Free Warpath (Rise of the Empire Book 4) by Ivan Kal Page B

Back in the Union space it was likely that dozens of races would evolve within a 30-50 light year radius. The galaxy was filled with life bearing planets, so the worlds where humans could survive weren’t rare. Out of sixteen colonies of the Empire only four were unsuitable for humans, but they had the technology to build artificial habitats so there wasn’t really a planet that they couldn’t colonize.
    Johanna knew that soon the Empire will expand its borders along the trans-route to Earth. For three decades they had built their industry up, set up the clans, and stockpiled resources. According to the plan that the Emperor set up at the founding of the Empire, the time of rapid colonization will begin soon. The Empire’s population had grown sufficiently that from this point onward its growth will increase exponentially. Thanks to the progeny centers in another two decades the Nel and Human population will reach nearly two billion. They will spread themselves thin, but it was necessary, they needed to constantly fuel their expansion. The Empire’s industry and resource gathering had already far surpassed their needs, it was time for the excess to be put to use.
    Finishing her shower, Johanna dressed and made her way towards the Command Center.
    ***
    Two days later Johanna sat in the command center of her fleet’s flagship, the dreadnought Monarch. It was the last of the old class dreadnoughts to be built, and it was named after her old ship, the one that she commanded in battle in the Solar system. The ship was scuttled when she returned to the Empire, even though she was still operational. But the damage she sustained guaranteed that she would never again see combat.
    “We are detecting a vortex opening at the trans-station Fleet Commander.” Her ships Sensor Handler said.
    Johanna nodded, they had been expecting it.
    “Contact, a ship has emerged.” Sensor Handler reported, “It’s the Gracious.”
    Johanna allowed herself to relax, hoping that her subordinates hadn’t noticed. “Tell the fleet to go to green stations.” Johanna said turning to her Comm Handler. Even though they knew that the Gracious would arrive now, she had ordered yellow stations throughout the fleet. A part of her, a small part that was still in the Solar system didn’t allow her to let her guard down. “And contact Ship Master Resaani, I want him to report to me in person as soon as he is able.” The news that the Ship Master of the Gracious reported back was significant, and she would need to talk to him in person.
    “Right away, Fleet Commander.” The Comm Handler said.
    With that, Johanna stood up from her command chair and made way to her ready room, which was connected to the Command Center. Inside, she went behind her desk and sat down, with a flick of a hand and a mental command her see-through glass desk came to life. A myriad of holo windows appeared above it and a similar number showed on the desk’s surface. There were countless reports and fleet requests, the fact that she knew that these were only the reports and requests that concerned the whole fleet made Johanna’s head spin. But she resigned herself to another day of reading and answering requests. She synced her imp to her desk computer to speed up her responses and started with the oldest reports and requests, she quickly scanned the topics and started reading. Three hours later she was still looking at the endless wall of reports when a chime announced that she had a visitor. With a mental command she opened the doors.
    Resaani, Ship Master of the Gracious walked in. He was pale as all Nel were, and was dressed in the blue skintight suit - the fleet variant of the suit that everyone in the Empire wore now, but his rank was shown on a small vest that he wore over it.
    “Fleet Commander.” Resaani said and then saluted fist to chest as he walked up to stand in front of her desk. Johanna returned the salute, then with a flick of her wrist she shut off her