Freedom Saga 2: Freedom's Bell (14 page)

When
an explosion rocked the palace Zaris jumped up from his throne. The three
admirals stood their ground with a mix of fear and annoyance on their faces.

“What
are you doing!?” Zaris angrily asked. “Secure the perimeter and kill anyone
suspicious!”

“Yes
my lord,” a number of the guards said before leaving.

“Is
it so much to ask for them to quash this?” Zaris asked.

“The
females are crafty my lord,” Vikrit said.

“They
only look that way because Heaven’s Light is supplying them with arms and
plans,” Zaris said. “If it weren’t for that their inferiority would show right
through.” He sat on his throne and ran his hand over his feathered head. “It’s
gotten worse since Regelik surrendered.” He looked at Takar. “I hope you have a
plan.”

“I
do my lord,” Takar said. He put an image on the main monitor above them. It
displayed the position of the Columbia base. “Our intelligence reports that
another of their bases is headed for Odair Prime.”

“How
many of those things do they have?” Zaris asked.

“Three
my lord,” Vikrit answered. “But there are rumors of a fourth hidden away
somewhere.”

“Great,”
Zaris said. “Takar, continue.”

“Of
course,” Takar said. “From Regelik’s reports the base and their standard forces
are little to worry about.” He showed the Maidens’ mobile suits. “These are what
we need to plan for. They’re weapons and capabilities are unmatchable by
anything we have at our disposal.” He highlighted their weapons and shield
systems. “But they do have a weakness. From what we’ve seen they aren’t able to
use their special systems for more than a few minutes. The way to defeat them
is to pin them to the ground and wear out the pilots.” He clenched his fist.
“My plan is to isolate their mobile suits and do just that. We’ll attack is
waves in spread formation to minimize casualties. All we have to do is pound
them long enough and they’ll fall.”

“How
much of your fleet will this plan require?” Zaris asked.

“All
one thousand ships my lord,” Takar answered.

“Very
well,” Zaris said. “Now go and crush our enemies.”

Takar
saluted. “I will my lord.”

* * *

A
few days later Takar stood on the bridge of the fleet’s flagship. Surrounding
him were a thousand ships of the Bronze navy. He held his Keiker pike above his
head.

“To
all forces of the Bronze fleet, this is your leader speaking,” the admiral
started. “Never before in our people’s history have we lost a fleet of the
empire. The Iron navy has been crushed, and with it, our control of the Odairan
territories. We advance not for vengeance or pride. Let us dispense of such
foolish notions. We move forward to take back what’s rightfully ours. Zaris led
our people into its greatest age of prosperity ever known. And now is the time
we pay back his generosity.” He pointed the tip of his pike at the star map in
front of him. “Heaven’s Light is an organization built upon lies and deceit.
Their ruse is peace but their method is war. As such it’s our duty to put them
in their place. Where the Iron fell the Bronze will succeed. On this I bet my
life. For Malcov!”

“For
Malcov!” his subordinates shouted.

“For
Zaris!” the admiral shouted.

“For
Zaris!” his subordinates echoed.

“All
ships will maintain formation until further ordered,” Takar said. “We’ll
destroy anyone standing in our way.”

* * *

The
Columbia base was bustling with activity after news of the invading fleet was
known. Veda and Reban were already there when the other captains arrived, along
with Grigon, Dreka, Seles, and Myden. Valis quickly looked it over before
addressing everyone.

“You
see something, don’t you?” Esra asked.

Valis
nodded. “Admiral Takar has no intention of playing games. His tactics are
simple.” She looked at Seles. “If he can destroy the five of us the rest of our
forces are easy to take out.”

“If
you know this then what are we going to do?” Veda asked.

Kivi
looked at the enemy closely. “We should meet them directly.”

El
Kar laughed, “Sounds dangerous.”

“It
is,” Valis said. “But it’s the only we can win. This time our enemy is bringing
the battle to us and we need to prepare for the worst.”

The
monitor flashed when the Nevada base appeared nearby. The image screen shifted
and showed the command center of the other base. On the screen were Lena,
Brian, and Shiken Ka.

“If
we’re going to prepare for the worst then let us do it together,” Lena said.

Valis
smiled. “I’ll send the battle plan to you as soon as it’s finished.”

* * *

Brian
stepped onboard the Freedom and took a deep breath.

“I’m
home,” he said as he headed his quarters.

As
he passed crew members in the hallway he noticed their spirits were high. When
he stopped at his door he felt something in his head.

“Stop
that old man,” he said as he stepped inside the dark room.

Once
the lights turned on Myden was standing there with his staff in hand.

“It’s
strange that you’re able to block me so easily now,” Myden said.

Brian
tapped his head. “It’s because everything’s gone quiet in here.” He checked his
computer and saw Valis had sent him the battle plan. “She’s gotten faster.”

“She’s
grown in ability quite a bit over the last few months,” Myden said. “You have
as well.”

Brian
sighed. “I know, but I’d rather be here any day.”

Myden
laughed. “All of us would.”

“Why
does the crew look so relaxed?” he asked. “I’d think they’d be worn out by
now.”

“You
chose well Brian,” Myden said. “Seles doesn’t look like a leader, but she’s a
natural nonetheless.”

“I
don’t know what she’s doing but it seems to work,” Brian said as he looked in
the mirror.

“She
leads without the barrier between leader and follower,” Myden explained. “She also
helps organize activities and meals.”

“I’ve
been craving one of her pizzas,” Brian said as he stared at his face closely.
“Is it just me or do I look older?”

“It’s
your imagination young man,” Myden said. “Well, it’s time I take my leave.”

“What?”
Brian asked as the Grey disappeared into the shadows.

A
second later the door opened. When he turned he saw Seles in her casual
clothes. She ran over and grabbed his hand.

“You’re
coming with me,” Seles said.

“But…,”
he said as she dragged him into the hallway.

“No
buts from you Brian,” she said as she smiled. “I’m taking you to the mess hall
for a night of fun and feasting.”

“I
can take myself,” he said.

“I
know you too well,” Seles said. “You were going to pass out and wake up just in
time for the next battle. I know you’re tired but you need this.”

“You
win,” he said.

The
Columbia and Nevada bases moved from Odair Prime to the planet’s largest moon
as the Malcovin fleet approached. A thousands ships and five thousand Talons
moved in the formation of a giant clam ready to bite down. Admiral Takar
watched the two bases deploy their ships and mobile weapons.

“Their
force consists of sixteen ships and a mix of approximately sixteen hundred
mobile weapons,” the science officer reported.

Takar
went to the monitor. “The Artemis and Gemini will begin their attack soon,” he
said. “Our first objective is to isolate their special mobile suits. Once this
is done we’ll wear out the pilots and destroy them one at a time. After than
our next target is their flagship, the Freedom. Go forth my soldiers and let
the glory be ours!”

* * *

The
Maidens separated from their allies and headed for the moon.

“Are
you sure about this Valis?” Kivi asked. “It seems like you’re throwing us into
a deathtrap.”

“This
is the best of the available options,” Valis said. “Anyways, I have a trump
card.”

“What
would that be?” Celi asked.

“You
can tell us,” Mira said.

“I
have feeling she won’t,” Seles added.

“It’s
best to not tell you so you’re surprised when it happens,” Valis said.

The
five landed in a long canyon on the moon. The Artemis shifted its reflector
plates to sniper mode and aimed at the enemy fleet. It and the Gemini began a
long range bombardment but found the enemy was taking little damage from their
attacks.

“It
seems they can learn,” Kivi said.

“We
figured they’d catch on,” Seles said.

As
the Bronze fleet approached it moved into two distinct formations. One
clustered together and headed for the bases while the other spread out as much
as possible and turned to the moon.

“Our
enemy’s goal was to pin us down,” Valis said. “We’ve given them that. Celi,
maintain the middle. Seles and I will take one side while Kivi and Mira take
the other. We won’t use our special systems unless absolutely necessary,
alright?”

“Yes
Valis,” the other four said.

* * *

Veda
and Shiken Ka directed the forces of the two bases. On the monitors were the
five captains of their base while Lena Obril was on another. The two asteroids
hovered close to each other and every ship and mobile weapon stayed close.

“These
odds feel wrong,” Lena said.

“We’ve
fought under worse conditions before,” Veda said.

“The
Confederation forces weren’t pushovers,” Shiken added.

“You’ll
forgive me for this being my first battle with Heaven’s Light,” Lena said.

Veda
looked over the formation of their forces outside.

“Is
something wrong?” Shiken asked.

“Hmm…something’s
missing,” Veda said. “What it is I can’t tell though.”

“Valis
probably did something none of us would notice,” Lena said.

* * *

Brian
stared at the monitor while the four droids, Myden, Jesela, and Grigon worked
at their stations. On the screen to his right were Kyli and Tctie.

“I
want the two of you to maintain contact throughout this battle,” Brian said.
“If for some reason you lose our signal establish another one with Veda.”

“Yes
captain,” Kyli said.

“Of
course,” Tctie added.

The
mobile suits from the Freedom surrounded the ship and covered it with a
defensive shield.

“I’m
done,” Jesela said before relaxing in a chair behind her console.

“Acting
casual aren’t we?” Brian asked.

“Well,
until the enemy damages us I have nothing to do,” she pointed at Grigon, “it’s
all his game for now.”

“I
think it’s more their game,” Grigon said while pointing at the moon.

“It’s
always been their game,” Myden said. “We’re just here for the show.”

“Let’s
get on with it,” Brian said.

* * *

Seles
shifted the Artemis’s reflector plates to spread mode just above the canyon
lip. When the enemy landed their mobile suits the sky over the canyon lit with
pulse fire. In the sky above them the enemy ships shifted closer to the moon
and forced the five to use the reflector plates to hit their targets. The
amount of shaking from the attack was immense as the five women held their
ground.

“I
haven’t seen this much fireworks in a while,” Kivi said.

“Their
commander knows we’re the best,” Valis said. “If he can destroy us he wins.”

“That’s
an easy strategy,” Seles said.

“We
had to come up with a more convoluted one ourselves,” Mira added.

A
series of HV missile attacks slammed into the Aegis’s shields and caused them
to flicker.

“How
long are we going to do this?” Celi asked.

“As
long as we have to,” Valis said. “Our enemy’s leader planned well. I have my
countermeasures, but it requires our survival.”

“Yes
Valis,” the others said.

* * *

“Sir,
we’ve surrounded them on all sides,” the science officer reported.

“Good,”
Takar said. “Their power is incredible. Even with all we’re throwing at them
the silver one is able to deflect it. Be ready for them to use their special
systems.”

“Of
course sir,” the security officer said.

“No
doubt Valis has sniffed out our plan and has something up her sleeve,” Takar
said. “But we won’t give them the opening they’re looking for. That canyon will
make a fine tomb and their mobile suits their coffins.”