The Slaver Wars: First Strike (The Slaver Wars Book Four) by Raymond L. Weil Page B

the latest
reports from military intelligence?”
    “Yes, they’re
almost frightening. They’ve found six major Hocklyn bases less than seven
hundred light years away from our borders. Major Ackerman believes they may
find more before the survey is complete.”
    “They suspect
something,” Tolsen put forth, leaning back in his command chair and arching his
eyebrows. “The escort cruisers we have destroyed over the years and the stealth
scout spying has made them suspicious. They know something is out here and are
preparing for it.”
    “I suspect
Admiral Streth will make short work of those bases when he launches his
attack,” smirked Colonel Beck. “I would like to be there when he levels them.”
    “It will be
the start of a long war,” Tolsen said somberly, his eyes taking on a distant
and sad look. “A war with the Hocklyns may go on for generations. Even our
children may not see the end of it.”
    “It’s better
than being slaves in their empire,” Peter replied with a nod of understanding.
“We have allies and a powerful fleet; this won’t be like when the Hocklyns
attacked the original Federation.”
    It was at that
moment that a warning alarm sounded, drawing their attention to the sensors.
    “We have
unauthorized FTL signatures in the Gliese 667C system,” reported Lieutenant Anders
as a flashing red light began blinking on his sensor panel.
    Tolsen looked
back over at Colonel Beck. “Bring the fleet to readiness, Peter. This may be it!”
    -
    On Caden’s
World, Captain Krandle gazed at the long-range sensors, which were now showing
glaring red threat icons appearing in the system. She had been promoted since
the original battle due to the fact that additional marines had been stationed
upon the planet.
    “Bring us to
Condition One, Lieutenant Simmons,” Krandle ordered as additional red threat
icons continued to appear. Simmons had also been promoted. Then turning to Adam
Severson, she continued. “Put your people in the deep bunkers, this may be the
Hocklyn attack we have been expecting. I don’t think those are freighters off
course.”
    Severson
turned and began passing on the orders. At least this time they had an
additional two hundred marines to help provide security. There were even two
heavily armed marines standing at the doorway to the operations center, which
had been substantially reinforced. He knew it would take about two hours for
the twenty thousand inhabitants of the planet to reach the underground bunkers.
They had considered evacuating Caden’s World, but this was their home and the
people had wanted to stay.
    “Fleet units
are withdrawing to just beneath the defensive satellites,” the corporal sitting
at the sensor console reported. The young woman continued to monitor the
sensors closely.
    Captain
Krandle nodded as she studied the sensor screen. There were currently two light
cruisers and four destroyers in orbit. In addition, there were now eighty
defensive satellites as well as ten missile-launching platforms. If this was a
Hocklyn fleet, they might find Caden’s World a hard nut to crack.
    “We’re at
Condition One, and our marines are reporting to their assigned security
positions,” Lieutenant Simmons reported as he listened to numerous
conversations over his mini-com. “Surface missile batteries are being activated
and readied to shoot down any inbound Hocklyn shuttle or missile.”
    Krandle nodded
her head in acknowledgment. They had two defensive missile platforms at each
mining site. From the number of red threat icons on her screens, she wished she
had more! Now it begins, she thought as she watched the red icons apprehensively.
She knew that Admiral Tolsen and his fleet were nearby. She just hoped it was
enough.
    -
    War Leader
Sangeth gazed with cold eyes at the sensor screen. The fourth planet of the
system was showing energy readings. There were also numerous satellites in
orbit as well as a small number of ships.
    “Send a
message back to War