Saratoga, Yorktown, Apache, and Arizona survived, however, the Yorktown and Arizona are so badly damaged they’re no longer capable of fighting. They are en-route back to Earth. As for Saratoga and Apache, they’ve made adequate repairs and have joined the rest of the Space Force around Saturn.”
“The poor families of the dead,” said the President as he stared into space. “There’s no more keeping a lid on this. Call an emergency meeting of the U.N. We’ll inform the governments of the world first, then the people. Start evacuating Mars, the Moon, Titan, and the orbital habitats as quickly as possible. I know there’s no way we can get all of them, but let’s save as many as we can.”
He turned to Admiral Shirley. “Eric, I want you and Colonel Travis to get to Mars with the tactical nukes, and provide cover and support for the Martian Defense Force while we evacuate as many people as possible.”
Shirley nodded and left.
“If there’s nothing else, gentlemen, I’d really like to be alone right now.” The officials filed out. He looked at the report again. “3,000 people....dead.”
Chapter Eight
B ack on the Saratoga things were chaotic. The hanger was filled with Star Swords many of which were damaged. Repair crews were everywhere. Incredibly, the Saratoga was still carrying nearly a full complement of Star Swords. The surviving fighters of the Lexington had come aboard as had those of the Yorktown since she was unable to fight anymore.
On the bridge, Captain Doran was conferring with Captains Hudson and Slobadik. Hudson commanded the Carrier Essex and Slobadik commanded the carrier Exeter. All three Carriers were in orbit around Titan, along with seven destroyers and two cruisers. Doran was filling them in on the tactics the aliens had used and they were discussing plans for a retreat from Titan.
Doran was very edgy. The idea of an impending alien attack was ever most on his mind. He’d seen the destructive carnage the enemy could wreak.
“April, what is the enemy up to?”
“They’re still holding position in orbit around Neptune,” replied April.
“We must have dealt them a harder blow than I thought,” said Doran. “Their energy shielding certainly was not effective.”
“But why, Captain?”
“I don’t know.”
“Captain, we’re receiving a transmission from the surface of Titan,” said the comm officer. “It’s the governor of the Titan Colony, sir.”
“Put it through here.”
Moments later, the image of a woman appeared on the screen.
“Captain, I’m Governor Isabel Hawk of Titan Colony.”
“Madam Governor,” said Doran respectfully.
“Captain, we need your help. We have many civilians down here. You must help us evacuate!”
“We’ll do what we can, but we’re all overcrowded here as it is.”
“Please, you must at least take our children!”
Doran sighed. “I’ll start sending shuttles to ferry as many of your people up here as we can carry, starting with families with children. We’ll do this as long as we can, but the enemy could attack at any time.”
“Thank you, Captain. We’ll prepare for the arrival of your shuttles. Hawk out.”
Doran activated his wrist comlink. “Mr. Grayson, you and the other shuttle pilots start ferrying civilians up here from the colony.”
“Yes, sir!”
“I’ll inform Exeter and Essex to do the same.”
Just then Commander April Kelley’s com-link beeped.
“This is Kelley.”
“Commander...” said the voice of Trey
“I need you to come down here to the crew deck.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Jack...” said Trey.
“I’m on my way.”
April then left the bridge and made her way down to the area of the ship which housed the crew quarters. Trey was waiting for her outside the door of Jack’s cabin. The door was closed.
“How’s he doing?”
“Not too well, I’m afraid,” said Trey. “Doc says its battle shock but I don’t think so. He was to calm during the battle, he
“The poor families of the dead,” said the President as he stared into space. “There’s no more keeping a lid on this. Call an emergency meeting of the U.N. We’ll inform the governments of the world first, then the people. Start evacuating Mars, the Moon, Titan, and the orbital habitats as quickly as possible. I know there’s no way we can get all of them, but let’s save as many as we can.”
He turned to Admiral Shirley. “Eric, I want you and Colonel Travis to get to Mars with the tactical nukes, and provide cover and support for the Martian Defense Force while we evacuate as many people as possible.”
Shirley nodded and left.
“If there’s nothing else, gentlemen, I’d really like to be alone right now.” The officials filed out. He looked at the report again. “3,000 people....dead.”
Chapter Eight
B ack on the Saratoga things were chaotic. The hanger was filled with Star Swords many of which were damaged. Repair crews were everywhere. Incredibly, the Saratoga was still carrying nearly a full complement of Star Swords. The surviving fighters of the Lexington had come aboard as had those of the Yorktown since she was unable to fight anymore.
On the bridge, Captain Doran was conferring with Captains Hudson and Slobadik. Hudson commanded the Carrier Essex and Slobadik commanded the carrier Exeter. All three Carriers were in orbit around Titan, along with seven destroyers and two cruisers. Doran was filling them in on the tactics the aliens had used and they were discussing plans for a retreat from Titan.
Doran was very edgy. The idea of an impending alien attack was ever most on his mind. He’d seen the destructive carnage the enemy could wreak.
“April, what is the enemy up to?”
“They’re still holding position in orbit around Neptune,” replied April.
“We must have dealt them a harder blow than I thought,” said Doran. “Their energy shielding certainly was not effective.”
“But why, Captain?”
“I don’t know.”
“Captain, we’re receiving a transmission from the surface of Titan,” said the comm officer. “It’s the governor of the Titan Colony, sir.”
“Put it through here.”
Moments later, the image of a woman appeared on the screen.
“Captain, I’m Governor Isabel Hawk of Titan Colony.”
“Madam Governor,” said Doran respectfully.
“Captain, we need your help. We have many civilians down here. You must help us evacuate!”
“We’ll do what we can, but we’re all overcrowded here as it is.”
“Please, you must at least take our children!”
Doran sighed. “I’ll start sending shuttles to ferry as many of your people up here as we can carry, starting with families with children. We’ll do this as long as we can, but the enemy could attack at any time.”
“Thank you, Captain. We’ll prepare for the arrival of your shuttles. Hawk out.”
Doran activated his wrist comlink. “Mr. Grayson, you and the other shuttle pilots start ferrying civilians up here from the colony.”
“Yes, sir!”
“I’ll inform Exeter and Essex to do the same.”
Just then Commander April Kelley’s com-link beeped.
“This is Kelley.”
“Commander...” said the voice of Trey
“I need you to come down here to the crew deck.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Jack...” said Trey.
“I’m on my way.”
April then left the bridge and made her way down to the area of the ship which housed the crew quarters. Trey was waiting for her outside the door of Jack’s cabin. The door was closed.
“How’s he doing?”
“Not too well, I’m afraid,” said Trey. “Doc says its battle shock but I don’t think so. He was to calm during the battle, he
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