“As in Captain Parker and his wife Lauren?”
“The same,” answered Reed. He picked up a menu glancing at it.
“Have they been a problem?” Sue was concerned that due to who their parents were they might be expecting special treatment.
Major Reed shook his head. “No, just the opposite. If anything Corporal Nelson is trying too hard and the same goes for Private Parker. Nelson is a born leader and I guess I shouldn’t be surprised considering who his father and uncle are.”
“I’m amazed Corporal Nelson is a Marine. After what his parents went through you would think they would keep him safe at home.”
“Not the Nelsons,” Reed replied. “They feel it’s their family duty to defend the Solar System. In truth, I feel safer just knowing they’re watching out for us.”
“I’m anxious to get started,” replied Sue. “I’ve learned a lot in my combat drops over the last seven months.”
“We all are,” replied Reed. “Actual combat is much different than the simulations we run in training. That’s one of the reasons we make Charring so difficult.”
Sue looked at her menu; she had already decided on chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes and gravy. “How soon do you want me to report in?”
“No hurry,” Reed replied as he signaled one of the food court servers to come over to take their orders. “Take two or three days off. You deserve it after being gone for seven months. When you’re ready you can begin training the recruits with the new energy lances.”
Sue nodded. “We had those on our last two drops. The damn things will cut through anything, even a Type Seven or Eight battlesuit.”
“They won’t cut through a Type Nine though they will leave scorch marks.”
The server came over and the two placed their orders. Sue leaned back, relaxing. It was nice to be off the ship and able to stretch. The ceiling was a good twenty meters above her head. It made her feel she was in a wide-open space. She suspected this was the reason the food court was designed as it was.
As she listened she could hear people talking and laughing. There were even a few children with their parents. The aromas of different foods were in the air making her feel even more hungry. She reached forward and took a deep drink of the tea in front of her. She noticed Major Reed had ordered a beer. Beer was something she had never developed a taste for though she wouldn’t object to a good glass of wine. Unfortunately wine was still scarce as the vineyards on Earth had all been destroyed. There were a few vineyards inside Vesta as well as in the domes on Mars.
The two continued to talk about the recruits Sue would be training as well as the latest news from Earth and Mars. Sue listened raptly as she was curious about everything that had occurred in the Solar System since she left with Fourth Fleet. One thing she did know after listening to Major Reed: she had a lot of catching up to do.
Chapter Six
Minor Overlord Lazorth stood on the command pedestal of his ship gazing with his multifaceted eyes at the tactical display. He had eight other Zaltule battlecruisers with him as well as twenty assault ships. He would use the assault ships to scout nearby systems once controlled by the Kleese to see if they still retained possession or if the sub races had succeeded in wresting control from them.
“Order the assault ships to begin their survey,” he commanded.
“Order has been sent,” confirmed Malvern the communications officer.
Lazorth thought for a moment and then turned back toward communications. “Have them meet us in the Zadole System in sixty hours.”
The Zadole System was the Kleese regional capital for this sector of space. While War Overlord Tetus had instructed him to avoid combat, he felt the best way to gain actual intelligence was to capture some Kleese. They could be tortured and forced to give him the intelligence data he wanted. With eight Zaltule battlecruisers plus his own ship, he was confident he could conquer the system and capture any Kleese who might be present.
“All assault ships have confirmed receipt of message and will be activating their Fold Space drives shortly,” reported Malvern as the seven digits of his right hand moved across his console.
Lazorth watched the tactical display as the twenty assault ships left on their missions. “Set a course for the Zadole System. It’s time we showed them the Zaltule are still around.” He could well imagine the fear of the Kleese in the system when they detected his ships.
“Course set,” reported Craton from the helm. “Arrival time will be twelve hours.”
“Initiate,” ordered Minor Overlord Lazorth. Now he would speak to Minor Military Overlord Vandeem. He commanded the Kleese warriors on the ship that would be involved in capturing the Kleese. If everything went as planned Supreme Military Overlord Tetus would be very pleased with him. Pleased enough to promote him to the full rank of Overlord.
-
Twelve hours later the nine Zaltule battlecruisers dropped out of Fold Space into the Zadole System. The fourth and fifth planets were heavily populated with planet four the capital of the system. As soon as the Zaltule battlecruisers were detected dozens of passenger and cargo ships began jumping out of the system. Their hyperspace comms were already blasting out the fearful message. The Zaltule have returned!
-
Commander John Higgins of the Human assault ship Destiny gazed in shock at the tactical display. His ship was in the Zadole System and had just finished delivering supplies to the Human ambassador. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing on his tactical display. He prayed this was a joke someone was playing on his crew.
“Please confirm those are Zaltule battlecruisers,” he ordered, looking over at the sensor officer. The Zaltule hadn’t been seen for over thirty years.
“Confirmed,” replied Lieutenant Braggs. “They match the size and shape of a Zaltule battlecruiser at three thousand meters.”
Commander Higgins shook his head in dismay. There were only a few medium sized cruisers in the system. The Zadolians had as yet to rebuild their fleet after the end of the Kleese occupation. “Send a message to Eighth Fleet; they’re on maneuvers in the Kewell System. Let them know what we have here. Contact our ambassador and inform her of what we’ve detected. We may need to evacuate her and her staff. Helm, put us into orbit over Zadole Four.”
“Passenger and cargo ships are already jumping out,” reported Lieutenant Braggs.
“There’s a lot of panic on the communications channels,” reported Lieutenant Rann.
‘Take us to Condition Two and prepare for combat,” ordered Higgins.
“Weapons are armed,” reported tactical. “Energy shield is coming to full strength.”
Commander Higgins nodded. He knew full well his two hundred-meter assault ship would stand little chance against the firepower a Zaltule battlecruiser could bring to bear.
“I have Zadole Space Command wanting to know what to do,” reported Lieutenant Rann.
Higgins ran several possible scenarios through his head. If the Zadolians resisted they risked suffering massive casualties. “Tell them to stand down. Send all Fold Space capable shipping to their nearest colony. Same for their warships. Their medium cruisers won’t stand a chance against the Zaltule. There’s no point in sacrificing them. We just need to buy time until Eighth Fleet can get here.”
“How do we do that?” asked Lieutenant Rann.
Commander Higgins shook his head. “I wish I knew.”
-
Minor Overlord Lazorth gazed at the viewscreen. Numerous red threat icons were leaving the system. Most of these were identified as passenger ships and cargo ships though seven medium sized cruisers were also leaving.
“No sign of any Kleese vessels except for one assault ship going into orbit around Zadole Four,” reported the sensor officer.
“Send a message to Zadole Four and demand their instant surrender,” ordered Lazorth in a cold and uncompromising voice. “Inform them any Kleese upon the planet will be turned over to us.”
A few momen
ts passed and then Malvern replied. “Message sent and confirmed. Zadole Space Command states there will be no resistance and that currently there are no Kleese in the system.”
This surprised Lazorth. It indicated the system was no longer controlled by the Empire. “I want four of our battlecruisers to go into orbit around Zadole Five and the rest will come with us to Zadole Four. No ship is to fire upon the planets unless we’re attacked first or I order the attack. We’re here to gather information and we can’t do that if we destroy it. “Communications, contact Minor Military Overlord Vandeem and inform him his warriors will be needed to secure the orbital space stations as well as some of the planet’s leaders down on the surface.” Vandeem commanded the Zaltule warriors on the ship.
“What about the single assault ship?” asked the tactical officer. “Should I destroy it?”
Minor Overlord Lazorth was curious as to who controlled the assault ship. It could be Humans. “Try to disable its Fold Space drive. If we can prevent it from jumping out perhaps we can capture it.”
“It will be difficult to disable without destroying the ship,” replied the tactical officer.
Lazorth turned his triangular head toward the tactical officer and said in an uncompromising voice, “I want the ship disabled and not destroyed.”
The tactical officer nodded and began working on his console.
“Helm, take us to Zadole Four; it’s time we showed them the strength of the Zaltule.”
-
Commander Higgins waited impatiently for a reply from the Human ambassador. He had been told she was in an emergency meeting and it would be a few minutes before she could speak with him. Higgins had stressed he had limited time and would have to leave orbit if the Zaltule came too close to the planet. The ambassador’s aide had told the Commander the ambassador didn’t feel she was in any danger but would contact him as soon as she was out of the meeting.
“I knew it,” said Lieutenant Rann. “The ambassador is a politician and has no idea of the danger she’s courting.”
“Zaltule battlecruisers are en route to Zadole Four,” reported Lieutenant Braggs. “They will be here in twenty minutes.”
“Contact Zadole Space Command and recommend they agree to the surrender,” ordered Commander Higgins. He wanted to limit the damage to the system before Eighth Fleet could arrive.
“Message sent,” replied Lieutenant Rann. “No reply.”
Lieutenant Rann looked over at the Commander. “They must be talking it over.”
“Helm, keep the Fold Space drive ready. We may need to get out of here fast.” Commander Higgins had no intention of endangering his command.
The minutes passed slowly by as the Zaltule battlecruisers drew nearer to the planet. On the assault ship’s main viewscreen, the huge disk-shaped vessels were clearly displayed.
“Take us to Condition One,” ordered Commander Higgins.
Alarms started sounding and red lights began flashing.
“I’ve never seen a Zaltule battlecruiser before except in pictures,” said Lieutenant Rann, looking at the main viewscreen. “Damn they look mean.”
“Zaltule battlecruisers are opening their missile hatches,” warned Lieutenant Braggs, looking concerned. “They will be in weapons range in seven minutes.”
“Message from the surface,” reported Rann. “The ambassador is requesting we remain in orbit. She wants to open negotiations with the Zaltule.”
Higgins’ face turned pale. No one bargained with the Zaltule. You either were made a slave or died. “Tell the ambassador we leave in five minutes. She can either come with us or stay behind.”
Higgins watched as Rann sent the message and received a reply. “She’s staying behind and is still requesting we do as well.”
“No, I won’t endanger this ship for her foolishness.” If she doesn’t watch it she could end up wearing a Kleese slave collar. She has no idea what she’s doing.” If it was up to him and he had the time he would send some Marines down to the planet to force her to come to the ship.
“Five minutes to weapons range,” reported Lieutenant Braggs
Higgins took a deep breath. “Inform the ambassador we’re leaving and we’ll return with the fleet. Helm, stand by to initiate Fold Space drive.”
“Detecting active targeting sensors,” reported Braggs, his eyes widening.
“Helm, take us into Fold Space. Set a course for Dorval Three. Dorval Three was the nearest Zadole colony world.
Commander Higgins felt the assault ship make the transition into Fold Space, leaving the Zaltule battlecruisers behind. He breathed out a sigh of relief knowing to stay would have been suicide. He leaned back in his command chair wondering why the Zaltule had returned after so long. The war might have just become much more complicated. “Take the ship to Condition Three.”
-
Minor Overlord Lazorth watched with anger as the assault ship vanished into Fold Space. He would have liked to have known who was on that ship.
“Message from Space Command above Zadole Four,” reported Malvern. “They have agreed to surrender and have shut down all of their defenses.”
“How many stations are in orbit?”
“Seven,” replied the sensor officer. “There are two shipyards and five other stations.”
Lazorth wanted to set an example to make the interrogations he was planning easier. Fear always seemed to work with these sub races. “As soon as we go into orbit target two of the stations and destroy them; also target the second largest city on the surface. I want to ensure the Zadolians cooperate. Minor Military Overlord Vandeem will take his warriors down to the surface and place obedience collars around the planet’s leaders. We will do the same to their Space Command. I want to know why the Kleese abandoned such a useful and wealthy system as well as what the Humans and the Alliance have been up to.”
-
The Zaltule fleet went into orbit. Suddenly, from two of the massive vessels pulse fusion beams fired tearing into two of the large orbiting space stations. The beams cut into the stations, ripping them apart and leaving shattered wreckage in orbit. Then from the command battlecruiser a single missile dropped toward the planet. It was a sublight antimatter missile targeting the second largest city on the surface.
In a massive explosion of energy and light the missile detonated three thousand meters above the city of twelve million. The heat and blast from the explosion smashed into buildings, causing them to collapse. Fires broke out everywhere. In less than twenty seconds over ten million Zadole citizens died. Above the city the superheated air caused a huge mushroom cloud to form. It rose so high it nearly reached into space. For hundreds of kilometers around the blast the force of the explosion was felt. The citizens of Zadole Four knew with fear in their hearts that the Zaltule had returned.
-
Minor Overlord Lazorth gazed at the destruction feeling no concern about the millions of deaths he had just caused. All races were inferior to the Zaltule and should exist only to serve. The death of a few million was inconsequential. His cold, multifaceted eyes watched as the massive mushroom cloud rose high above the planet.
“Inform Minor Military Overlord Vandeem it is time for him and his warriors to descend to the surface. The other ships are to send their warriors as well. Move us closer to the shipyard identified as Space Command. We will search its computers for any useful information.”
“What about the shipyard’s crew?” asked one of the other Zaltule in the Command Center.
“Exterminate them,” ordered Lazorth. “All except the leaders. Put collars of obedience on them and they will be questioned. The others are to be disposed of.”
-
Zaltule assault ships dropped down from the battlecruisers, landing in various regions of the planet. They rapidly rounded up hundreds of government officials, placing their collars of obedience on them.
In the Human ambassador compound a number of Zaltule had rounded up all the Humans including the ambassador.
“I demand you release me,” said Ambassador Linda Collins. Linda was in her mid forties and had never seen a living Kleese or Zaltule. “I am an ambassador from Earth and you have no right to hold me.”
“Silence, Human!” growled one of the Zaltule. He signaled one of his warriors who grabbed the Human, holding her still. He then snapped one of the obedience collars around her neck. The collar was silver with a light bluish tint.
“Release me!” screamed Linda, feeling violated. She reached up, touching the hard metallic collar, feeling confused. She had never been treated in such a manner. “I have diplomatic immunity!”
“We are the Zaltule and all races are meant to serve us,” replied the Zaltule in charge. “I am sure Minor Overlord Lazorth will be interested in questioning a Human.” He then looked at the other Humans who were standing silently watching. He then signaled two of his warriors. “Take this one back to the assault shuttle and exterminate the rest. They are of no use to us.”
Linda stood in shock as the Zaltule drew their energy pistols and callously shot all the other members of her staff.
-
In the Solar System, the heavy battlecruiser Sundance dropped out of Fold Space followed by her two escorts. The small fleet was running behind schedule as one of the escorts had developed a problem with its Fold Space drive and it had taken several days to repair it. They had then limped on in to the Solar System at a much slower Fold Space speed until proper repairs could be made.
“Contact Fleet Command,” ordered Commander Smith. “We need to inform them we have encountered the Zaltule.” Bree leaned back in her command chair wondering what her news and discovery would mean to the Solar System and the Alliance. It was obvious the Zaltule would have to be dealt with. They could not be allowed to grow and expand their new Empire. In time they would return to threaten the Solar System and all the worlds freed in the last thirty years.
“We’ve been ordered to dock with Centerpoint Station ASAP,” reported Lieutenant Matt Pierce. “Admiral Kelly wants a full report as well as all video evidence of what we encountered. He’s calling a meeting of the General Staff to listen to your account of the Zaltule encounter.”
Final Conflict Page 8
