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

no missiles had penetrated the defense grid, though the grid was now taking more hits. Looking at the viewscreens, bright flashes could be seen in the sky, and glowing debris shot through the atmosphere.

“Morag fleets are in optimum attack range of the grid,” reported Colonel Marks from the tactical console. “They’re also at the maximum range of our ground PDCs.”

Gantts shook her head. “Hold off on the PDCs, but I want everything else firing. Put the missile platforms on maximum launch. We need to reduce the size of that Morag fleet before they get any closer.”

“What about the shipyards and the space stations?” asked Colonel Hillstrum. “The particle beam cannons we have on all of them could cause considerable damage to the Morag fleet.”

Marloo had been waiting to bring them into the attack. So far the Morag had not fired on them, but, once he unleashed the particle beam cannons they were equipped with, that would change immediately. However, it might cause some of the weapons fire now focused on the fleets to be turned toward the shipyards and the space stations. All the shipyards and stations had very powerful energy screens. “Communications, order the shipyards and the space stations to open fire. Let’s take out some more Morag ships.” Fleet Admiral Marloo hoped this wasn’t a mistake, but he needed the extra firepower.

-

On board the largest shipyard, Colonel Macey Long nodded to herself, as she received the orders to fire. At the moment only her shipyard and one more were on this side of the planet and in range of the Morag, as well as two of the space stations.

“Pick out ten Morag battleships and prepare to fire,” she ordered. With twenty particle beam cannons, she expected to destroy all of them. “As soon as they are destroyed, pick out ten more.” She wouldn’t mess with lessor targets with her particle beam weapons. “All other weapons are to fire on the front of the Morag fleet.”

“Weapons locked,” reported the tactical officer.

“Fire!”

-

Instantly from the shipyard, a barrage of missiles, fusion energy beams, and particle beams rained down on the Morag fleet. All ten of the targeted battleships were hit. Their screens lit up brightly, and then the particle beams penetrated, slamming into the hulls, blasting out deep glowing craters. The second particle beam arrived, cutting deep into the ships and traveling along the hulls, causing massive damage. Internal explosions rattled the ships, and then several antimatter missiles arrived, turning the ten battleships into small novas.

-

Fleet Admiral Colane was in charge of the section of the Morag fleet closest to the largest shipyard. He flinched visibly when it opened fire and started destroying his battleships.

Target that shipyard! he ordered, upset by the destruction it caused. I want it destroyed. This battle was not going as he had hoped. Already he had lost too many ships to the Earth fleet he faced, and now this shipyard was causing havoc as well.

-

Derrick frowned; he was losing too many ships. Activating the ship-to-ship comm system, he waited until Rear Admiral Carrie was on the line. “Rear Admiral Carrie, as soon as your interceptors are back, pull beneath the defensive grid, where Rear Admiral Collison’s battlecarriers are. I’ll shortly pull the fleet back into the defensive grid.” It was the only thing Derrick could do to prolong the life of his fleets.

The Destiny shook violently, and a few more red icons appeared on the damage control console. The Destiny was the largest ship in the fleet by far and could handle the damage. However, it was becoming clear the Morag had identified the Destiny as the fleet flagship and were targeting it more heavily. Currently Derrick had a dozen battlecruisers surrounding the flagship, helping to take off some of the pressure.

Derrick waited until he saw the battlecarriers and their escorts drop back toward the grid. “All ships, this is Vice Fleet Admiral Masters. All ships are to drop back into the defensive grid immediately.”

Derrick just hoped being inside the grid didn’t allow Morag missiles to penetrate and hit the surface. He had one more message he needed to send. From what he saw, there were a considerable number of damaged Morag ships. Time to eliminate them.

-

In the underground Command Center, Derrick’s message was received. “Fleet Admiral, Vice Fleet Admiral Masters is requesting we launch all ground-based interceptors,” reported the communications officer. “He’s pulling his fleet back into the defense grid to increase the amount of weapons fire striking the Morag fleet. He wants to launch a massive strike against the damaged warships in the Morag fleet immediately.”

Admiral Marloo looked over at Colonel Marst. “Get it done.” Marloo was concerned that Derrick had been forced to pull back into the defensive grid. He would only do that if his fleet were taking heavy losses. “General Gantts, warn all ground commands that we can expect some missiles to be coming through shortly.”

Gantts nodded and sent off messages to the various ground commands.

-

Layla sat pensively in the Royal Bunker, watching what was occurring in space. “We’re losing, aren’t we?” She looked over at Andrew. What she had been watching on the viewscreens was frightening. She knew that tens of thousands of good men and women had already died, and the battle still had a long way to go.

Andrew nodded. “For now. Derrick has pulled back into the defensive grid, so he can add its firepower to his fleet. This is a long way from over. Don’t give up yet. Have faith in Derrick.”

Kala took Andrew’s hand. “Are we in danger here?”

“I don’t think so,” replied Andrew. “We’re deep underground, and this bunker is very heavily reinforced. Don’t forget about the energy shield above us, protecting the Palace.”

They all looked back at the viewscreens. Several of them showed interceptors taking off from nearby bases.

“Looks as if Derrick’s calling in