Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence

by Marcus Johnson

  “By the way, what did he do?” Seles asked.

  “He used his dimensional thing to enter one the carriers and pumped one of them for information,” Jesela explained. “The scans say he’ll be alright, but Myden looked concerned.”

  “I hope he got something worth the trouble,” Seles said. “Well, I’d better get to the bridge. And as for the system, do it. We need every pulse cannon and HV missile we can get when we’re fighting out there.”

  “Everything will be ready within the week,” Jesela said as Seles headed for the door.

  * * *

  A long time ago I believed in others. I believed if we could understand one another the violence would end. But beliefs aren’t reality; they’re just shadows dancing in the distance of the mind. Ideals are for those who dream, but for those of us who wake up we know the truth. The world is a cruel and random place. People are fallible and flawed. The only way to change such a fate is to open our eyes. That is my wish Brian. Wake them from this nightmare we call reality. Brian opened his eyes and saw a vast spinning machine above him. Next to him stood a Grey like Myden, but with long red hair and matching facial hair. His body was covered in a purplish light that resembled a butterfly. He turned and stared Brian in the eyes. To be alone is our fate. We were born different from the others and cursed to endure a solitary existence. But instead of feeling sorry for ourselves we fought through the tears. Fight on Brian of Earth, and let the day come when your blade and my staff meet. That is my only dream now…

  Brian snapped back to reality as he sat up in the med lab of the Freedom. Suv Gar stood next to him and leaned back. His left eye stopped glowing after he took a deep breath.

  “How are you feeling captain?” Suv asked.

  “Fine lieutenant,” Brian said.

  Mira ran into the room. “Are you sure about that?”

  Brian smiled. “Yes Mira, I am.” He stepped into his exoskeleton and let it close around him. “Can I go?”

  “The scanners say you’re alright,” Mira said. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “It took me a long time Mira, but I found what I was looking for,” Brian said. “Behind every lash of hatred there was a cry.”

  “What kind of cry?” Mira asked.

  “A desperate cry for help,” he said.

  * * *

  Seles was working on the bridge with Myden and the four droids. Once she was finished she looked at Myden.

  “What is it Seles?” he asked.

  “Why is the machine god the way it is?” she asked in return.

  Myden smiled. “It was a mistake, the greatest my people ever made. To think so much of ourselves to craft a device like it. Only a fool could believe mortals were gods. But the greatest regret is that I didn’t do what needed to be done. One act of evil could have averted this if I had only done it.”

  “I don’t understand,” Seles said.

  “The best way I can put it is to ask you something,” he said.

  “Go ahead,” she said.

  “If you could save the world by killing Brian, would you do it?” he asked.

  Seles looked down and thought for a while. “I don’t think I could.”

  “A long time ago my best student made a terrible mistake,” Myden said. “If I had taken his life then the troubles we see today would probably never had happened.”

  “You’re wrong,” Seles said. “Even if you had killed him another would have made the same mistake.” She looked him in the eye. “If I had to make that choice I wouldn’t kill Brian. I’d knock him out and try convincing him to change his mind. He would if he was given a chance to see reason.”

  “You’re a better person than I,” Myden said.

  “You’re jaded because you’ve been regretting something for so long,” Seles said. “You need to find your friend and help him. That’s all there is too it.”

  “You make it sound so easy,” Myden said.

  “I know it isn’t,” Seles said. “Arguments between friends are the hardest to overcome. But if you approach him with honesty in mind he’ll know.”

  “Thank you,” Myden said. “I’ll try to do as you say.”

  “Tell me, did you care about him?” she asked.

  Myden smiled. “He was my brother in arms, but more than that, a great friend.”

  Chapter 8 - The Battle of Viken Prime

  General Yardek stood on the bridge of the Viken flagship, the Hyrken. All of the fleets from the lizard people’s territories had been called back to the homeworld. On the monitor Yardek watched the latest intelligence report and video.

  “What do you think general?” his commander asked.

  “Our chances aren’t good,” Yardek said. He looked at his soldiers on the bridge before hitting the com so the others in the fleet could hear him. “Today we can’t settle for less than our best. The Greys have targeted our world with their monstrous planet killers and our ships stand little chance against them. But the duty of a soldier is to protect those they serve. We serve the people first and foremost; if we must die in that service then so be it. Today we stake our lives for our fellows who can’t fight. Today we rise and fight with the strength of gods! Long live the Viken Republic! Long live the Confederation!”

  “Long live the Viken Republic! Long live the Confederation!” the soldiers echoed.

  “Quite the speech Yardek,” Prime Minister Ulad said over the monitor.

  “Speeches are nice but victory would be better,” Yardek said. “How goes the evacuation?”

  “We’ve packed every transport and colony to its limit,” Ulad admitted. “We’ve resorted to setting up shield systems around the largest cities.”

  “Excellent,” he said. “They may kill our home but they will not kill our people.”

  “The loss of our homeworld would be terrible,” she said.

  “I know,” Yardek said. “But for now we must do what we can. Save the most lives, that’s our charge right now. I wish you luck prime minister.”

  “You’re the one who needs luck general,” Ulad said.

  Inside lunar orbit the Viken detected a thousand Grey carriers. Behind them appeared a pair of planet killers. Yardek sneered as he stared down the enemy.

  “Perhaps luck is all we can hope for,” he said.

  Flashes of light filled the space above the lizard people’s homeworld as five thousand of their ships and innumerable fighters charged the Grey fleet.

  * * *

  The Columbia base appeared in orbit of Viken Prime and saw the entire military of the lizard people engaging the Grey fleet. Veda and Reban manned the command center while the six ships deployed. With them flew out another twenty five heavy class vessels from the Confederation forces. Joining the almost eight hundred mobile weapons from the base and six ships were nearly a thousand Lance Phalanxes led by Commander Baeron. Veda opened a com line to the Viken flagship.

  “This is Admiral Veda Kein of Heaven’s Light,” she said.

  “I hear you admiral,” Yardek said. He sent over the Viken attack plan. “That should help you figure out what to do.”

  Veda smiled. “It’s good to see a suicidal charge isn’t the only thing you planned for.”

  “Of course not,” Yardek said.

  From the larger and closer of the two moons of the Viken homeworld a number of silos opened up and launched a barrage of two hundred nuclear missiles. As light filled the area over four hundred Grey carriers were destroyed. From both the moon and the homeworld pulse fire came as the orbital defense network activated. Valis appeared on the monitor from the Minerva. On the other screens were the commanders of the six ships and Baeron in his Lance.

  “I’ve looked over their plan and have to give them credit,” she said.

  “That means we have a chance,” Veda said.

  “Yes, but only if we strike down the two planet killers,” Valis said. “I hate leaving the Viken alone but we need to focus on the bigger targets. Let’s begin with formation A-3 and modify as we need
to.”

  “We’re on it,” Veda said.

  * * *

  The Minerva, Gemini, Artemis, Siren, and Aegis flew to the front of the forces of the Columbia base. Valis turned to her monitor and looked at the Mjolnir. She hit her com to open a channel to her subordinate piloting the mobile suit.

  “Are you alright with this?” Meldi asked. “I normally trust your judgment but I’m not sure about this.”

  Valis smiled. “Always remember Brian chose you as the Mjolnir’s pilot. That comes with a burden but with it trust. Meldi, you’re the best pilot besides the five of us. I have faith in your ability.”

  “Thanks for saying so captain,” Meldi said. “I’ll do my best.”

  “I’ll leave the mobile suit units to you then,” Valis said before switching over to the other Maidens.

  “You’re really dumping a lot on Meldi’s plate,” Seles said.

  “I know,” Valis said. “But you do the same with Kyli.”

  “She’s got that right,” Mira said.

  “So what’s the plan?” Celi asked.

  “The main unit will stick with A-3 for now,” Valis answered. “We’ll stay close until an opening to the planet killers appears. If we get lucky the trick we tried last time will work again.”

  “Sounds like fun,” Kivi said.

  The Columbia base and all the vessels with it moved forward into the battle.

  * * *

  “This is going to be a mess,” Brian said.

  He, Jesela, Grigon, Myden, and the four droids were on the bridge of the Freedom as the battle commenced.

  “What makes you say that?” Jesela asked.

  “I say it because it’s true,” Brian said.

  “Well that clears things up,” Grigon cawed.

  “It’s because he understands our enemy,” Myden said. “Tell us, what did you see?”

  Brian looked at Myden. “I saw exactly what you think I did. Our enemy isn’t content with victory, it desires destruction.”

  “We already know that much,” Jesela said. “They wouldn’t be using those if they wanted to negotiate.”

  Brian looked at the planet killers. “Their primary targets are the homeworlds of all the Confederation races.”

  “It makes sense really,” Grigon said. “Although we can run and build elsewhere the infrastructure to do so isn’t in place. Our homeworlds are the most built up, therefore the best target to destroy first.”

  “In a twisted way I get it,” Jesela said.

  “The other factor is simple mathematics in terms of population,” Brian said. “The Reiki homeworld held the vast majority of their people. It’ll take hundreds of years to build their population back up.” He looked at Jesela. “Our foe is a mechanized facsimile of a god. It thinks on the long term. We don’t have that luxury.”

  The Freedom started shaking when pulse fire slammed into it from the Grey attack vessels.

  “Ready the Hades system,” Brian said.

  “It’s ready anytime you need it,” Grigon said.

  * * *

  The Artemis and Gemini took the front of the Maidens’ formation and fired into the enemy fleet using their cannons in spread mode. The Aegis flew in the middle and had its shield up for protection while the Minerva and Siren guarded their rear. Seles shook her head to stop the berserk from happening. Not yet. She thought to herself. She flipped her long silver blue hair back and took a deep breath.

  “Are you alright Seles?” Mira asked.

  “My body’s acting before my mind is,” Seles said.

  “Keeping your cool in battles like this isn’t easy,” Kivi admitted. “I’ve been fighting the berserk the whole time too.”

  “It’s different because we’re not their targets,” Celi said. “The scale of death is far greater than we’ve ever experienced.”

  “How did Brian handle the Braiden situation?” Valis asked. “In all the time since the sojourn he’s never told me.”

  “He’s never told anyone,” Celi said. “After the Braiden homeworld was destroyed I saw a side of him I don’t think anyone else has seen.”

  “What was it you saw?” Mira asked.

  “Despair beyond words,” Celi said. “All of us felt it. And when the Alaska base appeared I saw the same thing in Captain Javrin’s eyes. The shock of billions being killed isn’t something one grows used to.”

  “I’d hope not,” Seles said. “Otherwise we’d be just like them.”

  The Maidens took the lead as the Columbia base and its forces charged for the first planet killer. As they cut their way through the smaller attack ships one of the giant ships turned its face towards the moon of the Viken homeworld and fired. A cloud of dust covered the entire globe of the moon while its surface was superheated. Dozens of bases on the surface were vaporized when the heat cut through their shields. Seles and the others watched in horror as millions of Viken people were killed instantly. The dust covered moon began glowing brightly as its surface was turned into molten lava.

  * * *

  “General,” the commander of the Hyrken said.

  “I know,” Yardek said. “Ulad, evacuate as many from the surface as possible. I don’t care if you have to overload the orbital ring. Just save as many as you can.”

  “We’re doing our best,” Ulad said.

  The com line from the Freedom connected with every ship and base in the area.

  “This is Captain Peterson of the Freedom speaking,” Brian said. “To all those who can hear me, I give but one order: survive. For those who can fight, do so with everything you have. For those who can’t, run for your lives. The Greys are unlike any enemy you’ve ever fought before. There is no negotiation and there is no peace. There is only death. We of Heaven’s Light will fight this darkness. But we can’t do it alone. Send out this request to the whole of the Confederation. Either we fight as one or we die alone.”

  The Freedom started glowing after the Hades system turned on.

  “Well said young man,” Yardek said.

  Chapter 9 - Two Killers

  In front of the closest planet killer a fleet of fifty thousand attack ships blocked the way. Even with all their forces firing at full power the Columbia base was forced back by the mass of pulse fire coming at it. From numerous areas on the planet killer pulse cannons emerged and joined the bombardment. After the Freedom lit up from the Hades system the Raulno, Avoni, Daevoni, and Reinkar followed suit and turned on their special systems. Veda joined the berserk and lit up the Columbia base. As a super powered shield reached out from the base the five ships shifted their systems to attack mode and began firing a barrage of their own into the Grey fleet. They slowly moved closer to the planet killer while a hole in the Grey formation opened up. The Maidens flew in the lead position. Behind them the Viken forces were engaged in a struggle with five hundred Grey carriers and their attack ships. Seles and Kivi kept their weapons on spread mode while they closed in on their target.

  “Are we doing the same thing as last time?” Seles asked.

  “We’ll do it until they find a way to counter it,” Valis answered.

  “In other words, we’ll worry about changing it when we have to,” Kivi said.

  “Better to try what we know works then something we don’t,” Celi said.

  “From what I see they don’t need to be fast learners,” Mira said.

  “That’s true,” Seles said. “They have the luxury of numbers.”

  Valis noticed something coming through the Minerva’s system. It was picking up an odd signal from the closest planet killer. She quickly hit her com to contact all of their forces.

  “This is Captain Valis speaking,” she said. “The Greys are about to try something that could wipe us out if we don’t counter it immediately. Their planet killers have a resonating device similar to the Siren. Move all of your encoding systems to scramble mode now.”

  All of the ships of Heaven’s Light, the Confederation forces, and the Viken forces complied. A moment later a w
ave of energy pulse from the planet killer. Even with the protection Valis recommended half the Viken fleet found itself disabled.

  “That could’ve been the end of us,” Celi said.

  “It isn’t over,” Valis said. “We need blow that thing to pieces.”

  * * *

  Yardek cursed under his breath at the sight of half his forces being rendered useless. He quickly sent out the orders to reorganize the fleet so the working ships and their fighters were at the front.

  “General, at this rate we’ll be wiped out,” his commander warned.

  “I know,” Yardek said. “And they’ve already wiped out our people on the moon. Even with the aid of Heaven’s Light I doubt we can hold them off much longer.”

  On the other side of Viken Prime a number of gravity jump enabled colonies appeared. They quickly sent transports down to the surface to take civilians off the planet.

  “Tell them when they’re finished taking in as many as they can to flee through the Shandi territories,” Yardek ordered.

  “Of course sir,” his commander said.

  “That should do it,” Yardek said as he looked up from his console.

  The disabled ships launched their smaller transport ships. A moment later they fired their grappling anchors and started hauling the larger ships away from the battle.

  “What are you doing?” Veda asked over the monitor.

  “Since those ships are useless they’ll go with the colonies,” Yardek said. “From what I can see from the Grey’s scrambling program its much like the Siren’s, including the time it takes to fix. It’s best to preserve our forces if we can.”

  “I agree,” Veda said.

  “We’re pulling back for now,” Yardek said. “Our orbital defense network can handle the smaller ships and carriers.”

  “We’ll keep our focus on the two in front of us,” Veda said.

  * * *