The Star Cross: The Vorn!

by Raymond L. Weil

  The Vorn harvesting fleet dropped out of hyperspace within two million kilometers of the blue-white planet. It was surrounded by a series of weather and communication satellites and even a primitive space station.

  Ground based telescopes and radar instantly picked up the appearance of the unidentified objects that had suddenly appeared. A few observers realized instantly what the significance of this breathtaking event was. The secret to whether they were alone in the universe had just been answered. With excitement, they began to notify the proper officials.

  -

  Prince Parthain gazed at the viewscreens on the front wall of the mothership. His antennae quivered in excitement at the sight in front of him. A virgin food world! One that even in previous harvests over millions of years had never been harvested. Finally intelligent life developed which had spread across the world. Feeble radio and video transmissions had given its position away to the Vorn fleet. Now they would become food for the Vorn.

  Any indication of warships or a planetary defense grid? asked the prince.

  No, nothing, replied Military Leader Kawold. This is a primitive world just on the verge of space travel. They barely qualify as a food species.

  Nevertheless we will harvest this world. Food is needed back at the habitats and our Queens grow hungry. It is our duty to provide that food. Put our cruisers in orbit around the planet. We must determine if there are any ground based defenses. Even a world as primitive as this one may have a few nuclear tipped missiles.

  Military Leader Kawold bowed slightly and then turned to carry out the prince’s orders. A quick mental command sent four hundred Vorn spindle-shaped cruisers hurtling toward the planet.

  We are picking up requests for communications, sent the Vorn at the comm station. The planet’s language had already been translated by the ship’s computers. They say they are pleased to see our vessels and look forward to peaceful contact.

  How many of this food species live upon the planet? asked Prince Parthain, ignoring the request for communication.

  Over two billion, replied the Vorn at the sensors.

  Prince Parthain nodded his triangular shaped head. A good beginning to our harvest.

  -

  The Vorn cruisers went into orbit above the planet and began a careful scan of its surface. A few ground based missiles were discovered. The battle computers on the scout ships quickly determined the purpose of the missiles was to destroy any asteroids that might threaten the planet. The system had a massive asteroid field and there was evidence of previous collisions on the planet’s surface. This was quickly reported back to Military Leader Kawold who ordered the missiles destroyed.

  From the Vorn cruisers, black antimatter beams flicked out, striking the isolated military bases where the missiles were located. Seventeen times the rays flashed down, destroying every missile which might be a potential threat. When the last missile was destroyed the cruisers pulled back.

  -

  At the military facilities the commanders looked out at the towering fires and black smoke rising high into the atmosphere. None knew for certain what had happened. There were scattered reports of black beams from space and then massive explosions. Moments after the first attack frightened military leaders began reporting the destruction of the missiles that were supposed to protect the planet from an errant asteroid.

  -

  In the capital city of the planet, the president listened to his science advisors who were in a near panic. Reports of the attack on the military bases had shaken the government.

  “We have been broadcasting, trying to establish communications,” one advisor reported. “There has been no response.”

  “Is it possible they don’t understand us?” asked the president.

  “They have over five thousand ships in their fleet,” the military advisor said pointedly. “It is not an exploration fleet. It is a fleet of conquest. They proved that when they destroyed every missile on the planet which might be a danger to them.”

  The president stood and walked around his desk until he stood facing his military advisor. “Do we have any weapons we can use to defend ourselves?”

  The military advisor shook his head. “No, we were never expecting an invasion from space. We did not believe other life forms existed.”

  The president bowed his head. “Then we have no choice but to surrender.” He looked sadly at the military advisor. “Began broadcasting our unconditional surrender immediately. Perhaps this will not be as bad as we fear.”

  -

  The five Vorn motherships went into orbit over the food world. Prince Parthain gazed down at the planet in anticipation of the harvest. The Vorn at Communications had already reported the planet’s pitiful offer to surrender. Parthain was curious as to how the food pellets from this world would taste. Perhaps they would be unique.

  Activate the harvesting rays, he sent to all the motherships. It is time to collect food for our race and for our Queens.

  -

  On each of the five motherships fourteen large hatches slid open. From each hatch a black ray flashed forth to strike the surface of the planet below. Wherever the rays struck, any usable organic substance was transformed and transported up to the ships. As the black beams swept across the planet’s cities all of the inhabitants were transformed into a black ashy substance to be transferred up to the motherships by imbedded tractor beams.

  -

  The planet’s president watched several video monitors in horror as news crews showed the black beams seemingly vaporizing citizens and leaving a black ash behind.

  “They’re killing us,” said the military advisor. “Reports are coming in from all across the planet. Those beams are vaporizing every organic substance they come into contact with. Numerous cities have already been depopulated. Our scientists are predicting within two hours the entire planet will be lifeless.”

  The president turned away from the monitors looking confused. “But why? We would have surrendered.”

  “We will never know,” the military advisor said as a black beam swept across the building, turning everyone inside into ash.

  -

  For two hours the deadly black harvesting beams swept across the planet leaving no area untouched. Almost in unison, the beams from all five ships shut off.

  The harvest is complete, reported Military Leader Kawold. The scientists and technicians are reporting that only 8 percent of the food pellets are of sufficient quality to be consumed by the Royal Caste and our Queens.

  Disappointing, replied Prince Parthain, deciding to forgo sampling a pellet. Launch the planet cleansing spheres.

  -

  From each of the five motherships spheres of white energy dropped down toward the planet. Just before reaching the surface they burst like a bubble with their energy spreading outward. Buildings, dams, power lines, and other infrastructure were destroyed. Massive firestorms erupted in the larger cities sending plumes of smoke and ash high into the atmosphere. The sky across the planet rapidly began to darken. It would be years before most of the surface saw the full light of the system’s sun again.

  -

  Planet has been cleansed, sent Military Leader Kawold.

  Excellent, replied Prince Parthain. Have the fleet set course for our next target. We need to fill our holds with food pellets as rapidly as possible to send back to our Queens. The fleet’s next target was deeper in the galaxy and a little more civilized than the one they had just harvested. Perhaps there Prince Parthain would find food pellets worthy to sample.

  -

  A few minutes later the Vorn fleet entered hyperspace leaving a ravaged and dead world behind.

  -

  In the Lakiam Alliance, Fleet Commodore Dreen listened to the latest reports coming in over Communications. The Vorn were harvesting the more primitive worlds of the galaxy and even a few of the more advanced barbaric ones. They were staying well away from the Lakiam Alliance.

  “Are we going to allow them to harvest thos
e worlds unimpeded?” asked Alborg. “They are killing billions.”

  Commodore Dreen shook his head. “No, I’ve already directed Captain Veen to take his fleet to the region where the Vorn are active. I’ve also substantially reinforced his fleet. He will have twenty-four hundred Lakiam battlecruisers, forty Glaymon battleships and four hundred Glaymon disk battlecruisers under his command.”

  “A powerful force,” Alborg replied. “Are there any other fleets being sent?”

  “Fleet Leader Arlak Moor is sending a fleet as well. It will consist of twelve hundred Andock battleships, fourteen hundred battlecruisers, forty Glaymon battleships, and four hundred Glaymon disk battlecruisers. We want to show the Vorn that our fleets may show up anywhere and anytime. Perhaps we can stall this harvest.”

  “Or force them to turn toward us,” said Alborg. “It would be the correct strategic move once they realize we’re going to be resisting them at every opportunity.”

  “A risk we will take,” replied Commodore Dreen. “It is one of the reasons we have been building up all of our Alliance fleets as well as putting massive defensive grids around our worlds. The Lakiam Alliance will be a killing ground if the Vorn return here.”

  Sheera looked concerned. “Someday the Vorn will come here. I just hope we survive that day.”

  -

  Fleet Admiral Vickers was in Marshton’s office inside the new Glaymon habitat.

  “Your habitat is impressive,” Kurt said as he looked out at the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

  “Tasid is planning a much larger one,” said Marshton. “Construction will begin in another few weeks.”

  A curious look crossed Kurt’s face. “Why so soon? I would think the space provided on this one would last your people for decades.”

  “Because of this,” Marshton answered gesturing toward a large viewscreen showing space outside the habitat.

  As Kurt looked thousands of Glaymon warships began to appear. He stood up, staring in disbelief. Glaymon battleships, disk battlecruisers, and even a few support ships were dropping out of hyperspace. “Councilor Valen succeeded?” he asked, glancing at Marshton who had a big smile on his face. Now he understood why the Glaymons wanted to attack the Vorn habitats.

  “Yes, he’s brought over 260,000 of our warships. We will be sending nearly 200,000 of them on the mission to attack the Vorn home system. The rest will be used to reinforce Fleet Commodore Dreen’s fleets as well as to ensure the safety of this habitat.”

  Kurt sat back down as he watched more Glaymon ships dropping out of hyperspace. “What is the makeup of Councilor Valen’s fleet?” Kurt had not expected to see a fleet such as this one. It would greatly change the war with the Vorn.

  “Ninety thousand battleships and 170,000 of our disk battlecruisers.”

  Kurt felt as if his breath had been taken away. With a fleet of the size Councilor Marshton was proposing to send against the Vorn habitats, their ability to cause major damage had just skyrocketed.

  “When do we leave for the Vorn home system?”

  “Fleet Captain Kriegon will be in charge of the Glaymon fleet which will be involved in the attack. There is one aspect of what he plans I need to fill you in on. It is also the reason why none of our people will ever be able to approach our Dyson Sphere again and why we cannot expect additional help. We either win this war against the Vorn with the ships we now have, or we lose.”

  Leaning forward in his chair, Kurt spoke. “I don’t intend to lose. Now, what is Fleet Captain Kriegon’s plan?”

  Taking a deep breath Councilor Marshton began describing in detail what Kriegon was going to attempt. When he was finished he looked over at Kurt. “What do you think?”

  Kurt’s eyes narrowed. “If it was anyone but your people who were planning this I would say you’re crazy. However, I can see the reasoning behind Fleet Captain Kriegon’s plan. It’s risky but it could also bring us total victory over the Vorn.”

  “That’s what we think also,” Marshton replied. “Fleet Captain Kriegon wants to leave in two days. The longer we wait the more worlds are being harvested by the Vorn though I imagine when we send Fleet Captain Waelt and Fleet Commodore Dreen the fifty thousand new ships that might change. They should be able to drive the Vorn back out of our galaxy, at least for a while.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Kurt replied. He hated hearing of any world being harvested by the Vorn.

  -

  Later Kurt was back on the Star Cross. Sitting in his command chair he gazed at the numerous screens showing different Glaymon ships. The space around the habitat seemed to be packed with warships.

  “I’ve never seen so many vessels,” Andrew said in awe.

  “This is only half of the fleet available on the Dyson Sphere,” Aleea reported. “I have spoken to several AIs in the fleet and the rest of the ships still at the Dyson Sphere will be used for its defense. It seems a group of Vorn cruisers penetrated the nebula and the Glaymon Council is expecting more Vorn ships to be arriving at any time.”

  “What is the current progress on updating our hyperdrives?” asked Kurt.

  “Four battleships have completed the procedure. The AIs in charge of the shipyard expect to have all the updates completed by this time tomorrow.”

  “Aleea, what type of forces do the Glaymons expect us to encounter in the Vorn home system?” Kurt could not even imagine commanding the size fleet they would be taking to attack the Vorn. He didn’t see how all the ships could be kept track of least of all used in battle. The tactical problems of handling such a fleet were mind-boggling.

  Aleea was quiet for several moments as she spoke to some of the AIs on the other Glaymon ships. “They are uncertain,” Aleea reported back. “They expect all the Vorn habitats to have heavy defenses and a defending fleet in the system of anywhere from one hundred thousand to four hundred thousand vessels.”

  Andrew let out a whistle. “This is going to be one hell of a battle.”

  “The Vorn home system has never been attacked according to the information we were able to glean from the Scythe,” added Aleea. “Fleet Captain Kriegon is hoping to take them by surprise.”

  “How long will it take to get to the Vorns’ home system?” asked Andrew.

  “Eleven days,” Aleea replied. “Fleet Captain Kriegon is planning on sending a small task group of disk battlecruisers commanded by a battleship ahead of the fleet to scan the Vorn system. The fleet will travel with full stealth fields activated to see if the Vorn detect it. There’s a chance the Vorn won’t detect our fleet until after we begin dropping out of hyperspace. They will not be expecting an attack and may not be scanning for ships hidden in stealth.”

  Andrew looked over at Kurt. “We’ll need that surprise if this plan is going to work. We need to take out as many of their ships as possible in the opening round of this engagement.”

  “If we could use all of our battleships to target one or two of their habitats initially it might cause enough confusion to give us an advantage,” suggested Lieutenant Mays. I can set it up with the other ship captains to target two habitats as soon as we emerge from hyperspace.”

  “Make the necessary tactical plans for such a strike,” Kurt ordered. “I will also make Fleet Captain Kriegon aware of your intentions.”

  On one of the viewscreens showing the Glaymon mobile shipyard, Kurt saw the Limeira maneuvering to enter one of its large bays. He hadn’t spoken to Mara since they arrived at the Glaymon habitat and knew he should. He wished she had stayed at Newton. This mission was going to be extremely dangerous and there was no guarantee of its success. However, he knew arguing with Mara about her participation in this mission would have been useless. As someone from an advanced culture, Mara could be very stubborn at times.

  -

  Later Kurt was in the ship’s cafeteria eating a light meal. The food was good but he much preferred Keera’s cooking.

  Andrew was sitting across from him eating a ham sandwich. “You know it’s hard to believe w
e’re sitting here talking about traveling over a million light years to the Vorns’ home system. Just a few short years ago we didn’t even know other life existed in the galaxy.”

  “Then High Profiteer Creed showed up over Earth with his Profiteer fleet,” Kurt said. “It changed everything.” Earth had nearly been devastated in the Profiteer attacks With cities nuked and civilians harassed for their wealth.

  “Speaking of Creed, I wonder where he is? Much of the Gothan Empire is now off limits to him.”

  Kurt leaned back, thinking about what Andrew had just said. “He has a cargo ship filled with gold. As near as our operatives working out of the embassy on Kubitz can determine, he and Clan Leader Jarls raided a world the Vorn harvested and took the gold reserves hidden on the planet. Jarls has already cashed his in and is buying materials to build a dome on a semi-habitable world in his home system.”

  “How much gold?” asked Andrew, arching his eyebrow.

  “Jarls turned in close to a billion credits.”

  Andrew’s eyes widened at the thought of what that could buy. “Creed’s going to have to cash his share of the gold in sometime.”

  “Kubitz is the only place in the Gothan Empire which can handle such a transaction. Our ships above Kubitz are watching for his appearance. When he does show up they have orders to destroy his ships immediately.” Kurt had thought long and hard about that. It would anger the Kubitz government but they’d get over it.

  Several other crew personnel came in to the cafeteria, breaking Andrew’s train of thought. After several moments he looked over at Kurt. “Won’t Creed be expecting that?”

  “Most likely,” Kurt answered. “That’s why I’m expecting him to use some type of trickery to sell his gold. From what Ambassador Brent has reported it seems Grantz has managed to plant an agent in Creed’s fleet. Grantz doesn’t know his quarters are monitored around the clock. The security people in charge of keeping an eye on our greedy Profiteer have reported he has put a team together of other Profiteers. They intend to try to take the gold from Creed when he arrives over Kubitz. Our people haven’t been able to discover exactly how Grantz intends to do that as many of the meetings he holds are inside the pleasure houses.”