The Forgotten Empire: War for the Empire by Raymond Weil (children's ebooks online TXT) 📗

ten Morphene battlecruisers and one battleship,” reported Major Keela Nower. “All are in low orbit above the planet.”

Audrey nodded. “Target them with fusion energy beams and fire!” She couldn’t use fusion or antimatter missiles, as they might hit the planet.

The eleven Morphene warships turned toward the inbound fleet of Imperial vessels. They began firing fusion and antimatter missiles as they were firing away from the planet. However, their screens were already glowing brightly from the impact of hundreds of fusion energy beams. A few of the screens wavered, and holes formed. Suddenly one of the Morphene battlecruisers blew apart, followed seconds later by a second and then a third.

“Close the range,” ordered Audrey, her focus on the main viewscreen. “Let’s end this quickly.” She grimaced as she saw one of her battlecruiser’s screens overloaded. It then vanished in a massive burst of light. When the light faded, the battlecruiser was gone. She shuddered, thinking about the lives lost. This was the first time when people had died under her direct command.

On the main viewscreen, two more Morphene battlecruisers exploded in massive fireballs, which quickly vanished in the vacuum of space. Almost instantly the remaining Morphene warships entered hyperspace and vanished. The battle was over.

Audrey let out a deep sigh. Her first trial by fire was over. “Take us into orbit and contact the planetary government. Tell them we will place a defensive grid in orbit and will leave a few battlecruisers and a dreadnought. If they want the protection to remain, they need to consider rejoining the Empire.”

It had been decided to be more forceful in getting planets to come back into the Empire. They could still refuse, but, if they did, all defenses would be withdrawn to be used around worlds that did want to join.

-

Rear Admiral Fulmar winced, as the Themis shook violently. They were facing a larger-than-expected Confederation fleet, consisting of nearly forty Druin warships. He had already lost three battlecruisers but had both an advantage in numbers and firepower. Rather than pull back and conserve his fleet, he had decided to destroy this Druin force, so it could not reinforce any of the other worlds he was supposed to free.

On the main viewscreen, a Druin battleship was lit up by weapons fire. Its energy screen glowed brighter and brighter, and already a few holes could be seen in the screen. Suddenly an antimatter missile darted through one of the holes and detonated against the ship’s hull. Moments later the shield failed completely, and more missiles turned the warship into a small brightly glowing nova.

The battle lasted for a few more minutes, with the Druins finally withdrawing. Out of their original fleet of forty warships only eighteen escaped.

“What were our losses?” asked Rear Admiral Fulmar.

“Four battlecruisers and one dreadnought,” replied Lieutenant Casella from the sensor console.

Fulmar nodded. While he hated losing any ships and their crews, they had destroyed twenty-two Druin warships. By any degree of measure, this was a sizable victory.

“Put us into orbit above the planet and contact the planetary governor. We have some business to discuss.”

Fulmar was determined this world would join the Empire. With the supply ships he had with him, he could offer them a reasonable defensive grid, plus he would leave a few warships behind to defend them. “Have all ships repair their battle damage. We will leave for our next target in six hours.”

-

On Morag Prime, the High Council was once more in session.

The Humans have gone on the offensive inside their Empire, sent Addonis. They are taking back all the worlds we control in close proximity to their core worlds, as well as the worlds we possess near the Hagen Star Cluster. From multiple reports, we estimate that over one thousand ships are engaged in this offensive.

How much success are they having? asked Councilor Delann.

Considerable, answered Addonis. Since we withdrew so many of our ships to help put down the unrest on Confederation worlds, we just don’t have the forces in the Human Empire to stop them.

The council members looked at each other, as they considered the ramifications of the Human Empire taking back more of their worlds.

How soon before the unrest is put down? asked Councilor Brant. We need to get ships back to the Empire as soon as possible. We can’t afford to allow the Human hold to grow stronger.

Addonis shook his head. Weeks yet. Since the wedding of the High Princess, the unrest has been growing.

How soon will the reserve fleet be fully activated? asked Councilor Hiram. Thousands of warships were in the reserve fleet. Enough to bring a stop to the unrest.

Two months, answered Addonis. Each ship must have a crew assigned, while the ship spends some time in a shipyard being updated and checked. We’ve already started this, but it’s a time-consuming process.

Still much faster than building a new warship, pointed out Councilor Brant.

What about the search for Lormallian Councilor Reull? asked Delann.

No trace. We were not able to find his brother on Bator Prime, and the other archivists had no clue where he was.

Councilor Hiram shook his head. I don’t like the sound of this. Is there any chance Reull found something in the archives that we are unaware of? The archives held a tremendous amount of data, including research information from tens of thousands of worlds.

Maybe, admitted Addonis. But, at the moment, we cannot find out what that might have been. We are still searching for Reull, but the trail has gone cold.

Councilor Brant stood towering above the table. I suggest we send Morag troops to some of these trouble spots. We have more than enough to put down these insurrections. If Councilor Reull has found something, we need to end this unrest as soon as possible.

The rest of the council agreed.

Addonis let out a deep guttural growl. We