The Slaver Wars: First Strike (The Slaver Wars Book Four) (2 page)

Slith was
quiet as he weighed the First Leader’s words. There would be no honor in
retreating. Orders from the High Council could not be refused, and severe
punishments awaited those that disobeyed.

-

On the surface
of the planet, long-range sensors had already detected the two Hocklyn
cruisers. A frantic message had been sent to Fleet Command indicating that two
enemy ships had been spotted and were approaching the planet.

“Put the
defensive satellites at Condition One and order all personnel to the deep
bunkers,” Lieutenant Krandle ordered as she studied the data coming across the
sensors in the operations center. “Order all marines to their defensive positions
in case the Hocklyns land Protectors.”

“Surely the
Fleet will arrive before that happens,” Sergeant Simmons responded as he quickly
passed on the orders. He knew they were ill prepared to stop a Hocklyn attack.

He had never
been in combat before, and those two approaching ships worried him. Counting
the lieutenant and himself there were only forty marines on the entire planet.
Twenty were stationed at each of the two mining installations. The area they
had to protect was too large for the forces they had on hand. All they could
hope for was to fight a delaying action until help arrived.

Lieutenant
Krandle glanced down at her watch. “We’re twenty-one light years out from Earth
and fifteen from New Tellus, which means we’re on our own for at least an hour
unless we have a patrol fleet close by.”

“Our people
are making their way to the bunkers,” Adam Severson reported as he walked up to
the lieutenant. He was a civilian and in charge of the mining operations. There
were a number of other people in the operations center operating the different
consoles that monitored the settlements and mining operations. “It will take
nearly an hour to get everyone safely inside the bunkers. The miners are going
to the deeper sections of the mines until we sound the all clear.”

“That’s all we
can do for now,” responded Lieutenant Krandle, wishing she had more marines to
protect the civilians. Why had the Hocklyns chosen her system to show up in? Krandle
let out a heavy sigh as she weighed her options.

If the
Hocklyns landed Protectors, they would lose a lot of people. From what she had been
told by her superiors, the Hocklyns showed very little mercy toward civilians.
She just hoped they didn’t get nuked from orbit. The Hocklyns had a propensity
for using nukes against civilian targets.

“Hocklyns,”
Severson spoke with fear and worry in his voice as he looked at the two
threatening red icons on the main sensor screen. “How did they find us?”

“Probably one
of their standard survey missions,” replied Krandle, wishing the doors to the
operations center were armored. If they got through this, that would be one of
the first things she would recommend. This room would not be a good place to
defend; it was extremely vulnerable to attack. “They have been coming nearer to
our space every year, and it had to happen sooner or later.”

“Multiple
hyper traces being recorded in the outer system,” Sergeant Simmons suddenly
reported as three more red threat icons suddenly appeared on the long-range
sensor screen. The three red icons suddenly turned green, indicating friendly
ships.

“I guess
today’s our lucky day,” Lieutenant Krandle breathed with a sigh of relief. “A
patrol group must have been close by.”

“Thank, God!” spoke
Severson, looking with renewed hope at the sensor screen. He didn’t relish
seeing his mining operation turned to rubble in a battle with the Hocklyns. “Can
they handle the Hocklyn ships?”

“We will know
shortly,” replied Krandle, her eyes focusing on the screen. “Make sure everyone
continues to the bunkers until this is over. Communications get me a line to
whoever is in charge of those Federation ships.”

-

Commander
Thomas had felt the normal queasiness associated with a jump and waited
expectantly for the long-range sensor screens to come online. In just another
few moments, he would know what the two unidentified ships in the system were.

“I have a
communications from a Lieutenant Krandle on Caden’s World,” the communications
officer reported. “She is reporting that they have two Hocklyn escort cruisers
inbound. She has placed the planet’s defensive satellites at Condition One and is
sending everyone except the operations center staff and marines to the deep
bunkers.”

“Sensors online,
and I confirm two Hocklyn escort cruisers,” the sensor operator reported in a
calm voice. “They are 20 million kilometers distant from the planet and moving
inward at approximately 10,000 kilometers per second.”

“We have less
than an hour before they hit the planet’s defenses,” Major Mason commented as
he studied the data above his holographic plotting table. “If they don’t jump
out before then and report back to their fleet base.”

Thomas shook
his head as he weighed his options. “We can’t let them do that. We have our standing
orders to destroy any Hocklyn ships that appear in our space.”

“Yes, Sir,” Mason
replied. “We need to engage them immediately before they detect us.”

“Plot a
micro-jump to intercept the Hocklyns,” ordered Thomas, taking a deep breath and
walking over to the plotting table to gaze at the display. “They are already in
range of the planet, and their sensors should have detected the mining operations
as well as the defensive satellites by now. I want to be in combat range when
we come out of the jump.”

“They are
either moving in to attack or still gathering data,” suggested Mason, glancing
over at the commander.

“Designate the
two Hocklyns ships as Hostiles One and Two,” Thomas continued as he planned
what to do next. He folded his arms across his chest and contemplated the best
strategy to use in this situation. “The destroyers Argyle and Swanson will
engage Hostile One, and we will engage Hostile Two. Argyle and Swanson are to
concentrate on disabling their target’s jump drive. I doubt if they have the
firepower to take out the cruiser on their own.”

“That will be
tough on those two destroyers going toe to toe with a Hocklyn escort cruiser,”
Major Glenn warned, his eyes showing deep concern. “We could lose one or both
of them, even with our better shielding.”

“I know, Glenn,”
Thomas said, knowing Mason was right. “But we have no choice. We can’t let them
report back with what they have discovered. Get the jump set up.”

Major Mason
spoke to Navigation and the two escort destroyers. It didn’t take long to have
the micro-jump plotted and ready to implement.

“Ready to jump
and engage the Hocklyns,” he reported, his eyes on the holographic display
which had been changed to tactical mode. He could feel the increased tension in
the crew of the Command Center.

“Jump!” ordered
Commander Thomas, returning to his command console and buckling himself in.

In front of
the three Federation ships, blue-white spatial vortexes appeared. Moments later,
the ships were gone.

-

First Leader
Malken was watching the viewscreen, which was focused on the planet ahead, when
the warning klaxons started sounding. His head moved sharply to gaze at the
sensor operator.

“Three ships
have just jumped into extreme combat range, First Leader,” the sensor operator
reported, his large eyes narrowing as he studied the data on the sensor screen.

“I want the
size and identification of those ships now!” snapped Malken, his eyes turning
into dark slits. Perhaps this was the opportunity the High Council had been hoping
for to identify who was responsible for the missing ships. Great honor could be
forthcoming with that discovery. “Stand by to jump on my command once we have
their identity.”

“Incoming
fire,” Second Leader Slith warned as his board lit up with inbound threat icons.

He quickly
passed on the order to return fire without consulting the First Leader. He was
surprised that the aliens had attacked without warning. That seemed to indicate
the aliens already knew who the Hocklyns were.

The Hocklyn cruiser
rocked as missiles and explosive rounds struck the energy screen. First Leader
Malken was nearly thrown to the floor from the ferocity of the attack.

“Put one of
their ships up on the viewscreen,” ordered Malken, angrily. How dare someone
attack his ship without warning!

“Screens are
holding,” Slith reported as he listened to the reports coming in from the
various stations. “Weapons stations are returning fire. The WarFire is also
under attack. We have one ship of 700 meters and two of 400 meters engaging us.”

“Turn and
engage with our energy beams,” ordered Malken, knowing that very few alien
warships could withstand the Hocklyn’s powerful energy weapons. If the
attackers could not knock down his screens, then the energy beams would make
short work of them. His two ships were larger and more powerfully armed. “I
want boarding teams ready to go. Have our Protectors prepared to board the
enemy ships as soon as they are disabled. They are to secure all computers and
any star maps they can find!”

If his Protectors
could board the enemy ships and find information leading to their home worlds,
then much honor would come his way. Malken felt pleased with the good fortune
that had suddenly been thrust upon him.

-

Commander
Thomas watched the sensors as reports began to come in on their first strike.
As he had suspected, the Hocklyn’s energy screen was holding up to the initial
attack. On the main viewscreen appeared one of the Hocklyn escort cruisers. It
was wedge shaped and covered with weapon emplacements. Some of these flickered
with light, indicating they were firing. There was no doubt in his mind that
the StarSearch would be on the receiving end of that weapons fire. He looked
back over at the tactical display.

“Hocklyns are
firing railguns and missiles, Sir,” Major Mason reported as the StarSearch began
to shudder from the weapons fire striking their energy screen.

Commander
Thomas nodded as he kept his eyes focused on the holographic tactical display
above the plotting table.

“Continue to
close the range. Focus bow lasers and pulse lasers on Hostile One,” ordered Thomas,
grimly. This battle needed to be short! “Follow up the laser strike with two
Devastator missiles programmed with a five second impact separation.”

“Yes, Sir,”
Major Glenn replied as he carried out the order.

“Destroyers
Argyle and Swanson are both engaged. Swanson is reporting minor damage from
missile fire,” reported Communications.

In space,
exploding missiles and explosive rounds were going off in dazzling flashes as
they found their targets. Both sides were using defensive missiles to destroy
inbound ordnance. Occasionally, a heavy missile would strike a ship’s screen
brightly illuminating it in a fiery explosion.

“Activate
defensive lasers,” Thomas ordered Tactical. “It’s time we show the Hocklyns
just what we have.” So far, the Hocklyns were using the same types of weapons
as they had in the past; nothing new had been detected.

Instantly,
eight of the sixteen defensive laser batteries the StarSearch was equipped with
opened up, destroying enemy missiles in bright explosions almost as soon as
they were launched from the Hocklyn escort cruiser. Their advanced computer
targeting systems made misses few and far between.

The helm
officer turned the ship slightly, bringing the heavy bow lasers to bear on the
Hocklyn cruiser. The tactical officer quickly entered the coordinates in his
weapons console and gave the order to fire. Two other tactical officers were
next to him, operating the ship’s other weapons.

Moments later,
the main laser weapons fired, sending out powerful orange-red beams striking the
Hocklyn’s energy screen. The screen wavered and shimmered as it struggled to
resist the sudden onset of energy from the lasers. Gaps appeared in the screen,
allowing several of the laser beams to penetrate and strike the ship’s hull,
carving deep holes that glowed cherry-red. On the StarSearch’s main viewscreen,
several explosions could be seen as compartments inside the Hocklyn ship were suddenly
exposed to vacuum.

-

“Lasers!”
Malken oathed as he read the data coming in on the sensors.

Instantly,
warning alarms began to sound and red lights began flashing on the damage
control board. He knew that his ship was suffering serious damage and now
realized he was facing a very advanced enemy. The plan to disable and board the
attacking ships would have to be abandoned; they would have to be destroyed
instead.

“Firing energy
beams,” Slith reported as the Kraken finished its turn and brought its heavy
energy beams to bear on the attacking ship.

Two bright
blue beams speared out from the Hocklyn ship, striking the attacking vessel.
The enemy ship’s energy screen wavered, but held.

“Focus all weapons
on that same point,” Malken ordered loudly, angry that the ship was still there.
“We must knock that screen down! Honor is at stake!”

Malken felt a
serious vibration spread through the Kraken as more red lights lit up on the
damage control board. The energy beams should have penetrated the attacking
ship’s energy screen. He started to feel uneasy as he realized the enemy
cruiser was much more powerful than he had originally believed.

“We’re taking
serious damage from their lasers,” warned Slith, worriedly. “We have numerous
compartments open to vacuum and several fires that are out of control. We won’t
be able to keep the energy screen up much longer.”

“I have a
tentative identity on the attacking ships,” the computer operator reported.
“They are Human Federation of World’s ships!”

“Impossible!”
Malken bellowed in growing anger and frustration as his ship continued to take
damage. “We destroyed them centuries ago. The humans are all dead!”