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

“What about the warships protecting us?”

Phillips saw the energy screen on one of his ODPs fluctuate. A moment later an antimatter missile penetrated the energy screen, blasting a huge hole in the side of the ODP. Then its energy shield failed, and a barrage of Morag missiles tore apart the ODP. “Have them report to Rear Admiral Anderson. Perhaps they can help protect the space stations.”

The message was sent, and soon all the Resistance ships protecting the ODPs headed toward the rear admiral’s fleet. Perhaps combined they could defend the two space stations, or at least ensure they survived long enough to inflict more losses on the Morag.

-

In the underground Command Center, General Marley shook his head, as the Morag took out the ODPs. First one was destroyed and then, less than two minutes later, two more met the same fate. In the sky above the planet, fiery debris fell through the atmosphere.

“It’s nearly over,” Marley said, looking at Governor Stewart.

“The bunkers?”

“Eighty-six percent full,” replied the general. “We’ve already intercepted over two hundred missiles aimed at the planet. As soon as we lose the first city, I’ll order the bunkers to be sealed.”

Governor Stewart nodded. “What about the evacuations in the cities?”

“As good as expected. However, we estimate that over 40 percent of the population is still in the cities. It will still take us hours to evacuate everyone.”

“You think I should surrender, don’t you?”

Marley nodded his head. “It might save over one billion lives if you did.”

Stewart’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll keep your suggestion in mind.” Stewart did not want to surrender. He hated the Confederation. But could he allow that hate to cause over one billion of his people to possibly die? He had a lot he needed to think over and not a lot of time to do it.

-

The command ODP shook violently and had a hard time staying in orbit. Massive explosions slammed into the ODP’s energy screen, threatening to bring it down at any moment.

Captain Turner noted the growing number of red damage icons on the main damage control console. “Colonel, we won’t last much longer.” Already three of the other ODPs had succumbed to the heavy Morag weapons fire.

Colonel Phillips nodded. “I know. But we’re taking a lot of them with us.” On the main viewscreens, he saw the debris from a number of destroyed Morag ships. Even as he watched, another Morag battlecruiser blew apart in a nova-like explosion.

Phillips heard the sounds of tearing metal and an occasional scream. He wished he could get his crew off the ODP, but the weapons fire was too intense. The air in the Command Center was smoky. A number of consoles had shorted out, showering some of the personnel with hot sparks. The air circulation system had a hard time keeping the air clear.

“We did what we had to do,” he said loud enough for the entire Command Center crew to hear. “We destroyed a lot of Morag ships, and they will have second thoughts before ever attacking a Human world as heavily defended as ours was. We have set an example for the rest of the worlds of the Empire, and we should all be proud.”

Several of the crew stood and saluted the colonel.

-

A sudden massive explosion shook the ODP, knocking it out of orbit. The gigantic structure drifted down into the atmosphere. The Morag did not let up. An antimatter missile slammed into the hull, vaporizing a good one-quarter of the massive structure. The ODP’s energy shield failed completely, and now fusion energy beams riddled the falling structure. As the ODP hit the thicker regions of the atmosphere, it came apart, soon nothing more than a lifeless hulk. Its flaming pieces would soon impact the planet it had been protecting.

-

Rear Admiral Anderson watched the viewscreens, showing the falling pieces of the command ODP.

“The last two ODPs are under heavy attack, and they expect their energy screens to fail in the next few minutes,” reported Lieutenant Proston.

Anderson nodded. He had split the surviving Resistance ships, sending half to Captain Novak’s position. “They’ll hit us next, with everything they’ve got.”

-

From the ground, the massive PDC hammered the Morag fleet. This particular PDC was nearly twice the size of those on other worlds. Governor Stewart had wanted it to protect the capital. It and the capital both were protected by powerful energy shields. Not only that, the capital sat in a ring of interceptor missiles and energy beam turrets. It was the only city on the planet so heavily protected.

-

In the Command Center, General Marley kept abreast of the situation in orbit. He watched the viewscreens, as the last two ODPs were blown apart. “We’ve got some pretty large wreckage descending through the atmosphere,” he told the governor.

“Anything we can do about it?”

“Maybe. I’ll have some of our energy beam turrets target the wreckage and try to break it up into smaller less-dangerous pieces.”

The governor’s gaze moved over to the main tactical display. Nearly all the green icons once in orbit were now gone. All that remained were the two space stations and Rear Admiral Anderson’s fleet.

“Evacuation status?”

“Bunkers are 98 percent full, and I’m ordering them sealed up. The cities are at 72 percent empty, and I doubt if we’ll achieve too much more. I’m pulling all our troops to defensive positions outside the cities, in case the cities are bombed. Have you made a decision on surrender?”

Governor Stewart nodded. “We’ll surrender but under certain conditions. No Confederation troops can land on the planet, and the PDC stays intact.”

General Marley was surprised the governor had changed his mind. “Should we contact the Morag now? We might save both space stations, as well as the rest of Rear Admiral Anderson’s