Galactic Empire Wars 2: Emergence Read online

  Galactic Empire Wars: Emergence

  (The Galactic Empire Wars Book 2)

  By

  Raymond L. Weil

  Books in the Galactic Empire Wars Series

  Galactic Empire Wars: Destruction (The Galactic Empire Wars Book 1)

  Galactic Empire Wars: Emergence (The Galactic Empire Wars Book 2)

  Website: http://raymondlweil.com/

  Copyright © September 2014 by Raymond L. Weil

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover Design by Humblenations.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Galactic Empire Wars: Emergence

  Chapter One

  Beth was crouched behind some heavy brush staring at their target objective. She wondered what she must look like in the ten-foot tall Type Three battle suit all hunched over. It was dark, nearly black, with small blue lights at the joints, which indicated the suit was sealed tight. She was holding her RG rifle in her right hand.

  “Report,” she ordered over her com unit as she glanced at her marines organized into a skirmish line to her left and right. They'd left four drop ships behind them with a small guard detail in case they needed to evacuate quickly if the situation went south. There were sixty marines with her and another twenty back at the ships.

  “They’re not expecting us,” Lieutenant Jamie Stern replied as she moved over next to the captain and crouched down next to her. “Sergeant Russell and Dawson’s scouts have returned and the Kleese communication center has only a few conscripts in Type Two suits on guard duty. This should be a piece of cake.”

  Beth nodded; it was as they'd hoped. They were nearly seven hundred light years from Earth and the Kleese would not be expecting an attack. Why would they? The Humans had stayed in their home system for the last two years, building up their military strength as well as providing new living spaces for the millions of survivors from the Kleese’s ruthless attack on the planet. Billions had died but millions had survived, and now it was time to begin to seek their revenge.

  Looking at their target, Beth could see several large blastcrete and metal reinforced buildings at the base of a large tree covered hill. The largest building stood nearly ten stories high and contained the communications center as well as the Kleese living quarters. If Marken’s intelligence was correct, the structure extended several levels beneath the surface and that would be where the Kleese living quarters would be. The other building was a long two-story structure, which would contain more conscripts responsible for defending the installation as well as personnel for servicing any ships that made port.

  Next to the buildings was a small spaceport with several of the 200-meter disk assault ships of the Kleese parked on the blastcrete, the same ones the Humans were now using and constructing on the large Kleese space station they'd stolen.

  Beth took a deep breath and tried to calm the rapid beating of her heart. This would be her first actual combat since the fierce battle in the spacedock at Vesta several years back. Checking the HUD in her helmet, she saw sixty small green icons that indicated all the marines in the Type Three battle suits with her were unharmed. She just hoped they stayed that way.

  “Sergeants Russell and Dawson,” she spoke calmly over her com. “Move out, standard assault line and use what cover there is to stay undetected.”

  “You go first,” Russell spoke to Dawson over the com. “You make a bigger target and if there are any conscripts we missed they’re bound to see you.”

  “Very funny,” Dawson replied as he stood up and motioned for his platoon to begin advancing. “If I see any enemy I’ll be sure to send them your way. You need the target practice.” He knew that he and Sergeant Russell would look the same in the large battle suits.

  “Can the chatter,” ordered Beth, shaking her head slightly and trying not to laugh. Dawson and Russell were always ribbing each other. Dawson was from the Midwest and had a slight southern accent where as Russell was from Chicago. However, they were both extremely good marines.

  “I had better get to my platoon,” Lieutenant Stern said. She was actually in charge of all four of the platoons on this mission, but her main job was to ensure nothing happened to Captain Williams. Major Nelson would never forgive her if that were to occur.

  It was early morning with the sun just peaking over the distant horizon. Beth hoped the few conscripts they had spotted on guard duty would be ill prepared for the coming attack. For several long minutes, the sixty marines slowly crept forward, using the few scattered trees and tall bushes for cover. Beth knew that if anyone were paying attention it wouldn’t be hard to spot sixty ten-foot metal giants moving toward the installation.

  They were nearly to their target and Beth had begun to believe they might actually take the installation by surprise when alarms began to sound. A loud wailing split the air and red lights began flashing on the two buildings.

  “Damn!” Sergeant Russell oathed over the com system. “I think they saw you, Dawson.”

  “At a run,” Lieutenant Stern ordered as she stood up from her crouched position and began jogging toward the buildings, her RG rifle held in her metal hands ready to fire.

  All sixty marines were now charging the two buildings as a number of conscripts in Type Two battle suits made an appearance. Beth knew it would take several minutes for the conscripts in the building that served as a barracks to armor up and get outside. “Sergeant Dawson, I want two squads with energy weapons focused on the doors to the barracks building. If any conscripts come out in battle suits, I want them taken out. Remember, I want both of these buildings captured intact. No explosive rounds are to be used without explicit orders from me!”

  “You heard the captain,” Lieutenant Stern spoke over the com. “Move it, people!”

  -

  In orbit, Major Nelson was anxiously watching the ship’s scanners, which showed sixty small green icons moving rapidly toward the Kleese communications installation.

  “They’ve been detected,” Colonel Adamson reported from where he was standing next to the sensor console.

  Wade nodded; he had been expecting this. He was currently aboard the Earth battlecruiser Constellation, one of the newer ships that had been built inside Vesta. The Constellation was 500 meters long and covered in stealth coating, which was supposed to make the ship invisible to Kleese scanning technology. So far, there'd been no indication the ship had been detected by the Kleese installation.

  “Keep our railguns focused on those two assault ships,” Wade ordered. “If they make a move to intervene or take off, they’re to be destroyed.”

  Colonel Adamson nodded. Major Nelson was in overall command of this mission, and Fleet Admiral Kirby had made it plain that Nelson’s orders were to be followed to
the letter unless it endangered the ship. Only then could Adamson override Nelson’s commands.

  Wade let out a deep breath. His eyes were focused intently on the sensor screen displaying the green icons of Beth’s marines. He wished he could be down there with her, but she was an accomplished officer and he had no doubts she could handle this operation. It was just hard to be in command and not in the middle of the action.

  “Assault ships are targeted with our railguns,” Adamson reported as he finished talking to his tactical officer. “If they send out battle suits or attempt to take off, we'll destroy them.”

  Wade nodded, now it was up to Beth to finish her part of the mission.

  -

  Beth threw herself to the ground as a series of powerful explosions went off around her. Instantly, two of the green icons on her HUD turned amber, indicating damage to the respective battle suits. The enemy were using the explosives in their RG rifles against the advancing marines. Each round had the explosive force of a grenade.

  “Take those Type Twos out!” she bellowed as another explosive round went off just a few meters to her right, showering her with dirt.

  There were six conscripts in Type Two suits firing explosive rounds at the advancing marines. Beth could imagine their alarm at seeing sixty Type Three suits charging toward them.

  Marines leveled their RG rifles and began firing short bursts on the auto setting. The large rifles fired small projectiles at a high velocity, which were quite deadly to anything they hit. Two of the opposing Type Two suits went down while the other four sought cover around the corners of the main building. At the same moment, bright blue energy beams began flashing, striking the entrance to the barracks building as several more Type Two suits made an appearance and then hastily retreated back inside.

  “Keep them pinned down,” Lieutenant Stern ordered as she tried to keep abreast of the situation. “Corporal Foster, take your squad and circle the main building; take out any battle suits you encounter.”

  Nicole nodded and gestured for her squad to follow. It was essential for them to secure the buildings before the Kleese could call in any reinforcements. She also knew that by now the Constellation would be jamming all outbound signals.

  -

  Inside the building, seven of the Kleese had made it to the main communications center and were watching with growing concern a number of large wall viewscreens. The Kleese looked like giant arachnids but had a large hair covered upper body that rose up into the air with a triangular shaped head and strange looking, multifaceted eyes. Two nearly black arms extended from the upper chest, ending in what looked to be hands with seven long, thin digits. They had large bodies reaching nearly eight feet in width and six feet in height with six spider-like legs.

  “Humans,” one spoke in a cold and derisive voice as it studied a data screen.

  “They are attacking this installation,” spoke another as it stepped forward and adjusted several of the screens so they zoomed in on the attackers.

  “Type Three battle suits,” said another calmly as it reached forward and pressed several buttons on a console. “I have activated the building’s security measures. Even with the weapons of the Type Three suits, the Humans will not be able to gain entry. They were foolish to attack this installation.”

  “They must have a ship in orbit, but it is not showing up on our sensors,” spoke another of the Kleese as he adjusted one of the screens that monitored inbound spacecraft.

  “We must inform the Council of Overlords of this development,” the first to speak commented. “A battle fleet must be sent to the Humans' home world to eliminate this threat. We cannot allow them to attack our installations, not after taking the space station.”

  “Our communications are being jammed,” one of the other Kleese reported from where he was standing over several conscripts operating the numerous communications consoles. “The jamming must be coming from their ship. We cannot get a message out.”

  “Launch the two assault ships and have them find this mysterious ship and destroy it,” ordered the Kleese in charge of the installation, pointing toward a screen that showed the two assault ships setting on the spaceport tarmac. “We will teach these Humans to interfere with the Kleese. We will give them their deaths!”

  -

  The fighting outside ended as the conscripts in Type Two suits that had been on guard duty were eliminated. There was no way of telling just how many were inside the barracks and port facility, but an occasional energy beam fired at the entrance was keeping them at bay. There was no doubt that whatever race was inside the suits had no desire to go up against the Human marines in the more versatile and dangerous Type Threes.

  “We have the perimeter secured,” Lieutenant Stern reported as she jogged up to Captain Williams. The lithe young blonde made the suit look as if it was a natural extension of her body.

  “Excellent,” Beth responded as she scanned the area with the sensors in her command suit. She could spot no other impending threats.

  There were four marines whose suits were showing amber; they'd suffered minor injuries to their extremities. Three had RG rounds to their legs and the other had been shot in the arm. Thanks to the medical abilities of the suits, none of the four were suffering and all were still considered to be combat capable. The suits were designed to ensure that their occupants could keep fighting even if they were severely injured.

  A noise from the spaceport drew her attention, and she watched with concern as the two Kleese assault ships rose up into the air and accelerated toward space.

  “They must know we have a ship in orbit,” Lieutenant Stern spoke as she watched the ships quickly disappear from view. “They’re going after the Constellation.”

  Moments later, two massive fireballs appeared high above them.

  “The Constellation took them out,” responded Beth, knowing that Wade had to be suffering from being stuck on board the ship. He was a hands on type of commander and would much rather be down on the planet engaged in combat. “Let’s find the main entrance to the communications center. The sooner we can get inside, the quicker we can leave. We don’t want one of their big ships showing up.”

  -

  A few moments earlier, Wade had watched from the Command Center of the Constellation as a warning alarm sounded, indicating that the two assault ships at the spaceport had taken off.

  “Ships are being targeted by our railguns,” Major Kelly, the executive officer, reported as he hovered over Tactical and gave instructions to the two officers seated in front of the instrument-laden consol.

  The ship had four large railguns on the bow of the ship and each could be independently targeted. With Kleese and Kivean technology added to the dangerous weapons, they were now capable of firing a tungsten round at nearly ten percent the speed of light.

  “Firing,” Lieutenant Carson Reyes said from Tactical as the ship vibrated slightly.

  On the main viewscreen, the two Kleese assault ships could be seen rising rapidly from the planet. Suddenly four fiery plumes intersected the two ships, tearing through their light energy shields and impacting the hulls. Two massive fireballs engulfed each of the vessels, ripping through the ships and vaporizing the interior. Moments later, all that was left was a cloud of burning and glowing debris falling back toward the planet.

  Wade watched in surprise. He had known about the changes made to the railguns, but this was the first time he had seen them in action. The two assault ships never stood a chance.

  “I’m impressed,” Wade said, looking over at Colonel Adamson. “I wasn’t expecting that. I thought the rounds would go completely through the ships.”

  “It’s the kinetic energy given off at impact,” Colonel Adamson explained. “There's so much heat generated it results in a massive fireball that tears through anything it strikes. One of the scientists back home told me the amount of energy the round imparts is in the kiloton range.”

  “Sounds almost as effective as the particle beams,” c
ommented Wade, referring to the two large particle beam cannons on the bow and the two smaller ones on the outer hull.

  “Almost,” Adamson responded with a grin. “But the particle beam weapons are even more dangerous. I can’t wait to try out our new ones against one of the large Kleese ships.”

  “Let’s hope that’s not necessary on this mission,” replied Wade, arching his eyebrow.

  He still wondered what would happen when they came up against an actual Kleese warship. Those supposedly stayed in close to the Kleese home systems. Marken had explained to him and General Mitchell that the large Kleese disk ships they'd destroyed at the trading station and in the battle in the Solar System were not actually military vessels. They served more as a mother ship to the thirty or so assault vessels they carried, even though they were heavily armed.

  -

  “Sergeant Russell, take your platoon and surround the barracks and port facility,” Beth ordered as she watched the flaming wreckage from the two destroyed assault ships fall back toward the ground in the distance. “I don’t want anyone coming out of that building.”

  “Yes, Captain,” replied Russell, as he motioned for his marines to follow him.

  “Lieutenant Stern, I want that communications center locked up tight. Also, have Corporal Foster meet me at the front entrance. We’re probably going to have to blow our way in. If I know the Kleese, they probably have the entire facility sealed tight.”

  A few moments later, Captain Williams, Lieutenant Stern, and Corporal Foster were standing in front of a heavy metal door that blocked the entrance to the building. Several other marines stood nearby with their weapons held at the ready.

  “This is ship armor,” Corporal Foster reported as she leaned over and inspected the door, tapping it with her metal hand. She looked at the captain. “I don’t think I have anything that can blast a hole in this; it’s too thick.”