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

“Over four hundred dreadnoughts,” answered Derrick. “Every ship in my fleet is so equipped.”

Krista looked over at Mathew. “You will stay at the training base.” She had just assumed he would be staying on Golan Four.

Mathew looked over at Derrick and slowly shook his head. “No, I’m returning to the Orion to coordinate the attacks of our interceptors.”

Krista looked stunned. “I don’t know if I like that.”

“We all have a duty to perform,” said Derrick. He had been aware that Mathew had requested a transfer to the Orion for the duration of this emergency. The Orion would be in Rear Admiral Carrie’s fleet.

“I’ll be all right,” promised Mathew. “The Orion’s the best battlecarrier in the fleet, and I won’t be flying an interceptor. I will be directing the squadrons from the Command Center.”

Layla looked at her cousin and saw Krista was not pleased with the news. She hoped it didn’t harm her and Mathew’s relationship.

Derrick noted Brenda standing to one side, watching. He knew Emira was training her to take her place someday. Emira had already discussed it with Derrick, and he had given his approval. “Brenda, why don’t you come join us. There’s plenty of food.”

Brenda blushed. “I’m not really supposed to.” Brenda didn’t want to get in trouble with Emira.

Layla smiled. “Don’t worry about Emira. In the past, I saw her eating with my parents on occasion. Come. Sit down.” Layla indicated a chair near her.

Nodding, Brenda walked over and sat down. A kitchen attendant instantly showed up with a plate and silverware, as well as several glasses—one for water and the other for one of the wines on the table. Soon Brenda was eating and joining in the conversation at the table.

Derrick smiled. He really liked Brenda, and she would make a wonderful replacement someday, when Emira was ready to retire.

-

“How do you do it?” asked Krista. She and Layla were in the Royal Quarters in Krista’s suite of rooms. “I mean, I know that Derrick has gone off several times on dangerous missions, but you always seem so calm.”

Layla indicated for Krista to sit down next to her. “I may look calm, but I’m not. I’m scared to death every time Derrick leaves with his fleet. However, we both must realize it’s our duty as a Royal to represent and to serve the Empire. We lead by example, even though we may not like what we have to do at times.”

Krista sighed, as she sat next to Layla. “This time it’ll be both of them in danger.”

“Not just them,” corrected Layla. “This time all of us will be in danger. The Confederation is coming to conquer the Empire. Remember what happened last time. We lost the entire Empire, and thousands of people who were part of the Royal Court—our parents, my brother—were either executed or banished to Earth. I strongly suspect, if the Confederation were to win again, Andrew, you, and I would have a very short life expectancy.”

“You think they would execute us?” asked Krista, with very wide eyes.

Layla nodded. “We are the last of the Royals. They would not hesitate. So you see? We will all be in equal danger. We just have to hope for the best and for us to achieve the outcome we want, and our best people must be fighting for us, and that includes Derrick and Mathew.”

Krista nodded. She knew Layla was correct; it was just so hard to accept. She didn’t know what she would do if Mathew didn’t come back. Krista also knew that Layla felt the same about Derrick.

-

Several days later Derrick watched as Rear Admiral Carrie’s fleet left for the Hagen Star Cluster. Admiral Marloo had only informed Admiral Cleemorl this morning that the fleet was on its way and would position itself just outside the cluster. Derrick knew that Dylan would be relieved to hear he had a powerful battlecarrier fleet close by, and he could call upon them, if needed. Derrick was on board the new Destiny, which was the fleet flagship. Rear Admiral Banora had already transferred over to the dreadnought Defiant to use as her flagship.

“Fleet status?” asked Derrick, as he relaxed in his command chair. He had actually missed spending time on the Destiny.

“Fleet is ready for combat,” reported Colonel Sheena Bryant, who had recently been promoted to executive officer. “Everyone is back from leave, and all ships have full loadouts of munitions.”

Derrick had expected no less. “For now we will continue to orbit Golan Four.” Derrick leaned back and thought over what they had heard about the Confederation, having a new superweapon. There was no way to find out what it was until it was actually used in combat. Then the Empire would have to figure out a way to deal with it.

-

Admiral Cleemorl smiled when Fleet Admiral Marloo informed him that Rear Admiral Carrie’s fleet would be stationed just outside the cluster. Carrie’s fleet had over 3,200 attack interceptors. If he added those to the number on Gideon, he would have 8,200 to use against the Confederation. The odds of being able to hold the cluster had just gone up a little bit more.

-

In the Confederation, the attack fleets assembled. It had been decided that Morag Fleet Admiral Torrant would command the joint fleet, with Morag Fleet Admiral Colane as his second. The Zynth and the Druins also had admirals for their fleets, though they were still under the command of the Morag admirals.

Fleet Admiral Torrant spent several long moments gazing at his command on his ship’s massive viewscreens. As far as his eyes could see, there were hundreds, thousands of warships. He felt confident he could easily reconquer the Human Empire. Send a message to all commands. We leave in two days. There were still a few squadrons that had not yet arrived.

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