Freedom Saga 1: Heaven's Light (18 page)

“He’s here,” the
communications officer reported. Both Baeron and Siata looked at the monitor.

“He’s not making
much of an effort to hide anymore,” Baeron said.

“I know,” Siata
said. “What’s he trying to do?”

“Perhaps he knows
the hunt is coming to the end,” Baeron suggested. “The ships from the last
battle say the Mjolnir took some damage.”

“True,” Siata
said. “And his messages for Terra Prime aren’t damaging in any way. If he sent
schematics or such I’d be worried, but it’s been nothing but warnings and
predictions.”

“Captain, the
Mjolnir is heading for the shattered moon of the second planet,” the science
officer reported.

“Put it up on
the screen,” Baeron ordered.

“Yes sir,” the
science officer said before displaying the image.

A super Earth
far too hot for life was the main planet. Surrounding it were rings of rock and
a small moon split in half from a previous, unknown collision.

“He’s choosing
the battlefield,” Siata said. “Deploy all units.”

“Yes captain,”
the officers said before relaying the orders. The fleet followed the Mjolnir.

“What do you
think he’s doing?” Baeron asked.

“He’s training
us,” Siata said. “If we can’t capture a single Terran than we have no chance
against the Greys.”

“I’d have to
agree,” Baeron said. He turned to the security officer. “Ready my Lance for
battle.”

“You’re fighting
him personally?” Siata asked. “It’s been awhile.”

“If our hunt is
coming to the end I want to see it with my own eyes,” Baeron said.

* *
*

“They’ve taken
the bait,” the Mjolnir reported.

“Good,” Brian
said. He checked the mess of rocks and objects moving around the shattered
moon. “Let’s set up some mines.”

“As you wish,”
the mobile suit said.

A moment later
it fired a number of proximity mines into the rocks nearby.

“Finished and
mapped,” the Mjolnir said.

“Ready the
reflector plates and dragon wing protection system,” Brian said.

“Yes.”

The wings
extended and emitted an energy field around the mobile suit again. The plates
on the outer hull popped off and floated around the Mjolnir.

“Deploy the
reflector plates in maze formation,” he said.

“Of course,” the
mobile suit responded.

The plates flew
around the mobile suit in various directions and angles.

“Before we
commence with this battle I’d like to send another message,” he said.

“I’m ready to
record.”

Brian took a sip
of water before speaking.

“This is Brian
Peterson speaking to you once again. I’ve been rather serious when sending these
messages. I know that and believe some levity is called for. This message
should reach Earth sometime in the year 2080. The lesson today is keeping an
open mind. The first thing to shock me when I was taken in by the Kalaidian
people was their vegetarian diet. I didn’t think much about it when I was back
on Earth. I was an omnivore and loved meat. Spending a year with Kalaidians
changed my diet. That is, until I tried some Malcovin food. I find it strange
how different each race eats and drinks. I guess having different body
chemistries does that. That brings my main point. Don’t be surprised by the
look of the alien races. To date there’s only one race resembling ours,
although the Braiden count as a close second. The Mylor are the oldest in our
galaxy other than the Greys and I know very little about them. All of the
Original Five move around in exoskeletons and show no one what they look like
underneath. My guess is they look different from the rest of us, but hell, at
this point, I wouldn’t be surprised. Be prepared for the strange.” He glanced
at the radar. “It looks like I need to survive another battle my friends. I’ll
be in touch soon. This is Brian Peterson signing off.”

“The message has
been sent,” the Mjolnir reported.

“Good,” he said
as the Lances moved in. “They look excited today.”

The Mjolnir
backed into the debris field and aimed the pulse cannon at the first set of
reflector plates. After it fired the energy bounced in many directions before
slamming into the first rank of Lances, destroying two and damaging three
others severely. When they closed in, the mines activated and filled the area
with explosions and dust. A number of Lances exploded from the blasts and
debris. At the same time, the Mjolnir fired a volley of shots into the
reflector plates and attacked their mobile suits from numerous directions.

“It looks like
they have us surrounded,” the Mjolnir said.

“That’s
alright,” Brian said. “All we have to do is survive a little longer.”

* *
*

Baeron watched
the confusion filled battle from the cockpit of his Lance model mobile suit. As
his men were destroyed one after another the Minan soldier carefully noted
everything. After a few minutes he turned on his com.

“Squadron
leaders, pull back and attack the shattered rocks around the Mjolnir,” he
ordered.

“Yes sir,” each
pilot responded.

A moment later
the Lances inside the battle area backed away and aimed their pulse cannons at
the debris. The Mjolnir continued firing at the Lances as they filled the area
around the lone mobile suit with rocks and dust. The Confederation ships opened
fire with their HV missiles and filled the area with explosions. After the
bombardment finished, the dust cleared and the Mjolnir was nowhere to be found.

“All scouting
units move in,” Baeron ordered.

A few minutes
passed before the scouting mobile suits returned. A pair of them held something.
As they came closer, Baeron noticed they were carrying the broken wings and
left leg of the Mjolnir.

“Sir, this is
the debris we found,” the pilot explained.

“Are you sure
there wasn’t anything else?” Baeron asked.

“Nothing sir,”
the pilot said.

He glanced at
the rocks all over the place. “Continue the search.”

“Yes sir,” his
subordinates said.

* *
*

The damaged Mjolnir
was hidden inside a small asteroid as it moved away from the shattered moon.
The wings were blown off and most of the left leg was missing. Only half of the
reflector plates remained. Brian frantically worked on a number of panels
before systems came back on. He jumped out of the compartment.

“Are you still
with me?”

The eyes on the
mobile suit flickered and started glowing blue again. “All systems are functioning,”
the Mjolnir said. “But I’m not feeling a hundred percent.”

Brian returned
to the pilot’s seat and performed a diagnostic of the Mjolnir’s systems. As
soon as he saw the phase cloak still functioned he turned it on.

“You’re not
looking well,” Brian said. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s not your
fault.”

“Yes, it is,” he
said. “I should’ve anticipated they’d try something like that.” He banged his
fist on the arm of the pilot’s chair. “I should’ve listened to Valis more.”

“Captain Valis
is an excellent tactician,” the Mjolnir said. “You’re almost her match.”

“In simulations
yes, but in reality I’m an idiot,” he said. “Alright friend, what’s your
status?”

“Weapons are
still functioning at full power,” the Mjolnir reported. “Shields are down to
sixty two percent and the dragon wings have been destroyed. Our reflector plate
capability has been reduced to forty five percent. All of our HV missiles and
mines have been expended. The good news is the gravity drive is undamaged and
the navigation systems are functioning normally.”

“Looks like
we’ll only have enough for one more fight,” Brian said. “Mjolnir, prepare to
return to the Columbia base without me.”

“Are you sure?
I’d rather stay with you.”

Brian patted the
monitor. “I know friend. You’re loyal to a fault. But the technology you have
within you is important to the cause.”

“I understand,”
the Mjolnir said. “Fortunately the parts lost were not recoverable.”

“That’s true,”
Brian said. He looked at the exterior damage. “Man, you look like hell.”

“Most of the
damage is superficial surface wear, nothing a good paint job and shine won’t
take care of,” the mobile suit said.

“As long as
you’re not as messed up as I am you’ll be alright,” Brian said.

“I’ll try not to
be.”

The Mjolnir
gravity jumped into another solar system. Nearby was a gas giant with an
extensive ring system. Brian quietly piloted the damaged mobile suit in the
planet’s direction as the Confederation forces followed them.

“This looks like
as good a place as any,” Brian said.

The mobile suit
flew into the maze of ice and rocks surrounding the dark colored gas giant. The
reflector plates detached and moved around the Mjolnir as the pulse rifle
charged up. Brian turned the mobile suit and watched as Lances pursued.

“I’m ready to
send the last message,” Brian said.

“Ready.”

“This will be
the last message I send, but for you it’ll be the first. By my calculations
this should be detected by Earth sometime in the year 2066. I have much to say
in the messages you’ll receive later, but for now I send a warning,” Brian
paused to take drink of water, “They will come. Be it in a few years or centuries,
the Greys will come to destroy Earth. They’ll start at the edge of our solar
system and quickly move inward. One by one your bases will be destroyed and
your colonies will follow suit. As hopelessness and despair reach their peak
one of their planet killers will appear in orbit of Earth. There will be no
warning and no surrender. There will only be destruction. You see my fellow
Terrans, that’s what the Greys are about. In their eyes our existence is
equivalent to that of a disease. They don’t see our annihilation as genocide or
evil. We’re the disease threatening their order and their planet killers are
the immunization shot,” he paused to take another drink of water and catch his
breath, “I say this not to stir fear, no, I say it to tell you the truth. If I
don’t reach Earth my advice is know you’re on your own. The other races fear us
as much as the Greys and couldn’t care less for our existence. Like the
Braiden, we’ll probably have to flee from our home to save our species.” He
paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. “My name is Brian Peterson, a
citizen of the United States. I was taken from Duluth Minnesota on sixteenth of
December in the year 2010. I’ve served for ten years on the Kalaidian starship
named Avoni under the captainship of Valis Kein. Please, if anyone receives
this I beg you to seek out any of my surviving family members and tell them I’m
still alive. Tell them I’ve missed them and wish I could see them so very
much.” Brian held back his tears. “This is Brian Peterson signing off.” He
pressed the button and listened to his message one more time before looking at
the monitor. “Send it out old friend.”

“It’s done.”

The Lances
nearby opened fired as the Mjolnir blocked with its shield. The Mjolnir flew
behind an asteroid and fired at the reflector plates. The pulse shot spread out
and damaged a pair of Lances while destroying three more. The ships in the
distance fired a barrage of pulse cannon shots and HV missiles. The asteroids
around the Mjolnir took most of the damage, but the lone mobile suit’s shields
couldn’t keep up. Brian flew it further away and into the twisted labyrinth of
ice and stone.

* *
*

“That’s enough,”
Baeron said to the fleet behind his line of Lances.

The bombardment
ceased as he scanned the area. In the distance he saw the Mjolnir flying away.
The Minan commander licked his lips as he led his men after Brian.

“To all pilots,
switch to melee combat mode,” he ordered. “In this situation we’d be doing more
damage to ourselves then the enemy.”

“Yes sir,” his
subordinates said.

“It’s time this
comes to an end,” Baeron said as his mobile suit switched its lance like rifle
to melee mode.

* *
*

The Mjolnir flew
behind a large chunk of ice deep in the gas giant’s rings. The rifle was
damaged beyond use and the shield was battered. The entire hull of the mobile suit
was covered in blacken soot while the shields flickered between on and off.

“I don’t feel
very good,” the Mjolnir said.

“I know,” Brian
said. He glanced at the Lances as they closed in. “Let’s go one more time
before calling it quits.”

“Sure,” the
mobile suit said.

The Mjolnir switched
the ruined rifle to self-detonate tossed it as the approaching Lances. The
explosion destroyed another three and damaged five more. The mobile suit drew
its sword before charging the Confederation line. Brian focused everything on
attacking with the blade while the Mjolnir adeptly blocked with the shield, all
while dodging the Lances’ charges. After slashing through three more only a few
Lances remained. When Brian turned to face them another squadron appeared from
above and charged. He met them blade and shield and passed through their line.
When the smoke and fire cleared the only Lances remaining were Baeron’s and
three others. They watched the Mjolnir float lifelessly in space.

“Are you still
alive?” Brian asked as he locked his helmet into place.

“Yes,” the
Mjolnir answered. “Other than navigation and the gravity drive only the blade
still works.”

“You fought well
friend,” he said. “This will be goodbye for now.”

“Take care of
yourself Brian.”

“And you as well
Mjolnir.”

Brian opened the
front hatch and walked outside. He gazed at the wreckage around them before
looking to the planet below. He drew his
rakna
blade and waited for the
Lances to come closer before placing it on the hull below him.

“May I speak
with Commander Baeron?”

“This is him
speaking,” Baeron said. “We have you surrounded and outnumbered Commander
Peterson.”

“I surrender,”
Brian said. “But the Mjolnir will not be captured.”

“You’re not in
the position to negotiate terms,” Baeron warned.

“But I am,”
Brian said. “If you approach the Mjolnir with the intent to capture, it’s
programmed to self-detonate. I’ve drained my exoskeleton to ten percent power.”

“What are you
planning?” Baeron asked. His Lance moved within a hundred
vetres
of the
Mjolnir.

“The Mjolnir is
programmed to return back to base,” Brian said.

“Very well,”
Baeron said. “Leave your
rakna
and head over to my craft.”

Brian took his
rakna
and placed it inside the Mjolnir. He deactivated the magnetic holders on the
feet of the exoskeleton and pushed off the mobile suit. A few seconds later
Baeron’s Lance opened its hand and grabbed him tightly. Before the mobile suit
turned, Brian looked at a single star shining in the distance.

“Goodbye.”

* *
*

Myden meditated
in his room onboard the Freedom when a buzz came from his door.

“Myden, it’s
me,” Seles said.

“Come in,” he
said.

As he stood he
noticed Seles and Mira together. They entered his dark room.

“You wanted to
see us?” Mira asked.

“Yes,” Myden
said with his raspy voice. “I know you may not believe me but Brian’s been
caught.”

Both Kalaidian
women looked at each other with concern in their eyes before turning back to
Myden.

“How long will
it be until we hear from the High Council?” Seles asked.

“They’ll make the
announcement within few days,” Myden explained. “He’ll be taken to the
headquarters in the Kailion system soon after. We must prepare to move out in
two weeks.”

“But how could
they take so long to chase him down and be able to bring him back so quickly?”
Mira asked.

“The Mylor will
aid in that,” Seles said. “I’m sure they can do something like that.”

“Their movement
and communication systems are better than the younger races at the moment,”
Myden said.

“What should we
do?” Seles asked.

The old Grey
looked each of them in the eye. “Heaven’s Light was formed for the greater good
of Alden. We’ll continue the mission plan as is for the moment. But I must warn
both of you to be prepared for the worst.”

“Brian’s charges
carry the death penalty,” Mira said. “I don’t want to see him die.”

Seles stared at
Myden. “You know we won’t let that happen.”

“I know,” he
said. “The time for the meeting is soon. There, everything will be made clear.”