"What are The Goddens up to? They must be
planning some big drive if they have so weakened their defenses."
101 They had detected no major movements of ships at high speeds. That
could only mean that The Goddens were taking months to move their
vessels at slow speed so they could not be detected. There was only one
way to find out where they were.
102 Taking The Morning Star and an escort of only five vessels, North
plunged deep into The Empire, coming and going with long leaps. What he
found sent him running back to Peepi.
103 In the systems behind the front lines The Goddens had massed
everything they had. There was no doubt of their intent. They were
going to push against a broad section of The Republic' s front,
endangering Hades, trying to drive for The Republic's capitol with
everything they had.
104 There was only one defense, and Morn ordered it. The Republic threw
everything they had at the enemy first. It was three months of endless
fighting, jumping from system to system, pounding the enemy's massing
forces, breaking up their fleets before they could launch their own
attacks.
105 But the victory was finally The Republic's, though there were heavy
losses on both sides. A weary North returned to Peepi, but he had no
intent on resting! Though he had lost only seven ships, his dead and
wounded were high. As soon as he returned he rotated his crews with The
Home Fleet. But he was still short in many positions.
106 The Spearons were drained. North had taken from them every bit he
could muster. True, in a couple of years as the next generation got
older, he would have many well trained replacements, but right now that
source of personnel and material had reached their limits.
107 The other Peepian races, though, had not con-