Freedom Saga 3: The Dawn of Liberty (9 page)

The
six ships deployed from the Columbia base at the same time the Maidens flew to
the front. The Artemis and Gemini took their places at the front with the Aegis
in the middle, while the Minerva and Siren flew in the rear.

“We’ll
attack using formation A-1,” Valis said.

“Nothing
easier than that,” Kivi said.

“A
frontal assault without any strings attached,” Seles added.

“Isn’t
this too simple?” Mira asked.

“No,”
Valis responded. “Because our enemies lack mobile weapon technology our attacks
should easily destroy them.”

The
Viken fleet approached in attack formation. When the Artemis and Gemini were
within range they began picking off ship and fighter alike with their pulse
cannons. The Viken ships fired with everything they had but found the Aegis’s
shield impossible to penetrate. After the five flew into the enemy fleet the
Artemis and Gemini switched to spread attacks and destroyed everything around
them. The Minerva and Siren picked off anything getting too close. The enemy
fleet of two hundred had been reduced in half when the six ships and their
mobile weapons waded into the fight.

“Looks
like A-1 was all we needed,” Seles said.

“Don’t
let your guard down,” Valis said.

“She
was just stating a fact,” Kivi said.

“I
know that,” Valis said. “But the Minerva thinks our invisible friends will
strike.”

“Is
that why you kept Tctie back?” Mira asked.

“Yes,”
Valis answered. “Our detection system has a limited range he’s able to
surpass.”

Flashes
of light appeared and pulse fire hit the Columbia base from behind.

“I
hate being right,” Valis said.

* * *

Tctie
led the mobile suits of the Freedom. The eight squadrons were in sphere shaped
formations of ten or eleven. The attacking Ick-Tckt crafts appeared on their
scanners as Tctie turned his units around.

“All
squadrons are to attack using formation E-4,” Tctie ordered.

“Yes
lieutenant,” the other pilots answered.

Tctie
felt something as his eyes started glowing again. His mobile suit drew its four
blades and charged into the Ick-Tckt forces. As he sliced through them he felt
the confusion on their side.
They weren’t ready for us to be able to detect
them so soon.
He thought as he sliced another mobile armor in half. He
noticed they changed their main target to his mobile suit. As his craft backed
away the Mjolnir sped in and fired a few spread shots to clear the area. Meldi
appeared on his screen.

“You’re
turning into another Brian you know,” she said.

“I
understand lieutenant,” Tctie said before his antennae started twitching.

“Are
you sensing something?” Meldi asked as she fired another volley of spread
shots.

“I
can hear it in their thoughts,” Tctie said. “Could you buy me some time?”

“Sure,”
Meldi said.

She
moved the Mjolnir next to his mobile suit while he concentrated on the nearby
Ick-Tckt. After a minute of doing so he shook his head and resumed firing.

“What
did you find?” Meldi asked.

“I
saw their attack plan,” Tctie said. “Although I’m not an expert in tactics I
can relay what I saw to the others.”

“Valis
would be your best bet,” Meldi said.

“That’s
who I was thinking about,” Tctie said.

The
Ick-Tckt forces changed their tactics and moved to surround the mobile suits.
While they were being pounded from all sides the battle with the Viken was
ending. The Maidens turned about and headed into the fray.

* * *

Veda
and Reban performed their usual tasks as the battle continued. The loyalist
Viken forces had been nearly annihilated with the few survivors fleeing via
gravity jumps. As the battle shifted Yardek’s fleet and the six ships started
moving to the other side of the Columbia base. At the same time the Maidens
charged into the Ick-Tckt forces and destroyed everything in their path.

“They
look confused,” Esra said from the bridge of the Daevoni.

“It’s
obvious they weren’t ready for us to see them so easily,” El Kar added from the
bridge of the Reinkar.

“Who
are these new enemies?” Yardek asked from the bridge of his ship.

“They’re
Ick-Tckt,” Veda answered.

“Does
this mean the Ick-Tckt have joined this war?” Yardek asked.

“We
don’t know,” Veda said. “Because they’re attacking our ships and avoiding yours
I’d say not.”

“Our
scanners aren’t detecting anything,” Yardek said.

“Though
our stealth systems are excellent theirs are better,” Veda said. “We just
installed the detection system on all our vessels.”

“The
third and fifth defensive towers have suffered severe damage,” Reban reported.

“Send
some engineers over there,” Veda ordered. She looked at Yardek. “You don’t have
to help us on this.”

“It’s
your call,” Yardek said.

* * *

The
Ick-Tckt switched their main targets to the mobile weapons of Heaven’s Light.
As Rakna, Talon, Lance, and Fang alike took damage or was destroyed the Maidens
began carving the center of the enemy formation.

“All
mobile weapons are to pull back and move into formation D-11,” Valis ordered.

All
the mobile suits and mobile armors did so and moved within the shields of the
Columbia base.

“I
don’t like losing pilots,” Seles said.

“I
know the feeling,” Kivi said.

“Then
it’s time to cut loose,” Valis said. “Seles and I will berserk. The three of
you will stay together.”

“Yes
Valis,” the others said.

The
Minerva and Artemis lit up as the two pilots berserked. Seles fired a pair of
arrows before the two tore through the Ick-Tckt forces.

“They’re
amazing,” Celi said.

“That
they are,” Kivi said.

“I
haven’t had a chance to sing in a while,” Mira added.

“It’s
a good thing,” Kivi said. “If we had to use your power every time we’d be in
trouble.”

“It’s
the same with the Aegis’s shield,” Celi said.

The
Artemis and Minerva returned after a few minutes and ended their berserks. When
they rejoined their friends the Ick-Tckt vessels began disappearing.

“Looks
like we have them on the run,” Kivi said.

“They
aren’t finished by a long shot,” Valis said.

The
Mjolnir and Tctie’s mobile suit flew to the Maidens.

“Captain,
he says he has something for you,” Meldi reported.

“I
was hoping he’d find a bit of information,” Valis said. “Lieutenant Tctie, what
did you get?”

The
drone quickly translated the battle plan he read in the others into a data file
and sent it to Valis.

“It’s
incomplete,” Tctie said. “But hopefully it’ll help us in the near future.”

Valis
looked it over and smiled. “Thank you Tctie.”

* * *

Brian
and Gaelic watched the battle as it flowed around the two. After it ended Brian
sighed with relief.

“It
isn’t easy watching them fight, is it?” Gaelic asked.

“No
it’s not,” Brian said. “By the way, are we finished in here?”

Gaelic
laughed. “We just finished your time on Earth. There are many more things to
sort through before we move on.” The images changed to show when Brian was
first abducted. “Now this is what interests me.”

“Why
does it?” Brian asked.

“Without
any nanomachines you were able to break free from their grasp,” Gaelic said. “I
wonder why.”

“It
was rage,” Brian said. “A rage built over years of being used by them.”

“I
see,” Gaelic said. “That’s something you must forgive yourself for.”

“I
killed them with glee,” Brian admitted. “I’ve never felt right talking about
it.”

“But
ever since then you’ve felt the opposite,” Gaelic said.

“Yes,”
Brian said.

“That’s
good,” Gaelic said. “One should never enjoy the act of taking another’s life.
The moment you do is the moment you stop being a warrior and become a
murderer.” He looked at Brian. “In your heart you hate war.”

“Even
though I can say that my actions fly in the opposite direction,” Brian said.
“Even now, I’m using war to obtain peace.”

“Not
all wars are evil,” Gaelic said. “As long as you enter battle to save others do
so with a song on your lips and love in your heart.”

“I’ll
try remembering that,” Brian said.

* * *

The
Artemis and Siren landed in their launching bay with Jesela waiting. Seles and
Mira left their mobile suits looking quite tired.

“Stress
is killing your sleep,” Jesela said.

“That’s
right,” Seles said. “I could use a bath as well.”

“I
feel the same,” Mira said.

“If
you two are willing to wait a few minutes I’ll join you,” Jesela said.

“I’ll
wait,” Seles said.

“Me
too,” Mira said. Her com flashed as Tctie appeared on the screen. “What can I
do for you lieutenant?”

“I’d
like a detailed physical as soon as possible,” Tctie said.

“I
have some time tomorrow, so stop by the med lab,” Mira said.

“I
will commander,” Tctie said before ending transmission.

“Now
there’s a topic full of questions,” Jesela said.

“None
of which I have an answer for right now,” Mira said.

“Let’s
worry about that tomorrow,” Seles said. “For now let’s relax.”

“Agreed,”
Mira and Jesela said in unison.

Seles
and Mira were in Brian’s quarters. Seles shook her head while Mira looked over
the scans again.

“I
hope he doesn’t end up turning into an energy ball,” Seles said.

“It
might be interesting,” Mira said.

Seles
laughed. “Somehow I’d think an energy based life form would be above such
things.”

“It’s
possible it’d be the opposite,” Mira said.

“I
don’t know,” Seles said. “My bias is for a body like ours. Maybe I’m old
fashioned.”

Mira
laughed. “I don’t think your old fashioned, I think it’s biological. The good
news is his DNA isn’t changing radically.”

Seles
came over to look at the data.

“What
am I looking at?” Seles asked.

“Let
me put it this way,” Mira started. “If he was changing radically we’d see a lot
of genetic differences between the old Brian and the one he’s turning into.
Other than a few anomalies we’re not seeing that. In other words, he should
look the same. His left eye might glow forever, but that’s nothing a contact can’t
cover up.”

“I’m
happy to hear it,” Seles said. “So what’s changing inside him?”

“Both
Celi and I are looking this over constantly, but it doesn’t make sense yet,”
Mira said. “From what we’ve seen all genetic defects inside him will be gone
and his lifespan will increase significantly.”

“How
much is significantly?” Seles asked.

“Without
nanomachine enhancement both Celi and I estimated four to five hundred standard
years,” Mira answered. “With nanomachine enhancement you can triple that.”

“This
explains why Myden is still moving around at his age,” Seles said. Her com
beeped. “Sorry, but I have to get to the meeting.”

“Don’t
worry, he’ll still be here when you’re finished,” Mira said.

“See
you later,” Seles said before leaving.

* * *

Veda,
Reban, Valis, Seles, Esra, Kivi, El Kar, Grigon, Dreka, and Myden met the in
command center and went to their usual spots. After a few minutes General
Yardek joined them. The fleet of rebel ships outside had swelled to three
hundred before a number of light flashes revealed another two hundred as they
gravity jumped in.

“Representative
Ulad will be joining us shortly,” Yardek explained.

“We’re
glad to have both of you,” Veda said.

A
moment later another Viken ship landed and off of it walked Representative Ulad
and her contingent of guards. Viken females looked the same as the males in
every way save for a lighter skin coloration. She wore green and black robes
that served as the standard uniform for a government official but wore a gold
star over her heart to show her standing within the rebel army. As she entered
the command center she waived her guards off and stood next to Yardek. She
saluted the leaders standing before her.

“We’re
glad to have you on our side Heaven’s Light,” Ulad said.

“We’re
glad to be of service,” Veda said.

“How
goes the effort at the front?” Yardek asked.

“When
word came of Heaven’s Light they all returned to the homeworld,” Ulad answered.

“That’s
what we expected,” Valis said. “Now that we’re all here let’s get to the
business at hand.”

Ulad
went to Valis and handed her a data crystal.

“This
is our latest intelligence on the loyalist positions,” Ulad said. “Also, the
defense grid guarding our homeworld is down.”

“Thank
you,” Valis said before putting the data crystal in. After looking it over for
a minute Valis shifted a few things around and displayed her plan on the
holographic table. It showed all of the loyalist forces guarding the homeworld
in a spread formation. “Our plan is quite simple.” Valis looked at the others.
“Yardek and Ulad will keep all of their fleets in one formation and appear near
the north pole. Our forces will appear near the south pole.” Valis changed the
image to show their forces appearance. “Our goal is to meet at the equator.”
She showed their fleets move on the image. “Unless the loyalists clump together
they will fall within an hour.” Valis showed the enemy force cut in half. “It’s
about this time our new problem will appear.” She looked at Yardek and Ulad.
“Are you alright with this?”

“Yes,”
Ulad said.

“All
we wanted was a push,” Yardek said. “When the Ick-Tckt make their appearance
you can take care of them.”

“Excellent,”
Valis said. “The plan is to finish the Ick-Tckt off and help our allies out on
the surface.”

“The
government will fall within moments,” Veda said.

“Their
infrastructure is in shambles,” Ulad said. “We should be able to take it from
there.”

“Everyone
will get a detailed plan for their part in the next few days,” Valis said.
“Until then we’re to head for Viken Prime and prepare.”

* * *

Tctie
was checking a few things over with his mobile suit when he noticed Kyli walk
into the launching bay. The engineers and pilots were busy with maintenance
when she walked over with a slight limp in her step.

“Thanks
for covering for me,” Kyli said.

“Everything
went well,” Tctie said. “Are you in condition for fighting?”

“It’s
just a little pain, nothing major,” she answered. “So what’s this I hear about
you being telepathic?”

The
antman looked at her.

“It’s
not a rumor, but a fact,”
he answered telepathically.

“I
heard you gained this power recently,” Kyli said.

“When
you were injured something inside me snapped,” Tctie said. “Ever since then I
can hear the thoughts of others. Right now it’s a dull background noise, but
that’s only because Myden has shown me how to control it a little.”

“I’m
sorry I worried you,” Kyli said. “I’m also glad to be returning to duty.
Idleness doesn’t suit me.” She turned to go to her Rakna before turning back.
“By the way, no messing around in our heads, alright?”

“My
ability covers surface thoughts and communication only,” Tctie said. “If I did
have such power I wouldn’t invade the privacy of others. That’s something I
have learned quite a bit about from your people.”

“I’m
glad to hear you say so,” Kyli said.

* * *

Seles
stepped onto the bridge of the Freedom feeling much better. Grigon and Jesela
worked while the four droids did likewise. After checking the console near the
captain’s chair she turned to the two engineers.

“We
need to talk about the Hades system,” Seles said.

“Don’t
ask me, ask him,” Jesela said while pointing at the old birdman.

Grigon
cawed. “Years and years of work, that’s what that system is. All theories and
dreams until it’s finished.”

“That
doesn’t answer my question at all,” Seles said.

“Of
course,” Grigon said. “The Freedom is the first heavy class ship equipped with
four gravity drives. That means we can move four times as a fast as a heavy
class ship ten years ago. But all of those in our organization are using three
now, so the difference isn’t as great. What having four drives also means is
our power output is extremely high. I designed the Artemis’s arrow system for a
mobile suit, but the same principle can be applied to a ship.”

“It
seems like overkill,” Seles said.

“It
may seem that way, but compared to a Grey planet killer it’s nothing,” Grigon
said.

“According
to our best estimate a planet killer has the output of a thousand gravity
drives,” Jesela said.

“That’s
an insane amount of power,” Seles said. “You’ve answered my first question. Now
tell me, are there any special conditions to activate the system?”

“If
unlocked no,” Grigon said. “But Brian wanted a failsafe in case the ship was
taken over. It requires a berserk creature to fire. And to limit it further,
the only ones able to activate it right now are Brian, Myden, Jesela, me, and
you Seles.”

“This
is good to know,” Seles said. “I have a feeling in future battles we’re going
to need it.”

* * *

After
watching and discussing various memories for a long time, Brian and Gaelic
found themselves surrounded by black again. One side of the platform shifted
back into a stairway that led further upwards.

“It
looks like our time here is finished,” Gaelic said. “Follow me.”

“Alright,”
Brian said.

The
two men started climbing the stairs. As they did so images from outside flowed
by like a montage.

“Looks
like they’re getting ready for a big battle,” Gaelic said.

“Last
time I heard we were on our way to liberating the Viken,” Brian said.

“And
liberate them you will,” Gaelic said. “I almost forgot, thank you for
delivering my speech.”

“It
was the least I could do for you,” Brian said. “The Kalaidian people are much
happier these days.”

“They
deserve it after all the centuries of tyrants and fools in power,” Gaelic said.
He stopped as the pair came to a black door. The stairway twisted around the
door and continued upwards. “This is where we part ways for a while.”

“I
take it I’m supposed to go inside,” Brian said.

“That’s
exactly it,” Gaelic said. “What’s in there is for you and you alone. If you see
Kali give her a kiss for me, alright?”

Brian
laughed. “I’ll do that,” he said as he opened the door.