Nanomachine War series Box Set

by Don Viecelli

  “Our space fleet stands at three hundred fifty warships. Two hundred warships are now guarding Earth solar system. One hundred twenty warships are stationed here in Holtu space. Thirty Synor warships remain at Qum. We have strengthened our Holtu solar system and planetary defenses, but more work is still needed. I have outlined our defenses here on this solar chart. We are much more prepared than we were against the last attack four months ago. However, it may not be enough if the Yoyka decide to attack us in force instead of splitting their fleet.

  “According to the messages we have received, the Yoyka plan to attack Earth first with part of their force. Their goal is to eliminate all human live in the solar system. Once that is achieved, they will attack Holtu once again. We must prepare for an attack on Earth and Mars soon.”

  Altek waited for everyone to study the charts on the viewscreen and then answer questions.

  “Are you positive the Yoyka will attack our solar system first?” Admiral Weston asked.

  “Yes, we are according to the intercepted Yoyka conversations coming from the Yoyka Emperor himself,” Altek answered.

  “Do we know the exact date of this attack?” Jason followed up.

  “Within the next two weeks is the best estimate. However, we have surveillance probes watching the Yoyka fleet now. It will take them eleven hours to reach Earth from Yoykan when they do depart for the attack.

  “Will the Holtu fleet here be sent to help us protect Earth when the time comes?” Doug asked.

  Altek looked at Brendu and waited for him to answer. Brendu said, “I have ordered High Leader Altek to send as many of our warships as he deems necessary to help Earth defend itself from the Yoyka. If we fail there, the Yoyka will certainly attack Holtu next.”

  Admiral Weston and Doug were relieved to hear that decision. With the Holtu space fleet, they would have a much better chance of defeating the Yoyka when they came. Doug brought up another issue. “What about the new nanobot drone weapon the Yoyka plan to use against all of us? Do we have a solution to stop it?”

  Altek spoke up. “Tumil has developed a new nanite injection that will help against the Yoyka nanobot drones. Tumil is taking the first batch to Mars on the Solruku today so your people can begin producing the quantities needed to protect the human population. What we do not know for certain is what harm the Yoyka NDW weapon will do to other living organisms if the Yoyka made changes to its programming. Therefore, it will still be necessary to use tactical thermonuclear weapons and ElectroMagnetic Pulse (EMP) weapons on NDW swarms sent to the surface of any planet.”

  Doug immediately knew what “tactical” thermonuclear weapons meant. It referred to enhanced radiation weapon (ERW) or neutron bomb with variable yield capability up to several megatons. Radiation would be released to destroy the killer swarm nanobot drones while minimizing blast effects that could destroy buildings or surface structures. The Holtu used EMP weapons to destroy the NDWs used on Qum. A million Qumru still died in the attack, but the cities survived.

  Altek continued, “We will equip our Zoltu fighters with thermonuclear missiles to use against any NDW missiles that explode over population centers. Humans must take shelter wherever they can.”

  “We can use our new cloaked drones called Orcas to help destroy the Yoyka warships,” Admiral Weston said. “We are producing them in the thousands as we speak.”

  Jason gave a brief description of the new drone weapon that could approach the enemy warships unseen at sublight speeds and deliver five 50 Megaton nuclear missiles directly at the warship energy shields. This new weapon alone might ensure victory against the Yoyka.

  “Who developed this new weapon?” First Chair Brendu asked.

  “Our military weapon development scientists on Earth,” Admiral Weston answered. “We used the cloaking technology the Qumru scientists gave us. Soon, we will be able to use the weapon against the Yoyka.”

  This was a positive development everyone in the room agreed. It appeared to the Holtu that the military alliance with Humans was again proving worthwhile.

  The meeting lasted another hour before it was time for Vice Leader Di, Admiral Weston, Doug and other members of their group to leave the meeting to return to Earth. They would take the battle plans for the defense of the Earth solar system and wait for the inevitable attack by the Yoyka.

  In the meantime, all Doug wanted to do was return to Mars and hold his beautiful wife and son one more time.

  Chapter 29

  Mars

  The USS Illinois returned home to Mars twenty hours after the meeting on Holtu ended. Doug learned the Solruku starship with Tumil was in orbit already and Tumil was on the surface meeting with Janice, Doctor Chang-Woo Mun and others to deliver the new nanite injectors. Doug received permission from Admiral Weston to take a shuttle down to find Tumil and see if he could help.

  Doug found Tumil at the MCDC, Mars Center for Disease Control. The center was filled with scientists and researchers working around the clock preparing for what they knew was coming. Tumil was standing next to Janice when Doug entered the lab they were meeting in.

  Doug went to Jan first and gave her a brief kiss and hug. Then he shook hands with Doctor Mun and Tumil. He said to Tumil, “It’s good to see you again. We thought we lost you for a while.”

  Tumil smiled and replied, “Thank you for coming to rescue me. I knew I would be found eventually and escape the Yoyka. I had help from Shonya. She is the real reason I am here.”

  “I read the message you sent to Vice Leader Di. Shonya was a great help, not only to you, but to all of us. Because of Shonya, we know when the Yoyka are going to attack us. We’ll be ready for them,” Doug said.

  Tumil turned to Doctor Mun and Janice. “I am giving the nanite injectors I brought with me to your people to distribute. I don’t have enough for everyone on Mars and Earth, but I will give you the design and production data so you can produce all you need. The injections must be given immediately to be effective before the Yoyka attack.”

  Doctor Mun asked, “How will this protect us against the Yoyka nanobot drones?”

  “The nanites inside your bodies will produce a negatively charged electromagnetic force when it comes into contact with the nanobot drones. It will allow people to escape the swarm and find a safe place to hide. The nanobot drones will move on to attack other living organisms once it comes into contact with our nanite solution; at least that is the theory. We have not had time to test it on a larger population sample yet.”

  Doctor Mun looked less than satisfied. “Is that the best we can do?”

  Doug decided to tell them what the military has planned for destroying the nanobot drones. “We will attack the swarm with EMP bombs or tactical neutron bomb missiles that release low yield thermonuclear radiation to destroy the swarm before it spreads. People must be in shelters to survive the blasts or they will receive lethal doses of radiation. The weapons will be used as a last resort if we cannot destroy the ships that carry the NDWs.”

  Jan looked upset and said so. “The Yoyka are mad to keep doing this to us!”

  “They are ‘evil’ as humans would say,” Tumil said quietly. “The Qumru knew such a race existed in our galaxy and avoided them as long as we could. Now we must end their rule or we will not survive as a species.”

  Doug asked Tumil how the military could help him distribute the nanite injectors and Tumil said, “I have shuttles delivering the injectors to all the cities on Mars. Doctor Mun has offered to supervise the production of more nanite injectors for your people on Mars. I must travel to Earth next to deliver samples and instructions to your UN and other government leaders. I must leave today to make the deliveries.”

  “I will inform Admiral Weston of your plans and he can tell our President you are coming. President Anderson can pass on the word to the UN Secretary General and others. What you have done is more than helpful, Tumil. It will save a great many lives,” Doug said.

  Tumil turned to the group to speak. “I am sure you k
now that the Yoyka’s intention is to kill everyone of us; here on Qum and on Holtu. They are in the process of wiping out all resistance in this galaxy. They have already used the nanobot drone weapons on other slave worlds. The Yoyka will not stop unless we defeat them.”

  Doug put his hand on Tumil’s arm. “We understand this completely, Tumil. Everyone on Mars and Earth knows what we are up against. We will fight to the death to stop the Yoyka. You just get the nanite injectors to Earth as soon as possible and protect the Solruku.”

  Tumil nodded his head. It was time for him to leave. He shook everyone’s hand on his way out of the room and left.

  Doctor Mun said to Doug, “Tumil told us what you and Vice Leader Di did to save him. It must have been very dangerous.”

  Doug explained what happened briefly to Jan and Mun, “We were in and out of Yoykan space within minutes. We distracted the Yoyka ships in the area just long enough for Tumil and the Solruku to escape. Then we left. The space battle afterwards to protect Qum was far more dangerous. We destroyed many Yoyka warships in our surprise attack that bought us more time to prepare our defenses here at home. The Yoyka will not succeed in destroying us. We will do the same thing we did to them at the Battle For Holtu. I just need to know everyone here will get to the shelters when the attack comes.”

  “How much time do we have?” Doctor Mun asked finally.

  “The last word we have is within the next two weeks. The Yoyka warships have not left Yoykan space yet. They are still building their forces. The attack will come with only eleven hours warning, so you must be ready to enter the bomb shelters when you hear it,” Doug said.

  Doug said he had to leave. He wanted to go home with Jan and spend time with their son, Jules, before leaving for duty. He could only stay the night.

  Doug and Jan spent the evening at home with Jules. They watched a movie before Jan finally put Jules in his crib. Doug watched as Jules fussed in bed before falling asleep.

  Doug hugged Jan from behind and whispered in her ear, “It won’t be long before Jules will be ready for a real bed.”

  Jan turned around to kiss Doug. “He’s only three months old, Doug; let’s not rush it.”

  Doug returned the kiss and said, “You know, I think it’s time for bed too.”

  Jan agreed and they turned off the lights in the house and retired to their bedroom. The baby was sound asleep and, hopefully, would remain so for the next few hours. In the meantime, Doug and Jan did not fall asleep as quickly as Jules did. They knew their time together was precious and limited. They did not waste it. The night passed more quickly than either of them wished.

  Doug woke up early the next morning. He left Jan in bed to get more sleep while he fed Jules his bottle and sat in the rocking chair by the window. He waited for the faint light of the morning sun to brighten the room. He would return to his ship later this morning. He did not know when he would be able to return to his family. He did not know if he would ever return to see them again. All he knew at the moment was he would not let the Yoyka harm his family. He would rather die first.

  Chapter 30

  Yoyka Arrive

  Vice Leader Di received the first indications the Yoyka were coming early in the morning two weeks after Tumil arrived at Mars. The Holtu surveillance probes sent a warning large numbers of Yoyka warships were leaving Yoykan space territory. They were headed to Earth solar system according to intercepted Yoyka military communications channels. Mars and Earth had eleven hours to prepare for the attack.

  Di called Admiral Weston on the vidcom. Jason and Doug were both on the Bridge of the USS Illinois when the call came through. “The warning has been sent to all home world leaders and warship commanders. The Yoyka are coming,” he said.

  Jason looked at Doug. They were ready. “We are deploying Zoltu fighters now according to our defense strategy. What else to you need, Vice Leader?”

  “The Yoyka will begin deploying Spitka fighters as soon as they exit hyperspace. We are anticipating three hundred warships arriving in this solar system. They will fire kinetic energy weapons at our warships as soon as they enter our space. We must make sure our ships are performing evasive maneuvers to avoid contact with these missiles.”

  “Understood, Vice Leader,” Jason answered.

  “May we all succeed in victory today, Admiral Weston!” Di concluded.

  “We will be successful or die trying, Vice Leader,” Jason responded confidently. The call ended abruptly.

  Jason turned on the ship-wide PA system to talk to everyone listening on his ship. “The Yoyka attack is imminent. We have trained for this day. Now it is up to us to teach the Yoyka a final lesson. We will not be threatened! We will not become slaves of the Yoykan Empire! We will defeat these bastards and drive them away from our homes! You will all perform your duties to the best of your abilities. I have faith in you. Fight for your families and homes. Fight for your fellow shipmates. Never give up! Victory or death! God be with you all!”

  Doug said after a moment of silence. “Good speech, Admiral. We’ll all do what’s necessary, don’t worry about that.”

  “I know, Captain. Many of us will die today, but the Yoyka are not going to win this battle. Prepare battle stations! Make sure all our Zoltu fighters are armed and in position.”

  The hours passed quickly as everyone on board the USS Illinois prepared for battle. All weapon systems were tested and primed. All missile tubes loaded. All Zoltu fighters were loaded with weapons and finally released on patrol a few minutes before the hour of battle.

  Jason looked at the time and spoke out loud to AIC. “Control, I need all laser batteries charged to maximum power. Arm all missiles and prepare to fire on my orders.”

  Control responded, “All systems ready for battle, Admiral. Energy shields at maximum power.”

  There was nothing more to do but wait for the Yoyka warships to exit hyperspace. Doug knew the next few minutes would seem like a lifetime. Then the next twenty minutes would determine who lives or dies. Chaos and terror would rule the world for what would seem like an eternity as they fought for their lives. All Doug was thinking about now was the safety of Jan and their son, Jules. He wondered if he would ever see them again.

  *****

  Imperial Leader Rahta was not participating in the first attack on the Human solar system. High Commander Anahta cautioned him against it due to the risk. Instead, Anahta put First Commander Trolga in charge of the fleet ordered to attack and destroy every living human on the populated planets. First Commander Trolga was one of Anahta’s most senior officers who possessed a true warrior’s killer instinct. He was told to use the new nanobot drone weapon on the humans. The NDW drones were programmed to kill only Humans and leave the rest of the planets hospitable to Yoyka colonization.

  Rahta and Anahta were sitting in their seats on the Bridge of the Yoykan Malee Tre when the first of three hundred Yoyka warships exploded out of hyperspace in Earth solar system between two large gas giant planets called Jupiter and Saturn. This time, Rahta was not going to be surprised by the Holtu. Spy drones had reported only two hundred Holtu and Human warships were guarding the solar system. Plus, the Yoyka had the same kinetic energy weapons to use against the enemy. Numbers alone should win the victory, Rahta thought. This time, the Holtu, Qumru and Humans would pay for their treachery at the defeat of Rahta’s forces during the Battle For Holtu a short time ago.

  Rahta turned to Anahta and asked impatiently, “When will the live battle feeds be on our viewscreens?”

  “Any moment now, Imperial Leader. Commander Trolga’s fleet is exiting hyperspace now!”

  Rahta could hardly wait to see his warships destroy the Holtu fleet guarding the human planets in one swift, glorious attack. The whole battle would be recorded as one of the greatest victories in all of Yoykan history. Rahta would be hailed as the greatest Yoykan Emperor who ever ruled! The moment had come!

  First Commander Trolga sat proudly in his captain seat on board the warship, Zeenta,
named after a vicious hawk-like predator on Yoykan. This would be his fifty-third space battle mission. He had never lost a battle. Killing and eliminating enemies for his emperor was his true calling as a great warrior of the empire. He feared no one, not even Rahta. If all went well here, he even might be elevated to High Commander like Anahta and given more alien home worlds to rule as Vice Lord.

  Trolga knew what happened at the Battle For Holtu. He knew how the Holtu had defeated their warship fleet with the help of the Humans. He would not make the same mistake that Anahta and Rahta did. He would not underestimate his enemy. He would strike first and continue to strike until all the Holtu and Human warships were destroyed. Then he would use the NDW drone weapons to kill everyone on these two populated planets.

  “The fleet has exited hyperspace as planned, First Commander! Scanning for enemy targets now!” Second Commander Qunta reported as soon as the Zeenta cleared the vortex.

  Holtu warship targets appeared on the viewscreens in red. The number of warships was confirmed at two hundred two. Trolga immediately gave the order, “Send the order to all commanders—Fire KEMs now!”

  “Orders sent!” A moment later, “Kinetic Energy Missiles fired at targets as ordered!”

  Trolga watched as the Zeenta shook from the missile launches. His fleet was scattered across the solar system to make it difficult for the Holtu to counter attack. Even so, the Holtu were dispersed as well and distances between the opposing war fleets were great. KEMs were deadly, but easily avoided if ships were moving as they were now. That is one of the reasons Trolga fired a spread of KEMs to try and hit as many enemy warships as he could before making his next move.

  “The enemy has fired missiles at our fleet, First Commander!”

  Trolga expected this. All his commanders had orders to make drastic changes in flight patterns to avoid the deadly missiles coming at them. It was simply a matter of numbers and smart battle tactics. The Yoyka outnumbered the Holtu and Human warships.