“I will make the arrangements,” replied Second Leader Abross. “I believe twenty of our stealth battlecruisers should be sufficient. I can have them ready to depart in two days.”
First Leader Fehnral nodded his agreement. Once the Humans and Altons were eliminated, he would turn his fleets against the galaxies the Originators controlled. The combat in Originator space should finish off any ships still operated by the Humans and Altons. When the Originator galaxies were firmly under his control, he would place small fleets of Eternal battlecruisers in each of the systems which had a Shrieel. The Originators would be told they could continue to live in their mega-structures but no ships would be allowed to travel outside of them. Fehnral knew with the vortexes built into the hulls of the Shrieels the Originators would still be able to travel from one Shrieel to another but their ability to make war for the foreseeable future would be greatly curtailed.
-
Fleet Admiral Nagumo was in his office aboard the massive shipyard orbiting the Moon. It was heavily armed and ready to fend off any attack on Earth. With him were Admiral Race Tolsen, Rear Admiral Massie Tolsen, Admiral Dwain Johnston, Admiral Felix Diaz, and Rear Admiral Amanda Markesan.
“Well, it’s been confirmed,” Nagumo began with a solemn look on his face. “The Eternals have found us. A stealthed Eternal battlecruiser was recently detected in the New Tellus System.”
“We have no idea how long it was there,” added Admiral Tolsen. “Probably not long but enough to track our ship traffic. As soon as my ships jumped to its location the Eternal vessel jumped out, no doubt to report its discovery to their military.”
Everyone knew what this meant. The attack would come much sooner than expected.
“How much time do we have?” asked Rear Admiral Markesan.
Admiral Nagumo let out a deep sigh. He wished they would have had more time to prepare. “Probably no more than two months. The hyperspace transit time alone will take at least four weeks or more depending on where the Eternal fleets originate from.”
“We need to be on the lookout for more stealthed Eternal battlecruisers,” added Race. “No doubt they will send some in to locate all of our worlds before they attack. If we can detect them we’ll know the attack is imminent.”
“What are our defensive plans?” asked Admiral Johnston. Johnston was in charge of the Federation fleets protecting Mars and the outer planets.
“I’ve notified President Treadway the Eternals have found us. She’s attempting to speed up the evacuation of as many people as possible through the Accelerator Rings. She’s also meeting with the Federation Council informing them of what happened at New Tellus.”
“I’ve spoken to Councilor Barnes,” said Race. “We’ll be installing another Accelerator Ring at New Tellus, Earth, Tau Ceti, and Alpha Centauri. That will allow us to speed up the evacuations as well as send fleets to any of the systems I just mentioned. As soon as those Accelerator Rings are completed, the Originators will begin sending through some of their battlestations.”
“Where will the battlestations be deployed?” asked Diaz. Diaz was in charge of the fleets defending the Tau Ceti System.
Admiral Nagumo opened up a red folder on his desk in front of him. “Initially around New Tellus, Earth, and Mars. We’re also hoping to be able to put at least one around Harmony, Horizon, and Twilight.”
“What about our other worlds?” asked Diaz. “That leaves a lot of our population unprotected.”
“Even with Originator science it takes time to build a forty-kilometer battlestation. The only construction facilities for the battlestations are at the Communications and Transport Hub,” explained Race.
“How many would it take to protect a planet?” asked Admiral Diaz.
Race let out a deep breath. “Three if possible. At the moment only Earth is getting three battlestations. The rest will depend on how quickly more can be constructed.”
“How will our fleets be assigned for the defense of the Federation?” asked Admiral Markesan.
Admiral Nagumo shook his head. “Unfortunately, we’ll be spread pretty thin in some systems. Current plans are for Admiral Tolsen and his Originator fleet to stay in the New Tellus System. We expect that system to be hit very hard early in the conflict. Admiral Crown will have eight hundred battleships and twelve hundred strikecruisers at his disposal.”
“Here in the Solar System we will have Rear Admiral Massie Tolsen’s Originator Fleet as well as two system fleets for defense. Our system fleets will have twelve hundred battleships and sixteen hundred strikecruisers in each. I will command one and Admiral Johnston will command the other.”
“At Tau Ceti we will have six hundred battleships and nine hundred strikecruisers under Admiral Diaz. “I wish we could send more but we just don’t have the ships. We’re activating as many as we can from the reserve depots but it takes time to activate ships which have been sitting idle for several years.”
“What about Harmony in the Alpha Centauri System?” asked Admiral Markesan.
“Your fleet will be the smallest,” replied Fleet Admiral Nagumo regretfully. “You will have four hundred battleships and five hundred strikecruisers. I wish I could send you more but for now that’s all we have.”
“What about the other star systems?” asked Admiral Diaz.
Fleet Admiral Nagumo closed his eyes and then slowly opened them. “We just don’t have the ships. Several star systems have rejected the Eternals as even being a threat. We have small defensive fleets in those systems but we won’t be adding more.”
“There are over four billion people in the 61 Cygni System,” objected Admiral Diaz. “Is there nothing we can do to defend them?”
“I’m asking the Originator Council to send more fleets,” replied Admiral Tolsen. “I’m trying to convince them if we can hold most of the Federation we can use this as an opportunity to inflict major losses on the Eternals’ fleet. I don’t believe they’ve ever attacked defenses like what we have at New Tellus and here in the Solar System. The only comparable defenses would be one of the Dyson spheres and the Eternals already know to leave them alone.”
“We are adding more defensive satellites around most of the planets in the Federation,” Fleet Admiral Nagumo informed them. “The satellites are easy to build and we have mass production assembly lines set up. In the estimated time we have we can triple the amount of defensive satellites around all of our planets. We’re also building more of the Type Two Battlestations. While small they’re much easier and quicker to build than an Indomitable Class Battle Station.”
Admiral Diaz looked over at Admiral Tolsen. “What do you think the chances are the Originators will send more ships?”
“Reasonable,” replied Race. “Keep in mind Councilor Barnes, Councilor Tureen, Councilor Grayseth, and others from the Federation are on the council. I believe they’ll do what they can to help.”
“Let us hope so,” responded Fleet Admiral Nagumo. “In the meantime we’ll continue updating our ships and adding to our defenses. Effective today we’re going to assume we have two months before the Eternals arrive.”
-
President Treadway had just finished informing the New Human Federation of Worlds Senate of the Eternal vessel detected in the New Tellus System.
“No one actually saw this vessel?” asked Senator Adams of Serenity.
“No, it was a void spot on the sensors which is indicative of a stealthed Eternal battlecruiser. We did detect a hyperspace trace when the ship jumped.”
“But no one saw the vessel?” repeated Senator Adams accusingly.
President Treadway drew in a deep breath. “No, it was never visually seen.”
Senator Adams nodded his head knowingly. “Then all of this military buildup could be for nothing. We’re wrecking our economies. Even the systems such as mine which are refusing to participate in this farce are suffering. We need to put an end to this and return to a normal peacetime status.”
“Some of us don’t ha
ve our heads stuck in the sand as you do,” replied Senator Malross of Mars. “I’ve seen the evidence and I’m satisfied we are looking at a potential invasion by the Eternals in the coming months. It is prudent we do everything in our power to prepare.”
“Bah!” exclaimed Senator Adams. “There was nothing there. You’re reacting to a sensor ghost. They’ve occurred in the past and my military people are certain that’s what we have here.”
“Are you willing to risk your worlds on that?” asked Senator Malross. “I’m not.”
“Then spend your budgets on this massive military buildup,” growled Adams. “We’ll spend our money more wisely. When this charade is over all of you will regret wasting money which could have been spent on helping the people of the Federation.” Adams stood up, glaring at the other senators. “I will listen to no more of this fantasy the Federation’s military has dreamed up.” With that Senator Adams and Senator Hanford stormed out of the meeting. Several other senators left as well.
“They’re dooming their worlds,” spoke Senator Brown of New Tellus. “How can they be so blind as to what’s happening?”
“They’re from Epsilon Eridani and they’re on the far side of the Federation,” replied Senator Brown. “Their worlds are only marginally habitable and they have spent considerable time and money on their terraforming projects. They have always been opposed to any type of increase in military spending.”
“Should we do anything to help them?” asked Senator Lisa Karls from Horizon in the Tau Ceti System.”
“I fear there is little we can do without their agreement,” replied President Treadway. “For the immediate future all we can do is prepare our defenses and continue with the evacuation. The Originators are sending more of their large passenger transports as well as building additional Accelerator Rings to speed up the evacuation.”
-
For the next two hours the senate debated what needed to be done to ensure the survival of the Human Federation of Worlds. In the end, they realized until the Eternals attacked there was no way to know if the defenses were going to be enough.
-
After the meeting, Race and Massie got together in the Food Court area of the massive shipyard. There were dozens of small restaurants and shops along a wide concourse. Tables, chairs, and growing plants were everywhere making it a relaxing area to eat and take time off from station duties. There were even a few movie theatres showing the latest vids.
“How soon can you come and see Mom and Dad?” asked Race as he sipped a beer.
“Maybe next week,” replied Massie, holding her glass of iced tea. “I have some fleet assignments I need to take care of and two or three meetings with Fleet Admiral Nagumo to make plans for system defense.” Massie took a deep drink of her tea. For some reason the tea here tasted far better than what she was used to back on the Dyson sphere. “Do you think we’ll be receiving more ships?”
Race nodded. “I’m pretty sure we will. If Fleet Admiral Strong was at the Communications and Transport Hub I’m certain we would. I don’t think Councilor Barnes will let us down.”
Massie took a moment to study the menu. There were a few food items listed which were difficult to get away from Earth. “How bad do you think it will be?”
Race set his beer down on the table and folded his arms across his chest. “The Eternals will try to overwhelm us with their fleets. I fully expect us to be outnumbered by five to one or more.”
Massie looked stunned. “Are we going to die?”
“Not if I can help it,” Race replied. “We need to do everything we can to make every inch of space costly to the Eternals. No close in engagements until we have the planetary defenses at our backs. It will prevent the Eternals from trying to englobe our fleets.”
“We really need those battlestations.”
“Yeah, we do,” Race replied. “If we can get enough battlestations in orbit around New Tellus, Earth, and Mars it will give us a chance to hold all three planets.”
“What about the rest of the systems?”
Race shook his head. “I don’t know. I would like to see us hold Tau Ceti but I don’t know if it’s feasible. If we spread the battlestations out too far they won’t be able to protect the primary planets. I think we take care of New Tellus, Earth, and Mars first and then move on to the others.”
“President Treadway may not like that,” commented Massie as she took another sip of her tea.
Race knew Massie was right. It would be difficult explaining to the president why two thirds of the population of the Human Federation of Worlds might have to die rather than be defended. “It’s war and sometimes we have to make hard decisions. We’ll know more once we find out how many ships and battlestations the Originators are going to send.”
“They won’t let us down,” replied Massie with certainty in her voice. “I just know they won’t.”
-
The two spent the rest of the afternoon in the Food Court, talking and reminiscing about old family times. In the end Massie promised to come spend a few days with their parents at New Tellus before her fleet duties became too hectic to allow her to take any serious time off.
-
At the Communications and Transport Hub there was an important meeting occurring in the Tower. The Originator Council was meeting and discussing what to do about defending the Human Federation of Worlds and the Altons.
“We must send as many battlestations and ships as possible,” stated Admiral Jackson determinedly. “This is an opportunity for us to bleed the Eternals and significantly weaken their fleet. The static defenses in the New Tellus System and the Solar System are the heaviest we know of outside a Dyson sphere.”
“I agree,” said Councilor Barnes. “We know the Eternals are going to attack. Let’s make this into a trap for them.”
“They’ve never fought against one of our battlestations. They have no idea of their firepower,” added Admiral Jackson.
“It is the honorable thing to do,” commented Grayseth in his loud booming voice. “My people owe much to the Humans and the Altons. We must do everything in our power to save as many of them as possible.”
Councilor Trallis stood up and looked at the assembled council. They had been discussing this for over an hour. “In our younger days we would not have hesitated committing our fleets and battlestations to the defense of the Humans and the Altons. We owe our very existence to these people. I believe we must commit ourselves fully in going to their aid. We must destroy the fleets the Eternals send for this battle. If we annihilate them, the Eternals will have to reconsider making such an attack again.”
“If we send the battlestations, where will we get them?” asked Castille.
Trallis hesitated briefly before responding. “We have over forty battlestations here at the hub. I propose sending thirty of them to defend the Humans and the Altons.”
“Thirty!” protested one of the other Originator Councilors. “That will seriously reduce our own defensive capacity here at the hub. We don’t dare to that.”
“Keep in mind we are building new battlestations in two facilities here,” Trallis reminded everyone. “All of the facilities here, including the four Shrieels, are heavily armed. Not only that, we will ensure there are sufficient fleet units to defend us in case of an Eternal attack. Don’t forget as of now the Eternals have no knowledge the Communications and Transport Hub exists.”
“What about fleet units?” asked Councilor Roan. “How many of them should we send?”
“Our fleets in the Shrieels now total over six hundred thousand battlecruisers and sixty thousand dreadnoughts. Our biggest problem has been finding crews for the larger ships. That is another reason why we must save the Human and Alton worlds.”
Councilor Metrics looked over at Admiral Jackson. “You once suggested when the Eternals’ attack the Federation and the Altons that we attack some of the Eternals’ galaxies. Do you still believe that?”
Admiral Jackson nodded his head. “Y
es, I propose we attack the twenty Eternal galaxies nearest Originator space. We would commit two hundred thousand of our ships to this endeavor. It will teach the Eternals the foolishness of violating any agreement we sign with them in the future.”
“When would this attack take place?” asked another of the Originator councilors.
“As soon as we have confirmation they have attacked the Federation or the Altons.”
“How many ships do we commit to defending the Federation and Alton worlds?” asked the same councilor.
Admiral Jackson hesitated for a second and then replied. “Fifty thousand ships. Forty-five thousand battlecruisers and two thousand dreadnoughts.”
Councilor Trallis’s eyes widened. “That’s most of our remaining manned ships.”
Admiral Jackson nodded. “The manned ships will help keep down losses. That still leaves over half of the Originator fleet to defend the Dyson spheres and Originator space.”
-
For another two hours the council debated Admiral Jackson’s recommendations. In the end, they came to an agreement and instructed the admiral to begin making preparations. It was going to be a massive job to move the battlestations and get all the ships ready for battle. The Eternals were about to learn the Originators were not as helpless as they believed.
-
Councilor Trallis, Councilor Barnes, Councilor Grayseth, and Admiral Jackson were meeting in the admiral’s office to discuss how to implement the plans made in the council meeting.
“How do we make the expected Eternal attack against the Human Federation of Worlds and the Altons into a trap?” asked Councilor Barnes.
“We can send several fleets to the Dyson sphere in Shari space,” suggested Admiral Jackson. “We then use an Accelerator Ring to rush those fleets anywhere in Federation or Alton space when needed. With an Accelerator Ring the travel time would only be a few hours.”
The Originator Wars: Explorations: A Lost Fleet Novel Page 16
