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

the very edge of space. Dust, smoke, and pollutants rose, the sky darkening.

-

In the underground Command Center, General Flynn turned pale, as reports of the damage came in. Early estimates pointed to nearly 23 percent of the surface now being uninhabitable. An estimated twelve million people had died in the blasts.

“We have rescue personnel already on their way to the affected areas,” reported Colonel Berks. “The drones were moving at nearly sublight speeds, and we couldn’t stop them all.”

Several viewscreens revealed the damage. Fires raged out of control; roadways were blocked or were now nonexistent; dams had burst, and power stations were just leveled.

“Did any drones survive?” asked Flynn.

“None,” answered Colonel Edison. “Our attack interceptors and Rear Admiral Carrie’s interceptors took out all the rest.”

General Flynn returned his attention to the battle in space. Already his main fusion energy cannons had destroyed hundreds of Morag battleships, and the base’s other weapons were blowing apart numerous Morag battlecruisers. Space was littered with debris.

“ODP eleven is under heavy fire!” called out Colonel Harkin. “It’s energy shield is failing.”

On one of the viewscreens, the stricken ODP appeared. It was covered in explosions, as its energy shield was battered down. Huge sections of the station were torn apart, as fusion energy beams ripped open the hull, causing more explosions, hurling hull material off into space. In a massive explosion, the ODP blew apart, scattering flaming debris in every direction.

“Several other ODPs are reporting damage,” added Colonel Harkin.

General Flynn knew what the Morag were doing. They were attacking the defensive grid directly above the base, so they could hit the base with more of their weapons. “All we can do is keep hitting them and hope we hurt them bad enough to force them to withdraw.” General Flynn leaned back, knowing this battle was a long way from over, and Gideon would probably be hit again.

-

Krista and Cheryl looked on in shock at the huge mushroom clouds rising above Gideon.

“At least most of Gideon’s population is safe in the underground bunkers and in the mountains,” explained Governor Dyson.

“It’s horrible,” said Krista, realizing that could easily have been Tantula Five or even Golan Four. Now she understood why Layla and Derrick wanted her safely away from the Imperial Palace.

“Who is winning?” asked Cheryl. She saw so much destruction on both sides that it was hard to tell. Her gaze searched for and then found the Themis. She hadn’t told Krista that she had known which green icon was Dylan’s ship.

“Right now we have a slight advantage,” answered the military officer, sitting with them. “The Empire’s particle beam cannons are inflicting heavy damage on the enemy’s battleships. The same for the accelerator cannons on Rear Admiral Barnes’s ships. The big base at Gideon’s north pole is causing considerable damage as well.”

“This can’t last much longer,” said Governor Dyson. “Each side is taking heavy losses.”

Looking at the tactical displays, Krista saw Imperial and Earth ships vanishing, as they were hit by enemy weapons and destroyed. So many were destroyed that she could not even keep count. Looking where Dylan’s flagship was, it seemed to be safe for the moment, but who knew for how much longer? Krista saw Cheryl’s gaze raptly watching the long-range viewscreens, showing the battle. “Dylan’s still fine.”

Cheryl nodded. Her heart pounded. She found she couldn’t even reply.

-

Dylan grew more concerned with every passing moment. If this battle continued as it was, no ships would remain of any of the engaged fleets, including the Confederation. Everything was too evenly matched.

“We need to break this stalemate,” commented Colonel Bidwell.

Dylan nodded. “I know, but, if this continues, these Confederation fleets will no longer be a threat to the Empire.”

“True, but we won’t have much of a fleet left either.”

On the viewscreens, everywhere Dylan looked was wreckage. Some large and much of it just small pieces drifting in space. Dylan felt uneasy looking at the viewscreens. Occasionally bodies were visible, floating in the darkness.

The Themis shook violently, and a few red icons appeared on the damage control board to join the others already there.

“Fusion beam hit to the starboard side,” reported the damage control officer. “We lost two small energy beam turrets and a missile tube.”

The damage was adding up. Dylan thought hard about what he could to that would be a game changer. If things stayed as they were, he could destroy the Confederation fleets, but his fleet would no longer be an effective fighting force. There would be little of it left. Closing his eyes, he shook his head. There had to be something he could do.

-

Morag Admiral Norlan had arrived at the same conclusion. If the battle continued as it was, his fleets would lose. Of course the enemy fleets would be destroyed as well. It’s time we send in some of the Druins ships to ram the base on the pole.

First Officer Kenold nodded in agreement. I will help you emplace the commands in the command crews of the selected vessels.

I want thirty undamaged Druin warships. That will allow them to defend themselves. They are to set their fusion and antimatter missiles to explode on contact with either the ground or an energy shield. We will send them in fifteen minutes.

Instantly the two got busy entering the minds of the Druin command crews and emplacing their orders in their minds. None of the Druins thought it strange that they were to suicide their ships.

-

The minutes passed, and suddenly thirty Druin battlecruisers broke formation and headed toward Gideon.

“Where are those ships going?” demanded Druin Admiral Falorr. “Contact them and tell them to get back in formation.”

“They’re not responding,” replied the communications officer.

Instantly Falorr knew what had happened. Admiral Norlan had taken over the minds of those Druin command crews and had ordered them to commit suicide,