The Lost Fleet: Into the Darkness Read online

  The Simulins began to use the vortexes to travel to and explore other nearby galaxies. They found large numbers of space going races, which would have to be overcome first if they wanted control of those galaxies. They began to make plans to extend their power and dominance over the inhabitants of those distant star systems.

  For hundreds of years the Simulins prepared. They tested new weapons and built larger and more powerful warships. They solidified their control over their home galaxy and then finally began the invasion of another. For thousands of years they used the Dyson Spheres to spread slowly from one galaxy to the next. They were an unstoppable force as civilization after civilization fell to their massive war fleets.

  While much research had been done to unlock the secrets behind the construction of the massive artifacts, many areas of the spheres remained sealed against exploration. Regardless of the methods used to try to gain entry, they met in failure. Only the immediate areas around the vortex generators seemed to be open. Accepting that, the Simulins didn’t hesitate to send their invasion fleets through to galaxy after galaxy. Now they were ready to launch the next invasion. This one would be to the home galaxy of the AIs and the mysterious organic races that infested it.

  -

  Admiral Tolsen gazed nervously at one of the tactical displays. Two hours previously, the intergalactic vortex had activated for just a few seconds before shutting down. All twelve of the Indomitable Class Battlestations and the twenty Type Two stations had been placed at Condition One.

  “I just finished speaking to Pelel and he believes the brief vortex opening was a Simulin test to confirm the vortex was functional,” reported Commander Arnett. “He feels we can expect a fleet to come through next.”

  Race took a deep breath. He had one hundred and forty-five warships with which to stop the Simulins. Looking at one of the viewscreens, he could see one of the twelve Indomitable Class Battlestations. If they could hold the Simulins at the vortex, it would be due to their firepower. Five hundred particle beam satellites were also stationed around the estimated vortex opening as close as he dared. At a single command, he could turn the area where the vortex would form into a raging inferno.

  Pressing a small switch on his mini-comm, he spoke to his fleet admirals and commanders. “We expect a full activation of the intergalactic vortex at any moment,” he said in a calm and commanding voice. He paused, weighing his words carefully. “There has been a lot of debate as to whether this threat is real or not. I can assure you it is indeed real or you and your ships wouldn’t be here. Our plan is very simple. We’ll attempt to destroy the Simulin invasion fleet at the periphery of the vortex as they come through. We have no idea of the size of the fleet we’ll be facing other than in all likelihood it will be massive. The fate of our galaxy could very well depend on what we do here today. The WarHawk will not withdraw until every Simulin ship has been destroyed or we ourselves have died in battle.”

  Race looked around the Command Center at the faces of his crew. They all looked just as determined as he was. “Prepare for battle,” he ordered. The words were scarcely out of his mouth when the warning alarms began sounding on the sensor console and red lights began flashing.

  “Vortex activation,” confirmed Lieutenant Davis.

  Taking a deep breath, Race nodded. This was it! “All ships go to Condition One,” he ordered. “Close with the vortex and open fire as they come through!”

  -

  The Simulin fleet commander gazed impassively at the massed fleet preparing to enter the swirling vortex in the floor of the Dyson Sphere. Over eight hundred warships and twenty conqueror drone vessels were ready to make transit. All ships were on a war footing as they were entering a relatively unknown galaxy. As the ships emerged from the vortex, they would take up pre-assigned positions in the shape of a massive defensive globe until all the ships of the fleet made the transit. The fleet would then move to secure the area around the intergalactic vortex. Energy collector satellites would be deployed around the galaxy’s black hole to provide a power source to send individual ships back to the Dyson Sphere as well as send messages back when it was time for the support fleet to come through.

  One thing high on their priority list was to find this galaxy’s Dyson Sphere. For some reason it was not allowing the establishment of an active vortex. They knew its location from sealed records they’d found on the original Dyson Sphere. Once they had control of it and could activate the corresponding vortex, they would have unlimited travel for their invasion fleets to travel back and forth between the two galaxies.

  “Begin transit,” ordered the fleet commander in a cold and nearly emotionless voice. It was time to add another galaxy to the ever growing number the Simulins were bringing under their control.

  “First Assault Fleet is moving into position for transit,” answered his second in command. “Second and Third Fleets will follow at two minute intervals.”

  Above the Dyson Sphere, a group of seventy Simulin escort cruisers broke out of orbit and accelerated toward the swirling intergalactic vortex.

  -

  Admiral Tolsen leaned forward in his command chair gazing at a viewscreen showing the swirling intergalactic vortex, easily four kilometers across. It had formed in the exact location the brief vortex had formed at earlier. “All ships and stations stand by to fire,” he ordered. “Commander Malen, set the particle beam satellites on automatic so they will fire as soon as they detect a Simulin ship.”

  “Sending the command,” Malen replied. Her pulse was racing and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

  “All weapons ready to fire,” reported Colonel Cowel. He stood anxiously watching the tactical displays, waiting for the first Simulin ships to appear.

  For several minutes, the white vortex spun and then the first Simulin vessels spewed forth. Eleven hundred-meter escort cruisers seemed to materialize out of the vortex. Not one at a time, but in full squadron strength and in very tight formations.

  “Fire!” ordered Race as more Simulins ships continued to arrive. “Lieutenant Travers, send a message to fleet command that Simulin warships are transiting into the galaxy in large numbers. Add to the message we’re moving to engage. We’re now at war!”

  The anxiety in the Command Center markedly increased. On the main viewscreens, hundreds of bright blue particle beams suddenly flashed into existence and smashed into the Simulin vessels as the defensive satellites fired. Shields were just coming into being as the particle beams struck, smashing into the Simulin hulls. At the same time, Devastator Three missiles were launched from the Type Two stations to take advantage of the momentary weakness of the enemy.

  Space seemed to light up with the steady burst of exploding fifty-megaton warheads and the bright blue flashes of particle beams. It was as if a massive energy fire burned at the center of where those deadly weapons were aimed. Simulin ship after ship exploded under the devastating attack. However, before the Simulin fleet could be completely destroyed, shields snapped into being on the surviving ships and weapons fire began to be returned. Then the second wave of Simulin warships began to make transit. However, in this wave there were a number of the more powerful seventeen hundred-meter battlecruisers, which would be more difficult to destroy.

  “More Simulin ships are making transit,” reported Lieutenant Davis. “Battlecruiser size and there’re a lot of them.”

  “Move the fleets closer,” ordered Race, his eyes intently watching the tactical displays. The only chance he had to win this battle was to destroy as many Simulin ships as possible as they made transit. “We need to add our firepower to the battlestations and the defense satellites, it’s the only way we’re going to stop them.”

  “Particle beams firing,” reported Captain Daniels from Tactical. “Locking on with Devastator Three missiles.”

  “Missile launch,” another tactical offer said.

  On the main viewscreen, more brilliant flashes of light became evident as the advancing ships poured we
apons fire into the heart of the emerging Simulin formations.

  -

  In the second Simulin fleet, a High Commander realized what was happening. The inhabitants of this galaxy had laid a trap for the incoming fleets and there was nothing he could do to warn those coming behind him. This had never happened before. Somehow this galaxy must have been warned about the impending Simulin attack!

  “Form a defensive wall in front of the vortex,” he ordered briskly as he studied the recommendations from the battle computer. “We must protect the ships coming behind us to give them time to activate their energy shields.”

  He felt anger at the audacity of such primitive organics to attempt to thwart the Simulin invasion. If the ships with shields could protect those coming out of the vortex long enough they would soon have sufficient forces to push out and destroy their attackers.

  -

  Race grimaced as one of the Type Two battlestations exploded in a fiery ball of light as half a dozen Simulin energy beams blew it apart. The battle was becoming more intense as additional Simulin ships successfully made transit. While the defending fleets were still destroying many of them, there were a growing number of enemy vessels with intact shields now holding position in front of the vortex, making it more difficult to strike those still emerging.

  “The Simulins are firing upon the particle beam satellites,” reported Colonel Cowel worriedly. “We’re starting to lose them pretty rapidly.” On one of the tactical displays, the small icons, which represented the satellites, were starting to wink out in rapid succession.

  Race nodded. He’d been afraid of that. The particle beam satellites had no defensive screens and were easy targets for the Simulin weapons.

  “Alton battlecruiser Stardust is down,” reported Lieutenant Davis as its green icon swelled up and vanished from the sensor screen.

  Race winced at hearing that. He greatly feared there would be many more ships to follow the Stardust into oblivion. “All ships, continue to fire! Pour it on! We can’t let them break free of the area around the vortex.” Race leaned forward, his eyes focused intently on the tactical displays. This was a battle they had to win or the consequences to the galaxy would be grim.

  -

  Space was full of exploding Devastator Three missiles, particle beams, and power beams. The Simulins were responding with their own powerful energy beams as well as sublight antimatter missiles. In front of the vortex, Simulin ships were packed so close together their energy shields were nearly touching. The final Simulin fleets were making transit and were composed primarily of the large battlecruisers.

  As each minute passed there were more and more surviving Simulin ships and the weapons fire became heavier. The Simulins were now using their defensive energy batteries to take out the surviving particle beam satellites in an attempt to alleviate that threat. They were also using their main energy weapons to annihilate the battlestations, which were pouring a withering particle beam fire into the massed fleets.

  -

  An Indomitable Class Battlestation was under heavy attack. Numerous energy beams pummeled its shield as well as antimatter missiles. The screen seemed to flicker under the assault and then two energy beams struck the hull, blasting a huge glowing rent into the side of the station. There were several internal explosions and the station’s power failed momentarily. Its crew rushed to try to initiate repairs but it was too late. Three Simulin antimatter missiles slammed into the now vulnerable hull, detonating in fiery explosions. The battlestation blew apart with most of its structure being converted into gas and flaming debris. There were no survivors.

  -

  “We just lost an Indomitable Class Battlestation,” reported Commander Arnett in a shaken voice. “We’ve also lost six more of the Type Twos.”

  “Four hundred and twelve of the particle beam satellites have been taken out,” added Colonel Cowel. “The rest will be gone shortly.”

  Race took a deep breath. “Order the remaining Indomitable Class Battlestations to close with the enemy.” He might be ordering them to their destruction, but with their heavy energy shields, they stood the best chance of withstanding the Simulins’ energy weapons fire at pointblank range. They could also cause a tremendous amount of damage.

  -

  Admiral Jackson held his breath as the Dauntless shook violently and the lights in the Command Center briefly dimmed then returned to full brightness. “Report!” he demanded, seeing a number of red lights appear on the damage control console.

  “Heavy damage to hull sections seventeen and eighteen at bulkhead twenty-two,” reported the damage control officer. “I’ve sealed off the area.”

  “Casualties?”

  “At least fifteen missing,” reported his executive officer, Colonel Milson. “It was a Simulin energy beam which managed to penetrate our shields.”

  On one of the viewscreens, there was a brilliant flash of light.

  “What was that?” asked Jackson, suspecting the worst.

  “The battlecruiser Malta,” the sensor operator reported. “She was hit by multiple energy beams and antimatter missiles. The Malta is down.”

  “We’re being hammered,” Colonel Milson grated out as the Dauntless was hit with what felt like a massive hammer. More red lights appeared on the damage control console and he thought he could hear screams in the distance.

  Jackson sensed the damage being done to his ship. The hull seemed to ring with every energy beam strike to the shield and he knew some of the energy was impacting the ship’s armor. The Dauntless shuddered violently once more, and Jackson glanced over at Colonel Milson.

  “Fusion reactor three is down,” reported Colonel Milson in a grave voice. “We can either fire our particle beams or the power beams but not both.”

  “Particle beams,” ordered Jackson, taking in a deep breath. “They seem the most effective. Get repair crews on that reactor. I want full power to all of our weapons as soon as possible!”

  “Yes, Admiral,” Colonel Milson replied as he contacted Engineering.

  Looking at one of the tactical displays Jackson saw several other green icons blink out. The fleet was taking heavy casualties. This battle was far from over.

  -

  Calmat, the Carethian Admiral in charge of the Bear fleet gazed determinedly at the main viewscreen in the Command Center of his battleship, the Hunter. If the reports were true, the powerful warships they were now engaging were what stood between someday rescuing Clan leader Grayseth and the others of the Lost Fleets. He was determined his clan would do their part to allow for that eventual rescue. While others spoke of a relief fleet, he hoped someday Grayseth could return triumphantly home from the hunt. “Press onward,” he ordered. “The enemy before us must be destroyed if we ever wish to rescue our clan brothers. This is a hunt we must win.”

  The Bear fleet continued to close with the massed Simulin ships. Weapons fire between the two fleets continued to intensify as the Bears bored straight ahead. First one, then two, then six of their cruisers exploded in massive bursts of energy as Simulin weapons fire blew them apart. However, the Bears were making the Simulins pay a heavy price as they fired particle beams and power beams into the heart of the Simulin formation. Two Simulin escort cruisers died after losing their shields, then a battlecruiser exploded as Bear particle beams tore it apart. This was the hunt and the Bears were unwavering in their resolve to bring honor to their clan.

  -

  Admiral Victell and Admiral Bachal had combined their forces into a single Alton fleet of sixteen battleships and ten battlecruisers. Already the battlecruiser Stardust had been destroyed, and other ships were reporting heavy damage.

  Admiral Bachal turned to his second in command, Colonel Derrick Shepherd, a human officer. “We’re suffering heavy damage across the fleet. Even our shields are failing when hit by large numbers of Simulin energy beams. Admiral Strong was correct in reporting the dangerous power of these weapons.”

  “Battleship Lexil is under heavy att
ack,” the human sensor operator reported.

  He made an adjustment and the large screen on the front wall of the Command Center showed the massive Alton battleship. Dozens of Simulin energy beams were berating the energy shield along with the occasional explosion of an antimatter missile.

  “Their engineering compartment has taken a hit and they’re beginning to lose power,” reported Colonel Shepherd as he listened to a status report over his mini-comm.

  “Intensify fire upon the ships attacking them,” ordered Admiral Bachal in a strained voice. “We must take some of the pressure off them.” While he was one of the few Altons capable of serving in a combat position, it was still very difficult for him to order the deaths of others, even their enemies.

  “The Indomitable Class Battlestations have reached pointblank range,” the sensor operator reported. “Weapons fire between them and the Simulins has grown so intense it’s beginning to interfere with our sensors.”

  It was at that moment half a dozen Simulin energy beams blasted through the Lexil’s energy shield, penetrating deep into the ship. Massive explosions rocked the ship and large sections of the hull were blown away. On the viewscreen, several large gaping holes were easily visible.

  Admiral Bachal’s face turned pale, knowing what was about to happen and that he was powerless to stop it.

  Suddenly a bright explosion filled the screen and when it cleared, the Lexil was gone.

  “Battleship Lexil is down,” reported the sensor operator.

  “Look at the viewscreen,” said Colonel Shepherd, his eyes opening wide in awe.

  The eleven surviving Indomitable Class Battlestations had closed to the point at which every one of their weapons could be brought to bear upon the remaining Simulin ships. Several of the stations were nearly inside the Simulin formation. The battlestations were one thousand meters in diameter and armed with particle beam weapons, power beams, and numerous antimatter missile tubes. Each station seemed to be enclosed in a fury of brightness as the Simulins were doing everything in their power to destroy them.