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

“The Morag,” said Kala worriedly, looking at Andrew. “Are we in danger?”

“I don’t know. If we leave, Vizen Three will never rejoin the Empire.”

A knock came on the door, and the female ensign who had been assigned to them came in. “Prince Andrew, Captain Barrow would like you to join him in the Command Center. I’ve made arrangements for two of your attendants to stay with your wife.”

Andrew looked at Kala and then nodded. “Very well, let’s go.”

-

The Morag fleet was commanded by Admiral Brack. His fleet had intercepted several hyperlight communications, indicating a member of the Royal Family was visiting Vizen Three. If Brack could strike quickly enough and kill this Royal, it would be a massive blow to the Human Empire. He had three hundred modern battlecruisers and forty-four heavy battleships. His plan was simple—sweep in and attack before the Humans could jump out. He had already picked out the large dreadnought the Royal must be on. His entire fleet knew it was the primary target.

Increase speed, ordered Brack. We must reach them before they can break orbit and escape.

-

Rear Admiral Carrie frowned, when she saw what came toward her fleet. Not only did she need to defend the High Kingdom and Prince Andrew but she also needed to prevent any attack on the planet. “Send out a request for aid,” she ordered. She didn’t know if any Imperial forces were close enough to respond or not. “Put the fleet into a wedge formation with the High Kingdom in the center. I want the battlecarriers in a double line behind us. Stand by to launch interceptors.” Lira planned on getting in a few missile strikes, and then she would launch her interceptors. She was hoping they would help to even up the battle. “Any response to our plea for help?” She hoped at least one task group was close by.

“Nothing,” answered the communications officer.

Lira leaned back in her chair. It looked as if they were on their own.

-

Andrew made it to the Command Center, escorted by two Imperial Guards. The guards stayed outside in the corridor, with the two heavily armed Marines who were also stationed there.

Upon entering the Command Center, Andrew saw a beehive of activity. Commander Barrow saw him and gestured for Andrew to come stand by his command chair.

“They’re inbound and should be in combat range in a few more minutes,” said Barrow. “I just spoke to Rear Admiral Carrie, and she wants to get off two full missile strikes, before she starts committing her attack interceptors. We have nearly 1,700 of them.”

“They still have us outnumbered, and they have superior firepower,” commented Andrew, as he studied the tactical display. “Any chance of more help coming?”

“Rear Admiral Carrie sent out a request for more ships, but, so far, no one has answered.”

Andrew shifted his gaze to the main viewscreens. He saw several Morag warships bearing down on the fleet. “What will we do?”

“We have orders to stay in the center of the fleet, which should give us maximum protection,” replied Barrow. “As to how this battle will go, I have no idea.”

-

Kala paced back and forth in her quarters. Two of her attendants were with her, and Kala could tell they were just as frightened as she was. Outside her door were four Imperial Guards. With a deep sigh, she sat down on a comfortable sofa. She could do nothing but wait for Andrew to return.

-

Admiral Brack had his focus on the viewscreens. His powerful arms were folded across his chest, as he took note of the Humans’ fleet formation. Their warships were in a wedge formation, with the ship he was after in the middle. The carriers of their small warcraft were in the rear in a double line formation. He wished he had some of the new light cruisers being built, loaded with point defense, to deal with the small deadly craft. However, they were still four weeks away from the first ones coming out of the shipyards.

Weapons range in one minute, reported the sensor officer.

Weapons are ready to fire, added the tactical officer.

I want a general hit on the leading Human warships, and then I want all our vessels targeting that large dreadnought in the center. The Morag High Council had ordered this strike. This would seriously damage the morale in the Human Empire, making it easier to bring all its worlds back under Confederation control.

-

The Morag fleet entered weapons range and immediately fired. Within microseconds the Human fleet fired as well. Space lit up with titanic explosions, as fusion and antimatter missiles detonated against defensive screens. Energy beams flicked out, seeking a weakness. In the Human fleet, several battlecruisers were blown apart from the initial massive bombardment.

In the Morag fleet, two battlecruisers and a battleship vanished in nova-like explosions. However, the Morag fleet vastly outnumbered the Human warships, and three more battlecruisers and one of the dreadnoughts in the Human fleet exploded in brilliant flashes of light, as the intense weapons fire overwhelmed them.

-

Rear Admiral Carrie winced as her heavier fleet units were being pounded. “Launch the interceptors. Have them in close-to-medium attack range and then launch all their missiles. Once they have, they’re to return to the battlecarriers to rearm.” On the viewscreen, Lira saw the energy screen of the High Kingdom suddenly light up from dozens of explosions. “Crap! The entire Morag fleet is targeting the High Kingdom. They must know who’s on that ship. Communications, order the High Kingdom to fall back to the battlecarriers. They’ll provide additional protection.”

-

From the battlecarriers, 1,700 attack interceptors were launched. They hurriedly formed up into squadrons and then accelerated toward the Morag ships. They would launch their missiles from medium range and not go into the Morag fleet formation.