Freedom Saga 2: Freedom's Bell (9 page)

Admiral
Regelik sat in his tactical room surrounded by subordinates. He watched the
footage of his forces being decimated the day before. The plumed birdman fumed
with anger while his advisors stood around with their beaks open.

“What
is this?” Regelik asked. “Was this the best the Iron navy was capable of?”

“But
sir…”

“Shut
up!” Regelik cawed. “You were supposed to stay longer than that! You ran like
cowards and now our enemy is emboldened! What do you have to say for
yourselves?”

One
of the captains calmly stepped forward. “We retreated sooner than ordered
because we wanted to preserve our numbers. In order to stake our bets we had to
make a calculated decision.”

Regelik
stared down all the other officers in the room before nodding his head. “That’s
the answer I wanted to hear.” He put his attack plan on the monitor. “Our
enemies will reach the target point in two days. I want every ship there to
crush them.” He displayed the Columbia base and its six ships. “Our previous
targets have been the special model mobile suits they’re deploying. That
changes today.” The simulated battle showed the ships and Talons concentrating
their fire on the base. “Our mission is to destroy their base. After that their
ships are to be surrounded one by one and destroyed. I don’t care if you have
to crash into them, we must be victorious!”

* * *

Grigon
and Dreka were in the launching bay of the Avoni while the Mjolnir stood
silently. The room was devoid of any engineers or pilots at the moment when
they started looking things over on their tablets.

“I
thought Daes was the most level headed of us,” Dreka said. “Jesela’s normally
the one who makes crazy claims like this.”

“I
don’t think she’s crazy,” Grigon said. “The question is if we can implement it
properly.”

“Alright
old man, I believe you,” Dreka said.

The
Mjolnir’s eyes lit up. “You two know I can hear you, right?” the mobile suit
asked.

“Of
course,” Dreka cawed.

“We
wouldn’t think of leaving you out of this,” Grigon said.

“What
about Meldi?” Mjolnir asked. “Shouldn’t she know what’s going on?”

The
door opened and in came Daes and Jesela. The two headed over to the Mjolnir.

“She
doesn’t need to know,” Daes said. “That was Brian’s last order to me.”

“I
wonder why he wants to keep it from her,” Jesela said.

“It’s
part of the plan,” Grigon said. “So does everyone have what we need?”

Daes
handed him a tablet with all the data on the Minerva and Aegis. “Everything’s
right there.”

Dreka
handed over his tablet with all the data on the Gemini. “My masterpiece is
detailed on this.”

Jesela
handed him a tablet with all the data on the Artemis and Siren. “Why did you have
us transport this through handhelds? It would’ve been easier to send the data
over the ship’s computer.”

“Secrecy
must be maintained,” Grigon said. “I know it’s a hassle to do things this way
but Brian requested it.”

The
old birdman used the elevator cord to head up the Mjolnir’s cockpit.

“So
what are all of you doing to me?” the mobile suit asked.

“The
first thing we want to do is create a backup for all the special model mobile
suits,” Grigon explained. “But there’s more to it in the data you’ll be
receiving. This much input will probably turn off your functions for a while.”

“I
trust you,” Mjolnir said. “Wake me up when everything’s done.”

“I
will,” Grigon said.

Grigon
plugged in the tablets and set them to run automatically before returning to
the others. When the data went in the Mjolnir’s eyes went black while its
systems were updated.

“It’ll
take a few hours for all the data to transfer,” Grigon said as he left the
cockpit.

“When
did he hatch this plan?” Dreka asked.

“Right
before he led the Confederation on that chase,” Daes said.

Jesela
touched the leg of the Mjolnir. “He saw something, didn’t he? Something he
won’t tell any of us.”

“He
probably saw a vision in that sea of blue,” Dreka cawed.

“Agreed,”
Grigon said.

“If
you check the logs you’ll find he sent a number of messages to his people,”
Daes said. “The last one will get to the Earth in about a hundred years.”

“Is
there something significant about that message?” Jesela asked.

Daes
nodded. “He made a single prediction. When the light is darkest a dragon will
emerge from the eye of Jupiter carrying a warrior of Kali.”

“Kali
is a reference our people,” Jesela said. “Wait, isn’t he the Warrior?”

Myden
stepped out of the shadows. “No Jesela, the Warrior is whoever is needed for
the task.”

“What
do you mean?” Dreka asked.

“The
coming war will be but the first,” Myden said. “The Naerendi control half of
Alden, but their dominance over Kelden is much greater. Even if we drive them
from this galaxy a greater threat looms. They’ll come again, that I guarantee.”

* * *

King
Zaris and the Admiral Shakar were in the great hall of the palace. On the monitors
around the room were the images and video of the female Malcovin striking
military compounds. His advisors were running around in confusion because of
the situation.

“What
should we do my lord?” Shakar asked.

“Females
don’t know there place anymore,” Zaris said. “Something larger is at work
here.”

“Do
you think it’s them?” Shakar asked.

“Probably,”
Zaris said. “At the least they’re feeding them money and weapons.” He looked at
one of the bases that had been attacked. “Be on the watch for stolen Talons. If
the females know how to fly them we’re in for some trouble.”

“I’ll
double all patrols over vital locations,” Shakar said.

“That’ll
help,” Zaris said. “How’s Regelik doing?”

“His
next plan will surely destroy our enemy,” Shakar answered.

“I
hope it does,” Zaris said. “We can’t afford to let the enemy embolden the
rebels any more than they already are.”

* * *

Valis
looked over her battle plan in her quarters before turning off the monitor and
leaning back in her chair.

“This
is going to be tough,” she said to herself.

When
she closed her eyes the door buzzer went off.

“It’s
me,” Celi said.

“Come
in,” Valis said.

Celi
opened the door. “How are things coming along?”

“Everything’s
finished,” Valis said. “Our base will be attacked by five hundred ships
tomorrow or the next day. It’s hard planning against odds like that.”

“I’ll
take your word on this,” Celi said.

“So
Celi, is there something wrong with me or not?”

“Nothing
in the scans stands out right now,” Celi said. “I’m keeping a close eye on us.
The other medical staffs are doing the same.”

“Good,”
Valis said before looking at her empty wine glass. “I haven’t had a drop since
the party on Dega Jul.”

Celi
picked up the glass. “Did you really give up drinking?”

Valis
sighed. “At first I thought it was a joke. But after thinking about it I may
have a problem.”

“Well,
keep it up,” Celi said. “Giving up alcohol isn’t bad for you. By the way, have
you had a chance to talk with the bridge crew?”

“After
the next battle I’ll do that,” Valis said. “I need some sleep right now.”

“Alright,”
Celi said. “If anything comes up we’ll contact you immediately. Take care
Valis.”

“I
will,” Valis said before Celi left. She went to her bedroom and crashed on the
bed. She turned her head and stared at a picture showing her and Brian when he
first became a
Maigar
. “Never was there an officer who caused me more
trouble,” she closed her eyes, “or made me lose more sleep.”

Veda
and Reban were busy in the command center when the alert system went on. As
they looked up the screens showed five hundred Malcovin ships approaching from
all sides.

“I
guess our phase cloak doesn’t work anymore,” Reban said.

“I’m
surprised it lasted as long as it did,” Veda said before pressing the com. “To
all forces, five hundred enemy ships are approaching. All gunnery officers are
to report to their stations. All ships are to launch as soon as possible.”

“Our
enemy chose well,” Reban said. “There are no places to use for cover at all.”

“We
could gravity jump away,” Veda said. “But Valis wants us to stand our ground.”

“Retreating
would be bad for morale after all,” Reban said.

“True,”
Veda said. “And despite everything we can win this.”

“Should
I ready our reserves?” Reban asked.

Veda
nodded. “This time it would be a good idea.”

* * *

The
six ships launched from their docks. As they did so all of them deployed their
mobile weapons. The Maidens joined together before the enemy entered firing
range.

“Seles,
Kivi, head for their closest fleet and destroy as many as you can,” Valis
ordered. “The rest of us will take care of another enemy fleet.”

“I’m
on it,” Seles said.

“Time
to take them down,” Kivi said.

The
Artemis and Gemini flew at the approaching fleet while the other three flew to
a different location. The reflector plates on the Artemis extended the barrel
and intensified the beam as the two mobile suits fired at the enemy. As they
did so, a pair of ships exploded while eight Talons went with them. As the
moments passed more and more of the approaching fleet took damage. When the
enemy entered range they fired back and shook the two mobile suits.

“I
think that’s my queue,” Seles said.

“Go
ahead,” Kivi said.

The
Artemis landed on the back of the Gemini and sped up its gravity drive. Seles
let the berserk take hold as she fired a massive beam into the enemy fleet.
Thirty ships and over a hundred Talons were destroyed. The Gemini joined in and
blasted some of the damaged ships while Seles fired a second arrow. After the
beam of destruction cleared, the Malcovin fleet was reduced to a handful of
ships and fifty Talons. Seles ended her berserk and returned the Artemis to
normal.

“Are
you alright?” Kivi asked.

“Yeah,
I’ll live,” Seles said. “Berserking takes a lot of you.”

“I
know,” Kivi said. “Let’s finish this and prepare for the next wave.”

“Good
idea,” Seles said.

* * *

The
Minerva, Siren, and Aegis headed for the next enemy fleet. The amount of pulse
fire concentrated on them shook their vessels. Valis focused her mind to not go
berserk as they approached.

“It’s
time Mira,” Valis said.

“As
you wish,” Mira said.

The
drive on the Siren sped up as its song system started up. Mira sang an old
Kalaidian ballad to praise the goddess. When the three entered the enemy
fleet’s space the crafts around them were disabled one after another by the
Siren’s system. After four passes the second fleet was in shambles with only a
few disabled ships and mobile suits remaining. Mira ended the song system while
the three returned to base.

“That
was easy,” Celi said.

“Only
because your shields are so strong,” Mira said.

* * *

“The
first and second enemy fleets have been wiped out,” Reban reported.

“Good,”
Veda said. “Now we need to hold out for a while.”

The
remaining Malcovin ships approached with their weapons firing. The shield array
of the base held, but the amount of energy slamming into them shook the entire
asteroid. Outside, the six ships maintained a tight formation with their
smaller crafts doing likewise.

“Our
shields are at eighty five percent,” Reban said.

“Their
weapons are more powerful than we thought,” Veda said. “Guess we shouldn’t
underestimate the greedy birds so much.”

“Valis
has an alternative plan in case of this,” Reban said. “It’s the same as what
we’re doing now but we take more damage.”

“How
creative,” Veda said.

Three
hundred ships and over a thousand Talons exchanged fire with the asteroid base.
While the Malcovin were suffering a lot more damage to their forces the
Columbia base’s shields were being drained.

“They’re
ignoring our ships,” Reban said.

“Hmm…we
thought as much,” Veda said.

Valis
appeared on the monitor, “Veda, change to M-8.”

Veda
switched the plan over as it was sent to every craft within their forces.

“Maintain
things as they are,” Valis said. “We’ll take the heat off you in a few
minutes.”

“Alright,”
Veda said.

* * *

The
Artemis and Gemini were with the six ships to aid in the defense of the base.
Seles and Kivi masterfully coordinated their shots to destroy as many enemies
as possible. At the same time, the Minerva, Aegis, and Siren joined them.

“Celi,
it’s time you turn the tide of battle,” Valis said.

“Activating
shield system,” Celi said as she started her berserk.

The
Aegis’s drive sped up as a wave like barrier of particles extended from the silver
mobile suit and covered the entire base. Incoming attacks began reflecting back
on the Malcovin forces. As their numbers thinned the enemy backed away.

“That
shield is crazy,” Seles said.

“No
crazier than your arrows,” Kivi said.

“We’ll
push forward as long as she can maintain the shield system,” Valis said.

The
Gemini and Artemis led the attack using their long range cannons. The Malcovin
forces bunched together to help stave off some of the damage.

“It
seems our enemy is learning new tricks,” Kivi said.

“Let’s
attack together to counter,” Seles suggested.

“Of
course,” Kivi said.

* * *

From
a distance Admiral Regelik watched the battle from the bridge of the flagship.
He paced nervously as the tide turned against his forces.

“What
should we do?” his commander asked.

“Their
special weapons are limited from what we’ve discerned,” Regelik said. “Once
that shield is down our opening will come. For now let’s keep our distance and
be ready to strike.”

“Sir,
our attacks were having an effect on their base,” a lieutenant reported. “We’ve
reduced their shields to fifty one percent.”

“Good,”
Regelik said. “Even if we’re forced to flee at least we’ll have something to
give the king.”