Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence

by Marcus Johnson

  * * *

  Celestia and the other Kalaidians turned around to check the state of their homeworld. Other than burning out many of shield array sections the surface and atmosphere were still intact.

  “That worked better than we could’ve ever hoped,” Jabril said.

  “Yes, it did,” Celestia said. “It’s been a long time since I fought in battle but I know when I sense the tide turning. We need to redouble our efforts and strike down the planet killer in front of us.”

  “I have some bad news my queen,” Admiral Nia said.

  “It’s the shield, isn’t it?” Celestia asked.

  “Yes, it can take one more direct hit before it’s destroyed,” Nia said. “Currently, the other fleets are engaged with Grey carriers and attack ships.”

  “The big planet killer is still lurking about out there,” Celestia said.

  “Should we move the array?” Jabril asked.

  “Do it,” Celestia ordered.

  “As you wish my queen,” Nia said.

  “If we have to we’ll block the blast with our ships,” Celestia said.

  “I’d rather take the enemy down before that,” Jabril said.

  “That’s what I was thinking,” Celestia said.

  The Kalaidian forces united as one massive fleet and resumed their charge at the planet killer. The Apollo switched its rifle to spread mode to take out lines of attack vessels while Jabril and her fellow pilots kept the heat off their ships.

  * * *

  Admiral Regelik stood up after the explosions ended. Next to him, Admiral Khcha was working to restore power inside the Nova base.

  “They weren’t able to fire the main cannon, but the blast was enough to knock most of our systems offline,” Khcha said.

  “I’ll keep both of you posted on the situation,” Tctie reported telepathically.

  “Your power is very useful,” Regelik cawed.

  “Tctie, what’s the status of the fleet?” Khcha asked.

  “Less than ten percent of them were caught in the blast,” Tctie reported. “I’m currently working with the commanding officers to organize our forces. But with their power base down the Greys seem confused.”

  “We’ll continued attacking their carriers and smaller ships until they flee or are destroyed,” Khcha said.

  “I agree,” Regelik said. “Leaving loose ends will only come back to haunt us later in the battle.”

  “There,” Khcha said.

  The monitors in the base turned back on after power was restored. Although the power was at thirty one percent, the base lit up as its shields went back on. The communications line opened while all the captains spoke to one another. Regelik switched the console in front of him to the Malcov language so he could pitch in. The Malcovin and Ick-Tckt ships outside clustered together for protection while their mobile weapons renewed the attack. Tctie’s specialized Phase Rakna led the way.

  “We held up our end of the bargain, let’s hope the queen can with hers,” Regelik said.

  * * *

  Once the wave from the planet killer’s explosion ended the fleet of Heaven’s Light moved back into place. Three of the bases, including the Alaska, Death Valley, and Sahara were forced to retreat because their shield arrays were completely fried. The remaining five bases moved together to compensate while the fleets joined them. Veda and Reban worked hard to get everything on the Columbia base back online. After communications were reestablished Veda sighed with relief. She contacted the others bases immediately.

  “Is everything alright with the rest of you?” Veda asked.

  Shiken Ka responded first. “Our Hades system is still operational.”

  “The same here,” Miv Daek answered.

  “Our Hades system is out, but everything else is still operational,” Vikrit said from the Sicily base.

  “We’re in the same condition,” Captain Lena of the Nevada base reported.

  “Valis is sending out our new orders right now,” Veda said. “The three bases with the Hades system will advance with the six ships from the Columbia base. The Sicily and Nevada bases will act as our rear guard while the other three stay back for repairs.”

  “I’ve sent the data over to the three damaged bases using direct laser communication,” Reban said. “They’ve acknowledged the situation and report they can still move.”

  “Have them take in ships and mobile weapons for repairs,” Veda ordered.

  “I’m sending the order out now,” Reban said.

  Valis appeared on one of the screens. “The price we paid for the planet killer isn’t good,” she said. “We’re one move behind them at the moment.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” Veda said.

  “The good news is Celestia’s fleet will be finished soon,” Valis said. “Once we collect all of our forces we’ll surround the Red Star.”

  “Do we have enough fire power left to win?” Veda asked.

  “Keep singing,” Valis said. “Perhaps that’s all we can do.”

  “As you wish,” Veda said.

  * * *

  The Freedom righted itself while the battle continued. The Grey ships initially charged after the explosion of the planet killer but were now retreating in mass. The ships of Heaven’s Light were currently fixing all their systems. Brian looked at the Grey ships on the monitor as they backed away.

  “Sunadin’s a cautious type, isn’t he?” he asked.

  “He rarely takes chances,” Myden said.

  “He may have changed after all these years,” Jesela warned.

  “True, but we all fight a certain way,” Myden said.

  “From what I can see he’s tightening up his defenses to stall us,” Brian said. “Even with the Hades systems in place the best we can do is make it to the front door.” Brian checked the power charge from the Red Star. “Our androids must be keeping them busy; otherwise they’d have fired the main cannon by now.”

  “They’ll be ready in less than an hour,” Myden said.

  “Then we’ll work as if we had half an hour,” Brian said. His console flashed when Valis’s orders came in. After looking them over he shook his head and tapped the com. “Are you sure about this Valis?”

  “Our only option is to gamble on you,” Valis said.

  “Alright,” Brian said.

  “Are we doing something crazy again?” Jesela asked.

  “No, I’ll be doing something crazy,” Brian answered.

  * * *

  With the lull in the battle Seles and the other pilots took the chance to get a drink and run a diagnostic. She felt spent from the berserk and shook off the fatigue.

  “You look tired,” Mira said over the monitor.

  “You look the same,” Seles said. “Berserking really takes it out of you, doesn’t it?”

  “That and my vocal cords are shot after a long battle,” Mira said. “What about the rest of you?”

  “I could use a nap,” Kivi said.

  “I’d like to take a bath and get something to eat,” Meldi answered.

  “I’d like to not look at anything battle related for a week,” Valis said.

  “It’s good to know I’m not the only feeling this way,” Seles said.

  “So who sent your mother the Apollo?” Mira asked.

  “Brian and Myden have something to do with it,” Seles said. “They didn’t tell me anything about it though.”

  “Typical secrets to keep,” Kivi said. “She’s taken to flying well enough.”

  “My mother was an excellent pilot during her term of service many years ago,” Seles said. “I think that’s why she wanted to steer me away from it.”

  The Grey forces were finished regrouping and resumed advancing forward.

  “They never stop, do they?” Seles asked.

  “No, that’s why I hate fighting them,” Valis said. “Everyone get into formation.”

  “Yes Valis,” the others said.

  Chapter 44 - Light of Apollo

  While th
e orbital shield shifted its position the Kalaidian fleet charged. With her people’s voices behind her, Celestia felt something come over her. When her eyes began glowing the drive inside the Apollo spun faster and faster. Her attacks became more deadly while she flew at the front. When a number of Grey carriers moved together to resonate and block her path the reflector plates shifted on her mobile suit to power mode. The rifle flared up as she fired an arrow shot identical to the Artemis’s into the carrier formation. She fired another three to clear the way. On the areas around the center the Kalaidian ships fired the last of their nuclear missiles to blast a hole in the Grey line. Celestia flew the Apollo in and fired another pair of arrows just as the planet killer was charging up. After the main cannon exploded its shields went down. Inside, the remaining Keinien androids self-detonated and brought the massive ship to a complete stop. Seeing the situation for what it was, Celestia took aim and fired her last four arrows. A massive hole through to the center cleared the way. All the mobile suits nearby fired their pulse weapons and HV missiles into the hole. Once the last vestiges of energy from inside were gone Celestia’s berserk ended. She turned Jabril and the others.

  “Now that we’ve concluded this part of the battle it’s time to clean up,” she said.

  “Of course my queen,” Jabril said.

  “Nia, what’s the status of the shield?” Celestia asked.

  “It’ll take five more minutes to get in position,” Nia answered.

  “Excellent,” Celestia said.

  The Apollo and the rest of the fleet turned their attention to the Grey ships and carriers around them. With the destruction of their planet killer the Grey forces were in disarray.

  “That was an amazing display,” Jabril said.

  “Brian told me to berserk while flying the Apollo,” Celestia said. “He was right.” She tapped her com to speak to everyone. “The goddess is with us. Let’s finish this act and prepare for the finale!”

  The queen began chanting again, picking up where she left off before berserking. The Grey ships turned around in waves and headed to the Red Star. On the other side of the planet they did the same while fleeing the forces of the Gold Navy and Ick-Tckt. The ships near the forces of Heaven’s Light did the likewise as the Greys massed around the Red Star.

  * * *

  Sunadin looked closely at the Confederation forces before him. Three large fleets moved to surround the Red Star as it approached Kalaidia Prime. The last android was finally destroyed when he readied the main cannon. They fight well. If it was my place I’d say it was heroic. But all good things must come to an end. He thought as the cannon flared up and fired. A beam four times the strength of the other planet killers slammed into the shield array protecting the Kalaidian homeworld. As the array countered it bent before giving. But the energy dispersed was enough that only a ring of fire crashed onto the planet in its large ocean. The Grey general smiled. Guess I’ll have to hit it again. He focused his mind to touch all of the Grey ships as they surrounded the Red Star.

  “To all the knights of the Red Star, this is our moment of victory,” Sunadin said to them. “Our enemy has fought well and I give them their due. But our lord has ordered their destruction. Only by purification can Alden ever be one. Thoughts of difference, thoughts of greed and power, thoughts of lust, all these things are what led us down the path of war. By smashing away all the mortal desires we smash away war itself. We gave ourselves to the cause long ago because we believed a better world could be created. But the price of such a creation is high and there will be many sacrifices along the way. We must always be vigilant of mortal desires and quash them wherever they appear. The universe needs order to survive. Chaos will only bring destruction. Now go forth brave soldiers of Naerendi! Victory will be ours!”

  Sunadin felt all the minds of the Greys within his fleet cheering as they prayed to their god. As they did so the fleets organized quicker and were finally able to filter out the singing from the Kalaidians.

  * * *

  Valis felt a strange wave of pressure come from the Red Star.

  “Did you feel that?” Kivi asked.

  “I did,” Seles said.

  “Me as well,” Meldi said.

  “What are you guys talking about?” Mira asked.

  “Something is trying to project its thoughts into us,” Valis said.

  The Aegis and Dreka’s Talon returned. The Talon carried a pair of extra energy packs to exchange with the Artemis and Mjolnir. Once the fix was done both showed the use of four more arrows.

  “With the time I had that’s all I could get,” Dreka said.

  “Thanks for giving us more to work with,” Seles said.

  “It’s better than nothing,” Meldi added.

  “What about you Celi?” Mira asked.

  “I’ve had enough time to recharge for about ten minutes of shield usage,” Celi said.

  “What about you Valis?” Seles asked.

  “I’m alright,” Valis said. “Everyone, it’s time to clear the path for our friends.”

  “Yes Valis,” the others said.

  The six ships and three bases still able to use the Hades system waited for the signal nearby. Behind them thousands of ships from the surviving militaries and the Confederation waited as well. From both sides of the planet a fleet approached, one the Kalaidians, the other the Gold Navy and Ick-Tckt. The Red Star was surrounded on all sides by over nine thousand carriers and nearly half a million smaller attack ships. Valis touched her com after communing with the Minerva for a moment.

  “This is Captain Valis speaking to all allied forces,” she started. “We are entering the final phase of the battle plan. The Kalaidian forces and Fifth fleet will engage the enemy from two sides while Heaven’s Light and the Confederation forces move to pierce their lines. If you have any special weapons remaining do not hesitate to use them. I anticipate the Grey leader has something left to use, so be prepared for anything.” She narrowed her com to her nearby allies. “Seles, Meldi, Dreka, cut us a path. The rest will follow.”

  “Yes Valis,” the three pilots said in unison.

  After the three berserked again each fired an arrow shot into the Grey forces. As they flew forward they fired again and again to clear the way. Behind them the other Maidens and their friends followed.

  * * *

  Admirals Regelik and Khcha quickly worked to regroup their forces as they approached the Red Star’s fleet. Tctie continued flying his specialized Phase Rakna about and kept communications going between everyone.

  “We’ve lost about a third of our forces so far,” Khcha said.

  “That’s a hell of a lot better than we thought,” Regelik said. “Captain Valis knows how to plan a battle.”

  “You know this from personal experience, don’t you?” the Ick-Tckt warrior asked.

  Regelik cawed. “Losing is very educational if you survive.”

  “That’s been my experience as well,” Khcha said.

  Both felt a strange wave of energy flow through their mind when another pulse came from the Red Star.

  “What was that?” Regelik asked.

  “There’s a strange buzz in my mind,” Khcha said.

  “It’s the machine god,” Tctie said. “I think it’s trying communicating with us.”

  “We will not yield,” Khcha said.

  “The prime minister will roast my feathers if we do that,” Regelik said.

  “Tctie, please use your power to lessen its effects,” Khcha said. “I don’t want this thing to get into our heads too much.”

  “As you wish admiral,” Tctie said.

  The front line of the Gold Navy reached firing range with the Grey forces and began their assault. Ick-Tckt ships and Auguar Stars swarmed in a moment later.

  * * *

  Celestia held her head after the pulse went through her. She looked at the monitor and saw something written in text.

  Don’t let it get to you Celestia. The Apollo wrote. The machine god is a fals
e deity created to establish control, nothing more.

  “You really are like your father,” Celestia said.

  I’m trying my best being alone like I am. The Apollo wrote.

  “Thank you for the reassuring words,” Celestia said.

  “Is he talking to you?” Jabril asked.

  “The A.I. system is working well,” Celestia answered.

  “So what are we going to do?” Jabril asked.

  “Since we’re out of nuclear weapons and arrows we’ll have to do things the old fashioned way,” Celestia said. “To all Kalaidian forces, this is your queen speaking. Victory is within our grasp and we cannot allow it to slip away. Show them no mercy and remember Kali is with us. Now let us chant together.”

  Celestia led the singing as they reached the ninth hymn to their goddess. While the battle raged another pulse was sent out from the Red Star. This one was much more powerful than the first two and touched the minds of all those it could.

  Chapter 45 - Voice of a Dark God

  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…