Andromeda by Glenn Jackson

Author:Glenn Jackson [Jackson, Glenn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781949563740
Publisher: Light Switch Press
Published: 2019-12-02T22:00:00+00:00

56.364.08

“Status report.”

“Admiral, the fleet is prepared.”

“How many ships again?”

“Sir, we have two hundred and twenty-five battleships, one thousand three hundred heavy cruisers, four thousand six hundred light cruisers, and seven thousand fast attack craft. This does not count the thousands of starfighters.”

“Admiral Wilson-Jackson?”

“Sir, the battle management system is active, tested and calibrated. The fleet operates under my command.”

“Very well. Implement Operation Freedom Fire.”

“Aye, Admiral. All ships, we will begin Operation Freedom Fire in five, four, three, two, one, engage.”

The jump to the Tangiers Sector was brief. They came out of lightspeed to a peaceful, calm environment. However, it did not take long before enemy patrols spotted them.

“Sir, we have been scanned.”

“Roger. Hold fast.”

Within moments, thirty-seven of what they were calling Excelsior Class ships, or their battleships, appeared, surrounded by hundreds of lesser craft. Jeffrey thought a few of these ships could probably defeat him, but thirty-seven?”

“Hailing frequencies, on screen. Hail, unknown starships. Who are you and why are you in our galaxy?”

An image appeared. The individual looked rather old, and his muscles were obviously weak. His head was supported by an exoskeleton. His eyes were a piercing deep blue. His voice was clear.

“I am Clement Forty-Six, Master of Armament, First Wave. We are Kaldects come from Andromeda. You already know this. Prepare to die.”

“Wait. Why should we fight? Why not talk?”

He sneered at Jeffrey. “Perhaps you are not as intelligent as we believed. Swarm!”

The image vanished, but every ship accelerated directly for the fleet. As they approached, thousands of smaller starfighter type craft exited the large craft. They were like a swarm of hornets.

“Gabby, thoughts!”

“It’s going to be tough!”

“We have to try. Do your best.”

“Yes sir.” Gabby went into overdrive, using the advanced algorithms she and Simon had developed for this situation, and prepared to meet the enemy. She shifted the fleet forward, battleships in front, and prepared to launch starfighters. Before she could even start to respond to the attack, the swarm of enemy ships made contact with the fleet and the weaponry from the larger ships began cutting up the fleet.

“Sir, we will not survive this. Their first wave will destroy at least twenty percent of our fleet within ten minutes and fifty percent within twenty.”

“Fire every weapon we have, then engage our exit strategy.”

“Aye sir.” Gabby launched every torpedo, phaser, plasma cannon, and anything else she could think of. Before these weapons made contact, she engaged, and the remaining fleet vanished.

They rendezvoused at a pre-arranged location.

“Status report.”

“They were very efficient. We lost fifteen battleships, seventy-five heavy cruisers and almost two hundred fast attack craft in that short few minutes.”

Jeffrey was visibly shaken. “My God, they truly are unstoppable. Get us back to Meladeran as quickly as possible. We will gather all of the fleet we have there and await their advance.”

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