Galactic Empire Wars: Rebellion (The Galactic Empire Wars Book 3)

by Raymond L. Weil

  “How’s Steward doing as president?” asked Adrienne, shifting Lara over to her other arm. She enjoyed being a mother and didn’t miss her old days of being the First Lady or before that, Mason’s secretary. Her deep blue eyes focused on her husband as she gently rocked back and forth.

  “Great,” replied Mason, turning off the vid screen. The news today was the same general run of the mill stuff. “He’s settled right in and everything’s running fine. He may not even need my advice.” Before he could say anything else, alarms started sounding and warning sirens began going off in Smithfield.

  “What’s happening?” asked Adrienne, looking frightened and putting both arms protectively around Lara.

  Mason switched the vid screen back on to see President Steward with a grave look on his face. He felt a cold chill run down his back, recognizing the look.

  “All habitats are going to Condition One,” announced Steward in an even voice. “There is no reason to panic. I am asking everyone to go to the emergency shelters and take only one bag per person. A large Kleese fleet has entered the solar system and is poised to attack. Our own forces are gathering to repel them, and we expect to be fully successful in defending the solar system as well as all of the habitats. We have several hours before the Kleese approach, so we have time for an orderly evacuation to the shelters. Once again, I ask you to remain calm. Marines in battlesuits are being deployed as a security measure. Don’t be frightened at seeing them; they are there for your protection.”

  Mason’s cell phone started ringing and he knew instinctively who was going to be on the other end. Picking it up, he said hello.

  “Mason, this is Drake. I’m in the Control Center and they want you down here; I’ve called Pamela also. This looks as if it’s going to be a serious situation.”

  “Give me a few minutes,” replied Mason, drawing in a deep breath. He turned his phone off and looked over at Adrienne, who was standing next to the couch with Lara. “Call Susan and have her and the girls come over here; our shelter beneath the house will be sufficient. Don’t come back out until you hear from me.”

  “This is going to be bad, isn’t it, Mason? Do you have to go?” She knew what the call had been about. She wanted Mason to stay with her and Lara; after all, he was no longer president.

  “They need me,” Mason answered with a deep sigh. “I’ve been through this before and Steward may need my advice. I don’t know how bad it’s going to be, but I don’t think the Kleese would attack unless they thought they had a reasonable chance of success. Our defenses here at Vesta are the most powerful in the solar system, I can’t see them getting inside and we have plenty of marines to defend the habitats and the spacedock.”

  “Be careful, Mason,” Adrienne implored as she picked up her cell phone to call Susan. “We’ll be waiting for you.”

  -

  Harmock gazed at the tactical screen as the first long-range scans began to come back. He'd studied the previous battles in this system and had already determined his two main targets. The fourth planet had a large colony of Humans on it and the stolen trading station was in orbit around the third.

  “Designate the trading station as our priority target and the fourth planet as the secondary target,” Harmock ordered in a cold and impassionate voice. “Overlord Tetus will command the fleet attacking the secondary target with three hundred warships. The rest of the fleet will proceed and take possession of our trading station.”

  “Our sensors are detecting a large number of ships in the system,” Jalridd reported. “Both Human and Delton.”

  “So this is where the Deltons fled,” commented Harmock his multifaceted eyes focusing on Jalridd. “Then this is where they shall die. Once we have destroyed their warships we shall hunt down every space vessel and search every world, moon, and asteroid. When we leave, there will be nothing left living in this star system.”

  “Should we advance in Fold Space?” asked Gareth, wanting to engage the Humans and Deltons as quickly as possible. It was time to exterminate these vermin. He moved closer to one of the command consoles, his six legs making clicking noises as he stepped across the metal deck.

  “No,” spoke Harmock. “We shall advance slowly so as to give us time to study their defenses. Even though this is a vermin race they have demonstrated they have the ability to be very dangerous.”

  The Kleese fleet broke up into two sections with one heading for the fourth planet and the other toward the trading station. As the two fleets advanced, sensors reached out attempting to gather every bit of tactical information possible. Harmock didn't intend to let these upstart Humans take his fleets by surprise.

  -

  General Mitchell and General Pittman were in the Command Center of Centerpoint Station, watching the Kleese battlecruisers. Their eyes widened as they saw the fleet split in two.

  “One fleet is going to Mars and the other is coming toward us,” reported Lieutenant Bryan Vail at the main sensor console.

  “They seem pretty confident,” commented General Pittman, shifting his gaze to General Mitchell.

  “They want their trading station back,” Mitchell said his eyes narrowing sharply. “I want all marines deployed in their battlesuits immediately. If they want the station back, that suggests a boarding action. I also want all civilians moved to the protected areas at the station’s center.” That area was the former Kleese living quarters and had been converted into a set of heavily armored bunkers. “Make the announcement all security doors will be sealed just prior to actual combat.”

  That should at least slow the Kleese down as the heavily armored doors would be difficult to get through. This was something Mitchell had added to Centerpoint. Originally, the station had a number of emergency doors, which would close automatically to prevent a loss of atmospheric pressure to the station. Those had been torn out and heavy armored doors installed in their place.

  “Lieutenant Arnold, get Fleet Admiral Kelly on the com,” ordered Mitchell as he leaned back in his command chair and gazed at the main tactical display. Hundreds of green icons were vanishing. Those were passenger liners, cargo ships, and prospector ships, which were cutting their power and going dark. Until the all clear was sounded those ships would only be operating their life support systems and at minimal power usage.

  “I have Fleet Admiral Kelly on the com,” Lieutenant Brenda Arnold reported from Communications.

  Mitchell activated his com to speak to the Fleet Admiral. “It looks as if we have visitors,” he said in a calm voice.

  “We see them,” Kelly answered. “It looks as if they’re dividing their fleet up into two sections. From the looks of it, Mars and either the Moon or Centerpoint are the targets.”

  “I’m guessing Centerpoint,” Mitchell responded in a grave voice. “President Steward has already issued a Condition One proclamation for the entire system.”

  “The Kleese don’t seem to be in a big hurry,” added Kelly. “I would guess they want to study our defenses as they come in.”

  “Well, they can’t detect the ion cannons until we power them up,” Mitchell said. “Every habitat in the system is sitting inside a ring of those.”

  “What about a planet buster?” asked Kelly, worriedly. “Could they launch one?”

  “We can intercept it,” answered Mitchell, confidently. “From what the Kiveans have told us a planet buster is too large to be fitted with a sublight drive. If they launch one, we can shoot it down. That’s another reason we have so many energy weapons installed to support the ion cannons. The ion cannons will take care of long-range stuff as well as offense and the energy turrets will be used to knock down any missiles. With the new computer system, the Kiveans have assured us they can even take out a sublight missile if the launch range is great enough.”

  “I guess we’ll find out,” Kelly replied. “Any orders as to the deployment of the fleet?”

  “That’s up to you,” Mitchell responded. “You’re the Fleet Admiral and I’ll defer to your judgm
ent as to deployment.”

  “Then I guess I'd better get to moving my fleets around,” Kelly responded. “Good luck, General.”

  “Good hunting, Admiral,” Mitchell answered as he cut the connection.

  “What about Holbrook Station?” asked Colonel Angus Robertson. Robertson was the operations officer and third in command of the station.

  “Order it evacuated except for military personnel,” Mitchell said with a frown. “If the Kleese get in close enough, it probably won’t survive. I want the military members of the crew in suits and ready to evacuate to the escape pods if necessary. Also, begin launching all assault ships currently in the flight bays; we’re going to need everything we have for this battle.”

  -

  Mason made it to the Control Center just as Pamela did. As they stepped through the reinforced armored hatch, they saw the room was a beehive of frantic activity.

  “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to experience this again,” spoke Pamela as she looked around.

  “Mason,” President Steward said, walking over and shaking the former president’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here. I may need your advice.”

  “What do we have?”

  “One thousand Zaltule battlecruisers,” General Bailey answered from where he was standing behind the military consoles. “Pamela, can you help get all the asteroid mining operations shut down? Some of them aren’t cooperating very well.”

  “I’ll get on it,” Pamela said as she headed for the large communications console. “She knew those miners felt safe in their asteroids, but for their protection they needed to shut down and get inside their ships or secure facilities. Some would have to have their brows beat to comply and she knew just how to do that.

  “All the liners and cargo ships have shut down,” Jessica Lang reported from the main control console where she was sitting. “Even the Raven has gone silent.”

  Mason nodded. His sister’s husband, Michael Kirby, was in command of the Raven.

  “We’re still in the process of getting everyone into the secure bunkers,” Drake Thomason added from where he was speaking over a com unit to the security personnel responsible for the bunkers. “We need another hour to get everyone to safety.”

  “We should have that,” General Bailey said, gesturing toward the big tactical screen. “The Kleese aren’t headed our way, at least not yet.”

  “What about the spacedock?” Mason asked. The spacedock was the primary entry to Smithfield and the other habitats. If they could hold the spacedock, it would deny the Kleese entry to the habitats.

  “I’ve got four companies of Space Marines in Type Two and Three battlesuits already headed that way,” Bailey responded. “At the moment, we’re keeping our weapons systems on standby mode to avoid the Kleese detecting them. I don’t want them to realize how heavily defended Vesta is or we could become a major target rather quickly.”

  Mason nodded and took a deep breath. All they could do was prepare and watch the tactical screen. From the safety of Vesta, they would observe the dueling fleets fight for the survival of the Human race. Mason looked at the massive number of red threat icons on the screen; he'd never seen anything like that before. There was no way of knowing how this battle would end. He just hoped he would be able to hold his infant daughter in his arms when it was over.

  -

  Over Mars, Admiral Sanders and Second Fleet prepared to meet the oncoming Kleese warships. On his right flank was Fourth Fleet commanded by Admiral Rivers and on his left was Third Fleet commanded by Admiral Johnson. That gave him seventeen battlecruisers, forty-eight light cruisers, and ninety-six assault ships to stop a fleet of three hundred Zaltule warships. He saw only one real chance for victory.

  The Kleese didn’t know about the improved shields or the multi warhead antimatter missiles the battlecruisers and light cruisers were equipped with. He would meet the enemy, fire one, possibly two volleys of missiles and then drop down closer to the planet to allow the numerous ion cannons on the surface to fire upon the Kleese fleet. That should even things up, or at least he hoped it would. He just hoped the defensive energy turrets on the planet could cope with the return fire.

  “Contact Governor Scott and inform him to make sure everyone is into the deep shelters,” he ordered his communications officer. “This is going to get hairy for a while and the surface may get hit.”

  “Sending the message,” the communications offered replied as he contacted Mars Central and informed them of the admiral’s orders.

  “Also, put me in contact with General Sanchez, he needs to know what’s expected of the ion cannons.”

  Admiral Sanders leaned back, contemplating his battle plan. The enemy just had too many damn ships! They always seemed to have the numerical advantage. Well, this time there would be some surprises, and if everything worked as he hoped the Kleese attack would fail.

  -

  Fleet Admiral Kelly looked at the tactical screen at his assembled fleets. He had First Fleet, Fifth Fleet, Sixth Fleet, Eighth Fleet, and Ninth Fleet to defend the Moon and Centerpoint Station. Overall, he had four heavy battlecruisers, eighteen regular battlecruisers, seventy-two light cruisers, two hundred and sixteen assault ships, and seventy-five Delton battlecruisers. There were also another ninety-five assault ships protecting Centerpoint Station.

  “All ships are in position,” reported Commander Makita. “Fleet Commander Achlyn says his forces are ready to engage the Kleese.”

  “We’ll hit them with our new missiles, first,” Kelly said as he weighed his options.

  “All ships are at Condition One and marines are at their security posts,” added Makita from his command console. “We’re as ready as we’re going to get.”

  “Twenty minutes until weapons range,” Lieutenant Fullerton reported her hazel eyes focusing on the admiral.

  “I want the first strike,” spoke Kelly, looking over at Lieutenant Marsten at Tactical. “All ships will fire a full spread of the new missiles upon my order. Then we’ll advance and engage the Kleese.”

  -

  Colonel Wade Nelson was standing next to Beth, waiting tensely for orders. They were both encased in Type Three battlesuits and two companies of marines were waiting with them. Marines had been dispersed to various sections of the massive station to await the Kleese attack.

  “We’re within ten minutes of all primary docking collars on this side of the station,” commented Wade, looking over at Beth. He wished he could see her face, but the heavy protective helmet of the battlesuit hid everything, even her eyes.

  Beth nodded. She knew due to the size of the Kleese battlecruisers they would have to use the collars to dock to the station and then board. A platoon of marines was stationed at each docking station waiting to see what happened. If the Kleese succeeded in boarding, then she and Wade would take their marines to help repel the Kleese. Or at least that was the plan. Major Winfrey was doing the same on the other side of the station with several companies. Other marines were defending the flight bays and additional high-risk areas of the massive station.

  “At least Ryan will miss this,” Beth said, knowing that was a relief to Wade. The Defender was still in transit to Lanolth.

  “Did you manage to speak to your mother?” Wade asked. He knew Beth had tried to send a message before communications were shut down.

  “No,” she answered, pensively. “I didn’t make it in time. By now she’s in the deep shelter close to the retirement center.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Wade said, reassuringly. He knew his parents would also be safe in one of the heavily reinforced bunkers. Even if the habitats in Vesta were penetrated and lost their atmospheres, the bunkers would remain safe.

  “Maybe the fleet will keep them away from Centerpoint,” Beth said.

  “This station is heavily armed,” Wade reminded her. “Even if the Kleese get past the fleet, the station’s weapons might prove an insurmountable obstacle.”

  “I hope so,” Beth responded. She
clenched her fist, thinking she was getting too old for this. When this was over, maybe it was time for her to speak to Wade about having children. It would be easy enough to get reassigned permanently to Centerpoint or even Vesta.

  Wade took a deep breath, feeling the growing anxiety of going into battle. Beth was a good marine and excellent in combat, but sometimes bad things happened even to the best.

  -

  Harmock gazed in anticipation at the main tactical display. Both his fleet and War Overlord Tetus’ fleet were coordinating their attacks to hit the Humans at the same precise moment. This battle would be quick and very destructive to the waiting Human forces. It would serve as an abject lesson to the nonaligned worlds not to oppose the Kleese.

  “The Humans and Deltons have less than five hundred ships to oppose us and many of those are assault ships,” reported Minor Overlord Gareth as he studied the tactical screen.

  “We will take some losses, but our fleet will prevail,” predicted Harmock. “It’s disturbing the Humans have so many ships. The trading station should never have been allowed to remain in their hands.”

  “That will be remedied shortly,” Gareth responded. “Our warriors are ready to board the station and bring it back under our control. We will annihilate all the vermin currently on board.”

  “As it should be,” Harmock replied in a cold voice. “They will die for the transgressions they have committed against our race.”

  “Extreme weapons range,” reported Salten from the weapons console. “Target locks confirmed.”

  -

  “Fire!” ordered Fleet Admiral Kelly, seeing the green target lights glowing on the tactical console.

  He leaned forward, gripping the armrests on his command chair. What would happen when the new multi warhead antimatter missiles struck the Kleese shields? Six forty-megaton explosions should have a devastating effect, particularly when delivered within microseconds of one another. They had been fortunate in acquiring the new antimatter technology in time to allow the R&D people to equip many of the multi warhead missiles with the more powerful antimatter charges.