SF Books by Vaughn Heppner

  THE TRAVELER SERIES:

  Galactic Marine

  Sleeper Ship

  The Zero Stone

  The Institute

  Neanderthal Planet

  The Science of Mu

  THE SOLDIER SERIES:

  The X-Ship

  Escape Vector

  Final Odyssey

  INVADERS SERIES:

  Invaders

  The Chronowarp

  The Antaran

  Dreadnought Ocelot

  Earth Gate

  Visit VaughnHeppner.com for more information

  GRAVITY WARS #4:

  Extinction Orbit

  by Vaughn Heppner

  GRAVITY WARS SERIES:

  #1 Interstellar Assault

  #2 Saturn Protocol

  #3 Nova Strike

  #4 Extinction Orbit

  Copyright © 2024 by the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

  Author’s Note

  I’ve written many a space opera with warp drives, hyperspace, and jump points—faster than light travel, in other words. I’ve often wondered how an interstellar war might occur without such fanciful technology. As far as we know, traveling faster than light is impossible. Would such a war make any kind of sense under that restriction?

  The novels in the Gravity Wars series imagine such a situation, using hard science as the basis. That means there are no light sabers, warp drives, or telepathy. I limited myself to using only technologies that we know are possible. Here is the ongoing scenario, one that could theoretically occur given our current scientific understanding.

  -- VAUGHN HEPPNER

  Minden, Nevada

  Introduction

  In the 13th century, the Mongol conquests reshaped the world with unparalleled devastation. Under Genghis Khan, the Mongols annihilated millions, erasing entire cities and civilizations with their seemingly unstoppable military force. Their campaigns were not just about territorial expansion but also a demonstration of total domination, where defiance was met with brutal, uncompromising destruction.

  This historical parallel finds an eerie reflection in the Valiants’ plan to unleash three mobile asteroids on Earth, threatening to annihilate humanity. Like the Mongols, the Valiants see their actions as a necessary path to securing their dominance, wielding a power capable of obliterating entire civilizations. However, history reminds us that such overwhelming force can carry the seeds of its own downfall. The Mongol Empire eventually fragmented, and the Valiants might likewise find that the very forces they seek to control could lead to their own destruction. As the asteroids hurtle toward Earth, the fate of humanity—and the Valiants themselves—remains up for grabs.

  Part I

  Decapitation Strike

  -1-

  Classified Memo

  To: Director Livia Drusus

  From: Senior General Tom Bain, Missile Command

  Subject: Strategic Implications of Destroying Orbital Stations and the Kessler Syndrome

  Date: February 6, 2075

  Director Drusus,

  In light of recent discussions regarding potential military actions against CEO Petty’s orbital stations, I feel compelled to bring to your attention the severe and long-term strategic consequences that could arise from such operations. Specifically, I am referring to the potential onset of the Kessler Syndrome and its impact on our ability to defend Earth against the persistent alien threat.

  The Kessler Syndrome: An Overview

  The Kessler Syndrome, a concept first introduced by the NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler nearly one hundred years ago in 1978, describes a scenario where the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) becomes so high that collisions between these objects create a cascade of further collisions. This results in an exponential increase in space debris, rendering LEO increasingly hazardous and potentially unusable for satellite operations or future space missions.

  Strategic Considerations

  Debris Creation and LEO Viability

  Destroying Petty’s orbital stations in a direct surface-launched missile assault would generate an immense cloud of space debris. Each collision would fragment these structures into hundreds of thousands or even millions of high-velocity projectiles, each capable of further collisions. A debris-filled LEO would hinder our ability to launch future spacecraft, directly diminishing our capacity to conduct defensive, offensive, or exploratory operations against the alien threat.

  Long-Term Military Strategy

  Maintaining clear and navigable orbital paths is crucial for the continued deployment of defense satellites, reconnaissance assets, and offensive manned missions. These capabilities are essential for early warning systems and coordinated defensive or offensive efforts against the extraterrestrials. A compromised LEO would negate any current or future military and technological advantage we might develop, effectively blinding us and crippling our strategic response capabilities against the aliens.

  Resource and Economic Impact

  The economic and technological resources required to mitigate the effects of widespread space debris would be enormous. This diversion of resources would weaken our overall strategic posture and diminish our ability to respond effectively to ongoing threats. The destruction of these orbital stations would also result in the loss of potentially valuable infrastructure that could be repurposed or leveraged in our direct defense efforts.

  Potential for Future Utilization

  It is imperative to consider that the orbital stations, currently under CEO Petty’s control, could become crucial assets in our World Government strategy, particularly if the aliens once again struck near or at Earth. These stations are equipped with advanced technologies and infrastructure that, if captured or co-opted, could significantly bolster our capabilities against the alien threat and against the New World Conglomerate.

  Recommendations

  Avoid Large-Scale Kinetic or Nuclear Orbital Strikes

  Refrain from launching large-scale missile strikes aimed at destroying the orbital stations. The risk of exacerbating the Kessler Syndrome and rendering LEO unusable is too high.

  Explore Alternative Tactics

  Consider alternative methods such as electronic warfare, targeted sabotage, and cyber operations to neutralize the stations without creating significant debris. Deploy special operations units to infiltrate and secure these stations, ensuring minimal collateral damage and preserving the integrity of LEO.

  Strategic Asset Utilization

  Develop a plan to capture and repurpose the orbital stations for our defense and offense needs. These assets could serve as critical platforms for launching defensive and offensive operations, conducting surveillance, and housing strategic command centers.

  Conclusion

  While the immediate military or political advantage of destroying Petty’s orbital stations might seem appealing, the long-term strategic costs and risks associated with the Kessler Syndrome far outweigh the benefits. It is vital that we preserve the viability of LEO for continued space operations and consider the potential future value of these orbital assets in our strategy against the alien threat.

  Your consideration of these points is crucial to ensuring the long-term security and strategic advantage of our forces.

  Respectfully,

  Senior General Tom Bain, Missile Command

  Classified - Eyes Only

  -2-

  Director Livia Drusus of the World Government seethed as she reread the drivel that Senior General Bain had written. He was becoming presumptuous, much too full of himself to dare to pen such a review as this.

  Livia tossed the tablet onto her desk, where it clattered.

  She was a tall, stately woman in her sixties, still retaining some of the beauty of her wild youth. Today, she wore a fashionable tan suit and tie with heels, and brunette extensions falling behind her shoulders.

  She was the Director of the World Government, a political entity run along corporate lines. Once, she had ruled the entire Earth. Now, the New World Conglomerate had wrested North and South America from her, along with Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Britain, and Ireland. It was a galling situation, especially when James Petty ruled orbital space as another, separate fiefdom.

  What was particularly galling was the disparity in numbers. The World Government controlled over fifteen billion, the New World Conglomerate a third of that. Petty had fewer than 700,000 people in twenty-three orbital stations, five 100,000-ton Orion ships, the Orbital Space Yards, and the Orbital Space Marine Training Facility. Oh, and he controlled the Moon. Not that the Moon held much after the Valiants had vacated it.

  The retreating aliens had taken their lunar captives with them, fewer than 500 humans.

  Livia was presently in a vast subterranean bunker system near Delhi, India. It had been several months since the Valiants had retreated from the Moon. Their spaceships hadn’t even reached Jupiter yet to perform the gravity assist to the Titan colony in the Saturn system.

  Petty had sent word about the aliens constructing three new Enforcer-class warships, which might be completed by the tim
e the alien invasion fleet returned to Titan. The Valiants also seemed to be heavily modifying three asteroids, each around one kilometer in diameter. Likely, the aliens had towed the asteroids from Saturn’s rings.

  The intense construction was taking place in Titan’s orbital yards. Titan was Saturn’s largest moon, one of several the Valiants had colonized.

  Most of this intelligence came from a newly deployed orbital telescope trained on the Saturn system. Some must also have come from Watchdog satellites deployed years ago, which had penetrated into the Outer Planets.

  Livia stepped to a cabinet, opened a tall door, and examined the wine bottles there. She selected Imperium Noir 2055. The grapes had been cultivated in the renowned Villa Drusilla Estate in Tuscany, Italy. The estate’s history dated back to the Roman Empire of antiquity. These days, the estate limited themselves to only 300 cases annually of this brand, making this a pricey bottle.

  Livia uncorked it and poured herself a modest amount. She raised the goblet, swirling the wine and sniffing delicately. The heady aroma almost made her smile.

  Instead of indulging herself, Livia took the goblet with her, moving to the main desk and sitting on the chair. She set the goblet on the desk, reached for the tablet, and reread a portion of the memo. Then she sat back, contemplating.

  Bain had agreed last strategy session that the Valiants would wait for the returning fleet before they launched a second assault, perhaps against Earth this time instead of the Moon.

  The assembling of the asteroids, the heavy modifications to them, indicated the Valiants wished to turn them mobile. They had done that once before. A one-kilometer asteroid had fought in the Second Battle of Saturn in 2069. That had been a defensive situation for the aliens, one they deceivably won. Could the Valiants think to turn three such asteroids into mobile platforms that could travel to Earth, and do this in a timely fashion? That was at least 1.2 billion kilometers of space travel.

  Livia glanced at the goblet tempting her, wanting to sip the wine, but still hesitating to do so.

  Suppose the aliens could achieve this amazing construction within a year. That meant the World Government had at least twenty months before humanity had to deal with the aliens near Earth. During that time, within ten months or less, her previously inept military, now guided through her cunning and stiffening, could surely reconsolidate its hold on all the Earth and gain control of the orbital stations and the Orion ships.

  Livia’s eyes shined at the thought. She hadn’t clawed her way to supreme power to let others strip pieces from her. She was instituting a new program—an increase in military authority for her favorite secret service. Over time, that should change the military equation in her favor.

  The new program was to make sure there were no more military coups as had happened in the Indonesian islands or the poor military showing in Australia.

  The Kali Intelligence Division (KID) was in the process of extending its influence into the WG’s military. That was according to her orders. Livia had patterned this after the NKVD in the Soviet Union prior to WWII.

  This meant political commissars were being integrated into the military hierarchy. They would ensure ideological purity and greater aggressiveness. That would ensure absolute loyalty to her at every level of command.

  The training program for the KID commissars was rigorous and comprehensive, beginning with indoctrination in political ideals and the historical context of the regime. The inductees were undergoing intensive education on the principles of loyalty, combined with psychological ops and tactical training.

  The first commissars were already embedded within major military units. In time, each army and police brigade would not only have a commissar but also an action squad under his command, ready to enforce compliance and execute critical operations.

  Livia glanced at the goblet again.

  The temptation was too great. She finally picked up the goblet and took a delicate sip. The wine was heavenly. She let it sit on her tongue before gently swallowing. Then she set the goblet down before she sipped more.

  She didn’t want to indulge too much but control her alcohol consumption. She had read the briefings on Petty and his increasing drunkenness. The man was becoming a beast.

  The KID operation squads would be composed of elite teams trained in both traditional and cyber warfare, capable of handling any threat from within or outside the military ranks. Theoretically, their presence would neutralize all dissent or disloyalty.

  Livia sat back and swiveled around. She didn’t want to wait until this military reform was complete. She needed to strike and consolidate her full rule over the Earth.

  What should she attempt first? Should she begin a direct war against the New World Conglomerate or attempt to capture the orbital stations with a secret operational strike?

  Both could inadvertently turn into nuclear exchanges. Ultimately, that would mean a victory for the aliens. Thus, she needed to avoid that, meaning she had to use cunning and guile.

  Livia smiled for the first time. Guile was her greatest strength. How had she dealt with the former Director, Anwar Gray? She had played the perfect lieutenant until she maneuvered him into a position where she placed a nuclear bomb under his ass and detonated it.

  That seemed like the answer now. She should play nice and then entice Maria Chavez of the New World Conglomerate and CEO Petty of the Orbital Stations into one place. It would be wisest if she could entice as many powerful leaders of each side to the same location. And then—

  “Boom,” Livia said quietly, letting the fingers of one hand expand outward, with her eyes shining with murder lust.

  What would be the best way to entice them into this place?

  After a time of contemplation, Livia nodded again. It was time to extend the olive branch and have a critical peace conference where they could hammer out their differences for the sake of unity against the alien threat.

  Livia pondered, trying to determine the perfect location. As she mulled it over, she leaned forward, picked up the goblet, and sipped a little more.

  Soon, the wine was gone. She felt the heady fumes in her mind, the very first touches of it.

  Then the answer came to her, the location. Greenland would be the perfect site, one of the last islands controlled by the World Government. Could she entice Chavez and Petty to come to Greenland, as it was separated by an ocean from the rest of her dominion?

  She believed she could.

  Livia rubbed her hands together. This was what she did best—subterfuge with a murderous twist. It was time to lay the groundwork for what would surely be her masterpiece.

  As the New World Conglomerate and Orbital Stations reeled from the disaster, they would be ripe for the picking, soon surrendering to her control.

  -3-

  TWO AND A HALF MONTHS LATER

  Incredibly, the members of the New World Conglomerate bought into Livia’s sincerity. Perhaps the relief from the alien retreat had something to do with it. Whatever the reason, it took two and a half months of intense negotiations to hammer out the details for the grand peace conference.

  Many highly ranked CEOs in the New World Conglomerate put pressure on Maria Chavez to normalize relations with the World Government. The embargos between the two power blocs had severely curtailed trade between them. That had led to massive revenue losses.

  Besides, everyone knew that Earth had to begin heavy industrialization again so that humanity could manufacture more Orion ships to face the aliens.

  CEO Petty controlled five 100,000-ton Orion ships. That was a powerful force, but still not the eight the World Government had launched at Saturn in 2068.

  No new Orion ships had been produced since the Valiants had sent their invasion fleet against the Moon.

  The projectiles from the Iapetus railgun, the civil war fought between Earth forces and the distrust and hostility badly needed mending.

  Livia Drusus was offering the olive branch of peace. There would be a World Council with two houses, one based on the three separate blocs, and one based on population.

  The second house would heavily favor Livia. Her intelligence operatives were busy painting a different picture of the World Council. Most of the executive power would go to the first house.