Earth Fall_To the Stars

by Raymond L. Weil

  Professor Wilkens looked thoughtful. “How long to make modifications to the ships’ fusion reactors? The hidden ships in Complex Two were equipped with three reactors instead of two.”

  “Four weeks,” replied Professor Fournier.

  Professor Wilkens frowned at hearing this. “I’ll speak to General Mitchell and see what he says.”

  “We can start within three days,” replied Professor Fournier.

  “Begin making the arrangements and setting up the work crews. If General Mitchell gives his approval, we need to be ready to begin the modifications immediately.”

  “I’ll arrange it,” Fournier replied.

  Wilkens looked around the busy lab. He missed not having Lisa and her friends around. Her small group was the most brilliant of all the young research assistants. It was one of the reasons he was so confident of the success of the exploration mission they had gone on. Also why it was so aggravating listening to Major Lorre push the president into launching the two colony ships early.

  With a deep sigh, Wilkens returned to his work. He wondered what Lisa was doing. Had they found allies, or were they still searching? When they did return, Wilkens had already planned a big celebration. The breakfast he and Lisa had before she left was a very fond memory. He was thankful they were able to spend that personal time together. He hoped there would be many more such opportunities.

  -

  Admiral Edwards watched as the two cargo ships entered orbit and released the new energy beam satellites in the upper defensive grid. His goal was to keep the lower ring of energy beam satellites and missile platforms intact.

  “Once these satellites are in place, that will be the last of them,” said Commander Nelson as he watched one of the cargo ships on the ship’s main viewscreen with an energy beam satellite drifting out of the open cargo hatch.

  “It should take the ships seven hours to release all the satellites,” reported Lieutenant Jefferson from Tactical.

  Commander Nelson turned and looked at Admiral Edwards. “Once they’re done, the two cargo ships will return to Earth and load up on more decoys.”

  Admiral Edwards looked at the tactical display. The Trellixians were expected to launch their renewed attacks in a few hours. Edwards had assigned several battlecruisers to protect the cargo ships. “We need to think about what we’ll do when the Trellixians finally launch their main assault.”

  “We have the ships inside Complex Two,” replied Captain Nelson, “as well as the moon base.”

  Edwards nodded. They had a few more battlecruisers as well still inside several of the main construction facilities. “I’ll see about rotating a few crews, so, when we need those ships, the crews will be ready.”

  “What about moving those battlecruisers out now and repositioning them at the four spaceports?”

  “I would like to,” replied Edwards, his eyes narrowing. “I’ll run it past General Mitchell and see what he says. It would be nice to have those extra battlecruisers sitting at the spaceports so they could be sent into orbit quickly if needed.”

  “What about the two special ships at Complex Two?”

  “Can’t move them until the last minute,” Admiral Edwards replied. “However, I do want their crews mixed in with our regular battlecruisers’ crews, so they can gain some experience.”

  Captain Nelson stood for a moment, looking at the tactical display and all the red threat icons out near the orbit of Mars. “That’s a hell of a lot of battlecruisers. You would think they don’t like us.”

  Edwards grinned. “What gives you that idea?”

  Edwards wished he knew what was going on with the Vengeance and the Constellation. The only real hope they had of keeping control of Earth’s orbital space was if those two ships returned with help. The odds of that were very low, but it was the only real hope Earth had. If they did not return, then the two colony ships at Complex One would be launched with escorts, and then later the ones built at Complex One and the other complexes would be sent into space as well. Admiral Edwards did not care for the thought of abandoning Earth, but they might not have any choice.

  Chapter Nineteen

  A little over two weeks later, Mark sat in the command chair as the ship was put through a full systems check. Repairs were complete, and the ship was now fully operational. However, they still had to wait an additional three weeks for completion of the new battleship. Still didn’t give them enough time to build another reactor.

  Walking through the ship to reach the Command Center, he saw no sign that the ship had been heavily damaged. Bulkheads had been repaired, corridors repainted, and the hull covered with new battle armor. Mark was amazed at the job the Voltrex repair crews had done here. Of course the Voltrex had been in space for hundreds of years and were used to constructing starships and repairing damaged vessels, particularly since the start of the war with the Trellixians.

  “Get me a status on all systems,” ordered Mark as he leaned back in the command chair. It was comforting not seeing the red lights on the damage control console.

  “All systems are powered up and working at optimum levels,” reported Lisa from her science station. “No indications of any problems.”

  “Power from the updated fusion reactor is at 92 percent,” reported Chloe. “We could take it to 100 percent or even slightly above in an emergency but only for a short time. Any longer and it could become dangerous, as we would exceed the safety parameters we’ve set for the reactor.”

  Mark turned toward Ensign Carter at Tactical. “Weapons?”

  “Fully functional,” Carter answered. “Of course we don’t have any missiles.” It would be another two weeks yet before the first Jelnoid missiles rolled off the newly finished assembly line in the construction section of the massive shipyard.

  “Fold Space Drive and subspace drive?” asked Mark.

  “Showing green,” reported Brett. “Engineering reports we can get underway whenever you want.”

  Mark was hesitant to take the Vengeance out of the construction bay. There was a chance the Trellixians were monitoring the shipyard, and any attempt to move the vessel might result in an immediate attack. One thing which greatly concerned Mark was the smaller crew he had available to operate the ship.

  Nearly one-third of the crew had died in the Trellixian attack where the Constellation had been lost. A few were still recovering from their injuries. Voltrex Fleet Commander Kamuss had volunteered to send over some trained Voltrex crewmembers to help out if necessary. Mark had declined. The crew he still had was sufficient to operate the ship, at least for the short term.

  “Is everything satisfactory?” asked Voltrex Fleet Commander Kamuss, standing next to Major Dolan. Kamuss had come on board to make sure all the repairs had been done properly.

  “Seems like it,” replied Mark. “All ship’s systems are functioning within the set parameters, and no problems have been reported. Your repair crews did a fabulous job.”

  “It is good your ship is ready. Our scout ships have located a large Trellixian fleet assembling nearby. No doubt, when their last ships arrive, they will attack Bator Seven. If you decide you need a larger crew, my offer of crew personnel still stands.”

  “Thank you, but I believe we’ll be fine, unless we leave the system.”

  “Our current crew can handle combat and ship functions for the short term,” confirmed Chloe.

  Mark looked at Kamuss. “We just started installing the new Jelnoid primary cannons on the two shipyards. Will they be ready in time?”

  Kamuss nodded. “Yes, we’re rushing to get everything done before the expected attack. The two shipyards will each have twenty of the cannons installed and operational in three more days as well as the new energy shields. Our crews are working around the clock. Once we’ve finished with the shipyards, we’ll begin on the battlestations. If we can have two more weeks, even our battlestations will be ready with the new weapons.”

  Mark let out a deep sigh. “I wish we had more time to get some
of your ships converted.” If the Voltrex battleships and battlecruisers were converted to Jelnoid technology, the battle against the Trellixians would be short and decisive.

  “So do I,” replied Kamuss with a short nod. “However, we’ve drastically increased the strength of the defensive grids around our planets, particularly the one around Bator Seven. When the Trellixians attack, we’ll pull our fleets back to the grid, where the energy beam satellites, the two shipyards, and the sixteen battlestations can add their firepower to the fleet.”

  “Will it be enough?” asked Mark. If it wasn’t, the Vengeance would never escape the system. He wouldn’t leave the Voltrex as long as the firepower from the Vengeance could be used to aid in their defense of Bator Seven.

  “It depends on how determined the Trellixians are in conquering the system,” said Chloe. “If enough Jelnoid energy beam cannons can be installed on the battlestations in time, then I predict a 67 percent probability the Voltrex can hold the system. However, ship losses will be quite high.”

  “Losses are always high when we battle the Trellixians,” replied Kamuss sadly. “We’re hoping the new technology you’ve graciously shared with us will soon change that.”

  “It will,” said Chloe. “Once your fleets are equipped with Jelnoid weaponry, the Trellixians will be forced to abandon their attacks on your space. Your fleets will have superior firepower as well as numbers.”

  Lisa looked at Mark. “From the records we’ve studied, that’s never happened before. It will have a profound effect on the Trellixian Empire.”

  “Your captain feels the same way,” replied Kamuss.

  Major Dolan had introduced Fleet Commander Kamuss to Captain Erickson who was still recovering in the med bay.

  “What’s the current situation with the Fury?” asked Mark. The Fury was the new battleship being built in a nearby construction bay. It had been nearly completed when the Vengeance first entered the shipyard and was now being modified to be operated by humans. The plans were for it to have a mixed crew of humans and Voltrex. It would act as the new flagship for the human fleet.

  “Three more weeks and all modifications will be finished,” replied Kamuss. “We’ve removed the current fusion reactors and are replacing them with the new ones Lieutenant Reynolds and her team have designed.”

  Mark nodded.

  “Based on the new fusion reactors,” Chloe said, “I have also calculated an increased rate of Fold Space travel speed. While it took three months to reach the Bator System initially, it should only take two months to return to Earth.”

  Mark raised his eyebrows. “Have those figures been double-checked?”

  “I’ve reworked my calculations one hundred times to date,” Chloe said, “changing one bit of data each time to allow for variances and contingencies. My answer remains the same each time.”

  Mark frowned and turned to Derek, then to Lisa.

  Derek said, “We didn’t want to mention this until we were sure.” He grinned, nodding at Lisa.

  “We’re sure,” she said.

  “Good to know,” Mark said. They were rapidly running out of time to return home at the earliest expected arrival date. And, with the Trellixians, Mark wanted to get back home as soon as possible. Three more weeks until the battleship is done, a week—preferably two—for tests, so another month before their journey home began. They were already almost three and a half months into their mission. One more here at Bator Seven brought it to four and a half.

  Even with the shortened return trip of two months to travel to Earth, that made their exploration mission about six and one-half months at the earliest, not exactly hitting their original six-month return date, but it would have to do under the circumstances. A lot could happen in that time, and Mark just hoped Earth would still be there when they returned.

  An alarm sounded on the sensor console, and a red light flashed. A special sensor array set up on the outer hull of the shipyard allowed the Vengeance to detect what was going on in the system.

  “Two Trellixian battlecruisers detected out near Bator Twelve,” reported Kia. The Bator System had eighteen planets.

  The whiskers on Kamuss’s chin stood out straighter. “Taking scans again. They’re doing this every day.”

  Mark felt uneasy by the constant appearance of Trellixian battlecruisers. One day, instead of scanning the system, a full-size invasion fleet would arrive.

  “Fortunately we have enough ships to keep them away from Bator Seven,” said Kamuss. “They should not be able to detect what we’re doing to the shipyards or the battlestations.”

  Suddenly more alarms sounded as four Voltrex battleships and ten battlecruisers jumped into hyperspace. Their destination was the two Trellixian battlecruisers near Bator Twelve.

  Mark looked at the tactical display and the two red threat icons. Moments later they vanished as the enemy retreated into hyperspace, leaving the Bator System.

  “They’re gone,” reported Kia. “Same as the last few days. As soon as they detect Voltrex warships entering hyperspace, they stop their scans and jump out.”

  Kamuss let out a deep sigh. “I must get back to my flagship. I’m not certain the Trellixians will give us the two or three weeks we need to install the new energy cannons on the battlestations. We’re planning our defense assuming the battlestations won’t be ready.”

  Mark watched as the fleet commander left the Command Center. As soon as the Trellixians attacked, Mark would move the Vengeance out of the shipyard and join Fleet Commander Kamuss’s ships. Mark also needed to speak with Captain Erickson. The ship’s doctor responsible for the captain’s treatment had told Mark the captain could be taken to his quarters to rest there and should be capable of resuming command in another few weeks. That was an immense relief to Mark as Captain Erickson was better suited to command the Vengeance.

  -

  Lisa drew in a deep breath. Listening to Major Dolan and Fleet Commander Kamuss, she had the impression they expected the Trellixians to attack any day. The last space battle had scared her to death. They all had come very close to dying.

  “We’ll be okay,” said Brett over their private channel. “The Voltrex have more than seven hundred warships in the system as well as their small patrol ships.”

  “It’s still war,” answered Lisa. “Bad things can happen.” She thought about her parents and Streth. The pain remained but was not as bad as it once was.

  “We’re together,” said Brenda. “As long as we stay together, I think we can get through anything.”

  “Chloe will protect us,” said Derek confidently. “She won’t let anything happen to the Vengeance.”

  “What have you done, Derek?” asked Kia suspiciously.

  Derek drew in a long breath. “In an emergency I’ve set it up so Chloe can interface with all the ship’s systems.”

  “Does Major Dolan know?” asked Brett.

  Derek hesitated before answering. “I haven’t told him yet. I have to grant access from my console.”

  “When you get the chance, I would suggest you tell the major what you’ve done,” said Lisa. She didn’t want the major to be blindsided by anything they did. They should be honest with the major as he was their advocate.

  “When the time’s right, I will,” Derek replied.

  -

  Trellixian Battle Commander Balforr watched as another fleet dropped from hyperspace, adding forty-eight more ships. That brought Balforr’s fleet up to 612 vessels.

  “That’s all the ships we’re expecting,” reported Second Officer Jaltor. “The only ships not in our fleet are the ones assigned to keeping the Voltrex from infringing on the space we have claimed.”

  Balforr turned toward the computer screen on his command console. The latest reports from the battlecruisers sent to scan the Voltrex system indicated the ship numbers had not changed. Balforr was convinced the Voltrex did not have the ships they needed to adequately defend this entire sector. They must have already sent all the reserves they had a
vailable to the colony world. If Balforr could defeat the ships in the system, then the entire Voltrex region of space might become vulnerable. It would be a great victory for Balforr.

  “I want to do some fleet maneuvers for the next few days, and then we’ll launch our attack. The Human ship is still inside the shipyard. Our first target will be that shipyard and the repair bay we believe the vessel is in. Once that shipyard has been destroyed, we will move on to our other primary targets.” Balforr wanted the Humans dead. A fifty-megaton missile placed inside the repair bay should ensure that fact.

  The High Command would be very pleased once this Voltrex system with its four planets in the habitable zone was under Trellixian control. To the best of Balforr’s knowledge, such a discovery had never happened before. This system would easily hold billions of Trellixians. As soon as he sent the word, massive colonization fleets would lift off from their home planets, bringing the first of numerous colonists. It would help to relieve some of the immense population pressures on the home worlds.

  “We must make an effort to search the surface of the seventh planet for records indicating where their other worlds are located,” said Jaltor.

  Battle Commander Balforr studied one of the tactical displays of the orbital space around the Voltrex colony. “A number of other stations are in orbit besides the two shipyards and the battlestations. We shall capture several of them intact. Surely one of them will hold the information we seek. Make arrangements to send boarding parties to those stations to eliminate their crews and to secure the computers.”

  “It will be done,” replied Jaltor.

  Balforr’s large eyes focused on one of the viewscreens revealing a number of the ships of his combined fleet. It was by far the largest fleet the Trellixians had ever gathered in one place. Balforr intended to use it to crush the Voltrex and the Humans. Very shortly he would once more be in good standing with the High Command.