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

commander was intent on launching every missile he had into the enemy fleets. Fusion energy beams slammed into energy shields, and energy beam satellites intercepted a few missiles aimed toward the moon.

In the Confederation fleet formation, a large number of Druin and Zynth ships were destroyed by the particle beam cannons and the accelerator cannons. Everywhere along the front line near the Human fleets, ships were dying. Space was lit up like a massive nova from all the explosions going off.

The Morag, Druin, and Zynth fleets adjusted their formations, so the Morag were now actively engaged against the moon, and the Druin and the Zynth were engaged against the Human fleets. The battle grew more intense, as the weapons fire steadily increased when more defensive grid elements came into range.

In the Druin formation, a battlecruiser had a huge portion of its hull blown off, leaving dozens of compartments open to space. More explosions rattled the vessel, as it came apart. An antimatter missile finished off the ship, as a small nova appeared where the ship once was.

In the Human fleet, a dreadnought was being hammered as its screen became weaker and weaker. The screen suddenly flared up and failed, leaving the ship open to weapons fire. The ship was hit by so many fusion energy beams and missiles that it simply vaporized.

The defensive grid was now under fire from the Morag. Dozens of energy beam satellites were being blown apart and even a few missile platforms. The sky above Gideon was full of explosions. Occasionally a missile was intercepted by either an interceptor missile or shot down by a defensive energy beam turret, before it could hit the surface.

-

I want 10 percent of all our missiles fired to target that moon, ordered Admiral Norlan. I want to turn it into a wasteland.

On the main viewscreen, the Morag fleet was nearly over the pole. Norlan planned on hitting that massive base with nearly every weapon his fleet possessed. If he could hit the core tap, this moon would be history.

-

In the underground Command Center beneath the base, General Flynn watched the tactical displays and the viewscreens, as the Morag fleet moved into position above the base. Already orbital ODPs and parts of the defense grid above the base were firing on the enemy fleet.

“Morag fleet is almost in engagement range for our big fusion cannons,” reported Colonel Berks. “Estimate they will be in optimum firing range in two minutes.”

General Flynn nodded. He could have already fired the larger fusion cannons, but he wanted to kill as many Morag ships with the first firings as possible. “How are our energy shields?” Multiple energy shields protected the massive base.

“All at 100 percent,” replied Berks. “Core tap is functioning at 98 percent efficiency. We have plenty of power.”

“Locking on targets,” reported Colonel Harkin, who was at the massive tactical console, along with over twenty other officers.

On the main viewscreen, a highly magnified view showed the Morag fleet. Battleships and battlecruisers filled the screen. The fleet was already in heavy combat with the defensive grid, as energy beams and antimatter missiles struck the Morag fleet. Occasionally a Morag vessel would explode, as its energy shield was overloaded.

Wait until our main cannons fire, thought General Flynn. He doubted the Morag had ever encountered such firepower.

“Targeting Morag battleships,” reported Colonel Harkin. “We’ll be ready to fire in twenty seconds.”

On one of the viewscreens, the energy screens above the base suddenly lit up.

“In coming fire,” warned the sensor officer.

“Shields are holding at 97 percent,” added one of the tactical officers, whose job was to monitor the shields and to adjust power as needed.

“Optimum firing range and targets are locked in,” reported Colonel Harkin looking over at the general.

This was it. Time to see if their trap worked. “Fire!” ordered General Flynn, leaning forward in his command chair, his gaze focused on the viewscreens.

-

From the base sixty-two heavy fusion cannons fired in unison. Their beams shot up through the atmosphere and struck the energy shields of the targeted Morag battleships. They clung to the shields, as they grew brighter and brighter, and then they shot through, striking the armored hulls of the battleships. The beams smashed through the hulls, tearing though the compartments beneath. Secondary explosions rattled the battleships, as power conduits were torn apart, and multiple compartments were exposed to the uncaring vacuum of space.

Antimatter missiles arrived from the missile platforms, and, in a matter of less than a minute, the Morag lost fifty-eight of their first-line battleships.

-

Morag Admiral Norlan reeled in shock, as he watched his battleships destroyed by the massive fusion energy beams.

What are those? Norlan had never seen energy beams of such power before.

Fusion energy beams powered by the core tap, reported First Officer Kenold. They’re at least 30 to 40 percent more powerful than the energy beams of one of our battleships.

On the viewscreens, Norlan saw the beams fire again. Switch all of our weapons fire toward that base. Forget about bombing the moon. We must destroy that base, or it will destroy us! The Humans had forced him to change his battle plan again.

-

Krista and Cheryl watched breathlessly, as the main viewscreens showed the carnage inflicted on the Morag fleet. Battleship after battleship were blown out of space.

“We’re winning!” said Cheryl excitedly.

“So far,” said Governor Dyson. “But the Morag have one hell of a fleet out there. The battle is a long way from over.”

Krista moved her focus to where she knew the Themis was. She shook her head. It seemed to be in the middle of the fighting. She would expect no less from Dylan. Krista was being careful not to point out the location of the Themis to Cheryl, as it would probably freak her out.

Looking over at Mathew, Krista noted he spoke to several