“What I fear is there won’t be anything left for her to love,” he said.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” she said. “I was lost until you found me. I spent over a hundred years in fear and denial. I hated myself, I hated the world, and I hated the man who loved me in spite of it. You saved me. The person I was, the person he remembered wasn’t dead, just buried away.” She took his sword and lowered it to the ground. “She knows who you really are. Not the Warrior, not this awakened being, but the man named Brian Peterson. As long as she holds that man in her heart you’ll never die. I can see it in your eyes. You know I’m right. Seles will save you from this madness one day. I should know, because I was saved from a far worse fate.”
“I hope you’re right,” he said.
She smiled again as she faded away in the light. “No matter what you become you’ll never stop being who you are.”
He stood alone with his sword lowered and gazed at the false sky. Something caught his eye as the sun glared on him. Turning, he saw Valis standing across the room.
“Who were you talking to?” she asked as she joined him.
“No one,” he said.
“I’m not buying it,” she said impatiently. “You were clearly talking to someone I can’t see.”
“Does it matter?”
“It does,” Valis said. “I need to know I can trust you.”
“I gave my life to return this ship to you,” Brian said. “What more can I do to show my loyalty?”
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” she said. “You’re hiding something.”
“Aren’t we all?” he asked before laughing.
“This isn’t funny and you know it,” Valis said. “Please, tell me.”
Brian sheathed his rakna and retracted the shield into the arm of his exoskeleton. “We both know how this is going to end.”
“You plan on leaving all by yourself, don’t you?”
“This journey will cost only one person their life Valis,” he said. “If life is what one can call this.”
“No!” she shouted. “You always do this! Do you think charging in like a martyr is the solution?”
“If only I could end it like that,” he said grimly. “No Valis, I won’t leave you because of a stupid notion like that. I have to leave to save everyone from this.” He tapped his chest plate. “Whatever is happening to me it’s getting worse with each passing moment. I see ghosts and images others can’t. I see the future before it happens. But most of all I hear its voice. I’m blocking it as much as I can but its close the point where I can’t ignore it any longer. Soon the Brian you know will be gone.” He glanced at his right hand. “It’s sad to say but each day I become less and less a person. I’m not leaving because I want to Valis. I’m leaving because I have to. It’s the only way to save you and the others.”
Valis drew her raiga whip. “I won’t let you leave. Not like this.”
“You can try stopping me with that,” Brian said. He drew his sword and focused his mind. The rakna fell through his hand to the ground before ringing. “But right now you couldn’t even strike me.”
She lowered her weapon as silence filled the room. “How much longer will you stay with us?”
“I’ll leave after the next battle,” he said as he picked up his rakna blade. “We can fight together one more time before the odds become impossible.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because of what I’m becoming,” he said. “The Confederation needs an awakened human to store in case they need me for future battles with the Greys.”
“But one human wouldn’t be enough to win,” Valis said. “Wait, they wouldn’t…”
“Yes, they would,” Brian said. “While they store me away they’ll simply make as many copies as they need to serve their purpose.”
“That’s horrible,” she said.
The com activated on both their wrist computers. “Captain, Brian, our scanners are detecting a number of Confederation ships,” Baed reported. “They’re keeping their distance for the moment.”
“We’ll be there shortly,” Valis said.
* * *
Esra and El Kar were on the main monitor on the bridge of the Avoni. Zae sat in the captain’s chair while Baed and Vae worked at their consoles.
“Another dozen have come out of gravity jump,” Baed reported. “That takes the total to over a hundred ships and five hundred mobile suits.”
“This is crazy,” Vae said. “Even the best pilot couldn’t fly their way out of this.”
“Even Valis can’t wriggle out of this one,” Esra commented from her bridge.
“Numbers mean nothing if they don’t have the conviction,” El Kar said. “Lady Star sees light where there is none.”
Esra smiled. “True.”
Zae scratched her head. “Well, I’ve sent the battle plan over to both your ships.” She smiled. “I have a feeling you’ll like it.”
Both Esra and El Kar checked their computers.
“Quite bold,” Esra said. “I’d expect nothing less from her.”
El Kar laughed. “One wonders where she gets these ideas.”
“It’s from her days during the last war,” Esra explained. “She lured a fleet in destroyed them with ease.”
“Old tricks in new places,” El Kar said.
Valis entered the bridge and headed to her station. Zae switched to her chair.
“Baed, put everything on the monitor,” Valis ordered.
“Yes captain,” she said.
A moment later all the Confederation forces were displayed on the monitor. Valis quickly assessed their situation.
“Everyone, switch the plan to E-2,” Valis ordered.
“Is there a reason we should know about?” El Kar asked.
“By the time we get close to the moon we’ll be cut off,” Valis said. “I want the two of you to cloak your ships while the Avoni draws them away.”
“Alright,” El Kar said.
“See you on the other side,” Esra said.
A moment later their ships disappeared.
“What are our chances?” Zae asked.
“If we want to win Kali must grace us,” Valis said. “Tactics are thrown out when facing this many foes.”
* * *
Brian entered the launching bay as everyone boarded their mobile suits. Time slowed down as he strode to the Mjolnir. He gazed at the newly outfitted Mjolnir before noticing Daes was riding down the elevator cord.
“How’s he doing?” he asked.
“Everything’s been installed,” she said after setting down on the ground. “Make sure you brace yourself properly before using the rifle.” She pointed to the pulse cannon on the back.
“What are those?” he asked as he pointed to the metal plates attached the outer frame of the mobile suit.
“Those are experimental,” Daes said. “They should work, but we won’t know until they’ve been tested. They work similar to the Artemis’s reflector plates.”
“I won’t use them until I have to then,” Brian said before taking the elevator cord up.
Chapter 22 - A Giant Mess
The Avoni approached a gas giant while the Confederation fleet surrounded them. The Mjolnir and Phase Raknas flew outside to add their shields to the Avoni’s. The Kalaidian ship flew to a nearby rocky moon to use for cover.
“All units ready for combat,” Brian said over the com. “If an enemy comes close fire at will.”
“Yes commander,” the pilots responded.
A number of Lances advanced on the Avoni and fired their pulse cannons. Although the shields were holding, the constant hits started shaking the ship. The Mjolnir and Raknas returned fire with their pulse cannons. The Avoni did likewise while launching a number of HV missiles. The Lances took damage while a number of them were destroyed. They moved into formations of five to aid in their shielding.
“It looks like our enemy is learning,” Brian said.
“Our trick isn�
��t too difficult to figure out,” Meldi added.
She and Myli were on his monitor.
“The counter measure is to concentrate on individual clusters,” Brian said. “All units are to do so.”
“Yes commander,” the pilots said.
When the Avoni came close to the moon the mobile suits on the bottom of the ship flew to the top and joined the others. The enemy fleet closed from all directions and continued firing. The dust began kicking up from the moon as shots smashed into its cratered surface. The Avoni turned its cannons from aiming above to below and fired into the moon. As it flew lower dust covered everything. The Confederation fleet continued firing into the opaque dust storm emerging from the moon. When the Avoni was finally surrounded by dust and couldn’t be seen Brian turned on his com.
“Meldi, take squadron one with you in formation I-15,” he ordered.
“Of course,” she said.
Her Phase Rakna and eleven others packed together and slowly flew away from the Avoni. During the whole time they turned their fire towards the moon’s surface and aided in kicking up more dust.
“Myli, take squadron two and do the same thing,” Brian ordered.
“Yes commander,” she said.
Myli’s Rakna and eleven others moved in the opposite direction of Meldi’s unit and fired into the surface of the moon.
“Squadron three and squadron four are to stay with the ship,” Brian said.
“Yes commander,” the remaining pilots responded.
“Do you want to deploy the reflector plates?” the Mjolnir asked.
“Not yet friend,” Brian said. “Let’s save that for when things get desperate.”
“And this isn’t?” the mobile suit asked.
Brian’s eye glowed red through the contact. “No, not until I say so.”
* * *
“The plan is going well,” Zae said.
“No, it’s going slow,” Valis said. “Baed, speed up penetration of the surface.”
“Yes captain,” Baed said. “All cannons are now heating.”
“Good,” Valis said.
“Captain, we’re receiving an encoded message from the Daevoni and Reinkar,” Baed reported. “They’re in position.”
“I feel like we’re cooks,” Zae said.
“Then let’s bake ourselves a victory,” Valis said. She pressed the com. “Brian, we’re entering phase four.”
“Alright,” he said. “Are you sure?”
“Do your thing,” Valis ordered. “I trust your judgment.”
“Then I’ll do just that,” Brian said.
The Mjolnir began glowing red as the particles in its gravity drive sped up. The mobile suit shot out of the dust field and into the nearby formations of Lances. It drew its sword and slashed into their lines.
“They seem too focused on him,” Zae observed. “I’d think they’d be more concerned about victory.”
“They have to capture him alive,” Valis said. “If destruction was all it took they could flatten us through overwhelming force.”
“That explains why they’re falling for this trap,” Zae said.
“They’re not using their heads,” Valis said.
“Captain, the heating is working,” Baed reported.
“Good,” Valis said. “Vae, make sure to keep us steady. Be ready to fly out of here as soon as I give the order.”
“I’m on it captain,” Vae said.
* * *
The Mjolnir continued flying around the enemy mobile suits and ships in circles. It was slowly pushing them closer to the moon. The dust cloud pluming from the moon covered everything near the surface. Once the Confederation mobile suits and ships were stationed over the cloud, Brian flew the Mjolnir about in an effort to keep them where they were. Siata and Baeron watched from their ship at the edge of the fleet.
“He’s amazing,” Baeron said. “The thought of thousands of his kind strikes fear into the heart of even the most veteran warrior.” He turned to Siata as she watched with him. “I understand why they want him so much.”
“The power he wields is too great for him to handle,” the Mylor female said. “We must save him from himself.”
“What about Heaven’s Light?” Baeron asked. “Are we doing anything about their activities?”
“Until they move, no,” Siata said. “If they do anything to aid him there will be consequences. But as of now, they’re considered a private security force under the legal ownership of Veda Kein.”
The Mjolnir slashed through a pair of attack ships and caused them to explode. The light flashed off the window as the pair watched.
“I feel like we’re not taking this very seriously,” Baeron remarked. “This capture business is costing us a lot of lives.”
“I agree,” she said. She turned to the other officers. “Tell the fleets not participating in the battle to not approach until further orders.”
“Yes captain,” the officers said.
“She’s planning something,” Baeron said. “That dust storm is masking their ship.”
“Brian has them pinned in between,” Siata said. “If they try to escape by flying away he’ll strike them down.” She turned to the science officer. “Tell me, what’s the composition of the moon below?”
“It’s mostly soft sediments with a large deposit of ice under the surface,” the science officer said. “Because of its proximity to the planet the interior appears quite unstable.”
“Is it unstable enough to permit eruptions?” Siata asked.
“Yes captain,” the science officer said.
“Damn,” Siata said.
“We’ve figured out their plan and yet can do nothing to stop it,” Baeron said. “I’m growing weary of this.”
“So am I,” Siata said.
* * *
“It’s time,” Valis said. “Baed, how close are we to going critical?”
“Just a few more minutes,” Baed said. “The fleets jumping in are staying at a distance.”
“They’ve figured it out,” Valis said. She pressed the com. “Meldi, Myli, its time you join Brian.”
“Yes captain,” the squadron leaders said.
From the dust cloud emerged two groups of twelve Phase Raknas. They were in sphere shaped formations and fired in all directions but the ground. The mobile suits with the Avoni fired into the air despite their inability to see effectively. A few volleys later, the two spheres of mobile suits joined with the Mjolnir. Any Confederation ship or mobile suit looking to break away from the near surface of the moon was attacked and forced back down. After a few minutes the Mjolnir stopped glowing red and returned to normal. The Avoni turned its cannons on the fleet above and moved out of the dust cloud. The surface of the moon groaned as steam and lava stirred underneath. The Kalaidian ship flew through the enemy fleet to join the Mjolnir and other mobile suits.
“Captain, the Daevoni and Reinkar report the moon has heated up to the optimal temperature,” Baed said.
“Alright,” Valis said. “All mobile suits and gunnery officers are to aim their cannons at the same location as given the in the mission plan.”
While Valis waited for the moment to strike the Daevoni and Reinkar appeared next to them. The three ships stacked their shields as they charged their weapons. The Daevoni launched its mobile suits to aid while the Reinkar launched its mobile armors. All of them aimed their cannons on the same position on the moon while the trapped Confederation ships moved to escape.
“All ships fire,” Valis ordered.
The three ships fired their cannons while the mobile suits and mobile armors did likewise. The mass of energy converging on a single point started a chain reaction inside the moon. Geysers of steam and lava leapt into the sky above and into the fleet of Confederation ships and Lances.
Chapter 23 - Disrupting Eruption
The moon below rumbled with exploding lava and steam. Ship after ship exploded as its shields were quickly drained; the Lances fell even quicker. The rest of
the Confederation ships remained at a distance as their allies were annihilated.
“This is madness,” Baeron said while watching. “Are you sure about not moving in?”
“We will wait,” Siata said. “Their ships are capable of jumping once per day, twice if we’re unlucky. They haven’t used that capability yet and our fleets in the surrounding systems are prepared.” She watched as the last few ships were destroyed. “Still, the amount of soldiers and materials spent are greater than we could’ve imagined.”
“That’s an understatement,” Baeron said. “What do you think they’re next move is?”
“I don’t know,” Siata said. “Valis knows the number game is too great. No tactical genius can overcome our sheer numerical superiority. Even if they run they can’t do so for long. Our security net is simply too great for a heavy class vessel like theirs to gravity jump without issuing a disturbance.”
“Then follow at a distance as we’re already doing?” the Minan commander asked.
“Yes,” Siata said.
* * *
Brian struggled to focus his mind. Hundreds of screams assaulted him as those caught in the eruption died. When the last ship was destroyed the pain inside him subsided.
“You don’t look good,” the Mjolnir said.
“I don’t feel my best,” Brian said.
“All mobile suits return to base,” Valis ordered.
Each of the Raknas and Fangs quickly made their way back onboard their ships. Brian hesitated and turned the Mjolnir to face the distant Confederation forces.
“Let’s go home,” he said.
“Of course,” the mobile suit said.
The Mjolnir headed back to the Avoni as it and the other two ships flew away. After the mobile suit landed Brian stood up to leave.
“This is the last time I may be here old friend,” he said.
“What about me?” the Mjolnir asked.
Brian patted the monitor. “Meldi’s looking forward to piloting you. When the time comes I’ll send you home.”
Freedom Saga 1: Heaven's Light Page 12
