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

intact. Already several fusion energy beams had penetrated the weakening shield, causing considerable damage to the shipyard. Many sections were already sealed off and in vacuum.

“Rear Admiral Krest is inbound,” reported Major Kurtley. “They’ll be in range in less than a minute.”

On the tactical display, a massive force of green icons headed toward the Morag fleet. Unfortunately only four hundred of those icons were major warships; the rest were interceptors. The shipyard shook again, and the damage control console filled with more red lights. The shipyard would not last much longer. Already nearly 40 percent of the shipyard’s weapons had either been destroyed or were nonfunctional. She was still directing her remaining particle beam weapons at Morag battleships, though her supply was becoming scarce.

-

Rear Admiral Krest flinched, as the Morag fleet turned some of its firepower toward the fleet she led. She saw two of her battlecruisers explode, as their energy shields were battered down, and numerous bright flashes indicated where attack interceptors were dying. However, the Morag fleet was almost in point-blank range.

-

Morag Admiral Norlan saw the Human attack coming in on his flank. He tried to adjust his formation to face it, but, before he could, the Human battlecruisers were inside his formation. Moments later the Human interceptors were as well. Instantly carnage filled the Morag fleet. The Human battlecruisers fired every weapon they had, and the interceptors were making close-in attack runs, then releasing their missiles. The Morag were handicapped, as they had to be careful not to hit their own ships when firing.

-

Morag ships died in large numbers, as the Human battlecruisers and attack interceptors let loose thousands of missiles. Space was full of small explosions, as the desperate Morag battlecruisers fired at the interceptors, sometime hitting their own ships. Once the interceptors had fired all their missiles, they made attack runs on damaged Morag ships, using their fusion beams to inflict even more damage.

“Order the interceptors to break off and to return to the battlecarriers,” ordered Rear Admiral Krest. She didn’t see the point in allowing them to sacrifice themselves, once their missiles were expended.

-

Morag Admiral Norlan was angry at the damage the Humans were causing. All ships, use all your weapons, even antimatter missiles. I want that Human fleet destroyed!

-

The weapons fire inside the Morag fleet suddenly intensified, as antimatter missiles detonated everywhere. Some of the Morag fire even hit and destroyed their own ships.

Rear Admiral Krest felt the Tetrex shake violently, as it was hit by multiple antimatter missiles. Red lights filled the damage control console, and smoke was everywhere in the Command Center. Two consoles suddenly exploded, sending huge showers of sparks across the room. There was a nearby explosion, and two major support beams broke free from the ceiling and fell, crushing several of the crew and destroying a console.

Krest heard the sound of tearing metal, and she thought she heard distant screaming. “Helm, do you see that big Morag battleship in front of us?”

“Yes, Admiral,” answered the helm officer.

“I think that’s the Morag flagship for this fleet. It has had other ships protecting it throughout the battle. Think you can ram it?”

The helm officer looked shocked and then nodded. “Yes, Admiral. I can hit it dead center.”

Rear Admiral Glenda Krest drew in a deep breath. “Then do so!”

Major Every looked respectfully at her admiral. “It’s been an honor to serve with you.”

Glenda smiled. “The honor’s been all mine.”

On the viewscreen, the enemy flagship grew larger. In moments the two ships would collide.

-

Morag Admiral Norlan stared in shock at the Human dreadnought about to collide with his flagship. Increase speed and change direction! he sent hurriedly.

Just as the flagship obeyed his orders, the Human dreadnought slammed into the energy screen, knocking it down. The next moment the Morag ship shook violently, as part of the Human ship crashed into its stern. Instantly the power went off in the Command Center, and everything quit working. Admiral Norlan was surprised he was still alive. The emergency lights came on, his Command Center in wreckage. Nearly everything was smashed, and over half his crew was dead. He saw First Officer Kenold lying on the deck, impaled by a structural beam.

Do we have any power, and can we maneuver?

Yes, Admiral, answered the helm officer. We have battery power for about ten more minutes, and some power to our sublight drive but not much.

Admiral Norlan squared his shoulders. He had failed the Morag race once more, but he would not fail in his final act. Target the Human shipyard and ram it! His ship was dying, but he could still use it as a weapon.

-

The heavily damaged Morag flagship moved forward, heading directly toward the shipyard. The shipyard was so heavily damaged that only a few beam weapons were still working. Most of Rear Admiral Krest’s original fleet was gone as well. Only a few battlecruisers still survived, and they were heavily damaged, only capable of firing a few energy beams.

-

Colonel Long watched stoically as the Morag flagship grew closer and closer. Weapons fire hit it, and parts of it broke off. But it was too close. No matter what they did, it would strike the station. Colonel Long sat down in her command chair and waited for the inevitable.

-

With a massive explosion, the Morag ship crashed into the weakened energy shield, and then the remains of the vessel slammed into the shipyard. Both blew apart in a massive explosion that completely lit up the sky above Golan Four.

-

Major Lisa Conroy watched the explosion through her cockpit window. She saw multiple pieces of glowing debris flying everywhere, much of it heading toward the planet. She quickly contacted Rear Admiral Carrie. “Admiral, the shipyard has been destroyed, and I estimate over half of the debris is falling toward Golan Four. Much