The Slaver Wars: Endgame by Raymond L. Weil

Author:Raymond L. Weil
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3
Publisher: Raymond L. Weil Publications LLC
Published: 2014-11-05T09:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Chaos had descended into the heart of the Hocklyn Empire. After centuries of unchecked population growth, leaving very little space in the home systems to raise food, it had finally reached the tipping point. With the destruction by the Humans and the Altons of so many of their key food distribution and shipping centers on numerous agricultural slave worlds, they no longer had the necessary resources to feed their overly abundant population. As shortages spread from planet to planet and habitat to habitat, powerful Hocklyn families began to look for other sources of food. Rumors of families hiding vast stocks of food supplies on their worlds and habitats spread, causing fighting to break out between the different Hocklyn factions. In just a matter of a few days, anarchy rapidly spread throughout the twelve core systems.

In the system of Anlesh, fighting was growing more intense as the opposing Hocklyn fleets resorted to using their nuclear missiles upon one another. Brilliant flashes of light erupted across the battling lines of warships. One fleet was defending a massive orbital habitat where nearly eight hundred thousand Hocklyns lived. The other fleet was vying to take over the habitat and seize its reported stocks of food supplies. Rumors had it that the supply rooms on this habitat were overflowing with hoarded supplies.

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“They refuse to capitulate,” reported First Leader Ashk as he felt the dreadnought shudder from weapons fire impacting the ship’s energy screen.

“The fools!” roared War Leader Queex, glaring at the opposing ships on the main viewscreens. “They could have joined us and shared in the bounty. Now they can starve like so many others! Press the attack!”

His own habitat was nearly out of food. In three more days, the last of it would be gone. Queex knew that if he couldn’t secure these supplies, his home habitat would go the way of so many others as the population inside turned on one another like ferocious animals.

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In space, the two battling fleets continued to pound one another with every weapon at their disposal. Occasionally, a missile or an energy beam would penetrate an energy screen, causing heavy damage to a warship. In the defending fleet, two escort cruisers vanished in brilliant fireballs as nuclear missiles tore the ships apart. However, the attacking fleet was taking casualties also; a warcruiser was struck by half a dozen blue energy beams, which penetrated deep within the cruiser, causing irreparable damage. Internal explosions began destroying valuable systems and the vessel’s power system failed. The ship’s computer read the damage as being too severe and initiated the ship’s self-destructs, blowing the warship into oblivion.

“We’re pushing them back,” hissed First Leader Ashk as another opposing escort cruiser vanished from the tactical screen. “We’ve lost a warcruiser and another escort.”

“Send another message demanding they share their supplies with us,” ordered Queex, grimacing at the losses. If he lost too many ships, his own forces would fall prey to others seeking food supplies. “Tell them if they do so, they can join their forces with ours.

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