Conflict Unending
Page 1
The Originator Wars:
Conflict Unending
A Lost Fleet Novel
(The Originator Wars, Book 3)
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)
Website: http://raymondlweil.com/
Copyright © December 2017 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
Epilogue
The Originator Wars: Conflict Unending
A Lost Fleet Novel
Chapter One
The Eternal Fleet dropped out of hyperspace twelve million kilometers from the large fleet base of the Originators. Twelve thousand massive ships were in the fleet formation. Each vessel was four kilometers in length, eight hundred meters in width, and six hundred and seventy meters from the top of the hull to the bottom. The ships were armed with heavy energy cannons and antimatter missiles. Sensor arrays, communication dishes, and hundreds of hatches covered the warships. This was a fleet designed for one purpose and one purpose only; war!
“We’ve been detected,” reported Marloo at Communications. “Eternal battlecruisers are forming up between us and the fleet base.”
“They must have detected us before we dropped out of hyperspace,” said Lomart from Tactical.
“This is their only base in this galaxy,” reported Garald, the ship’s sensor operator.
Fleet Commander Tarsal nodded. “That is why we chose this galaxy to attack. It has only the one base. Once we destroy it the Originator presence in this galaxy will be terminated.”
Tarsal had direct orders from First Leader Clondax to eliminate as many of these Originator fleet bases as possible. The Originators controlled six hundred and fourteen galaxies. However, there were Dyson Spheres in only two hundred and twelve of them. The rest were protected by the large fleet bases. This galaxy was on the far side of Originator space away from Galaxy X-938, which was the closest Originator galaxy to Eternal space. The Originators would not be expecting an attack here. Also, after the stinging defeat by the Originators and the Humans in that star cluster the Originators were experimenting in, Tarsal wanted revenge.
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Torun, the military AI assigned to the fleet base gazed in sadness at the tactical display showing the Eternal fleet rapidly approaching his base. It had been detected in hyperspace earlier and the defending fleet ordered to prepare to protect the base. “Inform Fleet Admiral Strong we will not be able to hold. The Eternal fleet preparing to attack us is too strong. We will try to cause as much damage as possible but we are heavily outnumbered.”
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Just outside the fleet base a small intergalactic communications vortex formed. It allowed almost instantaneous communication between the fleet base and the Communications and Transport hub.
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Torun gazed at the viewscreens showing the advancing Eternals. Just a few more weeks and stronger weapons would have been added to the fleet base. Dark energy cannons were planned for all fleet bases as well as the Shrieels, weapons that might have kept the Eternals at bay. “Activate the energy shield and prepare all weapons to fire.” Around Torun, the other AIs followed his orders without hesitation. There were no living beings in the fleet base; a few hundred AIs and those AIs assigned to the battlecruisers were the only intelligent beings. The Originators considered their AIs to be life forms and treated them accordingly. There were several thousand of the small repair robots as well as a full company of combat robots on board the base as well.
-.
In space between the Eternal fleet and the fleet base two hundred Originator battlecruisers formed up. Each battlecruiser was two thousand meters in length and heavily armed. These were not the new more heavily armed battlecruisers being produced at the Shrieels but the older ones responsible for protecting the two thousand and eighteen fleet bases scattered throughout the six hundred and fourteen Originator controlled galaxies. The battlecruisers had been updated as much as possible, and new more powerful battlecruisers were being built in the fleet base’s four construction bays. Unfortunately none were ready.
The two fleets closed with neither showing any signs of backing off. The Originator ships moved closer together with their energy shields nearly overlapping, adjusting their formation into a wedge aimed directly at the heart of the approaching Eternal vessels. The shields and weapons had been strengthened as much as possible, and it was hoped they would be able to stand up at least briefly to the Eternal energy weapons.
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Fleet Commander Tarsal studied his tactical display. There were none of the larger ships of the race allied with the Originators or the larger Originator battlecruisers. It had been a shock to learn that actual living Originators still existed. One of them had spoken to First Leader Clondax at the battle in the Originator star cluster. How many Originators were still living was open conjecture in the Council of Eternals; it might be just a few hundred or several thousand. It was still unknown what had been occurring at the mysterious base in that star cluster. The Council of Eternals were convinced it was some type of advanced research facility. As to what type of research would probably never be known as the entire facility, both in orbit and on the planet had been destroyed.
“We’re nearly in engagement range,” reported Garald from the Sensors.
Tarsal had spread the fleet out into a half globe formation with the inside of the globe empty of ships. This would allow his fleet to partially englobe the Originator fleet and destroy it. “Remember, we want to capture this base intact to study its technology and see what we can learn about Originator space.” His fleet heavily outnumbered the defenders and he expected few if any losses to his fleet. This should be a swift and easy victory.
“Weapons locked on,” reported Lomart from Tactical.
“Fire!” ordered Tarsal. He still felt anger from the stinging defeat at the Originator star cluster. It was time to show the Originators the real power of the Eternals.
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Energy weapons fire erupted from each side within just a few seconds of one another. Both began firing antimatter missiles in overwhelming numbers. Space lit up with the fury of thousands of explosions.
Energy beam fire from the Eternal battlecruisers slammed into the main part of an Originator warship, setting off massive explosions and hurling glowing debris into space. The ship seemed to shudder as secondary explosions
began tearing it apart. In a final explosion the ship disintegrated, sending flaming debris in every direction.
In the Eternal fleet, one of their massive battlecruisers was under heavy attack from twelve Originator battlecruisers. The energy shield fluctuated and flared up brightly as gravitonic cannon fire and antimatter missiles pummeled it. Suddenly a gravitonic beam penetrated, blowing out a huge section of the hull. Then an antimatter missile detonated, nearly splitting the ship in two. The weakening shield wavered and then failed completely. Dozens of gravitonic beams and antimatter missiles struck the damaged vessel. In moments it ceased to exist. In its place, a small star was born as antimatter explosions annihilated the four-kilometer long warship.
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Fleet Commander Tarsal watched the tactical displays and the viewscreens as the defending Originator fleet was slowly pushed back toward their fleet base. Ship after ship was dying as screens were overloaded and Eternal energy beams tore the defending battlecruisers apart. Occasionally an Eternal antimatter missile would send a ship to oblivion.
“One hundred and seventeen Originator battlecruisers have been eliminated,” reported Garald.
“Our own losses?”
“Fourteen vessels so far.”
In all the years Tarsal had been in the Eternal military, only the Originators and their allied race had been able to destroy an Eternal vessel. The Eternal Council was still reeling from the defeat at the Originator star cluster. “Continue the attack. Our losses are inconsequential.” Tarsal flexed his hand, feeling the strength from his nanites. He was strong enough that he could crush a normal organic being. The nanites the Eternals fused with their bodies made them the most powerful race in the known universe. He was determined to bring victories to the Eternals no matter what the cost.
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In space, the battle intensified as the weapons from the fleet base opened up. Antimatter beams, gravitonic cannons, and hundreds of antimatter missiles were directed at the inbound Eternal fleet. Several more Eternal vessels vanished as weapons fire knocked down their screens, leaving the ships vulnerable to attack. However, the Originator fleet was nearly destroyed and losing ships at an ever-increasing rate even with the tremendous firepower from the fleet base. The battle would not last much longer.
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“We cannot stop them,” reported Sheree, a female AI operating the sensor console in the fleet base’s Command Center. “There are simply too many of them. Our gravitonic cannons are causing considerable damage as well as our antimatter beams. We just need more of them.”
Torun accepted his forces would be defeated. He just needed to make this as costly as possible to the Eternals. “Have the self-destruct charges been set?” These were antimatter warheads, which had been hastily placed throughout the fleet base. The Eternals could not be allowed access to the fleet base’s core computer and database.
“Yes,” replied Mannart from his tactical post. “We can detonate them at your command. Combat robots have also been deployed at strategic locations throughout the base in case the Eternals try to board.”
Torun gazed at a viewscreen. Only a handful of Originator battlecruisers were still fighting; the rest had been destroyed. He had only recently been created as the Originators and the Humans felt more military AIs were needed to command the many fleet bases and ships of the Originators. His life was going to be extremely short compared to the average lifespan of an AI, which was in the tens of thousands of years. “We will let them come in close and then detonate all the warheads simultaneously.” While Torun regretted his life would be so short, he knew his duty as a military AI and had no problem fulfilling it.
On the viewscreens, the few surviving Originator ships were lit up by increasing fire from the inbound Eternal fleet. Ships were dying rapidly as defensive fire lessened. Even the fleet base was beginning to shake occasionally as antimatter missiles and Eternal energy beams struck its powerful shield. The fleet base was protected by the new triplex energy shield as well as more powerful energy weapons. It would not be as easy to destroy as the Eternals believed.
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Fleet Commander Tarsal watched as the last Originator battlecruiser died in a pyre of energy as hundreds of antimatter missiles blew it into oblivion.
“Originator fleet has been destroyed,” confirmed Garald.
“Focus our weapons fire on the fleet base. I want its weapons disabled and then prepare our warrior robots to board and eliminate all opposition.”
The Conqueror suddenly shook violently as a gravitonic beam from the fleet base penetrated its screen, striking the hull. Warning alarms sounded, and several red lights flared to life on the damage control console.
“Major damage to the stern,” reported the Eternal at damage control. “We have a hole in our hull forty meters wide and seventy deep. That gravitonic beam went right through our energy screen.”
“All ships are to focus their energy weapons fire on that base,” ordered Tarsal. It was evident to him the weapons on the base were far more powerful than those used by the Originator ships. This might pose a problem with his plans to board the base and take it intact.
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“Are we still transmitting data?” asked Torun as he kept abreast of the ongoing battle. He had watched as the Eternals destroyed the last defending Originator battlecruiser, sending it into oblivion.
“Yes, the intergalactic communications vortex is still open,” answered the AI at Communications. “We’re transmitting all of our data on the battle as well as live video.”
Torun hoped this information would be useful to Fleet Admiral Strong and the others back at the Communications and Transport Hub.
The fleet base was shaking more often now. On the damage control console red lights were steadily flaring into existence. The base was beginning to take damage as Eternal energy beams occasionally managed to penetrate the triplex energy shield. Explosions could be heard through the thick battle armor of the Command Center. Across the base repair robots were scurrying about trying to repair the growing damage.
On one of the viewscreens, an Eternal battlecruiser exploded as the base’s powerful gravitonic beams ripped it in two. Others were being damaged but due to their size continued to fight.
“We’ve managed to take out six more of their battlecruisers,” reported Mannart. “Strength of the energy shield is down to 42 percent. It will fail within ten minutes.”
Torun looked around the Command Center. None of the AIs showed any fear of their immediate demise. “Send a final message to Fleet Admiral Strong. We will activate the self-destructs upon failure of the energy shield. The Eternals will glean no information from the ruins of this base.”
The fleet base shook more violently and for a moment the lights dimmed but then returned to full brightness. The damage control console was now covered with more red lights than green. Torun knew the end was near.
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Fleet Commander Tarsal nodded in satisfaction as more energy beams were now penetrating the steadily weakening energy shield of the Originator fleet base. The warrior robots were inside their assault shuttles ready to breach the hull. No doubt there would be Originator combat robots inside but Tarsal had no doubt the Eternal warrior robots would prevail. On the screen, a massive explosion occurred on the fleet base, hurling huge pieces of debris into space. Antimatter projectors and gravitonic cannons were being annihilated, reducing the firepower focused on the Eternal fleet. Even so, he watched as another Eternal battlecruiser was obliterated by massed antimatter missile fire from the base.
“Fleet base’s energy field has failed,” reported Garald. “That last explosion must have damaged their power system.”
“Hold fire and launch the assault shuttles,” ordered Tarsal. The Council of Eternals would be pleased with the information gathered from the Originator base.
On the tactical display, twenty shuttles departed the fleet and headed toward the fleet base. Soon they would breach the hull and release their loads of warrior ro
bots. The robots would sweep through the base, securing it and its valuable computers.
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Torun watched in silence as the Eternal assault shuttles neared the base. He would initiate the self-destruct sequence once they were in range. He planned on taking them out when the antimatter warheads detonated. It was quiet in the Command Center as the AIs waited for their end. It was gratifying to know they now served living Originators.
The shuttles reached the base and explosives were set off, penetrating the hull. Reports came in from several areas of the fleet base that Eternal warrior robots were inside. Without hesitation Torun reached forward and touched the icon on his command console, which would activate the warheads. He could have done it with a simple command from his neural implant but he preferred this time to touch the icon, which would kill them all as well as the enemy.
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In a flash of brilliant light, the fleet base turned into a miniature nova, destroying all twenty of the Eternal assault shuttles. A few moments later the light died down revealing a mass of twisted wreckage. The fleet base was no more.
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Fleet Commander Tarsal stared coldly at the ship’s viewscreen. He had not been expecting the military AI in charge of the fleet base to take such a drastic step. He strongly suspected this strategy was the result of the mysterious Humans who were aligned with the Originators. Future battle strategies would have to be modified to take this into account.
“Set a course for our next target,” Tarsal ordered. There was another galaxy nearby that only held four fleet bases. He intended to destroy all of them before returning to Eternal space.
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At the Communications and Transport Hub Fleet Admiral Jeremy Strong, Councilor Bartoll, Commander Belson, and Ariel were watching and listening to the reports coming in from Torun and his besieged fleet base. They continued to watch until the incoming video turned to static, indicating the destruction of the base. They were in the large Communications Center in the Tower.