The Originator Wars Explorations:
The Lost
A Lost Fleet Novel
(The Originator Wars, Book 6)
By
Raymond L. Weil
USA Today Best Selling Author
Books in the Originator Wars Series
The Originator Wars: Universe in Danger (Book 1)
The Originator Wars: Search for the Lost (Book 2)
The Originator Wars: Conflict Unending (Book 3)
The Originator Wars: Explorations (Book 4)
The Originator Wars Explorations: The Multiverse (Book 5)
The Originator Wars Explorations: The Lost (Book 6)
Website: http://raymondlweil.com/
Copyright © December 2019 by Raymond L. Weil
All Rights Reserved
Cover Design by Humblenations.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the author.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Epilogue
The Forgotten Empire: Banishment
The Originator Wars Explorations: The Lost
A Lost Fleet Novel
Chapter One
In the Eternal Galaxy, the Council of Eternals was meeting. The reports were now in from across the galaxy. Hyperspace travel and most hyperspace communication frequencies were no longer functioning. The interdiction field put in place by the Originators was of a power and type never encountered before. They were still in the underground Command Center as much of the planet above them was in ruins.
Second Leader Cabell who was now in charge of scientific research was presenting his report. “We believe the interdiction field is powered by some type of dark matter power source. We’ve tried several methods to attempt to bypass the field and all have failed.”
“Can we develop our own dark matter power source?’ asked First Leader Fehnral.
Cabell shook his head. “Not immediately. The Originators wrecked many of our research centers. It will take us years to rebuild what they destroyed.”
“How did this happen?” demanded Second Leader Queexel. “Where did these Originator fleets come from and what about this new mobile battlestation they deployed?”
“Unknown,” answered Second Leader Tallard. “There has never been any indication of the existence of such a mobile battlestation. Before we saw them we believed it was impossible to move such a large object through hyperspace. Once again, we believe they have developed a very efficient dark matter power source.”
First Leader Fehnral was still in shock over what had happened. In an instant it seemed as if the Originators had taken their Empire away from them. “Are there any types of FTL drives still functioning?”
“Several,” replied Second Leader Cabell. “The fastest will allow our ships to travel a little over two hundred and twelve times the speed of light.”
“How far are the Originator interdiction stations?”
Second Leader Cabell shook his head. “If you are thinking about sending ships to destroy them, we can’t. The stations are about twelve thousand light years outside of our galaxy. If we launched a fleet from our worlds nearest them, it would take over sixty years to reach the stations.”
“There is another problem,” added Second Leader Queexel. “Even if we wanted to we have no ships to send. They were either destroyed or are in orbit around Gardell.”
First Leader Fehnral felt his nanites fighting to control his turbulent emotions. The Originators had played them for fools. “Find out what shipyards we have in the outer systems,” he ordered. “We will have to build new fleets to send out against the stations. Only this time we will destroy them.”
“It will take years to build the fleets,” protested Second Leader Queexel. “Then another sixty or more to reach the interdiction stations. There is also a very good chance the stations are heavily armed. We don’t know what the Originators may have left behind to protect them.”
“There is another area of concern,” interrupted Second Leader Barrant. “With their new mobile battlestations the Originators and their Human allies will no doubt attack our Empire. There is a chance that by the time we can neutralize the interdiction system our Empire may no longer exist.”
The council members looked at each other as they realized the truth behind what Second Leader Barrant was saying. This daring attack by the Originators could set their plans back for universal domination by thousands of years.
“It’s a risk we must take,” replied Fehnral. “We have no way to contact our forces outside of our galaxy.”
“The hyperspace communication frequencies we still have available are slow,” commented Second Leader Queexel. “It will take weeks for us to contact our surviving shipyards in the outer sections of our galaxy and to have them begin constructing new warships. Two way communication will take even longer.”
“We do what we must,” said Fehnral. “We are the Eternals and we will not give up on our destiny. We must contact all of our surviving shipyards and have them begin building new fleets. We need to construct more shipyards to increase fleet production. It is also necessary we rebuild our research centers and try to discover a dark matter power source. If we could then it might be possible for us to counteract the hyperspace interdiction field.”
The other council members agreed to this approach. Someday they would free themselves and when they did the war with the Originators would resume.
-
Fleet Admiral Tolsen was in his office in the Tower. He was reviewing reports of current battles being waged against the Eternals. Since returning from the Eternals’ home galaxy, he had launched a major offensive using the juggernauts. On every front, the Eternals were being pushed back.
“Finally the end of this war is in sight,” said Councilor Trallis with a satisfied smile. “I was never sure about your plan to attack the Eternals’ home galaxy but it appears to have been the correct strategy. Reports are steadily coming in of the Eternals falling back and in some cases they are even refusing to engage our fleets.”
Race nodded. “It’s our juggernauts. The Eternals have no real defense against them other than trying to ram. We’ve adjusted our strategies to ensure even that is not a possibility anymore.
“We’ve asked them to surrender,” continued Trallis. “It is as Councilor Fells suspected. They refuse to even communicate.”
Race looked at a report he had received this morning. “There is one area of concern. I’m getting reports from a number of our galaxies of ships detecting possible Eternal stealth battlecruisers.”
Trallis looked confused. “Why would they be sending ships to our galaxies? They don’t have the forces to attack us.”
“Maybe,” replied R
ace as he thought over the recent battles in the Eternals’ home galaxy. “We did trap a major fleet of theirs near Gardell as well as destroyed a large number of their warships and shipyards. However, we always wondered why we were not encountering more of their ships when we were there. Is it possible there is still a major fleet or two out there somewhere we don’t know about?”
Trallis was silent as he considered this. “It’s possible. They still have a tremendous number of ships but they’re scattered over nearly ten thousand galaxies. They even have shipyards in some of those galaxies.”
“I’ve ordered our patrolling units in our galaxies to be on the watch for Eternal stealth battlecruisers. Maybe we can figure out what they’re after.” Race had a feeling he was overlooking something but he had no idea as to what it could be.
-
In deep space in between two galaxies, a massive Eternal fleet of over 130,000 battlecruisers was gathered. It was currently in orbit around a lone star system that was by itself in the void. The system had six planets though none of them were habitable.
“The news is grim,” reported Admiral Trope. He was aboard Councilor Zabian’s battlecruiser. “None of our ships can get closer than 70,000 light years to our home galaxy without their hyperspace drives shutting down. There also has been no communication with Gardell. It appears long-distance hyperspace communications are affected as well.”
“How did we let it come to this?” asked Zabian. “I warned the council we were sending too many ships away from our home galaxy. No one believed there was a danger. We’re the Eternals, the most intelligent race in the universe. What did we do wrong?”
“You just said it,” replied Admiral Trope. “We forgot that at one time we were Originators. The Originators are almost as intelligent as we are. Add the Humans into this and the Originators have now become very dangerous.”
Councilor Zabian looked stunned. “Are you implying we can’t defeat them?”
Admiral Trope shook his head. “I don’t know. If we can’t find the secret base where they’re building their new mobile battlestations we may lose the war.”
“Are you certain there’s a secret base and these mobile battlestations aren’t being built on the Shrieels?”
“It’s a possibility, but I don’t believe it,” replied Trope. “I firmly believe that somewhere the Originators have a secret base. It’s from this base most of the attacks against our Empire have been launched in recent years.”
Councilor Zabian realized what Trope was saying was making sense. “Can we find this base if it exists?”
Trope nodded his head. “I have hundreds of stealthed battlecruisers watching the Originator galaxies. I’m hoping we can find a clue as to this base’s secret location. If we do, we need to take it out.”
Zabian looked at the viewscreens in the Command Center. There were Eternal warships as far as he could see. “Do we have enough ships here to do that?”
“No, I don’t believe so. We’ll be facing a large number of their mobile battlestations as well as their regular forty-kilometer stations. There will probably be a large number of warships as well. We’re going to need more ships.”
Zabian let out a deep sigh. He had instructed his nanites to allow his emotions to come through. He was beginning to believe controlling their emotions had been a serious mistake on the part of the Eternals. “We can call in more of our fleets from parts of our Empire but it will only allow the Originators to take those galaxies quicker.”
“Won’t matter,” replied Admiral Trope, crossing his arms over his powerful chest. “Once we destroy that base I suspect the war will be over. It will then be a simple matter to take those galaxies back.”
Gazing at the viewscreens Councilor Zabian considered his options. For all intents and purposes he was now the First Leader of the Empire. “Find this base if it exists. If you do find it I’m authorizing you to attack and destroy it.”
Admiral Trope nodded. “It will be done.”
-
Admiral Race Tolsen was just finishing up some work in his office when the door opened and Grayseth came in. He was the only one who never knocked.
“I understand the probe made it into the Creevak universe,” he rumbled as he came and sat down in the largest chair which creaked under his weight.
Race frowned. He had been trying to keep that a secret until they had more time to study what the probe had found. “Yes, it’s back and we’re looking at the data it gathered. I should have a report in a few days.”
“My juggernaut is ready. Effective tomorrow I am turning in my resignation as a councilor. I have already chosen my replacement.”
“Why don’t you wait until I’m ready to present our findings to the council? We still need to do a few more tests before we’re ready to start installing the drive in your dreadnaughts.”
“When will that be?”
“Sometime in the next few days.” Race stood up. “Grayseth, I’m as anxious to rescue Jeremy and the others as you are. But if we want this rescue mission to be a success we have to do it right. We’re still probably a couple of months away from being able to launch the mission. It’s going to take at least a month just to install the intradimensional drive in your warships.”
There was a knock on his door and it opened with Angela standing there. “I heard there was a successful test of the space drive.”
Race set down and let out a deep sigh. How had these two found out? “Yes, there has been a test. We’re going over the data from the probe now. We won’t know anything for a few more days. Do the children know?”
Angela shook her head. “No, they’re still in the Federation doing a sightseeing tour. I’ve encouraged them to stay for a few extra days but they’re bound to become suspicious soon and come roaring back.”
Race nodded. Jason was so like his father. “By then we’ll have more information. I plan on briefing the council in a few more days.”
“Let me know when and I’ll attend,” announced Angela. Looking over at Grayseth Angela asked her next question. “Are your ships ready?”
Grayseth nodded. “My juggernaut is finished and I’ve already got a crew on board. The same for all of the dreadnaughts. We just need the new drive to be installed.”
Race felt slightly overwhelmed. Between Grayseth and Angela he didn’t stand a chance. It didn’t matter if he was the Fleet Admiral. “As soon as the new drive is certified safe to use I’ll order our construction yards to begin installing it in your ships immediately.”
This seemed to satisfy Grayseth. “I’ll inform my crew we will soon be going to rescue my clan brother. It has been long in coming and we are ready.” Grayseth stood up and left Race’s office, leaving him alone with Angela.
“When are the children coming back?” Race knew as soon as they discovered the new drive was functional they would be clamoring to go and rescue their parents.
“Another few weeks,” Angela replied as she walked over and looked out of the window. It was a nice day outside as all days were on the Dyson sphere. If she had read the weather report correctly, it was supposed to rain tonight. “They don’t know about the probe going to the Creevak universe.”
Race nodded. “Let’s keep it that way for now. Of course when they return it’s not going to take them long to find out.”
Angela knew Race was right. “It’s hard to believe Jeremy and the others have been gone for over fourteen years.” She really missed them. A day didn’t pass that she didn’t think about her missing friends.
“Maybe not for them,” said Race in a lower voice. “We haven’t had time to look at all the probe’s data but we have learned the natural laws in the Creevak universe are slightly different from ours.”
“How different?” asked Angela, sounding alarmed.
Race took in a deep breath. “It’s the flow of time. Time in the Creevak universe moves at a much slower rate than it does here.”
“How much slower?” Angela was having a hard time grasping exac
tly what Race was saying.
“As near as we can tell for every three years which pass here only one passes in the Creevak universe. While fourteen years have passed in our universe only about four and a half have passed there.”
Angela sat down in shock. “I wonder if they know that?”
“Probably. They had some very talented Originator and Alton scientists with them. It was probably one of the first things they noticed.”
“It’s going to be a shock when they see how old the kids are. I know they’ll be expecting it but seeing it is going to be another thing all together.”
Race agreed. “The Liberator will not be allowed to go to the Creevak universe without an escort.”
“I’ll be on board,” Angela reminded Race. “So will Clarissa and she’s probably our best military AI next to Ariel.”
“We’ll see. We still need to find out what the current situation of our forces in the Creevak universe is.”
-
Four days later Race was in a meeting of the Originator Council.
“The news is not good,” Race informed the council and the scientists who were in attendance. “All of you have been informed of the difference in the natural laws of the Creevak universe compared to ours.”
“The difference in the flow of time is amazing,” said Councilor Rosen. “The function of energy is slightly different as well causing the Creevak to most likely develop a completely different group of power sources.”
“What about our own power sources?” asked Race.
“No effect,” replied Rosen. “However, in the Creevak universe the stars are probably warmer than ours. There’s a chance dark matter may not even exist. We also believe the speed of light is a little bit slower.”
Race touched an icon on the small screen inset in the conference table. “We have some footage from the drone.”
On the screen hundreds of distant Creevak ships appeared. The drone slowly rotated, showing a complete view of what was around it.
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