The Originator Wars: Explorations: A Lost Fleet Novel

by Raymond L. Weil

  Chapter Sixteen

  On Gardell, the Council of Eternals was holding their final meeting before the fleet left to attack the Humans and the Altons. There was much debate over the size of the fleet needed due to the defenses found by Commander Zavold.

  “We’re looking at substantial losses to eliminate the Humans,” reported Second Leader Queexel. “Also, we have no idea of what type of defenses the Altons may have or how many worlds we need to destroy.”

  “Losses we can easily make up,” responded First Leader Fehnral. “We have already increased the fleet size to twenty-six thousand vessels. Surely that is enough. Our own computer estimates indicate a 92 percent chance of total victory.”

  “That may be true,” spoke Second Leader Abross. “But we have no idea of how heavily some of the other Human worlds may be defended. What if they’re all like the one Commander Zavold found? Not only that, we have as yet to find an Alton world to determine their defensive capability. Our computer data may be incorrect as to our probability of victory.”

  First Leader Fehnral was using his nanites to sharpen his thinking. It allowed him a much clearer train of thought. “You may be correct. We must not fail in this. I propose increasing the fleet size to thirty-one thousand vessels. That should be sufficient to overcome any defenses the Humans and Altons may attempt to mount.”

  “How long will that delay our attack?” asked Second Leader Tarmal.

  “Four days,” replied Second Leader Abross. “We should have more information about what we’re facing from the additional stealth ships we sent to the Human galaxy. The reports should begin arriving while the fleet is in transit. However, I recommend we send another ten thousand ships to take out the Altons.”

  “That’s forty-one thousand ships total,” pointed out Second Leader Queexel.

  “Adding another ten thousand ships will delay the launch of the fleet by another six days,” warned Second Leader Abross. “However, in order to be able to take out both the Humans and the Altons it may be wise for us to do just that. This is a menace to our Empire we need to deal with once and for all.”

  “Very well,” replied First Leader Fehnral. “I believe we’re committing too many ships to this venture but in order to ensure victory I will agree to it.”

  “Who will command the fleets?” asked Second Leader Barrant.

  “There will be three admirals in charge of various sections of the fleet,” replied Abross. “That will allow us to attack three different targets at once preventing the Humans or the Altons from massing their forces.”

  Second Leader Queexel still seemed dissatisfied with the attack plan. “What of the Originators? What if they commit a major portion of their fleet to the defense of the Humans and Altons? What then?”

  “We don’t believe that is going to happen,” replied Fehnral. “The Originators seem to be concentrating their attacks around Galaxy 7295. They are making an all out push to bring that galaxy under their influence. We know they have at least three major fleets committed to that undertaking.”

  “Let us hope that is correct,” said Queexel with doubt in his voice. “We must not underestimate the Originators or the Humans.”

  Fehnral turned all of his attention toward Queexel. “That will not happen. Our nanites allow us superior strength as well as thinking. We have thought this attack through and discussed numerous possible scenarios. That is the reason we have increased the fleet size. Even today we have increased it again. We also believe the Humans are not aware we have discovered their location. The attack will be a complete and overwhelming surprise.”

  “Let us hope so,” replied Queexel. “We are talking about forty-one thousand ships and crews. Even for us that would be a substantial loss if the Humans and Altons found some way to defeat us.”

  “We are superior,” declared First Leader Fehnral. “This will be a decisive victory and it will eliminate our Human problem.”

  After more debating and a few more adjustments, the plan was adopted and orders were sent to the fleets. In ten days they would set out for the Human worlds to destroy them.

  -

  In the New Tellus System, Admiral Tolsen was on board New Tellus Station reviewing the planned defense of the system with Admiral Crown and General Wilcox. They were in the large Command Center gazing at the viewscreens displaying various views of the space around New Tellus.

  “We have eight asteroids in orbit fully armed and ready to defend the planet,” reported General Wilcox. “We have three thousand Talon fighters and two thousand Anlon bombers based on the asteroids. There is still some construction being done on the two asteroids we recently moved into orbit but all of that is expected to be completed in two more weeks.”

  “What will you do with the battlecarriers?” asked Race. In the type of battle they were expecting fighters and bombers would be useless.

  “They’ll be under the defense grid and their fighters and bombers will be used to intercept inbound missiles,” replied Admiral Crown. “There will be twenty of them as well as eighty light cruisers as escorts.”

  On a viewscreen, one of the four forty-kilometer battlestations could be seen. It looked deadly with its array of energy turrets and missile tubes. The battlestation was painted dark black and protected by thick battle armor as well as a powerful energy shield.

  “I’m glad we put four of those around New Tellus,” commented Race. “They’ll be a nightmare for the Eternals when they arrive. I seriously doubt if they’ll be expecting them.”

  “So, what is your plan of battle?” asked General Wilcox.

  Race grinned. “Destroy the Eternal fleet which attacks us here and then take my fleet through the Accelerator Ring to Earth. We’ll then wipe that fleet out and then go through the Accelerator Ring once again to Tau Ceti and engage the Eternals there.”

  Admiral Crown smiled. “I wish I had your confidence.”

  “We’ll win,” replied Race. “We’re using the Eternals’ overconfidence against them. They won’t be expecting the defenses they’re going to find here or at Earth. They also won’t be prepared for the number of Originator ships we’re going to commit. “There’s a chance we’ll have an advantage in ships if everything works as planned.”

  “I’ve divided my fleet into two smaller fleets,” Admiral Crown informed Race. “Rear Admiral Becker will be in charge of one fleet and I’ll be in charge of the second. I believe we’ll operate much more efficiently that way.”

  Race nodded. “I’ve spoken to the Originator in charge of the Dyson sphere in Shari space. He will be sending four hundred modern battlecruisers to New Tellus in a few more days. I would like to assign two hundred of them to each of your fleets. That will greatly increase your firepower.”

  Admiral Crown nodded. “That will be much appreciated.”

  Looking at one of the large tactical screens displaying the entire system of New Tellus, Race asked another question. “How are the patrols in the outer system doing?” Since detecting the Eternal battlecruiser, patrols in the outer regions had been greatly increased.

  “We have several battlecarriers positioned at strategic locations,” answered Admiral Crown. “They’re using their fighters and bombers to run patrols across the outer regions. We also have a large number of light cruisers doing the same. If the Eternals try to sneak one of their stealth ships in again we’ll spot it.”

  “We must be ready,” Race said. “I expect New Tellus to be the first system to be hit. If we can stop them here, then we have a good chance of stopping them in the rest of the Federation.”

  Race looked at another viewscreen displaying an Indomitable Class Battlestation. It was in orbit of the planet surrounded by the massive defense grid composed of several thousand satellites armed with particle beam weapons capable of taking out inbound Eternal missiles. A number of them had been added to those already in place. Race was feeling more confident every day of being able to stop the Eternals here in the New Tellus System.

  -


  Later Race was on his way back to the WarHawk. Looking out the shuttle window, he could see the busy space around New Tellus. Everywhere he looked he could see spacecraft, shipyards, or defensive stations. The most impressive were the massive asteroid fortresses in orbit around the planet. Race let out a deep breath. He knew it wouldn’t be much longer before the Eternals showed up. Time was rapidly running out to prepare for their coming and there was still much that needed to be done.

  -

  In the Solar System, Rear Admiral Massie Tolsen was working on her fleet dispositions. Unlike New Tellus here she had two inhabited planets to protect as well as a number of inhabited asteroids and moons. It was driving her crazy trying to figure out how to protect everything.

  “Maybe we don’t,” suggested Commander Braden MacLeod. “What if we evacuate most of the asteroid colonies and moon colonies to Ceres? It is heavily defended and the cities are located deep inside. The people could survive there until after the battle is over and then return to their own colonies.”

  “It’s a good suggestion,” admitted Massie. “I’ll run it past Fleet Admiral Nagumo and see what he thinks.

  “We’re coming up on Ceres now,” reported Falolt who was an Originator AI and had taken over the helm position on the Hera.

  Massie turned her attention to the large viewscreen displaying the massive asteroid. It was the largest asteroid in the Solar System with a rough diameter of 950 kilometers. Inside was a huge space dock and several full-sized cities capable of sustaining millions of people. At the moment Ceres had a minimal population as most of its inhabitants had gone to the Dyson sphere with Councilor Barnes.

  A few strikecruisers were on patrol around the asteroid. Massie knew the huge ship construction facilities inside the space dock were busy updating and building new ships for the coming battle. She had visited Ceres several times in the past but that was before most of the people left.

  “How many people have gone through the Accelerator Ring?” Massie asked. She knew some had but not near as many as they had been hoping.

  “A little over two hundred million,” replied Commander Macleod.

  Massie shook her head. “There are over nine billion people in the Solar System. What are they thinking? If they stay here they could all die!”

  “They don’t believe President Treadway when she tells them of the danger. You also have a number of Federation senators who are still claiming this is all a hoax to increase the military budget.”

  “Senators Adams and Hanford from Serenity and Bliss,” said Massie, knowing who Commander Macleod was referring to. “What will they be saying when Eternal warships appear around their planets?”

  “They’ll be begging Earth and New Tellus for help.”

  Massie let out a deep sigh. “By then it will be too late. I’m afraid we’re going to lose both planets and even a few more.”

  “Set a course for Jupiter; I want to inspect the settlements on Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa.”

  Massie knew there were nearly six million people living on those four moons. Mining on the moons of Jupiter was a big business and several large corporations were running around-the-clock mining operations. They made their bases in the domed settlements on the major moons though many of their mining operations were on the smaller moons orbiting the large gas giant.

  -

  Massie was in her quarters with papers spread all over her desk. She also had three computer screens she was using to bring up tactical information. No matter how hard she tried to cover all the colonies in the Solar System it kept leaving other areas too lightly defended. Her comm unit buzzed and Commander Macleod informed her they were coming up on Jupiter.

  It didn’t take long for Massie to reach the Command Center. Stepping inside the hatch, she saw the gas giant on the ship’s main viewscreen. It was an awe inspiring sight. Even Jupiter’s red spot was visible though it was much smaller now than it had been in the twentieth century.

  “Put us into orbit around Ganymede,” Massie ordered as she sat down in her command chair. “Change the primary viewscreen to show the moon.”

  Almost instantly Ganymede appeared on the screen. Ganymede had a diameter of 5,300 kilometers with a minimal atmosphere. Massie knew there were considerable water ice deposits on the surface, which the domed cities used to produce air and water.

  “What’s the current population of Ganymede?”

  “Slightly over two million,” replied Commander Macleod. “The Selvin Corporation is the primary employer as they run the biggest mining operation in the Jupiter System.”

  “How many people have left Jupiter for the Dyson sphere?”

  Commander Macleod shook his head. “Very few. The Selvin Corporation is paying bonuses to everyone who will stay and continue working.”

  Massie felt angry upon hearing this. “If we can’t defend these moons all of these people will die. There are only a few hundred defensive satellites in the entire Jovian System and only two small Type Two Battlestations. The Eternals will swat those out of the way as if they don’t even exist. Get a shuttle ready for me and some Marines; I’m going down there and speak to whoever is representing the Selvin Corporation.”

  “Are you sure that’s wise?” asked Commander Macleod. “They may not agree to see you.”

  Massie’s eyes narrowed. “Give me half a dozen combat robots as well. If I have to knock a few doors down that’s just what I’ll do.”

  -

  An hour later two shuttles from the Hera set down on the small spaceport outside of Ganymede Central, the largest domed city on the moon. When they reached the airlock to enter the dome there was quiet a commotion when the guards at the hatches saw the massive military robots.

  “You can’t bring those things inside,” declared one of the guards, blocking Massie’s path.

  Several Marines stepped up behind Massie, glaring at the guard.

  “Do you think you can stop my entrance?” asked Massie, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m a rear admiral in the Originator fleet. I’m preparing to defend this system and President Treadway has given me the right to go anywhere and inspect anything in this system I want.”

  The guards looked at each other and then stepped aside. As they went through the hatch, Massie noticed one of the guards using his comm unit to contact a superior. Massie grinned. She had always wanted to make a grand entrance.

  Without hesitation Massie, her Marine escort, and the six combat robots headed toward the headquarters building of the Selvin Corporation. It was nearly a kilometer away near the center of the dome. This was the first time Massie had been inside one of these domes and she was greatly surprised. Gravity was Earth normal and the temperature was in the mid seventies. A gentle wind was blowing and there were even a few birds fluttering around in the green parks scattered through the city.

  As they walked toward the headquarters building Massie noticed how everyone was making an effort to get out of her way. She even noticed a few uniformed officers clearing the street in front of them. They finally reached the large towering building that was the headquarters of the Selvin Corporation. Reaching the front doors, Massie found them locked from the inside.

  “Should we break the doors down?” asked Sergeant Brice.

  “No,” replied Massie as she spotted an intercom unit next to the large door. She stepped over and pressed the button on the unit. A voice instantly greeted her asking her to state why she was there. “I need to speak to whoever is in charge of the Selvin Corporation on Ganymede.”

  “I’m sorry but Mister Flaxen is not seeing anyone today,” the female voice coming over the comm unit said. “You will have to come back another day. You will also need an appointment. Mister Flaxen is a very busy man.”

  Massie kept her anger under control. “This is an emergency concerning the entire Federation and I must speak to Mister Flaxen immediately.”

  “I’m sorry,” the woman said. “There can be no exceptions.” The comm unit went silent as
the secretary cut the connection.

  Massie blinked her eyes. Why were people so stubborn? “Sergeant Brice, please open the door for me. Use whatever force is necessary.”

  Sergeant Brice motioned for one of the combat robots to come forward. “Open the door.”

  The robot easily removed the door from its hinges, setting it over to the side.

  Massie grinned and stepped inside. Once inside she saw a number of people sitting at desks staring in shock at her and the Marines behind her. The combat robots had remained outside as they would cause too much damage if brought inside the building.

  “Sergeant Brice, leave one Marine with the combat robots, the rest of you come with me.” Massie stepped over to where a receptionist was trying to make herself look as small as possible. “I need to see Mister Flaxen. If he’s still not available I’ll bring my combat robots inside and begin tearing this building apart floor by floor until I find him.”

  The secretary’s face turned pale and she quickly began speaking on her comm unit. “My Flaxen will see you now,” she said. “He also requests you leave your robots and Marines outside.”

  “I’ll leave the combat robots outside and the Marines will stay here on the first floor. Sergeant Brice will accompany me to my meeting.”

  The secretary spoke into her comm unit again and then looked up at Massie. “The elevators are over there. You need to go up to the twentieth floor. The secretary there will point you to the correct office.”

  “Thank you,” replied Massie with a grin.

  Massie and Sergeant Brice went to the indicated elevators and were soon on the twentieth floor. The secretary there politely led them to the correct door and opening it, gestured for them to go in.

  Stepping inside Massie found they were in a lavishly furnished office with thick carpeting and expensive wood furniture.

  “Rear Admiral,” said Flaxen, rising to his feet and indicating for her to take a seat in front of his desk. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. We don’t have military people paying us a visit very often.”