The Forgotten Empire: War for the Empire by Raymond Weil (ereader ebook .txt) 📕

“A lot of progress has been made,” commented Rear Admiral Everett. “When we’re finished, our defenses will be stronger than ever.” On one of the viewscreens, a squadron of attack interceptors was visible and out on patrol.

“In another month we’ll have twenty thousand attack interceptors,” replied Reynolds. “If the Confederation returns, we’ll be ready for them. Let’s head for Earth. I want to see how much progress we’ve made on the new shipyards.”

-

As they neared Earth, Reynolds saw one of the new shipyards being built. Altogether three new shipyards were in orbit. At the moment the construction of the new shipyard looked like a tangled mass of girders and beams, with only part of the armored shell in place. Increasing the magnification on the viewscreen, he saw hundreds of Pallas construction robots crawling over its surface.

“All three of the new shipyards are at this stage,” said Rear Admiral Everett. “Construction will accelerate greatly now that the beams and girders are in place. In two months, all three shipyards will be finished and ready to start producing warships.”

Reynolds nodded. They were building two more major shipyards above Mars, two above Ganymede, and one above Callisto. In two more months the Solar System would be producing a tremendous number of warships. The Confederation had stirred up a hornet’s nest and would soon learn what attacking Earth would cost them.

-

Lormallian Councilor Ardon Reull nodded in satisfaction. All the ships in Admiral Garr’s fleet were now protected by the telepathic nullifiers. In addition, all the command crews—as well as other important members of the crews—wore the individual protection gear.

“What now?” asked Admiral Garr.

“We head to the Great Council, where I will go down to speak with Morag Councilor Damora. I’ll demand that all Morag remove themselves from Lormallian worlds and that they immediately stop influencing the council telepathically. I’ll furnish individual nullifiers to all the council members and see where it goes from there.”

“What if the Morag refuse to give in?”

Councilor Reull frowned. “Then you get me off the surface, and we immediately start transmitting the designs for the nullifiers across the Confederation. I’ve made sure that, if something happens to me and to this fleet, the broadcast will still occur.”

“It’s a risky game you’re playing,” said the admiral admirably, “but I believe it’s necessary.

Ardon believed it too. Now it was time to return to the council. He just hoped he survived the coming meeting with Councilor Damora. Ardon knew that Damora could pick him up and crush him with his massive arms, especially when angry.

Chapter Eight

The Great Council of the Confederation was in session, when Morag Councilor Damora received a telepathic message from the Morag admiral commanding the fleet currently in orbit.

Over one thousand Lormallian warships have just jumped into orbit. All of their ships prohibit telepathic communication, as if a protective field of some sort surrounds each ship, preventing our telepathy from passing through. Their missile ports are open, and my fleet is being targeted.

Damora felt a cold chill pass through him. He now knew what Councilor Reull had been doing on Bator Prime. He had found the secret to some type of telepathic nullifier and had managed to equip a full warfleet with them. Don’t do anything until we find out what they want. He was certain Councilor Reull was with this fleet.

We just received a message from the Lormallian flagship. Councilor Reull will come down to address the council. They also recommend we do nothing threatening. They claim it could be disastrous for us if we do.

Councilor Damora knew he had no choice. Very well, for now maintain orbit but do not fire on any of the Lormallian warships. Inform the admiral of their fleet that I will allow Councilor Reull to address the council.

Councilor Damora looked at the rest of the council. “Councilor Reull is coming down from a Lormallian warship, and he is to address the council. I should warn you now not to overreact to what he will say. It could have some very serious consequences for your worlds.”

The council members looked at one another, wondering what was going on. They also wondered what Councilor Reull would tell them.

Damora leaned back in his large chair. This was his people’s greatest fear that some race would learn to nullify their telepathy, which had always been their greatest and most powerful weapon. Depending on what Reull said today, all of that could be about to change.

-

Councilor Reull and four heavily armed guards stepped into the council chamber; Ardon’s gaze instantly focused on Morag Councilor Damora. “As you can tell, my mind is now shielded against your telepathy. These guards are here to ensure my safety.” The four guards took up positions near the door, with their hands on their weapons.

Damora did not reply. He had already tried his telepathy and had met a blank wall. He noticed Reull and his guards wore a very small headset, and Damora assumed this was the source of the jamming field, which blocked him from reading the Lormallian councilor’s mind.

Reull stepped up to the council table and stared at Damora. “I believe you are in my seat.”

Damora frowned but stood and moved to his normal spot. “What do you want?” It took a few moments to shift the appropriate chairs around.

“My fleet is also protected from your telepathy. If you refuse to agree to what I’m about to propose, I am prepared to broadcast the secret of the telepathic nullifier across the Confederation. If you think you have a problem with revolts now, wait until everyone has a nullifier. They are actually quite easy to make.”

“Even if you equipped all your Lormallian fleets with the nullifier, the forces of my people still greatly outnumber yours.”

“That may be true, but my people are not the ones