It was with grim satisfaction that Star Commander Vis Vistricer turned to the holo image of Fleet Admiral Nina Rossu. Commander of the First Strike Division and gave the order to commence operations. They were right on time, twenty fourth Dolmas, as expected.

“You have your orders, Admiral, execute.”

“Sir.” Admiral Rossu turned to her operations and communications officers and spoke. “Send the following: Open fire as soon as positions assigned reached.”

With ‘Yes sir’s’ the two sent the already coded signals. The ships of the First Strike Division began speeding to their assigned positions. On arrival, they identified their targets, and the carnage began.

First Strike Division had come in almost directly overhead the system in a roughly circular formation. Vis Vistricer would have preferred to have come in on the ecliptic plane but did not have the time to spare for the detailed survey necessary. But surprise was total, they knew the best time to arrive and that made up for any shortfall in the compromises in the arrival.

A short distance across the galaxy, the Deputy Commander, Fleet Admiral Enos Ra Stako and the Second and Third Strike Divisions had it easier. One went high and the other went low and their arrival time was also well planned. Their orders were simpler as well. They were to destroy everything in the system, leaving nothing alive or useful behind. Then the Third Division was to move onto Landue World while the Second Division was to rejoin the Star Commander at Destron.

The troopers and the spacers of the Empire had been thoroughly briefed and informed about the Kingdom so were ready and eager for the engagement. As it has been said, the Empire took pains to educate their citizens.

The soldiers of the Kingdom were not so well treated and so reacted quite differently.

*********

The operations center of the Kingdoms Fleet Headquarters was always a busy place with various space craft coming and going, effecting repairs, provisioning or other necessary work on battleships, cruisers and other craft. However at this time, late in what passed for night in the Kingdom’s schedule, the defensive fortresses were all at the lowest level of awareness with all weapons powered down. The warships were also at the lowest level of awareness, with minimal crews at their stations. That meant that the controllers were not busy, but they were not fully alert either. Therefore, it took a short but significate amount of time for them to become aware of the new sources and the significance of the unusual numbers. The first to react called for his superior, a Fifth Khan.

“What is it?” this worthy muttered as he swung his whip back and forth. It was near the end of his shift, and he was anxious to leave.

“A large number of sources, no codes though, unidentified.” He checked his screen again, “More signals,” He turned to the Fifth Khan, “from underneath the plane?” the puzzlement was clear.

This Fifth Khan was smart and alert, he stared at the display, mouth open, eyes wide. “Alarm, alarm.” He shouted, “We are under attack!” He turned to the communications “Send the alarm, NOW! Attack stations everyone!” Everyone started running, powering up weapons and defences. It was too late.

*********

“All weapons on line sir, missiles locked and loaded,” Weapons officer, Commander Wright turned to Captain Liard, “Orders sir?”

“Combination plan missiles, fire!” Captain Liard, commanding the Imperial Planetoid Red Rose, did not smile. This was not a smiling matter, the order meant that gravity inducing missiles would be fired first, anti-matter missiles next and the final salvo would be mass missiles to finish off anything remaining. And the Kingdoms forces did not even have their screens up.

The fire plan laid devised by Fleet Admiral Stako’s team was simplicity itself. The planetoids were to concentrate on the thirty two satellites first, while the mobile fleet was to be engaged by his battleships. Since he had plenty of both, the devisers of the fire plan could not see any immediate problem. However they were also aware of the old saying, No plan survives contact with the enemy. If the Kingdom’s fleet was organised, alert and concentrated, that could be a problem, especially if they were somewhere else in the system. But all crews were aware of and briefed on, contingencies.

The first salvos slashed into their targets, all hit.

*********

The Kingdoms Fleet Headquarters control room was still trying to contact all satellites and ships in the system when they suddenly began to implode and then explode, immolating themselves on their own power plants. The few survivors were destroyed in the second wave of missiles.

“What is happening?” The Commander, Great Khan Ovien Ratster and the Governor, Santis Hobbien on hearing the alarm had, along with other officers arrived as fast as possible in the control room. They were just in time to see the fleet die along with the fortress satellites.

“Attack, Great Khan, I sent the alarm, but …” The Fifth Khan waved at the main holo display. The carnage was clear. “They used weapons I have never seen before.”

“The whole fleet? The fortresses too?” Whispered the Governor. No one answered.

“Our status?” Ratster queried.

The First Khan answered, he had checked on his arrival. “Shields up, weapons on line, but there is nothing in range.”

“Great Khan,” one of the controllers called, “Some of those giant ships are moving closer.”

“Which ones?” The First Khan spoke for the Great Khan. “Shown them in the display.”

This was quickly done.

“Now if they get closer.” The First Khan murmured

The Great Khan nodded. “Stand by to open fire.” He ordered.

*********

“Cease fire, except for those vessels engaging live targets.” Admiral Stako ordered. “Planetoid quad D, concentrate all fire on Fleet Headquarters. Quads C and F, standby to augment fire if necessary.”

Fleet Admiral Stako had no intention of risking his units. They knew the maximum range of the Kingdoms beams and missiles, so they stopped outside of that distance and commenced fire.

The shield was no barrier, although the gravitational field of the airless minor planet was a concern for the gunners. Anti-matter missiles are sent through hyper space and gravity can interfere with targeting. But it didn’t really matter, with the number of missiles being launched, Fleet headquarters was rapidly obliterated. Scans of all debris in the system showed that the attack had been comprehensive. Nothing live was left in fleet headquarters. Not even a full period had passed.

Nodding in grim satisfaction, Fleet Admiral Stako, gave his next set of orders.

“Fleet Admiral Wist, you will reorganise your forces and set a course to rejoin the Star Commander in the Destron system. Detach three quads of heavy cruisers to police this system.”

“I will get onto at once sir,” Admiral Wist replied giving a nod to her chief of staff.

Admiral Stako turned to the other person in the holo conference.

“Fleet Admiral der Watt, reorganise the Third Strike Division, then advance to Landue World. There, as per the original plan, destroy the forces in the system and begin the process of taking over the planet. Remember the instructions to minimise civilian causalities. That is of course, subject to the object of reducing our own casualties to the minimum as well. In addition detach four quads of light cruisers to assist in policing this system.”

Admiral der Watt smiled as he replied. “We are onto that now sir.”

Stako acknowledged the replies with a nod then continued. “After I report to the Star Commander, if necessary I will join you, Admiral der Watt, together with what forces that can be detached to reinforce you.” He paused, “Do either of you have any questions?”

There was silence for a fraction. The one question that both of the Strike Forces Commanders wanted to ask, couldn’t be. So they both replied in the negative.

“One last word of caution, Admiral der Watt. Most certainly Landau World is going to be alert. A warning has likely been sent from here or the capital.” Stako finished.

“Yes sir, we will take precautions.” The Admiral was not annoyed. He would be if the Deputy Commander had actually given tactical directions, but this had been discussed and they had plenty of ships.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“One question, sir, how long do you want the cruisers to wait?” Admiral Wist queried, she didn’t want her heavy cruisers away for longer than necessary. She also considered that having them stay in the death zone of the Kingdoms eradicated Fleet Headquarters for too long could be bad for morale.

“Not long, just a standard week I think should be sufficient to clear out most surplus fleet vessels.” Fleet Admiral Stako replied. “If they get to busy, they can be relieved.” The Admirals and staff listening nodded in agreement. Once the word got out that about the destruction, except for scavengers it would become a place to avoid.

“No more questions? Good, I want to leave in six periods, let’s get to work.” Fleet Admiral Stako got up from his chair as the other two officers also rose and saluted. They would both be ready to leave at the appointed time.

*********

At Destron things were a little more complicated. While there were fewer defences all around, these were alert as befitted the capital of The Kingdom, even though it was almost midnight. Therefore, when the space ships of the First Strike Division arrived, the crew in the defence control room, while shocked, acted reasonably fast. It wasn’t their fault that they were overmatched or that the Empire had worked out the weaknesses of the Kingdoms defences.

Fleet Admiral Nina Rossu had been one of the commanders of the sub units of planetoids in the Triangulum group when the Dark Lord had returned. She had been recommended to the Dark Lord by both the Star Commander and the Admiral of The Legion. Meeting the Dark Lord and being confirmed by Him had been a sobering experience for her.

Now however she was in her element.

*********

In the Ground Command bunker in the military annex of the space port, located outside the city of Kanissi, the officer on duty, Fourth Khan Nissa, franticly called for authority to open fire.

“By the fire god, we are under attack!” He screamed at his superior, Second Khan Romas, who was sitting in one of the inner ring of satellites.

Romas was a member of the Royal Guard, the personal guard of The Khan. He wasn’t about to open fire without his superiors authorisation. That superior was the head of the Royal Guard, Great Khan Dessi Ra. He compromised. “Open fire with the remotes, set them to automatic. I will advise the Great Khan.”

“Done, but it is not enough, there are hundreds of them out there.” The remotes, a band of ten armoured satellites well away from the planet, could be operated from the control room or set to fire at anything in their reach. Unfortunately, the Empire knew just what that reach was. The Fourth Khan was now replaced by the First Khan in the Ground Command bunker.

“What is happening?” The officer in command of the Ground Control bunker, First Khan Du Rapiai snarled, angry at being disturbed. The remotes began to explode as he asked, none had fired. “What …?” With a curse, the First Khan turned on the Fourth Khan. “Didn’t you set them to fire?”

“Of course, they are on remote. Look,” Nissa said, “The battleships are moving.”

“And the inner belt is waking up!” First Khan Du Rapiai sounded pleased.

“Sirs,” One of the scanner crew spoke cautiously, not wanting to feel the whip, which both officers were carrying.

“What is it,” the First Khan spoke impatiently.

“We have a count of those vessels.” He paused.

“Get on with it!” Du Rapiai urged the scanner operator.

“There are more than two hundred of them.” He paused again, “And at least thirty or more are the size of our moon.”

The two officers stared in horror at each other as the Kingdoms fleet and inner satellites began to die. Some mass missiles were fired, uselessly, as the Empires ships remained well out of range.

They turned as a communications officer came to them.

“First Khan, I have received a message.” The now flustered officer began to speak but was cut off by the communications officer. “Fleet Headquarters is also under attack.”

The First and Fourth Khan stared at each other.

“Get me Great Khan Dessi Ra. Now!” The First Khan shouted.

*********

“Advance to optimum distance from the planet.” Fleet Admiral Nina Rossu calmly ordered. The communications officer activated the preloaded message to the fleet. In his office suite, Star Commander Vis Vistricer watched the repeater showing the holo display with satisfaction. He turned to the commander of the Legion’s troops. “Fleet Marshal Fitter, your men are ready?”

“They are sir,” Came the confident reply.

“Remember our Sovereign’s instructions.” Vis Vistricer did not smile as he watched the marshal stiffen. “Just a reminder Ren, we have to win over those people after.”

“I understand sir, so do the troops.” There was a microscopic smile. “At least we don’t have the burden of a massacre or two to worry about.”

“No, not that.” Agreed the Star Commander, who knew that Ren Fitter was referring to actions by the Kingdoms forces. We already committed the massacre. He thought.

“With your permission, sir, I will head to the General Dennus.”

“Of course, and Marshal, you will be advised as soon as reinforcements arrive with the Second Strike division.”

“Thank you sir.” Fleet Marshal Fitter saluted and left.

Vis Vistricer, turned to his operations officer, Vice Admiral Danissa of Christos.

“Admiral, has the combat patrol been put in place as agreed?”

“Yes sir. Four quads each of heavy and light cruisers.” That meant sixteen heavy and sixteen light cruisers. They would patrol the outer system while other cruisers and some of the battleships would patrol the inner system. Other craft were sure to arrive after all.

Nodding with understanding and knowing that all he could do was watch for the time being, Vis Vistricer turned his attention to other matters.

*********

Sweat beaded Great Khan Dessi Ra forehead as he slowly entered the number to comm the palace. Arriving at the Ground Command bunker he had reacted in horror to the reports by the duty crew. There was only one thing he could do.

“Palace of the Khan.” An unknown communications officer answered in a bored voice.

“The Khan, now!”

“The Khan, cannot be disturbed unless the matter is urgent.” Was the studied reply.

“This is Great Khan Dessi Ra, commander of the Royal Troops, and yes it is urgent, now put me through! Now!”

There was silence, then … “Connecting.” A fraction later. …

“Yes Great Khan. What is so urgent” The voice was very soft and gentle. Ordinarily it would have Dessi Ra on his knees.

“Khan, we are under attack, I have ordered troops to defend you and the palace.”

“You have, really?” The voice was even softer. One could smell the suspicion.

“Your Majesty,” The Great Khan’s voice was trembling. “I have put all troops on alert including the security police. We are being invaded! The planets space borne defences have been destroyed. We cannot contact Fleet Headquarters.”

There was a fractions silence. “What is happening right now?”

“I am not certain Khan. The local fleet has been wiped out and all satellites are destroyed. We are reduced to scanning from the ground and that is difficult. The last report was that there are at least two hundred craft attacking us and some are as big as our moon.”

“Big as our moon? Are you mad?” Kamel Di Rappar spoke in tones of disbelief.

“Khan, I have no authority over your personal guard, I strongly suggest you alert them. The troops I have sent will surround the palace. I am deploying the rest of the royal troops to defend the spaceport and approaches to the palace. But I have no idea of what we are facing. One of those giant ships could have as many troops as I have to command. All I can recommend is that you get yourself and the Heir to a place of safety.”

There were sounds in the background.

“Your majesty, something has entered our atmosphere, I have to go.” Great Khan Dessi Ra disconnected before The Khan could speak.

*********

The First Special Duties Brigade, as yet there was no second, landed directly on top of its objective, the Palace. Its orders were simple, capture, alive if possible, The Khan and all his family. Under command of Colonel Roi Tonner it comprised the Fifty Ninth, Lady Lucas Own, still commanded by Reni Lukas, now a Lt. Colonel; Lt. Colonel Dris Von Amrks commanding the Ninety Second and Tonners old battalion, the Forty Third, now commanded by Lt. Colonel Lissa Olleo.

The Fifty Ninth was tasked to assault the palace directly, backed up by the Ninety Second while the Forty Third was to cover the entrance to some tunnels uncovered in hasty scans of the palace. A fourth battalion the Two Hundred and Twelfth, was attached on a temporary basis to provide cover for possible attacks from the city to the south. It was to land in the second wave.

Armoured assault shuttles assisted by light cruisers, swept the path clean of missile launchers and their crews, taking care to avoid as far as possible, civilian areas. One light cruiser swept towards the palace, scanning as it did so. One member of the royal guard, stationed on the roof, fired his particle rifle at the cruiser. The beam did not even excite the ships shields and he was ignored, but not for long.

There were two main doors, one at the front and the one to the tunnels. There were also two unobtrusive escape doors, one to outside and one to the tunnels. These were connected to the living quarters by stairs. There were no transit tubes in the building, they were considered too risky to use in times of crisis. All this was quickly apparent to the senior scanner on the light cruiser Renders World. Reni Lukas, Dris Von Amrks, Lissa Olleo and Roi Tonner were all informed immediately A third door to the outside supplied access to the kitchen and services area

The large assault shuttles, designed for this purpose and much larger than those on smaller craft, dropped their loads a company at a time on top of their points designated. These battalions were reinforced with five companies, all troopers wearing powered combat armour, and one headquarters company, similarly equipped.

Once landed the troopers, consulted their built in artificial intelligence computer’s installed in their powered armour, confirmed their designated positions and projected routes of assault. They headed out immediately not bothering to use camouflage mode as it was unnecessary and also was a drain on their power packs.