“So what do we do now?” Baed asked.
“Because Brian’s illness has worsened to this point, I’m taking command of the Avoni,” Zae said. “Our mission’s to get home. We’re one month of steady gravity jumps from the area of space we started in. I wanted to give the crew a chance to mourn properly before we leave. I’m sure that’s what he had in mind when he asked us to return to this planet.
“Hold on a second,” Baed said. Something blipped on the sensors. “We’re detecting a signal from low orbit, near the equator.”
“What?” Zae asked as she ran to her console and checked everything over. She pressed a button and an image appeared on the screen. “By Kali,” she said.
On the screen the image of a vessel three times the size of the Avoni appeared.
“That’s a colony class ship if I ever saw one,” Baed said.
“Were they able to complete one in just a month?” Grigon asked.
“There’s the signal again,” Baed said.
“Put them through,” Zae ordered.
“Of course,” Baed said.
The monitor split screen with Grigon and the incoming signal. On the monitor appeared a familiar face to the crew, Lumiar Wavecrest. She sat alone in a small dome shaped house.
“I’m glad you decided to come back to us,” Lumiar said before smiling. “We managed to complete this ship as per the blue prints you gave to us commander Zae, but we don’t know which direction to head.”
Zae made a sign to the goddess. “Thank Kali you were able to finish building one,” she said.
Lumiar looked down with sorrow in her eyes. “We were only able to save a pittance of the population,” she said. “Everyone onboard was decided by the drawing of lots among my people.”
“How many are there?” Zae asked.
“Two hundred and fifty thousand in total,” Lumiar answered. “It’s a bit packed, but we did what we had to do to save this many.” She looked up. “By the way, where’s Brian?”
“He’s being treated in sickbay as we speak,” Zae answered. “I’ve taken command during the interim.” Tears welled in Zae’s eyes. “I’m glad we managed to save this many lives.”
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there were any other survivors,” Lumiar explained. “We scanned the surface thoroughly using the systems you’ve given us and found nothing.”
“I wish we could’ve had more time,” Zae said.
“Where did your ships go off to before we launched?” Lumiar asked.
“Take a look using the long range scanners for the fourth planet,” Zae said.
“I’m having one of my men on the bridge send it over,” Lumiar said. She looked at a monitor off screen. “By the gods, it’s been destroyed.”
“We wanted justice,” Zae explained. “Now we’ll be departing with a gravity jump any moment now. We need to get some distance between us and any Grey ships still within this system.”
“I understand time is of the essence,” Lumiar said. “As much as we don’t want to leave our home we have no choice. The Strangers have made us orphans in this galaxy and now we must go our separate ways.”
“What’s the name of your ship?” Grigon asked.
“The Meche,” Lumiar answered. “Translated into your languages it means hope.”
* * *
What happened? Brian thought to himself. Wasn’t I in battle? Where am I now? He focused his mind and saw a vast series of images before him. The shock woke him up from his slumber. His body felt numb and his mind even more so. He opened his eyes but nothing came from it. He tried to sitting up but didn’t have the strength to. A voice spoke at him. It felt like it was miles away. He focused more and could tell it was Celi.
“Brian? Brian? Can you hear me?” she asked. She touched his face with a concerning brush of the hand. “Can you hear me?”
“Barely,” he answered softly. “I can’t see and I care barely hear you. Are you touching my face?”
“Yes,” Celi said. She looked into his blind eyes. “The disease is entering the final stages.”
“I can tell,” Brian smiled, “At least I can still hear you.”
“I’m desperately trying to find a way to save you,” Celi said.
He moved his hand up and took hers in his. “It’s enough knowing you’re giving everything,” he said. “Please, even if I don’t survive continue researching. My people will need the cure in the future.”
“I promise,” Celi said. She squeezed his hand with hers.
“I have faith in you,” Brian said before coughing.
“Do you want to stay in your room?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “I’d rather be there in this condition that let the crew see me like this.”
“I’ll have you moved there in a few hours,” Celi said. “I want to make sure you’re strong enough to make the trip.”
“I must be in bad condition if you’re talking like that,” Brian said.
Zae and Lumiar entered the medical lab.
“I’ve taken command,” Zae said.
“Good, I was hoping you’d take the initiative on that,” he said. “What’s our status?”
“We’ve made two gravity jumps away from the Braiden system,” Zae reported. “We haven’t detected any activity by the Greys.”
“Be on guard,” he said. “They will come after us.”
“You sound certain about it,” Zae said.
“That’s because I saw something Zae,” he explained. “When I was on the mass driver I used the Grey’s telepathic power against them. I was in the middle of pumping one for information when I felt something inside my mind, something powerful and filled with hate. I’m sure it was their machine god connecting to my mind. They’ll be coming, and don’t count on it being easy anymore.”
“I’ll take that into consideration,” Zae motioned for Lumiar to come over, “We do have some good news.”
Lumiar took his hand and saw a weak smile appear on his face. “Thank goodness,” he said.
“Thanks to you the Braiden will live on,” Lumiar said. “We were only able to complete one of the colony ships, but it’s enough for us to find a new home.”
“I’m glad you managed that Lumiar,” he said. “I’m sorry we couldn’t save more of your people.”
“You shouldn’t blame yourself for this,” Lumiar said. “What happened would have even if you hadn’t come to us. Many died, that’s true, but you saved many lives. The Braiden will live on somewhere else and will always have you and the crew of the Avoni to thank for it.” She made a sign of prayer over him. “I pray the gods bless you with good health Brian.”
“I hope the gods do the same for you and your people Lumiar,” Brian said. She felt his hand going limp.
“Don’t worry,” Celi said. “He’s just falling unconscious again. The medications must’ve kicked in.”
Lumiar looked at Brian. “What illness is he suffering from?”
“A terrible plague the Greys infected him with,” Celi said. She looked at Lumiar. “I’d like to check your people before going through with the nanomachine enhancement. I don’t want what happened to Brian to happen with your people.”
“We’re ready anytime you need us,” Lumiar said.
Chapter 41 - On the Run
Zae opened her eyes and woke up from a long nap in the captain’s chair. Looking down with her still sleepy eyes, she noticed a blanket had been placed over her. She sat up slowly and looked around to find Baed hard at work. She yawned and sat forward before placing the blanket on the chair next to hers.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Zae said as she stood up and stretched.
“You’ve been sleeping on the bridge so frequently lately it couldn’t be helped,” Baed said. “You’re pushing yourself.”
“I know,” she said. “With Brian in the condition he’s in it’s between Celi and me. And because she’s trying find a cure for him it isn’t feasible for her to be up here at the moment.”
<
br /> “I’m worried about him.”
“I know you are,” Zae said. “Go and see him sometime soon. Brian would welcome your company right now.”
“Why do you keep saying that?” Baed asked.
“Because you smell like her,” Zae answered. “His sight’s gone, along with most of his other senses. But the one sense his species excels at is smell. At least, when compared to our sense of smell.” Zae paused to sniff herself. “Speaking of which, I need take a long bath and change into a different uniform.”
“The order of half ration is still under effect,” Baed said. “Thankfully it doesn’t apply to cleaning yourself.”
“True,” Zae said with a laugh.
“So is the thing about smell true?” Baed asked.
“Yes it is,” Zae said.
“Where did you hear about this?”
“From Celi,” Zae answered. “When we first took Brian onboard I spoke with her extensively on the subject. I wanted to know everything about him. There are many small differences beyond that but I tend to forget them. It seems like a long time ago when I perceived him as alien, different, and a threat. Now he’s a valued member of the crew.”
“Funny how time has a way of doing that,” Baed said. Jesela walked onto the bridge and saw the two staring at the monitor. Baed looked down. “Something’s appeared on the radar.”
Zae moved to her console before looking back to see Jesela. “It’s two carriers along with almost a hundred smaller ships,” she said. “They’re headed straight for us.”
“But aren’t the stealth cloaks up?” Baed asked.
“They’ve found a way to spot us even when they’re on,” Jesela said. “I figured this would happen sooner or later and unfortunately for us, it’s the sooner.”
“Baed, search for any nearby moons or planetoids we could use for cover,” Zae ordered.
“I’m on it,” Baed said.
“Jesela, how long will it be until we can gravity jump again?” Zae asked.
“Ten hours at minimum,” Jesela answered.
“Alright, we’ll have to hold out until then,” she said. Zae pressed the com and saw Grigon on the monitor.
“I know the situation,” Grigon said. “Our present force consists of the Avoni and her thirty remaining mobile suits, my ship and the remaining thirty Talons, and the Meche. They have shielding and weapons systems comparable to our own.”
“I’d rather not involve them in this battle if we can help it,” Zae said. “Since they know our location now the question is whether we should go on the offensive or hold out on the defensive.”
“Normally I’d recommend we push forward and go on the offensive,” Grigon said. “But now that our enemy has figured us out we need to gauge their strategy. Deploy our ships between theirs and the Meche for maximum defense until they close. Then gauge their strength and strike them down. They may have numbers, but that’s all they have. We have the technological edge until proven otherwise.”
“True,” Zae said before turning on the ship’s com. “This is Lieutenant Commander Zae speaking. We’re presently being pursued by two Grey carriers. It appears our stealth cloaks no longer work against them. All gunnery officers to their stations, all pilots scramble immediately and take formation E-3. Our goal for now is to gauge our enemy’s strengths, weaknesses, and strategy. That is all for now. May the goddess watch over us and her blessings grant us victory.”
* * *
The thirty pilots all ran quickly to their Phase Raknas before activating all their systems with experienced ease. Before launching, Meldi stared at the Mjolnir. She then turned to ensign Lia, one of the pilots without a working mobile suit. Meldi looked at the Mjolnir again. I think Brian would understand. We need every mobile suit we can get. She returned her systems to default mode and left her suit. When she reached the ground she tapped Lia on the arm.
“Take my Rakna Lia,” Meldi suggested.
“But what are you going to use?” Lia asked.
Meldi pointed at the Mjolnir. “If Brian can’t fly, then I’m going to take the Mjolnir.”
“Are you sure?” Lia asked.
“Yes. Let’s get going.”
Lia nodded before taking the elevator cord. Meldi turned and ran over to the Mjolnir and its elevator cord up. She noticed as she entered all the systems changed to Kalaidian language.
Brian must be in bad condition if you’re flying me Lieutenant Meldi.
“So it’s true you have a mind,” Meldi said while setting all the Mjolnir’s systems to her preference. “He’s still alive. I don’t know all the details, but I do know Celi’s doing everything she can to save him.”
It’s good to hear that. I’ll set communications systems as you prefer them Lieutenant Meldi.
“Thank you.”
* * *
Grigon deployed the Talons around his ship.
“Every time I look out there the number seems to be shrinking,” Droid A commented.
“Yes, this journey with the Avoni has cost us a lot of firepower,” Droid B added.
“All mobile suits from the Avoni have launched,” Droid C reported. “Lieutenant Meldi is piloting the Mjolnir.”
“Good,” Grigon said. “The Mjolnir’s superior to all the other mobile suits and vital to our survival. Even if Brian dies the Mjolnir is critical to our future.”
“Why is a mobile suit more important than the person who pilots it?” Droid A asked.
“No matter how extraordinary Brian seems he’s but one Terran of billions,” Grigon said. “But the accumulated battle data onboard the Mjolnir makes it now more important than even him. I know it sounds cold but that’s the reality of the situation. Myden explained it to me this way: The Warrior isn’t a specific person for a reason. It’s also not specified that the Warrior is male or female, just that they would lead the younger races into a new era.”
“Grey ships are closing rapidly,” Droid C reported.
“Stay in formation for now,” Grigon ordered.
* * *
“Myli, we’re going to split into two squadrons for this battle,” Meldi said. “I’ll take all the mobile suits stationed at the front; you take the rest in the back.”
“Alright,” Myli responded.
The two Grey carriers flew at straight for the Avoni. All one hundred of their smaller ships concentrated their fire in the same direction. The Mjolnir and the Raknas fired a barrage into the Grey formation. Grigon repositioned the Vomada closer to the Avoni with the Talons doing likewise. The Grey attack vessels came closer and closer and though the attacks by the mobiles suits were thinning their numbers it was obvious they were charging as kamikazes. The Avoni fired its pulse cannons and HV missiles to knock out a number of Grey ships. The remaining fifty started their attack on the mobile suits and charged into them with deadly intent. Meldi and the Raknas at the front of the Avoni drew their blades and defended themselves in melee. When the Grey ships charged into them they started manifesting a psychic shape similar to a mobile suit and attacked the Raknas and Talons with similar weaponry.
“This is madness,” Meldi said as the Grey forces surrounded them.
* * *
“This doesn’t look good,” Zae said once she saw the Greys adapting to their mobile suits.
“The speed in which their ships are able to assume a form like our Raknas is simply amazing,” Jesela said.
“More like frightening,” Baed said.
“This happened a long time ago on Kalaidia Prime when Brian first went there,” Zae said. “They tried assassinating the queen. Brian fought them in the Mjolnir. During the battle the ship assumed a mobile suit like shape.”
After Zae finished speaking one of the smaller Greys ships charged into the Avoni’s shields. It broke through and slammed into the bottom of the ship. Explosions shook the Avoni. The HV launcher was completely blown out. The two carriers were bearing down on them.
“We need to retreat,” Zae said. “All remaining mobile suits pre
pare for an immediate withdrawal.”
“Yes commander,” Meldi and Myli said.
“Baed, have you found a suitable location yet?” Zae asked.
“There’s a rocky moon around a nearby gas giant,” Baed said. “From the holes in the surface it’s safe to assume there are some large caverns we could hide in for now.”
“Good, let’s go,” Zae said.
“I sent the data to the Meche and Grigon,” Baed reported.
“Zae, call back your pilots,” Grigon said. “I’m going to use that trick again.”
“Things look that bad to you?” Zae asked.
“Desperate times call for desperate needs,” Grigon said.
The Talons engaged the Grey vessels and began trading blows with them one after another. The Avoni started pulling away from the battle. The Raknas still outside clung to the Avoni’s surface and continued firing. As the carriers closed in to fire Grigon set a pair of Talons onto self-detonation. The remaining Talons flew back to the Vomada as the pair exploded over the two carriers and destroyed them. A while later the three ships entered orbit of a rocky moon. After scanning from orbit for a few minutes they found a large enough entrance to take cover in. As the moon entered the shadowed side of the large blue and green gas giant everything was covered in darkness.
Chapter 42 - Being Hunted
“Give me a diagnostics report,” Zae requested.
“The Avoni’s lower HV launcher and pulse cannons have been completely destroyed,” Jesela reported. “Seven members of the crew were killed and another four were injured. Three Phase Raknas were severely damaged and two pilots were killed as well. Seven Talons were also lost. That sums up the situation.” Jesela looked up from the console. “I’d like to stay and help but we need every engineer on the job.”
“Do what you need to Jesela,” Zae said.
Jesela nodded before leaving the bridge for the lower sections of the Avoni. The ground around them began shaking.
“It seems our enemies called for reinforcements,” Baed said. She sighed with frustration. “Fortunately this moon will protect us for the time being.”
Heaven Saga 3: Sojourn Into Despair Page 23
