Earth on Target (Survival Amidst the Stars)

by Angel Bright

  I demonstratively moved the formation of the four large ships in the federation. Slowly—very slowly—the ship’s fleet of fighters and landing shuttles was being filled. I understood this was the result of the contractors’ reluctance to arm us. Then, I did a psychological attack on them. I suddenly terminated the production of fighters in the orbiting and surface assembly workshops as inefficient and demonstrated the presence of workers in the rapid conservation of the orbital docks and the dismantling of machinery and equipment in the workshops on the surface of the planet. As a response to the resulting discontent, we informed the public we were relocating the production to neighboring planets because of this planet’s reluctance to carry out its assigned deliveries. The planet would now remain out of our protection.

  The debates moved to the government offices, and my representatives asked the media what the empire would do with planets/traitors, even sabotaging the production of materiel for an enemy or unconquered planet. You could imagine the consequences for treason against the empire. By not helping us, you harmed your defense. We are withdrawing from the planet.

  In a few days, the policy of the planet changed. The planet Dul became our ardent ally to whom we entrusted the production of our fighters.

  The organization of these tactical moves and maneuvers took all my time, and I also had unfulfilled strategic tasks to organize the dispersing front posts of the expanding Federation of Free Worlds.

  Outside the periphery of the Kerrani Federation, two groups appeared of four starships each, maneuvering at speed and with distance between them. They demonstrated aggression but gave up shortly before entering the orbits of the outer planets. There was a gap in the layout of the planets from the system. One planet was missing, but its disappearance was recent, half a century ago, and it had caused an imbalance in the nearby planetary orbits, which explained their swinging on several planes. I had decided this intermediate gap was the vulnerable point of the system, and my defensive plans were always associated with this sector. My observation post was located beneath the surface of the smallest group of asteroids located at Benning’s equilibrium point. The special feature of this asteroid number 51 was its massive core, defining relative swinging stability, but this core did not allow the asteroid to be scanned. It created opacity for ship scanners. All the equipment was mounted near this center, which enveloped one of our smallest sun reactors. This important post was staffed by five specialists/observers who did not know about the Scorpion-2 mounted on the other side of the asteroid core. It was also staffed by another group of five persons whom I had explicitly forbidden to introduce themselves to the other five. The platform of the Scorpion-2 lifted up to the surface of the asteroid in thirty-six seconds. Three pairs of new powerful capacitors had been mounted and automatically attached to the firing machine and were charged in nine minutes each. The firing crew consisted of two pairs who could replace each other and one mechanic in a space suit ready to reach Scorpion-2 by elevator in fifteen seconds. The protective field was switched on after the main computer generated the first shot automatically.

  After this defense point was empty space all the way to the innermost five planets of the Kerrani Federation. We were developing various defensive plans for this space abyss, but they lacked an important component: surprise.

  It was only strength against strength. On our warships, we put a black rubber coating for camouflage. On it, I placed a thin layer of magical illusion of a star-shaped image of the star branch in a wide-range hologram of the panorama behind us. But how could I trick the machines, which were not fooled by our beautiful images?

  There were ways, but to me, the most feasible thing was the random scattering of our crystalline minelayers set to the frequencies of our biggest warships. And everything had to happen at the last moment of the invasion.

  Our method of surprise was the sudden appearance of a huge fleet of heavy warships blocking the aggressors’ monitoring system. What could be more crushing and panic inciting than fire coming from the space overloaded by ships? What were the real targets? Where were they shooting from? The pre-known battleground was our advantage. There was something else: with my second sight, I could see multicolored stripes of dark and bright energy scattered through space. Yes! This was a real weapon, but I had not yet learned to use it. That was the key to magical attacks and the key to regulating the activity of the stars.

  It was the real, inexhaustible power.

  I wanted to end the wars with the unknown overlords. I could not decide whether they and the Gods were the same or were only different levels of specialized science. I was about to find out.

  We conducted successful experiments in the empty space, and my assumptions were confirmed. Fearless released a crystal, and the radar showed the characteristics of a large spaceship. Apparently fearless itself, it was invisible under its stealth camouflage. We had progress that would keep the attackers away from us. With a group of experienced engineers, we took over the stealth program of asteroid number 51. The huge camouflage required a large-scale designer imagination. If we succeeded, our space program would be guaranteed success.

  The two groups of aggressive cruisers played the role of provocateurs to be shot at by our side. But why? Was it to disclose our fire system and the type of weapons we would use? Hardly. There were safer and easier-to-apply methods. Perhaps the empire needed a pretext. Did it give explanations to anyone? The future would tell. For now, we would not show we were annoyed. What would happen if they entered the orbital zone of the planetary system? Nothing essential. Even if they were attacking any of the planets, we had enough firepower to repel the attack until help came from the main base. It would only annoy to attack one of the docks, but there we had a good defense. As I responded to the inquiries received from the general staffs, I ordered them to continue their normal industrial rhythm and not to worry the population unnecessarily. We had enough defense forces.

  A month later, the groups united. We had no cause for concern.

  And suddenly I got a message from Kobo. Unknown forces were attacking Prima Davos.

  What kind of insolence was this? It was a burned planet!

  I earnestly hurt for the survivors. What was on this planet that was so important?

  The engineers told me that Fearless was ready.

  I teleported to it and gave a command for acceleration of three units. When we reached a speed of 70K, I teleported Fearless straight into the vicinity of Prima Davos. A picture of a raging space battle was revealed before our eyes. Freight ships, most from the planet Corba, were dispersing like a fan, defending fighter jets with their ships’ batteries. The yellow trajectories of their cannons were crossed with the dark-red energy shots of the fighters. I immediately commanded the frequency characteristics of the frigate energy emitters and our fighters to remain at the frequency of the dark-blue fire mode. The security systems of the unknown aggressors would not be catching our volleys.

  As we approached the area of attack, there were two outbreaks of battles: Corba’s transporters against fighters and two Earth cruisers against a group of ten black double-side flattened ships larger than ours. The battle was not in the favor of the invaders. Not far from the swarm of the battle, two red quenching torches were swinging slowly. I determined the targets of my fighters and started launching them in the appropriate directions. Again, the target chosen by the frigate was placed in computer-shooting mode, and we began an active speed slowdown. Special cameras were prepared for the crew, and we could afford significant braking overloads. I stayed in the control cabin because I was transforming the structure of the space around me into a neutralizing layer with a concentration of force fields in the direction opposite the braking path. I waited for the firing time; when it came, I teleported the frigate back along the trajectory and before the time of the firing. I switched over the computer shooter to the next target and let the automaton follow its program. There was another bright, fiery ball in the group of enemy ships. I was expecting
our fighters to join the shooting any moment.

  I increased the size of the battlefield-sector hologram. Several of the assailants started firing their stern batteries to repulse the attack of our twenty fighters. They again underestimated the danger of small predators. This defensive shooting was not enough to repulse the attack. One of our cruisers had successful shooting, and another rotating, fiery ball appeared.

  I felt a slight twist of Fearless. Three large enemy ships were gaining on our two defensive cruisers. They emerged from the empty space, but they did not find me. The stealth camouflage had passed a security test. I pressed the New Target and Auto keys. The hologram swung, blinked, and stabilized again. The nearest giant left a growing tail of a yellow-brown gas mixture from which fiery flashes appeared. Several rectangular hatches were opened on it, and fighter jets flashed out, but orange flames followed them. Why did these ships blaze up so easily and burn so brightly? Were they loaded with flammable gases? What hell did they prepare for Prima Davos?

  And they drove straight into my firing line.

  I checked the second set of capacitors for the onboard Scorpion-1NM.

  It was loaded and ready.

  I pressed the New Destination and Manual keys. A small circle appeared on the hologram that I placed over the central tanker ship, and I entered data for speed and distance. The circle widened and covered the entire ship in a one-eighth angle. I pressed the Fire button. I did not feel sorry for these planet killers. The gas cloud burst out, and a fiery wave spread before me.

  Applause sounded. My crew were occupying their battle posts.

  I gave an immediate order. “Destroy the next giant before it reaches the atmosphere of the planet! Quick!”

  The commanding officer responded. “Target number three, manual targeting. Enter target data.”

  Fearless continued its swing, taking on a new direction for shooting.

  I switched the holographic screen of the cruiser battle. Three more enemy cruisers were blazing brightly, and at this moment, a fighter pierced a new big target. A bunch of attackers trying to dull our attack flipped around a group of my fighters. A direct-fire collision between our rear guard and the pursuing enemy fighters unleashed, but three pairs of our fighters fired again at the retreating cruisers.

  Only four of them remained. No, three cruisers remained, but they would not get away from our Earth cruisers, the defenders of the crippled planet. Now the third tanker blazed brightly in the fire of its criminal load. The swarms of doomed enemy fighters were thrown into useless attacks for the sole purpose of burning in the area of battle.

  It became easier and faster under the fire of the ship’s blasters, whose striking beam bundles penetrated their protective shields and fields.

  I ordered my fighters to return to the Fearless hangars.

  The battle was over.

  I ordered the Earth battleship group commander to gather the surviving enemy pilots from the fighters. By mental copying, we would establish the coordinates of their planetary system and investigate events with recordings and reports of the criminal plans. I would judge them according to my laws.

  They could not hit Prima Davos. These types of warships and tankers had not been encountered by the inhabitants of the planet until now. Why, then, was this particular planet doomed to total destruction? Was not Prima Davos a “punishing” fighting force, one of those being sent to destroy other “naughty” planetary systems subordinate to the empire? Satellites unconditionally subordinate to the empire were thrown against each other as punitive squads.

  I did not want this to be true.

  Such advanced technological civilizations were turned into instruments of terror and destruction.

  I ordered Kobo to wait for me at the only cleaned spaceport down on the planet. When he confirmed his arrival, I teleported there.

  After his submissive greetings, I got to the point. “Did your planet punish other planets based on someone else’s command or without an order? Tell the truth, because I will feel if you lie.”

  “Only once. And we were waiting for orders to sterilize Earth and the populated planets of the solar system.”

  I had been expecting this response, but it struck me painfully.

  Kobo continued. “Half a million years ago, your planetary system was once sterilized, and the populations and planets were burned.”

  If only I had known this before the first attack on Prima Davos.

  These planetary systems had been turned into ruthless killers and forced to remain as such for a little longer.

  “Kobo, who gave you the orders and how?”

  “I cannot know. I was very low in the hierarchy.”

  “Tell me, who of the survivors on the planet now knows the procedure?”

  “No survivors.”

  “You’re lying. I repeat the question, and if you lie again, you will die. I promise. Where are the deep underground hideouts? There hide those who had received the commandments and ordered their execution. I have methods to get from you the information you’re hiding. Your planet will be sterilized by such as you—like all of you. Speak!”

  “I really do not know who they are. There were massive underground activities beneath the Berin mountain range and archaeological excavations under the bottom of the Zend Ocean.”

  “Go away. I do not need you anymore. As for your planetary system, I leave it to its deserved fate.”

  “I want to help, but I do not have the information you are looking for!”

  “Get out before I have decided anything else.”

  I sensed he did not share everything he knew, and this pained me. Two times I had risked myself and the solar system to protect this civilization as our first contact, and I had deluded myself into thinking our loyalty would be mutual.

  Even on Earth there was no loyalty without interests.

  And the black ship I had captured on Corba was a smaller copy of the giants that were now burning so brightly.

  25 Meeting One of the Commanding Assassin Planets

  I relied on loyalty. Twice I had joined in the defense of Prima Davos. Now I understood I was a rejected intruder. The instincts and the more real assessment of the military-technological capabilities of the space forces of the Earth Federation as a military-strategic partner for joint survival proved to be stronger than gratitude and loyalty.

  The result was almost total destruction of life on Prima Davos.

  They could not ask from the Earth forces a fleet on duty around Prima Davos. The outer appearance of the Earth battleships, copies of the local ships—and why not themselves a part of the Prima Davos Navy?—was showing helplessness. We were in great peril ourselves, for without help as allies, we disrupted the balance of forces established in this star sector. The reaction of the politicians ruling the region was immediate, and the main power in the region—the Kerrani Federation—sent a squadron in accordance with the defense capabilities of the planetary and space forces of Prima Davos to erase the civilization and the populated words in that star system.

  Our few battleships caused the destruction of the developing Prima Davos civilization. Then came our surprising painful blow on the reputation of the strong guarantor of obedience in the sector: the Kerrani Federation. It was a painful blow inflicted with laughable forces. We attracted the attention of the Observers to Corba, the main planet of the federation. Here, I rectified my mistake and allowed only colonial dependency, not strategic partnership. But in our Earth Navy appeared giant cruisers and destroyers formerly owned by the Kerrani Federation. This integral part of the space navy of the federation also caused suspicions of a bilateral military treaty against somebody I had yet to know. Such suspicions of broken trust tended to have serious consequences.

  The first scout was sent—a small black ship that caused a bandit clash-check of the battle readiness of Corba. That ship fell into my hands, together with its entire crew. A week ago, I had learned the formerly bustling ship was now totally devoid of people. The crew had l
eft the ship in an unknown direction in some strange fashion.

  The future development of the events in the Kerrani Federation was outlined quite clearly now.

  I expected a serious clash against the masters of this region soon.

  If that happened, I would follow my instincts.

  I divided Prima Davos into sectors and assigned infrared and X-ray scanning to the surface to a depth of one kilometer, with particular emphasis on the areas of the Berin mountain range and the bottoms of the three oceans to search for underground cavities.

  After one hundred hours, I had a detailed map of the planetary surface with the intended depth. There were a dozen large underground cavities of natural and artificial origin. Three of them went farther down than the commanded one-kilometer depth. Was it worth it teleporting myself to every natural or artificial cavity?

  Still, there weren’t too many. Only two were under the oceans. I decided to start with them. To each of the underwater caves, I teleported one carrier of my nano-cameras and scattered them through the underground halls. In the first one was some started construction, but the poisonous atmosphere was not fit for life. The second sub-ocean cavity was flooded with light and well adapted to life, with multistory living spaces in which small and medium vehicles were running—a typical city of a planet without an atmosphere. The cameras captured panorama scenes and the more important details of each of the five levels. The government level was the middle one, with the highest halls and buildings. The population was from the indigenous people of the planet, perhaps no more than 810,000 citizens.

  I teleported myself to the largest and most striking building on the middle level and climbed the stairs to the entrance. Passersby looked at me curiously, but no one stopped me. In the spacious foyer opposite the entrance was a reception desk, and on the wall above the staff stood high columns listing the floor numbers and the offices and managers in them. At the top was only one big-letter name: lasanet karr, policitor, fifth floor.