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

Slave Empire’s advance. “From our
latest reports and considering the events of today, I am afraid the Hocklyns
are ahead of their projected time schedule to make contact with us.”
    “How far
ahead?” asked Admiral Johnson, fearing the answer. They were not quite ready
yet with all their preparations. She could feel her heart start to beat faster
as she waited for the answer.
    “Close to thirty
years,” Ackerman replied, his eyes focusing on the Fleet Admiral.
    “That puts
full contact at any time,” Admiral Johnson responded, her face turning pale.
“Why wasn’t I told about this sooner?”
    “We only
became aware of it recently ourselves,” Ackerman replied in a calm voice. “The
latest reports from the stealth scouts indicate the Hocklyns are constructing
some new forward bases that will be within easy striking distance of our space.
You were to be briefed on these developments next week.”
    “Why did they
build these new bases?’ asked Admiral Johnson, feeling aggravated with military
intelligence for not telling her sooner. She would have a word with their
commanding officer once this meeting was over. “What does military intelligence
believe the Hocklyns response will be to the destruction of these two cruisers?”
    “They will undoubtedly
send a fleet to investigate the disappearance of the ships that Commander
Thomas destroyed today. We believe they have begun sending their ships out in
groups of two in order to find out if there is a threat to their empire. That
may also be the reason for the new bases we discovered. We should have been
more careful in engaging their exploration ships in recent years. There is also
the possibility that they have been able to partially detect some of our
stealth scouts that have been operating in their space.”
    Admiral
Johnson leaned back in her chair in deep thought, crossing her arms over her
chest. None of this news was good. It looked as if the war they had been
preparing for over the past few centuries was nearly upon them. Fortunately,
her staff had already discussed plans as to what would have to be done in case
the Hocklyns were to arrive early. She had several options available to her
even though she was leaning toward a third, particularly since the people in
cryosleep were to be awoken.
    “I need to go
to Earth and brief the Federation Council,” she said after a moment. Then,
turning to Major Ackerman, she asked in a serious tone, “How soon before this
response fleet of the Hocklyns arrives once they realize that their two cruisers
are missing?”
    “I would need
to talk to some of our strategists, but I would guess we have maybe three to
four months.”
    Admiral
Johnson nodded her head. “Very well then. I will suggest to the Federation
Council that we go to a state of readiness for war and take the appropriate
actions.”
    “That won’t be
very popular with all the Federation senators,” commented Admiral Freeman,
shaking his head.
    “Only a
couple,” responded Admiral Johnson, knowing the two Freeman was talking about.
“The rest will support us; they know what’s at stake.”
    “Admiral
Freeman, I want our stealth scouts searching all the nearby stars between us
and the Hocklyns for any trace of a war fleet. Search all the way to known Hocklyn
space if necessary. I also want to know where all of their new bases are and
their estimated fleet strength!”
    “I will send
the order to Rear Admiral Stillson,” Freeman replied with a nod. “He has over
three hundred stealth scouts at his disposal.”
    “I want all of
them out searching,” stressed Admiral Jonson with narrowed eyes. “If the Hocklyns
are out there, I want to find them!”
    She then
turned her attention to the shipyards. “Admiral Freeman, what is the current
status of new construction in the shipyards here at New Tellus?”
    Admiral
Freeman glanced at a computer pad he had brought with him. “We have one fleet
command Vanquisher class battleship, two Conqueror