Freedom Saga 2: Freedom's Bell

by Marcus Johnson

  When the enemy fleet had been reduced to a third of its original number a surrender signal came through. All vessels on both sides ceased firing.

  “This doesn’t feel right,” Mira said.

  “No,” Seles said. “This isn’t over.”

  * * *

  “It took them longer to surrender than we thought,” Grigon said.

  “They’re under orders not to, that’s the problem,” Brian said

  “Captain, we’re receiving a hail from their fleet,” Droid A reported.

  Brian turned on the holographic system to use the Reiki sign language. “Put them through.”

  On the screen appeared a Reiki commander on the bridge of their flagship. He waved his tentacles to speak.

  “I am Admiral Daro Mial of the sixth fleet,” he signed. “We surrender to your forces.”

  “Are you looking to join the others?” Brian signed.

  “Yes,” Daro signed. “The Central Government has ordered all their fleets to fight to the death. Though we are soldiers willing to die for the home world’s cause, we don’t believe in throwing away our lives.”

  “We’ll send you the coordinates to meet with one of our bases shortly,” Brian signed.

  “Thank you Captain Peterson,” Daro signed before ending transmission.

  Brian turned to speak with the others when a series of explosions came from below the Freedom and Vomada. Another Reiki fleet twice the size of the first flew into the mine field Kyli’s pilots had set a few minutes prior.

  “Valis taught me well,” Brian said.

  “So it wasn’t her plan?” Myden asked.

  “No,” Brian said. “She’s busy with the battle to come, not small ones like this.” He looked at the fleet as it was being thinned out. “She has to leave something for the rest of us to do.”

  After the last mine exploded and the smoke cleared over half the enemy fleet was destroyed. The remaining ships were headed on a suicidal trajectory straight for the Freedom.

  “This isn’t good,” Brian said as he turned on the com. “Kyli, move all your units into formation G-1.”

  “Yes captain,” Kyli said.

  “Tctie, take your forces and use formation A-4,” Brian ordered.

  “On my way,” the ant man said.

  The Freedom’s mobile suits headed for the incoming fleet.

  “Seles, Mira, use attack pattern A-5,” Brian ordered.

  “We’re on it,” Seles said.

  * * *

  The Artemis and Siren moved together with their shields aiding one another.

  “If we’re using A-5 that means there’s something to blow up, right?” Mira asked as they dove into the enemy fleet and exchanged fire.

  “There’s an unexploded mine set to go when one of us hits it,” Seles said.

  The fleet circled around the two mobile suits and hit them with everything it had. While Seles and Mira endured the barrage Tctie’s force joined the fight. As the enemy fleet turned its attention away the Artemis aimed at the hidden mine and fired. After a massive explosion the enemy fleet was in shambles. The remaining ships ejected their escape shuttles as they moved towards the forces of the Freedom. Something appeared on the monitors of all the mobile suits near the battle. Their scanners detected a surge of energy coming from the Reiki’s gravity drives.

  “All mobile suits are to destroy their ships before their drives can overload,” Brian ordered.

  Seles blinked her eyes and let the berserk come over her. Time slowed down as she fired shot after shot precisely where it needed to be to destroy the remaining ships. When the last ship was stardust she took a deep breath and ended the berserk.

  “All units are to return to base,” Brian said. “Good job everyone.”

  As all the mobile suits returned to the Freedom and Vomada Mira appeared on Seles’s screen.

  “That was crazy,” Mira said.

  “The fact they were willing to detonate their gravity drives is insane,” Seles said.

  “That’s not what I was talking about,” Mira said. “Your shooting was crazy.”

  “All I did was berserk,” Seles said. “I didn’t even use the arrow system this time.”

  “You didn’t have to,” Mira said.

  * * *

  Brian moved a few figures around on the strategy table to display the change in number of the Reiki forces. Myden finished his work and came down to look.

  “Everything is proceeding nicely,” the Grey said.

  “As it should,” Brian said.

  “So there’s a method to this?” Jesela asked.

  “The secret is there’s always a plan,” Grigon said.

  Brian changed the display to a hologram of the Reiki solar system and moved their forces accordingly. The three looked at the figures while Jesela appeared confused.

  “Alright, what’s the plan?” she asked.

  “The Reiki were targeted first because their military is behind the times,” Brian said. “It doesn’t help that their government is corrupt and inflexible.”

  Grigon pointed to the Reiki fleets defecting to their side. “Almost half their military has joined us and the other half is being wiped out.”

  “Not only that,” Myden added. “But the people themselves are beginning to act up.” He pointed to their home world. “Our operatives are already seeing acts of civil unrest.”

  “If what you’re saying is correct then who’s our next target for liberation?” Jesela asked.

  Brian looked at Grigon. “The Odarian people are next. They’re being exploited by the Malcovin government whose troops act as peace keepers. Once we expose their lies for what they are I expect them to declare war on us.”

  “And we move in when they do so?” Jesela asked.

  “That’s exactly what we’ll do,” Brian said.

  “Is there anything after that?” Jesela asked.

  “Not for now,” Myden said.

  “Even using the Minerva’s special system we can’t tell that far into the future,” Grigon said.

  “And because of the side effects I don’t want Valis using it too much,” Brian said. “We don’t want to burn out our best strategist.”

  Jesela smiled. “I can see how that system would mess someone up.”

  * * *

  Seles shook her head as she landed. Her mind was still racing from the battle as her eyes blinked between glowing and not. Mira came over and saw the strange look on her face.

  “It’s getting to you, isn’t it?” Mira asked.

  Seles shook her head again. “This is strange; I’ve never had issues before.”

  “You’ve never had the pressure on you as much as you do now,” Mira said.

  “You’re right,” Seles said before smiling. “But unlike Brian I listen to my body.”

  “Do you want to go to sickbay?”

  “Let’s go,” Seles said. “If something’s wrong I want it fixed as soon as possible.”

  Chapter 10 - Forward Momentum

  Valis sat in the cockpit of the Minerva. As she opened her eyes she slowly looked around herself. Is this what he was feeling? Is this what he saw? She thought when Celi appeared on her monitor.

  “Are you up for this?” Celi asked.

  “As long as I don’t hear voices I’ll be alright,” Valis said.

  “Thinking positive is an improvement,” Celi said.

  “I have to,” Valis said. “Otherwise the Minerva shows me dark possibilities.”

  Kivi appeared on the screen. “You’re turning into a space cadet.”

  “I miss that wry humor of yours at times,” Valis said.

  “I’m not that far away,” Kivi said. “So what’s the plan?”

  “The three of us will start the battle,” Valis said. “Then everyone else will join in.”

  “Got it,” Kivi said.

  “Let’s go,” Celi said.

  The Columbia, Hong Kong, and Nevada bases were phase cloaked over Reiki Prime. While the ships prepared to l
aunch the Minerva, Aegis, and Gemini flew out first. Kivi moved her craft into the front and readied the cannon. The Aegis moved to the middle and turned its shields to max. Valis flew the Minerva close behind as support. The three mobile suits turned their phase cloaks off over the orbital ring of the planet and headed straight for the main military base. As the Reiki scrambled to intercept them the Gemini fired a series of powerful pulse blasts through their shields and destroyed the base. Hundreds of ships and thousands of fighters rushed from the other bases to surround the three mobile suits. They kept close to the orbital ring to prevent the Reiki from firing freely at them. The Gemini destroyed one ship after another while Valis focused on the smaller fighters.

  “If it was just the three of us I’d be worried,” Kivi said.

  “Agreed,” Celi added.

  “Even if we were victory would be ours,” Valis said. She relayed images of the rioting on the surface. “The people of this world have chosen a different path than their government. The only thing different would be if we lived or died.”

  When the Reiki military moved to tighten the noose around them the three bases appeared. From the Columbia base the Avoni emerged with the Daevoni, Reinkar, and Raulno. From the Nevada base emerged ten Avoni class Kalaidian battleships led by the Heimus. From the Hong Kong base came ten newly crafted Gerden class ships, led by the Xavan. All of them deployed their mobile weapons before tearing into the Reiki forces. A moment later several fleets of rebel Reiki ships appeared behind the bases with the Freedom and Vomada at their head.

  “Now this war ends,” Valis said.

  * * *

  When the Freedom came out of gravity jump Brian had the com ready.

  “All units are to deploy in formation X-3,” he ordered. “Seles, Mira, do your thing.”

  “Yes Brian,” Seles said.

  The Artemis and Siren darted outside to join the other three Maidens. Kyli and Tctie led the other mobile suits and moved into X shaped formations. The rebel fleets deployed their fighters as they joined the battle. Brian watched intently before making sure it was being recorded. Jesela finished what she was doing before walking down to him.

  “Are you sure about this?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he said as light flashed from the explosions outside. “We must show the people of Alden we mean what we say.”

  “Alright,” Jesela said.

  “You’re not the only one to question me on this,” Brian said. “The other captains said something about it.”

  “In the end he’s right,” Grigon said. “I don’t like showing our technology to others. But if they don’t see what we’re doing they’ll assume the worst.”

  Jesela returned to her console. “If that’s what you wish then it’ll be done Brian. You’ll let us edit it in case of people doing stupid things, right?”

  He smiled. “In that case Jesela we’d better edit everything out. When are we not doing something stupid?”

  “So true,” she said with a smile.

  * * *

  As the battle raged the Artemis and Siren made their way to the other three Maidens. The Gemini cleared a path using its cannon. When they came closer the two turned about and moved into position. The Gemini and Artemis were in the front with the Aegis in the middle, with the Minerva and Siren in the rear.

  “It’s getting crazy out there,” Kivi said.

  Seles pressed a button on her console. “This should help you figure out which ones are our enemy.”

  A key displayed which Reiki ships were rebels and which were still with the Central Government.

  “That helps,” Celi said.

  “Seles, Kivi, you’re the spearhead for our attack,” Valis said. “I want the two of you firing at the same target when the time comes.”

  “We’re ready,” Seles said.

  “Just waiting for the rest of you,” Kivi said.

  “Mira, you and I will act as support again,” Valis said.

  “Of course,” Mira responded.

  “I’ll hold the middle then,” Celi said.

  “Let’s go,” Valis said.

  The Maidens separated from the combat zone and began destroying the orbital defense satellites one after another.

  * * *

  Flashes from the battle continued escalating as the three bases edged forward and added their weapons to the mix. Veda and Shiken Ka directed everything from the command center of the Columbia base.

  “What do you see this time?” Veda asked.

  Shiken turned away from the battle. “They don‘t have a functioning command structure.”

  “It doesn’t help when half their military has defected,” Veda said.

  “The images on the surface tell a different story,” Shiken said.

  Veda looked at a smaller monitor showing the unrest on the surface. “You’re right. They don’t have a working command structure because of this.”

  “This battle may take several hours to resolve,” Shiken said. “But in a matter of minutes their government will fall.”

  “Hopefully they have a leader ready to take care of things,” Veda said.

  * * *

  The Maidens destroyed another orbital base before turning back to the main combat zone. Seles and Kivi fired into a pair of enemy ships at the edge of the battle. As they drove through the enemy fleet hundreds of Reiki ships appeared.

  “Are they reinforcements?” Celi asked.

  “Ours, not theirs,” Kivi answered.

  “That makes all of the colony systems from their territories,” Seles said.

  “Remember we still have a mission to complete,” Valis said. “There’s one more base on this hemisphere left.”

  “Sorry about that,” Kivi said.

  “It’s easy to get distracted in this,” Seles said.

  The five exited the other side of the battle and charged another base as it fired at them. With a pair of precise shots from the Artemis and Gemini the last base exploded. They turned about while the Reiki fleets met in a series of explosions and suicidal ramming.

  “Why are they doing that?” Celi asked.

  “They were ordered to,” Valis said. “A free people will sacrifice out of love, a chained people sacrifices out of fear.”

  The Artemis lit up as its drive sped up. Seles’s eyes glowed blue as she flew towards the fleet on her own.

  “Seles,” Kivi said.

  “Let her go,” Valis said. “Nothing can stop her now. The rest of us will follow her wake.”

  The Artemis danced through incoming fire as it blasted one perfect shot after another through their ships. Seles narrowed her eyes as time slowed down. She deployed the reflector plates into spread position and continued firing her way through their forces.

  Chapter 11 - Rebellious Dissent

  Veda and Shiken Ka watched the battle and the events on the planet with equal intent. On the surface, it was apparent all the government buildings were under siege or taken over by rebels and civilians supporting the cause. As the chaos continued a number of the loyalists broke away and began surrendering their ships. As they did so, the fanatic loyalists targeted and destroyed them.

  “Such barbarism,” Veda said. “I’m surprise they’re not murdering civilians at this point.”

  “They probably have,” Shiken said. “The Reiki have had a closed government for a long time now. The Confederation’s media isn’t the most effective but some truth still comes from it.”

  “I shouldn’t be comparing too harshly though,” Veda said. “The nobles of my world did the same thing years ago.”

  An explosion blew the roof off the Central Government’s main building on the surface. As water flooded in the complex sank. In orbit the loyalist forces were close to annihilation as they were surrounded. The two watched the Artemis fly in and finish them off.

  “She’s amazing,” Veda said. “I never thought I’d see someone match him in battle.”

  * * *

  Brian and the others remained on high alert w
hen the last of the loyalist ships was destroyed.

  “Captain, we’re receiving a hail on an open channel from the Ministry of Defense,” Droid A reported. “He says he’s the new representative for his people.”

  Brian turned on the holographic system and readied to sign. “Put him through.”

  “Yes captain,” Droid A said.

  On the screen appeared a wounded Reiki admiral. Next to him were a number of others looking to quite tired after a prolonged fight.

  “I am Admiral Cova Breesh,” the leader signed. “Are you Captain Peterson?”

  “I am,” Brian signed. “Are you the one in charge?”

  “Yes,” Cova signed. “The rest of the Central Government fell with the capital city. I’m the last of the old guard in power.” He fluttered his tentacles. “We surrender and request aid.”

  “I accept,” Brian signed. “Our organization will help your people in any way we can.”

  “We’ll do as you ask Captain Peterson,” Cova signed.

  Brian nodded before ending transmission. He looked at the monitor, “Veda, you have a lot to do.”

  “I won’t be the only one,” Veda said. “They’re going to need you to form a new government.”

  Brian shrugged. “I thought I’d get out of this one, but if it’s my fate I’ll see it through.”

  “I’m glad,” Veda said.

  “Are we delaying the plan?” Grigon asked.

  “No, Seles will take command,” Brian pointed to the wreckage outside. “I’m sure she can handle anything that comes up.”

  * * *

  Seles took a deep breath after ending her berserk. As she rested her head she felt exhausted.

  “Are you still with us?” Kivi asked.

  “Yeah,” Seles said. “Sorry I didn’t stop when you asked.”

  “No, you were right to charge in,” Kivi said. “I was surprised to see you fight like that.”

  “She and the Artemis are one,” Valis said.