“We have four fleets operating in the nebula,” added Colonel Petra Leon. “That’s over fifty targets each.”
“Don’t forget about the star that’s inside the Dyson Sphere,” Shilum Torre the Alton hyperspace specialist added. “It alone is generating sufficient power to allow the Simulins to keep several intergalactic vortices open continuously.”
“We’ve taken out the energy collectors in four systems,” Kathryn said. “We’ll continue until the Simulins put a force in front of us sufficient to force us to withdraw. Lieutenant Strong, plot a course to our next target.”
Kelsey was seated at Navigation next to the science console where Andram was. “Course is already plotted, Admiral,” she replied.
“Off we go again,” spoke Katie over their private channel. “I still don’t understand what Jeremy is hoping to accomplish from this.”
“It’s actually quite simple,” Clarissa said in a friendly voice. “If we can take out enough of these energy collector stations it might partially restrict the Simulins operations inside the Dyson Sphere.”
“Perhaps buying the Federation back home more time,” responded Katie. They had all been briefed on the mission, but Katie was still uncertain if it would serve the purpose they hoped. Katie was at her computer station where Mikow Lall, another Alton, was sitting close by.
“If Admiral Tolsen was able to destabilize the area of space at Sagittarius A where the Simulins were coming through, then destroying these energy collection stations could have a profound effect,” continued Clarissa. “The disturbed area of space at Sagittarius A will act as an attractor for any intergalactic vortex. According to Shilum, it will take a tremendous amount of power to shift the exit vortex from that area to another region of space.”
“Only problem is we don’t know if that happened,” responded Kelsey, pursing her lips. “We can only hope that Admiral Tolsen succeeded.”
“Admiral Tolsen is very capable,” Clarissa said. “I’m sure he succeeded in his mission. Admiral Jackson is fully confident Admiral Tolsen was able to destabilize that region of space.”
“Clarissa, if we had access to the Dyson Sphere, could we go home?” asked Katie in a soft voice.
This was something Katie had been wondering about for quite some time. Even though Gaia was their new home, it would be nice to have the option to return to the Federation.
“Possibly,” Clarissa answered hesitantly. “If we knew how to operate it and had the necessary power we could send one or two ships through. The problem would be that even with the help of the Altons, it might take years to learn how to operate the equipment on the Dyson Sphere which works the intergalactic vortices.”
“And we’re going to destroy it,” Katie said. Katie knew that was Jeremy’s long-term goal. If they could destroy the Dyson Sphere, it would make the Federation safe from attack as well as eliminate reinforcements for the Simulins in the Triangulum Galaxy.
“We have no choice,” Kelsey interjected. “It’s the only way to ensure the Federation back home remains safe.” Kelsey knew this decision had been weighing heavily on Jeremy’s mind. They were trapped in the Triangulum Galaxy and the only way to ensure the Milky Way stayed safe was to destroy their only way back.
-
For two more days, the Distant Horizon and her fleet of ten AI warspheres struck at the Simulin energy collector stations around the blue giant stars. They had just exited hyperspace in their eighth target system when a Simulin fleet appeared.
“They must have detected us in hyperspace,” stated Commander Grissim, as the tactical display near her began lighting up with red threat icons. Inside the nebula, the Alton long-range sensors could only reach a few light-years. She assumed the Simulin sensors were the same.
“Energy shield is up and weapons are charged,” reported Major Weir from Tactical. The fleet was already at Condition One so all battlestations were manned.
“Can we take out the energy collection stations?” asked Kathryn, as she gazed with concern at the red icons.
“No,” Clarissa responded. She was standing just behind Kathryn and to her left. “I’m detecting fifteen Simulin battlecruisers and twenty of their escort cruisers.”
Kathryn let out a deep sigh. The Simulin battlecruisers were seventeen-hundred-meters in length and the escort cruisers were eleven hundred. She doubted that, even with the new and enhanced AI warspheres, she could destroy this fleet without incurring major losses.
“More ships jumping in!” warned Captain Reynolds from his sensor console as additional alarms started sounding. “They’re within combat range!”
“AIs are firing upon the new ships,” reported Clarissa. “We have forty additional Simulin battlecruisers that have exited hyperspace within combat range of our fleet. I recommend we jump immediately.”
The Distant Horizon suddenly shook violently and a warning alarm began sounding.
“What was that?” demanded Kathryn, looking over at Colonel Leon, who was near the damage control console. She could see several red lights flashing and a concerned look on Petra’s face.
“It was an internal explosion,” Colonel Leon answered as she checked the console. Petra quickly contacted Engineering and spoke to the chief engineer. “We’ve lost part of the power to the hyperdrive. Jalat is reporting that it will take at least five minutes to repair the problem.” Jalat had been promoted to chief engineer a little over a year ago.
“We don’t have five minutes,” spoke Commander Grissim grimly.
“We have to buy ourselves the time,” Kathryn said, drawing in a deep breath. “Deploy thirty of the Defense Globes and have the AIs form up in defensive formation D-6.” When the relief fleets had arrived, they had also brought replacement Defense Globes for the Distant Horizon.
Formation D-6 would put the AI warspheres in a protective globe around the Distant Horizon and inside the deployment zone of the Defense Globes. The Defense Globes were ten meters in diameter with a small sublight drive. They also had an energy shield and two dual particle beam turrets for defense as well as offense. The globes’ main weapons were an ion cannon capable of bringing down an enemy ship’s energy shield. They were powered by a fusion reactor that could be overloaded to generate a ten-megaton explosion.
“Deploying Defense Globes,” reported Major Weir.
“AI warspheres are moving into defensive formation,” added Clarissa.
“Incoming fire!” warned Captain Reynolds, as the Distant Horizon seemed to cry out in pain.
-
The High Commander of the Simulin fleet nodded in satisfaction seeing he had trapped the enemy. It was obvious something was wrong with the large warship, as they were not attempting to escape through hyperspace. The AIs and their organic allies had chosen a bad time to attack the energy collection stations. A major portion of the Simulin fleet had been called away to other parts of the galaxy to fight against several recently discovered small space going empires. It was obvious now that an error had been made in deploying so many warships. However, that was the Simulin way to crush an enemy before they could grow powerful enough to become a threat.
“Destroy them,” ordered the High Commander coldly. “They are not Simulin and must die.”
-
Kathryn winced as four of the Defense Globes exploded under the Simulin attack. Fortunately, the Simulins were concentrating on the warspheres and the Distant Horizon and not so much on the small ten-meter globes.
“I want a coordinated attack using the Defense Globes, the AI warspheres, and our own weapons,” she ordered. Then turning toward Clarissa. “Can you do it?”
“Yes,” Clarissa answered with a pleased look on her face. “I’ll need a few seconds to set up the parameters for all vessels.”
Kathryn nodded. Over the last few years, she’d finally come to fully trust the beautiful AI.
-
In space, weapons fire was growing heavier every second. Simulin energy beams were blasting away at the shields on the AI wa
rspheres as well as the Distant Horizon. On one of the AI ships, a number of Simulin energy beams were being directed toward one small section of the shield and then several powerful antimatter missiles detonated. The screen developed a brief hole and that was sufficient. A Simulin energy beam penetrated the weakened shield, blowing a deep glowing gash in the hull of the AI warsphere. It was quickly followed by several more energy beams, which carved a deep chasm into the heart of the ship.
-
“Critical damage has been incurred to our power systems,” reported the AI, hovering in front of the ship’s engineering station. “Forty percent of our power has been lost.”
“Automatic repairs have been initiated,” responded another in a calm mechanical voice. “Probability of successful repairs is at 16 percent.”
The warsphere shuddered violently and the lights in the Control Center dimmed. The AI in command approached the large console showing the current status of the vessel. “Survival is unlikely,” it said as the AI studied the damage the ship had received.
“Weapons are offline,” stated the AI in front of the tactical station. “Our energy shield is down to 14 percent. It will fail completely in another one point two minutes.”
“Probability of ship destruction is at 92 percent,” the AI in front of the ship’s computer station said in a neutral voice.
The AI in command considered its options. “Move us away from the fleet and initiate the self-destruct. The Simulin organics must not recover any of our vessel.”
-
The AI warsphere broke formation and moved toward the Simulins on its faltering sublight drive. Then it exploded in a massive fiery blast that blew it apart from within.
It was at that moment that Clarissa launched her attack. The remaining Defense Globes fired their ion cannons at ten of the attacking Simulin battlecruisers. The beams struck the Simulin energy shields, opening up small four-meter holes.
The nine remaining AI warspheres and the Distant Horizon instantly fired their particle beam cannons and launched one hundred-megaton antimatter missiles into the gaps. In less than a second, the ten Simulin battlecruisers were turned into miniature suns as their hulls were torn apart and vaporized by the massive amounts of energy released.
The commanders of the remaining Simulin battlecruisers, realizing the danger posed by the Defense Globes, quickly turned their defensive energy beam turrets on the small ten-meter globes blowing a number of them apart.
-
“AI warsphere W-032 is down,” reported Kevin. He knew that sixty AIs had perished in the explosion. “They set off their self-destruct.”
“Hyperdrive is repaired,” reported Colonel Leon, as she received an update from Engineering. “We can enter hyperspace at any time.”
“Land the remaining Defense Globes and let’s get out of here,” ordered Kathryn. She was unhappy about losing one of the AI warspheres due to a mechanical malfunction on the Distant Horizon. Once they returned to Gaia, she would launch a full investigation into the explosion that had damaged the ship’s hyperdrive. “Kelsey, plot us a course out of the nebula. We’re going home.”
Moments later, the remaining Defense Globes landed in the Distant Horizon’s flight bay. Swirling vortexes formed and the Distant Horizon and the AI warspheres fled the battle into the safety of hyperspace.
Chapter Two
Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief as the Avenger dropped out of hyperspace inside the Gaia System. During their mission, they’d managed to take out the energy collectors in twelve blue giant star systems. However, in order to do so he had lost three of the new AI warspheres in confrontations with the Simulins. Even though there had been no loss of human life, it still pained him knowing sixty AIs had perished on each ship.
“Status?” he spoke as he settled back in his command chair.
“All systems normal and working at optimum levels,” reported Commander Malen as she checked her command console. “We’re two hundred thousand kilometers from Gaia.”
“Receiving standard challenge,” called out Lieutenant Angela Caulder.
“Send ship recognition codes,” Jeremy ordered. This was now standard procedure for any ship entering the Gaia System. Failure to do so would result in a task group being sent out to challenge the offending vessel. A task group of ten warships was kept at a constant readiness level of Condition Two in order to respond immediately to any pending threats.
“The other fleets are already here,” reported Ariel. The AI had access to all of the Avenger’s systems, including the sensors. “Clarissa says they hit eight systems before the Simulins forced them to withdraw. They did lose an AI warsphere.”
“What about the other two fleets?” Jeremy waited anxiously for Ariel’s reply.
“Six systems and nine systems,” Ariel answered as she queried Clarissa. “Admiral Jackson lost two AI warspheres and Grayseth lost four.”
“That’s thirty-five of their energy collection systems,” commented Kevin, looking knowingly at Jeremy. “Is that enough to affect their operations at the Dyson Sphere?”
“Maybe,” Jeremy responded. He had hoped to take more of them out. “Ensign Striker, take us in and put us into orbit just above the shipyard. Ariel, where’s the Distant Horizon?”
“The exploration dreadnought is in orbit just above the defense grid.”
Jeremy looked at one of the main viewscreens showing Gaia. The planet was located in a small K-Class star system deep inside a gaseous nebula in a clear area of space several light-years across. Special hyperspace disruption satellites had been spread throughout the nebula to prevent hyperspace travel, effectively placing the system out of the Simulins’ reach. Several narrow tunnels existed that were free of the interference. It required multiple precise hyperspace jumps to navigate the system of safe zones in order to reach Gaia or leave the nebula.
Gaia was their new home, slightly smaller than Earth with a narrow habitable zone around its equator. This area of the arid planet had a large number of rivers and lakes visible on the viewscreen. There were also two small oceans covering about 15 percent of the planet. This was the world the lost fleets now called home.
“It’s good to be back,” Angela said.
Angela was married to Brace Caulder, a marine major who commanded one of the three large marine bases on the planet responsible for protecting the civilian population. Angela was very proud of her husband and during her off time from the Avenger, she lived on the base.
“Yes,” agreed Jeremy. “I imagine you’re anxious to get down to Major Caulder’s military base.” He understood how Angela felt; he was anxious to see Kelsey as well.
Angela blushed slightly. She and Brace had been married for two years.
They were all thinking of Gaia as home now. Over 400,000 colonists had arrived with the relief fleets two years ago. Humans, Altons, and Carethians were now down on the planet living in five large cities as well as spread out across the countryside. In addition, a number of fleet personnel had opted to go down to the planet to begin raising families. Overall, there were 558,499 colonists now on Gaia. The capital city was New Eden and also home to the planet’s only large spaceport.
Watching the main viewscreens, Jeremy saw the shipyard growing nearer. When they had first jumped into the Triangulum Galaxy, the mobile Carethian shipyard Clan Protector came through also. Over the years, the mobile shipyard had been added to until it was now the monstrosity showing up on the main viewscreen. The Clan Protector was nearly three kilometers in length, four kilometers wide, and two kilometers thick. It contained six construction and six repair bays, which could handle any of the fleet’s ships. The massive structure was also heavily armed and protected by a powerful energy shield.
“Message from Daelthon on the Clan Protector,” Angela reported. “He says he’s pleased to see we made it back safely.”
“Jeremy,” Ariel said in her youthful and vibrant voice. “The AIs are requesting permission to take their ships to their shipyards for repai
rs.”
Jeremy nodded. “Permission granted.” The AIs had built several massive shipyards around the system’s fourth planet. Once the decision had been made to allow the AIs to build them, it had taken six months for them to complete construction. There were fourteen Federation fleet repair ships available that had aided in the construction.
“Commander Malen, once we’ve gone into orbit arrange leaves for the crew. I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere for awhile.”
“Yes, Admiral,” Commander Malen responded. “Should we dock to the shipyard to allow the crew to disembark?”
Jeremy glanced at the viewscreen showing the Clan Protector. “If they have a docking port available.”
Leaning back in his command chair he thought back over their mission. He was still mystified as to why the Simulins hadn’t responded more swiftly to the threat his fleets represented to the power collection stations. It was as if they didn’t have the necessary ships, or the ships were needed elsewhere. Was it possible there were other advanced races still in this galaxy the Simulins hadn’t managed to subdue? If there were, was there a possibility of contacting them?
“Angela, contact all the fleet admirals and ask them to meet me on the Clan Protector in two hours for a general staff meeting,” Jeremy ordered. “Include the Command AI also.”
“The Command AI is probably on Borton,” Commander Malen was quick to point out. “It will have to perform a microjump to get here in time for the meeting.” Borton was the name the AIs had given to the fourth planet.
Jeremy nodded. “That’s fine. However, it’s important the Command AI attends this meeting.”
“I’ll send the messages,” Angela replied.
Kevin got up and walked over to Jeremy. “What are you up to? We just got back and the crew needs some rest.”
Jeremy looked over at his best friend. “We all do. We won’t be going anywhere for awhile, but I have something I want to talk to the general staff about.”
“Does it concern the absence of Simulin ships in the blue giant nebula?” Kevin had expected to see many more on his sensors than those they had detected.
The Lost Fleet: Oblivion's Light: A Slaver Wars Novel Page 2
