the marines would be wearing the Type Threes, the rest would be in the Type Twos.
“Your people seem very resilient,” Marken commented from his position at the command console. “I don’t know if mine could have done as well if it had been our planet, which had been destroyed.”
Wade nodded and then spoke. “There are some politicians at Luna City demanding an immediate declaration of war against the Kleese. I don’t think that would be wise at this juncture.” Wade had been impressed how Mayor Silas and Mason Randle had isolated the surviving politicians so their c
onstant bickering would not interfere with the rescue operations.
“Your people on Earth must be rescued first and your fleet built up,” Marken said, agreeing with Wade’s assessment of the situation. “Once we have built new homes for your people on the Moon, Mars, Vesta and the other asteroids then we can discuss war with the Kleese.”
“That was your plan all along, wasn’t it?” asked Wade, focusing his attention on Marken. “You needed a highly aggressive race to take the war to the Kleese Empire so your world can be free someday.”
Marken was silent for a long moment as he contemplated his answer. He knew his best option was the truth. “Yes,” he replied evenly. “We needed a race that was very forceful and would not fear the Kleese. We’ve waited many years for such a race to appear. The Kleese and the other two Galactic Empires have controlled the galaxy for too long. They expect all the other races in the galaxy to serve them. That must come to an end.”
Wade nodded; the answer was what he had been expecting. “After the Kleese destroyed our world they should have made certain there were no survivors. My people will never forgive the Kleese for what they took from us. The war you wanted will someday happen. We won’t rest until we have destroyed their Empire.”
“In time,” answered Marken, knowing the Kleese had made a terrible error in judgment with the Humans, one that someday they would pay grievously for. “For now we must seize the station; it will give us the resources to save your people and someday build the ships we will need for the war.”
“What part do you see your people playing?” asked Wade, curiously. He knew that Marken’s people were not very aggressive or good at war. Even their fleet operations lacked finesse.
“My people are highly innovative and love research,” Marken responded as his eyes wandered around the Command Center. “We’ll help in this war in every way possible except actual combat. We will design new weapons and power systems to allow your ships to meet the Kleese on an equal footing.”
There were half a dozen Human military officers present. Several were operating the weapons systems under the watchful eye of a Kivean, and the others were operating other key consoles. There were eight assault ships, two large transport ships, and the Armageddon in the fleet. Marken had suggested that the Humans be the ones to operate the fleet’s weapons and Commander Kirby on the Armageddon would command the actual battle.
“What do you think the Kleese’s response to this attack will be?”
Marken turned to face Wade. “They will not expect it. It’s been centuries since anyone dared to attack the Kleese or the other two Galactic Empires. If we can successfully take the station and move it to Earth, it will set the Kleese back years in their continued exploration of this sector.”
“The Kleese are bound to search for the station, and the logical assumption will be that it has been moved to Earth’s system,” Wade pointed out. “They will know or strongly suspect that we are responsible.”
“Eventually, they will send a fleet to retake the station,” Marken admitted as he studied the instruments on his console. They were nearing their drop out point. “The fleet will consist primarily of assault ships like this one. They’ll expect an easy victory. Our scientists are even now making further changes to the other assault ships as well as the Phoenix. We are strengthening the defensive energy shield, increasing the power to the pulse fusion weapons, as well as adding more particle beams.”
“Will there be Kleese ships in the attacking fleet?” Wade asked with concern. No one, not even the Kiveans, had ever seen one participate in an actual fleet battle.
“Undoubtedly,” replied Marken, letting out a deep breath. “They will not be prepared for what we’ll have waiting for them. If we can defeat the initial attack, then we’ll have sufficient breathing room to prepare a real battle fleet.”
“I hope so,” responded Wade, wondering if one of those big Kleese ships could be defeated. There was still a dark shadow hanging over the future of the Human race. Wade just hoped the Kiveans could deliver on their promise for more and better weapons.
“We will be dropping out of Fold Space shortly, Major,” Marken spoke. “You may want to prepare your marines.”
Wade nodded; there was a squad of marines on the ship that would be going with him to capture the station’s Command Center.
-o0o-
On board the Armageddon, Michael watched tensely as the final seconds ticked by. Colonel Stehr, his executive officer, was standing behind him at the main tactical console. There was an air of tension and anticipation as they prepared for their first battle against an alien race.
“Our foremost targets must be any Kleese ships that are not docked to the station,” Skagern informed Michael. “They will be fully crewed and capable of firing upon us once they realize we are a threat to the station.”
There were a number of Kiveans on board serving in advisory roles since much of the equipment was so new, particularly the Space Fold drive and the weapons systems. Michael was glad they were on the ship in case something went wrong. “What type of weapons does the station have?”
“Only a few,” Skagern responded. “The station has a few dozen energy beam turrets, but their main defense are the assault ships in the bays. Once we drop out of Fold Space Taalon will send a signal to the station’s computers via a back door into the Kleese computer, sealing the hatches to the majority of the bays except the two that we are going to use.”
“Drop out in five minutes,” one of the Kiveans at the main computer station reported.
“Weapons on standby,” Michael ordered.
“Charging particle beam weapons,” Colonel Stehr responded as he passed on the necessary orders to the weapons crews.
Michel knew the Armageddon carried the largest particle beam weapons, and he was anxious to see how the new weapons performed. The Kiveans had promised that the beams would have a devastating effect upon the Kleese disk ships. They had also furnished the exact areas on the Kleese ships to strike to cause the most damage.
The last few minutes passed rapidly by and then, suddenly, the station appeared just ahead of the Armageddon. On the main viewscreen, the station swelled until it filled the entire screen.
“Six Kleese ships detected,” Ensign Bree Fullerton reported from her sensor console. “Three are docked to the station, the rest are in orbit around it.”
“Target the nearest,” Michael ordered firmly. He activated the fleet com system, which would allow him to communicate with all the ships of the small fleet. “Designate them as bug one, bug two, and bug three. Bring us around thirty degrees and close on bug one; all weapons fire upon target lock.”
In space, the eight assault ships took up supporting positions around the Armageddon with the two transport ships falling in behind. From Marken’s ship, a signal flashed out to the Kleese core computer on the station, ordering all of the flight bay hatches to shut until further notice. Additional communications went out powering down the energy cannons on the hull of the massive structure.
-o0o-
Inside the station Command Center, the Kleese on duty looked confused as key systems suddenly refused to respond. A warning alarm sounded, indicating that ships had been detected approaching the station. The Kleese quickly passed on the order to their armored conscripts to protect the Command Center. They then turned to the computer system seeking to find why it was not functioning.
-o0o-
The Armageddon quickly turned until its bow was facing the first Kleese ship, which was only now beginning to notice the new fleet that had dropped in unannounced.
“Fire particle beam cannons!” Colonel Stehr ordered as several green lights glowed on his tactical console indicating they had a firm weapons lock on the Kleese ship.
From the Armageddon, two dark blue beams lashed out and struck the hull of the nearest disk ship. Massive explosions tore through the ship’s hull, staggering it. The beams blinked out and then moments later fired again. They struck the same sp
ot on the enemy ship’s hull, driving deeper and deeper into the heart of the ship until it struck one of its main fusion reactors. A massive explosion rocked the Kleese ship as a major segment of the hull was blown off into space.
“Fire main railguns!” ordered Stehr, wanting to inflict as much damage on the Kleese ship as rapidly as possible. “Retarget particle beam cannons to secondary target!”
On the bow of the Armageddon, the four large railguns belched forth their deadly three thousand pound tungsten rounds. The rounds struck, smashing large holes in the disk ship, causing secondary explosions as delicate systems inside the ship were compromised. Power conduits exploded and the ship began bleeding atmosphere.
“Keep up the pressure,” Michael ordered, his eyes glued intently to the main viewscreen. They had taken the Kleese completely by surprise and Michael wanted to press the advantage.
He could see now that the other ships were firing and numerous particle beams were striking the now nearly defenseless Kleese ship, smashing its hull. The Kiveans had been right; the Kleese’s energy screen was having very little effect upon the particle beam weapons or the large railgun rounds.
“Antimatter missiles launching,” Colonel Stehr reported. “The energy shield on the Kleese ship is down.”
Michael knew the sublight drives on the antimatter missiles would allow them to travel the short distance to the Kleese ship almost instantaneously.
From the Armageddon, two antimatter missiles launched, striking the unprotected hull of the Kleese ship and detonating. Two twenty-megaton explosions lit up space as the Kleese ship writhed under the punishment of the twin fireballs. Moments later, the fireballs died down, revealing a slowly expanding mass of gases and wreckage.
“Bug one is down,” Ensign Bree reported as the red threat icon representing the Kleese ship vanished from her sensor screen.
“Close on bug two,” ordered Michael, taking a deep breath. “All ships, volley fire upon target lock!”
From the nearest Kleese ship, several bright blue pulse fusion beams flashed out, striking the Armageddon’s energy screen. The screen had been installed by the Kiveans and heavily reinforced with multiple technological innovations. As a result, the screen on the Armageddon was much more powerful than the one on the Kleese ship.