Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence (24 page)

A thunderous
voice filled the minds of all those near Kalaidia Prime.

“For centuries
the cause I have championed has been distorted. The Mylor and their brethren
you call the Original Five are nothing more than petty dictators bent on
forcing you to adhere to their definition of unity. The world of peace they
promise is a lie, long found out by the people of Naerendi. I ask you, how is
it we seek the same thing and yet are fighting this senseless battle? Perhaps
it’s because all of you misunderstand my intentions. Peace, unity, and life.
Three things we all desire. In me the Naerendi have found such an existence.
Now that we completely understand one another the era of conflict has ended.
Their thoughts are one with me. I offer to you the same. Let us end this once
and for all. Surrender yourselves and I will grant you a place in paradise. You
have nothing to fear as long as you freely give yourselves to my cause…

The sound of the
echoing machine god filled everyone’s mind. The women of Kalaidia stopped in
their chant while Tctie felt overwhelmed. Brian touched the console on the
Freedom’s bridge and activated the intercom system. The sound of a tolling bell
rang and brought everyone back to their senses.

“The words of a
tin god are nothing compared to the dreams of billions,” Brian said. “Even if
we bled, fight, and kill each other, the future is in the making. Every day we
move forward and things get a little better. Someday, maybe a long time from now,
understanding will come. But we must find the way on our own. As long as we
continue searching for happiness we’ll get there. As long as we don’t abandon
each other, as long as we don’t stop trying, as long as we never give up, we will
find the way. The Freedom’s bell isn’t just a sound; it’s a cry in our hearts.”

* *
*

The Maidens, the
Mjolnir, and Dreka’s Talon led the forces of Heaven’s Light as they made their
way through the Grey fleets. The three at the front each used their arrow
blasts to clear another path to the Red Star. On all sides the massive ship was
under siege. When a cluster of carriers moved together to block their path a
number of Mylor ships flew into them to disrupt their power. At the same time
Baeron led a charge of Confederation forces into the mass of enemies. Valis
kept her eye on everything.

“Am I the only
one who thinks this is unreal?” Celi asked.

“No, you’re
not,” Mira said.

The Minerva,
Aegis, and Siren stayed together with the Gemini split in two in front. The
other three used their spread fire to keep the Greys off of them.

We’re still one
move behind.
The Minerva wrote.

“I know,” Valis
said before tapping the com. “To all bases and ships able to, now is the time
for Hades mode.”

Behind them, the
Columbia, Siberia, and Hong Kong bases started glowing with particles as their
gravity drives sped up. The Freedom, Avoni, Daevoni, Reinkar, Raulno, and
Vomada joined the display a moment later. The beams fired from the bases and
ships were larger than even the arrow shots and cut down the Grey forces. While
the Kalaidian forces and the other fleet occupied most of the Red Star’s
defenders, the forces of Heaven’s Light approached the planet killer. Seles,
Dreka, and Meldi fired the last of their arrows apiece to get closer. As they
did so the energy shield surrounding the sphere shaped ship flared up to absorb
the incoming attacks.

* *
*

Veda cursed under
her breath when the attacks coming from the bases and ships in Hades mode were
having no effect on the Red Star’s shield.

“Our attacks
aren’t working,” Shiken Ka said from the Siberia base.

“Perhaps
targeting the same area will have a better result,” Miv Daek offered.

“Better to try
than not,” Veda said. “All ships in Hades mode are to target the same area.”

Even with the
three bases and ships hitting the same spot it was obvious the Red Star’s
shields weren’t going to be drained anytime soon.

“How is this
possible?” Veda asked.

“This planet
killer is twice the size, therefore eight times the mass,” Reban said. “If we
use that logic then it’s possible it has eight times the energy output.”

“Its last attack
was only three to four times that of the other planet killers,” Shiken Ka said.

“Which means
it’s able to fire and remained shielded at the same time,” Miv Daek said.

“We’re running
out of options,” Veda said.

Valis appeared
on the screen. “We have one more thing to try before we do anything rash.”

“Then let’s try
it,” Veda said.

* *
*

Brian’s left eye
was glowing when the Maidens each appeared on the monitor. Behind him Myden and
Jesela worked hard to keep the ship functioning as normal.

“Brian I think
we need to use your power,” Valis said.

“Who should he
use it with?” Seles asked. “We’re all out of arrows and special system uses.”

“I’ll go alone
this time,” Brian said.

“What are you
talking about?” Mira asked.

“The Hades
system has the ability to do many things, it’s time to try one more,” Brian
said. “I want all of you to keep the path open. I may need some help on the
return trip.” He touched the com. “To all crew members of the Freedom, this is
your captain speaking. I order an immediate evacuation of the ship”

“You’re not
going to use it here, are you?” Jesela asked.

“Of course,”
Brian said. “The Freedom is my ship. If I can save lives I have to try.”

Myden drew his
staff and created a sphere of energy around his body. He walked over to Jesela
until she was inside the bubble. All through the ship the crew members found an
escape shuttle or transport to leave on. After five minutes the Freedom was
silent except for the bridge.

“I don’t want to
leave you,” Jesela said. “Not alone like this.”

“From the moment
I was stolen from Earth I was left alone Jesela,” Brian said. “I’ve never
belonged here and will always be an outsider. The old man standing next to you
knows this fate all too well.”

She looked at
Myden. “Is that true?”

“Yes,” Myden
said. He offered her his hand. “Let’s go Jesela. Brian needs us gone to do
this.”

He smiled as he
looked at Jesela. “I don’t plan on dying, so keep an eye out for me.”

Jesela took
Myden’s hand as he used his staff’s power to transport them into the Columbia
base. Brian looked at the others again.

“Don’t die on
us,” Kivi said.

“You’ve got to
keep moving, remember that,” Dreka cawed.

“Remember to
keep love in your heart and a song on your lips,” Mira said.

“I want to see
you again Brian,” Celi said.

“Mjolnir and I
want you to come back,” Meldi said.

“Don’t leave us,”
Valis said.

“You owe me a
night,” Seles said.

Brian laughed
before waving. “Thanks everyone.”

The com went
silent as he turned to draw his sword. He noticed the four droids quietly going
about their work.

“Will we be
staying?” Droid A asked.

“I won’t throw
you guys off,” Brian said. “If I get stuck between dimensions I’ll need someone
to talk to.”

“For some reason
I don’t find that comforting,” Droid C commented.

“None of us do,”
Droid B said.

“But we’ll stay
with our captain till the end,” Droid D said.

“Thanks guys,”
Brian said. He stood in the center of the bridge and drove his sword into a
slot in front of the captain’s chair. “It’s time to get started.”

* *
*

General Sunadin
watched as the forces of Heaven’s Light were stopped by the Red Star’s shields.
The other fleets were currently engaged as well.
Even with their special
abilities they’re no match for this warship. It’s a pity they have no more
cards to play. Without any power left in their mobile suits that Terran can’t
use his special power for much.
Sunadin thought while shifting the fleets
around him. A large cluster of carriers and their attack vessels went in and
pounded the fleet of Heaven’s Light. He glanced at the charger and saw the
cannon nearing sixty percent. The one thing irritating the machine god seemed
to be the Maidens and the ships nearby. Sunadin felt an intense hatred and wish
for their destruction from the being. When he turned to check the cannon again
he felt something push into his mind. A pulse emitted from the Freedom as its
drives sped up. For a brief moment he felt nothing in his mind except thoughts
coming from Brian. When he snapped back to normal Sunadin saw the Freedom
enveloped in an aura of green energy as a primal scream came from within.

From the center
of the bridge Brian used his power to cover the entire Freedom. The enemies
nearby fired at the ship but found it was incorporeal. The Red Star’s main
cannon flared up to fire as he took the Freedom through its shield. When his
vision cleared Brian noticed a number of strange lights around the ship. He
quickly navigated the Freedom to the front of the main cannon. Before it could fire
the Freedom materialized for a second to fire a blast from the Hades cannon.
The Red Star roiled as its main weapon was destroyed. Though wounded the shield
was still up. When a swarm of carriers moved in the Freedom shifted back into a
ghost like state.

“It’s not easy
to hit that which can’t be targeted,” Brian said.

“You seem to be
enjoying this captain,” Droid B said.

“I am,” Brian
said. “This is the first time I’ve ever cut loose using this ability.”

“I’ve located
the main shield array projectors,” Droid C reported.

“Excellent,”
Brian said. “Take us to the closest one. We’ll destroy them until its shields
are useless.”

“Yes sir,” the
droids said.

While the
Freedom flew to its next target a strange sense overcame Brian. He felt the
push of malignance from the machine god, but at the same time he felt the push
from the others. The sound of Celestia and the other Kalaidians filled his
mind. A moment later the minds of all those connected to Tctie rolled through
him. After that each of his friends passed through him. His mind returned to
reality when the ship reached the first shield array.

“Fire,” he
ordered.

* *
*

Grigon sat in
the captain’s chair on the Vomada and kept his scanners going. Everything the
Freedom did was being recorded while the old Malcovin directed his automated
Talons. Myden and Jesela appeared on the bridge.

“I thought you were
coming alone,” Grigon said while his eyes glowed blue.

“She insisted to
the point of violence,” Myden said.

“I don’t like
being left behind,” Jesela said.

“Brian has a way
of doing that,” Grigon said. “I guess that’s why I like the young man. He’s a foolish
loner to the end.”

“All of us are
loners,” Myden said.

Jesela shrugged.
“You’re right.” She noticed the readings coming from the Freedom. “Did you set
this up?”

“Not long ago
mind you,” Grigon said. “I’m not into theoretical physics but the opportunity
to scan his ability is something I can’t pass up.”

Jesela stared at
the numbers as they went by on the monitor. “I see why.”

“How stabile is
he?” Myden asked.

Grigon tapped
one of the monitors and call up a specific scan. “He should be alright for a few
more minutes.”

“What happens
after that?” Jesela asked.

“If he exceeds
the limit he may leave this world forever,” Myden said. “It comes down to how much
he wants to stay here.”

“Then he’ll come
back to us,” Jesela said. “He has too many things left to do here anyway.”

* *
*

Seles watched
the Freedom as it zipped about and blasted specific points on the Red Star. The
seven mobile suits were currently joined by Kyli and the seventy three
surviving pilots from the Freedom. The Artemis and Mjolnir were back to back
and used their reflector plates for extra shielding from the incoming Grey
attack ships.

“I can’t believe
he’s doing that,” Meldi said.

“It’s weird to
see it in person,” Seles said. “Didn’t he do this in the Mjolnir during the
sojourn?”

“In our last
battle with the Greys,” Meldi answered.

The two shifted
their reflector plates to power position to take down a carrier flying towards
them. Once it was destroyed they went back to spread mode.

“I heard
everyone berserked when he made the charge,” Seles said. “Is that what
happened?”

“It did,” Meldi
said.

A pulse blast
from a carrier roared through and managed to hit the Mjolnir’s rifle. Meldi
quickly threw it away before it exploded and drew the blade.

“I should be paying
more attention,” Meldi said.

“It’s not you
Meldi, it’s the battle,” Seles said. “There’s so many and I can’t hit them
all.”

“True,” Meldi
said.

“Spin the blade,
you can fire using that,” Seles said.

“I forgot it has
that feature,” Meldi said before laughing.

The Mjolnir spun
its sword to gather energy. After doing so the mobile suit slashed and fired a
beam as powerful as a pulse rifle’s shot.

“I think we
should move closer to our friends,” Seles said.

“The heat is
getting rather bad,” Meldi said. “Let’s go.”

The Artemis and
Mjolnir slowly made their way back to the rest of the mobile suits. As they did
so the Freedom continued its rampage with impunity.

* *
*

General Sunadin
clutched his staff with a mix of anger and fear in his heart. The Greys around
him ran around like chaos was reigning while the Freedom casually destroyed the
shield arrays. The growling from the machine god was getting worse by the
moment while Sunadin desperately tried to organize his forces again. On all
fronts the enemy was closing in. The Grey projected his mental energy outwards
using the staff. When he did so the shields stabilized. The chanting from the
Kalaidians was beginning to irritate him when he went back to work.

“He’s coming,”
Myden said
telepathically.

“Shut up!”
Sunadin said.
“I
don’t need you reminding me of it.”

“Face it old
friend, your god has abandoned you,”
Myden said.
“And soon it will
destroy you.”

“If dying for my
lord is what is required to be victorious, then so be it,”
Sunadin said.

“Then farewell
old friend,”
Myden said.
“You’ve chosen your fate, as have I.”

* *
*

The Kalaidian
fleet finally met in the middle with the Gold Navy and Ick-Tckt forces.
Celestia paused for a moment to rest her voice because it was getting a bit
scratchy.

You need to work
on your musical endurance.
The Apollo wrote.

“I know, it’s
been a while since I sang this much,” Celestia said.

Your voice is
quite beautiful. You can sing for me anytime you want Celestia.
The Apollo
wrote.

She laughed. “A
mobile suit shouldn’t say such things.”

I was modeled
after a man, so it’s my fate.
The Apollo wrote.

The com line
flashed when the Nova base hailed her. Celestia put Admiral Khcha and Admiral
Regelik on the screen.

“I’m glad the
two of you could join us,” Celestia said.

“Thank you for
the wonderful singing Queen Celestia,” Khcha said. “My queen sends her
regards.”

“Thank you,”
Celestia said.

“The same comes
from Seka the Red,” Regelik said.

“Now that we’re
together in this I want you two to contact Admiral Nia,” Celestia said.

“We’ll do that
now,” Khcha said.

“Thanks,”
Regelik said.

The screen
changed to show Jabril in her Phase Rakna.

“Let’s get back
to what we were doing,” Celestia said.

“I’m with you my
queen,” Jabril said.

* *
*

“Memento Mori…”

“You know that’s
not going to work on me anymore, don’t you?” Brian asked.

“Memento Mori…”

“You can
remember to die,” Brian said.

The Freedom
finished off the last shield array. Though the Red Star was stopped he sensed
the power of Sunadin coming from within.

“Why are the
shields still up?” Droid A asked.

“Maybe we didn’t
get them all,” Droid C offered.

“Isn’t this ship
supposed to be the best?” Droid D asked.

“I’m waiting for
our captain to say something,” Droid B said.

“B’s got the
right idea,” Brian said. “We destroyed them all. The shield is being held up by
the general inside.”

“I would ask how
that’s possible but our ship is slipping between dimensions,” Droid C said.

“I can see so
many pathways through space it’s blinding me,” Brian said. He narrowed his
eyes. “It looks like we’re being invited inside.”

A circular door
leading to the interior of the Red Star opened. Brian felt a voice in his head,
one like Myden’s and very different from the machine god’s.

“You fight well
young human,”
Sunadin said telepathically.

“What sort of
trickery do you have in mind?”
Brian asked.

“None,”
Sunadin
answered.
“I have waited a long time for someone worthy to fight. I
challenge you Brian Peterson to a dual.”

“What happens if
I say no?”
Brian asked.

“Then I will
self-detonate the Red Star,”
Sunadin explained.
“Everyone you
know and love will be destroyed as well as the Kalaidian homeworld.”

“What do I get
if I win?”
Brian asked.

“I’ll send the
Red Star between galaxies before it explodes,”
Sunadin said.

“Very well, I
accept your terms,”
Brian said. “Take us in. Someone just picked a fight with me.”