Drake's Rift_Taurian Empire by Nate Johnson

Author:Nate Johnson [Johnson, Nate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-10-29T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Admiral McKenzie studied the screen one last time. The fleets were coming together just as he had planned. The Imperial Navy had cut them off and his ships were coming up alongside of them. Of course, it was all relative. Right now. they were separated by thousands of miles. But that would steadily decrease to hundreds.

Studying his own fleet, he had to smile. Twenty-two ships. Three cruisers, the Churchill in the van; the Roosevelt, in the middle; and, the Chow next to last, each with forty guns. Eighteen destroyers, sixteen guns each, plus their dart ships. And the Pine bringing up the rear. Ready to swoop in and pick up survivors if necessary.

He thought about the dart ships on the destroyers. They had worked well in phase two. But he couldn’t use them here. It’d take too long to pick them up. Better to keep them in reserve. Buried in the bellies of their host destroyers. He’d use them if he got the chance, but not yet.

The twenty-five alien ships looked sleek and menacing. Their giant battleship up front leading the way, trailed by twenty-four identical, much smaller vessels. What did they have? What were their capabilities?

He sighed heavily. In a few minutes, his part in this story would come to an end. His staff, the captains and their crews, they would be the ones who determined if the fleet succeeded or not.

He glanced over at Janet. She smiled back at him, silently encouraging him.

This was it. Nodding to her, he returned her smile, then switched on the fleet broadcast channel.

“Servicemen of the fleet,” he began, “we are about to enter the third phase of this battle. I know you will perform well. We have trained and practiced. We have the strongest weapons and you are the best crews in the galaxy. Do your job, and all will be well. Good luck, and happy hunting.”

Signing off, he turned to his command staff, “Gentlemen, prepare to execute phase three on my command.”

Every face in the room turned to watch their Admiral, their fingers hovering over their computer to start the battle once he gave the word.

Taking a deep breath, he paused, then said, “Execute.”

Looking down at the sensor screen showing the fleet, he knew very well what was happening. Weapons were being run out, loaded, and sightings being taken. Ships were closing with each other. Bunching up, to provide more concentrated firepower. Men were nervously checking and rechecking their sensors. Doctors were preparing their surgeries. And there wasn’t a thing he could do to make any of it go easier.

Men were going to die today, he realized. Die because of the orders he had given. But, it was either that, or the enemy would enslave his people. Those they did not kill right away would live in fear and pain. This must not be allowed to happen. And if every man under him died today, if they defeated the enemy, then it would have been worth it.

“Evans,” he yelled across the room, “any change?”

“No, Sir,” the commander said.

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