The Lost Fleet Box Set, page 144
part #1 of The Lost Fleet Series
On one of the viewscreens, a swirling spatial vortex formed and the first Simulin battlecruiser appeared. The seventeen-hundred-meter warship and its six energy weapon spires turned slowly until it was facing Gaia.
“Emergence,” said Kevin as more warning klaxons began sounding. “They’re just outside of engagement range.” The tactical displays were filling rapidly with red threat icons.
Jeremy nodded at seeing how far out of weapons range the Simulins were. He had hoped for a few easy kills before the Simulins’ shields came up. The distance the Simulins had emerged denied him those kills.
“Distant Horizon is jumping,” reported Ariel.
Now they would see if their strategy would work. If the Simulins kept their fleet bunched up tight enough, the energy siphoning fields on the Distant Horizon and the Dominator might be able to turn the tide of the battle. If enough Simulin ships could be incapacitated, then Jeremy would order the fleet forward to destroy them.
On the nearby tactical display, the Distant Horizon and the one hundred warspheres accompanying the exploration dreadnought vanished into swirling spatial vortexes.
-
“Dropout!” called out Captain Reynolds.
“Weapons coming online,” reported Major Weir.
“Firing,” said Clarissa. Her eyes narrowed as she concentrated on sending commands to the one hundred AI warspheres that had appeared with the Distant Horizon just behind the Simulin fleet.
“Range to Simulin fleet is two hundred kilometers,” reported Sible.
“Activating energy siphoning field,’ added Major Weir. The field was being projected out in front of the exploration dreadnought so as not to capture any of the AI warspheres in the field.
Kathryn nodded her approval. Now they would find out just what the new weapons on the Distant Horizon were capable of.
-
Supreme High Commander Altrab gazed in consternation when he saw one of the ships with ancient weapons suddenly appear behind his fleet with one hundred of the smaller spherical AI ships. In moments the enemy fleet fired and the rear of his formation erupted in flame. However, he had expected something like this and was prepared.
“All ships, disperse pattern D2, now!”
Instantly the fleet began to spread apart as it rushed toward the planet at full sublight. Each ship was putting substantial distance between it and the next nearest warship.
-
The Distant Horizon opened up with every weapon at its disposal. Gravitonic beams flashed through Simulin energy screens blowing ship after ship apart. Antimatter beams ripped open hulls until the ships simply ceased to be. Particle beams lashed out, driving deep into enemy battlecruisers and blowing them in two.
From the AI warspheres, hundreds of particle beams speared toward Simulin vessels, overloading screens and tearing deep into ship hulls. In the space of twenty seconds, seventy-four Simulin vessels died. Sublight antimatter missiles were also launching, adding their fury to the devastation.
-
“Simulin ships are beginning to return fire,” Clarissa reported as she sent the AI warspheres into a complicated dance that would greatly reduce the effectiveness of the Simulin weapons targeting them.
The Distant Horizon shuddered slightly.
“Antimatter strike to the energy shield,” Major Weir reported. “It’s holding at 98 percent.”
“All weapons, continuous fire,” ordered Kathryn, leaning forward in her command chair. “Let’s hurt them as much as possible.” She knew she had to inflict as much damage as possible before the return fire became too great and she started losing ships.
“Enemy fleet is starting to disperse, and they’re accelerating toward Gaia,” reported Captain Reynolds. “Return fire is increasing.”
“We won’t have enough time to establish the energy siphoning field,” added Clarissa. “The affect is going to be negligible. We may capture a few ships in it, but not as many as we had hoped.”
“The Dominator is jumping in,” reported Commander Grissim. “They’re attacking the Simulin’s right flank as orientated to us.”
Kathryn switched her eyes to the indicated tactical display to see friendly green icons appearing on the flank of the Simulin fleet.
A sudden white light flashed across the large viewscreen nearly blinding her before it automatically dimmed.
“Warsphere WS-87 is down,” reported Captain Reynolds.
A second similar light suddenly appeared.
“Warsphere WS-42 is down.”
“Sible, jump the fleet to the secondary coordinates,” ordered Kathryn. Too many Simulin weapons were starting to target her fleet.
“Twenty seconds to jump,” Sible replied as she sent the jump coordinates to the AI ships. “We’ll be jumping to the other flank within one hundred kilometers of the Simulin warships.”
Kathryn nodded. She wanted to keep her fleet intact and use it for quick lightning strikes against the Simulins. She winced as another white light washed across the viewscreen.
“Warsphere WS-92 is down.”
“Jumping,” reported Sible as a swirling vortex formed in front of the Distant Horizon. Other vortexes formed in front of the remaining AI ships as well.
Moments later the fleet reappeared on the Simulin flank and promptly began attacking the Simulin fleet once more.
-
Altrab winced as both ships equipped with the ancient weapons were now engaged against his fleet. However, his fleet was rapidly moving toward the planet and spreading out its formation so it would not be affected by the energy-siphoning weapon the two ships had. While it might be able to affect a few of his ships, most would be able to stay out of range.
“Coming up on weapons range of the fleets defending the planet,” High Commander Jarald reported. “We’re taking significant losses from the two ships with ancient weapons.”
“Send the escort cruisers in,” ordered Altrab. “Let’s see what happens when our ships jump into the same coordinates the enemy occupies.” Altrab knew that at Malkor such an attempt had greatly diminished the power of the ship of the ancient Sphere Builders. Perhaps the same would happen again.
-
Commander Zafron gasped as the Dominator was suddenly shoved sideways as if it had been struck by a giant fist. “Kazak, report!”
“The Simulins are clever. They tried to jump two of their escort cruisers into the same coordinates the Dominator occupied. I had our energy shield set up to push us to one side if they made such an attempt. The Distant Horizon’s shield is also set to be repelled by such an attempt. The attempt did cause a power drainage of 12 percent.”
Kazak calmly fired two of the ship’s gravitonic cannons at a nearby Simulin battlecruiser. With satisfaction, he watched the beams tear it apart. He wished they would have had time to finish the weapons upgrades. As it was all they had managed to do was increase the power of the gravitonic cannons. The enemy fleet was still in the process of dispersing and he decided now was the best time to use the Dominator’s most powerful weapon.
-
On the hull of the Dominator massive hatches slid open. From each a blue sphere of energy leaped forth, targeting the nearest Simulin vessels. The energy spheres struck the Simulins’ energy shields, draining them, and then latched onto the ships themselves. In moments they were turned into drifting fields of black space dust. Seventy-eight Simulin ships and their crews died gruesome deaths.
-
Around the Dominator, the AI warspheres were laying down a devastating fire of particle beams toward the Simulin warships. A battlecruiser exploded and then two escort cruisers died. However, the Simulins were also firing back. An AI warsphere saw its energy screen riddled with weapons fire and then died as an antimatter missile exploded against its hull, destroying the vessel. Another AI warsphere had a deep crater blown in its side as Simulin energy weapons ripped the ship open nearly to its heart. In a blinding explosion the ship blew up, sending glowing debris in all directions.
-
Jeremy waited expectantly as the Simulin fleet charged toward his fleet. Eighteen thousand warships were headed toward Gaia with another four thousand going to Borton.
“They’re spreading their formation apart,” reported Kelsey as she studied the latest data. “Probably to prevent Kazak and Clarissa from using the energy-siphoning field.”
“Weapons range!” called out Kevin. “Incoming fire.”
The Avenger shook violently as it was pounded by numerous Simulin weapons. Alarms sounded as the ship began to take damage.
“Firing weapons,” reported Lieutenant Preston.
-
Across the fleet the damage quickly mounted. A strikecruiser died as it was torn in two by an antimatter explosion. Two Alton battleships were blown apart as their screens were overwhelmed by hundreds of antimatter missiles. A Human battleship had its stern ripped open by multiple energy beam strikes. Moments later a Simulin antimatter missile arrived, turning the ship into an expanding fireball of released energy.
-
“There’s too many of them!” cried out Kelsey as the Avenger rang like a hollow bell. Several lights on the damage control console turned a glaring red. “They’re going to overrun us.”
“All ships, pull back to the defense grid,” Jeremy ordered grimly. He knew it was his only option. With the full firepower of the defense grid, he might be able to slow the charge of the Simulin fleet.
“We’ve lost twenty-eight ships,” warned Kevin. “Including the battleship War Hammer.”
“We have a number of others reporting heavy damage,” added Angela. “Several are requesting permission to pull back beneath the grid to initiate repairs.”
“No,” replied Jeremy, knowing he was probably condemning those ships. “We don’t have time for such repairs.”
“Pulling back to the defense grid,” Ariel said. She looked over at Jeremy and then spoke in a low voice. “It’s not going to be enough.”
Jeremy was afraid Ariel was right. He looked around the Command Center. It hummed with activity as the crew fought the ship. He looked over at Kelsey, who was busy passing out orders. He needed a miracle, but he knew there were none coming. All he could do was try to hurt the Simulins enough that they would turn back before they reached Gaia.
-
At Borton, High Commander Caluthe gazed critically at the tactical display. One hundred and eighty-two red threat icons were arrayed in a defensive formation facing his fleet.
“Those are all AI ships,” Second Commander Gantol reported as he turned away from the sensor console where he had been studying the scans of the enemy warships. “They will be armed with particle beam cannons, antimatter missiles, and heavy energy beams.”
Caluthe looked at the other icons, which represented orbiting shipyards and possibly a Command Center of some type. “What does the battle computer recommend?”
“Full frontal attack,” Gantol answered promptly. “There are no ancient ships in that formation and no indications of any of their weapons. The battle computer predicts a 98 percent probability of victory.”
“Very well. All ships will proceed to engagement range. We’ll fire a full spread of antimatter missiles followed up by our energy beams. We have four thousand warships. This battle will be over with shortly.” Caluthe knew a victory here might still allow him to be promoted to a Supreme High Commander position.
-
The Simulin fleet advanced cautiously until they reached weapons range. Instantly thousands of antimatter missiles vanished from their launch tubes to impact the powerful energy shields of the AI ships. The amount of energy released was so intense the entire AI fleet seemed to vanish in a bright flare of light.
-
The Command AI had been expecting this. As soon as the Simulins launched, the entire AI fleet jumped into hyperspace, leaving decoys behind to draw in the missiles. The Command AI’s ship and the thirty-two warspheres appeared around the orbiting Command Station. However, the one hundred and fifty fifteen-hundred-meter spheres had another target. They all appeared simultaneously in the middle of the Simulin fleet. As soon as their systems stabilized, they set off the hundreds of antimatter missiles within their hulls. Each AI ship became the center of an expanding sphere of energy consuming everything in its path. Simulin ship after Simulin ship saw its energy shield overloaded, causing it to fail. The ravaging antimatter firestorm did the rest.
-
Caluthe watched in rage as the center section of his fleet was destroyed by the ravaging antimatter energy released by the suicidal AI ships. The only reason Caluthe’s flagship had been spared was because it was at the rear of the formation.
“Damage report!” he demanded, his eyes glowing red with anger. He had never imagined the AIs would use such a tactic, neither had the battle computer.
“Twenty-two hundred and eighteen ships confirmed destroyed,” Gantol answered in a stunned voice. “Another six hundred and seven are reporting moderate to heavy damage.”
Caluthe’s eyes shifted to the tactical display. The remaining AI ships had reappeared around what he assumed was their orbital Command Station. He still had an effective fleet of over one thousand ships. More if he included the damaged ones.
“All ships are to close with the remaining AI forces and engage. Spread the formation so they cannot use that tactic again.” Caluthe knew he had made a fatal mistake keeping his ships so close together in such a tight defensive formation. It had cost him, and now he was going to make the AIs pay.
-
“The Simulins continue to advance,” reported the AI hovering in front of the sensor station.
The Command AI went over its list of options; none were promising.
The ship shook violently as the Simulins drew within weapons range.
“Returning fire,” reported the AI at Tactical.
“All ships are engaged,” the AI hovering at the sensor station stated. “The Command Station is firing.”
The ship shook again and the Command AI felt fear flow through it. This was a new emotion, very seldom experienced. “We have made a mistake placing the Master Codex upon the planet.”
Even as the Command AI spoke, a number of Simulin ships broke off from the main fleet and headed toward the shipyards. The shipyards were lightly armed as they depended on the AI fleet and a few particle beam satellites for protection.
“Warspheres WS-247, WS-252, WS-303, and WS-326 have been destroyed,” the AI at sensors informed the Command AI.
On one of the viewscreens, the Simulin ships could be seen approaching the nearest shipyard. Defensive fire initiated, striking the energy shields of a number of the approaching vessels. Then the Simulins fired. Antimatter missiles and powerful energy beams stuck the energy shield of the shipyard, overwhelming it and causing it to fail. Six antimatter missiles exploded against the hull of the shipyard, tearing it apart. In just a few moments all that remained was a twisted hulk of glowing wreckage.
“The shipyard has been destroyed,” reported the AI at the sensor station. “The Simulin force is heading toward the next shipyard.”
Over the next few minutes the Command AI watched as the work of several years was annihilated by the Simulins. In the end, all of the shipyards were destroyed, leaving expanding fields of wreckage in orbit around Borton. For several long moments the Command AI studied the viewscreens and the wreckage.
The ship shook violently, and warning alarms began sounding.
“Several energy beams have penetrated the screen, and our hull has taken severe damage,” reported one of the AIs responsible for keeping track of the ship’s integrity. “Our weapons capability has been degraded by 38 percent.”
“The Simulins force that destroyed the shipyards is firing upon the planet.”
The Command AI looked toward a bank of viewscreens that showed Borton. Large nuclear detonations were going off across the planet. The Command AI knew that beneath each of those brilliant flashes of light was an AI installation. Huge mining and refining operations were being obliterated. Spaceports built to bring the refined metals up to orbit were vanishing under nuclear fire. The Command AI shifted its gaze to one large viewscreen. It was focused on the location of a deep underground facility.
As expected defensive weapons fire knocked down numerous missiles targeting the site. The missiles stopped and then Simulin energy weapons were directed from orbit toward the defensive installations, wiping them out. Then the missiles began to fall again and after a few minutes all that remained was a deep glowing crater.
A strange feeling swept across the Command AI. It had just watched the Master Codex being destroyed. There was no longer a way to program new AIs. The Command AIs plan of creating a new race of AIs to coexist side by side with the Humans and their allies had just died. Its reason for continued existence was gone. On the viewscreens, the Command AI saw several more warspheres vanish in antimatter explosions.
The ship began shaking violently and then a burning fire raced through the Command Center, vaporizing everything it touched. The Command AI’s last thought was that it had failed. It had promised to preserve the lives of the organics that had made Gaia their home. That was a promise it could not keep. In a flash of searing heat, the Command AI ceased to be.
-
“Jeremy, Borton is no more,” reported Ariel in a stunned voice.
“What? How bad is it?” Jeremy was certain he had misunderstood Ariel.
“They’re all gone. The shipyards, the Command Station, all the infrastructure on the planet including the Master Codex.”
Jeremy sucked in a deep breath feeling shocked at the magnitude of the disaster. The shipyards and infrastructure on and above Borton were irreplaceable. “What about the Altons and Humans at Borton?”
“All dead,” Ariel answered grimly. “None were able to get away.”
Jeremy knew Kurene had been at the Master Codex installation as well as a number of other Altons. There had been Humans on the shipyards and the Command Station.
“The AI fleet?” If any survived, he could use them at Gaia.
