The Lost Fleet: Genesis: A Slaver Wars Novel by Raymond L. Weil Page A

flight
bays and accelerated outward to assume patrol duty.
    “Impressive,
isn’t it?” commented Admiral Jackson. “I never would have believed the Clan
Protector could become something like this.”
    “Daelthon has
done his clan proud,” boomed Grayseth the massive Carethian, who was standing
next to Jackson. Grayseth easily towered over the admiral.
    “Yes, he has shown
much honor in what he’s done for us,” answered Jeremy, nodding at the large Bear.
Jeremy turned to look at Admiral Jackson. “Have you been out to Borton recently
to see the AI shipyards?”
    “No,” Jackson replied with a deep frown. “I’m still not used to seeing so many AI ships around.
I don’t know if I ever will.”
    Jeremy nodded.
It was a difficult thing for many of the Humans and Carethians in the fleet to
accept that the AIs were now on their side. It had been easier for the Altons
to accept as they had created the AIs thousands of years in the past.
    “The new shipyards
are finished and already ship construction has begun.” Crossing his arms over
his chest, Jeremy continued to address Admiral Jackson. “I want to send a fleet
out to the Ornellian Empire and see if there are any survivors. I would like to
put you in command of that force.”
    Jackson looked at Jeremy in surprise. “That’s a long way out; why there?”
    “It’s away
from the inhabited Simulin worlds,” Jeremy answered. “If we can find enough
survivors perhaps we can build a base to help some of the other civilizations
in that sector of this galaxy. Even though we destroyed the Dyson Sphere, there
are still a lot of Simulins around. We can’t defeat them alone. Also, Rear Admiral
Barnes promised them we would return someday. I would like to honor that
promise.”
    “What kind of
fleet would I be taking?”
    “A pretty
large one,” Jeremy replied as he reached forward and touched an icon on his
control console. Instantly one of the new AI warspheres appeared. The ship was
one thousand meters in diameter and very heavily armed. It was also entirely
crewed by AIs though the ship did have quarters for Human officers.
    “AIs,”
muttered Jackson, his eyes widening.
    “Admiral
Bachal will be going along as well.” Bachal had been on the original
exploration mission with Rear Admiral Kathryn Barnes when the Ornellian Empire
had first been discovered. It was also during that mission they had found the
Originator ship, Dominator .
    Jackson took a deep breath and slowly nodded his head. “When do we leave?” The mission
would be easier with Admiral Bachal going along; the Altons were used to
dealing with the AIs.
    “In about ten
days. That will give us time to get everything organized.”
    “You mentioned
earlier that you had a mission for my fleet,” Grayseth spoke in his normally
loud and bearish voice.
    Jeremy turned
toward his long time friend. “Yes, a research mission to NGC 604. There will be
several of the Alton science ships going. Andram is concerned about the affects
of the nova that destroyed the Dyson Sphere on the dark matter and the
surrounding stars.”
    “What’s he
worried about?” asked Jackson, cocking his eyebrow.
    “Some of the Alton scientists are afraid the blast wave from the nova may cause other stars in the region
to suffer a similar fate. There are over two hundred blue-giant stars in the nebula.
Don’t forget the area is full of H-II regions of ionized
hydrogen. The entire nebula is full of radiation being pumped out from the
numerous young stars and what we did by destroying the Dyson Sphere has only
enhanced that.”
    Jackson ’s eyes narrowed sharply. “So the Altons are
afraid the entire nebula may go nova?” Jackson had never heard of such a thing.
    “Yes,”
Jeremy answered. “Andram says the probability of such an event is extremely
low, but he wants to investigate it nevertheless.”
    “I
will ready my fleet,” announced Grayseth, feeling pleased Jeremy had given him
such an important mission. “If we