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

saw the strength of the enemy. Tantula Five was nearly as heavily defended as Golan Four. Currently Tantula Five had sixteen ODPs, two thousand energy platforms, three hundred missile platforms, and twelve PDCs. All three space stations were heavily armed and possessed powerful energy shields. The shipyard had been expanded and was heavily armed as well and protected by a very powerful energy shield. In addition large numbers of missile interceptors were based on the planet, and every major city sat inside a ring of energy beam turrets, designed to track and to take out incoming missiles. Also three thousand ground-based attack interceptors were at all twelve bases on the planet.

-

Druin Admiral Falorr grew impatient. They were two days away from the Hagen Star Cluster, and he knew that the main Morag fleets were four days away from the core worlds. Morag Fleet Admiral Torrant wanted Falorr to wait to attack the Hagen Star Cluster at the same time he attacked the core worlds.

Falorr had no intention of following those orders. As soon as they arrived at the cluster, and his ships were ready, they would attack. Even Morag Admiral Norlan had agreed. With Norlan, Falorr had met a Morag who was as interested in moving up the ladder as Falorr was.

Falorr had spent some long hours going over the attack plan for the Hagen Star Cluster. Much of that time he spoke with Zynth Admiral Donlur, who had already been driven away from the cluster by the Humans.

“The inhabited moon of Gideon in the Tantula Five System is the biggest danger,” Donlur had stated. “They have based their entire defense on the moon being too powerful to conquer. Tantula Five is also very heavily defended.”

Falorr was no fool. He knew the Humans could be a dangerous adversary. For that reason, he would give Morag Admiral Norlan the glory of destroying Gideon or at least softening it up. The four thousand Morag ships would lead the attack, followed by the Zynth and then the Druins.

Once Gideon was destroyed, Admiral Falorr would demand the rest of the cluster surrender to his fleet or face total annihilation.

“We will stop at the large red giant system just outside of the cluster,” Falorr informed his First Officer Dagor. “We’ll stay there for twelve hours to do routine ship maintenance and to rest our crews. Then we will jump directly into the Tantula System and attack Gideon and destroy it.”

“A sound plan,” said First Officer Dagor. “What do we do once we’ve conquered the cluster?”

Falorr looked at the tactical display, showing the multitude of ships under his command. “We wait. We wait and see what happens with the Morag fleets when they attack the Human core worlds.”

-

Morag Fleet Admiral Torrant was not pleased. From his last communication with Druin Admiral Falorr, Torrant had the impression Falorr would not wait four more days to attack. Not only that but Morag Admiral Norlan might have aspirations that would cause him to disobey Torrant’s direct orders as well.

What do we do if they attack early? sent First Officer Markel.

Torrant shook his head. Nothing we can do. However, I fear if Admiral Falorr attacks the Hagen Star Cluster, the core worlds of the Human Empire will realize what we are up to. They will be prepared when we arrive.

Should we change our plans?

Suddenly an idea flashed into Torrant’s mind. He had a fleet of eight thousand modern Morag warships waiting in reserve just outside the Human Empire. Perhaps if he had them attack, it would confuse the Humans, and they would underestimate his arrival time at the core worlds.

We will send a directional hyperlight message to Admiral Voxx. I’ll order him to attack the Human worlds of Leonora Five and Ranier Two. Both are on the edge of the Human Empire and will force the Humans to reconsider the location of our fleets. They will figure we are behind Admiral Falorr and not ahead of him.

When will we send the message?

Now, replied Torrant. This will ensure the Humans will not expect us to attack their core worlds so soon. They will figure we are using the Druins, Zynth, and our older ships to lead the invasion, with our main forces following behind.

It is a good strategy, replied First Officer Markel. The Human core worlds will not expect our attack.

-

Morag Admiral Voxx was pleased with his new orders. He had not been certain he would even get to take his fleet into battle. Now he had two targets for his fleet and possibly more. Prepare to get underway, he ordered, looking over at First Officer Bale. We have two targets that Fleet Admiral Torrant wants us to conquer.

Which two?

Leonora Five and Ranier Two. Both are on the periphery of the Human Empire and heavily populated. From our most recent reports, both are protected by a defense grid and a few Imperial warships. We should have no trouble taking both of them. I will split the fleet into two sections of four thousand ships each. We will attack both worlds simultaneously. It will make the Humans think the real Morag attack is just beginning our attack on the periphery of their Empire.

In the meantime, both Fleet Admiral Torrant and Fleet Admiral Colane will continue toward the Human core worlds.

Admiral Voxx nodded. Yes, soon this Empire of Humans will once more be under our control and no longer a threat.

-

On Ranier Two, the defensive grid had been completely repaired. They even had four ODPs in orbit. In addition a small shipyard was in orbit, as well as two large space stations. Ranier Two had once done a lot of trade with alien worlds, as well as with a few worlds in the Confederation. Those days were long gone, particularly after the Druins destroyed the capital city, killing over ten million civilians.

In the deep