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

The squadrons arched around the embattled Human ships, picking out targets in the Morag fleet. The Morag didn’t hesitate and changed some of their targeting, using heavy fusion energy beams and an occasional fusion missile to attempt to thin out the mass of incoming attack interceptors.

Bright fireballs filled space, marking the death of hundreds of interceptors, and then the rest reached medium attack range, and all the surviving craft launched four fusion missiles each into the advancing Morag fleet. As soon as the missiles were launched, the interceptors turned and sped back to the waiting battlecarriers.

Over five thousand fusion-tipped missiles were now inbound toward the Morag fleet. The Morag had switched nearly all their heavy fusion energy beams from the targeted dreadnought to now repel the missiles. However, it was hard for the large beam turrets to track and to destroy a missile. They did manage to take out a few hundred, and then the rest were in the fleet perimeter and slamming into Morag targets. Suddenly the Morag formation was full of dying ships. In the space of twenty seconds, sixty-two Morag battlecruisers and four battleships were turned into drifting masses of twisted metal and glowing wreckage. Many other ships had been heavily damaged.

-

Kala held on to the arm of the sofa tightly, as the High Kingdom shook from the missiles striking her energy shield. “Don’t let me die,” she said softly, wishing Andrew were here. Her two attendants sat across from her, and both looked even more scared than she was.

“Attention, this is the captain. We’re pulling back behind the battlecarriers. The shaking should stop shortly. So far, the High Kingdom has only suffered some minor damage.”

Kala felt relieved. She hoped this battle would be over soon.

-

Rear Admiral Carrie wished the attack interceptors could be rearmed quicker. It would be ten minutes before they were ready for a second strike, and she greatly feared, by then, nothing would be left of her fleet. For a second she thought about ordering the battlecarriers and the High Kingdom to jump away. At that moment, alarms on the sensor console screamed, and more red threat icons appeared around the inbound Morag fleet. More enemy reinforcements had arrived! She was about to order the battlecarriers and the High Kingdom to jump away, when the red threat icons turned green.

“It’s Third Fleet,” yelled the sensor officer. “It’s Rear Admiral Barnes, and she’s brought nearly five hundred Imperial warships.”

Lira leaned back in her command chair, relief flooding over her. Already Third Fleet targeted the Morag ships, blowing them out of space. Lira watched the tactical display, as well as the viewscreens. In less than two minutes every single Morag ship had been destroyed.

“I have Rear Admiral Barnes on the comm,” reported the communications officer.

“Put her through to my command console,” ordered Lira.

“Sorry we were late,” began Rear Admiral Barnes. “Fleet Vice Admiral Masters sent us to follow you around as you traveled to all the worlds on your list. He felt certain the Morag would attack. The fleet we just destroyed was the last major Morag or Confederation fleet in the Empire.”

Lira shuddered to think what would have happened if Third Fleet had been a few minutes later. “Glad to see you. I believe we’ll be returning to Golan Four tomorrow. Prince Andrew still has to finish getting the legal documents signed for this planet to join the Empire.”

“We’ll stick around,” replied Rear Admiral Barnes. “I don’t believe any Confederation ships are left within hundreds of light-years.”

-

Andrew returned to his quarters, joining Kala. She had finally calmed down, but she was highly upset with Fleet Vice Admiral Masters.

“Did he use us as bait?”

“It may look like that, but he actually sent Third Fleet to ensure nothing would happen to us.”

“Maybe, but we still lost some ships and attack interceptors.”

Andrew nodded. “We’re at war, and I understand the reasons for wanting to destroy this Morag fleet, if it is the last major Confederation fleet in the Empire. Plus I understand the need for secrecy as to the Third Fleet guarding our backs, to keep our communications channels from being intercepted by the Confederation.”

Kala let out a deep sigh. “I guess I do too. Now, after tomorrow’s meetings, are we going home?”

“Yes,” said Andrew, smiling. “Third Fleet will be escorting us.”

This was fine with Kala, as she was ready to return to the safety of the Imperial Palace.

Andrew stepped back and looked at Kala. “Now we need to get ready for tonight’s banquet. We’ll have a lot of explaining to do.”

“You think the banquet’s still happening?”

Andrew nodded. “I spoke to the governor just before I returned to our quarters. She can’t wait to see us.”

Kala sighed. She guessed she had better go pick out some appropriate clothes. It seemed a diplomat, even one married to a Prince of the Empire, never got to rest.

Chapter Nine

Fleet Admiral Marloo, High Princess Layla, Chief Chancellor Stein, Fleet Vice Admiral Derrick Masters, Rear Admiral Carrie, Rear Admiral Barnes, and Prince Andrew were in one of the smaller conference rooms in the Imperial Palace, holding an important meeting.

“It’s been confirmed?” asked High Princess Layla.

Fleet Admiral Marloo nodded. “Yes, the Morag fleet that Rear Admirals Barnes and Carrie destroyed was the last major Confederation fleet formation in the Empire. There are still a few smaller Confederation ships and patrol squadrons out there, but we’re hunting them down where possible.”

“We also can confirm that the Lormallians and the Zang have pulled out every single one of their ships from the Empire and have pulled completely out of the war,” added Chancellor Stein. “From what we have put together, the Lormallians have developed a telepathic nullifier and are in the progress of installing them in all their warships, while the