Gauntlet Wars: Mind Raider by Aer-ki Jyr

Author:Aer-ki Jyr [Jyr, Aer-ki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Archon Lore
Published: 2023-12-07T16:00:00+00:00

7

EG35

March 2, 158445

ANDROMEDA GALAXY

Firchar-Nioni System

Low Stellar Orbit

The Nirvu hadn’t been quick to assemble their fleet, and by the time it arrived more than a year had passed. During that time the Paladin had slowly been bringing in reinforcements from other systems, as well as increasing the size and rate of ship production in the Firchar-Nioni System.

Normally a year wasn’t enough to build many ships, but this was the Paladin and their production rate made other races blink twice when they couldn’t believe their eyes. So mixed in with all the changes happening on the planet, an increase in ship production went mostly unnoticed…especially when they added another shipyard in the distant reaches of the system and away from prying eyes.

As it was, the Fleet Commander had 2,819 warships under his command to defend this system, which was about 80% more than he’d had on arrival, but not all of them were parked in planetary or stellar orbit for all to see. He had them scattered around the system in groups while his main force sat in low stellar orbit as an intimidating, or comforting, sight to those entering the system, depending on who you were.

When the first pings of Nirvu warships started showing up the Arbiter knew the time had finally come. There had been no combat whatsoever in either of the captured Nirvu star systems…fleet combat anyway…and he’d been expecting one big attack to finally come thanks to intelligence captured from the rebels on the planet here who were in courier-communication with their brethren in other systems.

The jumpline they were coming in on was not the most used one, but he had his fleet broken up into pieces around the spherical perimeter of the star so they were within easy striking range of them all.

“Hail them,” the Fleet Commander said, standing up out of his tail-notched chair before the holographic terminal. No response came in for several minutes, then a Nirvu in their version of a military uniform finally responded timidly.

“Greetings,” he said simply, then remained quiet, awaiting a response.

“I’ll give you this opportunity to turn around and leave on the same jumpline before we start disabling your ships.”

“We’re simply passing through the system. Is that not allowed?”

“Enroute to where?” the Arbiter asked.

“That is our business. You stated this system had free transit rights.”

“What jumpline will you be leaving from?” he countered.

The Nirvu hesitated. “We will be grouping here before departing. We don’t want our fleet formation to get too stretched out. I don’t know our next destination. You will have to ask our Admiral about that.”

“May I speak with him then?”

“He is on a ship further back in the convoy. We’re merely the vanguard.”

The Arbiter reached to the side and tapped on a map of the system, defining an area further out far from anything valuable, then sent it across the comm link. “Park your ships here until you decide to move on to your next system.”

“I’m sorry, but I have orders to the contrary.”

“These are my orders and we control this system.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.