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

battle cruisers, the 400-meter Sydney looked like a minnow.
    “How many
ships do they have in these docking bays?” asked Commander Grayson, looking with
high interest at the main viewscreen and the large warships.
    “That’s
classified,” Admiral Johnson commented. “Even I am unsure of the exact total,
and I’m the Fleet Admiral. I do know that they have forty- seven of these large
docking bays inside Ceres.”
    The Sydney was maneuvered over to a small docking berth and settled down. Commander Grayson
felt uneasy as this was the first time his ship had ever been out of space.
Destroyers were built to be able to land on the surface of a planet, but he had
never done so.
    “There is a
normal atmosphere out there as well as gravity,” the sensor operator reported.
    “Ceres Control
says we can disembark at any time,” the communications officer added.
    “If you would
like, Commander,” spoke Karla, glancing over at Grayson, “I would be glad to
arrange for you and your crew to be taken on a tour of the asteroid. I think
you will find it highly enlightening.”
    “I would
appreciate that, Admiral,” Grayson replied with an excited nod.
    He had never
been inside Ceres before, and he thought it would be a great morale booster if
he and his crew could take a tour, particularly of the habitats deep inside. He
had been told that they were a remarkable sight and an incredible feat of
engineering.
    A few minutes
later, Admiral Johnson walked down the long ramp that connected the Sydney to the floor of the bay where a group of Fleet officers were waiting.
    “Fleet
Admiral,” Admiral Teleck spoke in greeting. “I am glad that you could come to
Ceres for the awakening.” Admiral Teleck was the highest-ranking fleet officer
on Ceres and in command of the Ceres Fleet.
    “Has it begun
yet?” Karla asked with keen interest.
    She wanted to
be present when Admiral Streth woke up from his long sleep. He was a legend
among the Federation survivors, and that legend had been passed on to the
humans of Earth as they had expanded to the stars. This was a day that had long
been looked forward to.
    “Yes, Admiral
Streth should be awake in the morning,” Admiral Teleck responded, his voice expressing
the excitement he felt at getting to speak and meet the legendary admiral.
“Doctor Reynolds is supervising his awakening and several others personally.
She doesn’t expect there to be any problems.”
    “How soon
before we can expect Admiral Streth to be able to perform his duties? Will
there be any after affects from the long cryosleep?”
    “Doctor
Reynolds does not expect any,” Admiral Teleck responded. “She thinks it will
take one to two weeks before the sleepers are up and around. Within four weeks,
they should be physically sound enough to return to active duty with some
constraints.”
    “That’s good
to hear,” responded Admiral Johnson, feeling relieved. “Is there somewhere we
can talk? I have made a decision about Admiral Streth and what I would like him
to do in the war. Since he is so close to the Federation survivors, I feel it’s
only right that you know the mission I have chosen for him.”
    “May I call in
my staff?” asked Admiral Teleck, feeling curious about this mission.
    He knew that
the Federation survivors would be furious if Admiral Johnson had chosen a
mission that was too dangerous; the life of Admiral Streth had to be protected.
Many felt he was the best hope of defeating the Hocklyns. He had done it
before, and many felt he could do it again.
    “Yes, that
would be fine,” replied Admiral Johnson with a nod. “Also, would you mind
arranging for the crew of the Sydney to be taken on a tour of Ceres? Most of
them have never been here before.”
    “No problem,”
grinned Admiral Teleck. He always enjoyed being able to show off to the rest of
the Federation what they had built inside the massive asteroid. “I will make
arrangements for them to have accommodations at one of the resorts in