“We will lose many of our remaining fighters,” warned First Leader Ganth.
“We have the fighters to lose; the humans don’t,” Resmunt responded, determined to destroy the human fleets. He had over 2,000 surviving fighters, and he planned to use them to annihilate the incoming bomber attack.
-
War Leader Versith nodded in satisfaction as he watched their fighters tear through the weakened human fighters to attack the incoming bombers. It was evident that Fleet Commodore Resmunt had learned some valuable lessons in fighting the humans.
“The humans will be in combat range soon,” spoke Second Leader Jaseth, his dark eyes signaling his desire for combat. “Soon we will destroy these vermin and then go on to destroy their planets.”
“Some must be allowed to escape,” First Leader Trion rasped in his cold voice. “They will lead us to their home worlds where we can finish their civilization’s destruction.”
“Prepare for battle,” Versith ordered as he saw the Hocklyn fighters close with and begin engaging the human bombers. “We go today to find honor for our warriors.”
“Honor,” replied Trion with a confirming nod of his head.
-
In space, the Hocklyn fighters had blown right through the defending Human fighters, suffering enormous losses in the process. Now the Human fighters wheeled around and were frantically pursuing the Hocklyns through the inbound bomber formations. The bombers themselves were not entirely defenseless as each was equipped with two interceptor missiles for defense and two nuclear tipped Shrike missiles for offense.
Throughout the formation, bright blasts of light erupted as fighters and bombers died. It seemed as if the entire formation was aglow with dying ships.
“Watch your six, Lacy,” warned Karl as a Hocklyn fighter attempted to drop in behind his wing mate. Karl quickly pinwheeled and fired his last interceptor blowing the Hocklyn away in a fiery blast.
“Thanks,” breathed Lacy, sounding nervous over the com system. “They’re everywhere!”
“Just stay with me and you will be fine,” replied Karl, as he tried to make sense of the battle. “We just need to hold on for a little longer; the bombers are almost within range.”
The bombers finally broke through the defending Hocklyn fighters and began targeting the incoming enemy fleet with their Shrike missiles. From over 1,600 surviving bombers, 3,200 of the small nuclear-tipped missiles were launched.
“Missiles launched,” Karl reported over the com system to all the squadrons, including the bombers. “Back to the carriers to rearm.”
All through the inbound Hocklyn fleet, numerous nuclear explosions began going off as the Shrike missiles hit the Hocklyn screens. Screen after screen failed, allowing some of the missiles to strike ship hulls. Dozens of Hocklyn escort cruisers exploded under the intense attack and more than several war cruisers succumbed. Numerous other ships were damaged with some leaking atmosphere and others dropping out of the inbound formation.
-
“We hurt them,” declared Colonel Trist, gazing intently at the tactical display. “We got several more of their war cruisers too!”
“But not enough,” Hedon responded as they neared combat range. He knew the ship losses were going to be horrific. He wished Taylor were here so he could ask his advice even though he suspected he knew exactly what his brother would say. “Trust your gut instincts, Hedon; they’ve never let you down.”
“Go to maximum combat speed, all ships,” Hedon ordered in a calm voice. He would try to blow right through the two enemy fleet formations and make a run for the edge of the gravity well. Looking across the large Command Center, he could sense the growing tension and apprehension in the crew.
“What about our cripples?” Colonel Trist asked with concern in his voice. “We will have to slow down to allow them to keep up.”
“No,” Hedon replied with a haunted look in his eyes. “If we slow down we lose the entire fleet.”
-
The AIs had been watching the battle and the command AI knew that now was the time. Eight white spatial vortexes suddenly formed in front of the AI ships and they jumped back toward the planet. It was time to destroy the human fleet.
-
“AIs are jumping!” Lieutenant Stalls yelled in a panicked voice, glancing back at Admiral Sheen. “They should be here any moment.” Even before the words were out of his mouth, eight large orange threat icons materialized on his main sensor screen. “They’re here!”
“All strikecruisers engage the AIs,” Amanda ordered hurriedly over her ship-to-ship com. “All ships, use of Devastator Threes is authorized.”
-
In space, the battle became suddenly more intense. The AI ships opened fire with their massive energy beams, cutting open ship after ship as they tried to annihilate the majority of the human ships. All seven of the remaining strikecruisers turned toward the AIs in an attempt to save the human fleet. A dozen escort cruisers went with them.
-
“Battlecruiser Amedon is down,” Benjamin called out in a fearful voice as the list of destroyed ships began to mount. “Monarch cruisers Triumph and Cassidy are down. Battlecarrier Columbia is down.”
“Strikecruisers are attacking,” Commander Evans cried out as she saw the flashes on the main viewscreen, which indicated Devastator Three launches.
-
In space, two of the AI ships saw holes blown in their energy screens and nuclear fire tear at their hulls. In just a matter of a few moments, the two AI ships lost their shields completely and were pummeled by the human light cruisers before they finally exploded when their self-destructs went off. However, the other six remaining AI ships were now targeting all of their weapons on the seven attacking human ships that they knew were a threat. First one and then two of the attacking ships exploded as massive AI energy beams clawed at their screens before knocking them down. In less than a minute, three human strikecruisers were gone.
The remaining four intensified their attack, focusing their efforts on two more of the AI ships. Devastator Threes left the missile tubes, blowing more holes in the two AI ship’s screens. Nuclear explosions rocked the two huge spheres as more Devastator Threes detonated against the armored hulls. In seconds, two more AI ships were gone.
-
“Take us into the Hocklyn fleet formations,” Amanda ordered in near panic as she saw the AIs shredding the strikecruisers and their escorts before her very eyes. “Take us to point blank range, it’s the only way to get away from those AI energy weapons.”
The WarStorm shuddered, and Amanda could hear the hull groan. On the damage control console, more red lights flared into being. An enemy escort cruiser appeared in front of the StarStrike. The mighty warship blasted it out of the way with its energy beams and several devastator missiles, leaving a burning wreck behind that died completely when its self-destructs initiated.
“Load our remaining Devastator Threes!” Amanda ordered to her entire fleet. “We need to blast a hole through the Hocklyn fleets.”
On the tactical display, she watched as the last of the strikecruisers died; another AI had been heavily damaged but not destroyed. The remaining three began to move toward the battling human and Hocklyn fleets. Amanda knew that if the AIs caught them it was over. Only the StarStrike still had the ability to take on an AI ship, and not even the flagship could take on three.
-
Fleet Commodore Resmunt stared in astonishment as the humans destroyed four more of the huge spheres of the AIs. However, the ships that had attacked the AIs with the hellish weapons had been destroyed, and the three undamaged AI ships were now bearing down on the battling warfleets. His cold, dark eyes grew wide in worry as the humans began using their powerful nuclear weapons against his fleets. It was obvious they were trying to blow their way through before the AIs could close the range.
Looking at the main viewscreen, he could see violent flashes of light as nuclear weapons detonated against energy screens. Blue a
nd violet energy beams were obvious. Mixed in were the orange-red of lasers striking energy screens, trying to knock them down. Resmunt knew that space was full of flying ordnance, both missiles and railgun rounds. Never had he imagined such destruction as what he was now witnessing. It was impossible to keep track of the ship losses on both sides. Resmunt knew he was winning, but the cost was going to be high.
-
Major Arcles and Lieutenant Sanders were once again out in space in their fighters. The fighter and bombers had been rearmed and rapidly relaunched. Bombers were making daring runs on Hocklyn ships with many being caught in the crossfire between the two fleets. Small explosions littered space as missiles were intercepted and fighters and bombers died. Occasionally, a larger explosion would indicate the death of a warship.
“Stay close to me, Lacy,” Karl ordered. He was taking his squadrons up and above the fighting. Very few Hocklyn fighters still survived and since their ships were armed with interceptors there was very little they could do.
-
Second Leader Jaseth grinned viciously as an enemy Monarch cruiser died under the withering fire of the Viden. The cruiser suddenly exploded as its self-destructs blew the human ship apart. “Die, humans, die,” he muttered as the Viden refocused its attack upon a human light cruiser.
-
Hedon felt the StarStrike lurch to one side as an energy beam from a pursuing AI ship penetrated its screen. They had just begun to clear the second Hocklyn formation of ships when they had taken the strike. Alarms began sounding, and to Hedon it seemed as if they had stopped accelerating.
“Sublight drive is offline!” Colonel Trist yelled as he frantically attempted to contact Engineering.
“All weapons, continue to fire,” ordered Hedon, knowing this might be the end. “How long until the sublights are back on line?”
“Five minutes,” Colonel Trist replied as he finally got through to Engineering.
“We’re not going to last five minutes,” Clarissa said as she came to stand next to Admiral Streth. “The AI ship will have destroyed the StarStrike by then.”
“Our Devastator Three missiles?” asked Hedon, gazing intently at the obviously frightened AI.”
“We only have two left, and that’s not enough,” responded Clarissa, knowing she faced death. She wondered what it would feel like to die.
Hedon nodded. Looking at the tactical screen, he saw that Amanda and what remained of Second Fleet had almost reached the edge of the gravity well. A few First Fleet ships were right behind them, followed by what remained of Jacob’s carriers. Hocklyn ships were moving to intercept, but they would not be able to stop the human ships from escaping into hyperspace.
“I have Admiral Adler on the com,” reported Captain Duncan, trying to sound calm, knowing that death was only a few short minutes away. She felt the ship jerk violently as another energy beam struck the hull. In the distance, she thought she could hear screaming.
“Hedon, what’s the situation of the StarStrike?” Jacob demanded with concern in his voice.
“I’m afraid we’re done for, Jacob,” replied Hedon, feeling relieved in a way that this would soon all be over. He would be joining Taylor and Lendle; there was so much he wanted to tell his brother. “We need five minutes to get our sublights back online and the AI is not going to allow that to happen.”
“The Federation needs you, Hedon,” Jacob replied in a strange voice. “Build that cabin on Maken someday.” Then there was silence.
“Admiral, the Wasp is interposing itself between us and the AI,” Colonel Grissom reported in astonishment as the massive carrier turned and began advancing on the AI ship.
“Jacob, no!” Hedon called out over the ship-to-ship com, knowing what his ages old friend was about to do. He watched in consternation as the Third Fleet flagship finished its turn and began accelerating toward the massive AI ship.
-
In space, the AI turned the full fury of its energy beams on the human carrier that was rapidly closing with it. Beams penetrated the ship’s energy screen, tearing huge glowing holes in its hull, but still the human warship came on. The carrier was firing every weapon it had on a specific area of the AI’s screen. It had no weapons powerful enough to penetrate the AI’s energy screen, but it could weaken it. Power Beams, lasers, explosive railgun rounds, and regular Devastator missiles pummeled the AI’s shield.
Admiral Jacob Adler of the old United Federation of Worlds watched with a vengeful and contented smile on his face as his ship neared the AI energy screen. “Goodbye, Hedon,” he spoke softly. Then the 1,500-meter Wasp collided with the energy screen, knocking it down and smashing into the hull of the AI. Both ships vanished in blinding explosions as the nuclear self-destructs on each went off.
Hedon stared in shock at the fiery remains of the AI ship and the Wasp. He had just lost his oldest friend. He leaned back in his command chair, too paralyzed to even speak.
“Sublights are online,” Colonel Trist reported in a somber voice, knowing how the admiral must be feeling. He quickly ordered the StarStrike to resume acceleration and to standby to jump. Hedon only nodded mutely as Colonel Trist took over command.
A few minutes later, the StarStrike crossed the edge of the gravity well and jumped away, leaving behind the dead and the dying. A few Federation ships were still fighting due to their ship’s sublight or FTL drives being destroyed in the battle. The Hocklyns made short work of these and then descended on the planet.
-
Fleet Commodore Resmunt stared in shock at the destruction the humans had left behind. While it was true that most of their fleet had been destroyed, the Hocklyn losses were devastating. He didn’t know how they could continue with their mission to find and destroy the human worlds. Only three AI ships had survived, and one of them was badly damaged. In his mind, he could still see the human carrier sacrificing itself to save the human flagship. It was a sacrifice worthy of honor.
-
War Leader Versith shook his head as he looked at the large viewscreen on the front wall of the Viden. It seemed as if space was on fire with burning ships and glowing wreckage. He knew the fires would die out rapidly when they burned off the last of the oxygen from the destroyed ships. The battle with the humans had been more violent than anything he could have imagined. It made him wonder just what was waiting for them at the human home worlds.
Second Leader Jaseth looked at the tactical display with satisfaction. The majority of the human ships had been destroyed; now it was time to proceed on and find and destroy their worlds. His hand strayed down to the knife at his waist knowing that soon, if he had his way, it would be coated in human blood.
Chapter Seventeen
The StarStrike exited the swirling spatial vortex into the star system where Admiral Kimmel should be waiting. With a tired look, Admiral Streth gazed at one of the tactical displays as the ship’s systems stabilized and began to come online. The loss of Admiral Adler had shaken him considerably, and it would be a while before he could put the loss of his close friend behind him. For now, he had to concentrate on saving what was left of his fleet and getting them safely back to New Tellus. Jacob would have expected that of him.
“Status?” he asked in a strained voice as he gazed over Captain Reynolds at the sensors. “What ships made it?”
“It’s going to take a few minutes,” Reynolds replied. “Ships have jumped in all over the system due to damage to their drives.”
“It’s going to take some time to sort everything out,” Colonel Trist added as he went over to one of the large tactical displays and began calling up information.
“We’ve been challenged by the battlecruiser Excalibur,” Captain Duncan reported. “I have sent our ship ID codes.”
“It looks as if Admiral Kimmel is where he’s supposed to be,” Colonel Grissom reported as more information appeared on the tactical display she was standing next to.
“Have one of the ammunition colliers rendezvous with us immediately,�
�� Hedon ordered as he saw how few the green icons were that represented his surviving ships. They had suffered heavily trying to escape from the AIs and the Hocklyn fleets. “We need more Devastator Three missiles in case one of the AI ships show up.”
At least the strikecruiser Intrepid was with Admiral Kimmel. That would give him two ships to combat an AI if it became necessary. He had never expected to lose all of his strikecruisers in the battle over the fleet base. He also hadn’t expected to face so many AIs.
“I have Admiral Sheen on the com,” Captain Duncan informed the admiral, relieved that Second Fleet’s admiral had survived.
Janice didn’t know what would have happened to Admiral Streth if both Admiral Adler and Admiral Sheen had been lost. She could still see the pained look of disbelief on Hedon’s face at what had happened. She also knew that Admiral Adler’s unselfish sacrifice had saved the StarStrike.
Hedon nodded; it was a big relief to know that the WarStorm and Amanda had made it safely to the rendezvous. He let out a heavy sigh as he listened to Amanda over the mini-com.
“I’m sorry about Jacob,” Amanda began in a saddened voice. “We saw what happened. At least he took that damn AI with him.”
“That he did,” replied Hedon, somberly. “He died a hero, and that’s how he will be remembered.”
“What do we do now?” Amanda asked.
“We use the six repair ships to get our ships ready for the next jump,” Hedon replied as he thought her question over. “Any ships with damaged drive systems will have first priority. I don’t think we dare stay here more than six hours. The Hocklyns and the AIs will soon be searching for us.”
“We have a lot of repairs that need to be made,” Amanda replied with deep concern in her voice. “Many of our ships are barely combat capable.”
The Slaver Wars: Retaliation (The Slaver Wars Book Five) Page 25
