Freedom Saga 1: Heaven's Light (14 page)

The Avoni,
Daevoni, and Reinkar appeared in a resource system near a number of dwarf planets
and comets. A fleet of Confederation ships moved past and flickered as they
gravity jumped away.

“Vae, find us an
appropriate hiding spot,” Valis ordered.

“Yes captain,”
the helmswoman said. “This dwarf planet will do perfectly.”

Vae put the
image on the monitor.

“Take us in,”
Valis said.

Baed silently
went through the routine of checking over the Avoni’s systems while Zae worked
on battle simulations. Vae steered the ship into a crater and fired the
anchors. The Daevoni and Reinkar did the same thing. Above them, another fleet
of Confederation ships scanned before leaving.

“It feels like
we’re under surveillance,” Baed said.

“That’s because
we are,” Zae added.

Valis watched as
a third Confederation fleet slowed and scanned before gravity jumping away.

“They don’t seem
interested in us,” she said.

Baed turned
around. “Esra and El Kar are hailing us,” she reported.

“Put them
through,” Valis said.

“Yes captain,”
Baed said.

The monitor
flashed on split screen with the captains on the other ships at the center.

“We don’t seem
to be their target any longer,” Esra said.

“I have to
agree,” El Kar said. “I find it strange they’d put so much energy into
capturing Brian and not destroying our ships.”

“They believe
he’s the head of the organization,” Valis said. “If they can capture him they
can destroy us with ease. At least, that’s their theory.”

“Well, we won’t
let that happen,” Esra said. “We’re heading to the Columbia base, right?”

“Yes,” Valis
said.

“We’ll be under
the protection of my former lord,” El Kar said. “The High Council will think
twice before moving against us.”

“Let’s assume
the worst for now,” Valis said. “We’ll move cloaked and quietly to the base
until everything is ready.”

“What about
Brian?” Esra asked. “Are we abandoning him?”

“No, that’s not
it,” Valis said. “He’ll return to us when the time is right. His decision to
distract them will buy us valuable time.”

“What if they
succeed in capturing him?” El Kar asked.

“Let’s pray it
doesn’t happen,” Valis said. “But if our prayers are not answered then we’ll
act.”

“That’s all I
needed to hear,” Esra said. “We’ll speak again before leaving this system.”

“Of course,”
Valis said as Esra ended transmission. She noticed El Kar had a puzzled look on
his face. “What is it?”

“Has he ever
told you what the plan is?” the Shandi captain asked. “It feels like we’re
flying around in the dark on a number of matters.”

“I feel the same
way,” Valis said. “When we reach the base there’s someone who’ll answer our
questions.”

“Are you talking
about the Grey, Myden?” El Kar asked.

“Yes,” Valis
said.

“We’ll be in
touch soon enough then,” he said.

The monitor went
black again. Valis turned to the others. “Every can rest for now. The last few
weeks have been hectic and I think everyone needs some time off.”

* *
*

Valis walked through
the halls of the Avoni with a strange glaze over her eyes. She moved
mechanically and acknowledged the crew members passing her. After a while she
found herself standing in front of the room Brian used for the last ten years.
She went to press the button to ask to come in and realized she didn’t need to.
The door opened a moment later to reveal the pitch black interior. She stepped
inside as the lights came on. The room looked the same as it always did. At the
back a huge bed with black covers sat clean and unused. She went to the closet
and found the shirt and jeans he wore when he first came to the Avoni. She
closed her eyes as she touched them. After a few minutes she closed the closet
door and paced around the room. She stopped at the table when she noticed
something at the center of the table. She picked up the small metal tube and
pressed the button. A beam shot out of the other end and projected a life size
holographic image of Brian in his exoskeleton armor.

“Valis, this is
the message I left behind for you,” the hologram said. “I hope you can forgive
me for leaving the way I did.” He paused for a moment. “When you first took me
in you demanded ten years of service. At first I hated the idea, but after
seeing you and the crew work I grew to understand why you asked for so much. I
was unlearned, untrained, and most of all, ignorant of how things work in this
world. You have to remember I came from an isolated planet without space travel
outside its own solar system. When I was young I dreamed of being an explorer
in space. With you and the others my dream came true. In a sense I’m a pioneer
for humanity. Whether I came by choice or not isn’t what matters, it’s what I
do when it happens. I chose to fight, to live, to dream. I chose the Avoni, and
I chose you Valis. I see in you a dreamer with foresight. You saw what I could
become. But what you lack is the ability to see what you can become. You’re
more than just a beautiful Kalaidian woman who bears the mark of the Maiden.
You’re more than a captain. I see in your heart the desire to know more. Inside
the military mind is the curious soul of the explorer. To conquer the unknown
is your truest desire. I should know because that’s how I am. That’s what this
solitary journey of mine is about. I want to see the universe as a traveler.
Not as a warrior, not as an officer, not as the leader of anything. I want to
see how beautiful it is because I haven’t had a chance to look at it. I’m the
first of my people to see so much and I can’t share it with them. Perhaps I
can’t change humanity, but at least I can show them where I’ve been and what
I’ve seen. I ask you do the same for your people Valis. There’s so much worth
saving we can’t let it be destroyed. The time for action is now. You’ll be the
director of this play. Show them there’s a better way than war.” The
holographic copy of Brian smiled before saluting. “Also, you need to stop
drinking so much wine. I’m worried you’ll end up an alcoholic.” The hologram flickered.
“See you later.”

The image
disappeared and left her alone. She stood in thought for a moment when she
heard something tap against the door. The sound of muffled voices came from
behind it. She opened the door and found Baed, Zae, and Celi standing outside.

“You were
listening, weren’t you?” she asked.

“Guilty as
charged,” Zae said. “We were worried about you.”

“You looked like
you were carrying the burden of the world when you left the bridge,” Baed said.

“I just wanted
to look over his room one more time,” Celi said.

The other three
stared at her.

“What?” Celi
asked. “I was making sure he took the medicine I gave him, that’s all.”

“Are you sure?”
Valis asked.

“Hey, I’m not
the one with a drinking problem,” Celi said.

Valis laughed.
“He’s right you know. I’ve been drinking like a fish lately.” She looked at
Baed and Zae. “Sometimes I’m envious of the two of you.”

They looked at
each other. “Why?” they asked together.

“Because you
have each other for support,” Valis said. “I hate admitting it, but Brian’s
been my crutch for years.” She smiled with tears in her eyes. “Now that he’s
gone I know how much I miss him.”

“I bet he feels
the same,” Celi said. “There’s something a lot of us forget Valis.”

“What might that
be?”

“He mortal,”
Celi said. “Behind everything else Brian’s a man.” She pointed down the hall.
“Now to reduce your stress levels I’m prescribing several hours in the mobile
suit simulator. Kali knows we both need it.”

“You’re right,”
Valis said. She looked at Baed and Zae. “Would the two of you care to join us?”

“Sure, why not?”
Baed asked.

“Let’s give them
a fight then,” Zae said.

Brian stood
outside the Mjolnir in his exoskeleton and gazed at the gas giant below.

“Kind of looks
like Jupiter,” he said. “It has a big red spot and everything.”

“I have no
pictures of that planet in my database,” the Mjolnir said.

“That’s because
they don’t have any,” he said. “You have all the data on the celestial bodies
inside the Terran system, don’t you?”

“Yes,” the mobile
suit said. “Brian, I’m receiving a distress signal.”

“Hold on a sec,”
he said.

He opened the
hatch and went back inside. After the door closed air was returned to the
cockpit. Brian removed his helmet and sat in the chair.

“Alright, what
is it?”

The Mjolnir
displayed the message on the monitor written in Reiki.

“It appears
colony system seven is currently under siege and seeking aid,” the mobile suit
said.

“Are they giving
any reasons?”

“It appears they
disagree on how the law of utility is to be interpreted,” the mobile suit
answered.

“Not a
surprise,” Brian said. “Display the current situation.”

“One moment,”
the Mjolnir said.

The monitor
displayed a number of ships blockading the fourth planet of the system. Ringed
around the planet were a number of space colonies twenty
ketres
in length
and a third as much in width.

“Do the
dissenting colonies have any weapons?”

The monitor
displayed a number of pulse cannon batteries attached to the outer hull of each
of the colonies. “I’m detecting only transport and science vessels in their
docking bays.”

“Let’s head over
there for a closer look,” Brian ordered. “I have feeling we might be able to
help them.”

The Mjolnir
turned away from the gas giant and headed to the fourth planet.

* *
*

Above the
swirling clouds of the rocky planet were dozens of space colonies. The Reiki
military was five thousand
ketres
away and detained any ships trying to
enter or leave the orbit of the planet. The Mjolnir silently moved in with its
phase cloak up. As the mobile suit moved to the front of the fleet it shifted
into humanoid form and drew its sword. Brian sent an encoded hail to the
colonies. A moment later his hail was acknowledged. On the monitor appeared the
leader of the main colony. The small octopus like creature moved its tentacles
in a precise way to communicate. Brian turned the holographic system in his
exoskeleton on to allow his arms to act as their tentacles. He waved them back
and forth.

“Can I be of
service?” Brian asked through their sign language.

“We thank you
for answering our call,” the leader signed. “We’ve been under siege for over a
month now.”

“Hasn’t the
Confederation done anything?” Brian signed.

“No,” the leader
answered. “Because this is a dispute within the main government’s jurisdiction
they have no legal right to aid us.”

“How
unfortunate,” Brian signed. “What exactly is causing the problem?”

“The main
government on the homeworld believes atmospheric adjustment of the planet below
is not in the interests of our people,” the leader signed. “Those living here
disagree. To disagree with the law of utility is the greatest sin. But this is
our home; we won’t leave it and be forced elsewhere.”

“I understand
the law of utility well,” Brian signed. “I also know there are a number of ways
of interpreting it.”

“The current
government’s interpretation is hardline active at the moment,” the leader
signed. “We believe a rule method is much more reasonable.”

“I agree,” Brian
signed. “I’ll do what I can to aid you. By the way, what is your name?”

“Kiel Redar,”
the leader signed.

“Thank you
Kiel,” Brian signed. “I can’t promise a permanent solution for now, but soon
someone will prevent this from happening again. For now I’ll do my best to
drive them away.”

“Thank you Brian
Peterson,” Kiel signed. “We are in your debt.”

Brian closed his
eyes as he activated the Mjolnir’s communication system. The Mjolnir’s phase
cloak deactivated as the mobile suit was engulfed in a fierce red glow.

“We are Heaven’s
Light,” Brian said. “We are the light that shines liberty on the world. Where
darkness and tyranny live we will strike. Where the oppressed can’t fight we
will do so in their place. Not for god, not for country, not for money, not for
glory. Until the Freedom’s bell rings eternal our mission will never end.”

He opened his glowing
red eye and aimed the Mjolnir’s sword at the Reiki fleet.

“To the Reiki
admiral I give but one command,” Brian said. “Leave this system. These people
don’t want to be taken from their homes. To force them to leave without just
cause is an act of tyranny I can’t overlook. No one has the right to force
others at gun point from their homes. If you choose to not accept these terms
I’ll be forced to destroy you.”

A moment of
silence ensued. The particles outside formed into the shape of dragon wings
behind the mobile suit. The ships near the Mjolnir opened fire with their pulse
cannons. A moment later they deployed their starfish shaped fighters.

“So this is the
answer you give me,” Brian said. “Let’s show them what we’re truly capable of.”

“Yes,” the Mjolnir
said.

The glowing
Mjolnir charged for the lead ship while flashing in and out of existence. The
enemy shots flew past or through the mobile suit as it made its way to the
fleet. The fighters swirled around and opened fire. The Mjolnir flew sword
first through the lead ship, causing it to explode. The Mjolnir turned and drew
its pulse cannon. It fired shot after shot, destroying two scores of fighters
before switching back to the sword and charging another ship.

* *
*

The
Confederation fleet watched the battle from afar. Siata and Baeron gazed upon
the sight of a single mobile suit winning against a fleet of battleships.

Baeron laughed.
“What are we supposed to do against that?” He pointed at the now fleeing Reiki
fleet. “Our numbers are fewer than theirs and look at the result.”

“I know,” Siata
said.

“What happens if
he survives awakening?” Baeron asked.

“We pray he
doesn’t,” Siata said. “But I fear our prayers won’t be heard.”

“I agree,”
Baeron said. He paused as the last heavy class Reiki vessel gravity jumped out.
Surrounding the glowing Mjolnir was the wreckage of hundreds of fighters and
over a dozen ships. “Was the Teacher the same?”

“I wouldn’t
know,” Siata said. “I’m only a few centuries old, not thousands. But it’s said
the Teacher was much the same. For him it ended in death, for Brian we don’t
know.”

“Should we
attack?” Baeron asked.

“No,” Siata
said. “Continue following as we are. Now that he’s alone Brian will slip up.
Only then can we make our move.”

“Otherwise we’ll
end up just like them,” Baeron said.

The two watched
as the Mjolnir stopped glowing and turned to the Reiki colonies. The mobile
suit made the move of a salute before gravity jumping away.

“Send the
footage of this back to headquarters,” Siata ordered.

The
communications officer looked up. “It’ll be ready in a minute.”

“I sense in the
wind the smell of change,” Baeron said.

“All too true,”
Siata said. “He has changed us irrevocably.”

* *
*

Brian closed his
eyes after the gravity jump and focused all his energy on maintaining control.
The Mjolnir shifted into ship form and reactivated its phase cloak.

“The price seems
high for the future we’re fighting for,” the mobile suit said.

“The cost will
be many more lives,” Brian said.

“I understand,”
the Mjolnir said. “Are we still going to Earth?”

“Yes, let’s
continue,” he said. “How long will it take us from here?”

“According to my
calculations two and a half more months,” the mobile suit reported. “I’m
thankful Daes upgraded my drive to a heavy class.”

“I’m glad as well,”
Brian said. “Our foes won’t expect us to move as fast as we can. Not to mention
our improved weapons and shields.”

“Not like those
are needed very much,” the mobile suit said.

“Not now,” Brian
took out the injector Celi gave him before leaving. “But soon it will be. My
body can’t take much more of this.”

“Agreed,” the
mobile suit said. “By the way, could you take a look at my left leg? I’m pretty
sure there’s some damage there.”

“I’ll do my best
friend,” Brian said. He locked his helmet into place and grabbed a mainatence
kit. “It’s time to bind your wounds.”