Heaven Saga 1: The Lost Hero (18 page)

“You’ve done a great job Daes,” he said as she joined
them.

Daes smiled with excitement in her eyes. “This is the
next generation of fighting weapons. I’m glad I had a chance to implement a few
theories into this craft.”

Zae turned to Daes. “You’ll have to show me how you
drew up these systems.”

Daes nodded. “I can understand your skepticism, so
I’ll show you next time we have a day off.”

“Sounds interesting,” Zae said. “I need to get back to
the bridge now.” She left them.

Brian looked at Daes. “Is the Mjolnir charged?”

She went to the main console. “Yes, it’s fully
charged. The command system you have in your exoskeleton should work now.”

“Thanks,” he said. He pressed a button to reveal the
small computer on his arm. He gazed at the mobile suit and spoke into his com.
“Starting Command: Thor, God of Thunder threw his mighty hammer, and its name
was Mjolnir.”

The giant’s eyes began glowing blue as the systems
came on. The front hatch opened at the belly and a cord rolled down to the
ground. He placed his foot in the loop at the end of the cord and offered his
hand to Kivi.

“Would you like to see the interior?”

Kivi took his hand as the cord pulled them both up to
the hatch. Inside, she saw a small room covered with monitors and keyboards. In
the center was a large padded chair with a pair of control sticks on the arms.
She stepped and noticed the writing on the key pads was in a language she
didn’t recognize.

“What language is this writing?” she asked.

Brian stepped in behind her. “It’s English, my native
language. I figured if this ship ever captured it would take a while for them
to decipher the language.”

“Could you show me the special system?” she asked.

He sat in the chair and began using the controls.
After a moment, the hatch closed and the monitors showed a 360 degree view
around the Mjolnir. He leaned over. “Could you press that button Kivi?” He
pointed at a button behind her.

She pressed the button while Daes watched from
outside. He pressed the com button above him. “Is the stealth cloak working?”

Daes rang her hand on the invisible leg. “It’s working
exactly as designed. I can’t see a thing.”

“Can I take a look from outside?” Kivi asked.

“Sure,” he said. When he opened the front hatch Kivi
headed out. She checked her eyes as she noticed she was standing in midair.

Daes laughed. “Kivi, it looks like you appeared out of
nowhere.”

Brian helped her back inside. “I’m glad my first
mission will be led by you,” he said.

The Avoni flew in low orbit of Dega 6, a large gas
giant with bands of black and blue spanning its face. Valis sat in her chair on
the bridge with Baed and Zae at their stations.

“We’re receiving an encoded message captain,” Zae
reported.

“Answer it,” Valis commanded.

Zae turn on the communication. On the monitor appeared
the bridge of the Daevoni, mirroring the Avoni’s. At the center was Captain
Esra, a beautiful Kalaidian with long silvery white hair and purple eyes.

“It’s been a while Valis,” Esra said as she flipped
back her hair.

“Not so long considering we met a few days ago,” Valis
said.

Esra smiled. “Not that Valis. I mean going into a
battle. By the way, where’s Kivi?”

“She’s currently with my second officer for a special
task. They’re going make this mission a lot easier.”

“I hope this doesn’t change our previous plans,” Esra
said.

“No, nothing like that,” Valis said. “We’re to play
our parts as we planned.”

“Alright Valis, I trust you. Is everything in order?”
Esra asked.

Valis looked to Baed and Zae. “Ready?”

“Yes captain,” Zae said. “Seles is standing by with the
Novaguards and the Mjolnir is ready to launch.”

“Let’s go then,” Valis commanded.

* * *

“It’s a bit cramped in here, but this should work,”
Kivi said. She stood in the Mjolnir’s cockpit with three other soldiers dressed
in space gear and carrying pulse rifles. Both she and Brian wore their armor
with helmets locked into place.

The monitor flashed and Valis appeared. “It’s time to
launch.”

“We’ll have that shield down in no time,” Kivi said.

Brian activated the Mjolnir’s invisibility system and
checked its weapons and shields one more time, everything was green.

“Well ladies, let’s get going.”

The eyes of the Mjolnir lit up while the thrusters on
the back began burning as its dragon like wings on the back extended. He looked
to monitor and saw Daes standing at the controls in a space suit. She held up
her hand to show all was clear. The doors above the Mjolnir opened and allowed
him to fly the mobile suit into space. Once clear of the Avoni, he pushed the
Mjolnir to full speed. They closed on the asteroid the Shandi were using as a
base. The exterior was heavily built upon, with numerous docks and other
structures. The shield array consisted of a series of towers with power systems
at their base. A large diamond shaped warship patrolled the area.

“Looks like a Gant class,” Kivi said. “We’ll leave it
to Valis and Esra.”

Brian nodded and flew the Mjolnir to the other side of
the asteroid. Scanning the area, Brian found the weak spot he was looking for
and landed on the asteroid. He also found a pair of smaller diamond shaped
ships patrolling their area.

“Those could be a problem,” he said. “What should we
do?”

“Destroy them,” Kivi commanded.

“As you wish,” he said.

The Mjolnir drew its massive sword and charged the
first vessel. As it flew past the first ship the sword cut right through the
center. An explosion followed as the mobile suit turned to the other ship. The
Mjolnir slashed and cut through the other vessel, causing it to explode. He
flew back to the asteroid and used the pulse cannon to cut a hole to the
interior.

“That should get us inside,” Brian said. He and Kivi
checked their helmets and made sure their exoskeletons were sealed. As she and
Brian went out they saw a hatch nearby.

Kivi turned to the others. “Keep an eye out for
intruders. If they get close, seal the Mjolnir and activate the shields.”

* * *

Seles and her subordinates scrambled to their
Novaguards. Each looked similar to a jet fighter with heavier armor and three
engines spaced evenly apart like a perfect triangle. As she put on her space
suit and sealed it, she turned on the monitor in her Nova. Three screens came
up and displayed the three ensigns serving as squadron leaders.

“Myli, you have command of beta squadron, Meldi will
back you up,” Seles said. “Kaela will act as my second. Alpha squadron is to
attack the defense towers on the surface of the asteroid, while beta squadron
defends the Avoni. The Daevoni’s two squadrons are doing the same. Everything
clear?” she asked.

“Yes lieutenant,” the three responded.

The Novas engines flared up and one by one they
dropped out of the docking bay into space. They separated into two units of
twenty two. Seles flew to the front and led alpha squadron toward the asteroid.
Above them, the Avoni began firing their pulse cannons at the asteroid, while
the Daevoni engaged with the Gant class vessel. Out of docks on the surface, a
number of smaller vessels flew in the direction of the Novas.

“Looks like we’ll get some stars today,” Kaela
remarked.

“It looks like there’re only twenty Spits, so we have
the advantage,” Seles said as she aimed and fired into their line.

* * *

Valis sat calmly watched the pieces move into place.

“It doesn’t look like they have enough to fight with,”
Zae said.

“No.” Valis stared at the Shandi formation. “How’s the
Daevoni faring?”

“From the looks of it they’re winning,” Zae reported.

Valis stared at the shield protecting the docks. The
towers were positioned in an equidistant patter with the largest at the center.
Her eyes widened.
That’s it!
She thought.

“Zae, keep a close eye on their energy build up, Baed
be ready to move. If my suspicions are correct, their shields have a firing
mechanism.”

“Yes captain,” the pair responded in unison.

Valis began working out a strategy on her computer.
“Zae put me through to Esra.”

“Yes captain.”

* * *

“There doesn’t appear to be any alarms on this door,”
Kivi said.

Behind them was a large open area. It was lightly
carved and most of the materials floating around looked like trashed ship
parts.

He looked at Kivi. “You should open the door.”

“Agreed,” she said as she drew one of her
rakna
blades and powered it up. She started carving out the frame of the door. A
moment later the door peeled out. Brian floated in, blade in hand. He entered
the small hallway and looked around while Kivi followed.

 “The power systems shouldn’t be far from here,” she
said.

He activated his shield and followed her closely. Both
kept an eye out for enemies as they came to another door. She opened it and he
charged in. Inside, two Shandi stood guard, completely caught by surprise. They
stood over seven feet tall with tough scaled bodies. Their lower half resembled
a massive snake tail, while the torso was humanlike, with two arms and a head.
Their hands had three fingers and a thumb, while their snakelike eyes were
crimson red. Like a snake, the Shandi also had forked tongues and fangs. They
held pulse rifles and wore armor over their torso. Before they could react,
Brian slashed and decapitated one of them. Kivi came in from behind and did the
same. Blood floated freely and covered both of them with red.

“That was gross,” he said.

The asteroid shook when he turned to Kivi. “It looks
like everything is going according to the plan.”

“Let’s not to disappoint them,” she said as they
entered the power station.

“Everyone spread out!” Seles shouted to her
subordinates as a massive energy beam fired from the center of the defense
tower formation. All the Novas managed to evade while the Avoni took a glancing
hit from the beam. A moment later the Novas returned to their formations.

“Is everyone okay?” Seles asked.

“Yes lieutenant,” each responded.

Valis appeared on Seles’s monitor. “Their ship is
fleeing, probably for reinforcements from another asteroid nearby. We’re going
to pursue. Take formation H-3 and follow the Avoni.”

“Yes captain,” she said as Valis’s message ended.

* * *

“We’re in pursuit now,” Valis said as the Avoni began
chasing the Shandi ship. Esra was on the main monitor tapping a finger.

“Now tell me Valis, what’s the secret you’ve been
keeping from me?” she asked.

“If you want to know you’re going to have to put a gag
order on your bridge crew,” Valis said.

Esra nodded to her bridge crew. “You heard her.
Nothing leaves this room.”

“Yes captain,” they responded.

Valis stood and went to the monitor. “At this moment,
Kivi and my second officer are conducting a raid on the base. Their shields
should be down any minute.”

Esra smiled. “Come now, do tell more. Tell me who
you’re mysterious second is. Is it a Keinien android, or something else?”

“No, he’s not an android. To answer your question, his
name is Brian,” she said.

“Did you say he?” Esra asked.

Valis nodded. “He’s a Terran my
Reiniere
trained as a
Rakna Maigar
.”

Esra’s eyes widened. “A Terran you say? And he’s
learned the sacred dances of our people?” Esra laughed. “If he’s learned the
blade dance Terrans must resemble us.”

Valis smiled. “Zae, send her a picture.”

“Yes captain,” Zae said.

Esra grinned. “My, he’s a handsome one. I don’t
suppose he came with any friends?”

“Sorry, but he came alone,” Valis answered with a
shrug.

Esra sighed. “You’ll have to tell me everything next
time we’re in port.”

“Please take care of him Esra,” Valis said. “We’ll
take care of the other ship.”

“Don’t worry Valis. I’ll make sure your new toy doesn’t
get broken.”

* * *

Brian and Kivi moved quickly and used hand signals to
communicate. They came to the outer door to the power station and killed the
two guards with their blades in haste. The door was sealed shut and Kivi
motioned for him to come over. He opened a panel on the wall next to the door.
Shaking his head at the confusing design, he aimed the butt of his sword and
bashed the locking mechanism. The door shuttered for a moment before popping
open. He used his blade to pry it open completely as pulse fire started flying.
He and Kivi each stood to the side of the door.