-
Admiral Kirby grimaced as he saw that the Phoenix had been heavily damaged and then upon the main viewscreen a second Kleese disk ship exploded as the Liberation blew it apart.
“Bug two is down,” Ensign Fullerton reported as the red threat icon faded from her screen. She was beginning to breathe a little easier.
“Kleese disk ships are attempting to withdraw,” Wade called out as he saw them turning away and activating their Space Fold drives.
“Light Cruiser Bunker Hill is down,” Ensign Fullerton spoke as one of the two light cruisers attempting to protect the ailing Phoenix vanished from her sensor screen.
Michael winced at the loss of another light cruiser, but the Kleese were now trying to escape. He desperately wanted to take out one more of the retreating ships. He wanted to hurt the Kleese badly enough that they wouldn’t come back.
“Target the trailing Kleese ship,” ordered Michael, seeing that one of the disk ships had fallen behind the others.
Wade quickly called out new targeting orders and watched with satisfaction as the indicated Kleese ship was struck with numerous railgun rounds before it could activate its Space Fold drive. The Armageddon and Liberation shifted their targeting and fired their particle beam weapons. On the main screen, the Kleese ship was covered with fiery explosions as large sections of its hull were blown off into space. The entire ship seemed to be on fire, and then the Liberation launched two more of its antimatter missiles. Almost instantly two glowing stars appeared where the Kleese disk ship had been. Moments later all that remained were glowing gases and shattered debris.
“Bug three is down and the other three Kleese disk ships are gone,” Ensign Fullerton reported with a trace of relief in her voice as they vanished from her sensor screens. “They’ve activated their Space Fold drives.”
“Turn us back around,” Michael ordered as he studied the tactical screen. “Let’s finish off their assault ships. I don’t think they’ll be as well organized without the Kleese here to guide them.”
“Remaining Kleese assault ships are powering up their Space Fold drives,” Ensign Fullerton reported as she saw the energy spikes on one of her sensors. Then her screens indicated the ships were rapidly accelerating away.
“Where are they going?” Michael demanded. Were they fleeing also?
Bree studied her screens for a few moments before replying in a worried voice. “Earth, Mars, and Vesta.”
“Crap,” Michael oathed his eyes widening. Then over the fleet com, he fired out orders. “Admiral Stehr, get your fleet to Mars ASAP. Protect Mars Central at all costs. We’re going to Earth. Admiral Sanders, send your fleet to Vesta. If the Phoenix is too badly damaged, keep a couple of assault ships back for support, but get your remaining cruisers and assault ships to that asteroid!”
-
Over Mars, twenty-two assault ships suddenly dropped out of Fold Space. Immediately, from each one four drop ships left the flight bays. The invasion of the red planet had begun.
In between the Kleese space station and the Moon, sixty-five assault ships dropped out of Fold Space. More drop ships were launched, targeting both Luna City and the station.
Close to Vesta, thirty-seven assault ships came out of Fold Space. Drop ships departed the flight bays, heading toward the asteroid.
-
On Mars, Major Sanchez grinned in savage expectation as he ordered the forty-two energy beam turrets around Mars Central to open fire. Instantly, bright beams of white light speared upward toward the descending drop ships. Whenever a beam touched one of the small craft, a fiery explosion resulted as the drop ship was obliterated. Two minutes after the start of the attack, Rear Admiral Stehr arrived and launched his own assault against the startled Kleese assault ships. Space became full of explosions and beams of light as the two forces tried to annihilate each other.
The conscripts on board the Kleese assault ships immediately knew that, with the arrival of the Human fleet, any hope of victory was gone. The Kleese had withdrawn in their disk ships, leaving them alone to fight. Without hesitation, the assault ships turned three hundred and sixty degrees and activated their Space Fold drives once more. This battle was over; they were returning home. They would rather risk the displeasure of the Kleese than face certain death at the hands of the Humans. As they left orbit, behind them, the last drop ships were blown apart by one of the Human light cruisers.
-
From the Kleese space station, General Mitchell had a satisfied smirk upon his face as the twenty upgraded assault ships that he had held back in reserve launched their attack against the Kleese ships. Already, the numerous energy beam weapons on the hull were firing at the approaching drop ships. There were also twenty-four large particle beam cannons on the station. These instantly locked on and began firing at the nearest ships. This created a quandary for the conscripts on board the assault ships as they had strict orders from the Kleese that the station was not to be damaged but captured intact and returned to its former location.
From the outskirts of Luna City energy beam weapons began firing, taking out the descending drop ships. It was at that moment, Fleet Admiral Kirby arrived with the survivors of his fleet.
The Armageddon quickly targeted one of the Kleese assault ships and blew it apart. The other ships of First Fleet began firing, and more assault ships died.
The conscripts instantly activated their Space Fold drives and fled. They knew this was a battle they couldn’t win. Several minutes later, the last of the left behind drop ships was annihilated by an energy beam from the space station.
-
At Vesta, the Kleese assault ships launched their drop ships. They had already located the massive hanger doors leading to the interior of the asteroid. One carefully placed missile had obliterated the doors and the protective weapons emplacements around it. From the asteroid itself, other weapons were now firing. Even as the Kleese assault ships prepared to fire more missiles at the surface, the battered remains of the Phoenix’s fleet arrived.
-
Captain Williams took a deep breath as she readied her marines. Colonel Bailey had sent her two more companies of marines in battle suits when he realized just what she would soon be facing. Beth looked around at the waiting marines. Energy weapons, RG rifles, and even a few energy lances were at the ready. The air in the large spacedock had been removed, and the large internal airlock opened. There was no point in allowing it to be destroyed in the coming battle.
Beth knew from continued updates via Colonel Bailey that the inbound drop ships were suffering heavily from the embedded weapons in the tunnel. Dozens of drop ships were being annihilated, but many others were still inbound.
“Everyone with energy weapons,” she spoke over the general com frequency. “As soon as those drop ships make an appearance, fire. Try to take out as many as you can before they can land. Everyone else, RG explosive rounds are permissible. Use them to try to take out the enemy as they exit their drop ships. They should still be bunched up, so make it count.”
Beth took another deep breath, trying to relax. She knew there was another company of marines in battle suits at the transit station to Smithfield and one waiting at the receiving end. She just prayed that the enemy didn’t make it that far.
In the distance, Beth could see movement and the first of the enemy drop ships darted into the spacedock. Instantly dozens of blue energy beams flashed forth, spearing a number of the drop ships. They exploded as the beams penetrated the thin hull armor of their hull and reached the delicate systems inside. More drop ships entered and died as even more energy beams were fired from the marines in the Type Three battle suits. But now some of the drop ships were managing to land. Their rear hatches slammed down, and conscripts in Type Two battle suits swarmed out only to be met by explosive rounds that fell in their midst.
Beth had no idea how many they were killing, and part of her mind didn’t want to know. It was slaughter, and she knew there was no other choice. This was a
bout the survival of the Human race and those in Vesta she had sworn to protect. Not only that but the only surviving member of her family was inside the asteroid, and there was no way in hell she was going to risk her mother dying.
“Forward,” Beth ordered as she leveled her RG rifle and began firing in small, controlled bursts.
In front of her, she could now see hundreds of the enemy spreading out to avoid the explosive blasts that were going off within their lines. Then they must have seen the advancing marines as they began firing off their own weapons.
“Lieutenants Stern and Perry keep the enemy off our flanks,” Beth ordered to the recently promoted lieutenants. “Corporals Russell and Dawson take your squads and focus on the center of the enemy line.”
“We always get the worst of it,” muttered Dawson as he fired half a dozen explosive rounds into a group of battle suits advancing across the floor of the spacedock. “Come on Russell; you don’t want to live forever do you?”
“Someone has to protect your ass!” Russell spoke back with a laugh. “I’ll bet my squad takes out more of these goons than yours.”
“Bets on,” Dawson replied as he switched his RG rifle to full auto and began firing into the advancing conscripts in their battle suits. He watched several fall and nodded his head in satisfaction.
With relief, Beth saw that the number of drop ships entering the spacedock had dropped considerably. She winced as an explosive round went off nearby, showering her with metal debris. “Focus, people!” she yelled over the com frequency as she saw how near the enemy troops were coming. “Use energy lances!”
Beth drew her own energy lance and swung it at an opposing enemy who had managed to come too close. Instantly, the lance cut through the neck of the Type Two battle suit the conscript was enclosed in, cutting off his head. It was strange in a way. Without any air in the large spacedock, there was no sound, though she could feel an occasional vibration through the feet of her suit where it touched the metal deck.
All around her, the fighting had become hand-to-hand. Energy lances were flashing, and occasionally she would hear a scream over the com as one of her marines was cut down by opposing fire. On her HUD, she saw numerous green icons turning yellow and then red.
She felt a sudden sharp pain in her left leg and looking down saw a spray of red blood shoot out from a hole in her suit; she had been hit by an armor piercing RG round. She groaned in pain and then felt the suit go to work. It injected her with a painkiller and sealed off the suit around the wound. In moments, the pain was gone and she resumed fighting. She did limp on that leg as the suit was slightly damaged.
For what seemed like hours, the fight ebbed back and forth. Just when she was about to call for a retreat to the transit station, two fresh companies of marines in Type Two battle suits led by an officer in a Type Three suit came pouring out of the hatches behind her.
“Thought you could use some help,” Colonel Bailey yelled as he ran up to stand next to her in his battle suit.
“About time you joined the fun, Sir!” Beth replied, relieved the colonel was here.
“The space battle outside is over. Fleet Admiral Kirby jumped in with the Armageddon, and after a short engagement, the remaining Kleese assault ships fled. Once we get this spacedock mopped up, the fighting will be done.”
“Then let’s do it,” spoke Beth, determinedly. With that, both officers waded into the enemy wielding their energy lances.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mason leaned back in his chair as he slid his plate away and smiled over at his sister. “That was great!”
“Actually, Adrienne fried the chicken,” Susan replied with a grin.
“I peeled the potatoes!” Karen boasted with a big smile on her face. She had recently turned eleven and had been happy to show Adrienne how well she could do the potatoes.
“Yes she did,” Adrienne said. “Both girls were a big help in the kitchen.”
“I’m just glad we could all get together tonight,” Michael added as he eyed the large cherry pie setting in the center of the table, wondering if he had room for a slice.
“How soon before you have to return to duty?” Susan asked.
It had been nice having Michael home the last few days. The girls had taken advantage of it and plied their father with questions about spaceships and aliens. Then they had gone on to show him what they had been learning in school while he had been away.
“I have a few more days yet before I have to get back,” he responded as he decided he did have room for a small piece of the pie. “Our four new battlecruisers will be launching at the end of the week, and I plan on taking them out for their shakedown cruise. The Armageddon will act as flagship.”
“I understand the new light cruisers are already finished,” added Mason, recalling the latest reports from General Mitchell.
“Yes,” Michael replied with a nod. “All twelve are of the new design. They are much more powerful than the cargo ships we converted originally. It’s amazing the difference the Kivean and Kleese construction technology has made in our shipbuilding.”
“What’s Brian up to now?” asked Susan, curiously. Brian had been Michael’s second in command on the Raven, and she hadn’t spoken to him recently. He used to stop by the house occasionally to visit with her and the kids.
“He’s handling all of my mining operations,” Michael replied. “We’ve recently updated the Raven and he’s been out doing some more prospecting.”
“It’s amazing how everything has almost returned to normal over the last eight months,” Adrienne commented. “I was in the new habitat earlier today visiting Harnett. Even she is amazed at all we’ve accomplished.”
“She should be,” Mason responded with a pleased smile. “We just started construction of the additional habitat we’re adding. The new one will be the same size as the one we recently completed and will be able to house nearly one million people. It’ll have plenty of farmland, and we should be able to greatly expand our animal herds.”
“Meat,” Michael said with a pleased smile. “It’s been awhile since I had a good steak.”
“Chickens are easier to raise,” Adrienne quickly pointed out. “Cattle take up an awful lot of room.”
“We got to go to the zoo last week,” Candace interrupted with an excited smile. “There are so many animals there!”
Mason nodded. The new zoo in the big habitat was home to nearly a thousand different species of animals. If they got the opportunity to rebuild the Earth’s shattered biosphere someday at least they would still have some of the animal species with which to do it.
Mason smiled as he listened to Susan, Michael, and the kids talk. Much had changed since the Kleese attack. Nearly all of the survivors had been evacuated from Earth, and almost two million now called Mars their home, and there was already talk of terraforming the planet. The Kiveans thought it would be possible to give the planet a breathable atmosphere in less than sixty years.
Another four million were living in the completed dome habitats on the Moon, and three million were safely inside Vesta. There were still six million living on the large space station, and another two million had been transferred to other habitats built in several nearby asteroids. The latest estimates forecast that most of the refugees still on the station would have new homes in another ten months. Many of the homes would be located in additional habitats being built inside several of the larger asteroids. Mason wanted as much of the Human race as possible protected from future harm.
Adrienne looked over at Mason and felt content. He had recently asked her to move in with him, and she had agreed. Looking around at the smiling children, Michael, and Susan, she knew she was no longer alone.
-
Major Nelson was standing next to Captain Williams in one of the domes on the large space station. It was the same one they had trained in during their captivity. Nothing much had changed except more barracks had been added. The dome had been set aside for the training of the new spac
e marine force that General Mitchell was demanding.
“It’s strange to be back here,” Beth commented as she watched Lieutenants Stern and Perry put the new recruits through their drills. Most of them were military personnel who had volunteered for battle suit training.
Wade nodded. He had asked to be relieved of his obligations on the Armageddon and allowed to return to his marine duties. He hadn’t felt comfortable being a tactical officer. “General Mitchell wants a full two thousand marines trained in the Type Three battle suits.”
“That’s a lot,” Beth spoke, her eyes widening. “Do we have that many of the Type Three suits available?”
“Not yet, but Marken has assured General Mitchell that the construction facilities on the station can make as many as we need.”
“We’re going to attack the Kleese, aren’t we?” Beth asked worriedly. She knew it was always better to be on offense rather than to set back on defense. However, the Human race no longer had the numbers it once had. Sixteen to eighteen million people were not enough to fight a galactic war.
“Yes,” replied Wade, letting out a deep breath. “I’m sure that’s what he’s planning. Probably some hit and run raids to keep the Empire off balance while our population grows. It will only take a few generations to give us the people we need.”
Beth nodded. Over the past few months, she and Wade had become much closer. There were even entire days now that she didn’t think about her former fiancée. No trace of him had ever been found. She had spoken to her mother about Donald, but even she had no idea what had happened to him. He had vanished immediately after the first volcanic eruptions as he left to try to find his parents. Beth strongly suspected she would never know how he had died.
-
At Jornada, Lawrence Henderson breathed out a long sigh of relief. Less than two hundred thousand people still resided at the spaceport and the nearby military bases. There was no longer any rush to get them off the planet as they now had plenty of power and living space.
Galactic Empire Wars: Destruction (The Galactic Empire Wars) Page 33