“Finish destroying those globes!” commanded Norlan. “Once the last of them is gone focus on the warships. This battle is still ours to win.”
“Sixty percent of the small globes have been destroyed,” Telan reported from where he was standing in front of one of the tactical displays. “Enemy are using dark matter warheads on their missiles.”
“Something we don’t have,” grated out Fleet Commander Norlan.
The Eternals had access to dark matter but had never seen a reason to make it into a warhead. There were no known threats which would require such a weapon. Now that philosophy might have to change. In the past during the internecine wars which had raged in their home galaxy, it had been against the rules set for battle to use weapons that could destroy a planet or a star. It was surprising the Originator AIs had such weapons.
Norlan felt his flagship shake as a missile detonated against its energy shield. Fleet Commander Norlan’s flagship was in between the advancing battleline and the reserves. “Call up reserve ships to fill the gaps in our line.”
“Sending the order,” replied Telan.
-
The fleets continued to close with the area directly in front of the Originator fleet lit up from the thousands of dying defense globes. The Eternals were pouring heavy energy beam fire into the shoals of defense globes that were firing their ion beams as well as particle beam cannons at the Eternal vessels. In the Eternal battleline, particle beam fire from the last of the dying globes slammed into the main part of an Eternal battlecruiser, setting off massive explosions and hurling glowing debris into space. A few seconds later dark matter missiles arrived from a dreadnought, sending the ship into oblivion.
The Eternals were now beginning to focus their weapons fire on the approaching Originator fleet as the last of the defense globes died. Energy beams penetrated the energy shield of an Originator battlecruiser striking the top section of the ship, setting off a massive explosion and sending fiery debris hurling away from the ship. Moments later more energy beams drilled into the ship causing it to explode.
Across the Originator cone formation, ships were beginning to suffer damage from the powerful energy beams of the Eternals. A heavy dreadnought was torn in two as an Eternal antimatter missile detonated against its hull. Energy beams promptly finished it off.
-
“Fleet’s starting to take a lot of damage,” reported Commander Malen worriedly as she held onto a console as the Avenger took an antimatter hit to its energy screen, severely jarring the ship.
“We’ve lost eighteen battlecruisers and two dreadnoughts in the last minute,” added Kevin while his hands moved over his console as he tried to keep track of the carnage. “Our screens are holding up to the Eternal weapons longer than last time, but they’re still managing to penetrate our energy screens by focusing more beams on our ships.”
“Switch to pattern A-17,” ordered Jeremy with sweat appearing on his brow. This pattern allowed the ships to move about in the cone formation making it harder for the Eternals to target them. It also made it slightly more difficult to keep energy weapons focused on the Eternal ships.
-
The two fleets closed to nearly pointblank range. In space, this was several thousand kilometers. Energy weapons fire, exploding warheads, and dying ships were evident in both formations. The four-kilometer-long Eternal ships were deadly when their weapons were turned on the smaller battlecruisers of the Originators. However, the change in frequency modulation of the energy shields allowed the smaller ships to move away from the inbound weapons fire. Sometimes this was successful but other times too many Eternal energy beams were impacting the shields. In such a case, the battlecruiser’s shield would fail and the vessel would be annihilated in a massive blast from an exploding antimatter missile.
In the Eternal fleet, the three ship groups of the Originator fleet were playing havoc with ships’ energy shields. Ion beams would strike the shield first followed by particle beams or dark matter missiles. In the Eternal battleline, ship after ship was being obliterated in nova like explosions as dark matter missiles penetrated through the weakened energy screens or holes created by particle beam fire. Whenever a dark matter missile struck an Eternal battlecruiser, its destruction was immediate.
-
Jeremy sucked in a deep breath as the Avenger vibrated violently and warning alarms began sounding on the damage control console. Several red lights blinked on ominously.
“Energy beam strike to the bow,” reported Commander Malen as she listened to the reports coming in on her comm unit. “We’ve lost two antimatter projectors and three power beam turrets. Repair crews are enroute.”
“We’re losing a lot of battlecruisers,” reported Kevin worriedly. “They just can’t stand toe to toe against the Eternal vessels. The Eternals seem to be singling them out and blowing them apart. Once the two battlecruisers are gone, they focus their fire on the dreadnought. We’ve lost eighty-two battlecruisers and seventeen dreadnoughts in the last two minutes. A number of other vessels are damaged.”
“What about the Eternals?” Jeremy knew he couldn’t afford to keep losing ships at this rate. Something had to change and soon.
“One hundred and ninety-seven of their vessels have been destroyed so far,” Kevin replied. “A lot of them due to our defense globes. But they’re gone. The Eternals have destroyed all of them.”
Jeremy did some quick calculating. If the battle continued as it was, his fleet would win but at a massive cost. Taking a deep breath, Jeremy knew he had no choice but to pay that cost. This Eternal fleet must be stopped and stopped decisively. Jeremy knew there was only one way to do that. He still had a substantial advantage in ship numbers. “Ariel, I want all ships to close with the Eternal fleet until we intermix. It will make our weapons more dangerous to their vessels. Communicate that to all the military AIs as well as the other Originator battlecruisers.”
“It will make our ships just as vulnerable,” warned Commander Malen, her eyes shifting to Jeremy.
“We will be hit by more energy beams,” said Ariel worriedly.
Jeremy nodded. “I know, but it’s the only way to ensure a victory.”
Aaliss said nothing. She was watching the main viewscreen which was showing the battle. Never had she seen such destruction.
Jeremy quickly contacted Admiral Mann, explaining his plan. It was time to teach the Eternals what real war was all about.
-
The two fleets slowly merged and the fighting ratcheted up in intensity. Energy beams did not miss, antimatter projectors hit every target, dark matter and antimatter warheads exploded against ship shields. The Originator ships were still working in three ship groups blasting away at the Eternal battlecruisers. The Eternal battlecruisers would focus their firepower on a single ship until their energy beams began producing holes in the screen and then would fire an antimatter missile through, annihilating the vessel. In both fleets, the explosions of dying ships was lighting up space in growing frequency. In some parts of the intermixed formation, it seemed as if space itself was on fire.
-
Fleet Commander Norlan watched a viewscreen showing one of his battlecruisers being torn apart by Originator antimatter beams. The deadly beams were ripping open compartment after compartment until the ship broke apart.
“The Originator fleet has entered our fleet formation,” said the Eternal in front of the sensors. “Their weapons are now much more effective against our ships.”
“How can this be?” demanded Telan, the ship’s second in command. He turned toward Fleet Commander Norlan. “We are the Eternals and no one can match our power.”
Norlan looked over at Telan. “You forget, at one time we were also Originators. We have underestimated our enemy. Whoever is in command of those larger ships is clearly not an Originator AI. They would never engage in such a tactic as bringing their ships into such close range to ours.”
The flagship shook violently, nearly tossing Fleet Command
er Norlan out of his command chair.
Looking at the screen, he saw one of the enemy’s larger ships being attacked by two Eternal battlecruisers. Powerful energy beams were tearing at the screen and eventually penetrated. Massive explosions blew out huge sections of armored hull material from the stricken ship. Then two antimatter warheads struck the vessel, obliterating it. When the light faded all that remained was scattered wreckage and glowing plasma.
“Latest computer projections indicate we will lose this battle,” Telan said in disbelief. “By fighting at this close a range, the enemy has increased the destructive power of their weapons.”
“They sacrifice their ships to destroy us,” Norlan said in admiration. The Eternals had respect for those willing to die in battle. Norlan studied the nearby tactical display for a long moment. “Have all ships retarget their weapons on the larger ships only. I want to destroy as many of them as possible.”
-
Jeremy blinked his eyes in pain as more of his dreadnoughts died. All of those ships had small crews in the Command Centers. “We have them,” Ariel said as she studied the battle and ran algorithms on the intensifying battle and ship losses. “We will win, but our fleet will suffer heavy losses.”
Before Jeremy could say anything in reply the Avenger shook violently, throwing many in the Command Center to the floor. Lights flickered and several consoles shorted out, throwing sparks across the room.
“Energy beam strike to the hull directly above the Command Center,” called out Commander Malen as her hands flew frantically across her console. “Heavy damage to numerous compartments.”
The ship shook again as if it had been struck by a giant hammer and the lights went out. Jeremy could hear screams of pain and what sounded like distant explosions. Then a heavy weight struck him across the head. Jeremy felt intense pain and then everything went black.
-
With a groan, Jeremy opened his eyes. His head was throbbing and the light seemed unusually bright.
“He’s awake,” he heard a woman’s voice say.
“Jeremy?”
With a start, Jeremy recognized Kelsey’s voice. His eyes finally managed to focus, and he saw he was in a hospital room with a nurse and a frightened looking Kelsey standing by the bed. “Where am I?”
“You’re in the Shrieel in Galaxy X-938,” answered Kelsey, her voice sounding relieved. “You were severely injured during the battle with the Eternals.”
“The Avenger?” asked Jeremy, wondering what had happened to his crew?
“It’s badly damaged, so much so that it will have to be scrapped. It looks like you’re getting another new ship.”
“The crew? Kevin?”
“He’s fine. Most of the crew survived,” answered Kelsey, with a look of deep sadness in her eyes. “The ship was struck by multiple energy beams. The shield failed, and if not for the military AIs ordering the Originator battlecruisers to form a shield of ships around the Avenger, it would have been destroyed completely.”
“Did we win the battle?” Jeremy felt as if he needed to get up and find the nearest Command Center to see if the Eternals were attacking the Shrieel. Under no condition could the Shrieel be allowed to fall.
“When Admiral Mann saw the Avenger was out of action she took over command. The battle lasted for another thirty minutes and it was brutal. She pressed the Eternals at every point. I understand she ordered the ships of the fleet to close to within several thousand meters of the Eternal vessels. Their shields were almost touching. We lost a lot of ships but in the end, the Eternals were forced to withdraw. Only twenty-nine of their battlecruisers left the battle. Admiral Mann had them followed to the edge of the galaxy where they entered hyperspace and set a course for the Median Galaxy.”
Jeremy tried to sit up and found he was partially restrained. With surprise he saw his left arm was covered with bandages. “What else is wrong with me besides the whack to the head?”
“You nearly lost your left arm,” answered the nurse, coming over to check several readings on a panel next to the bed. “We had to use medical nanites to rebuild part of it. You had a nasty concussion, two broken ribs, and internal injuries. If this had happened back on Gaia, I’m not sure you would have survived. Even with Originator medical technology it was touch and go for a few hours when they first got you here.”
Jeremy tried to relax. “How much time has passed?”
“Over a week,” answered Kelsey, taking Jeremy’s hand.
“How many ships did we lose?” Jeremy was deeply concerned about the strength of the fleet should the Eternals return. If they came back with an even larger fleet, he might not have the ships to stop them from reaching the Shrieel.
Kelsey let out a deep breath. “It was bad, Jeremy. I spoke to Admiral Mann yesterday; even her flagship the Victory suffered heavy damage though it’s still operational. The fleet lost 927 Originator battlecruisers and 414 dreadnoughts. Vice Admiral Pence arrived yesterday with a force of three hundred more dreadnoughts. Bartoll sent word as well that an additional three thousand Originator battlecruisers would be arriving later this week.”
Jeremy winced at hearing the losses. Once he got out of this hospital room, he wanted to review the videos of the battle. It was obvious they were going to need to devise some new strategies to deal with the Eternals. They made the Simulins look like a JV team. At least with the reinforcing fleets, he felt confident he could hold the Shrieel against another attack.
Kelsey looked at Jeremy with deeply troubled eyes. “Ariel wants to speak with you. She has some news you need to hear.”
Jeremy nodded. He was surprised the overly protective AI wasn’t in the hospital room. “Tell her she can come in.”
“Only for a moment,” the nurse said a little sternly. “You need your rest.”
Kelsey went to the door and opened it. Ariel came in with a look of deep concern on her face. The look quickly faded when she saw Jeremy was awake.
“Jeremy, I’m so sorry! There was nothing I could do. I’ve never felt so helpless.”
“It’s all right, Ariel,” said Jeremy, forcing a smile. “Now, what’s so important that you needed to see me?”
A guilty look spread across Ariel’s face. “We survived because the Command Centers on all of the new dreadnoughts have extra armor around them. When I realized the significance of that, I went back and replayed the footage of the Warrior’s Pride slamming into the Originator battlecruiser. At extremely slow motion I found something.”
Jeremy’s eyes widened in shock and dawning hope. “Tell me, did the Command Center on the Warrior’s Pride survive?”
“Yes,” Ariel answered. “There’s a chance Grayseth is still alive!”
Chapter Twenty
Jeremy was back in the Dyson Sphere at the Communications and Transport Hub. It had taken another week before the doctors at the Shrieel in Galaxy X-938 had allowed him to leave the medical center. He was now back in the Tower along with Ariel, Admiral Kalen, Admiral Calmat, and Aaliss.
“Play the video again,” ordered Jeremy, his eyes looking cold and haunted.
Ariel nodded and on the large viewscreen appeared the Warrior’s Pride ramming the larger Eternal battlecruiser. As the two ships collided a massive explosion occurred, destroying both vessels. Then Ariel replayed the video at a much slower speed. At the speed the video was now being played the explosion seemed to occur in extremely slow motion. Ariel zoomed in on the Warrior’s Pride as the ship’s bow was crushed by the collision. Then both vessels slowly exploded, and from the heart of the explosion, a small object was propelled away and promptly vanished from the display.
Kathryn shook her head, not understanding what she was seeing. “What happened? If that object was the Command Center, why did it vanish?”
Ariel looked around at the admirals. “When the Originator AIs, with our aid, designed the new dreadnoughts we wanted to ensure the maximum survivability of the Command Centers during a battle. In all the dreadnoughts, except t
he flagships, the crews are held to a minimum. During a battle, the majority would be in that room. The only other area in the ship there might be live crewmembers is Engineering.”
“That’s why there’s increased armor around the Command Center and not just the Command Center itself,” added Aaliss. “The increased armor also extends to the compartments above, below, and around the Command Center. Inside the armor, we added emitters which could maintain both an emergency energy shield or the stealth shield. The Command Center has an emergency power source that could operate both for a short period of time as well as maintain life support for any survivors if necessary.”
“When the object you saw was hurled away from the collision of the two ships, it appeared to vanish,” continued Ariel. She then zoomed in on the object. It was a jagged piece of wreckage nearly sixty meters in diameter. As they watched, the video was once more being played at a very slow speed. The space around the object seemed to shimmer, and then the object faded away from view.
“That’s definitely a stealth field,” said Admiral Kalen, his eyes wide with disbelief at what they were seeing. “Would any of the crew have survived or even been conscious after the collision? How was the shield activated?”
“The ship’s computer,” answered Aaliss. “It is one of the emergency procedures programmed into it. It was deemed the best chance for a Command Center to survive was for the stealth shield to be activated so enemy ships could not detect it. Then later, after the battle, the stealth shield could be dropped and the crew rescued.”
“Why haven’t more Command Centers survived?” asked Admiral Kalen.
“While the extra armor will help protect a Command Center from an energy beam, it will not survive an antimatter explosion which is how most ships end up being destroyed,” answered Aaliss. “In both battles so far with the Eternals, they have used antimatter weapons to ensure the destruction of any damaged vessels.”
The Originator Wars: Universe in Danger: A Lost Fleet Novel Page 32