Freedom Saga 3: The Dawn of Liberty
Read Freedom Saga 3: The Dawn of Liberty Online
Authors: Marcus Johnson
The
Dawn of Liberty
By
Marcus Johnson
Text
Copyright © 2013 Marcus Johnson
All
Rights Reserved
This
one is for the fans. Thanks for all your support!
Contents
Chapter 4 - A Day Off on Dega Jul
Chapter 5 - Knives in the Night
Chapter 10 - Meeting of the Minds
Chapter 14 - Answering the Call
Chapter 17 - Sorting Things Out
Chapter 18 - Medical Questions
Chapter 22 - The Battle of Viken
Prime
Chapter 27 - A Stop on Dega Jul
Chapter 28 - Signs of Disaster
Chapter 29 - A Confounding Battle
Chapter 31 - Protecting the Queen
Chapter 32 - Preparing for the Run
Chapter 34 - A Battle of Vetres
Chapter 36 - The Freedom’s True Power
Chapter 37 - The First Duchess
Chapter 38 - A Strange Welcome
Chapter 39 - Bases and Palaces
Chapter 40 - Battle in the Giant’s
Rings
Chapter 41 - The Second Duchess
Chapter 43 - The Battle of Ick-Tckt
Prime
Chapter 45 - Echoes of the Mind
Chapter 46 - The Third Duchess
Kivi
sat back from her computer after a long bout of typing. Her exoskeleton stood
empty near the door while she wore a red shirt that hung down to her knees.
After running her hand through her short black hair she turned off the monitor
and stood up to stretch.
“That’s
enough for today,” she said.
Her
quarters on the Raulno were large and sparse. In the main room was a bed and
table with a pair of
rakna
blades hanging on the wall. She went to her
side room and knelt before an open box. Inside the wooden doors was the
statuette of a Kalaidian man clad in the armor of a
Maigar
from
centuries ago. Kivi closed her eyes and began meditating. After a while she
sensed the presence of someone and turned around. Standing in the shadows with
his hood down was Myden.
“I
had a feeling it was you,” Kivi said.
Myden
stared at the figure in the box. “I didn’t know any of those survived.”
Kivi
looked at the box before closing the doors. “My grandmother hid it her whole
life.”
“Raulno
and his teachings mean a lot to you, don’t they?” the Grey asked.
“His
tale inspires me,” she answered. “Tell me, did you meet him when he was alive?”
Myden
smiled. “Raulno was a man much like Brian. Cast from the world he knew he was
forced to change his ways.”
“Did
you actually know him?” she asked.
“It
was shortly after the machine god was activated,” Myden said. “Kalaidia looked
to be a peaceful and beautiful world. My heart was broken and I was searching
for a reason to live. As I looked into the desert I saw a lone man from the north
clad in all his glory. For ten days and nights we spoke about everything. It
was then he had his epiphany. After that history took its course.”
Kivi
looked away. “I fear history will tell a much shorter tale for Brian.”
“His
fate is his own,” Myden said. “The plan has specific goals, but nothing says it
can’t be changed. That’s the free spirit Raulno discovered. We have the ability
to change the outcome if we can see it in time.” He noticed concern in her
eyes. “Raulno’s destiny was to die alone in that desert. But instead he chose
to live. He unified the north and south of Kalaidia. In doing so he became the
first king of your people.”
“And
lived to the age of eighty three,” Kivi said before smiling. “You have a way of
saying the right thing at the right time, you know that?”
Myden
laughed. “That’s one of the reasons I’m still alive.” He started fading away.
“Stay strong Kivi, the time will come when he’ll need you.”
“I
will,” Kivi said.
* * *
Brian
sat in the Freedom’s medical lab as Mira scanned him. She shook her head as she
put down the instrument.
“It’s
not looking good,” she said.
Brian
shrugged. “I’m not surprised. So how long do I have?”
“If
we don’t activate them at all I’d say a few years,” Mira said.
He
sighed. “Sometimes I feel like I’m a lab experiment for some annoying higher
power.”
Mira
took his hand and placed something in it. “It’s not as compact as something my
father could make, but this will ensure you won’t leave us.”
He
opened his hand and saw silver locket. When he opened it he saw a picture of
himself with Seles and Mira. After a moment the picture changed to another of
him and Mira standing on a stage.
“Is
this?”
“Keep
it near you at all times,” she said. “I won’t let you die, even if I have to
cheat to do so.”
He
smiled before putting it around his neck. “I understand. When the time comes
I’ll try pulling through without cheating.”
“Do
you want me to tell the others?” Mira asked.
“I’ll
meet with them soon,” he said. “For now, let’s not worry about it.”
“Alright,”
she said before hugging him tightly with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want you
to leave me.”
“I
won’t,” Brian said.
“Thanks,”
Mira said.
The
Freedom and Raulno stealthily shadowed a contingent of Minan transport ships as
they collected minerals from a Kalaidian mining colony. The complex was in the
asteroid belt between Dega Five and Six. In the distance there were a number of
other mining colonies of Shandi, Odairan, and Minan ownership. Brian stood on
the bridge with Myden, Grigon, Jesela, and the four droids while watching the
monitors closely. Kivi appeared on the screen from the bridge of the Raulno.
“It
doesn’t look like anything’s going to happen this time,” she said.
“I
wouldn’t count on it,” Brian said.
“I
think we’ve got something,” Jesela said.
She
put the image on the monitor for Brian and Kivi to review. It showed the
presence of ten medium class Malcovin ships and two hundred Talons with their
phase cloaks on.
“Thanks,”
Brian said.
“They’re
pretty organized for pirates,” Kivi said. “Do you think?”
“Yes,”
Brian said before hitting the com. “All mobile suits need to prepare for
battle. The details will be coming in a moment.”
“Should
I launch?” Kivi asked.
“I
think Seles and Mira can take care of it,” Brian said. “Are you itching to get
out there?”
“Of
course,” Kivi said. “But I’ll refrain. Dreka and Kaela think I run off the
bridge too quickly.”
Brian
laughed. “I wish I had that problem,” he looked at Droid A, “send a warning to
the nearby colonies.”
“Of
course sir,” Droid A said.
* * *
The
Artemis and Siren launched from their bay as the other mobile suits of the
Freedom did the same. All had their phase cloaks up as they moved into
position. Seles noticed something in Mira’s eyes before turning her com to a
private channel.
“Is
something wrong?” Seles asked.
Mira
nodded before shaking the feeling off.
“It
has something to do with Brian, doesn’t it?”
“I
can’t hide it from you,” Mira said.
“You
can give me the details after the battle,” Seles said. “Thanks for being honest
with me.”
“He
said he’d speak with everyone about it soon,” Mira said.
“That
sounds like Brian,” Seles said. “I’ll ring it out of him tonight.”
Mira
smiled. “That’s the spirit.”
The
battle plan appeared on their monitors.
“This
is tiresome,” Seles said after looking it over.
“What
can we do?” Mira asked. “Those who cling to the name of a dead king will fight
forever.”
“My
thoughts exactly,” Seles said. She pressed her com again. “Kyli, Tctie, your
squadrons will cut off their escape routes. Mira and I will attack them
directly.”
“Yes
commander,” Kyli said.
“Acknowledged,”
Tctie responded.
The
Artemis and Siren headed for the nearby colony as the Malcovin forces started
their attack. The enemy mobile suits swarmed the Minan ships and fired. The
Artemis and Siren went to intercept the enemy while Kyli and Tctie led the
Freedom’s mobile suits against the enemy fleet. As soon as the enemy detected
the mobile suits from the Freedom they turned about and began attacking with a
savagery unknown. Seles and Mira piloted masterfully out of the way while
evading a number of near misses.
“There’s
no doubt now,” Seles said.
“These
aren’t regular pirates,” Mira added.
* * *
Brian
cursed under his breath when the Malcovin attacked his forces. The Raulno
deployed its mobile suits to protect the two ships. The sensors showed a number
of the mobile suits preparing to invert their gravity drives. The Artemis and
Siren quickly destroyed the enemy before they could do so. The mobile suits
from the Freedom did the same to the ten Medium class ships before they could
turn about. When the Artemis and Siren headed back the other mobile suits
followed.
“I’m
glad our plan worked,” Kivi said.
“This
is our fault,” Brian said.
“We
can’t anticipate everything Brian, you know that,” Kivi said. “All we can do is
put an end to their violent ways.”
Grigon
cawed. “These fools were the puppets of Zaris, so it’s no surprise. Birds
without a master fly every which way.”
“How
many ships do they have left?” Kivi asked.
“According
to our last estimate the Zarite faction still has over four hundred ships and
five times that in mobile suits,” Brian said.
“Oh…we
have a problem,” Jesela said.
The
monitor showed a hundred Malcovin ships coming out of gravity jump around the
two ships.
“Kivi,
I think you should deploy,” Brian said.
“I
have to agree,” she said before running off the bridge.
“They
were trying to sniff us out,” Myden said.
“Now
we’re going to have to put an effort into it,” Brian said.
* * *
The
Gemini emerged from the Raulno and joined the Artemis and Siren. The mobile
suits from the Freedom gathered the others to guard the two ships.
“What’s
the plan?” Seles asked.
“Fire
a pair of arrows into their center,” Kivi said.
“As
you wish,” Seles said.
The
Artemis lit up and landed on the Gemini before firing a massive beam into the
enemy fleet. Twenty three ships exploded as well as two hundred Talons. Seles
aimed and fired a second shot and destroyed another twenty ships and another
two hundred Talons. As she returned to normal the Artemis flew off the Gemini.
The enemy fleet spread out as fast as possible to strike them from a distance.
Kivi carefully noted how the enemy was moving.
“Should
I get the song system ready?” Mira asked.
“No,”
Kivi said. “Our enemy is crafty.”
“From
their formation they could evade most of your system’s effects,” Seles said.
“What
should we do then?” Mira asked.
“Let’s
force them to come to us,” Kivi said. “Seles, deploy the Artemis’s reflector
plates in sniping mode.”
“Of
course,” Seles said.
The
three returned to the Freedom and Raulno. The Artemis’s reflector plates popped
off the frame and flew until they created a series of lines. Seles began the
bombardment with a shot from the cannon. The Gemini and Siren followed suit.
While the Malcovin forces took damage they continued spreading out before
approaching with deadly speed.
“It’s
obvious they hate us,” Mira said.
“Whatever
rational thought they had died with their king,” Kivi said.
“That’s
if they had any in the first place,” Seles said.
* * *
Brian
worked on a battle plan while the others defended the two ships. On the Raulno
Dreka had taken Kivi’s position as the commanding officer.
“They
aren’t using conventional formations,” Dreka commented.
“No,
and that’s making it difficult to anticipate their next move,” Brian said.
The
shaking grew worse as the enemy ships and Talons closed in on all sides. The
three Maidens and the nearly two hundred defending mobile suits did their best
to eliminate anything getting too close.
“They’re
avoiding the Siren,” Brian observed.
“They
fear its power,” Dreka said. “Should we go on the offense?”
“Not
yet,” Brian said.
He
glanced at the nearby colony and noticed a number of Phase Raknas and Lance
Phalanxes surrounding it. The ships collecting materials moved within the
defensive perimeter.
“At
least we don’t have to worry about them anymore,” Myden said.
“True,”
Brian said.
* * *
The
three continued firing into the reflector plates but found the enemy was
dodging their attacks easier with each shot.
“This
isn’t working,” Kivi said.
“We
could try something else,” Mira said.
“I
agree,” Seles said.
Kivi
smiled as she hit the com. “Brian, Dreka, we’re going to try something.”
“Tell
me it’s not stupid,” Brian said.
Kivi
laughed. “If we live it won’t be.”
“That’s
the answer I expected,” Brian said. “We’re counting on you to take care of this
mess.”
“We’re
on it,” Kivi said. “Alright, let’s try formation S-4.”
“I
don’t remember training for that one,” Mira said.
“It’s
because she’s making it up,” Seles explained. “S-4 means improvise.”
“I
like it,” Mira said.
“Seles
and I will stick to the front as we make our charge,” Kivi said. “Mira, be
ready to use your song system if they swarm us.”
“I’m
ready anytime,” Mira said.
“Let’s
go,” Seles said.
The
three mobile suits flew in a triangle formation with the Siren in the back. At
the same time the reflector plates returned to the Artemis. As they moved closer
the enemy moved to surround them.
* * *
Near
the battle a patrol group of six Confederation special task force ships moved
next to the colony. On the bridge of the lead ship Siata and commander Baeron
observed the fight between the Malcovin forces and the two ships.
“They
might be in trouble,” Baeron said. “Should we lend a hand?”
“Not
yet,” Siata said. “Our mission is to protect the colonies.”
“They
attacked the transport ships,” Baeron pointed out.
“That’s
true,” Siata said. “If they need help we’ll move in.”
“These
attacks have been too numerous of late,” Baeron said.
“It’s
more frustrating when you consider the success the new government of their homeworld
is having,” Siata said. “Eight months ago they were in chaos after Zaris’s
regime fell and now they’re on track.”
“That’s
because of the Malcovin work ethic,” Baeron said. “Idleness is not prized
amongst their race.”
“I
think leadership is a factor as well,” Siata said.
“To
change the subject back to the present,” Baeron said. “Should we deploy our
Lances?”
“Send
them out,” Siata said.