The Forgotten Empire: War for the Empire Raymond Weil (the reading list TXT) 📖

intently on the viewscreens, which showed the Druin ships bearing down on Hastings and her fleet.

“Engagement range!” called out the tactical officer.

“Fire!” ordered Hasting, leaning forward in her command chair.

The defense grid and the ODPs opened up at the same time. Hundreds of energy beams and nearly one thousand missiles were hurled toward the incoming Druin fleet.

“Druins are firing,” warned the sensor officer.

On the viewscreen, the front of the Druin fleet lit up with multiple explosions, as fusion and antimatter missiles slammed into energy screens. Rear Admiral Krest felt her flagship shudder, as a missile struck its energy screen.

“Screen is holding at 92 percent,” reported tactical.

-

In space, several Druin battlecruisers came apart, as the missile and energy beam bombardment overloaded energy screens. In a massive explosion of light, a Druin battleship blew up, splitting in two and scattering debris from the broken halves. Several more missiles arrived, turning the two halves into glowing suns.

Druin missiles and energy beams hit the defending ships as well as took out parts of the defense grid. Missile platforms launched as quickly as possible, trying to empty their magazines before being destroyed. In bright flashes of light, energy beam satellites and occasional missile platforms were annihilated. The debris fell toward the moon, where it would burn up in the atmosphere.

Around Hastings, the defensive grid, the ODPs, and the defending warships were under heavy attack. The sky above Hastings was full of bright flashes of light, where fusion and antimatter weapons were going off. With every passing moment more weapons fire was focused on the ODPs and the defending fleet.

-

In the underground Defense Command Center, Colonel Jenkins watched the display of lights on the viewscreens. “Status of the evacuation?”

“Nearly complete,” reported Major Muskin. “An estimated 92 percent of the population is safely inside their assigned bunkers.”

Colonel Jenkins took a deep breath. “We’ll leave the bunkers open for another thirty minutes or until the first missile strike. As soon as either one happens, we seal them all shut, even if we have to leave some people outside. I won’t endanger those already inside because a few are taking their time getting to their assigned bunkers.”

On one of the viewscreens, a sudden bright flash drew his attention. “What was that?”

“Rear Admiral Krest just lost one of her dreadnoughts, and ODP Baker is taking heavy damage,” replied the sensor officer, monitoring the battle in orbit. “It won’t last much longer.”

Jenkins nodded. “Have the ground PDCs ready to fire. The Druin fleet is still heading closer.”

“They will be in range of the PDCs in seven minutes,” reported the sensor officer.

Jenkins exchanged looks with Major Muskin. “We’ll fire as soon as the Druins are in range. Maybe we can take some of the pressure off the ODPs and the fleet.” Jenkins knew that, no matter what, this was a battle they could not win. However, winning the battle was not the goal. They wanted to inflict as much damage on the incoming Confederation fleets so Admiral Cleemorl could destroy them when they reached the Hagen Star Cluster. Jenkins also knew that whatever the Confederation destroyed on Hastings could always be built back later and better than before.

-

Druin Admiral Falorr was not pleased. The resistance from Hastings was far greater than he had expected. “We must finish off the defensive grid,” he said, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Once the grid is gone, we can concentrate on the warships and the ODPs.”

First Officer Dagor nodded. “I’ll change the fleet’s targeting immediately.”

-

Around the planet, the defensive grid was now under heavy fire from both the Druin and the Zynth fleets. Energy beam satellites were dying like countless moths in a flame. Missile platforms were now blown apart rapidly, as multiple antimatter missiles slammed into their shields, rapidly overloading them. In less than four minutes, the defensive grid was annihilated. With the defensive grid gone, the Zynth began bombarding the moon itself, while the Druin ships focused on the ODPs and the Human warships.

-

“Inbound missiles on the far side of Hastings!” called out the sensor officer. “Defensive grid is 98 percent destroyed. Only the ODPs and a few missile platforms still survive.”

Colonel Jenkins’s gaze met Major Muskin’s. “Seal all bunkers and activate planetary defensive network.” This was a series of missile interceptors scattered over the surface.

“Bunkers sealing up,” reported Major Muskin. “Estimate about four thousand civilians did not make it to their assigned bunkers.”

Jenkins shook his head. “Nothing more we can do. They had their chance to get to safety and didn’t make it. We can’t risk tens of thousands of others by waiting for them any longer.”

Across the planet, beneath mountains, huge metal doors slid shut. Most of the bunkers were protected by a series of such doors, as well as a contingent of Imperial Marines. In just a matter of a few minutes, all the bunkers were sealed tight and on internal air and power.

-

On the far side of Hastings, interceptor missiles rose in the air. For several long minutes they managed to intercept every incoming missile, and then the supply of interceptor missiles was exhausted. In a sudden flash of light, the first fusion warhead exploded above one of the smaller cities on that side of the moon. In moments a deadly mushroom cloud rose, as the city beneath it died. For the next several minutes, missile after missile detonated above cities, damns, valuable infrastructure, and even farmland.

-

In the Hastings Defense Command Center, Colonel Jenkins winced, as he watched the horrible destruction Hastings was suffering. He knew it would take years to recover.

Taking a deep breath, he returned his attention to the tactical display and the viewscreens. The battle was about to get more intense, as the PDCs on the ground were about to begin firing.

-

Rear Admiral Krest grew more concerned with