Freedom Saga 3: The Dawn of Liberty (12 page)

Viken
Prime was slightly smaller than the Earth and had two large moons, one in a
closer orbit, with the other much further away. The surface was pocked with a
dozen continents and had a climate like Earth’s. Surrounding the planet from
east to west was a solar power generation ring much like the other homeworlds.
The massive structure was held up by four towers evenly spaced across the
equator. A thousand loyalist ships were clumped together in ten fleets around
the planet. On the surface, turmoil filled most of the cities as the government
forces were trying to quash the rebellion. The same situation was playing out
throughout the lizard people’s colonies in every star system. The Freedom
appeared near the south pole and had all of its mobile suits deployed with the
Artemis and Siren in the front. Brian stood on the bridge with Myden, Grigon,
Jesela, and the four droids. Their allies were currently phase cloaked behind
them.

“Are
you sure about this?” Valis asked from the Minerva.

“We
won’t know unless we try,” Brian said.

“Alright,”
Valis said.

Brian
opened a com link to all crafts in the area.

“To
all government forces, I am Captain Brian Peterson of the Freedom,” he started.
“We of Heaven’s Light have found your government in contempt of its people.
Your populace has rejected you as their government and as such, we request you
surrender immediately.”

The
loyalist ships headed for the Freedom and opened fire.

“So
that’s your answer,” Brian said.

The
Columbia base appeared with the other five ships ready to go. The five Maidens
quickly flew into formation while the rebel Viken fleets appeared near the north
pole of the planet. The ship shook as the two forces exchanged fire.

“Kyli,
Tctie, go for it,” Brian ordered

“Yes
sir,” Kyli said.

“On
my way out,” Tctie said.

* * *

On
both sides of the planet the battle commenced. The fighting was fierce because
the loyalists defended their government to the death. The Maidens charged with
their weapons firing.

“Everyone
save their special systems for when our other enemy arrives,” Valis said.

“You
think they’ll attack?” Seles asked.

“They
will,” Kivi said. “If I was them I’d attack during this mess.”

“Is
there a reason the Ick-Tckt hate us so much?” Mira asked.

“It’s
not like we entered their territory,” Celi added.

“They
aren’t acting as one right now,” Valis said. “And our intelligence reports show
the queen is not behind their attacks.”

“Which
means it could one of any of the dozens of other nobles,” Kivi said.

The
five finished destroying one of the loyalist fleets and continued forward as
their allies followed behind them. The forces of Heaven’s Light and the rebel
Viken fleets were steadily making their way towards the equator to link up. The
loyalist fleets retreated where they could and joined with their allies. After
a few minutes the battle calmed as the two sides regrouped their fleets.

“To
all forces, we’re about to enter phase two of the plan,” Valis said. “Because
the enemy retreated sooner than expected modify your attack formations from
A-10 to A-8.” She switched the com back to the other Maidens only. “We need to
be ready at any moment for the Ick-Tckt. Our objective from here on is to draw
them away from the main battle and fight them on our own.”

“Yes
Valis,” the other four said.

* * *

The
Freedom flew at the head of the combined fleet. Brian looked up from the
console and noticed something strange.

“What
do you see?” Myden asked.

“I’m
not sure,” Brian answered. “It’s not being picked up on the scanners, is it?”

“Nothing
unusual is being detected,” Droid B reported.

“Is
this something you recently acquired?” Jesela asked.

“Yes,”
Brian said. He sent the coordinates of the disturbance to the Maidens. “If
anything happens I want them to be ready.”

The
two fleets charged. While the mass of ships tore into each other Brian kept an
eye on the disturbance while everyone else worked away. The Maidens hung back
in the distance while waiting for their enemy to arrive.

“Can
you explain this?” Valis asked.

Brian
shook his head. “All I can say is I see something strange near the five of you.
Be prepared for anything.”

“We
will,” Valis said.

* * *

“Another
mass battle,” Veda said with a sigh.

The
Columbia base shook from the explosions outside. A number of the loyalist Viken
ships that were damaged were ramming into other vessels and causing chaos.

“It
never ceases to amaze me how much punishment our shields can take,” Veda said.

“We’ve
lost function in two of the arrays because of them,” Reban said.

“They’re
doing better than we thought they would,” Veda said. “How’s everything on your
end?”

“We’ve
sustained a good amount of casualties,” Yardek reported. “But less than the
government’s forces. This battle is turning into a free for all.”

“I
have to agree,” Veda said. “How are your allies on the surface doing?”

“It’s
taking them longer to sack the government than we thought,” Ulad said. “But as
soon as we win here the government on the surface has no protection left.”

“Good,”
Veda said. “Let’s keep it up.”

* * *

The
Maidens calm kept their cool as the battle around them intensified. Valis had
taken the data Brian sent and modified their position accordingly. Something
flashed on their scanners when a mass of Ick-Tckt crafts came out of gravity
jump and attacked. The five mobile suits moved closer together to help defend
themselves. Over five hundred of the crafts swarmed around them. The Artemis
and Gemini began the battle with a volley of long range attacks.

“I
don’t think Tctie thought there would be this many,” Valis said as the Minerva
shook.

“There’s
two hundred more on the way,” Kivi warned.

“So
it’s seven hundred versus five,” Seles said.

“We’ve
seen worse odds,” Celi said.

“How
long are we holding out for?” Mira asked.

“This
won’t be like the Bronze navy,” Valis said. “Let’s hold together until we know
their target, then strike.”

“Sounds
like a plan,” Seles said.

“How
did Brian know they would appear there?” Kivi asked.

“It
has something to do with his perceptual abilities,” Mira said.

“When
berserking to the limit he was able to ignore dimensions as we know them,” Celi
said.

The
swarm of Ick-Tckt closed around them and pounded the five mercilessly. The
Aegis pushed its shield but found the protective bubble was being drained. The
four mobile suits with weapons fired as fast as they could to lessen the swarm
but it seemed for every craft they destroyed another two took its place. As the
pressure grew the enemy began focusing on the Artemis. Shot after shot
deflected off its shields as the Ick-Tckt swarmed Seles’s craft. A pair of HV
missiles made their way through the edge of the barrier and hit the Artemis’s
rifle, causing it to explode. Once the smoke cleared the Artemis was missing
the front part of its right arm.

“Seles,
are you still with us?” Valis asked.

“Yeah,”
Seles answered. “I’m alright, but she’s hurting.”

“Move
closer to the Aegis for now,” Valis ordered. “Do you still have offensive
capability?”

“I
can use the sword with the left hand,” Seles said.

“That’ll
help when the time comes,” Valis said. She narrowed her eyes.
They knew
enough to destroy her rifle. That means we’re going to have to do something
different.
“Kivi, ready the twin blade system.”

“It’s
ready to go,” Kivi said.

“Alright
everyone, we’re all going to berserk and use our special systems at the same
time,” Valis said.

“What’s
the plan?” Celi asked.

“Do
whatever you must to survive,” Valis said.

* * *

Brian
sighed with relief when he saw the Artemis was still flying. The battle between
the Viken loyalists and the rebels was still raging strong while the Maidens
fought desperately in the distance.

“What
do you think Valis will do now?” Myden asked.

“With
the Artemis in the condition it’s in she can’t do the usual thing,” Grigon
said.

“It’s
going to be a pain to build a new rifle for her,” Jesela said.

Brian
stared at the space around the Maidens.
I see.
He programmed in the
specifics before turning to the others.

“We’re
going to try something crazy,” he said. “Myden, activate the Hades system.”

“Charging
up as we speak,” Myden said.

“What
are you going to do?” Jesela asked.

“Kivi
and the Gemini will lead the charge for the five of them,” Brian said. “But if
what I’m seeing is true the enemy has more forces on the way. We’re going to
aim the Hades cannon at the spot they’re going to appear.”

“That
does sound crazy,” Grigon cawed. “But I like it.”

“Me
too,” Jesela said.

“Did
you hear that Veda?” Brian asked.

“We’re
clearing a path for you right now,” Veda said.

The
Ick-Tckt swarm grew at an alarming rate around the Maidens as they kept their
crafts together. The Artemis switched to using its sword while the others
readied their special systems. Celi was the first to berserk as the Aegis’s
shield extended outward and reflected the enemy’s shots back at them.

“The
Aegis will act as our safe zone,” Valis said. She looked at the nearly thousand
mobile weapons pounding them. “Let’s do this.”

“Yes
Valis,” the other four said.

Before
they started their attack a massive beam of energy flew by them. When the
energy faded away lover half of the Ick-Tckt forces were destroyed.

“Looks
like Brian has our back,” Valis said.

“Are
we still on?” Kivi asked.

“Lead
the way,” Valis said.

The
Gemini moved its cannon to its back as the mobile suit shifted form. As it
moved the larger mobile suit split into two. After a moment both sections
emerged as slimmer mobile suits sized the same as the other four. In each of
their hands was a massive
rakna
blade glowing with energy. Kivi smiled
as the berserk came over her. The Ick-Tckt crafts moved away as both halves of
the Gemini spun their blades. As the two halves charged they quickly cut their
way through the nearest wave of enemy mobile armors. The others watched while
Kivi masterfully piloted the two in tandem and slashed the enemy to pieces.

“I
thought the arrow system was crazy,” Mira said.

“The
Gemini appears as a bombardment style mobile suit,” Valis said. “But that’s a
smoke screen meant to fool the enemies away from its melee capabilities.”

“She’s
doing pretty well for her first time,” Seles said.

“It’s
time we join her,” Valis said.           

The
Artemis, Siren, and Minerva lit up as their pilots berserked. The three spread
out and charged into the fray.

* * *

Dreka
stood on the bridge of the Raulno and cawed with excitement.

“It’s
working!” he shouted. “Oh I waited for so long and it looks perfect!”

“You
sound really happy,” Kaela said.

“It’s
only the commander’s pride and joy,” Shol said. “But it helps that our captain
has some good moves.”

“You
know she doesn’t have a thing for snakes,” Kaela said.

Shol
grinned. “I didn’t mean it that way. And besides, I don’t have a thing for
mammals.”

“What’s
our status?” Dreka asked.

“Everything’s
working as it should,” Kaela said. “The Viken aren’t able to cause much
damage.”

“They’re
also focusing everything on the Freedom,” Shol said. “I haven’t had to do much
in the way of evasive maneuvers.”

“Excellent,”
Dreka said.

* * *

The
Freedom’s engines quieted down as the ship returned to normal. Brian sat in the
captain’s chair and relaxed.

“That
was all they needed,” he said.

“I’m
amazed at how fast the Gemini is,” Jesela said. “I didn’t think any pilot could
move two at a time like that.”

“Dreka
outdid himself,” Grigon said.

“How’s
she able to pilot both of them?” Jesela asked.

“It’s
the fact the Gemini has two A.I. systems instead of one,” Brian answered. “All
she has to do is move one with each hand, just like when she’s fighting with a
rakna
in each hand.”

“Do
you need an injection?” Jesela asked.

Brian
waved her off. “Not anymore.”

The
loyalist forces began pushing back. When they started crashing their fighters
and ships into the rebel forces the Columbia base moved to intercept them.
Brian watched before hitting the com.

“I
think we should clump together now,” he said to the other five ships.

“I
agree,” El Kar said. “They’re getting worse by the moment.”

“Let’s
try formation D-10,” Esra suggested.

“I
like that one,” Zae said.

“Good
idea,” Dreka cawed.

“Alight,
D-10 it is,” Brian said. “Kyli, Tctie, did you hear that?”

“Loud
and clear captain,” Kyli responded.

“We’re
on our way,” Tctie said.

The
six ships moved closer together to aid each other in shielding. When an enemy
ship went to ram the Freedom the Mjolnir sped over and fired a beam through it.
As it exploded the Mjolnir flew away. Brian smiled.
I choose well.

* * *

The
Maidens pushed their way out of the swarm of enemy mobile armors and gathered
together again.

“Seles,
I want you to follow Kivi’s lead,” Valis said. “Mira and I will take the other
side.”

“Got
it,” Seles said.

The
Gemini’s two halves slashed through the enemy forces with the one armed Artemis
taking a hack here and there. The Minerva sped forward with the Siren emitting
a song to disable every enemy craft in the area. After the four circled about
and rejoined the Aegis their berserks were close to ending. The Gemini returned
to its larger form and grabbed its cannon while the others stopped emitting
light. The enemy crafts capable of moving quickly gravity jumped away. Once it
was clear they were gone the Aegis returned to normal.

“What
should we do now?” Mira asked.

“Our
friends are going to need us,” Valis said. “After the battle we’re going to
collect everything we can from this area.”

Valis
looked at the battle and noticed loyalists were sending out everything they
had. What she caught out of the corner of her eye were a number of defense
satellites moving into position. Her scanners showed they were carrying nuclear
missiles. She hit the com.

“To
all forces, the enemy has deployed satellites armed with nuclear missiles,”
Valis said. “The five of us will do what we can, but be prepared.”

“I
don’t like this,” Kivi said.

“None
of us do,” Celi said.

“Seles,
stay with Celi,” Valis said. “Kivi, Mira, we’re going to spread as much as we
can to intercept any incoming missiles. We can’t let them get close. Celi, you
and Seles will cover the base and give it as much shielding as possible.”

“Yes
Valis,” everyone responded.

The
five sped to their positions as the missiles were being readied for launch.

* * *

Veda
and Reban frantically worked to reposition all of their forces. On the screen
it was obvious General Yardek and Representative Ulad were angered by the
government’s move to use nuclear weapons.

“All
forces are reporting difficulties,” Reban said. “Moving a fleet of this size
quickly is a problem.”

“I’m
not surprised by that,” Veda said.

“It’s
madness,” Ulad said.

“Their
arrogance is at its worst right now,” Yardek added.

“Why
would they use them anyway?” Reban asked.

“Because
they know the Confederation will slap them with sanctions,” Veda said.
“Sanctions mean nothing to those desperately clinging to power.”

“It’s
a minor inconvenience to the economy for a few years,” Ulad said.

“Our
forces are moving apart as fast as possible,” Yardek said. “Although I don’t
know how effective that will be.”

The
loyalist forces backed off as their missiles were being prepared. The Maidens
spread out and started attacking the launchers before they could fire.

“All
we can do is hope they destroy them in time,” Veda said.

* * *

Brian
watched the situation carefully and cursed under his breath.

“Should
we try the cannon again?” Jesela asked.

“It
doesn’t spread out enough to hit them,” Myden said.

“I
really need to look into an anti-nuclear device one of these days,” Grigon
said.

“That’s
not your strong suit,” Jesela said.

“What
do you think Brian?” Myden asked.

Brian
looked at the various places the missiles were being readied from.
There’s
no way they can take them all down without the Artemis’s rifle. Even if we use
the Mjolnir it won’t be enough.
He looked at his allies.
If even one of
those gets through we’re finished. I guess it’s time I try something stupid.
He locked the helmet of his exoskeleton into place and checked that it was
fully charged. Brian drew his sword while the others stared at him.

“I’m
going to try something,” Brian said. “Hopefully I won’t get killed.”

Before
anyone could respond Brian stepped forward and disappeared.

“What’s
he going to do?” Jesela asked.

“The
launchers aren’t very big on their own,” Myden said. “If he spins the
rakna
and fires he should be able to destroy them.”

“Sounds
reckless,” Grigon cawed.

“What
happens if he messes up?” Jesela asked.

“Then
he’ll get caught in the blast,” Myden said.

Jesela
sighed. “Great, that’s just what I wanted to hear.”