-
They quickly made their way through the WarHawk to the briefing room a short distance away. Stepping inside they took their seats at the conference table.
“I see all three of your fleets that have been hampering the advance of the Ralift are here,” began Race.
“They are,” High Lord Droll replied. “We have been fighting a delaying action to give our forces time to respond to this unprovoked attack against the empire. Many of our smaller colonies have been wiped out by the Ralift and their AI masters.”
“It is the Dyson Sphere we believe they have come for,” added Lower Lord Malben. “It is the only reason for the machine people to have turned the Ralift upon us.”
“Are these AI battle spheres any different than those of the past?” asked Admiral Baasil in his soft-spoken voice.
High Lord Droll nodded his head. “We believe they have increased the strength of their protective energy screen as well as their energy weapons. We have no way to measure the increase, though it seems evident in the few times the AIs have committed their battle spheres to battle there have been improvements.”
“I don’t understand,” Admiral Stoddard said. “Even if the AIs manage to reach the Dyson Sphere, there is a good chance they would be destroyed by its defensive weapons.”
“I have spoken of this with the other two High Lords who command the two Shari fleets that have joined us here. “We believe they are seeking the knowledge to build another Master Codex. They may also have some secret method they believe will grant them access to the Dyson Sphere.”
Race felt his blood suddenly turn cold. A Master Codex would allow more AIs to be created. “I would have thought they’d have tried to retake the one in the Astral System.”
“They know we will destroy it at the first sign of one of their ships,” Admiral Baasil said. “We have set several communication beacons in the outer regions of the Astral System which send out a continuous broadcast. It states that if any AI ships approach within one light year of the system the Master Codex will be destroyed.”
Race nodded. That explained why in all the years since the defeat of the AIs at their Great Project they had never returned to Astral. “Why did you not bring the other two High Lords with you to this meeting?” Race was guessing High Lord Droll had a reason. He was curious to hear what it was.
“Not all of the High Lords in the empire feel it was wise to turn to the Federation in this precarious time. Many fear it is a sign of weakness and that by allowing Federation fleets access to the empire we are endangering our security. Both of the other two High Lords fall into that category.”
“I understand,” Race replied. “My people would feel the same if the situation was reversed.
“Will that be a problem in the coming battle with the Ralift and the AIs?” asked Admiral Stoddard.
“No,” answered High Lord Droll. “They will obey my commands as I am the senior High Lord. All of us will obey High Lord Tabor when he arrives as he is destined to one day sit on the Shari Grand Council.”
“This will not be an easy battle,” said Admiral Baasil. He leaned forward, gazing at High Lord Droll. “Even if we manage to destroy the AIs, there is still the matter of the Ralift. They have a fleet of over 14,000 vessels. How will your fleet fare in such a battle?”
Droll was silent for a long moment and then answered. “Not as well as I would hope. While we have greatly strengthened the weapons and energy shields on our warships during the absence of the AIs, the Ralift have done the same. However, the Ralift may have been given some weapons upgrades from the AIs. In the brief engagements we have fought against them I can say their ships are slightly more powerful than Shari vessels.”
“You have done a fine job in slowing down the Ralift and the AIs,” Race said. “It has given us the time to bring a Federation fleet to your aid as well as for High Lord Tabor to ready his fleet. I have fought the AIs in the past, and it is no easy task. They do not fear death.”
“The machine people have no emotions,” said Lower Lord Malben.
“They have emotions,” responded Race. “Only not as you and I would know them. They are guided by a flawed logic and the belief they are superior to organic life.”
“We must bring them to an end,” said Lower Lord Camval with conviction. “They have brought too much evil to the galaxy, including our own empire. The forced us to do things in the past that are against our very nature.”
High Lord Droll looked over at Admiral Baasil. “Why did your people create such abominations to begin with? They have done irreparable harm to many worlds in this galaxy.”
“They were not always such,” Baasil replied sadly. “At one time they were faithful servants and then the Simulins came to our galaxy. Long ago the Simulins came to Astral and made changes to the AI’s Master Codex. As a result it set them on their path of destruction. The part of my race that remained on Astral were allowed to die out, and so there was no one to correct the course the AIs had been set upon. I am only glad those of my people who settled near the Humans were able to help eradicate most of the AIs. It is distressing to know so many escaped our grasp.”
“The Simulins,” replied Droll, his eyes widening slightly. “From hearing of their deadly drones and how they kill, I believe your words. The Simulins would have found in the AIs a tool to be used to eliminate life in this galaxy.”
“There are over three hundred AI battle spheres in the Ralift fleet,” Admiral Baasil said. “I believe I have sufficient Alton ships under my command to destroy them.”
Lower Lord Malben looked surprised. “You believe your ships alone can destroy all of the AI battle spheres?”
“We can,” Baasil replied. “We will take losses, but we have the firepower to do as I said.”
“You won’t be alone,” promised Race. “My dreadnoughts will be engaging the AIs as well while the rest of the Federation fleet assists the Shari against the Ralift.”
“Your ships will aid us against the Ralift?” asked High Lord Droll. He had expected the Federation fleet would only fight the AIs.
“I have fifty-six Federation battleships in my fleet. All are much more powerful than the Ralift battleships. They will help to take some of the pressure off your ships during the battle.”
“Then let us discuss the coming battle,” suggested Droll. “I sent all the data on our battles with the Ralift and the AIs to your flagship’s computer before we boarded our shuttle. We can review the videos of our battles together. Perhaps between us we will find a weakness we can exploit to our advantage.”
Race nodded. There were several large viewscreens in the briefing room they could use to watch the battles. Race was highly curious to see how High Lord Droll had managed to survive so long against such an overwhelming force and still have an intact fleet.
All eyes turned toward the viewscreens as the first battle begin playing. Just looking at the size of the Ralift fleet made everyone realize how daunting the task in front of them was. If they failed then the Ralift and the AIs would doubtlessly conquer the Shari Empire. After that the Federation would face the massive Ralift fleet and the AIs alone.
-
Nest Lord Creesth gazed in satisfaction at the large viewscreen on the front wall of his Command Center. Ralift battleships, battlecruisers, and armed escorts were visible as far as his eyes could see. Fourteen thousand warships were gathered for the final push into the Shari core systems and then on to the coveted Dyson Sphere.
“Our fleets have gathered here in the Razale System,” said Second Nest Lord Alboin. “The other Nest Lords report they are ready to move toward the Lyral Cluster and the Shari core worlds.”
Creesth remained silent as he thought over what the fleet’s next target needed to be. “The Shari ships that have been plaguing our advance have disappeared.”
“They know our victory is inevitable,” replied Alboin. “Resistance to our fleets is useless.”
“No, I don’t think so,” responded Creesth.
“Somewhere between us and the Shari core worlds, they are waiting. I think it would be wise to send scout ships ahead of our fleet to seek out any possible trap the Shari may have prepared. I am convinced this constant harassment by the Shari has been an attempt on their part to buy time and place a sufficient force in front of us to prevent us from reaching the Dyson Sphere.”
“We have the AIs,” said Alboin. “We cannot be defeated.”
Creesth looked over at Alboin. “The Shari are fools to resist us. It would have been better if they surrendered when we first crossed into their space and they became aware of the return of the AIs. Now they will pay for their disloyalty with the loss of one of their core worlds. Once that has occurred, the Command AI will send a message to the Shari Grand Council of High Lords demanding they immediately surrender or more of their highly populated worlds will be annihilated.”
“The AIs are the masters,” said Alboin evenly. “To obey them is to allow the Ralift Empire to spread across the galaxy.”
“The AIs are indeed our masters,” replied Creesth in a cold and nearly uncaring voice. “We never turned away from them not even when their Great Project was destroyed. Now we shall add the Shari Empire to ours and soon after that this upstart Federation.” Creesth turned his eyes back to the viewscreens. It did not concern him that billions of Shari were likely to die before the Ralift fleet reached the Dyson Sphere. The Shari had shown they were inferior and did not deserve to be one of the coveted races serving the AIs. The lives of the Shari meant nothing to the Ralift. They were only a means to an end.
-
Aboard the AI command ship, the Command AI was considering the next move of the Ralift fleet. It would only take them a few short days of hyperspace travel to reach the Lyral Cluster and the first of the Shari core worlds.
“There are twenty-three systems in the cluster with large Shari populations,” reported the AI in front of the navigation console.
“How many lie between the Razale System and the Rylus Cluster?” The Command AI was certain the destruction of one of the Shari core worlds would return the Shari to obeying them once more.
“There are two in the Lyral Cluster. There is also the system of Melsberth. Melsberth lies outside the cluster and is on our direct path to the Dyson Sphere. From information we have gleaned from captured Shari data banks, there are over two billion Shari living in the system. It is also one of the Sharis’ sector capitals.”
“Melsberth will be heavily defended as will all of the Shari core worlds,” said the AI in front of Tactical. “The Ralift fleet will take considerable losses if we proceed into the Lyral Cluster. I would suggest making Melsberth our target.”
“It would be the logical choice,” added the science AI. “We could still accomplish our goal of forcing the Shari to submit to us by destroying Melsberth. It would also place us nearer the Dyson Sphere.”
“It is the home of the Shari’s Second Fleet,” warned the tactical AI. “We will meet strong resistance.”
The sphere of energy above the Command AI’s cubical body seemed to grow and brighten. The decision was an easy one to make. “Set a course for Melsberth. The sooner we can reach the Dyson Sphere and construct a new Master Codex the quicker we can produce more AIs to join our ranks.”
“One word of caution,” said the tactical AI with barely a hint of emotion in its voice. “Additional Shari warships are in distant orbit around the Dyson Sphere. There are also unconfirmed reports of Federation warships in the vicinity as well.”
“I do not believe those rumors to be true,” said the Command AI, dismissing the reports. “The Shari and the Federation are not on friendly terms, particularly after the battles they fought for possession of the Dyson Sphere. The Federation ships have gone back to their space where they will remain.”
“The Dyson Sphere itself supposedly destroyed the Shari fleets,” said the science AI. “No ships dare to approach it.”
“More unconfirmed reports,” answered the Command AI. “The Dyson Sphere has been abandoned for possibly millions of years. There is nothing living on it anymore. The race that built the megastructure has long since died out. I am convinced the Humans used some type of trick to scare the Shari into staying away from the Dyson Sphere. After completing their mission, the Federation ships would have returned to their worlds. The Dyson Sphere is too distant from the Federation for them to deploy ships on a permanent basis. There may be a few observation ships lurking nearby, but no major fleets.”
The Command AI turned to gaze upon the fleet which had been assembled. The Ralift were but a tool to an end. If the Dyson Sphere held the advanced science and technology it believed it did, then in a short time even the Ralift would no longer be needed. They had served as a safe haven while the surviving AIs planned their next move in conquering the galaxy. It had been a mistake to dedicate so many resources to the Great Project before finishing the conquest of this galaxy. The Command AI was determined not to make the same error.
-
Admiral Race Tolsen was in his quarters on the WarHawk when the comm unit on his desk began buzzing. Race had been reviewing some of the notes he had taken of the three meetings with High Lord Droll. There had been a lot of discussion about battle tactics and the weapons being used by the Ralift and the AIs. Reaching forward, he turned the comm unit on. Race and his other admirals had spent considerable time studying the videos of the battles as well as the Shari sensor readings of the weapons both the Ralift and the AIs were using. “This is Admiral Tolsen.”
“We may have a problem, Admiral,” Colonel Cowel said over the comm. “I just received word from the Shari that the Ralift and AI fleets have left the Razale System.”
Race felt a cold chill run through him. They hadn’t expected the enemy fleet so move so soon. The thinking had been the Ralift would at least spend another day or two repairing battle damage before moving on the Shari core worlds.
“Do we know what core world is their target?”
There was a moment of silence and then Colonel Cowel spoke. “It’s not a core world. The Ralift and the AIs are on a direct course for the Dyson Sphere.”
Race leaned back in his chair confused. Why had the Ralift changed their course? They had all assumed the Ralift and the AIs would target at least one Shari core world before making a course change toward the Dyson Sphere. What were they up to? Then another cold chill spread over Race as he realized what their target world might be. “How close is Melsberth to that course?”
“Dead center,” Cowel answered grimly. “High Lord Droll believes the Ralift are going to attempt to destroy Melsberth before continuing on to the Dyson Sphere. Destroying Melsberth could force the Shari Grand Council of High Lords to reconsider resisting the Ralift and the AIs. It may cause them to capitulate before a core world is destroyed.”
Race stood up. “We can’t let Melsberth fall. Contact High Lord Droll and inform him we’re preparing to take the fleet to Melsberth to meet the enemy. Ask him if he can contact High Lord Tabor and get Second Fleet turned around. We’re going to need every ship we can get our hands on.”
“I’ll send the message,” Cowel replied.
“Contact Commander Arnett and have her meet me in the Command Center.” Race knew Madelyn was probably asleep in her quarters but they had some serious planning to do. The first thing was to ensure they beat the Ralift and the AIs to Melsberth. If they failed at Melsberth, there would be nothing left that could stop the AIs from reaching the Dyson Sphere.
Chapter Twelve
Major Brenda Wilde stepped out of the Originator spacecraft along with four full companies of Marines. They were at sphere 114 to take back control of the Intergalactic Vortex Control Center the Simulins had possession of. Brenda was concerned they had waited too long.
As she stepped off the ramp, she turned back and watched forty Originator-designed combat robots come down behind the Marines. The metal creations stood ten feet tall, were unbelievably powerful, and carried two different t
ypes of weapons. On the wrist of one hand was a slim barrel that fired miniaturized explosive rounds. On the other wrist was another slim barrel but this one fired a beam of highly focused energy. Either weapon should be able to destroy a Conqueror Drone. The mission to retake the Control Center would be the first test for the robots. The combat robots were also the reason it had taken so long to launch the mission. They had only been certified combat ready a few days back.
“Damn, those things are huge,” muttered Sergeant Metz as he watched the robots come down the ramp. “I overheard one of the Originators say these robots could tear a Conqueror Drone apart with just its hands. That I’ve got to see.”
“The robots are extremely powerful,” Rakell said from Brenda’s side. “They are indeed capable of defeating a Conquer Drone in hand-to-hand combat if it becomes necessary.”
Brenda turned toward Rakell. The tall Originator AI towered over her. “Let’s hope that’s not necessary. If it is then something has gone horribly wrong.”
Another Originator AI approached Brenda and Rakell. This one was dressed in an Originator military uniform. “I am Lanthon, the military AI for this Shrieel. You must be Major Wilde.”
Brenda nodded. “How soon can we launch our attack?”
“Transportation is already on the way,” Lanthon replied. “We may have discovered what the Simulins are up to. A few hours ago the intergalactic vortex the Simulins control nearest the Control Center activated. We have a number of warships routinely patrolling the space above the vortex aperture. The Simulins are attempting to place an energy shield around the vortex so we can’t destroy any ships that come through.”
“Ingenious,” said Rakell. “If they can establish a large enough energy shield they could use the vortex to send ships wherever they want.” The intergalactic vortexes on all the Shrieels were capable of opening up an exit vortex nearly anywhere inside a targeted galaxy.
“It won’t do them any good unless they can do the same thing in other Shrieels,” replied Lanthon. “They will also have problems getting ships into position. If our defenses detect them, they will be destroyed.”
The Originator Wars: Universe in Danger: A Lost Fleet Novel Page 17