The Slaver Wars: Galactic Conflict (40 page)

Across the Hocklyn
formation, massive explosions smashed against newly strengthened energy
screens. Many failed under the onslaught of the energy released by the powerful
antimatter missiles. There was not a screen devised that could stand up to a
direct hit from one of those ship killers. Hocklyn escort cruisers vanished in
fiery explosions as their screens were annihilated and hulls were melted away.
In many instances, more than one missile targeted a ship. Warcruisers and dreadnoughts
were blown apart as the missile attack washed across the targeted section of
the Hocklyn fleet formation.

Borzon shields
were no more successful than the Hocklyns' at standing up to the antimatter
ship killers. Over a dozen Borzon ships vanished under the onslaught as their
screens failed and their battlecruisers were blown into oblivion. Even two of
the AI ships were severely damaged by the attack and quickly finished off by
watchful Alton ships that were targeting the large 1,500-meter spheres.

-

Fleet
Commodore Resmunt blanched at the devastation being levied against his fleet,
but now his own missiles and energy beams were striking the Human and Alton ships. With satisfaction, he saw a Human battlecruiser die under multiple explosions
from the antimatter missiles the AIs had provided. Then another and another as
more of the powerful weapons found their targets.

Resmunt
grabbed onto the command console as the Liberator shook violently when a
nuclear warhead detonated against his flagship’s energy shield.

“Shield is
holding at forty percent,” First Leader Ganth reported as he picked himself up
from the deck. “Minor damage to the outer hull.”

“Continue the
attack,” Resmunt ordered, his eyes glowing with fire. This time he would
destroy the Humans; defeat was not an option.

-

Fleet Commodore
Versith was hurriedly turning his section of the fleet. His ships were in the
center and the Humans had concentrated their attack on one of the flanks. It
was a good strategy considering how badly the Humans were outnumbered. However,
it would only take him a few minutes to maneuver his section of the fleet to
attack range.

“Honor comes
for many of our warriors,” War Leader Trion muttered as he watched Hocklyn and
Borzon ships both fall to the Human and Alton attack. Even two of the deadly AI
spheres had succumbed.

“We have the
numbers,” Versith commented as he quickly passed orders to the other ships. “The
Humans and the Altons will lose in the end.”

Second Leader
Jaseth seethed in silent rage. His hands hovered over his weapon controls. His
cold, dark reptilian eyes were full of fury as the Humans remained just outside
of the range of his weapons. However, he knew that wouldn't last for long.
Already the Viden was turning as well as the other warships around it. Shortly
the Humans would be within range and Jaseth could rain death down upon their
ships. The Viden had a full load out of the AIs' antimatter missiles, and he
intended for the Humans to pay a full price in blood.

-

Hedon felt the
StarStrike shake slightly as weapons fire impacted the ship’s energy screen. It
was deep within the fleet formation and not an easy target for the enemy
warships.

“Battlecruisers
Canth, Lisbon, Trinity, and Boston are down,” Captain Reynolds reported in a
pained voice.

“We’ve also
lost two battlecarriers, four strikecruisers, three Monarchs and twelve light cruisers,”
reported Colonel Grissim, grimly. “Hocklyn losses are much higher, but they
have a lot more ships.”

“Their fighter
attack is pulling back,” Colonel Trist reported as he studied one of the
tactical displays. “We took some hits and lost a few ships, but our defensive
fire was too much for them. They don’t have anything like out defensive laser
turrets.”

“They’re
joining back up with their other fighters,” Captain Reynolds added.

“Bomber strike
is going in,” Colonel Trist spoke as he watched the sixteen hundred Anlon
bombers beginning their attack run from above the massed Hocklyn and Borzon
fleet where they were temporarily safe from all the weapons fire going on.

-

Fleet
Commodore Resmunt frowned with concern when he heard the Humans were launching
their small fighter sized bombers. He had no doubt that he was about to lose
more ships, but for every Human fighter, bomber, and warship his ships
destroyed the more outnumbered the Humans became. It was a battle of attrition,
and he had the superior numbers. He forced himself to ignore the growing number
of dying Hocklyn ships.

“Ask the AIs
if they can help destroy the Human bombers,” Resmunt instructed Third Leader Grodno
in front of Communications. “Also, order some of our fighters to break off from
the current battle and engage the inbound bomber strike.” He wanted to destroy
as many of those inbound bombers as possible before they launched their deadly
missiles.

“The Humans
are losing a lot of their fighters,” First Leader Ganth reported, pleased with
the way the battle was going. True, many Hocklyns were finding their final
honor in death, but the Humans were suffering heavily too. On one of the viewscreens,
he watched as another Human strikecruiser exploded under the onslaught of Hocklyn
weapons fire. “I will order some of the war wings to engage the Human bombers.”

“Continue to
press them,” Resmunt ordered, not wanting to give the Humans time to reorganize
and set up an effective defense.

It was obvious
the Humans had hoped their hell missiles would drive the fleet back. This time,
it wasn't going to work. He'd also noticed that Fleet Commodore Versith was
nearly within attack range with his section of the Hocklyn fleet.

Resmunt winced
as a viewscreen showed a nearby dreadnought exploding. Two of the Humans' antimatter
missiles had blown away the ship’s energy screen, allowing more missiles to
strike the ship. A glowing field of flaming debris was all that remained.

-

Hundreds of Hocklyn
fighters peeled away from the swirling dogfight and headed toward the inbound
bomber strike. Major Brice swore as he saw the number of Hocklyn fighters disengaging
and turning toward the bombers. He was helpless to do anything as all of his
squadrons were heavily engaged. He could only hope that the escorting fighters could
stop the Hocklyns from ravaging the bomber formation.

Darting his
Talon fighter downward, he hit his turbos and swiftly accelerated toward
another enemy fighter. Pressing down on the button that controlled his twin,
30mm cannons he stitched the Hocklyn ship from bow to stern. It instantly
exploded in a reddish orange fireball.

-

The four
hundred Talon fighters protecting the bombers broke away and headed to
intercept the inbound Hocklyn threat. Missiles launched and soon the Hocklyn
fighter formations were full of dying ships as Hunter interceptor missiles found
their targets. The Hocklyn fighters were short on missiles as they had used
most of theirs in the dogfight. However, they had the numbers, and soon their cannons
began blasting away at the Human ships. The Human fighters were determined to
keep the Hocklyns away from the bombers. More fighters on both sides died and
then the bomber strike slipped past, leaving the dueling fighters behind.

Hocklyn and
Borzon ships opened up on the inbound bombers, destroying them by the dozens
with interceptor missiles, railgun rounds, and energy beams. The Human strike
continued in, oblivious to its mounting losses. They had to get in close so
their missiles wouldn’t be intercepted. Then the nearest AIs spheres opened up with
their energy beams and the Human losses increased substantially. The Human
bomber formation was full of exploding ships as enemy fire continued to
intensify.

-

“We’re losing
hundreds of our fighters and the same with the bombers,” Colonel Trist reported
as he watched the green icons fading away on the tactical display. He felt a
pain in his gut, knowing the sacrifice the fighter and bomber crews were
making. “The energy fire from the AIs are taking a lot of them out.”

Hedon nodded
as he kept his eyes glued to the tactical situation. His eyes moved from one display
to the next as he attempted to keep track of the battle. “Begin moving us
back,” he ordered calmly as the bombers neared launch range of their missiles.
Hedon knew that if he survived this battle he'd be in for a lot of sleepless
nights.

“Bombers have
launched their missiles,” Captain Reynolds reported breathlessly as his sensor
screen suddenly lit up with hundreds of fresh contacts.

“Order the
bombers back as soon as all missiles have been launched,” ordered Hedon,
knowing he was going to lose most of them. They hadn’t wavered in their attack
run and most would not be coming back to the waiting carriers.

“Six hundred
and forty bombers have launched their missiles and are attempting to withdraw,”
Colonel Grissim said as she watched the bombers beginning to break off contact.
Her eyes coaxed each one to escape and make it back to the safety of the flight
bays. She felt a deep sadness as more of the friendly green icons continued to
vanish. Not many were going to make it back.

-

Even as the
bombers attempted to reverse course many were being destroyed by the heavy fire
from the enemy warships. The fire suddenly began to slacken as the Hocklyn and
Borzon ships began switching over to intercept the more than twenty four
hundred Shrike missiles that were now inbound. The AI spheres had not been targeted,
as the Shrike missiles didn’t have the firepower to knock their shields down.

The surviving
bombers could now withdraw as the enemy was no longer focusing on them. The
remaining squadron leaders felt numb at seeing so many bombers from their
squadrons no longer showing up on their sensor screens. Each knew that they
themselves had been lucky to survive.

-

Resmunt
watched in silent fascination as the Human missiles steadily came closer. Every
second, more vanished as they were intercepted and destroyed by non-stop
defensive fire.

“We’re not
going to get all of them,” First Leader Ganth reported in his harsh and grating
voice. The Humans had launched from an extremely close range.

Resmunt only
nodded as the first missile reached the fleet and detonated against a light
cruiser’s screen.

Over the next
minute, six hundred and forty three more explosions rolled across the front of
the Hocklyn and Borzon fleet formation. When it was over, another eighty-seven Hocklyn
ship crews had gone to find their final honor. The Borzon lost twenty-three of
their cruisers.

-

The Federation
and Alton ships began to fall back with the Hocklyns, the Borzon, and the AIs
in close pursuit. The Federation ships steadily retreated until they were
within range of the heavy weapons from the Alton battle stations, the space
station, and the shipyard. Missile platforms launched their Devastator missiles,
and the space station unleashed its power beams. With the addition of the heavy
firepower from these installations, the Hocklyn advance slowed and came to a
stop. Then the Hocklyns pulled back slightly to just outside the range of
Careth’s powerful defenses.

“It’s time,” Admiral
Streth said looking at a timer that was running on one of the tactical
displays.

-

Moments later,
Second Fleet, Fourth Fleet, and Rear Admiral Tolsen’s new Third Fleet dropped
out of hyperspace amid a sudden appearance of blue-white space vortexes. In
all, two hundred and fifteen Federation warships and twenty Alton battlecruisers
appeared just outside of Careth’s gravity well.

“Status!”
barked Admiral Sheen as she waited impatiently for the tactical displays to
begin putting up their information.

“Fleet Admiral
Streth has withdrawn to the inner defenses,” Commander Diaz reported as the
holographic tactical displays suddenly blinked to life with information. “The Hocklyns,
Borzon, and the AIs have followed him in.”

“As planned,”
Amanda said, feeling her heart beginning to race. “Order all ships to form up
on Second Fleet and follow us in. Fighters and bombers are to be prepared to launch
upon my orders. Rear Admiral Marks will coordinate and command the fighter and
bomber attack. It’s time we reminded our enemy what it’s like to fight the Federation.
Order all Alton ships to concentrate their fire on the AIs. I want them either destroyed
or forced to withdraw.”

“Admiral
Streth is ordering us to engage immediately,” Lieutenant Trask reported. “He's
suffered massive fighter and bomber losses and is using the planet’s defenses
to hold the Hocklyns at bay.”

Amanda nodded;
she wasn't surprised by this.

“The Alton commander is volunteering to jump all of their ships into the gravity well and
engage the AIs,” Lieutenant Trask spoke, her eyes widening. “He feels he can
destroy a large number of them if you give the go ahead.”

Amanda
hesitated for a moment. Most of the crews on those twenty Alton ships were Human.
There were fewer than thirty Altons on the individual battlecruisers. She also
knew the AIs needed to be eliminated. So far, it looked as if they were staying
inside the Hocklyn and Borzon fleet formation safe from attack.

Amanda looked
over at Commander Diaz meaningfully; they both knew that sending the Alton ships that deep into the Hocklyn and Borzon fleets could result in losing them.
However, if the AIs could be forced to withdraw, it might be work the risk.

Drawing in a sharp
breath, Amanda passed the order. “They have permission,” she said. “However, I
want them to withdraw if they begin to lose ships.”

-

“Report!” snapped
Fleet Commodore Resmunt as alarms suddenly began sounding on the main sensor
console. His cold, dark eyes instantly transfixed on Third Leader Torlan working
the console.