-
Captain Frederick’s battlecruisers fired all their weapons. The energy beam turrets targeted the inbound missiles, and the ships’ missiles were aimed at several Zynth warships.
Frederick felt the Drendal shake violently, as several missiles struck its energy screen.
“Screen is holding,” reported the first officer. “Most of the Zynth missiles are aimed at the two city domes.”
On the main viewscreen he saw the two cities’ defenses intercepting the missiles.
Suddenly one of the icons representing his four battlecruisers swelled up and vanished.
“Crayton is down,” reported the sensor officer. “Ships exiting hyperspace! It’s the Taggart and Captain Manson’s task force.”
Captain Frederick felt relieved. Just maybe he would survive this battle after all.
-
In the small underground Command Center, Major Stone had just sent the order for the missile batteries around the two domed cities to fire upon the orbiting Zynth fleet. Already the energy beam batteries that surrounded the two cities were firing nonstop, attempting to take out the descending missiles. In the sky above the two cities, bright flashes of light indicated successful interceptions. However, some missiles were getting through.
“Increase the power to the energy shields,” ordered Major Stone, seeing they would take some hits. Several viewscreens were focused on the two domed cities.
Suddenly the screens dimmed as they filled with a brilliant light.
“Four hits on each city dome,” reported the sensor officer. “Domes seem to be holding but just barely.”
“Let’s hope the fleet can take the pressure off the domes. They can’t handle much more.”
Mayor Styles stood quietly watching. She knew she could do nothing. This was completely out of her hands.
-
Zynth Admiral Donlur flinched as hundreds of deadly missiles rose from the surface of the small moon.
“Detecting fusion and antimatter warheads,” reported the sensor officer.
“Switch our firing to those missiles,” ordered the admiral. “I want them destroyed.” He hadn’t expected the colony to have any surface defenses.
“Imperial warships dropping from hyperspace,” warned First Officer Zakor. “They are in engagement range!”
The flagship suddenly shook violently, as several missiles exploded against its energy shield.
“How many?”
“Ten dreadnoughts and forty battlecruisers.”
On the main viewscreen, a Zynth battlecruiser came apart, destroyed by heavy weapons fire. In one final explosion, the ship vanished, replaced by scattering wreckage.
“We have intercepted several hyperlight messages,” reported the communications officer. “The moon is requesting additional aid from the main worlds of this cluster.”
Admiral Donlur was much aware of the large Imperial fleet at Tantula Five. No doubt, as soon as they heard of the attack, they would send help.
“Take us away from the moon and back into hyperspace. I don’t want to risk major losses at this time.” He had strict orders to avoid major combat losses until the Confederation was ready to launch a major attack on the Human Empire.
The admiral gazed at the small moon and the two domed cities that still stood defiantly. The area around the two domes was heavily scarred from the orbital bombardment, though the small spaceports near each were untouched. Energy shields protected both spaceports.
“These Humans will be a problem,” he said, as his flagship pulled away from the moon. “They are fortifying everything, even their mining settlements. It’ll be very costly for the Confederation to retake all these worlds.”
-
Mayor Styles breathed out a long sigh of relief. They had survived the attack. “Have crews go into the domes and inspect them for damage,” she ordered. “I want to make sure they’re safe to enter.”
Major Stone nodded. “We need to send a message to Admiral Cleemorl, informing him that the Zynth have withdrawn.
Mayor Styles nodded. “See to it.” Adrian was anxious to get back into the dome and back to her normal job.
-
Captain Manson was relieved the Zynth had withdrawn without a major battle. He could have lost a major portion of his fleet. “We’ll assign four more battlecruisers to Captain Frederick. That will give him a more powerful squadron, until his other ships arrive in the cluster.” Manson would request more ships from Admiral Cleemorl. Manson had a suspicion this would not be the last major incursion by the Zynth into the Hagen Star Cluster.
Chapter Two
Admiral Derrick Masters toured his new flagship. A new Destiny had been built, and what a ship, classified as a superdreadnought nearly two thousand meters in length. Already all of his old crew, who still survived, were on board, getting familiar with the behemoth.
“She has nearly 40 percent more firepower than the old Destiny did,” commented Captain Audrey Banora, a pleased look on her face.
Derrick nodded. He hadn’t mentioned it, but, in another week, Audrey would be promoted to rear admiral and given command of the Destiny. Derrick would still retain overall fleet command of Fifth Fleet. It would shift a lot of the workload of fleet logistics from Derrick’s shoulders to Audrey’s.
“How many ships do we have now in Fifth Fleet?” Every day new warships rolled out of the shipyards in the core worlds at an ever-accelerating rate.
“We’re up to 462,” Audrey replied. “We have 430 battlecruisers and 32 dreadnoughts. We also have 7 battlecarriers.”
Derrick knew the plans for Fifth Fleet were to have a little over one thousand warships, as it was responsible for protecting Golan Four, the homeworld of the Human species. A new Eighth Fleet was planned that would help protect the rest of the core worlds, though each system would have a major task group in system at all times.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” asked Audrey, a wide smile on her face.
Derrick let out a deep sigh. “Only two more weeks. I can’t believe how big everyone is making this.”
Audrey laughed. “You’re marrying the High Princess of the Empire. What
