Galactic Empire Wars: Insurrection (The Galactic Empire Wars Book 5) (25 page)

-

In space out
between the orbits of Mars and Earth, the heavy battlecruiser
Armageddon
cruised with her fleet. After much consideration, Fleet Admiral Kelly had
combined a number of Earth’s fleets into one large formation. He knew there was
the distinct possibility he could be facing several thousand Zaltule
battlecruisers, and with ten separate Earth fleets, it would be too difficult
to challenge the Zaltule for control of the system. First Fleet currently
consisted of twelve heavy battlecruisers, twenty-four regular battlecruisers,
seventy-two light cruisers, and one hundred and twenty assault ships. All the
ships had the latest weapons and the most powerful energy shields that could be
designed. In all, First Fleet’s battle order consisted of two hundred and
twenty-eight ships.

The fleet was
currently on a routine patrol practicing battle drills and doing occasional
short Fold Space jumps to simulate emerging in crisp and ready to fight
formations. It was essential the fleet be able to complete these maneuvers
smoothly and concisely if they hoped to have any chance of a victory.

“Still no
movement from the Zaltule,” muttered Commander Kevin Makita as he read the
latest reports from the light cruiser
Sparrow
.

“Keep in mind
those reports are nearly three days old,” Fleet Admiral Kelly said. It was
fortunate FTL communications moved far faster than a ship could in Fold Space.
It would take a ship three weeks to get from the Kleese trading station in
Sector Thirteen to the Solar System. Unfortunately, the Alliance was only six
days from the station.

“What are they
waiting for?”

Kelly looked
over at Makita and shook his head. “Who knows; perhaps more ships?”

“More ships!
From where?”

“They could be
waiting on exploration ships, assault ships, or even whatever battlecruisers
they left scattered throughout their empire as they marched through it
conquering all the nonaligned worlds that are not part of the Alliance.”

“All of our
battle plans are based on facing a Zaltule fleet of no more than six thousand
ships,” Makita said with a deep frown etched across his forehead. “What happens
if they attack with more?”

“It will be a
battle of attrition,” answered Kelly, shifting his gaze over to the tactical
screen showing the friendly green icons of his fleet. He peered closely, seeing
the battlecruiser
Minotaur
was drifting outside the formation.
“Lieutenant Jones, contact the
Minotaur
and order them to close with the
formation. I want Commander Lane to relieve whoever is at Navigation and assign
them to extra duty. That’s the second time the ship has strayed from its
assigned position.”

“Yes, sir,”
Lieutenant Jones replied.

-

Aboard the
Minotaur
,
Commander Samuel Lane glared at his communications officer. He had ordered the
Minotaur
to the far side of the fleet formation as he didn’t feel
comfortable having his battlecruiser so close to other ships. He wanted room to
maneuver if it became necessary. Being inside the tight formation Fleet Admiral
Kelly had set up seemed counterproductive to that philosophy.

“Your orders,
Commander?” asked Lieutenant Tristan Hays, the ship’s second officer.

“Ease us back
into our former position,” Commander Lane ordered unhappily.

Commander Lane
had already decided that if it came down to a battle, his ship’s survival was
paramount. If he had to move it to the outer regions of the fleet formation or
even outside of it, he would without hesitation.

“I’ll be in my
quarters if I’m needed,” Lane said after a few moments.

He had known
Fleet Admiral Kelly for a number of years and cared little for his tactics.
Lane always felt he would have made a better overall commander of the fleets.
He had several bottles of liquor in his desk and now was a good time for
several stiff drinks.

-

Lieutenant
Hays watched as Commander Lane left the Command Center. When he had been
assigned to the
Minotaur,
he had looked at the assignment as a
stepping-stone to his own command someday. He had come to be greatly disappointed
in how Lane ran the ship. Discipline was poor, the crew suffered from bad
morale, and the commander was often absent from the Command Center for long periods of time, even during his own watch. Hays had considered asking for a
transfer. Unfortunately, that would have to be approved by Commander Lane, and
Hays knew that would never happen. With a deep sigh, he moved to the command
chair and spent the next few minutes making sure the
Minotaur
resumed
its correct spot in the fleet formation. He knew when Lane returned he would
probably order them to move the ship out of formation again.

-

In the Kivean
asteroid, Marken was meeting with a number of Kivean, Human, Delton, Talt,
Belen, and Bashan scientists, as well as technicians and military officers.
After the Belens fled to the Alliance, President Steward had offered them
refuge in the Solar System. Another asteroid had been picked out and a small
but comfortable habitat built inside for the Belen survivors.

“So are we all
in agreement as to the weapons we shall use to destroy the Zaltule if they
attack here?” Marken asked.

“The new mines
are being produced in mass at Freedom Station,” Gerald Lawson reported.
“General Mitchell has allowed us to modify six assault ships to act as mine
layers.”

“The mines
should be undetectable to Zaltule sensors,” Larnell added. Larnell was one of
the Kiveans who had been part of Marken’s trusted group from the very
beginning.

“My only
concern is the mines have very limited maneuverability,” Marken pointed out.
“They’ll have to be emplaced directly in front of the Zaltule battlecruisers,
and the assault ships doing the mine laying will, in all likelihood, be
detected.”

“That’s why we
set up several traps in the Solar System,” suggested Sub Commander Kith of the
Talts. “We emplace the mines and then lure the Zaltule into them by offering to
engage in a fleet battle. If our fleet is on one side of the mines and the
Zaltule on the other, they’ll have no choice but to fly through them. When they
do, the mines will do their jobs.”

Marken nodded
his approval. “I’ll leave it up to you and Commander Pasha to work out the
details with Fleet Admiral Kelly.” Turning back to Gerald Lawson, he asked the
next question. “What about the cargo ships; are they ready?” Marken was
referring to the eight hundred older cargo ships furnished by the Alliance. Each one had been equipped with an energy shield and their cargo holds filled
with asteroid debris from the system’s mining operations.

“The cargo
ships are ready,” confirmed Lawson, glancing at notes he had brought along.
“Their energy shields and Fold Space Drives have been tested and will work as
needed. When the time comes, we can use them to ram the Zaltule warfleet.”

“Be aware that
Fleet Admiral Achlyn feels the Zaltule will be able to intercept many of these
cargo ships,” warned Second Commander Baylith of the Deltons. “They will be
destroyed well short of the Zaltule fleet.”

“I disagree,”
said Sub Commander Kith, shaking his head. “If they’re all deployed at once I
believe some will get through.” Kith saw some of the others nod their heads in
agreement.

“I believe our
other weapon would be far more effective,” commented Daebenn, the esteemed
Delton professor of advanced sciences. “If it works, it could destroy the
Zaltule fleet.”

“If it works,”
repeated Marken with a deep and worried frown on his face. “If we have to use
it, we risk destroying the Solar System and all of our races who now call this
system home.”

“Is the
apparatus ready?” asked First Commander Dasha of the Belen.

“It’s been
installed on Earth’s moon,” replied Daebenn. “We’ve run some tests at low power
and everything indicates it will function as projected.”

“We’re taking
a terrible risk if we turn it on at full power,” commented Larnell. “It may be
just as big of a risk as the Zaltule.”

“A weapon of
last resort,” stated Marken, fully in agreement with Larnell’s statement. He
hadn’t even told Fleet Admiral Kelly or General Mitchell what the weapon was
fully capable of. When he did, he wasn’t sure how they would react. “What do
the latest projections of the damage we’ll cause to the Solar System show if we
activate the weapon?”

Daebenn looked
gravely around the group. “There is a forty-two percent chance we’ll lose
containment and there will be total destruction. Even if we don’t, there is a
seventy-four percent probability of some harm being done to the Solar System if
we activate it. However, it will destroy the Zaltule fleet.”

Marken stood
and nodded his head. “I will go to Centerpoint Station and inform General
Mitchell of what we’ve done. It will be up to him whether to use this ultimate
weapon or not.”

-

After the
meeting was over, Marken returned home and stepped out onto the balcony
overlooking one of the two Kivean cities inside the asteroid. It was so
beautiful and peaceful. Looking down at one of the parks, he could see Kivean
children playing. He so wished he and Harnett had been able to have young ones.
He had always wondered what it would feel like to be a father. With a deep
sigh, he turned and went back inside.

He was gravely
concerned the new weapon they had designed was too dangerous to use. If they
did use it and they lost control of it, then it could very easily destroy
everything they had struggled so hard to build. The Kivean race would be gone
as well as the Humans, and his bid to free the galaxy of the Kleese would be at
an end. While the weapon might indeed be capable of destroying the Zaltule
fleet, with the Solar System gone the remaining Kleese would then destroy what
remained of the Alliance and continue on their quest for galactic domination.
Marken knew he was in for many sleepless nights as he worried about what the
future might hold and what was the right thing to do.

Military
Overlord Harmock gazed at the multiple viewscreens on the wall of the Command Center of the
Warrior’s Fire
. Zaltule battlecruisers were dropping out of
Fold Space by the hundreds. He stamped his six feet upon the metal deck of the
Command Pedestal in approval. He could finally begin his final push against the
Human led Alliance and the Humans themselves.

“The rest of
our fleet is here,” Minor Overlord Gareth said from his position on the Command
Pedestal next to Harmock.

“I have heard
from War Overlord Tetus,” Harmock said as he turned his triangular shaped head
toward Gareth. “The Human fleet reported to be attacking former nonaligned
worlds has been met in battle and defeated. He has reported what remains of the
fleet is fleeing toward Alliance space and is no longer a threat to the
empire.”

“Do you still
believe it was a feint by the Humans to draw our fleet back from Alliance
Space?”

“Yes,”
answered Harmock, folding his powerful black arms across his chest. “The Humans
are no fools and worthy adversaries in combat. It was a sound strategic move on
their part. We’re fortunate we had our older Zaltule battlecruisers to call
upon to deal with the threat.”

“What of
former Supreme Overlord Xatul? Has there been any word on where he has fled?”

Harmock’s
multifaceted eyes narrowed. He was deeply concerned Xatul could still pose a
problem. Many of the other clans of the Kleese Empire still supported the
former Supreme Overlord. “Kaluse reports there is still no sign of our former
leader. He believes Xatul has fled the empire to some other section of the
galaxy.”

“He may be a
threat someday,” pointed out Gareth in a harsh and somewhat grating voice. “He
could form another empire of his own in a different part of the galaxy and
return to oppose us. He has members of three clans with him.”

“Clans which
will soon be extinct in our own empire if they continue to show inclinations of
supporting our former Supreme Overlord,” Harmock replied in an uncompromising
voice. “There will be no thoughts of insurrection allowed by any of the clans.
Also, Xatul has no Queens with him that we’re aware of. After we have defeated
the Alliance and the Humans, we’ll return to our home system and reform the
Council of Overlords with our clan in control. All other clans will be expected
to fall in line or suffer the consequences. We have many more warriors that
will soon be joining us from the new hatchings of our Queens.”

Gareth turned
his attention back to the viewscreens as more of the three kilometer Zaltule
battlecruisers continued to drop out of Fold Space. “What will be our first
target?”

“A nearby Alliance world,” Harmock replied. He touched an icon on a screen on the command console in
front of him. On one of the large viewscreens a blue-white world appeared.
“That is the nonaligned world of Callenda. It is one of the weaker Alliance worlds and our first target.”

“And after we
conquer Callenda, then where shall we go?” Gareth knew that Harmock had spoken
of attacking the Humans next.

“To the
Humans’ home system,” confirmed Harmock. “They will be expecting us to attack
the rest of the Alliance worlds one by one. Instead, we will take our entire
fleet and destroy the Humans once and for all. After their system has been
destroyed, we’ll then turn on the Alliance and bring their worlds back under
Kleese control. Their desire to fight will have been substantially reduced when
they learn their Human allies have been annihilated.”

“What about
the leaders of all of those Alliance worlds? They may be a problem after being
under the influence of the Humans and unwilling to submit to Kleese rule.”

Harmock was
silent for several moments before replying. “We will emplace the collars of
obedience around all of their rebellious necks. They’ll be taken out before
their populations and executed. Seeing the heads blown off of their leaders
should quell any future thoughts of rebellion. They will fall in line and
become part of our empire.”

“How soon
before we launch our attack?” asked Gareth.

“We will leave
tomorrow,” Harmock responded. “We’ll form the fleet into one single formation
and proceed to Callenda. When the other Alliance worlds hear of the size of our
fleet and what happened at Callenda, they may decide to recant their membership
in the Alliance even before we attack the Humans.”

Gareth nodded.
“The Zaltule are the supreme race in the galaxy. It is only right that all
others serve.”

“Only those
who can provide a service to the empire,” Harmock responded. “In time, we will
annihilate all the vermin that infest so many of the worlds in our empire.
Those worlds will be given to new Zaltule Queens to grow our clan. Someday this
entire galaxy will be ours.”

-

The light
cruiser
Sparrow
floated in space listening for FTL signals from the
Kleese trading station a mere four point seven light years distant from the
brown dwarf system they were hiding in.

“It’s too
quiet,” Lieutenant Allen Stein said from his sensor console.

“How many
signal pings have we recorded in the last twenty-four hours?” asked Captain
Hailey Rogers, looking over at Communications.

“Twelve,”
Ensign Gene Taylor answered. “The last was only twenty minutes ago. From its
strength and intensity, the Zaltule are still sitting around the trading
station.”

Captain Rogers
nodded and let out a deep yawn. So far, other than one assault ship that had
appeared in the system, this mission had been very quiet and uneventful. “I’m
going to my quarters. Call me if anything changes.”

-

Hailey had
been asleep for several hours when suddenly the Condition One alarms began
sounding. Rolling out of bed, she hit the communication’s button on the comm
device on her nightstand. “Report!”

“Zaltule fleet
is moving,” reported Ensign Luke Marist. “The last two pings we received
indicate the fleet has gone into Fold Space.”

“Summon the
rest of the command crew,” Hailey ordered. “I’ll be there shortly.

It didn’t take
Hailey long to reach the ship’s small Command Center. Stepping inside, she made
her way to her command chair and looked over at Communications. “Status!”

“We’ve
received one additional ping,” Ensign Taylor replied. “The fleet is moving in
our general direction and toward Alliance space.”

“How close are
they?”

“Less than a
light year,” Lieutenant Stein answered as he checked his sensor data. “They’re
probably still accelerating.”

“How close do
we need to be to be able to scan that fleet with our new sensors?” The
Sparrow
had been equipped with the new sensors, which could detect ships in Fold Space.

“One tenth of
a light year,” Stein replied, and then his eyes narrowed. “Are you thinking
about moving us closer to the Zaltule fleet? Those are Zaltule battlecruisers
and they’ll probably detect us once we enter Fold Space.”

“They may
detect us but they won’t know who we are,” Hailey replied evenly. “We can only
hope they think we’re just a harmless cargo ship.” She took a deep breath and
looked at the expectant faces of her command crew. “Ensign Marist, activate our
Fold Space Drive and plot an intercept course for the Zaltule fleet. Let’s
just see where they’re going.” Hailey knew the enemy’s eventual destination
would be vital to Alliance Fleet Admiral Rivers. She was determined to get him
that information.

-

Adjusting
course away from the brown dwarf system, the light cruiser
Sparrow
suddenly accelerated and moments later activated her Fold Space Drive. Space in
front of the small three-hundred-meter long ship suddenly became warped, making
the distance between two points much shorter. The ship continued to accelerate
until it reached its top cruising speed of one hundred twenty light years per
day.

For six hours,
the ship flew toward the estimated position of the Zaltule fleet. Two more FTL
pings from the hidden tracking devices aided in allowing the
Sparrow
to
continue to track the fleet and its approximate course.

-

“Contact,”
called out Lieutenant Allen Stein as Zaltule battlecruisers finally started
registering on the special Fold Space detection sensors.

“Adjust our
course to parallel the Zaltule fleet,” ordered Captain Rogers. Hailey leaned
forward as the sensors began putting red threat icons up on the tactical
display. After a few minutes, the screen looked like one solid mass of red.

“How many
ships is that?” she asked, knowing she was looking at thousands of warships.

“This can’t be
right,” muttered Lieutenant Stein, shaking his head in disbelief. “The sensors
must be malfunctioning.”

“Why’s that?”
asked Hailey as her eyes shifted toward Stein.

“The sensors
are showing ten thousand two hundred and sixty Zaltule battlecruisers,”
answered Stein in a stunned voice.

“What?” Hailey
said, her eyes widening and her face turning pale. “That can’t be right. The
Zaltule only have six thousand of their big battlecruisers. Is there any chance
our sensors are picking up assault and exploration ships?”

“No, Captain,”
replied Lieutenant Stein, shaking his head. “All vessels the sensors are
picking up are first line Zaltule battlecruisers. I’ll run a system diagnostic,
but I don’t think there’s anything wrong.”

“We’re
screwed,” said Lieutenant Callie Smith from Tactical as she gazed at the red
threat icons that filled the tactical screen. “The Alliance and the Solar
System can’t handle a fleet of that size. It will roll over all of our defenses
as if they aren’t even there.”

Hailey
continued to gaze at the massive red blob on the tactical screen. She could
feel her heart pounding and a cold chill run down her back. If this fleet
reached Alliance space, she knew there was nothing Alliance Fleet Admiral
Rivers could do to stop it. She leaned back in her command chair, deep in
thought. Where the hell had the Zaltule come up with four thousand more
battlecruisers? All of the intelligence gleaned over the last year had
indicated the Zaltule had a maximum fleet of slightly over six thousand
vessels. Someone had really screwed up.

“Send a
message to the nearest FTL communication buoy,” she finally ordered. “We need
to inform the Alliance and Fleet Admiral Rivers what’s headed their way.
Download the data we’ve gathered into an encrypted communications packet and
send it.”

“What about
us?” asked Lieutenant Stein.

Hailey shifted
her gaze to her second in command. “We’ll continue to follow the Zaltule fleet.
They can’t attack us while we’re in Fold Space.”

Stein nodded
his head and then went back to studying the information on his sensors.

“Let me know
as soon as we’ve determined their most likely destination.” Hailey knew
wherever this Zaltule fleet was heading, the system had no chance of a
successful resistance. The question was, in the face of such an overwhelming
force, should the system resist at all?

Hailey looked
around at her command crew. All were strangely silent as if they had just
witnessed the end of the world. Hailey knew there was nothing she could say to
comfort them. The massive red blob on the tactical screen said it all. It was
Armageddon headed toward the Alliance and the Solar System, and there was
nothing she knew of that could stop it.

-

Alliance Fleet
Admiral Rivers gazed at the data flowing across the viewscreen on his command
console in silence. This was the encrypted data packet they had just received
from the
Sparrow
.

“Where did
they get those ships?” asked Commander Greerman in a very much subdued voice.
“All of our intelligence indicated a Zaltule fleet of only six thousand
vessels.”

Rivers slowly
shook his head, feeling numb at what he was seeing. “Someone made a mistake, a
very bad one.”

Commander
Greerman gazed at the data for another few seconds and then began inputting
information into his console. He finally stopped and shifted his gaze toward
the admiral. “It looks as if their most likely destination is Callenda. We
won’t know for sure for another four to six hours, assuming the
Sparrow
can continue to send us updates.”

“Captain
Rogers will do her job,” Rivers said with conviction. “She’s a fine officer and
knows how important this information is to the Alliance.” He also knew this
data packet had been sent fourteen hours ago. By now, the
Sparrow
knew
where the Zaltule fleet was headed and had probably already transmitted the
information. It would just take a while for it to get to the fleet. He paused
and looked over at Ensign Entz at Communications. “Send the communications
packet to President Raytol at Lanolth and inform him we’ll keep him apprised of
future developments. Also, send a copy to General Mitchell. They all need to
know our battle plans have just taken a serious hit.”

“That’s
putting it mildly,” commented Commander Greerman with a deep frown. “How do we
stop ten thousand Zaltule battlecruisers?”

Fleet Admiral
Rivers rubbed his forehead trying to come up with a viable battle plan. If he
allowed the Zaltule to conquer Callenda with no attempt by him to stop it, then
the Alliance might fall apart. He had no alternative but to engage the Zaltule
fleet and hope for the best.

Turning toward
Lieutenant Rodriquez at the Helm, he gave his next order. “Helm, set a course
for Callenda. I want the entire fleet in battle formation Alpha.” Formation
Alpha was a loose cylinder shaped formation that allowed sufficient distance
between ships to ensure there were no collisions upon drop out. Once the fleet
emerged from Fold Space, the formation could be rapidly tightened to provide
for the maximum amount of defensive firepower.