A New Day (13 page)

"All units red alert!" Chous said. "Navigation keep working on that jump plot! All other units activate point defense! Evacuate all damaged ships and set them to self-destruct. Helm, once the plot is set, bring the fleet to full emergency speed and make for the jump point! If those ships are in our way, have the battleships remove them!"

Chous watched his flag captain give the orders for abandoning and destroying the damaged ships. Just as the Captain finished, the first fleet of Super-Destroyers came into missile range and opened fire.

"Defensive formation beta-three, now!" The Captain yelled.

The Admiral just shook his head at the Captain. "Once the ships get into formation, have the battleships concentrate offensive fire on the ships in front of us. If we can't get out of this trap, we're finished."

An hour later and many light years away, just under the floor of a deep, blue ocean, Admiral Yolinar staggered back and sat down forcefully on the steps into the 'pit' the holotank was in. One of the strongest, heavily defended fleets under his command was gone, utterly destroyed by the enemy. Briefly, he wondered how he was going to tell his mate that her elder brother was no more.

The human woman he was beginning to trust and respect, brought him a glass of water. "I'm sorry for your loss, Admiral. This is a horrible thing to have happen. But we need you to compose yourself. The war is not over and we still have people in harm's way that need you. Is there anything I can get you?"

Yolinar took the offered glass of water and drank it. He tried to give the woman a brave smile. "Thank you, but no. You are correct, General, we still have much to do. However, I must inform his Majesty of this immediately."

Gail nodded as she stepped back to let him stand. Seeing he was in a better frame of mind, she turned back to her duties of protecting the planet and assisting Yolinar as much as she could.

As soon as the Admiral retook his place at the tank, he tapped the open comm to his headquarters on Hyclarion.

"Astlani, order the Fourth Beta Centris ground assault unit to Terrel III immediately. They are to coordinate with the Terran Commander here, General Greenwold. Deploy the Ninety-First Support division to Belisarius. They are to salvage as much equipment as is possible and prepare to bring it to the Terrel system. This is to include all shipyards as well as the small craft assembly facilities. Have the Second Engineers stand-by for deployment to this system as well. There will be some major construction projects to be undertaken in the near future. However, do not send them until I get confirmation from the Emperor. As soon as those units are prepared, I'll want to see the commanders in person." He paused. "You might want to update our charts and maps with the new designations for this planet and system. The people here call the system Sol and this planet Terra."

"As you order, Admiral," the man replied.

Yolinar nodded once and minimized the screen. "Comms, I need to speak to the Emperor, please."

"One moment, Sir, I'll try to get him," the tech replied.

"General Captain Coir request permission to enter and speak to you," one of the guards called over the comm.

Gail turned and saw both former pirate captains waiting to be let in. "Let them pass and direct them down here."

The guard acknowledged the order and moments later the two captains were standing beside her and the large Admiral.

"We're a little busy at the moment Captains, but what can I do for you?" Gail asked.

"We heard you might have a problem we thought we could help with. Lizard Marine drop carriers?" Elrond said.

"We do, but how can you assist with that, Captain?" Yolinar asked.

"We have nine more Demons Breath missile systems we stole on behalf of the Duke. They are stored in the hold of the Bittertree," Elrond replied. "We might not be able to get all of them, but we can sure as hell make life interesting for them."

"Blessed Grolith! Where did you steal them from?" Yolinar asked. "Never mind, I don't think I want to know. General, those missile systems are surface to space anti-ship missiles. If those carriers are not escorted, they would be very vulnerable to them."

Gail nodded once. "Excellent, I was beginning to wonder how we were going to keep them from dropping their troops. How quickly can you get them uncrated? We'll just have to figure out how to get them to the surface."

Elrond grinned. "How about we uncrate them while we head up? Can we get tracking and target assist from you? The sensors on my ship are good, but this is not what they were designed for."

"We can go one better Ma'am!" the female tech that was standing by in the control room said. "I'm sure we can create a remote module for Mother to access the systems remotely. If the Captain can get them to the surface and ready to launch, you can control them directly from here."

Gail turned back to Elrond. "What do you think Captain? Wanna give it a try?"

"How much time do we have to get into position?" Elrond asked.

"The drop carriers are still working through the asteroid belt. We estimate they can reach planetary orbit in just under five hours. If they jump, they could be here in twenty minutes," One of the tracking techs replied.

Elrond pointed to the tech, "We need to move! You're with me!" He and the tech ran back for the doors, leaving the other Captain standing with the two commanders. The older man nodded to them. "I am Captain Gerent Oldstone of the Nistian Dew and Elrond's second in command. My I assist you?"

"Yes you can, Captain." Gail said before Yolinar could say anything. "In orbit above us is at least one Lizard destroyer. It's cloaked and hunting the Ranger ships. I need you to find it and any others that are up there so we can destroy them. Unfortunately, you'll be looking for a needle in a haystack. There are two hundred Ranger Patrol ships up there too, all of them cloaked."

Gerent snorted. "You don't want much!" he shook his head. "I've learned a few things in my time as a pirate, but I'll need the transponders of the patrol boats so we don't target them accidentally. Luckily, drop carriers can't cloak. It interferes with the support systems of the stasis units."

Gail grinned. "The tracking section is up there, Captain. Good luck."

"If there is more than three of them up there, General, it'll be those patrol boats that will need the luck," He nodded to the Admiral and moved up to the tracking section.

"What did he mean by that?" Gail asked as she turned back to her battle.

"A cloaked ship cannot raise defensive shields or it cancels the cloaking field out. Once he locates the enemy and the patrol boats begin shooting them down, they will become vulnerable to the weapons of the Destroyers. A Destroyer heavily out guns a single standard patrol boat," Yolinar replied. "If the Destroyers group together for defense, we could easily lose half the patrol boats."

Gail was surprised, but had an idea. "Mother, reconfigure two aerial assault drones per base for low orbit attack. Equip the mass drivers with anti-matter rounds."

"Unable to comply, General. Prime Council authorization required for anti-matter creation and deployment," Mother replied.

Gail sighed. "Okay, start on getting them ready, I'll call Ben."

Yolinar cocked his head to one side and look at Gail. "General, what is your plan? I am not following you."

"Rapidly fired high-speed anti-matter projectiles concentrated on one point of a shield," Gail said as she typed in her request and reason for it to Ben.

"Shields are a magnetic construct that absorbs the energy of…" Yolinar paused.

Gail nodded. "They absorb energy. What happens when they reach their limit? What would happen if that were to happen when the rounds were still being fired?"

"That is a very devastating attack, but what of the rounds that miss? Mass drivers in space have no effective range nor do they lose velocity." Yolinar asked.

"The containment field of the anti-matter in a small round can only remain intact for a finite time without an energy source. Something on the order of seven point five seconds. Just enough time for them to be created, fired and make it to the target," Gail said. "I did some research on this a few days ago, when trying to figure out how to come up with some options to defend us if we needed it."

"It is indeed good we are allies, General. I would not enjoy engaging you in battle," Yolinar said.

Gail smiled at the compliment. "Admiral, I don't enjoy engaging anyone in battle."

Bedouin residence

Command Pod Alpha One

27 Apr. 10266 CE (AD)

Sector 34871 - Great Inland Sea

Earth, Sol System

Ben was sitting in one of the loungers in the living room, enjoying a second cup of coffee while he waited to see when the Emperor would want to see him again. He was surprised when the door chime announced a visitor.

Deirdre was closer and answered the door. She was momentarily stunned to see the Emperor standing there. But she remembered herself and bowed to him. "Majesty! My apologies, this is unexpected."

"It is we who should apologize, Minister Bedouin. We would speak with your brother in a less formal environment, if that is possible," Hjoolous asked.

"Of course, Majesty, please come in," Deirdre replied and stepped aside to allow him, the Senator, and two guards to enter.

As they entered, Ben also knelt to the Emperor. "Please, Prime Council, this is your home. Do not bow to me here."

"It is out of respect for you, Majesty, not just because of protocol," Ben replied. "This is not what I was expecting this morning. Has something happened?"

"I'm afraid so, Prime Council. We find that we need to speak to you frankly and honestly. For the time, we would be done with the formalities. We must speak plainly and honestly to one another, and, I dare say, candidly. For this meeting, I would have you address me by name, if I may do so with you as well," Hjoolous said.

Ben looked a little confused. Something major must have happened. This young man was not the Emperor Hjoolous, but the ruler Hjoolous. He nodded his head once to the being. "You can always address me as Ben, Hjoolous. I do consider you to be a friend."

Beside Hjoolous the Senator looked distinctly unhappy, but Hjoolous had commanded, and that was that. Looking back to Hjoolous, Ben motioned to the couch. "Please have a seat, would either of you like something to drink or perhaps a snack?"

"No, thank you. Not at this time, Ben." Hjoolous replied, but smiled sadly. "I was just informed by Yolinar that the entire First Guardian Fleet has been destroyed by the Lizards."

Apparently, not even the Senator had known that, because she gasped and looked at her future husband in horror.

The news shocked Ben as well. Admittedly he had no idea of the reality of that announcement, but knew it had to be something very bad.

Ben looked troubled. "One moment, Hjoolous." He looked at the ceiling. "Mother, could you please ask Jorga to join us, then secure the apartment in privacy mode. I will need for Jorga to interface with the Council and Council computers."

"Your wife will join you as soon as she finishes her shower. Aside from her connections, the room is secured Prime," Mother replied.

"Thank you, Mother," Ben replied absently. "Hjoolous, I don't really understand the size or impact of the loss of that fleet because I have no idea how big it was. I know it has to be a very bad thing based only on your reactions.

"Has the Admiral briefed you on the situation on this planet?" Ben asked.

"No, he has only kept me informed of the galactic situation. He is the supreme military leader. I can overrule him if I need, but I won't. Because of the loss of the fleet, I will be making a formal declaration later today declaring open war on the Lizards. Once that happens, Yolinar will have free reign to prosecute this war as he needs.

"I have included Glandril today as this talk will most likely be the most important one we ever have," Hjoolous said. "The results of which will have a pronounced effect on both our worlds."

"I see," Ben replied. That sure sounded dire enough. He looked at the now sad female. "Madam Senator, do I have your leave to address you by name as well? Of course you may address me in a like manner."

She gave him a slight smile. "Ben, if the Emperor demands informality, it is expected that all titles also suspended. You do not need to ask; permission is implied."

Ben shook his head. "I would much rather actually have your permission, Senator." He shrugged. "I feel it’s only polite to ask."

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "My father would have a fit, but yes, you may address me informally, Ben."

Ben smiled at her. "Glandril, I want you to know that I have been studying and thinking on this a great deal, and I feel that I can at least partially understand your point of view when dealing with our discussions. If this is going to be as serious as it sounds like it’s going to get, I would offer you something to think about as well."

She looked interested. "What would that be?"

"Business and commerce are very important to any nation, no matter what size. However, what purpose would any of that serve if there were no customers?" Ben said. "As important as business interests are, they must always come after the security and protection of the people and nation that are the customers and consumers that make those businesses even possible. Without the people, there can be no commerce. Without the people, there is literally nothing. If the Lizards are allowed to win this war because of worries about who ends up controlling what resource or technology, then it becomes a moot point simply because the business will no longer exist. Consider if you will, what would happen to your father's business interests or those of the other senators if the Lizards take control of the Empire.