Existential Threat: Chapter 16 Part 2 of 2 (Patreon)

“Only a three and a half thousand to one difference,” Leblanc said.

“Good thing we have another two hundred million troopers to drop on their heads, and plenty of orbital impactors. Tell supply to keep up the good work. Leblanc. The Silver Fist system, would it be accurate from where it is or would it be too risky?”

“Those distances,” Leblanc clicked her cheek. “I know how to thread a shot, but that’s about a fifty fifty, maybe, unless we were using missiles. At this point we’re throwing up enough shit that we’re going to cause a nuclear winter anyway.”

“Ayambe, order the engineers to convert the smallest hellbores we have back to rail cannons to hurl impactors, update supply so they know our new requirements.”

“Aye admiral. Scouts reporting back on the systems the Adraxi sent message missiles to from Ilsun,” Ayambe threw out the information to everyone.

Points, stars replaced Orkana and her surroundings. Clouds appaeared around different points to show the factions, it zoomed out, showing the vast gulf between the human scanned sector and Orkanis, further core-ward along the Orion-Cygnus arm. Three other system markers appeared, wrapping closer to the center of the milky-way.

Dana grabbed one of the new systems and opened it. Filled with and clear verified areas with time stamps of how old the information was. Ice planets and the habitable planet converted into omegas. She pressed her molars together. Five complete Adraxi fleets spotted with updated drop carriers, three harvesters each, six cruisers, frigates and fifteen scouts.

She swiped to the next system, several fleets at lagrange, most around the planets. Some formed, others waiting for ships.

A chill ran up her spine seeing such a war complex.

Just when I started to feel confident in our firepower.

“Cut Diego new orders, he is to recon the new systems. I want Jung-Su to coordinate training to take the systems, all fleet staff on standby are to assist.”

Jung-Su was loaded and ready to move into assist at a moment’s notice.

“Have Diego run full readiness checks and make sure his fleet is ready to move. Has this been transmitted to Brad and Stuart?”

“They have a copy,” Ayambe said.

Dana nodded. “Advise them that I don’t think we can take those systems along, nor should we.”

“I’ll update them.”

Dana checked the time, just an hour till the meeting with their allies. Well this might stir things up a bit.

As the seconds passed, light from the Adraxi system’s suns that had reflected off of the occupants of the system reached the sensor buoys spreading around the system, capturing every piece of information.

***

[Conference secured]

Brad looked at the representatives of their allied systems. Independents, corporate interests and Coalition. He tapped the ‘file’ in front of him and flicked it out, it duplicated and landed infront of everyone.

“The Orkaran originate from planet Orkana in the Orkanis system. Several years ago a group of adventurers went up to what is their Sphere World. They gained access to it, it offered to advance their space race dramatically. Several groups forcefully controlled the Sphere World there, called themselves the Aer class and those on the planet the Lur caste.”

Brad threw up a display of the system over the table, it zoomed in on Orkana.

“They subjugated those on the planet and forced them to farm and mine the planet in near slave-like conditions. two days ago the Adraxi appeared outside the system. They jumped to the outer planets, attacked the Aer ships and stations, destroying them and forcing others to flee.

“The Aer killed their AI, stripped the station and ran, jumping to the Ilsun system that appeared to be similar to their Orkanis system, and you know what happened there.”

“What about the Lur?” Lucy Hahn asked, representative for the Coalition Faction, moved her bob hair out of the way, laser cut edge trailing under her jawline. Purple eyes, her suit a blue and gold affair, bold without being ostentatious.

“The Lur caste were left on the planet without any knowledge of what was happening above them. The Adraxi crossed the system, seeding the outer planets and jumping star-ward. Two fleets reached the planet, one in support, the other affecting a landing.”

He tapped a button, zooming in on the planet, covered in markers.

“And you want to see if we will support helping them?” The representative from Marketh asked.

“We have already engaged the enemy fleet and begun landing forces on the planet. They have different ships from what we’ve seen before, updated from fighting others,” Brad flipped up the information to the hologram. “They had heavy orbital defense, making it hell to get our boots on the ground. We’ve established positions, destroying one harvester and are trying to save as much of the local population as possible.”

“They were able to survive the spores?” The Sheren minister asked.

“In a way, the Aer used command posts at mining and collection facilities as their base of operations that cleared out some of the spores. They also broadcast messages from the command posts with radios. Those radios across the planet acted like our repeaters, spreading the signal.”

“What of the Sphere World?” the heavily accented Chebovsky representative, still in his engineering work-clothes, asked.

“We have re-activated and seeded it with an AI. We have only just cleared a corridor to evacuate people through, we’re hoping the next returning flight of dropships can start filling converted freighters waiting to carry them to their Sphere World.”

“So you will claim it?” The Lemington rep asked.

“No, we will return it to the Orkaran people, it is their system and their Sphere World. We can build more stations and shipyards, its harder to get allies.”

The Lemington rep pressed his lip forward and nodded at Brad’s gaze, a begrudging respect.

Brad checked the others and cleared his throat, glancing at Stuart.

He leaned forward, pointing at the Adraxi warships.

“These new Adraxi, Sally tells us that they have fought battles before, learned from them. Their ships are bigger, they have more of them. They communicate and coordinate on the ground, have a terrifying air-defense. They attack with planning, trying to hold positions for reinforcements, only carrying out frontal rushes when harvesters are destroyed,” Stuart breathed in, eyes flicking from the ships to the people in the room.

“There’s another Adraxi out there and it knows where at least several of our systems are.” He threw up a scan of the Ilsun system, highlighting wormholes that overlapped one another in several cases.

“These are all the wormholes that were opened by the Adraxi through the fighting between them and the Federation fleet. We focused on the wormholes where the ships came through, they came from the Orkanis system. Red highlighted the wormholes, others showing blue, yellow and pink. “These wormholes weren’t the Orkanis system, and each of them were sent several missiles,” Stuart said.

“Missiles, like the ones the Adraxi scout at Rukian fired?” The Hadarr representative, drew his arms from his robes, leaning forward.

“Correct,” Stuart nodded.

“We sent our own scouts to check the systems. We’re going to need every ship that’s capable of firing a asteroid blaster,” Brad flicked out another data packet three systems appearing across the table

“Three Adraxi systems thirteen omegas, twenty seven of the upgraded fleets,” Brad threw out the information

Faces paled as everyone grabbed the information packet.

“What we face today is what we have feared. I put forward that we should move to a war footing,” Brad said. “These three systems were sent message missiles from Ilsun. At best they know where Ilsun is. At worst they will update all of their ships and weapons to deal with the weapons the Federation deployed and they’re preparing for an assault on humanity’s systems. Each Omega can put out a fleet every other week, next week they’ll have forty fleets, in a month fifty-three.”

“Probably faster, there are several highly developed Omegas,” Sally said from where she stood next to the wall.

“I will see what aid we can offer. It will require a vote before we can take on a war footing,” Lucy Hahn said.

Others nodded in agreement.

“Can’t let you get all the victories yourself,” The Gongdian representative smiled, the others chuckled and smiled as well, baring their teeth.

“We thank you for your help,” Brad tilted his head.

“What are you proposing that we do in these systems?” Lucy asked.

“Destroy the planets and the Omega upon it,” Brad said. If we were to land forces we would be fighting the planet itself, it would suck up countless time and resources, as other Omegas only continued to grow in strength.”

Others in the room nodded in agreement.

“We have only just started to outfit our warships for bots to use them,” A representative from the Tresa system said.

“Mutual defense works both ways,” Brad said lightly.

The Tresa rep’s expression remained neutral as he sat back.

“What is your plan?”

Jung-Su will head for the Adraxi systems, he’ll engage the Adraxi from one Lagrange using supporting wormhole fire. When attacked the Adraxi usually react to counter-attack. We’re hoping to draw them into engaging Jung-Su while we launch weapons to destroy the Omegas on the other planets.”

“And if they don’t?” The Gongdian rep asked.

“Then we have to hammer them down planet by planet, tear apart their fleets and then bombard the planets,” Stuart said.

“How long would it take you to be ready to attack?”

“Hours,” Brad said.

“We would need at least a week for our forces,” Lucy said.

Brad and Stuart looked at one another, Brad shrugged. We could use the firepower.

Stuart nodded.

“That should be sufficient. The longer the Adraxi have, the more they can build,” Brad said. “They know where Orkana is at least, and probably Ilsun. ”