by Sid Kar
“Give me a ground defense base that is in an isolated area,” Raptor said.
“There is an Anti-Spaceship Laser Cannon on the ocean platform just outside of the capital city,” Remus volunteered. He didn’t like helping a foreign power overcome Nestor’s defense but they had to take the planet fast.
“Capitan Alvina, concentrated lasers,” Raptor said.
“Lasers concentrated,” Alvina replied, “ready to fire.”
“Eltar, have you scanned for the laser cannon platform,” Raptor asked.
“Locked in already,” Eltar replied.
“Target and destroy the ocean platform,” Raptor said. “Fire lasers.”
“Firing lasers,” Alvina replied and her junior officers turned on the concentrated laser beam on the ocean platform and it was shattered to pieces at the first contact.
VC Remus was stunned but said nothing.
“Dorrvyk send a message to all the ground defenses,” Raptor said, “We represent their vice-chancellor and they should stand down. Otherwise we will begin heavy orbital bombardment of their locations.”
“Please commodore,” Remus said, “Many civilians will die. Can’t you just use your powerful lasers?”
“I am just bluffing; VC Remus,” Raptor said, “but they won’t know this.”
“No response yet sir,” Dorrvyk said.
“They must be all trying to raise their leader. What is our position?” Raptor asked. He guessed from the visual that they were near the orbit.
“Approaching the orbit in less than a minute,” Horyett said.
“Capitan Flyptar,” Raptor said, “Accelerate and dive us in the ocean.”
“Diving,” Flyptar said. The flight officers moved Conquistador rapidly through the atmosphere and before the ground batteries could react they splashed into the ocean sending a huge tidal wave in each direction. The ocean calmed down soon thereafter. Small portions of the ship were submerged but the major portion was above the water.
Raptor knew that the possibility of taking heavy casualties would cause a delay in the already chaotic command rooms of ground defenses with officers arguing with republican guards. They would want to get permission from someone higher up before they reacted and this provided a small window of opportunity for them to crash through the atmosphere.
“Colonel Jarvyk reporting for duty,” an infantry officer in his late 20’s with a lean, rugged face saluted Raptor.
“Ready for ground deployment?” Raptor asked.
“All ready,” Jarvyk replied.
“Cap. Zurryvk, load battle command program Conquistador,” Raptor said.
“Conquistador loaded,” Zurryvk replied.
“Conquistador reporting for duty,” the battle AI said.
“Give me a battle plan for the conquest of Nestor,” Raptor said.
“Yes sir, analyzing,” Conquistador analyzed all the data in starships computers accumulated through the sensors and the databases of weapons characteristics of Nestor’s armed forces and then displayed a sequential battle plan on Com. Raptor’s and VC Barryett’s personal screens.
“Looks good to me,” Barryett said.
“I might make some changes as we go along,” Raptor said, “Capitan Flyptar, bring us over the Senate.”
“Over the Senate in T minus 50 seconds,” Flyptar said.
“Launch starfighters, two squadrons,” Raptor said, “Drop the Republican Guard airships.”
“Like flies,” Tollvyk muttered under his breath and chuckled.
“Col. Tollvyk, out of the command room,” Raptor said. It hurt him to do this but he had to maintain proper decorum.
“Commodore…” Tollvyk began to protest.
“Out. Now.” Raptor said. Tollvyk got up angrily and left the command room stomping his feet.
The Republican Guards soldiers approached Senator Solus’ podium and were twenty feet away when suddenly fighter spacecrafts swooshed over Solus firing laser bolts into the troops sending them running back out. Solus looked up and saw starfighters flown by single pilots rushing out of a giant Starship on the horizon and diving upon the airships from above felling them to the ground with single shots of lasers. The airships were slow and in half a minute all of them had crashed to the ground precipitating panic amongst the ground troops.
Starship Conquistador reached over the Senate building and stabilized in place. The massive size of the spaceship blocked the sunlight entirely and midnight like darkness descended upon the city.
“Cut power to the city,” Raptor ordered.
Starship Conquistador fired multiple massive lightning bolts and short circuited the power stations feeding the city. All the lights went out and the entire environment of the city was turned pitch black only the glittering lights of the Conquistador above flickered like shining stars in the sky.
“Colonel Jarvyk, deploy Strike Soldiers Divisions 1, 2 and 3,” Raptor said.
“Yes sir,” Jarvyk saluted and left the command room. He was going in with his troops.
“Capitan Alvina, switch power to ground attack lasers, target laser cannon tanks,” Raptor said.
“Firing lasers at the enemy tanks,” Alvina replied. The laser officers turned on the ground attack laser turrets on the bottom hull of the Starship and the laser operators in the turrets used night vision to target Republican Guard’s tanks on the ground. The tanks were blasted one after another as hundreds of laser bolts rained from the sky.
A few large metallic covers slid open from underneath Conquistador and dropped hundreds of metal boxes inside the Senate’s walls and in a circular perimeter outside the Republican Guard’s position. When the metal boxes hit the ground, Strike Soldiers – an elite light infantry force – rushed out with long laser guns and took aim at the Republican Guard soldiers.
First Division was dropped on the Senate’s gardens and the Strike Soldiers quickly secured the Senate and took positions behind the wall. Divisions Two and Three came in from the outside.
Republican Guards soldiers were in disarray. Their mechanized units were destroyed; they didn’t have night vision gear and Commander Nolfus was dead. Conquistador had further jammed all the radio traffic making it impossible for them to know what was going on. When Starfire’s soldiers came in charging firing laser guns at full blast, their ranks broke and they ran hither thither. The battle was over when the remaining Nestorian soldiers threw down their guns and lay flat on the roads in the surrender position.
A couple of hours later Raptor, Barryett and Legtar assembled in Raptor’s personal quarters. He had sent VC Remus ahead to gather all the senators present in the senate’s main chamber and to await his announcement. The news had come in that Chancellor Augus had died from a heart attack.
“Cap. Legtar,” Raptor said, “VC Remus sent the news that Chancellor Augus is dead. What do we do under these circumstances?”
“As per the protection treaty, once we have put down the rebellion,” Legtar said, “We let the remaining legitimate officials form the next government.”
“They are a republic and hold elections,” Raptor said, “We don’t have time for that now. The alien invaders might very well have engaged their battleships in the outer systems by now. Elections in this atmosphere will be absolute bedlam.”
“And a logistics nightmare to hold across sixty worlds,” Barryett said.
“There is a provision of the treaty, not a very popular one with the protectorates obviously, but one that allows us to temporarily install a government of our choosing,” Legtar said.
“A puppet government,” Raptor grinned, “we are not here to convert Nestorian Republic into a conquered territory of the Empire.”
“Nor we would if we put VC Remus in charge,” Legtar said, “He is the vice-chancellor and a post like this exists for this very scenario.”
“Except,” Barryett said, “The news must have spread across Nestor and soon will across the entire Republic that VC Remus ran away like a coward while Senator Solus bravely face
d down the coup.”
“Senator Solus is not favorable to Starfire Empire,” Legtar said, “our state leaders would never approve his appointment.”
“I have the discretion now,” Raptor said, “Give me ten minutes to think. Meet me on the ground of Nestor’s Senate and I will announce my decision.”
“Com…” Legtar began to speak.
“Dismissed,” Raptor said and both of them left his personal quarters.
Approximately 35 of 60 Senators had made it to the Senate building, the rest were still hiding in fear, were back on their home planets or couldn’t be reached. On the elevated platform the Chancellor’s podium was empty, VC Remus was back in the first row with the rest of the senators and Solus was conversing with a few others in a corner.
Soldiers in Red & Black uniform lined the circular wall of the chamber holding laser guns and standing at attention. Strike Soldiers had taken over the task of security and sent the Senate Guards home. Republican Guards were being held prisoners in nearby buildings.
Commodore Raptor, Law Officer Legtar, VC Barryett and Colonel Jarvyk entered the chamber through the door behind the elevated platform and approached the podium. They were followed by ten soldiers who stood behind them on the platform. Legtar walked over to the podium and knocked the mic a couple of times.
“Nestorian Senators, I am Capitan Legtar, the law officer of the Starfire Force that you requested for your protection,” Legtar said, “Unfortunately, we don’t have time to consult our political leaders regarding this situation. As such, Commodore Raptor, the highest-ranking officer of Starfire Army present here will make the decision.”
Legtar walked back and Raptor took his place at the podium.
“The decision,” exclaimed Senator Lombus who was sitting in the first row next to Remus, “you speak of a decision. We are grateful for your intervention but who are you to take a decision. We have procedures of succession and VC Remus is our next legitimate Chancellor.”
“Excuse me senator,” Legtar said, “the protection treaty allows us to…”
“Forget the damn treaty,” Senator Hortus yelled, “Who is VC Remus to become a Chancellor. That coward ran away at the first sight of trouble and now he is to lead us in war? We must have elections, people must decide.”
“Elections! Elections!” a few senators chanted while the supporters and the opponents of Remus yelled at each other.
“Silence Senators,” Raptor said and the chamber quieted down, “You and your elections. You and your debates. You and your secret plots. We have chaos on hand, the war is coming and you are chanting. Look around these walls, you don’t see the men in green, you see the men in red and black. We are going to have some order now.”
“Now some of you think that we are here to meddle in your politics. Some of you think that we are here to crown a King,” Raptor said, “Now I am going to appoint a Chancellor, but for you to see that we have no desire to intervene, I am going to appoint a man who has been a consistent opponent of our presence here. Your next Chancellor is Senator Solus!”
Senator Solus was stunned and VC Remus gawked with shock. Solus slowly walked forward to the podium and stood in front of Raptor. They looked at each other for a few seconds while murmur broke out in the chamber.
Suddenly a shrill siren rang out and red lights started flickering. Raptor received communication on his personal radio.
“Capitan Dorrvyk, what is going on?”
“Commodore, the Nestorian ships in the orbit are going to battle formation,” Dorrvyk replied, “Fifteen alien battleships are coming in fast and they have launched a thousand rockets towards Nestor.”
“Senator Solus lead your republic,” Raptor said, “Starfirians, fall back to the Conquistador. The battle we came here to seek is upon us.”
Raptor and the rest of the Starfirians ran back to the airships parked in the garden to take them back to the Starship above.
The End
To Be Continued…
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Appendix
Major Characters
I. STARFIRE EMPIRE
Alvina Lytar – Capitan & Laser Officer
Antrar Wyft – Ex-Commodore: Starship Thunder
Avyk – Shields Officer
Barryett Wuft – Vice-Commodore: Starship Conquistador
Carvyk Botlar – Regional Star Commander: Zarrvyk Province & Sixth Frontier Fleet
Dorrvyk – Capitan & Communications Officer
Flyptar – Capitan & Flight Officer
Hedgewyk – Signals Officer
Horyett – Gravitron Scanner Officer
Jiggermaster – Space Pirate
Jarvyk – Colonel: Strike Soldiers
Jontvyk Tubyt – Capitan: Palace Guards
Legtar Pytar – Law Officer
Magyar Harwyk – An Assassin (AKA ‘The Silencer’)
Overyk – Capitan & Navigation Officer
Raptor Warwyk – Commodore: Starship Conquistador
Rockvyk Torryen – Chief Detective of SPASI for Zarrvyk Province
Styx – Capitan of Starship Guards
Tollvyk – Colonel & Rocket Officer
Zurryvk – Artificial Intelligence Officer
II. NESTORIAN REPUBLIC
Augus Grave – Chancellor of Nestorian Republic
Aurus Janus – Employee of Boutrous Golus
Bakus Ferran – General: Battleship Fleet & Battleship Republic
Cloaked Man – Identity Unknown
Hickus Tofus – Foreign Minister
Horus Bors – War Minister
Jag Manus – Capitan of VC Remus’s personal guards
Krotus – Capitan of Senate Guards
Lemon Bree – Interior Minister
Nolfus Berrum – Commander of Republican Guards
Remus Torus – Vice-Chancellor of Nestorian Republic
Roofus Bolfus – Pilot: Spy Ship
Solus Varus – Senator & Opposition Leader
Tory Golus – Chief Executive of Boutrous Golus
Vegus Sukus – General: Battleship Fleet orbiting Nestor & Battleship Defender
Star Map
* Map Not to Scale or Accuracy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sid Kar is the author of this novel and of three other novels.
Visit his website: http://actionadventurebooks.net/
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Author’s Other Books:
1. The Storm Maker
http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Maker-Sid-K-ebook/dp/B0115QNE8C
There are those who dream of reviving an ancient empire and one will dare hatch a secret plot to this end by starting the construction of a ‘Storm-Maker’: a super-weapon that can create hurricanes and tornadoes. And he will have the support of elite ranger units and spies who share his vision.
They will stop at nothing to bring their plot to fruition. They will rob banks, they will kidnap scientists and they will engage in massive gunfights with anyone who stands in their path.
But there are those who will confront this mad scheme at great risk to their own lives.
Top Detective Sayett who has been assigned the out of control bank robbery cases, rising politician Slyntya Karwyk who is appointed to oversee the investigation and her husband who is a national hero: Colonel Sthykar of the Mountain Army.
As their investigation turns deadly with ambushes and kidnappings, the dream of the plotters stands on the verge of becoming a reality. Boss Hantex’s Storm-Maker is rapidly approaching completion and if it goes live it will unleash the mother of all hurricanes - the likes of which has never been seen before.
The only way to stop it maybe a helicopter attack right through the Eye of the Storm!
2. The Lion That Shall Not be Tamed: Volume 1
“A great story of adventure and war”
http://www.amazon.com/Lion-That-Shall-Not-Tamed-ebook/dp/B01220NMBE/
An Epic struggle for power between the world’s most powerful country – Narducat Empire – and the world’s most dangerous country – Starfire Kingdom – takes a terrifying turn into a mad dash to become the world’s first atomic power.
As Narducat Imperial Fleet invades Karaln Nation, whose scientists alone have mastered the deep mysteries of Atom; Starfire Kingdom’s only hope maybe finding a secret base of Karaln scientists, hidden inside an occupied territory watched over by fearsome Imperial Special Army.
Colonel Sthykar of Starfire has been tasked to lead his Mountain Army for a rescue operation deep behind enemy lines, while Detective Sayett rushes to unravel a plot involving almost a hundred spies, a plot which threatens to morph into the largest act of sabotage on Starfire territory.
COMING SOON…
BATTLESHIP AVENGER
Book Two: Conquest of Stars Saga
