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

strongly defended as possible. For several months the entire planet’s industries had been turning out defensive grid elements. They had also received a number of missiles and other items from the core worlds.

“Planetary defenses include 6 ODPs in orbit, some 1,400 energy beam satellites, and 170 missile platforms. Both space stations are heavily armed with powerful energy shields. On the surface one large PDC is near the capital city, as well as a number of energy beam turrets and interceptor missiles scattered across the planet. The capital city is protected by an energy shield and sits inside a ring of protective energy beam turrets.”

Captain Anderson nodded. He hoped that was enough. He knew he could not destroy this Morag fleet, but he might be able to force them to retreat, rather than risk significant losses.

-

On the surface of the planet, Governor Stewart had just reached the massive underground Command Center located beneath a tall snowcapped mountain. Stepping inside, he looked at all the screens and the military personnel busily monitoring the entire system and the planet.

“Governor,” said General Marley. “We estimate the Morag are four to six hours out.”

“I was hoping they would skip us.”

“Unfortunately it appears that won’t happen.”

The governor sat down and looked up at the general. “How’s the evacuation going?”

“It’s on schedule. We’ll have all the bunkers full within four hours. People in the cities are being told to go into the country. We have military personnel in all major cities directing traffic. So far, everything seems to be going smoothly, with only a few traffic tie-ups.”

Governor Stewart looked directly at General Marley. “I don’t want to fall under Confederation rule again. Do whatever is necessary to defend this planet.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Marley.

The governor left to go to his personal quarters. He hated the Confederation and what they had done to his planet in the past, the Druins taking hundreds of thousands of the planet’s young people. Time for some payback.

-

On Golan Four in the underground Command Center, Fleet Admiral Marloo had just received the message from Astor. Chancellor Stein and General Gantts stood next to him.

“Is there anything we can send to help them?” asked Stein. He knew Governor Stewart, and the man would not surrender his planet if there was any chance he could successfully resist the Morag.

Admiral Marloo frowned. “We don’t have any major fleet units that far out. We do have a few squadrons based at some nearby worlds, as well as additional Resistance units.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for them to be gathered together, rather than being picked off one at a time?” asked General Gantts.

“Probably,” replied Marloo. He had already been thinking along those lines. “Astor does have a pretty strong defense setup. Governor Stewart had demanded it because of all the young people the Druins took in the past. Let me send out some hyperlight messages and see how many ships we can get there in the next few hours. I’ll probably upset a few worlds by pulling their battlecruiser squadrons from their systems.”

Chancellor Stein understood but nodded in agreement. “Pull them out and I’ll speak to their governors and explain we’re trying to put together a big enough force to stop the Morag from attacking their worlds.”

“One more thing,” said General Gantts. “You might want to promote Captain Anderson to the rank of rear admiral. He’ll end up with a sizable fleet to command.”

“You’re right. I’ll do that immediately. Let’s hope our new rear admiral survives this battle.”

-

Newly promoted Rear Admiral Liam Anderson was still dazed by his promotion and the fact that more Imperial and Resistance warships were rushing to Astor to increase the size of his fleet.

Already twelve more battlecruisers had arrived, and more were expected over the next several hours.

“How do you want to play this?” asked Lieutenant Proston.

Liam had been thinking furiously, since his promotion, on how best to defend Astor. “We will put all our Imperial ships into one fleet to face the Morag. All of the Resistance ships will be assigned to protect the ODPs. They’re our most powerful weapons asset. As long as we can keep the ODPs operational, the Morag cannot take the planet.”

Lieutenant Proston studied the tactical display for a long moment. “Why don’t we move some of the elements of the defensive grid closer to the ODPs to give them more cover? Particularly the missile platforms.”

Anderson liked this suggestion. By moving the missile platforms, the ODPs and fleet units would offer them some protection. “Okay, let’s do that. We’ll use our Imperial fleet units for quick hit-and-run attacks against the Morag.”

-

“Admiral Marloo,” said Colonel Hillstrum. “Captain Novak is in that sector with his heavy squadron. He can be at Astor in three hours.” Captain Novak was on patrol in the outer periphery, searching for Confederation ships. It was the only heavy fleet squadron on the entire periphery besides Rear Admiral Anderson’s fleet.

“What does he have?” Marloo was trying to remember what ship units Captain Novak had been assigned.

“Two dreadnoughts and twenty-seven battlecruisers.”

Fleet Admiral Marloo didn’t hesitate. “Divert them to Astor. Inform Captain Novak he will be under Rear Admiral Anderson’s command.”

As Colonel Hillstrum turned to carry out the order, Fleet Admiral Marloo leaned back in his command chair. This was beginning to look like a possible fleet battle. The Morag would still have a great advantage, but at least Rear Admiral Anderson would now have some options in how to conduct the battle.

-

Rear Admiral Anderson felt some relief when he found out that Captain Novak’s heavy squadron was also being diverted to Astor and placed under his command.

“That gives us some options,” said Lieutenant Proston. “Captain Novak has two dreadnoughts and twenty-seven battlecruisers in his heavy squadron.”

Rear Admiral Anderson nodded. “Now we just need to figure out how we’ll use our warships.”