Freedom Saga 2: Freedom's Bell (18 page)

Veda
and Reban were directing relief ships when Shiken Ka slithered into the room.

“I
can relieve you if you’re tired,” Shiken said.

“Thanks,”
Veda said. “But we can handle this.”

“It
looks like a lot of work,” Shiken said.

“It’s
not as much as you think Lord Ka,” she said. “I’ve been the head of the Kein
estate for over a hundred years. I know how to run an operation.”

“I
don’t question your business sense,” he said. “I was only offering my hand in
the work.”

“Are
you saying we don’t give you enough work?” she asked.

“In
a way,” Shiken said. “I have my own business to attend to, but that can wait.”

“The
Odairan government would like someone to lead our people on the ground,” Reban
reported.

Veda
sighed. “I thought we hired the best.”

“We
did,” Shiken said. “But even the best need someone to lead them.”

“Are
you volunteering then?” Veda asked.

“I’d
be happy to,” Shiken said. “Just give me the place to go.”

“I’ve
already sent the location to a shuttle,” Reban said.

“Then
I’ll be going,” Shiken said as he moved for the door.

“Remember
to leave your blade behind,” Veda said.

“I
will,” he said before leaving.

“He
looks restless,” Reban said.

“He
gets that way,” Veda said.

“I’m
glad we’re doing this right now,” Reban said.

“Are
you looking to go planet side?” Veda asked.

“I
hear their forests great this time of the year,” Reban said.

Veda
laughed. “Come back when it’s winter and you’ll feel differently.”

* * *

Brian
entered the main government compound with Rekel leading the way. After the two
descended a number of levels they came to a pair of doors.

“I
will wait for you here Captain Peterson,” Rekel said.

“Thanks,”
Brian said.

As
he opened the doors he found himself entering a circular chamber with hundreds
of seats for the Odairan representatives. Brian went to the center as small
podium rose from the floor. After taking his place he looked at the crowd.

“It’s
good to see you Captain Peterson,” Yurtis said.

“I’m
glad you agreed to speak with me,” Brian said.

“We
wanted to see you in person to inquire your request from earlier,” Yurtis said.

“The
Malcovin base our organization captured is a prime location as a base for
Heaven’s Light,” Brian said. “Because the moon in question has little in
resources, we wondered if we could use it.”

“Are
you trying to establish a military regime here?” a female minister asked.

“Are
you the same as the bird king?” another asked.

 A
number of the crowd grumbled similar things. After a moment the prime minister
rang a buzzer to quiet the room.

“Let
him speak,” Yurtis said.

“To
answer your question, no,” Brian said. “Our organization only seeks a base in
your solar system to prevent invasions in the future. Our goal is to blend into
the background so that you can live your lives without interference.”

“What
assurances do we have of this?” an older male minister asked.

“We’ll
allow you to keep observers onboard the base if you wish,” Brian said. “This
includes any ships stationed there, as well as full access to its facilities.”

“This
agreement also requires we be able to send outside inspectors on a random
basis,” another female minister said. “Otherwise we can’t be sure if our
observers are being coerced into telling us what your organization wants them
to or not.”

“Agreed,”
Brian said. “We will meet any condition you set.”

“Very
well,” Yurtis said. “Let’s discuss this and then take a vote.”

* * *

Seles,
Mira, and Jesela were at the edge of the former Malcovin district. Jesela held
a scanner in her hand and shook her head.

“What
is it?” Seles asked.

“They
set a ton of traps,” Jesela said. “It’s going to take our engineers a week just
to spring them all.”

“I
don’t think we have a week,” Mira said.

“What
kind of damage would occur if they went off?” Seles asked.

“It’d
take out about half the city,” Jesela answered.

“What?”
Seles and Mira asked in unison.

“Gravity
engines aren’t as nasty as a gravity drive when the blow up, but they’re bad
enough,” Jesela sighed. “This is too much, even for me,” she pressed her com,
“Commander Reban, prepare to send down a hundred engineers. Make sure they’re
equipped for explosives.”

“I’m
on it now lieutenant commander,” Reban answered.

“She
called you by your stuffy title,” Mira said.

“I’m
used to it,” Jesela said. “Reban reminds me of Zae, without the whole singing
thing of course.” The scanner finished its work. “Ah, now we have a map of
possible destruction.”

Seles
and Mira stepped over to note the districts within the city.

“Lord
Ka, are you on the surface yet?” Seles asked after she pressed her com.

“I’m
at your beck and call Commander Daevon,” Shiken said.

“We
have an unfortunate situation to report,” Seles said. “It appears the Malcovin
left us some presents and it could blow up half the city. Jesela will send you
the details in a moment.”

“I’m
guessing you want me to evacuate the indicated areas,” Shiken said.

“That’d
be great,” Seles said.

“We’ll
get on it in a few minutes,” Shiken said.

“Thanks,”
Seles said before looking at Mira. “Are the medical units ready?”

“I
contacted them when you called in Jesela,” Mira said. “We’re ready when you
need us.”

* * *

Valis
woke up in the back room of the Minerva. As she rubbed her eyes the com
blinked. She pressed the button and saw Dreka in the cockpit of the other mobile
suit.

“We’re
about to jump to the home system,” the birdman said.

“Sorry,
I must have overslept,” Valis said.

“No,
we’re early,” Dreka said. “Take your time and call us when you’re ready.”

“Alright,”
she said before ending transmission.

Valis
stretched before putting her plan on the monitor. After reviewing it she used
the tiny bathroom to take a shower and get ready. Once she left the room she
changed into a clean outfit and stepped into her exoskeleton. As she went into
the front she grabbed a ration and started munching on it while sipping a
bottle of water. She was prepping the Minerva when some text appeared on the
screen.

How
you doing sleepy head?

“Just
fine,” Valis said. “Tell me Minerva, do you sleep?”

Not
like you. But when my systems are updated my consciousness is suspended. Valis,
what’s it like to sleep?

“Most
sleep is just like when you’re updated,” Valis said. “The difference is
dreams.”

What
are dreams?

“Dreams
are like fragments of memories mashed with possibilities,” she explained.

What
do you dream about?

Valis
finished preparing and quickly ran a diagnostic. “I dream mostly about him.”

Are
you talking about Brian?

Valis
nodded. “I was dreaming of him when Dreka woke me up a few minutes ago.”

What
happened?

“Let’s
see…I remember being at a tactical meeting,” Valis said. “Just like the many
we’ve had. But what struck me was his body stood in place while something came
out of it. I felt like I was watching his spirit leave while the rest of him
stayed behind. And after the meeting, when I run up to him to ask him what’s
going on, I wake up.”

It
sounds like a sad premonition.

“I
know,” she said. “That’s why when this is done and over with I’m going to tell
him how I feel. I know he cares for Seles and Mira, but I won’t let him leave
me without knowing I love him too. I can’t do that…not to him…and not to
myself.”

What
is love?

“It’s
hard to put in words,” Valis said. “But at its core it’s the desire to be with
the person you love. The difference is who it is you’re feeling it towards. For
my grandmother it’s family style, although I’d put Seles in there as well. For
my comrades on the Avoni it’s a friendly love. But for Brian, well, it’s
something else. I often think if he hadn’t come to me how empty my life would
be now. Kali sent him to give me a chance to live.”

I’m
glad to have a pilot like you Valis.

“I’m
glad to be your pilot,” Valis said. “Alright, I guess it’s time to contact
Dreka and get this over with.”

She
pressed the com and found Dreka sitting patiently.

“Are
you ready to go?” he asked.

“Sure,”
she said.

The
Minerva and Talon approached Malcov Prime with their phase cloaks on. Valis
looked at the monitor and saw thousands of enemy ships and mobile suits
patrolling the area.

“Looks
like he really did it,” Dreka said.

“I’m
glad we decided to do this with two mobile suits,” Valis said. “There’s no way
to get a ship through this.”

“I
feel like we’re crawling along a spider’s web,” Dreka said. “One false move and
we’re stuck.”

“Then
don’t make any false moves,” Grigon said.

“I
have to agree with the old man,” Valis said.

The
two mobile suits flew through a number of ship formations until they reached
the orbital ring. The scanners showed a complex defense network and mine
system.

“This
is going to change the plan,” Valis said. “Our intelligence reports didn’t say
anything about either of these systems.”

“I
think we should get Seka on it,” Dreka said. “She knows how to set an explosive
or two.”

Valis
smiled. “I’m glad you have such confidence in our allies.”

“The
old men of our world think it’s a woman‘s place to raise the young and act as
chattel,” Dreka looked at Grigon, “not you of course.”

“They’ve
proven as capable as I hoped,” Valis said.

“Now
here’s the question,” Dreka said. “How are we going to get down there without
being detected? I know our phase cloaks work in space but entering the atmosphere
will reveal us.”

“Seka
assured me there’d be a distraction,” Valis said. “Any minute now a charge will
detonate and send debris down to the planet. All we have to do is ride it to
the surface.”

“Sounds
like fun,” Grigon said.

“Sounds
dangerous,” Dreka said.

An
encoded signal was sent to the Minerva a moment later to indicate where the
explosion was going to happen.

“Are
you two ready?” Valis asked.

“Yes,”
Dreka said.

A
series of explosions blew through a military base attached to the orbital ring.
While the Malcovin forces scrambled a number of fragments fell into the
atmosphere. The Minerva and Talon carefully picked some of the larger sections
and hid themselves as best they could while they fell. Once they were inside
the atmosphere the two mobile suits left with their phase cloaks still on. A
number of Talons flew by them and destroyed the fragments before they crashed
into the cities below.

“That
was interesting,” Valis said.

“Where’s
our target point?” Dreka asked.

“Jerikai,”
she said.

Grigon
cawed. “Not a better place to hide then directly under their beaks.”

* * *

Seka
and the other leaders of the underground were waiting patiently when word came
in.

“They’ve
landed,” one of her subordinates reported.

Seka
looked to the other two leaders, “I’d like the two of you to stay here just in
case. You never know how sneaky Zaris might be.”

“We’ll
wait for word then,” Teaika said.

“Our
escape routes are secure if needed,” Kili said.

Seka
walked through the underground complex with four armed guards. After a few
minutes they entered an open chamber and saw a number of guards aiming their
weapons at Valis, Dreka, and Grigon. None of the three had brought weapons off
their mobile suits. Behind them the Minerva and Talon stood.

“You’ll
stand out on this planet looking like that Captain Valis,” Seka said as she
walked over to them.

“I
don’t plan on advertising my presence,” Valis said.

Seka
cawed and motioned for the others to lower their weapons. “I am Seka the Red,
the leader of the underground. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you in
person.” She went to Dreka. “You’re looking well old friend.”

“You’re
looking just as good,” Dreka said.

“I
can’t believe you‘re still alive you old grey feather,” Seka said when she
looked at Grigon.

“I’m
sorry I had to leave you as I did,” Grigon said. “Your mother would scold me.”

“She
would,” Seka said. “But I’m not her.” She turned to her subordinates. “Make
them feel at home.”

“Yes
commander,” her soldiers said.

“I
thought I was an excellent tactician until you started sending me plans,” Seka
said.

“I’m
sorry if it makes you feel that way,” Valis said.

“Nonsense,”
Seka cawed. “Every plan has gone as written and Zaris can’t do a thing to us.”

“How
many troops do you have?” Valis asked.

“Let’s
discuss this elsewhere,” Seka said.

She
led the three and a number of guards into a larger chamber nearby. As they
entered they saw hundreds of Claw fighters and over a hundred Talons standing
by. There were over a thousand soldiers and engineers at work.

“We
have more than enough pilots to fly everything,” Seka said. “But I want Dreka
to help them along.”

“The
best will make them the best,” Dreka said.

“You’ll
find we stole a number of simulators and put them in the next room,” Seka said.

“Alright,”
Dreka said.

“Grigon,
I’d like you to help the engineers,” Seka said.

“I’ll
do my best,” the old birdman said.

“How
experienced are they?” Valis asked.

“Our
resistance has been alive for nearly forty years,” Seka said. “All of us have
combat experience, but stealing mobile suits is a newer thing. Our will to
learn is great but we lack the training needed for the upcoming mission. That’s
the reason I requested you bring the other two.”

“I’m
glad you mentioned it,” Valis said. “When the time comes we’ll need every
advantage we can get.”

* * *

Brian
was on the bridge of the Freedom with the four droids and Myden when Veda
appeared on the screen.

“We’ve
received word Valis and the others made contact with the underground,” Veda
said.

“I’m
glad they got there alright,” Brian said. “Tell the other ships to get ready to
move out.”

“I’ll
do that right now,” Veda said.

Brian
hit the com. “Seles, Mira, Jesela, is everything finished down there?”

“Just
a few more minutes,” Jesela said.

“Everything’s
done on my end,” Seles reported.

“I’ll
head up with Jesela,” Mira said.

“Thanks,”
he said. “I’ll see all of you later.”

He
turned to the console and checked the plan for the tenth time.

“You
look nervous,” Myden said.

“I
am,” Brian said. “Taking on the Reiki is one thing, but taking on the Malcovin
home world is a task I wonder if we can rise to,” he shook his head, “the real
kicker is the plan Valis sent us. She wants this attack to be completed in less
than an hour.”

“Valis
thinks in terms of precision rather than brute,” Myden said. “Our attack will
be like surgery, delicate, but effective.”

“I
know,” Brian said. “I don’t know how she comes up stuff like this.”

“That’s
why you chose her,” Myden said. “She sees victory where others see defeat.”

Brian
laughed. “I feel like an idiot trying to out think her.”

“You
give yourself too little credit,” Myden said. “The Avoni’s crew would
disagree.”

“I
know they would,” Brian said.

* * *

Valis
followed Seka through the complex until they reached the meeting room. The
other two commanders stood up and saluted as they entered.

“It’s
good to finally meet you Captain Valis,” Teaika said.

“The
same for me,” Kili said.

“I’m
glad to meet you,” Valis said. “I know I’ve sent you mission plans before, but
how do the three of you delegate the work?”

Seka
pointed to herself. “I’m in charge of all operations on the home world and near
colonies.”

“I’m
in charge of all operations in the colonial systems,” Teaika said.

“I’m
in charge of all intelligence and espionage,” Kili said.

Valis
pulled out three data crystals and handed one to each of them. “Look these over
before the end of the day.”

“What’s
on them?” Seka asked.

“Victory,”
Valis answered.