The Slaver Wars: First Strike (The Slaver Wars Book Four) Read Online Free Page A

representing the Federation ships was also
missing. The battle hadn’t been without losses.
    “Sergeant
Simmons, tell the people they can come out of the deep bunkers. Set the
defensive satellites to Condition Two. This is over with for now.”
    -
    Commander
Thomas had moved his remaining two ships over Caden’s World. The StarSearch and
Argyle had just gone into orbit when the sensor operator reported more contacts
jumping into the system. The tension in the Command Center went up as everyone
wondered if it were more Hocklyns.
    “What do we
have?” demanded Thomas, focusing his eyes on the large sensor screen next to
the plotting table. He watched nervously as over a dozen red threat icons
appeared, and then visibly relaxed as they turned to a friendly green.
    “I have the battlecruiser
WarHawk and two battle carriers, the Liberty and Independence, as well as two Monarch
heavy cruisers and eight light cruisers reporting in,” the communications
officer replied.
    “They sent a
full fleet,” Major Mason commented surprised at the number and size of the
ships in the quick response force. “They were not going to take any chances
with what might be waiting for them here.”
    “I have Rear Admiral
Tolsen on the com, Sir,” the communications officer reported. “He is requesting
our current status.”
    Thomas took a
deep breath and then activated his mini-com, putting him in instant contact
with Admiral Tolsen. “Admiral Tolsen, this is Commander Thomas of the
StarSearch. We are currently going into orbit over Caden’s World. Both of the Hocklyn
ships have been destroyed and from what we can tell were not able to get word
out as to what they had found.”
    “That’s good
news, Commander,” Admiral Tolsen’s strong voice responded. “What are the
conditions of your ships?”
    “The Swanson
was destroyed in the battle, the Argyle has moderate damage, and I have sent
additional repair crews over to assist. The StarSearch received some minor
damage and should be back to full operational status within two hours.”
    Admiral Tolsen
was quiet for a moment before replying, “We will be micro-jumping in system and
will rendezvous with you in a few hours. Once there, I want you and your
executive officer to come aboard the WarHawk for a meeting. I want to go over
the battle with you in detail as well as all the data that you collected. If
the Hocklyns found this system once, it’s only a matter of time before they
find it again.”
    -
    Commander
Thomas looked out of the shuttle’s cockpit windows as they neared the WarHawk.
The ship was massive at 1,200 meters. The battlecruiser was covered with weapon
emplacements, including offensive and defensive turrets that dotted the hull. However,
Thomas knew that the WarHawk’s most powerful weapons were the new power beams
that had been installed in the bow. Rumor had it that they were much more
powerful than lasers.
    “I wonder what
will happen next?” Mason commented as he stared at the massive warship and the
open flight bay that they were rapidly approaching.
    “We prepare
for war,” Thomas replied in a sad voice. “We knew this day was coming, it’s
just here earlier than we expected.”
    After the
shuttle landed in the bay, Commander Thomas and Major Mason made their way to
one of the small briefing rooms next to the Command Center. Two heavily armed marines
allowed the two to enter. Once inside, they found Rear Admiral Tolsen and
several of his aides.
    “Have a seat,
gentlemen,” said Tolsen, motioning for them to sit down. “I want to go over
this battle in detail before sending a full report to Fleet Command.”
    For the next hour,
they went over every aspect of the battle, from the weapons used in the opening
salvos to the end when the heavy lasers had been used as well as the four Devastator
missiles.
    “I’m concerned
about one thing,” Admiral Tolsen commented as he watched the last Hocklyn escort
cruiser explode in a series of nuclear explosions on