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

when they did, a fusion or antimatter missile arrived, vaporizing huge sections of the ships. In less than thirty seconds, the enemy lost over one hundred of their prized battleships, and the particle beam fire continued, as the beams could be fired three times per minute.

Dylan was stunned by the damage from the particle beams. However, the enemy fleet far outnumbered his own ships, and now vessels in his fleet were dying. A few dreadnoughts and a larger number of battlecruisers were blown apart from the intense and dangerous weapons fire. On the viewscreens, both fleets were lit up by the intense weapons fire.

“Pull us back closer to the defense grid and the ODPs,” ordered Dylan. “We’ll need their firepower.” Even with the particle cannons, he was still losing too many ships.

“Admiral, the Druin drones are going around our fleet to attack Rear Admiral Carrie!” reported Colonel Bidwell worriedly.

Dylan looked at the tactical display, seeing that was true. Already the three thousand attack interceptors launched from the planet were moving out to intercept the incoming drones. At the same time Carrie was in full launch mode, as entire squadrons of interceptors spewed out of the launch bays of her battlecarriers. This battle was about to get much more intense.

-

On board the battlecarrier Orion, Mathew was busy giving out orders to the squadrons, as they moved to intercept the Druin drones. The drones were about 40 percent larger than an interceptor.

“We don’t know their maneuverability,” said Mathew to all his pilots. “We know they are equipped with fusion energy beams and fusion and antimatter missiles. Squadrons are to use maximum dispersal to keep losses down, in case the drones use their missiles. Squadrons are to attack in pairs. I believe we will have superior maneuverability. Use that against them. All squadrons, you are free to engage.” Mathew leaned back in his chair, keeping his gaze on the two tactical displays above his console. There were also four small viewscreens, which showed views from some of the interceptors. It was almost like being in the pilot’s seat. Even so, Mathew wished he were out there with his squadrons, instead of safely inside the Command Center of a battlecarrier.

-

In space, the two groups closed and then met in combat. As Mathew had suggested, the interceptors did have an edge in maneuverability, but the drones’ fusion energy beams were more powerful, as well as their energy shields. The shield protected the entire drone. In the opening moments of the dogfight, it was evident the drones had a tactical advantage over the interceptors, as the drones’ fusion energy beams  blasted the interceptors from space. Bright fireballs littered space, as Human interceptors in the dozens died.

“Damn!” uttered Mathew. The AIs controlling the drones demonstrated superior targeting as well. “All interceptors, switch from your fusion cannons to missiles. We must knock down those shields.” Each interceptor carried four small missiles with fusion warheads.

Suddenly large explosions went off in the drone formation. It soon became clear that a single fusion explosion could bring down a drone’s shield. Now the dogfight changed, as the drones were outnumbered by the Human attack interceptors. Suddenly large numbers of drones were destroyed. The only question was if the interceptors could destroy enough of the drones before they ran out of missiles.

“How many drones remain?” asked Mathew, as he watched the tactical displays.

“Twenty-two hundred and seven,” answered Captain Anderson, who was watching the dogfight on the main screens. Explosions and flashes of light were everywhere.

Mathew nodded. His interceptors had enough missiles, if they used them carefully. “All interceptors, the missiles are effective. Use them sparingly.” Mathew winced as he saw the icons of several more interceptors swell up and vanish. The drones were still destroying interceptors on a steady basis.

-

In space, a massive dogfight ensued as the two sides tried to destroy the other. Human fusion missiles knocked down drone energy shields, and then the interceptors would use fusion energy beam fire to finish off the drone. The drones were in turn using their more powerful fusion energy beams to knock down the forward shield on the interceptors and then using their beams to blow apart the interceptors.

Human pilots were swerving and throwing their interceptors into wild movements in attempts to avoid the beams. The Druin drones were not as maneuverable and were trying to bully their way through the Human squadrons to attack the battlecarriers.

-

Druin Admiral Falorr grew frustrated, as the losses to his drones grew. “Order the drones to use some of their missiles to blast a path through those Human interceptors.” Even as he gave the order, he felt his flagship shake, as several antimatter missiles detonated against its energy shield.

“The Human fleet is moving back toward the planet’s defensive grid,” reported First Officer Dagor.

This concerned Falorr, as scans of the grid showed the strongest one they had ever faced over any Human world. He wished now that Admiral Norlan had not split the fleet.

-

Admiral Cleemorl grimaced every time one of his ships was destroyed. His losses were mounting, but so were the Druins’ and the Zynths’. He felt confident that, once he reached the defensive grid, the battle would be more than even.

“We’ll reach the defensive grid in two minutes,” reported Colonel Bidwell. The fleet was moving backward at a very slow speed, as they wanted to inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy fleets before they began firing on the grid.

On the viewscreen, the dreadnought Indomitable was under heavy fire. Its energy screen flared up brighter and brighter.

“Order the Indomitable to pull back behind the fleet,” ordered Dylan. He knew, if the dreadnought did not do so immediately, it was in danger of being destroyed.

-

On board the Indomitable, smoke was everywhere, as the air circulation system was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of damage the ship now took.