The Subleader ordered his fleet to fan out in front of the 90 Earth ships but to stay out of range of the forts beam weapons. He heard his sensor officer trying to get his attention but he ignored him and continued to issue orders to his fleet. Suddenly the sensor officer yelled at the top of his voice, We must escape now.
The Subleader was startled and saw the sensor officer pointing at the main sensor display on the wall. He saw the ninety ships rising from the planet but then he saw a scarlet wave of ships fanning out from the backside of the moon moving to trap his fleet between the planet and the moon. He began to order his fleet to run to either side of the planet to escape the incoming ships which his monitor said numbered more than 4,000. Suddenly the monitor showed two more waves of ships coming around the planet from both directions and he knew his fleet was trapped. He had seen what 600 of those small ships could do during their attack back in the Alliance home system and if his count was right, he was facing more than 7,000 ships to his 8,500. Before he could think of an escape plan his fleet was surrounded. He radioed the Warleader and told him his situation and then his communication was blocked. His board started receiving requests for directions but he was uncertain of what to do. Suddenly, a squadron of eighty ships broke and made a run for what looked like a gap in the Humans formation. Before they could get halfway to the gap, sixty huge ships jumped in from Star drive and destroyed all eighty in less than thirty seconds then disappeared back into null space. The Subleader was stunned along with every other ship in his fleet. Its not possible to use a star drive that close to the sun. What he just saw was impossible, but he witnessed it. He knew his fleet was doomed. Then his communications officer said, Subleader, the Humans are asking to communicate with you.
The Subleader looked at him, shrugged, and said, Put them on.
The display came on showing a human in Military uniform addressing him in standard Alliance, Are you the commanding officer of this fleet? The human asked.
Yes, I am.
We have your fleet surrounded but we do not wish to destroy you if it can be avoided. We have destroyed the 400 dreadnaughts and the four ships you stationed on the other side of the planet and we dont want to continue the slaughter, but make no mistake, unless you do exactly as instructed we will destroy every ship. Are you ready to comply with our instructions?
The Subleader tried to collect his thoughts but was frozen. He didnt know what he should do and the Warleader was blocked from his communications. One thing he knew for certain, he had no chance against the Human fleet and the other half of the Alliance fleet could not arrive in time to save him. He decided that death was better than being captured. Attack the Humans, he ordered over his command circuit. Then he watched his display for the battle to begin and saw that nothing was happening.
Suddenly, one of those huge Human battleships appeared next to his ship. The human on the display, which he was certain was being broadcast to all the ships in his fleet said, Perhaps you would like to start the action.
The Human ship was half the size of his dreadnaught but he had no doubt that it would totally destroy his ship. He sat down in his chair and said, What are your instructions?
We will have a line of battleships between your fleet and the moon to insure our instructions are followed. One of our ships will escort 100 of your ships to a crater on the moon where you will land your ships and disembark into one of your transport shuttles that has interstellar capability. If you dont have enough transports to take all your crews, then after the first load is transported back to the Alliance, we will allow the same shuttles to return for other crews. If the Alliance fleet stationed near the star drive limit would like to use some of their shuttles to help in the process, we will allow them to assist using a blue green strobe. If they will not and the Alliance will not allow the shuttles to make a return trip then we will transport you later to a neutral site for pickup. You will not be mistreated or abused.
What are you going to do with our ships? the Subleader asked.
Well hold them for safe keeping until the Alliance chooses to end this nonsense. Until such time that we can negotiate a diplomatic understanding, they will remain parked on the moon. We really dont care if you set self destruct mechanisms on them. We have no intention of coming anywhere near them.
The Subleader thought for a moment then asked, I have one request of you and then I will comply with your requests.
Kosiev looked at the Alliance Fleet commander and said, What request is that?
I want to leave the commanding officer of each ship and one other crew member for support behind on each ship.
Kosiev looked amused and said, Why would you want to do that?
Im going to have to go back and explain how I allowed all our ships to fall into enemy hands without fighting. If someday we do come back to retrieve them and weve left the self destructs active, we could have a huge loss of life. Also, it will insure that you wont use our own ships against us. The commanders can use the self destruct mechanisms to destroy the fleet if you dont keep your word.
The Human looked off the display and appeared to be listening to someone else. We will allow it provided we place a mine on each ships hull to ensure that no one tries to move them. We will also allow a relief of the crew members left behind on a scheduled basis. Will you have enough stores for them?
We just arrived and the ships are provisioned for entire crews. There should be plenty.
Then we are agreed, Kosiev said. I will open a communications channel as soon as all your ships are parked on the moon. I would ask the following to expedite the process. All ships from one member of the Alliance will move out from your ranks and move as a unit to the moon. That way it will be easier for the members to move their ships later.
The Subleader thought, Why didnt I think of that? Then he said, All Spejk ships move out of formation and form on the Human escorts. After them the Bewyas will go second. My staff will notify each of you when it is your time to move. The Subleader knew his career was over but at least he would not be remembered for a massacre. He had hoped the other Alliance ships further out in the system would come to their aid but they had made no move to come in system. He suspected that the Warleader was somewhat fearful of these Humans. Now he knew why. He suspected that the former Subleader didnt make it out alive because he was stupid.
The Warleader was relaxing in his command chair when his sensor leader said. Warleader, theres something happening around the Humans home world.
He looked up and said, What do you see.
Nothing, our feed from the Subleader has been cut off. Our long range sensors show the asteroids circling the planet firing their energy beams.
Why would they do that? Are they reaching our ships?
No, Warleader, but now Im getting a reading of numerous ships lifting from the large moon and moving toward our fleet at an extremely high speed.
The Warleader felt a sick feeling and asked, How numerous?
At least 4,000 and now Im reading more than 2,500 more ships coming around from the backside of the planet.
The Warleader just stared at the sensor leader.
Our systems now confirm more than 7,000 ships have moved in and trapped our fleet between the moon and the planet.
Open a channel to the fleet and tell them to get out of there.