One thing Maddox soon noticed. Whoever controlled the Swarm Fleet had spread out the warships in widely spaced clusters. The ships were everywhere in the system instead of bunched closely together like before.
“It’s almost as if the bugs know we have a Destroyer,” Valerie said.
Maddox nodded curtly. He wasn’t going to worry about that right now. “Chief Technician?” he asked Andros Crank. “Is the beam ready?”
“I’ll need ten minutes or more,” Andros said from his station.
“As long as that?” Maddox asked with a frown.
“There are still some technical problems that are giving us trouble.”
“I didn’t ask for excuses,” Maddox said. “I asked if it had to be that long.”
“Yes, sir,” Andros said, without a change of expression. “It is regrettably going to take that long.”
Maddox accepted that in silence. “Lieutenant,” he told Valerie. “I want you to target that cluster over there.” He used a pointer to circle a spread-out group of ships.”
“Targeting, sir,” Valerie said, as she began punching in the coordinates.
As the lieutenant targeted and as the Chief Technician shepherded his techs to ready the beam, five thousand or more enemy missiles launched from various ships and headed toward the ancient Destroyer.
Valerie pointed that out to Maddox.
“Thank you,” he said. “Can you estimate their time of arrival?”
“The nearest will take a little over an hour at their present acceleration.”
“Good,” Maddox said. “We have time then.”
The time ticked away as the Kai-Kaus toiled to ready the ancient generators and the rather tricky firing apparatus.
Fifteen minutes later, Maddox spoke up, “Andros Crank—”
“Ten more minutes, sir,” Andros said, with sweat beading his forehead.
The new minutes ticked past slowly. All that time, the nearest Swarm ship-clusters had been spreading apart, making themselves less attractive bulk targets.
“I don’t like this,” Maddox muttered. “It’s taking too long.”
No one responded.
Twenty-five minutes after appearing in the Epsilon 5 System, Andros signaled the captain that the beam was ready for firing.
“Mr. Maker,” Maddox said, “engage the engine. We’re going to give chase. I want to fire into a thicker clot of warships.”
“Any—” Keith said.
“Those warships there,” Maddox said, using his pointer to circle a group farther away.
“Uh…” Valerie said. “If we do that, sir, the missiles in Vector 3 are going to reach us.”
“That’s why we have neutroium armor,” Maddox said.
Valerie stared at him. “I don’t know that it’s a good idea to take direct nuclear hits, sir, not even with this ship.”
Maddox swiveled around to gaze at Valerie. “Perhaps you’re right,” he muttered ten second later. He studied the main screen. “Very well, target the original group.”
“Firing,” Valerie said, as she punched that in.
Outside on the teardrop-shaped monster, the five-kilometer orifice swirled with terrible energies. All at once, a vast beam speared out of the orifice, traveling one hundred and fifty thousand kilometers. The terrible beam smashed Swarm ships as if they were constructed of tinfoil. The vessels simply shriveled up and dissipated. The hard radiation spewing outward from the beam crippled many other vessels. It was an awesome display of ancient technology.
However, the Swarm had already taken evasive action, and that saved many ships that might have otherwise perished. Still, many nearby Swarm crews died from radiation poisoning. And that was despite the fact that the Swarm creatures could take harder doses of radiation than humans could.
“Rotate the ship, Mr. Maker,” Maddox said. “We’re going to fire into another cluster.”
“Sir,” Andros said, speaking up. “I regret to inform you that it’s going to take at least another twenty minutes before we’re ready to fire again.”
“That long?” Maddox asked again
Andros did not reply.
The captain studied the approaching missiles. It was no longer five thousand of them converging on the Destroyer, but three thousand five hundred. The other fifteen hundred no longer existed or drifted aimlessly due to the giant beam. Still, those thirty-five hundred missiles were getting much too close.
“We’re going to have jump again,” Maddox said. He pinched his lower lip. “How long will that take to implement?”
“Ten minutes, sir,” Keith said.
“Fine,” Maddox said. “Let’s see…where we should go.”
He and Valerie studied the spread out enemy fleet, finally choosing a thicker cluster much nearer the Epsilon 5-Alpha Centauri Laumer Point.
Fourteen minutes later, the ancient Destroyer deployed the ion storm. The ball of energy grew, and that shorted the electronics of the nearest enemy missiles heading for the ship.
Finally, the Destroyer slid through the new opening and appeared at the other end of the star system.
There, much like before, it took longer to fire the giant weapon than Maddox would have liked. It allowed those bug ships time to disperse.
Still, the beam fired. Swarm ships died, and the missiles fired at the Destroyer failed to reach the giant teardrop-shaped killer.
Four times, the Destroyer jumped. Four times, it took too long to fire the beam. At the end of the fourth jump, masses of Swarm missiles crisscrossed the star system. Valerie pointed out that it was going to be harder to find a relatively empty place to appear where they could still hit the enemy ships one hundred and fifty kilometers away.
“The ion storm can act as a shield against any missiles,” Maddox said.
Valerie shook her head as if that was a poor idea.
Andros spoke up, saying he would not vouch for all the missiles shorting out due to the ion storm. Some would get through, reaching the hull.
Thus, after a grueling four jumps, the Destroyer jumped a fifth time. It went to the Alpha Centauri System to join the main fleet getting ready to face the approaching Swarm mass.
-10-
The Destroyer sent awful tremors through the Swarm Fleet. The lazy way it went about picking off heavy warships terrified the Reigning Supreme. The fact that it had waited so long, letting missiles almost get into detonation range bespoke human pride.
AX-29 summoned her advisors. Soldiers dragged pallets holding the Assault Master and his aides. Of the Hive Master-class, only Thrax scuttled in on his own power.
The Reigning Supreme spoke. “The humans have a Destroyer. I know you have each studied the numbing assault. The vessel moved at will, jumping, annihilating, jumping elsewhere and annihilating again. That it moved precisely each time tells me that Thrax’s theory about a Builder helping the humans seems more plausible as time goes by. This is a terrible day. I have doubts about the coming assault.”
“Reigning Supreme,” the Assault Master said, scenting the air with powerful pheromones. “We are an Imperial assault force. We shall prevail against these humans. They have shown faintness of heart, running away each time. With remorseless power, we have advanced one step at a time upon the Solar System. Only the Alpha Centauri System stands in our way now. Can you doubt the humans will run from it as well?”
“Our losses,” the Reigning Supreme said. “They keep inflicting losses on us. This time, the humans annihilated 1,074 heavy ships of the line. We were unable to even scar the Destroyer.”
“One thousand ships are as nothing,” the Assault Master said.
“I must concur,” Thrax said. “Given the nature of the enemy vessel, I found their assault highly ineffective. The missile barrages kept the ancient ship at bay each time.”
“You are gloating again,” the Reigning Supreme told Thrax. “The missile barrage was your idea.”
“And it worked,” Thrax said. “I am not boasting. I am declaring that I know how to de
feat the enemy. I tell you that I would have gladly taken ten times those losses and still I would feel confident about our coming victory. The humans will have to stand and fight soon. When they do, we shall annihilate them utterly.”
“I feel uneasy,” the Reigning Supreme said. “There is a taint I cannot shake.”
“The Destroyer ran from us,” Thrax said. “The Assault Master is correct in his analysis.”
“I do not need your concurrence,” the Assault Master told Thrax.
“You are jealous because I thought up the missile barrage defense,” Thrax said.
“No!” the Assault Master cried. “I shall finally tell you—”
“Enough!” the Reigning Supreme said. “Swarm councils are not the place for bickering. This is a strategy session. Here, calm reason shall prevail.”
“Of course,” Thrax said. “I beg your pardon.”
“Yes, Reigning Supreme,” the Assault Master added.
“We must work out an assault schedule,” she said. “What if the Destroyer shows up again as we use the Laumer Point? What if the enemy launches more nuclear bombs through the wormhole? They have the advantage of advance knowledge. We…”
“We have superior numbers,” Thrax said. “We have Swarm courage. I have long studied the humans. They have weak wills, easily swayed by blood and death. A steady attack panics them. Have we not seen this time and again?”
“We have,” the Reigning Supreme admitted.
“The humans have pricked us,” Thrax said. “However, even against a Destroyer, our losses are miniscule. We are winning, Reigning Supreme. We are winning in part because we know we will prevail. Soon—”
“Yes, yes,” the Reigning Supreme said. “I have heard enough about our greatness. Now, it is time to decide how to invade the Alpha Centauri System without sustaining debilitating casualties.”
“Reigning Supreme,” the Assault Master said. “I have developed an advance-to-attack movement schedule that allows for the Destroyer hitting us at the same time. It accounts for enemy nuclear bombs appearing at will through the Laumer Point. However, I must point out that we will undoubtedly have to accept a high number of casualties. Their superior intelligence system and superior movement capabilities means we can only trump them through our main strengths of numbers and will power.”
“Unfortunately, I believe you’re right,” AX-29 said. “Yes. Show us your schedule.”
The Assault Master gave swift orders. A holoimage soon appeared, and he ran through the detailed attack plan.
Thrax was appalled at the losses the Assault Master envisioned. Wasn’t there another way? Maybe with a more aggressive use of the jump ships… No! He needed to save the jump ships and his fellow hybrids for the day he could gain command of them. They were his bolt hole in case the attack failed. Above all else, he must survive.
“Thrax,” the Reigning Supreme said. “Do you have anything to add to the attack schedule?”
“A few minor adjustments,” Thrax said.
“Tell us,” she said.
Thrax’s adjustments amounted to a more careful use of the jump ships. “We must treat the jump ships like the Queen’s eggs, a precious commodity.”
“Your speech is almost blasphemous,” the Reigning Supreme said. “To speak of the Queen’s eggs in such a light—”
“I am ashamed,” Thrax said, lowering his bulk to the floor. “I meant no disrespect to the Queen or the Imperium. I will—”
“Yes, yes,” the Reigning Supreme said. “It is enough that you are contrite.”
AX-29 questioned the Assault Master and then questioned Thrax concerning the coming attack. Afterward, she seemed calmer than before.
“I have done well by elevating Thrax and by elevating you, Assault Master. We have arrived at a good plan. We will begin to implement it at once. While I dislike losing Imperial vessels and crews, I am eager to engage the enemy in head-to-head battle that will lead to our ultimate victory. This time, in this place, we will crush the humans.”
-11-
Star Watch and the New Men readied their fleets against the approaching Swarm mass. This time, they would contest the Laumer Point with the full fury at their disposal.
However, they would do so in a layered defense.
The first stage of defense was going to be the Destroyer. It made the most sense, as it hit with staggering force and exposed the least number of personnel to any nuclear devices that could and likely would precede the first enemy ships.
One hundred and fifty thousand kilometers away from the Epsilon 5-Alpha Centauri Laumer Point the Destroyer waited patiently.
Maddox and the crew had discovered that they could sleep only fitfully aboard the vessel. They universally had bad dreams and woke often. It meant the crew and the captain were bleary-eyed and cranky on the day of battle.
Captain Maddox paced behind his command chair. He had a slightly wild look in his eyes. He strove to master his unease, but it was proving difficult. That was so unlike him that others noticed.
“Sir,” Valerie said, “if you would sit down, please. You’re making the rest of us nervous by your pacing.”
Maddox wanted to shout at her. He barely stopped himself in time. Reluctantly, he sat. Nervous energy still ate at him. The feeling tightened his gut and loosed butterflies within.
I am Captain Maddox, he told himself. Even so, he struggled to maintain his decorum. He hated this ship. He loathed the vile feelings it left in his mind. He was tired. He felt edgy as his mind boiled with ideas.
Maddox had sent Meta to Victory two days ago. Was the Ska approaching? Was that why he felt like this? Riker was aboard Victory. Should he call the sergeant and tell him to—?
“Sir,” Valerie said. “Look.”
Maddox’s head snapped up. On the main screen, he saw a large device tumble out of the Laumer Point.
“Well?” he snapped.
“It appears to be a thermonuclear device,” Valerie said as she studied her board.
As if to confirm her words, the bomb detonated with terrible energy. It had been a massive bomb almost on par with the cobalt weapon Star Watch had used several days ago.
Nine minutes later, another Swarm bomb tumbled through the Laumer Point.
“They’re making certain,” Valerie said.
Maddox nodded.
The blasts from the nuclear bombs sent gamma and X-ray radiation outward in a wide radius. The neutroium hull stopped any from reaching into the Destroyer. The Swarm would have to do worse than that by a long shot to hurt them. It was one of the chief reasons why the Destroyer held the forward post.
Seventeen minutes after the third nuclear bomb went off, the first Swarm ships shot through the Laumer Point. These came through with some speed. They kept coming, too, one right after another. Jump Lag struck the ships, but the velocity was such that it made room for over 328 vessels before the first batch stopped coming.
“Chief Technician?” asked Maddox.
“Two more minutes,” Andros said.
At the end of two minutes, the mighty Destroyer’s beam flashed one hundred and fifty thousand kilometers. The five-kilometer-wide beam devoured the 328 Swarm vessels, leaving cinders in a few places, but little else besides.
Time passed.
“Captain,” Valerie said. “I’ve just received a message. The New Men have spotted several Swarm jump ships. Some are five million kilometers away, while others are ten and twenty million kilometers from the Laumer Point. They are clearly acting as scouts. To confirm this, two of the enemy jump ships have jumped to places unknown.”
“Likely they’re reporting back to the hive,” Maddox said.
“Maybe not,” Keith said. “Is that another nuclear device coming through?”
On the screen in the debris floating before the Laumer Point, another bomb tumbled into existence. It detonated, rearranging the debris and sending heat, EMP and radiation outward.
Soon thereafter, another group of Swarm vessels came through, thi
s time to the tune of 237 ships.
Four minutes later, the Destroyer struck once more, beaming the Jump Lagged enemy ships and annihilating them with the most amazing beam in the Orion Arm.
The process continued for the next eight hours. The Swarm debris began thickening before the Laumer Point. The enemy ships no longer came through at speed. Several had wrecked in the debris.
More enemy scouts had jumped back to the Epsilon 5 System, no doubt reporting on what happened.
Eight hours took its toll on the personnel aboard the Destroyer. It took its toll on the ancient equipment that supported the terrible beam. It tasked the operators working on the equipment.
Perhaps it taxed the Swarm, too, but no one on the human side was asking.
After eight hours of one-sided destruction, over ten thousand Swarm vessels had become junk or drifting particles floating in the Alpha Centauri System.
“Why won’t they pull back?” Valerie shouted. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes wild. “Sir, this is too much.”
“Steady now, Lieutenant,” Maddox said. He was tired, but his guts no longer seethed. He didn’t feel the ancient evil the way he had hours ago. Maybe the fatigue had numbed that part of him. It allowed him to act more like his old self with cool confidence.
“Here come some more,” Keith said.
Three hundred and nineteen Swarm ships tumbled through the Laumer Point.
“Fire when ready,” Maddox said in a hoarse voice.
The second ticked away and nothing happened. Finally, Maddox swiveled around.
“Well, Andros?”
The Kai-Kaus Chief Technician threw his hands into the air. “Something has gone wrong. The beam isn’t going to fire. I’m surprised we’ve been able to keep this up for so long.”
Maddox stared at the man. “No quick fixes, Chief?”
Andros Crank wearily shook his head.
“Very well,” Maddox said in a smooth voice. “Valerie, instruct the Lord High Admiral that the Destroyer will have to pull back.”
“He’s not going to like it,” Valerie said, adding a belated, “sir.”
The Lost Earth (Lost Starship Series Book 7) Page 29
