The Slaver Wars: Galactic Conflict (5 page)

The small
group made their way through the busy station, even passing a small group of
Altons.

“How many
Altons are on the station?” Amanda asked as they passed by the taller, white
haired aliens. She knew that if not for the Altons, New Tellus would have
fallen.

“Several
hundred,” Bennett replied. “They’re helping to install some new power systems
for the station as well as working on upgrading our warships.”

“Just what are
they doing to our ships?” asked Amanda, feeling intrigued. She had heard a
number of rumors, but Richard had insisted that she stay away from Fleet stuff
while she had recuperated from her injury.

“They’re
giving us their particle beam weapon, which was so devastating to the AIs, as
well as their sublight antimatter missiles,” Bennett replied. “They have warned
us that the AIs will probably now strengthen their shields in an attempt to
make their ships less vulnerable to the particle beam weapon. They are also
giving us a new fusion reactor, which is much more efficient and powerful than
our class one reactors. It will substantially increase the strength of our
ship’s energy shields as well as our other weapons.”

“Their ships
also use a type of armor that is much more resistant to energy weapons,” added
Richard, recalling what he had been told in his last briefing by Admiral
Johnson. “We will be using that armor on all of our new construction.”

They passed
through a large hatch that was guarded by several heavily armed marines and
stepped into one of the shipyard’s large construction bays. Inside, a new hull
had been laid and numerous technicians and a few Altons were busy working on
the massive construction. A number of the spider-like work robots were also present.

“What is it?” asked
Amanda, curiously. From the size of the hull, she suspected the vessel had to
be a battleship. Currently, the Federation only had two, the StarStrike and the
Tellus.

“It’s your new
command ship,” Admiral Bennett replied with a pleased grin. “With your
permission, we would like to name your new battleship the WarStorm in memory of
her sacrifice.”

Amanda felt
herself choke up as she gazed at what would soon be a massive warship. There
had been times recently when she had wondered if she even wanted command of
another ship or fleet again. She looked over at Lieutenants Stalls and Trask
and saw the excited hope in their faces. It was time for her to accept the
reality of her situation. There was a war to fight, and Admiral Streth would
need her.

Straightening
up her shoulders, she drew in a sharp breath and looked at Admiral Bennett. “I
think the WarStorm will be a fine name. How soon before she’s completed?”

“With some of
the construction techniques the Altons are providing and the work robots, we
can have her ready in six months,” Admiral Bennett replied. “When we’re done,
she will be the most advanced and powerful warship in our fleet.”

Amanda nodded.
The Hocklyns had taken many of her friends away from her. This new WarStorm
would be what she would use to avenge them. She would build a new fleet around
this battleship. After seeing what the Hocklyns had done to the cities of New
Tellus and the destruction they'd left in orbit of the planet, they would find
no mercy from Amanda. The new ship would be her Sword of Damocles, and she
would use it to make the Hocklyns and AIs pay for what they had done.

Richard could
see the new resolve in his wife’s eyes. For the first time since her injury, he
could see the fire return to Amanda. Her eyes were full of life and
determination. He was already beginning to feel sorry for the Hocklyns.

Jeremy and the
rest of the Special Five were in the officers' mess eating. Ariel was sitting
with them with a look of deep concern upon her face.

“It’s been
nearly a week and the Hocklyns haven’t attacked again,” she said in her young
female voice, sounding perplexed. “They are just sitting there doing nothing, I
don’t understand. They have us outnumbered and have ten AI ships. What are they
waiting on?”

“Be patient,
Ariel,” spoke Kelsey, looking over compassionately at the AI. Kelsey knew that
Ariel missed her daily talks with Clarissa.

“We need to do
something, Jeremy,” Kevin added as he toyed with the French fries on his plate.
“We need to find out what happened at New Tellus. Most of the people in the
fleet are talking and asking questions.”

“I would have
thought Admiral Streth would have returned by now,” Angela said as she leaned
back and crossed her arms over her breasts. “Why hasn’t he?” The marine captain
that Angela had been dating had expressed some deep concern earlier when the
two had been talking over a private com channel. Every day the rumors were
getting worse.

“I’m getting
worried, Jeremy,” Katie said in a soft voice, her green eyes showing her unease
“What if Admiral Streth lost and we’re all that’s left of the Federation
Fleet?”

“He didn’t
lose,” replied Jeremy, shaking his head in denial. “Admiral Streth will show up;
he promised to return and the Fleet Admiral keeps his promises.”

“Some of those
ships in system K-774 are the same ones that went to attack New Tellus,” Ariel
reminded Jeremy, her dark eyes focusing on him. “From my scans, at least two of
those Hocklyn war fleets were involved. If the Hocklyns lost at New Tellus, why
have those two fleets returned to help the ones besieging us?”

Jeremy closed
his eyes as he tried to think. If his friends were this concerned, he could
imagine how the rest of the fleet must feel. He was also becoming worried as he'd
also thought Admiral Streth would have been back by now or at least sent word
as to what had happened in the battle. The lack of any news was disconcerting. He
needed to do something or the morale in the fleet would quickly deteriorate.

“We need to
send another ship back,” Kelsey suggested, her deep blue eyes focusing on
Jeremy. She reached out, took his hand, and squeezed encouragingly. “Jeremy, we
need to find out what happened.”

“I think
you’re right,” Jeremy responded with a heavy sigh. He'd been thinking about
that very idea for several days now. They needed to find out what had happened
back in the Federation. “Only this time we’ll send a light cruiser. It will
have a better chance of defending itself than a destroyer.”

“I think a
light cruiser would do very well,” added Ariel, wanting to hear from Clarissa.
She was sure Clarissa would have all kinds of exciting stories to tell about
the battle around New Tellus. Ariel was also curious to find out what part her
AI friend might have played.

It was at that
moment that the Condition One alarm went off and red lights in the mess hall
began flashing. Colonel Malen’s voice then came over the internal speakers. “All
crew, go to Condition One; this is not a drill. Admiral Strong, please report
to the Command Center.”

“It’s the Hocklyns,”
Ariel reported. Her dark eyes had that faraway look they often got when she was
studying her sensors. “A large number of their ships have jumped out of system
K-774. From the stealth scout scans of their entry vectors, they are headed
here.”

Jeremy stood
up, knowing they still had a good forty minutes before the enemy showed up. “Let’s
get to the Command Center and see what we’re up against.”

Kevin sighed
heavily as he looked down at the partially eaten hamburger on his plate. He
hated wasting food. “Why couldn’t they have waited ten more minutes?” he
mumbled as he stood up.

A few minutes
later, they were all in the Command Center and Jeremy took his place behind the
command console. “What do we have?”

Colonel Malen
turned away from the tactical display and looked over at Jeremy. “Over two
hundred Hocklyn ships have jumped into hyperspace, as well as four AI ships.
Grayseth has brought the defense grid online. He's also placed the battle
stations and the space station at Condition One and is readying his fighters
and bombers. Commander Marks has suggested that he arm the bombers with Shrike
nuclear tipped missiles. I have brought our fleets up to Condition One also.
Admiral Stillson has his fleet on the far side of the planet in case the AIs
attempt to jump inside the gravity well. All strikecruisers have Devastator
Threes loaded and ready to launch upon detecting an AI ship.”

Jeremy nodded.
Admiral Stillson and he had decided to position their two fleets on opposite
sides of the planet. That way if an AI ship did jump in, they would be in
immediate attack range of the Devastator Threes from the strikecruisers.

Fourth Fleet
was currently five hundred kilometers away from the space station. The station
had four of the type two battle stations, which could engage an AI ship. It
also had twenty power beam installations as well as its other weapons. But
Fourth Fleet was still close enough to support the station if need be.

“Grayseth
reports he has fighters and bombers being prepped and ready to deploy upon your
orders,” Angela reported from Communications. She looked nervously at the main
viewscreen, knowing that soon it would be showing Hocklyn ships coming with the
intention of killing them. She swallowed loudly and then looked around, hoping
no one had noticed.

Jeremy nodded,
knowing that today many of Grayseth’s brave pilots might die. There was nothing
else they could do until the Hocklyns and the AIs arrived. He leaned back in
his chair and watched the tactical display expectantly.

-

Commodore
Krilen nodded in satisfaction as his dreadnought, the IronHand, exited
hyperspace into the Careth system. “Status,” he rasped in his cold and
demanding voice.

“All ships
present, including the AIs,” First Leader Angoth reported as he checked the
tactical screen. “We are two million kilometers out from the planet.”

“Take us into
the gravity well,” ordered Krilen, as he watched the tactical screen begin to
fill up with red threat icons.

War Leader Versith
and he had come up with a plan to force the Humans to commit their fleet. They
would take their ships into the gravity well, but stay well away from the large
space station and the weapons it was bound to be armed with. The Human fleet
would have to engage or risk allowing the Hocklyn ships to bombard the planet.

-

On board the
Viden, War Leader Versith watched as the Hocklyn fleet neared the gravity well
of the planet. He noted that the Humans had divided their forces into two
separate fleets, one on each side of Careth. It was a good strategy to protect
the planet from the Hocklyns, as well as the AIs. Stepping down from the
command pedestal, he walked across the War Room until he was standing in front
of the large tactical display.

“We will take
our fleet to this position,” he said to First Leader Trion as he pointed to a
part of the display between the two Human fleets, but away from the space
station. “They will have no choice but to engage us.”

“Honor will
come today,” Trion spoke with a satisfied nod. “It is a good plan.”

“Have our war
wings ready to deploy armed with interceptors. If the Humans launch their
bombers, I want to be able to destroy them. Inform our pilots that the Human
bombers are their priority target.”

“As you
command,” Trion responded as he moved over to Communications to carry out the
order.

Versith’s eyes
strayed over to Second Leader Jaseth at his weapons console. Once again, a
Protector stood watchfully nearby. Soon, Jaseth would have the opportunity to
use the Viden’s weapons against the Humans. Perhaps that would help to curb the
young Hocklyn’s raging anger.

-

Commodore
Krilen watched impassively as the fleets began to enter the planet’s gravity
well. The goal of this battle was to severely cripple the Humans' ability to
defend the planet and to see how many of the deadly sublight missiles they
might have.

“AIs are ready
to jump once engagement has begun,” First Leader Angoth reported. He crossed
his large, powerful arms across the chest plate of his dark gray battle armor
and looked intently at the tactical screen. He was curious to see if the AIs
would do as promised.

Krilen nodded.
The AIs had started speaking again. They'd agreed with the battle plan that Versith
had come up with. Very shortly, they would begin their crucial part in this
engagement.

“Honor comes
to us today,” Angoth intoned, pleased that after so long they were finally
going into battle.

“Yes, there
will be much honor gained today,” Krilen agreed in response. He needed to
accrue honor if he wanted to continue to advance in the Hocklyn command
hierarchy. This battle today would be the next step in his desire for more and
greater power.

-

“They have
entered the gravity well,” Ariel reported as she studied her sensors. She was
standing to Jeremy’s left, dressed in her regulation dark blue uniform without
insignia. Her dark black hair rested upon her shoulders and her face had that
youthful look of innocence.

“They seek to
engage us this time,” Colonel Malen announced as she studied the tactical
display.

“What’s their
fleet makeup?” Jeremy asked as he leaned forward and studied the display more
intently.

Ariel studied
her sensors briefly and then reported. “Sixteen dreadnoughts, thirty-six warcruisers,
and one hundred and forty-four escort cruisers.”

Jeremy drew in
a sharp breath. Fourth Fleet was composed of only two battlecruisers, four
battlecarriers, eight strikecruisers, eight Monarch cruisers, and eighteen
light cruisers. He would be outnumbered five to one in the upcoming battle. For
a moment, he wondered if he should call in Admiral Stillson’s fleet, which had
forty-eight more ships in it.

“Whoever drew
up this attack plan is clever,” Colonel Malen commented with a deep frown as
she arched her eyebrows. “They attack away from the station’s heavy weapons,
forcing us to engage. If we call in Admiral Stillson, then the AIs can jump in
and attack the defense grid and possibly the planet.”