The Slaver Wars: First Strike (The Slaver Wars Book Four) (5 page)

Everyone was
quiet. The fleet command ship was of a new design. It was a Vanquisher class
battleship, the largest warship ever built by the Federation. It had originally
been planned for use by Admiral Johnson to command the Federation Fleet.

“It’s
fitting,” Admiral Freeman spoke in agreement after he thought it over. “He
should have the best ship we have.”

“A Vanquisher
class battleship,” Admiral Tolsen spoke, his eyes widening at the thought.

He could only
imagine what it would be like to command a ship as powerful as this one was
supposed to be. Some of the ship designers even claimed it could take on an AI
ship and win. Tolsen wasn’t so sure about that. The ship had not even been tested
in combat as of yet.

“What name
shall we give the new ship?” Freeman asked. It was only right that Admiral
Streth be given the most powerful ship in the fleet as his flagship. If it
wasn’t for the admiral, none of them would be here.

Admiral
Johnson smiled. She had already thought of the name. “We will name the ship
after the most famous ship ever to serve in our fleet. The ship will be named
the StarStrike!”

-

Two days later,
Admiral Johnson gazed at the multiple viewscreens on the front wall of her flagship
the Conqueror class battle cruiser Victory. They were approaching Earth and her
meeting with the Federation Council. The Sol System was the only other system
with defenses that compared to New Tellus. Karla knew that a big reason for
that was due to Ceres being there. Ceres was where the Federation survivors had
settled after fleeing Earth and the Spanish Flu. Currently over two million
Federation citizens lived in the large manmade habitats inside the massive asteroid.

“We have Luna Control
on communications,” Commander Breeman reported as the communications officer
began speaking with her counterpart.

On the main viewscreen,
the view switched to show a small crater on the Moon’s surface. The crater floor
was covered with buildings and a dome that allowed Earth normal atmosphere. On
the edge of the crater, massive weapon emplacements were visible. This was the
venerated Fleet Academy where all Federation officers were trained. It had a
marvelous history and Admiral Johnson’s own remote relative, Greg Johnson, was
a part of that.

There were
four shipyards on the sensor screen, three in orbit around Earth and another
truly massive one above the Moon. This was the only shipyard in the Federation
that came even close to being as large as the primary shipyard above New
Tellus.

Even as she
watched the sensor screen, two Fleet destroyers made rendezvous with the
Victory to serve as her escort to one of the shipyards above Earth. Any ship
entering Earth orbit was escorted in. Johnson knew the same thing was done to
any ship approaching Ceres. Security in the home system was taken extremely
seriously.

Looking over
at the holographic imager above the plotting table, she gazed speculatively at
the twelve large violet icons that were in orbit above the Earth. These were
gigantic battle stations, nearly three thousand meters in diameter. Unlike the
asteroid fortresses around New Tellus, these monstrosities were constructed of
metal. Equipped with numerous power beams, lasers, and heavy missiles it was
hoped that battle stations of this size would be able to stop an AI vessel.
After all, Earth, with her six billion people, was the most heavily populated
planet in the Federation.

“The
Federation President and council have been called into session and will be
awaiting your appearance,” Commander Breeman reported as he listened to a
message over his mini-com from the communications officer. “There is a lot of
speculation going around on the news channels about what’s going on. Numerous
rumors are being reported that Hocklyn vessels have been spotted in Federation
space. Several news stations have already confirmed that two Hocklyn escort
cruisers were destroyed above Caden’s World.”

“Rumors will
always circulate,” Admiral Johnson replied with a sigh as the Victory continued
her approach to Earth. “It’s not surprising that the news has already gotten
out. It will be up to the council and the president as to what the media
stations are told about the actual battle.”

Looking around
the Command Center, Karla thought about her decision to activate the Ready Reserve
Fleet and turn it over to Admiral Streth. She needed to buy some time to get
the Federation ready for war. She hoped that Admiral Streth could buy her that
time.

-

A few hours
later, Admiral Johnson entered the massive Human Federation of Worlds capitol
building on Earth. An honor guard of twelve marines escorted her to the
innermost sanctum where the president and the twenty-eight senators of the
Federation Council were waiting. Entering the spacious conference room, Admiral
Johnson noticed that all eyes instantly focused on her. The marine escort did
not enter but returned to their previous duties.

“Admiral
Johnson,” President Kincaid spoke with a warm and friendly smile as he stood up.
“I hope your trip from New Tellus was uneventful.”

“It was, Sir,”
replied Karla, respectfully. She had known Alvin Kincaid back when he was a senator
from Mars. He was a very astute politician and extremely popular with the
people of the Federation.

“Have a seat, Admiral,”
President Kincaid said, indicating a chair next to him. “We have a lot to
discuss today.”

For the next hour,
Karla answered questions about the StarSearch’s engagement with the Hocklyns.
Some of the questions were very pointed, asking for additional details and
explanations. It became obvious that many of the senators were frightened as
they realized that the war they had been preparing for all these years might
have finally arrived.

“One thing
that bothers me is that we attacked first!” Senator Fulbright from the Federation
world of Serenity in the Epsilon Eridani system spoke with narrowed eyes. “Why
did we not try to establish communications with the Hocklyns first? It has been
nearly four hundred years since they destroyed the original Human Federation of
Worlds; they could have changed since then. Unprovoked attacks like these will
not help us to establish peaceful relations with their empire in the future.”

“An empire of
slaves,” Admiral Johnson reminded him in a cold voice, her eyes turning toward
the senator. “Slaves that routinely die in their service to the Hocklyn Slave
Empire. Is that what you want for us, Senator?”

“Of course
not,” Senator Fulbright stammered, sounding flustered. “I just meant that if
the Hocklyns knew they were up against a powerful military force they might chose
the path of peace instead of war.”

“I know you
mean well, Marcus,” interrupted President Kincaid, keeping his voice calm. “We
have discussed this many times before. From everything we know, the Hocklyns
have never allowed a planet to live outside of their rule. If the Hocklyns find
themselves up against a technologically advanced planet that they cannot handle,
the AIs are called in. The AI ships wiped out the original Human Federation of
Worlds without losing a single ship. Do you want to see AI ships above Serenity?”

“No, of course
not,” Senator Fulbright replied, his eyes looking down.

He knew he had
overstepped himself. He just didn’t want to see his planet destroyed in a war
they might not be able to win. He felt that every effort possible should be
made to negotiate with the Hocklyns. “I just wish there were some way we could
avoid this war.”

“So do I,
Marcus,” President Kincaid replied in a softer voice. “War is a horrible thing.
We all would like to avoid it if possible.”

“Do you believe
war is inevitable, Admiral?” Senator Malle of Mars asked. “Is it coming soon?”

The room
became very quiet. A chair squeaked as one of the senators leaned forward to
hear Admiral Johnson’s response.

“War is
coming,” she uttered as her eyes swept over the Federation senators. “We can’t
avoid it; all we can do is be prepared. Our best experts predict full scale war
with the Hocklyns within eighteen months.”

“Eighteen
months!” Senator Fulbright moaned in shock. “We’re all going to die!”

“Control
yourself, Senator,” admonished President Kincaid, his eyes focusing on the
senator from Serenity. “We’re not all going to die. The Fleet will protect us.”

“Admiral, what
are your plans to protect us from the Hocklyns?” asked Senator Anderson of
Earth, shaking his head in disgust at Senator Fulbright’s outburst. “Surely the
Hocklyns will come searching for their missing ships, and when they do they
will find the Federation.”

“We believe that
they will come,” confirmed Karla, mentally preparing to try to sell her idea of
activating the Ready Reserve Fleet to the council. “I have a plan that may give
us some additional time. It’s risky, but I believe it holds a great chance for
success.”

For the next
two hours, she described in detail what she wanted to do and a general timeline.
Many of the senators asked questions and requested additional information. Some
of the information had to be sent for, but at the end of the meeting everyone
seemed satisfied.

“It’s a daring
plan you have come up with,” President Kincaid said at last as he took in a
deep, steadying breath. “If we don’t do as you suggest how soon before we see
major engagements with the Hocklyn fleet in our own space?”

Federation
space was considered to be all the space within thirty light years of Earth.
Inside of that space were ten inhabited solar systems and over thirty
additional systems with mining operations.

“As I
mentioned earlier, our Intelligence analysts estimate we will see major
engagement with Hocklyn forces within eighteen months if we wait and do
nothing. If we do as I suggest we may be able to delay this for several years.
That will give us the time we need to finish our war preparations.”

This statement
brought a look of worry, and even fear, to the faces of a number of the
senators. Several took to talking to each other in subdued voices.

“Then we have
no choice,” commented President Kincaid, standing up and looking grimly around
at the gathered senators. “I propose that we approve the activation of the Ready
Reserve Fleet and turn it over to Admiral Streth. I propose we also place the
Federation on a war footing in preparation for war with the Hocklyn Slave
Empire.”

Senator Anderson
of Earth stood and was recognized by the president.

“Four hundred
years ago the Federation warship Avenger crashed upon the moon of Earth and the
Federation survivors settled inside Ceres. We have known for nearly two hundred
and fifty years that this was in our future.”

“The Hocklyns
will show no mercy,” Senator Barnes from Ceres reminded everyone. He looked
slowly around the room. “We either fight or we die.”

“Well spoken,”
Senator Anderson said, nodding at the senator. “The survivors from the original
Federation of Worlds know full well what the danger is. I ask that we approve by
acclamation the two motions put forth by Admiral Johnson and the president.
This war has finally come to our doorstep, and we cannot avoid it. Let us take
the appropriate actions to protect the new Federation and its citizens.”

The vote was
held and easily passed. Out of the twenty-eight senators, only two voted
against it, both from Serenity.

President
Kincaid nodded as the paperwork was prepared. The two resolutions would be
signed by all the approving senators as well as by him.

Turning to
Admiral Johnson, President Kincaid spoke. “Go to Ceres and awaken Admiral
Streth and his people. You have the support of the Federation Council and
myself to initiate a First Strike against the Hocklyn Slave Empire.

 

Chapter Three

 

In Hocklyn
space, Fleet Commodore Resmunt gazed at the detailed map of the galaxy hanging
on his office wall. Four colors dominated the map, each one representing one of
the four races that controlled their particular section of the galaxy. In the
center was an area nearly ten thousand light years across with no color that was
controlled by the AIs. Commodore Resmunt did not let his thoughts dwell on the masters.

In recent years,
the color representing the Hocklyn Slave Empire had slowed down its rapid expansion
in this sector of space. Exploration escort cruisers had been vanishing in
unusual numbers. A few times the destroyed remnants of the ships had been found,
but nothing else. Several Hocklyn scientists had suggested defective
self-destructs might be to blame, but an exhaustive inspection of countless
Hocklyn ships had not indicated any type of problem with the nuclear charges.

Countless star
systems had reported ghost sensor readings on their long-range sensors. Ships
had been sent to investigate, but nothing had ever been found. Normally this
would be discounted as mechanical errors, but the excessive number worried the
Hocklyn High Council. Hence, Fleet Commodore Resmunt had been sent to the front
of this sector where the mysterious sensor readings were the highest. He was
known for being cautious as well as being one of the best, if not the best,
Fleet Commodore the Hocklyns had. He had also ordered the construction of six
new fleet bases to give him a powerful fleet asset to further explore this
troublesome area.

Resmunt turned
around and gazed coldly at the four War Leaders that were standing in the
center of the room, waiting for his orders. “Progress in this sector has almost
stopped,” he grated out in a rasping voice, his large eyes narrowing
dangerously. “Under my orders our exploration escort cruisers are now working
in groups of two when they jump into unexplored systems. There are currently
twenty groups out exploring the edge of this quadrant, which we believe may be
near a large high tech civilization that has been destroying our escort
cruisers for years.”

Other books

Amazing Medical Stories by George Burden
It Burns a Lovely Light by pennington, penny mccann
11 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot by Heather Long
Blackvine Manor Mystery by Wendy Meadows
The Tin Can Tree by Anne Tyler
Winters & Somers by O'Connell, Glenys