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Authors: Raymond L. Weil
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Humans
in a major battle. We still have thousands of ships in the Empire that we can
call upon if need be and they will all have to be sent to the shipyards.”
“What if the
new, advanced aliens come with the Humans?” Ruthan asked as he looked worriedly
at the High Leader. “How can we hope to stop them if the AIs could not?”
“The AIs have
other weapons,” replied Nartel, recalling his most recent conversation with the
metal monstrosities. “I suspect if these aliens do show up, the AIs will be
better prepared next time.”
This seemed to
satisfy the council and after discussing several other matters of importance to
the Empire, the meeting broke up. Once the other councilors had left, Nartel
went to his office and stepped out onto the balcony that over looked the
capital city. He took in a deep breath and looked up into the sky. There was a
heavy haze over the city and even though it was mid afternoon, the city seemed
dark and gloomy.
Nartel took
out his blade from the scabbard at his waist and gazed thoughtfully at it.
Things had been so much simpler back in his youth when he had served as a
warrior upon a warship. While it was true the AIs had agreed to the weapons
research and to further upgrade Hocklyn ships, Nartel thought he had detected a
definite undertone of fear from the AIs. This was something he had never
noticed before and it was causing him some grave concern. There was something
about this new race of aliens that had come to the Humans' rescue that deeply
worried the AIs.
However,
Nartel had another ace up his sleeve. There was additional help he could call
upon, and to preserve the Empire he had done so. When the Humans returned, he
had a surprise that he hoped would end the Human problem once and for all. If
he succeeded, then he would have the advanced weapons and warships he wanted
and the Hocklyns could move quickly to finish expanding the Empire to the edge
of the galaxy and possibly beyond. It might also put them on a more equal
footing with the AIs.
-
Hedon was in
Governor Malleck’s office meeting with Admiral Telleck and the Alton Ambassador
Tureen. They had been discussing the current situation in the Federation as
well as the ongoing war with the Hocklyns and the AIs.
“If we go on
the offensive, how many of your warships can we count on?” asked Admiral Streth,
looking intently at Ambassador Tureen.
He was growing
impatient to launch his relief fleet. Two more weeks had passed since he had
interrupted the meeting in the Federation Council Chambers. He knew that he had
aggravated a number of Federation Senators in doing so.
The tall,
white haired ambassador took a deep breath and then replied. “You must
understand Admiral that close to ninety percent of my race will not participate
in this war. As I have explained earlier, even those warships we have deployed have
minimal crews aboard.”
“Is there any
chance we can put Federation crews on your ships if we agree to let your people
remain in command?” Admiral Telleck asked. He had gone on board one of the Alton battlecruisers and been highly impressed by what he had seen. Even with the designs,
it would be years before the Federation could build such ships.
“It might be a
solution and is one my people have already discussed,” Tureen responded with a
slow nod. “We have a fleet of slightly over four hundred battlecruisers. To
ensure the safety of the Federation and the other races in our section of the
galaxy, our leaders feel we must keep at least three hundred of those cruisers
close to home.”
“That still
leaves over one hundred,” Hedon spoke, his eyes lighting up at the thought of
having those ships added to his fleet.
“We would not
want to risk all of those at once,” Tureen added as he placed his right hand
palm down on the conference table. He gazed at his long, slender fingers. “I
have already spoken to my people and we would be willing to furnish you with
twenty ships to go with your relief
in a major battle. We still have thousands of ships in the Empire that we can
call upon if need be and they will all have to be sent to the shipyards.”
“What if the
new, advanced aliens come with the Humans?” Ruthan asked as he looked worriedly
at the High Leader. “How can we hope to stop them if the AIs could not?”
“The AIs have
other weapons,” replied Nartel, recalling his most recent conversation with the
metal monstrosities. “I suspect if these aliens do show up, the AIs will be
better prepared next time.”
This seemed to
satisfy the council and after discussing several other matters of importance to
the Empire, the meeting broke up. Once the other councilors had left, Nartel
went to his office and stepped out onto the balcony that over looked the
capital city. He took in a deep breath and looked up into the sky. There was a
heavy haze over the city and even though it was mid afternoon, the city seemed
dark and gloomy.
Nartel took
out his blade from the scabbard at his waist and gazed thoughtfully at it.
Things had been so much simpler back in his youth when he had served as a
warrior upon a warship. While it was true the AIs had agreed to the weapons
research and to further upgrade Hocklyn ships, Nartel thought he had detected a
definite undertone of fear from the AIs. This was something he had never
noticed before and it was causing him some grave concern. There was something
about this new race of aliens that had come to the Humans' rescue that deeply
worried the AIs.
However,
Nartel had another ace up his sleeve. There was additional help he could call
upon, and to preserve the Empire he had done so. When the Humans returned, he
had a surprise that he hoped would end the Human problem once and for all. If
he succeeded, then he would have the advanced weapons and warships he wanted
and the Hocklyns could move quickly to finish expanding the Empire to the edge
of the galaxy and possibly beyond. It might also put them on a more equal
footing with the AIs.
-
Hedon was in
Governor Malleck’s office meeting with Admiral Telleck and the Alton Ambassador
Tureen. They had been discussing the current situation in the Federation as
well as the ongoing war with the Hocklyns and the AIs.
“If we go on
the offensive, how many of your warships can we count on?” asked Admiral Streth,
looking intently at Ambassador Tureen.
He was growing
impatient to launch his relief fleet. Two more weeks had passed since he had
interrupted the meeting in the Federation Council Chambers. He knew that he had
aggravated a number of Federation Senators in doing so.
The tall,
white haired ambassador took a deep breath and then replied. “You must
understand Admiral that close to ninety percent of my race will not participate
in this war. As I have explained earlier, even those warships we have deployed have
minimal crews aboard.”
“Is there any
chance we can put Federation crews on your ships if we agree to let your people
remain in command?” Admiral Telleck asked. He had gone on board one of the Alton battlecruisers and been highly impressed by what he had seen. Even with the designs,
it would be years before the Federation could build such ships.
“It might be a
solution and is one my people have already discussed,” Tureen responded with a
slow nod. “We have a fleet of slightly over four hundred battlecruisers. To
ensure the safety of the Federation and the other races in our section of the
galaxy, our leaders feel we must keep at least three hundred of those cruisers
close to home.”
“That still
leaves over one hundred,” Hedon spoke, his eyes lighting up at the thought of
having those ships added to his fleet.
“We would not
want to risk all of those at once,” Tureen added as he placed his right hand
palm down on the conference table. He gazed at his long, slender fingers. “I
have already spoken to my people and we would be willing to furnish you with
twenty ships to go with your relief
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