by Don Viecelli
The KEM missiles fired by both war fleets were on their way to hit each other. They had little time to clear the hangars of space fighters. Trolga send the order, “Release the Spitkas now!”
Soon, Thirty-three thousand Spitka fighters were departing their three hundred warships and ordered to attack the two hundred and two Holtu warships and twenty thousand two hundred enemy fighters coming at them at tremendous speeds. The solar system was incredibly large by space standards; billions of miles in diameter. However, at sublight speeds, even great distances can be covered in mere seconds.
Even Trolga was amazed at the sight appearing before him on his viewscreens. Flashes of light from tremendous explosions began to appear all around him. Thousands of lives were being snuffed out without hearing a single sound from airless space vacuum. It was surreal, but real nonetheless.
Suddenly, Second Commander Qunta announced, “KEMs approaching our ship! Laser defenses firing at targets!”
Trolga held his breath. He had done everything in his command to avoid the KEM missiles fired by enemy warships.
“KEMs destroyed by laser fire, First Commander!” Qunta finally reported.
Everyone on the Command Bridge breathed a sigh of relieve. The first wave of enemy missiles had missed them. The warships were getting too close to use anymore KEM weapons. Now, the Spitkas must create openings or weaknesses in enemy warship energy fields so the Yoyka could fire their nuclear tipped missiles and destroy them.
“What is the damage assessment to our fleet?” Trolga demanded looking at his viewscreen.
“The AI reports forty-two warships destroyed, ten damaged, First Commander.”
Seventeen percent of his fleet destroyed or damaged was more than he expected, but within the estimated losses at first contact.
“What are the enemy losses?” Trolga asked.
“Eighteen warships destroyed; two damaged, First Commander.”
Ten percent enemy losses was less than expected, thought Trolga. “The enemy was more prepared for our new weapon than we thought,” he said out loud. He wondered why.
Trolga had one more weapon to use at his disposal; the Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse missiles each of his warships carried. It almost worked at the Battle For Holtu, but it only affected the Holtu androids and their ships for a brief period. This time, the most he could expect was a brief disruption in some of the enemy attack plans. It was worth a try. He said to Second Commander Qunta, “Pass the order to all warship commanders to fire their NEP missiles at the enemy!”
Qunta did as commanded. It would take a few moments for the missile to explode near the enemy warships and fighters.
Meanwhile, Trolga studied his viewscreen and watched as his fleet closed in on the enemy fleet. The Holtu were still greatly outnumbered and victory was still certain. Trolga ordered, “Second Commander, move us toward the smaller human planet called Mars. When we are within striking distance, fire the NDW missiles. Soon, the Humans will know who decides their fate!”
Chapter 31
Chaos Of Battle
The chaos of battle was upon them. Admiral Weston watched the battle scene closely on his viewscreens. “The Yoyka warships are spread out across the solar system as Vice Leader Di predicted. We must keep them from getting any closer to Mars and Earth!”
Captain Martin was busy monitoring all weapon systems and following AIC’s lightning swift actions to keep their energy shields at maximum, change directions to avoid enemy KEM missiles from splitting them in half and firing antimissile laser defense systems to knock out incoming missiles from enemy Spitka fighters and warships.
The USS Illinois survived the first wave of KEM missiles, but could not escape every nuclear missile that scores of Yoyka Spitka fighters were firing at their warship. The first group of missiles finally slipped through the laser defense system and exploded against their energy shield. The ship shook from the impacts, lights on the Bridge dimmed and people were thrown around in their seats.
“Two nuclear missiles hit on our port side!” AIC reported without any note of concern. “Energy shield reduced by twenty percent. Rerouting power to correct.”
“Damage report!” Jason demanded.
“Minimal damage, Admiral. All internal alarms are still green!” Doug reported.
Jason looked at Doug. “That was close. Tell Drake to target those Spitka fighters firing on our ship!”
“Already on it, Admiral!” Doug said.
Doug radioed Wing Commander Drake down at Flight Control. “CAG, we need to stop those Spitkas from firing on our ship!”
The noise on the channel was very loud. Doug could hear people shouting and fighters revving their engines for takeoff. Commander John Drake replied, “I’ll pass on the order, Commander, but our fighters are outnumbered. We need more fire power!”
Doug turned to Jason and said, “Commander Drake says we’re outnumbered, but he’ll pass on the order. We need more help if we want to finish this!”
“Five more minutes! That’s all we need!” Jason said as another missile hit their shield and shook the ship.
Doug knew what was about to happen, but time was not on their side. Vice Leader Di relayed word that help was on its way as planned, but they had to hold off the Yoyka attack until that moment arrived.
So far, Doug knew the space battle was progressing as predicted. The Yoyka were attacking with everything they had. Even the use of Kinetic Energy Missile weapons was not unexpected. The Yoyka learn fast and the experience gained at the Battle For Holtu was not lost on them. They waited until the new KEM weapons and FTL hyperdrive systems were installed on their warships before attacking. The only thing that was not known until the last hour was how many Yoyka warships would attack Earth’s solar system and then Holtu. The decision how to respond to this situation was left up to High Leader Altek who remained at Holtu to protect their solar system.
The answer was now apparent. The Yoyka had sent half their warship fleet to attack Earth’s solar system. They sent an overpowering force leaving nothing to chance; so they thought.
The difficulty for Doug and the rest of their two hundred warship fleet was to hold off the Yoyka attack until reinforcements arrived. This may prove harder than anticipated.
Control was the first one to alert the crew to the latest weapon threat. “The Yoyka have fired Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse missiles at our fleet, Admiral. EMP explosions are imminent!”
Jason looked at Doug and said, “Our ships are shielded, but I don’t know what effect NEPs will have on our Holtu allies. I hope they’re protected!”
Moments later the NEP explosions occurred near the main space battles. The USS Illinois shook from one of the nearby blast waves. The ship’s electrical systems blinked out for a millisecond, then resumed normal functions. The NEP pulse wave had little effect on control systems.
Jason studied his Holtu crewmembers on duty near him in the Control Center. He noticed some of them raise their arms and hands to their heads as if in pain, but none of them passed out, which was good sign. “Anyone hurt or need medical attention?” he asked out load.
No one appeared injured or incapable of performing their duties. Doug said, “We’re okay, Admiral. I’ll check the rest of the crew and see how our fighters are doing. It looks like the Holtu were better prepared this time.”
Doug took another look at his viewscreen at enemy positions. “We need to move our forces closer to Mars and Earth!” Doug responded. “The Yoyka are trying to break through our lines now.”
Jason noticed the same thing on his viewscreen. “I see it. I’m passing word to the warships behind us. Di will protect Earth with his forces. We need to move towards Mars!”
Both warship fleets were still 400 million kilometers from Mars and Earth; dispersed over a wide area of space. Even travelling at nine tenths the speed of light, the first warships and fighters would reach both planets within the hour. There was no time to lose. Something had to be done to stop the Yoyka forces from
firing any type of weapons at either planet!
*****
The NEP missiles that exploded near enemy warships had little effect on the space battle as Trolga expected. The Holtu had obviously found ways to protect themselves from the effects of EMP weapons. Still, First Commander Trolga was feeling very confident as always. Emperor Rahta and High Commander Anahta had assured him before the mission that he would have enough warships and fighters to easily defeat the Humans and Holtus guarding this solar system. So far, they had been proven correct. But Trolga was no fool. He knew what happened at the Battle For Holtu and kept a close eye on any Holtu reinforcements appearing behind his warfleet. He would not be outflanked in this attack! He was too smart and experienced for this type of maneuver.
“What are your orders, First Commander?” Second Commander Qunta asked.
“Continue the attacks on the enemy warships! We must get closer to the human planets to fire our NDW missiles.”
The battle was raging all around them in space. Every few seconds, another warship or fighter from both sides would explode in a violent light show illuminating the darkness of space. Trolga thought it beautiful except for the realization that lives were lost with each burst of light.
“How much longer before we are within firing range of that red planet?” Trolga asked.
“Ne Kas (ten minutes)!” Qunta replied.
“Very good. Load the NDW missile tubes and prepare to fire when I give the order,” Trolga said. His mission only required two important goals. Destroy the enemy warfleet protecting this solar system and kill every human being on both populated planets. He was well on the way of achieving the first goal. The second goal would be easier he thought.
“The enemy is trying to block our turn to the planet, First Commander!”
Trolga looked at his viewscreen. Sure enough, one of the lead enemy warships was moving to block his approach towards the red planet. “Order four warships and their Spitka fighters to move in front of us, Second Commander. Have them concentrate their missile fire on that lead warship!”
“As you command. Orders sent!” Qunta acknowledged. Within seconds, numerous nuclear tipped missiles were heading straight for the lead enemy warship. It would not survive such an attack unless it moved quickly out of Trolga’s way. Then the red planet called Mars would be wide open to receive his payload of death. Such was the fate of any race deemed expendable by the Yoyka.
Chapter 32
Mars Attack
Doug saw the threat coming towards the USS Illinois before anyone else. “Four enemy warships and their Spitka fighters are headed our way, Admiral!” The viewscreens on the bridge lit up with red icons. Alarms went off alerting the crew to incoming fighters and missiles. Focus and intensity heightened dramatically in the Command Center.
Only Control seemed calm. The AI announced, “Incoming enemy warships and fighters firing numerous missiles at our ship. Laser defense systems online. Changing course to avoid inbound missiles. Firing at all enemy targets now!”
The USS Illinois made several abrupt turns in space and did its best to avoid the first wave of enemy missiles headed their way. Over two dozen missiles were destroyed before they reached the ship. Three missiles managed to strike the energy shields and weaken it.
“Shields down sixty percent!” Control announced. “Rerouting power to strengthen shields.”
Jason was watching conditions closely. He was monitoring the Yoyka attack and correctly surmised the warships were trying to break through their lines in space in order to attack Mars. The enemy force had split into two groups. One group focused on Mars and the second group, over hundred warships, was now heading towards Earth.
“They’re splitting into two groups!” Jason said to Doug. “We’ll protect Mars. Di’s fleet will protect Earth until the rest of our forces arrive. Should be any moment now.”
“They better hurry! We can’t hold them off much longer,” Doug replied gripping the edge of his seat. The ship shook violently as more nuclear missiles hit the energy shield and exploded. Doug looked at his monitor. Shield was down to forty percent. Their Zoltu fighters managed to drive the attacking Spitka fighters away from their ship, but four Yoyka warships were now within firing range of their ship.
“We need to stop these warships from getting past our lines!” Doug yelled to Jason.
Jason had already ordered three of the closest allied warships to close the gap to stop the Yoyka warships from breaking through the line. It was going to be close.
“Fire all nukes now at those warships, Control!” Jason ordered AIC.
“Firing missiles at enemy warships now,” Control responded.
The Yoyka warship fleet was approaching the Allied warship forces at full speed now with no intention of breaking off their attacks. They outnumbered the Holtu and Human fleet in warships and fighters. Missiles were speeding through space at all targets. Control was doing its best to find and stop the missiles before they reached their targets. Energy shields were weakened to the point that any new missile strikes could make it through and strike the hulls causing massive damage or total destruction.
“Two enemy warships down!” Doug said through clenched teeth. “One ship is through our lines heading towards Mars!”
Jason saw what was happening on his viewscreen. He ordered AIC, “Turn around and intercept that ship!”
It was time to use their new weapon, the cloaked drones with nuclear payloads. The original plan was to use the drones, nicknamed Orcas because of their size and black and white coloring, only if they could not stop the Yoyka from breaking through their lines and attacking Mars or Earth. It was clear the time had come.
“Prepare the Orcas for firing!” Jason ordered Control.
A moment later, Control acknowledged the order. “Orca drones ready to fire!”
As chaos in battle dictates, the unexpected always happens; not always a good thing. The first thing Doug saw was the lead Yoyka warship firing numerous missiles at Mars before they could stop it. The planet was two hundred million kilometers away. At 90 percent sublight speed, the missiles would reach Mars in 12 minutes.
“Fire two Orcas at that ship!” Jason ordered.
Each Orca drone carried five nuclear tipped missiles. The missiles could be independently fired and targeted, or the drone could carry the whole payload to the target and explode on impact. One drone could take down a warship energy field. The second Orca could penetrate the force field and explode upon contact with the warship completely destroying the target.
It was too late to stop the Yoyka warship from firing missiles at Mars. Everybody on the Bridge knew what those missiles contained; Nanobot Drone Weapons. They had to be stopped at all costs from reaching the planet.
“Direct the closest Zoltu fighters to take those missiles down!” Jason ordered Doug.
Their warship was too far away to use laser fire to stop those missiles, but the Zoltu fighters could reach them in time if they followed now.
Doug relayed the order to Wing Commander Drake. He directed twenty Zoltu fighters to go after the enemy missiles. Doug also knew the satellite defense batteries could track the incoming missiles and try to knock them down before they reached Mars.
The second thing Doug noticed on his viewscreens were the enemy warships approaching Earth. Di’s forces were attempting to stop the Yoyka from breaching their lines in space as well, but a few warships were getting too close to Earth for comfort. Di was also firing Orca drones weapons at the Yoyka warships now.
“The Yoyka are breaking through our lines!” Doug said in desperation.
Suddenly, a hundred new Holtu warships blasted out of hyperspace between Mars and Earth. Several warships appeared right next to enemy Yoyka warships; so close commanders could see the lettering on each warship out their windows. Immediately, laser cannons fired and railguns launched electromagnetic projectiles as warships passed each other as sublight speeds. Several warships on both sides exploded from weapon fire lighting
up the dark space brighter than the sun.
The Holtu immediately released their Zoltu fighters to attack the enemy ships and fighters around them. Chaos reached a new height. Explosions lit up the darkness by the hundreds as fighters found their targets or exploded on impact with other ships or fighters in their way. Watching the viewscreens, Doug heard imaginary screams in his head as people died on both sides.
The final images Doug saw on his viewscreen were enemy Spitka fighters approaching Mars air space firing missiles at the domed cities. Then chaos erupted on his own Bridge as two nuclear missiles exploded inside their energy shield and the blast wave impacted against the hull of their warship. The force of the blast was so great it rocked the deck violently, knocking out lights and most control systems. Jason’s command seat was separated from the deck and thrown across the room against the far wall. Doug was knocked unconscious as his seat twisted sideways to the floor. Smoke started pouring into the Command Center as fire extinguishers knocked down small fires that erupted from equipment everywhere. It was difficult to breathe. The USS Illinois was seriously damaged and defenseless.
The images Doug did not see were the dozens of enemy missiles fired at Earth before Vice Leader Di and the new Holtu warship fleet emerging from hyperspace could stop them.
It was clear the Yoyka were about to inflict terrible, if not fatal, damage on Mars and Earth before they could be stopped.
Chapter 33
Earth Attack
Vice Leader Di knew what was happening all around him as the battle with the Yoyka fleet raged on. He was not worried the Yoyka would win this battle, only that they might succeed in striking the Human planets of Mars and Earth with their killer nanobot drone weapons. From what he could see on his viewscreens on board the Bakutu, the possibility of a NDW strike was now a reality.