Freedom Saga 2: Freedom's Bell (20 page)

Zaris
paced about his throne room while maddeningly flapping his claws about. All of
his advisors stood silently as the news of the Silver navy reached the home world.

“This
is all because of that damn Terran!” the king shouted. “If the Confederation
had only done its job we wouldn’t be facing this!” He grabbed a pike from one
of the guards and tossed it into the main monitor. “I’m surrounded with
incompetents and traitors!” He sat on the throne. “I should’ve done what my
heart told me. Vikrit was an ally and friend of Grigon. I should’ve put him to
death.”

The
others remained silent when the last of the four admirals entered the room. The
admiral of the Gold navy knelt before his king.

“I
have confirmed it my lord,” Shakar said. “The Silver navy has joined Heaven’s
Light.”

The
room filled with gasps and whispers before Zaris slammed his pike into the
floor to silence them. He put his weapon under Shakar’s beak.

“Are
you going to betray me as well?” Zaris asked.

Shakar
looked up and met his king’s eyes, “Never. I will defend the home world to the
last breath I take.”

“I
pray you’re telling the truth,” Zaris said.

A
moment passed with silence before the palace was rocked by a series of powerful
explosions. As smoke rose outside the advisors in the room looked panicked. A
minute passed before a guard ran into the room.

“The
rebels have reached the palace gates!” he shouted.

Zaris
looked to the others. “Strike down the rabble with everything we have. No
mercy, you hear me?”

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

“Damn
that bitch to hell,” Zaris said.

* * *

Valis
watched the live feed from the rebel command room. The females in the room
cheered as Zaris’s troops scrambled about without a clue on what was happening.
She turned away and leaned against the back wall of the room.

“Units
two and four will now attack the fifth and twentieth orbital bases,” Valis
said.

“Yes
captain,” she heard over the com.

The
camera switched to a split screen mode and showed two orbital bases explode.
More cheers ensued.

“You
make this look too easy,” Seka said as she stood next to Valis.

“When
our friends are in orbit they’ll thank us for softening the target,” Valis
said.

“I’m
sure they will,” Seka said.

“Units
three and five will now attack the ground base in the city of Talika,” Valis
said.

The
camera switched to another location and showed a military base on the surface.
A series of explosions went off as the female pilots flew in with ten Talons
and destroyed everything they could. The mobile suits then fled into the night
time sky.

“Their
forces are responding slower than usual,” Seka said.

“That’s
because they’re exhausted,” Valis said. “Fear and paranoia leaves them sleeping
less and worrying more. All we’re doing is pressing enough to keep them off
balance.” Valis pointed to the second monitor that showed their targets over
the last few days. “Don’t give them a chance to regroup and crush them when the
time comes.”

“I’m
learning a lot from you,” Seka said.

“We’re
helping each other out, that’s all,” Valis said. “All units are to pull back
for now.”

“Yes
captain,” the female soldiers in the field said.

“Let’s
check on Dreka and Grigon,” Valis said.

“Sure,”
Seka said.

The
Kalaidian and bird woman walked through the maze of hallways until they came to
the area where the Talons were. Both Grigon and Dreka were busy advising the
women on how to repair mobile suits properly. Valis and Seka waited until they
were finished before going to them.

“How
are things coming along?” Seka asked.

“Splendid,”
Grigon said.

“I
wish we had more time for this,” Dreka said.

“I
trust you two,” Seka said.

“Thank
you,” Grigon said.

“Thanks,”
Dreka echoed.

“Our
plans remain the same for now,” Valis said. “Let’s keep it up.”

* * *

The
forces of the Columbia and Sicily bases gravity jumped into the third Malcovin
colony system. Brian was on the bridge of the Freedom with Seles, Mira, Jesela,
Myden, and the four droids. The fleet turned to a nearby gas giant with a
number of moons used as military bases. He looked at Seles and Mira.

“Did
you two get a chance to rest?” he asked.

“You
seem overly concerned with our health,” Mira said.

“You’d
think we were dying of exhaustion,” Seles said.

“If
the two of you are pairing up with sarcasm then my question has been answered,”
Brian said.

On
the monitor a number of ships and Talons flew from their bases to intercept
them. As they did so the Silver navy and Sicily base slowed down while the
Columbia base pushed forward. The six ships inside the base made their way
outside and deployed their mobile weapons. The Freedom moved to the front with
the Reinkar and Raulno behind it while the other three flew behind them. The small
fleet went to meet the enemy.

“Is
there a reason why they’re hanging back like that?” Mira asked.

“Valis
told us to do so,” Brian answered. “We’re supposed to save them for something
special when we get to Malcov Prime.”

“We
should get going then,” Seles said. “Our enemies are always quick to attack.”

“Let’s
go,” Mira said.

“Good
luck you two,” Brian said as they left.

The
door closed as they headed for their launching bay.

“Kyli,
Tctie, let’s get this over,” Brian said. “Use formation A-15.”

“Yes
captain,” Kyli said.

“Understood,”
Tctie said.

The
mobile suits of the Freedom shifted into nine squads of eleven as they charged
straight for the enemy Talons. The mobile weapons from the other ships moved
into similar formations.

* * *

The
Maidens flew in the Y formation again. As they approached the enemy the Artemis
and Gemini fired. When the four got close enough the Malcovin forces surrounded
and pounded their shields. One by one the Talons fell as the four quickly
finished their first task and moved on to the closest fleet of ships.

“Seles,
Mira, you can hold off on berserking,” Kivi said. “I don’t think we’ll need it
for these guys.”

“It’s
also good to save that for if things turn against us,” Celi said.

“We
can take them out,” Mira said.

“Agreed,”
Seles said.

As
the four approached the closest fleet the Aegis’s shields held while they flew
through the enemy and destroyed them ship by ship. Once the enemy fleet was
laid waste the four continued forward until they reached the moon base. The
Artemis and Gemini’s attacks quickly drained the base’s shields. As they
readied to flatten the complex a surrender signal was received.

“Let’s
move on,” Kivi ordered.

* * *

The
Freedom and the other five ships quickly made their way to another enemy base
in orbit. As the six ships and their smaller crafts drained its shields a
number of Talons emerged, only to be blasted apart. When the last Talon was
destroyed the shields went down. Myden looked up from his console and watched
the Maidens fighting at the other base.

“They’ve
gotten good,” Myden said.

“Teamwork
will do that,” Brian said. “Alright Kyli, it’s time to cut loose.”

“Yes
captain,” Kyli said.

The
mobile suits from the Freedom charged through the remaining enemy turrets and
destroyed them one at a time. When the last exploded a signal for surrender was
sent by the survivors in the station.

“Two
down,” Brian said, “Two more to go.”

The
Maidens made their way to another moon base. As they closed in a small fleet of
ships launched with their Talons firing. The Aegis’s shields deflected the
attacks while the Gemini and Artemis fired their pulse cannons. Taking their
time, the four managed to destroy the fleet and hovered over base. This base’s
shield was much more powerful and even the Artemis and Gemini’s cannons
couldn’t break through it.

“I
think we need to use an arrow,” Kivi said. “That should be enough to take that
thing out.”

“Alright,”
Seles said.

The
Artemis lit up and fired a massive beam into the base’s shield. After a moment
of resistance the shield caved and overloaded. The beam slammed into the base
and caused most of it to explode.

“Are
you alright?” Celi asked.

“I’m
fine,” Seles said as she and the Artemis returned to normal.

“Good,”
Mira said.

The
few remaining Talons and survivors on the moon sent out a surrender signal.

“Let’s
return to base,” Kivi said.

She
turned the Gemini and led them back to the Columbia base. Across the orbit of
the planet they saw the six ships bearing down on the final moon base.

* * *

The
six ships quickly cut through the enemy fleet that came to meet them. They
hovered over the base and began a bombardment but found the shield was quite
resilient. Brian looked at the other captains on the screen.

“Let’s
keep it up for now,” Brian said.

“It’ll
keep them on their claws at least,” Esra said.

“Do
you have an idea of how we can get through that thing?” El Kar asked.

Brian
looked at Zae. “Have Meldi use the Mjolnir’s enhanced rifle system.”

“Relaying
the order now,” Zae said.

A
moment later the Mjolnir deployed its reflector plates into power position and
charged the cannon. When it fired the beam slammed into the shields and made a
dent. As it continued firing with the other crafts the shields shrank before
giving out. The bombardment flattened all the remaining ships and mobile suits
on the base before a surrender signal was sent.

* * *

Veda
and Shiken Ka stood at ready while Reban directed traffic. The Maidens and the
ships finished their mission and were now heading back.

“Victories
like this are good once in a while,” Veda said. “Having to stress about every
nuance isn’t something I care for.”

“Most
commanders feel the same,” Shiken said.

“Have
you had a chance to look over her final plan?” Veda asked.

“Only
a small portion of it,” Shiken said.

“She’s
crazy,” Veda said. “I keep telling myself she’s going to get herself killed
doing things like this. But every time she proves me wrong.”

“You’re
looking at one of those beaten by her crazy tactics,” Shiken said.

“You’re
still sore about that, aren’t you?” Veda asked.

“No,”
Shiken said. “I enjoy losing as much as you like being wrong. But time’s passed
and now we’re allies. I hope others can change like I did.”

“We’re
going to need that if our organization wants to survive,” Veda said. She looked
at Reban. “How are things moving along?”

“Smoothly
as usual,” Reban answered.

The
scanners went to alert mode when four hundred Malcovin ships appeared. The
ships were dangerously close to the Columbia base as they started their attack.

“All
units scramble,” Veda quickly ordered. “You think they would’ve given us a
moment’s rest.”

“It
just means less work when we reach their home world,” Shiken said.

The
base shook while the enemy fleet surrounded it. The shields took the blasts
while the mobile weapons deployed outside and moved into defense formations.

* * *

In
the Sicily base’s command center the Malcovin onboard ran about in a flurry. Admiral
Vikrit stood at the center table and watched the battle as it continued. A
brown furred Minan commander named Daekon served as his first officer on the
base.

“Should
we move to help them?” Daekon asked.

“Let’s
wait for their call,” Vikrit said.

“Of
course sir,” Daekon said.

“All
units will remain on standby until further ordered,” the admiral said. “Just
want to make sure none of them rush in there.”

“We
wouldn’t want that sir,” Daekon said.

“Yes,
let’s sit back and see how good they are,” Vikrit said.

* * *

The
Maidens sped their return when the Malcovin fleets appeared. They stuck to the
Y formation with the Artemis and Gemini firing from long range. The enemy
focused everything on the base and turned little of its attention to them as
they approached.

“I
think it’s time for another arrow,” Kivi said. “Then we’ll sweep through them.
After that it’s your turn Mira.”

“I’m
on it,” Seles said.

“Of
course Kivi,” Mira said.

The
Artemis charged up for another arrow attack. The enemy ships saw this and
started moving apart. The Artemis’s blast destroyed fifty ships and over three
hundred Talons in one shot. While the mobile suit returned to normal the four
flew into the enemy. Once they looped around the Siren activated its song
system. The four shot through another of the Malcovin fleets. As they did so
the Siren’s system disabled ninety percent of the ships and mobile suits in its
wake. The Gemini and Artemis switched to spread attacks to clear the area. The
surviving enemy ships flew to their two remaining formations while the four
joined the Columbia base. Mira ended her berserk and returned to Siren to
normal.

“Do
you want to do another charge?” Seles asked.

“Let’s
wait for our ships to engage their fleet,” Kivi said.

“Alright,”
Seles said.

“It
appears their target changed,” Celi said.

“It’s
not like we’re less of a threat,” Mira added.

“They
want to take down our bases,” Kivi said. “They have much better shielding then
any individual ship, so it’s simple tactics.”

“We’re
not going to let them do that,” Celi said.

“Of
course not,” Kivi said. “We need to wait for the others to make their move
before making ours.”

* * *

Brian
finished a quick modification to the original plan and sent it to the other
ships.

“That
should do the trick,” Brian said.

“Interesting
idea,” Esra said. “I can tell you learned from Valis.”

“It
hinges on Kivi seeing what we’re doing,” Brian said.

The
six ships shifted from their triangle formation to having the Freedom at the head
of a single file line with the Vomada taking up the rear. The Freedom’s mobile
suits moved into a cone shaped arrow tip while the other mobile weapons moved
around to compensate. From the Avoni’s forces the Mjolnir flew to the very
front of the tip. As the newly formed group of ships marched forward they cut
through the enemy fleet’s flank like a drill bit.

“How’s
she doing?” Brian asked.

“The
shields are holding at sixty five percent,” Jesela said.

“Weapons
systems are still at full,” Myden said.

“The
enemy appears to be ignoring us,” Droid A reported.

“They
really want to take down our base,” Brian said.