Earth Fall_To the Stars

by Raymond L. Weil

  “Our primary complexes, like this one, can survive almost indefinitely underground. We can grow sufficient food if necessary.”

  Katelyn turned and looked back out the window. Everything in the city seemed so normal. “We could lose all the people on the surface. Many will starve to death. What kind of world will that leave us?”

  “As long as we’re alive, there’s hope,” answered Wilkens.

  -

  Six days later Trellixian Battle Commander Traven was pleased with the progress being made. A huge hole had been made in Earth’s defenses over China and Russia. An additional 110,000 Trellixian soldiers had landed and were now sweeping through the two countries, seizing control of the outlying areas away from any Human military bases.

  “We’ve destroyed twenty-two cities protected by energy shields,” reported Second Officer Baalon. “Our ground troops are still locating and destroying the Humans’ energy cannons. In another week our fleet will be safe from energy weapons fire, except from their four spaceports.”

  “We’ll save the spaceports until last,” replied Traven. He didn’t want to risk heavy losses until the rest of the planet was pacified. He would send a status update to the High Command later in the day, and he would mention how destroying the last of the Humans on the planet was proceeding as planned. Unfortunately the use of so many fusion weapons would put the planet into a nuclear winter for a number of years. The High Command would not be pleased with that, but it was necessary.

  He was about to mention his colonization plans to Second Officer Baalon when an alarm sounded on the sensor console. He looked at it, puzzled. That particular alarm indicated ships dropping from hyperspace, and no Trellixian ships were scheduled for arrival.

  -

  The Fury and the other ships with her dropped from hyperspace just outside the orbit of the Moon. Moments later the Vengeance exited Fold Space.

  “Report!” ordered Captain Dolan as the viewscreens showed the stars as well as Earth and its moon.

  “Trellixian battlecruisers and troop ships in orbit around the planet,” reported Katana.

  Mark’s eyes widened in concern at hearing this. Had they returned too late?

  “Why’s the atmosphere that color?” asked Marissa. An ugly brown and ash color hid the normal blue and white colors of the planet.

  Lisa quickly scanned the planet, her face paling. “The Trellixians have used some of their fusion weapons. I’m detecting at least twenty-two impact points where there were once small cities. The planet’s going into a nuclear winter!”

  “Did we get back too late?” asked Brett. His gaze was glued to the viewscreens. “Had the Trellixians already destroyed everything?”

  “Marissa, see if you can raise General Mitchell on the comm,” ordered Mark, with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  -

  Alarms sounded in General Mitchell’s Command Center as six new red threat icons blossomed on the tactical display. Then surprisingly one of the icons turned green.

  “What are those?” demanded General Mitchell, rising to his feet.

  “It’s the Vengeance,” replied Colonel Fields with a huge grin, “and she isn’t alone!”

  “General, I have a Marissa from the battleship Fury asking to talk to you. She says the ship is under the command of Captain Dolan.”

  Colonel Fields shook his head in confusion. “I don’t have any records of a Marissa on the Constellation or the Vengeance.”

  “Her accent is strange as well,” added Colonel Steward. “It reminds me of a cat’s purr.”

  Mitchell looked at the tactical display. “How large are those five ships with the Vengeance, and where is the Constellation?”

  “Those five ships are 2,200 meters in length,” reported Colonel Fields, with excitement slipping into his voice.

  Mitchell wondered what had happened to the two ships on their journey of exploration. “Put me through to Captain Dolan, and why isn’t Captain Erickson contacting us?”

  “Something bad must have occurred out there,” said General Briggs as he gazed at the tactical display.

  Everyone looked expectantly at General Mitchell waiting for him to speak to Captain Dolan. Was this the salvation Earth was seeking?

  -

  On Trellixian Battle Commander Traven’s flagship, the sensor officer reported, “We have six ships just exiting hyperspace near Earth’s moon. One of the ships is one of the Humans’ small battlecruisers, and the other five have been identified as Voltrex battleships.”

  Battle Commander Traven’s eyes widened in alarm at hearing this. “What are Voltrex ships doing here?” This greatly concerned him as the Voltrex were supposedly contained in their region of space. What had changed?

  “Battle Commander Balforr reported destroying a Human ship near Voltrex space, and a second Human ship was rescued by Voltrex forces and taken to one of their colony worlds,” answered Second Officer Baalon. “This has to be that vessel.”

  Traven recalled the report, now that Baalon mentioned it. “Scan those Voltrex ships. I want to know what their power readings are.” He had a suspicion, which he hoped was not true. Battle Commander Balforr was supposed to take care of the Voltrex colony world where the Human ship had taken refuge.

  “They’re off the scale,” reported Koldar a few moments later. “All five ships have definitely been updated with Jelnoid technology. I’ve never detected power readings like these before.”

  A queasiness swept through Traven. Ships of that size with Jelnoid weapons and energy shields might be unstoppable. He looked at a viewscreen of the planet he had been nuking for the last week. If the Humans had succeeded in unleashing Jelnoid technology into the galaxy, the Trellixian Empire could be in real danger. The Humans would seek their revenge for what the Empire had done to their world.

  “Pull all our ships in close,” he ordered. “Have the troop ships move into the center of our formation. All ships prepare for combat.”

  -

  General Mitchell listened to Captain Dolan explain what had happened on the exploration mission and how the Constellation had been destroyed and the Vengeance heavily damaged. Captain Erickson was still in charge of the Vengeance but, due to his severe injury, had felt it prudent that Captain Dolan command the fleet. He also explained why there was a change in his rank.

  “How friendly are these Voltrex?” asked General Mitchell. In response the main viewscreen suddenly changed to show a view of the Command Center of the Fury. A number of cat people of the same stature as the humans were clearly visible. They all wore a basic military uniform of different colors. One, a female with a more decorated uniform, stood next to Captain Dolan.

  “Very friendly,” she said. “I’m Lieutenant Commander LeLath and will be representing the Voltrex while we’re here. I look forward to many years of working with your people. I believe you will find we have multiple things in common.”

  For a moment General Mitchell was unsure how to respond. Speaking to another species had not been in his plans for today.

  “Sir, our scans indicate all five Voltrex battleships are equipped with Jelnoid technology,” reported Colonel Fields.

  Mitchell looked inquiringly at the screen, knowing Captain Dolan and Lieutenant Commander LeLath could see him as well.

  Captain Dolan hesitated and then answered. “Acting under the authority Captain Erickson gave me and with his approval, we have entered into an agreement with the Voltrex. We offered to provide them with unrestricted access to Jelnoid technology, and they in turn will build us a fleet to protect Earth.”

  “That is something you can discuss with the president and other world leaders later,” Mitchell replied. “Considering the situation we now find ourselves in, I vote to approve this agreement based on the necessity of our survival. Now for the important question. Can those five Voltrex battleships do anything to remove the Trellixian infestation from our orbital space?”

  Dolan grinned. “We have five Voltrex battleships, al
l much larger than a Trellixian battlecruiser. All five ships have Jelnoid weapons and shields. I don’t believe the Trellixians will enjoy what we’re about to do to them.”

  General Mitchell nodded. “I’ll leave the specifics up to you. General Mitchell, out.”

  “Professor Wilkens was right,” said Major Thomas with a grin. “They did find help and were able to bring them back.”

  General Mitchell smiled for the first time in days. “Let’s see how they do against the Trellixians. If they succeed in driving them away from Earth, then it will change the entire situation. Contact all four spaceports. If the Trellixians are driven from Earth orbit, I want all our ships launched.” General Mitchell returned his gaze to the viewscreens and the tactical display. He was anxious to observe the coming battle.

  -

  President Hathaway was in her office with Professor Wilkens and Major Cunningham. She had just been told about the new arrivals, and she could see the ecstatic look on Professor Wilkens’s face. He had been right, and the proof was near the Moon.

  “I should have listened to you,” said Katelyn, thinking about the two lost colony ships and the four battlecruisers that had been destroyed. “All of those young people would still be alive.”

  “That’s in the past,” said Major Cunningham. “We shouldn’t second-guess ourselves. You did what you thought was right at the time.”

  Katelyn pursed her lips and slowly nodded. She would always feel guilty about the colony fleet. It had been a mistake and a costly one. “How strong do you think those five ships are?”

  Professor Wilkens grinned. “They wouldn’t have come back unless they’re ready to send the Trellixians to oblivion. I suggest we sit back and listen to the show.” Professor Wilkens was thrilled the Vengeance was here; he had a thousand questions for Lisa. He was greatly saddened to hear about the loss of the Constellation and its crew. He would not let Lisa leave again. He wanted to keep her here at Complex One, where she would be safe and could help in his research. He strongly suspected she would not object.

  -

  On the Fury, Mark leaned back in his command chair. “Take us in,” he ordered. “Form up in a diamond formation. The Fury and the Vengeance will take a stacked position in the center.”

  Brett adjusted the small fleet’s speed to accelerate toward the Trellixian ships which were rapidly changing their fleet formation.

  “The Trellixians seem unsure of themselves,” reported Chloe. “They’re putting the troop ships in the center of their formation.”

  “For protection,” said Lieutenant Commander LeLath. “It is good to see them fear us for once.” She stretched out her right hand, her claws extending from her finger tips. She licked her claws, imagining the taste of Trellixian blood. Then embarrassed, she retracted them. “I’m sorry for my display of anger. The Trellixians have killed many of my people and would have killed more if not for your arrival.”

  “No offense taken,” Mark replied. “I believe we all feel the same way about the lizard people. Look at what they have done to my world.”

  “We’re nearly in missile range,” reported Katana.

  Mark looked at Ensign Carter. “Fire missiles when we reach engagement range. Ours far outrange any weapons the Trellixians possess. Let’s make use of them. Keep a reserve of 40 percent, in case we need some later.”

  “Forty seconds to missile range,” reported Chloe. “Trellixians are still attempting to get their ships into a defensive formation. I believe they are uncertain about the offensive capabilities of our ships.”

  Mark nodded. “Well, they’re about to find out.” Mark took a deep breath, it was time to send these Trellixians to hell.

  -

  The six ships neared engagement range and then reached it. Seventy of the forty-megaton fusion missiles exited the missile tubes, and scant moments later another seventy left. All 140 missiles hurtled toward the shifting ships in the Trellixian fleet.

  -

  “Inbound missiles,” warned Koldar as more alarms sounded. “They’re Jelnoid, and we can barely lock on.”

  “Defensive turrets fire!” ordered Battle Commander Traven, feeling frantic. It was taking his fleet longer than he wanted to get into its defensive formation. Some ships were in the way of others, blocking their weapons fire. He gazed anxiously at the tactical display revealing the inbound missiles. They seemed to flicker in and out of existence as the sensors had a hard time locking on to them.

  -

  From the Trellixian battlecruisers and troop ships, defensive energy beam turrets began firing. The space between the inbound missiles and the Trellixian fleet became full of energy beams, seeking out the inbound missiles. In space, missiles exploded as they were struck, leaving fiery fireballs to light up the darkness. Ten missiles, then twenty were destroyed. The remaining missiles drew nearer the Trellixian ships, and more died. Space was full of dying missiles, but many still survived.

  In ones and twos they struck the Trellixian ships. Two battlecruisers died as they were blown apart when their energy shields failed. Six troop ships were annihilated as missiles penetrated to the heart of the fleet. Other ships suffered heavy damage from the attack but were still operational.

  The five Voltrex battleships and the Vengeance continued to close the range. Suddenly energy beam fire erupted from the battleships, tearing into the Trellixian fleet. Two more missile barrages were launched from the closer range, making it more difficult for the Trellixians’ defensive energy beam turrets to lock on. The Trellixian fleet was encompassed in bright light from exploding ships and the uncontrolled energy released from dozens of forty-megaton fusion missiles.

  The Trellixians had never encountered firepower such as the five Voltrex battleships possessed. Powerful energy beams drilled right through the Trellixians’ energy screens, ripping open battlecruisers, leaving them drifting in space to be destroyed by fusion missiles.

  The Trellixians returned fire with every beam and missile they had. All were useless as the powerful energy screens around the battlecruisers simply shrugged off the attacks. Even the Vengeance, with its new and improved fusion reactors, found its energy screen able to resist the attack of the Trellixians.

  In the Trellixian fleet, energy beam fire from one of the Voltrex battleships slammed into the main part of a Trellixian battlecruiser, setting off massive explosions and hurling glowing debris into space. Emergency bulkheads slammed shut as the ship shook violently. Secondary explosions spread through the ship, blowing out huge sections of the hull. In a final massive explosion, the ship disintegrated.

  -

  Mark felt the Fury shake from multiple impacts of Trellixian missiles. With concern he looked at a viewscreen focused on the Vengeance. Its screen was lit up from the constant release of fusion energy.

  “Her shield will hold,” said Chloe. “The new fusion reactors are working as Lisa and Brenda predicted. I don’t believe the Trellixians, with the ships they have here, can break through the shields.”

  “I confirm that,” said Lieutenant Commander LeLath. “Our energy shield has never dropped below 87 percent.”

  “Move us closer,” ordered Mark, wanting to inflict as much damage as possible on the Trellixian fleet. “It’s time we teach these Trellixians a lesson.”

  Mark was determined to destroy as much of the Trellixian fleet as possible. One thing he had already noticed. All six of the battlestations that were supposed to help protect Earth were gone as well as the entire defense grid. It was hard telling how many more of Earth’s inhabitants had died in the fusion explosions which had destroyed twenty-two more of Earth’s cities. He would show no mercy to the orbiting warships.

  -

  Trellixian Battle Commander Traven held on to his command chair as his flagship shook violently. Around him, his fleet was dying. Ship after ship was being blown apart by the deadly energy beams from the Voltrex ships. The fusion missiles the enemy ships launched only added to the carnage.

  “We cannot win,”
said Second Officer Baalon as he was nearly knocked to the deck from the violent shaking of the ship. “Those shields are impossible to bring down. We’ve hit them with everything we have, and they don’t even waver!”

  On one of the viewscreens, a Trellixian battlecruiser was cut in two by heavy energy fire from the Voltrex fleet. Moments later both sections were vaporized by two fusion missiles.

  Traven was shaken by the firepower he was witnessing. What would this mean for the Empire?

  “We’ve lost eighty-seven battlecruisers and forty-three troop ships,” Second Officer Baalon reported in a stunned voice.

  Battle Commander Traven wondered if this was how Battle Commander Balforr felt when the Humans forced him to withdraw from this world. “Order all ships to jump into hyperspace and rendezvous outside the orbit of the fourth planet. From there we will leave this system and make our report to the High Command.”

  Even as the ship shook violently once more, he looked at one of the viewscreens of Earth. He was leaving over two hundred thousand Trellixian troops behind. No doubt, with the Humans once more in control of the orbital space above their world, those troops would shortly be annihilated. With a deep sigh, he realized he was no better than Battle Commander Balforr. Both had left hundreds of thousands of Trellixians soldiers to die on this world.

  “Jumping,” reported Second Officer Baalon as the ship made its transition into hyperspace and safety.

  Battle Commander Traven leaned back in his command chair. There was little doubt in his mind that, this time, his military career was over. In his quarters was a vial containing poison. Rather than return home in disgrace and suffer demotion and assignment to some menial task, he would drink the liquid in the vial and end his life. His time as a battle commander of the Empire was over.

  -

  “They’re jumping out,” reported Katana as the Trellixian ships vanished from the tactical display.

  “We won!” said Lisa with relief in her voice.

  “These new weapons will save my race as well as yours,” said Lieutenant Commander LeLath. “The Trellixians will never be a threat to us again.”