Freedom Saga 1: Heaven's Light (24 page)

While the High
Council continued arguing the image screens at their individual areas lit up.
The Lord Kris banged the gavel as loud as he could and looked at the other
delegations.

“The vote on
Brian Peterson’s fate has been cast,” he started. “But this matter is not settled.
We have just received word from our homeworld.” He looked down at the document
on the monitor before reading it aloud. “It’s the will of the Mylor Republic
that we formally withdraw all military aid to the Galactic Confederation.”
Outside, all of the Mylor battleships gravity jumped away. “It’s our deepest
regrets we see the High Council acting as it is now. The Galactic Confederation
was established to prevent conflict, encourage trade, and bring an
understanding to all member races. The original reason for its existence has
been perverted over time by those wishing to maintain power. The members
opposing Heaven’s Light and the Terran Brian Peterson are doing so not for the
sake of the Confederation but for the sake of their own interests. With this being
so, it’s the judgment of the people of Mylor to protest this gross
transgression by removing our military from your defense.”

Anger seethed
from the opponents of Heaven’s Light as the chamber erupted in violent
arguments. Lord Kris closed his eyes.

“Everything is
in place,” he said. He turned to the other Mylors. “The time for talking is
over my friends. We’ve waited long for this day to come.”

* *
*

Veda, El Kar,
Grigon, Myden, Seles, Valis, Esra, and Kivi were planning for the next battle
in the command center of the Columbia base. The asteroid base was currently
phase cloaked and stationed near Confederation headquarters when the Mylor made
their announcement. Each watched in shock as the massive, sphere shaped
battleships gravity jumped away and left the station with few defenses. Valis
programmed the changes into the Minerva’s systems remotely. A moment later the
calculations were displayed in front of them.

“This changes
everything,” Valis said. She looked at the others. “Scratch the plan I was
going to use, we have to rethink this.”

“Without the
Mylor their defenses are weak,” El Kar said.

“But we don’t
want to destroy them,” Esra added.

“We want to free
Brian,” Seles said.

“Should we take
him by force?” Kivi asked.

“No,” Valis
said. “We’ll request the release of Brian first.”

“If that’s not
enough we’ll knock it over their heads a few times,” Veda said.

Valis changed
the battle plans and submitted them to the holographic table in front of them.
She looked at Seles. “I hope you’re ready for this.”

“I’m ready,”
Seles said.

“Then let’s
shock the world like he did ten years ago,” Valis said.

* *
*

Brian woke up
with the light shining in his face. His long hair was messed up and his face
was covered with scruffy hair. The clothes he wore were disheveled. He sniffed
himself as he stood up and stretched.

“They could’ve
at least given me some deodorant,” he said. He looked up at the camera. “Are
you enjoying this?”

He started
poking at the walls of the cell and found nothing of interest.

“So the plan is
turn me into a raving lunatic by giving me nothing to do,” he said.

His stomach
growled.

“Yeah, and I
doubt any of you will feed me anyway,” he said. “Man, I’d kill for a pizza
right now.”

* *
*

While the High
Council continued arguing on the subject Heaven’s Light their alert system went
on. Outside, the Freedom appeared inside their defense perimeter. At the same
time all of the hundred and one mobile suits appeared in formation. The Artemis
and Siren led the way. A message came through on all frequencies. When they
accepted it they saw the face of Seles inside the Artemis. She opened her eyes
as they started glowing.

“To the High Council
we ask only one thing,” Seles started. “Obey the laws you have set and release
Commander Peterson. He’s being unlawfully kept in your station at this time. If
you do not accept these terms we are prepared to free him by force.”

Seles closed her
eyes and heard the screams in her mind as those inside railed one way or the
other. As the cacophony grew worse she felt the pilots from both sides. She
opened her glowing eyes and saw the Lances moving into defensive positions.

“It looks like
they’ve chosen their path,” Mira said.

“Should we move
out?” Kyli asked.

The Artemis
aimed its heavy cannon at a spot on the Kailion station and fired. The intense
energy beam smashed through their shields, destroyed six Lances while cutting a
hole the size of a heavy class ship into the station.

“All forces of
the Freedom are to attack,” Seles ordered.

* *
*

Brian fell over
as the station shuddered. The lights flickered before he stood up. The door
beeped and opened up. He took a look and saw one of the Minan guards was
unconscious. He grabbed the pulse rifle the unconscious guard was carrying and
aimed at the other guard as she shook her head.

“I’m getting out
of here,” Brian said.

She stared the
rifle barrel down before nodding and threw down her pulse rifle. Brian grabbed
it and threw it over his back. As he turned to escape a pair of barricades slid
down from the ceiling and cut him off. Brian banged his fist on the metal door
and looked back at the female Minan.

“I’d bet these
are pulse proof,” he said.

“They also reflect
it,” she said.

Brian looked at
the barricade with a strange smile on his face. “That’s just great.”

* *
*

While the
Freedom and its mobile suits attacked, the base of Heaven’s Light moved into
position. The remaining five ships launched and deployed their mobile suits.
When they appeared on the scanners the Confederation forces swarming around the
Freedom seemed confused. A number of them moved to cut off the five ships but
were cut down by the barrage of pulse fire. The Artemis lined up a second shot
from the arrow system and blasted the headquarters once more. This time Seles
aimed at the main shield generation system. After the target area exploded, the
powerful barriers holding back the forces of Heaven’s Light went down. Kivi
joined Valis and Celi with all three of them on their mobile suits. The Gemini
took the front while the Aegis flew in the middle. Valis took to the rear as
the three flew forward.

“That arrow
system really packs a punch,” Kivi said as she fired the Gemini’s heavy cannon.

“It’s a battle
changer,” Valis said.

“I wonder if it
could pierce the Aegis’s shields,” Celi said.

“If she combined
hers with mine we’d be able to,” Kivi said. “But that’s assuming none of us use
our special systems.”

“There will be
no need for that,” Valis said.

“So stick to the
plan?” Kivi asked. “You’re no fun.”

Valis laughed.
“Yes, but we will win.”

“And winning a
battle is the only thing that matters for a soldier,” Celi said.

* *
*

While lines of
Lances were scattered by the sudden attack, the Artemis and Siren made their
way into the first opening. Seles’s eyes returned to normal as she landed the
mobile suit inside the fissure. The Siren landed right behind her.

“Are you ready?”
Seles asked as she put the helmet of her exoskeleton on.

“It’s set to fire
whenever an enemy comes to close,” Mira said.

“Let’s go then,”
Seles said as she opened the front hatch.

Across the way
Mira did the same. As the two floated towards a hallway Seles drew her
rakna
and extended her shield. Mira drew her
raiga
whip and prepped her med
kit. Upon landing they were met by fierce pulse fire from a number of Minan
guards. Each took to a side of a door and spun their superheated weapons.

“Which of us go
first?” Mira asked.

“I think I
should,” Seles said.

“What makes you
so special? It’s not like you’re any faster than me.”

“True,” Seles
said. “But I have a shield.”

“Good point,”
Mira said.

Seles turned and
swung the sword. An energy blast filled the hall as a number of guards were
vaporized or forced to retreat. The two women moved quickly through the station
as they made their way to the brig.

Veda stood in
the command center of the Columbia base and observed the battle outside. She
turned to her commander, a Kalaidian with long, dark green hair and green eyes.

“Shall we Reban?”
Veda asked.

“It’s ready
whenever you wish to speak,” commander Reban reported.

Veda pressed the
button and appeared on the screens of those inside the High Council chamber. “I
am Veda Kein, the leader of this organization. We’re interested in pursuing a
peaceful solution to the situation. But we need you to see reason.”

“At gunpoint!”
the angry red bird named Creko shouted back. “This proves my point! Brian and
this mercenary unit are seeking power!”

The others continued
arguing amongst themselves. Veda examined each group carefully and noticed the
Odairans were speaking amongst themselves quite reasonably. She narrowed her
transmission to their monitor alone.

“Could I speak
to the one in charge?” she asked.

The small rat
people looked to one another before a short, grey haired female came forward.

“I am Rechel
Melci,” she said. “What do you wish to speak with us about Lady Veda?”

“It seems to me
your people are in a quandary,” Veda said. “You’d like to side with us but
something’s holding you back.”

Rechel pointed
to the Malcovin. “The bird king has us under his feathers. If we act against
him more of our people will die.”

“To live in fear
is to not live at all,” Veda said.

“We know that,”
Rechel said. “But we are powerless to stop it.”

“Then we will
aid you,” Veda said. “All we need is proof of their oppression.”

“But we couldn’t
possibly afford the cost of hiring you,” Rechel said.

Veda smiled.
“Our organization doesn’t fight for money. We exist to liberate those who can’t
do so on their own. I know how much your people abhor war.”

“I’ll have to
discuss the offer with the others,” Rechel said.

“Please hurry,”
Veda said. “I’d like to end this madness soon.”

* *
*

The forces of
the Confederation tried putting up one defensive line after another. With each
passing moment the forces of Heaven’s Light moved closer. The Minerva, Gemini,
and Aegis flew together at the front and broke apart any line the Lances tried
making. Behind them, the Freedom and its mobile suits slashed through any
survivors. The five ships behind them did likewise. Valis checked her scanners
and noticed there were a number of motionless Lances.

“It appears
Mira’s set it to run on its own,” Valis said.

“Should we take
them out?” Celi asked.

“No,” Valis
said. “Our goal is their surrender, not massacre.”

“Anyways, it’s
no fun shooting at those who can’t shoot back,” Kivi said.

The headquarters
gun batteries targeted them and fired. Celi flew the Aegis forward and caused the
beams to bounce away harmlessly.

“I think we
should stay focused on the battle,” she said.

“We’re trying,”
Kivi said.

“I guess we
should try harder,” Valis said.

The Gemini aimed
its cannon and fired a wide beam, destroying seven of the pulse cannons on the
station. The Minerva turned and shot down a pair of Lances coming in from
behind.

“How long are
going to be doing this?” Celi asked.

“Once Brian is
safe our mission is complete,” Valis said.

* *
*

Brian tossed the
pulse rifle back to the Minan female. She looked surprised at his action and
picked it up. He leaned back and rested his head on the barricade when the
place shook again, causing him to bang his head.

“That hurt,” he
said with a funny grin. “Hey, what’s your name?”

“Shrela,” she
said. “Why did you give my rifle back to me?”

“If I’m going to
be stuck in here for a while I’d rather not be on edge,” he said. “By the way,
is he alright?”

She checked the
unconscious guard. “He seems to have a concussion, but nothing fatal.”

“That’s good,”
he said.

* *
*

Myden smiled as
he fired the cannons. Grigon looked at the unusually animate Grey. Jesela
continued dancing back and forth with a tune only she knew in her head.

“I’ve never seen
you like this,” Grigon said.

“I haven’t been
in the middle of something like this in years,” Myden remarked.

“We’ve been in
the middle of it too much,” Jesela said.

Grigon cawed.
“Then why did you sign on for this? We’re going to be fighting for years.”

Jesela continued
dancing. “I couldn’t help it old man. These mobile suit things are just too
much fun for a manic engineer like me.”

Myden laughed.
“I couldn’t have said it any better.”

* *
*

Seles and Mira
made their way down to the prison level. The two came to a sealed door leading
down to the cell block Brian was on.

“Shall I?” Mira
asked.

“That whip of
yours is better suited,” Seles said.

“Get that shield
ready,” Mira warned as she cracked the lightning whip and sliced the door in
half.

As they prepared
for another barrage of pulse fire the pair found themselves alone. Curious,
Seles went in first and found none of the guards were attending their duties.
Mira found a bunch of them playing a dice game in the recreational area.

“What is going
on?” Seles asked.

“I have a
feeling these guys aren’t interested in dying,” Mira said.

“Let’s move on,”
Seles said.

The pair ran
their way to the area where Brian’s cell was at and found the metal barriers had
been deployed. Seles went to one with her helmet off and banged on the door.

“Brian! Can you
hear me?!”

On the other
side Brian knocked back. “Please hit the door lighter next time!”

She and Mira
laughed. “Sorry!” Seles shouted. “Please back away so we can get through!”

“I’m far enough
back!” he shouted.

Seles looked to
Mira. She nodded and slashed through the barrier with her whip. They found
Brian standing near his cell door with a pulse rifle on his back. Behind him
was an armed guard with an unconscious guard near her.

“We’re here to
get you,” Seles said.

“I can see
that,” he said. “Mira, could you take a look at him?” Brian asked while
pointing to the Minan on the floor.

“Sure,” Mira
said. She took of her helmet and ran over with her med kit ready. After a round
of regeneration and checking the wound she stood up. “He should wake up in a
few minutes.” She locked her helmet back into place before packing up her med
kit.

“Let’s go then,”
Seles said before putting her helmet back on.

Brian looked at
Shrela. “Take care,” he said as he ran behind the two ladies.

“This is Seles
reporting,” she said over the com to Valis. “We have the target in custody.”

“You make it
sound so impersonal,” Mira said.

Brian wasn’t
able to hear what they were saying because their exoskeletons didn’t have their
voice functions on.

“Good,” Valis
said. “We’ll move to the next phase of the plan.”

“We’ll be back
at our mobile suits momentarily,” Seles reported.

The three of
them stopped in front of another door. Mira took something out of her med kit
and handed it to Brian. Both switched on their voice functions.

“It’s not your
exoskeleton, but it’ll do,” she said.

Brian unfolded
and found it was an oversized Kalaidian pilot suit. He tried sliding his leg
inside and found it wouldn’t fit.

“I’ve never put
one of these on before,” he said.

Seles pointed to
his legs. “You’ll have to discard your clothing to fit.”

“What?” he
asked. “Whatever, I’ve been naked in stranger places.”

Brian threw his
shirt and pants aside before squeezing into the suit commando style. After he
had the thing on Mira handed him a helmet from a Minan space suit. He placed it
over his head and locked it into place.

Seles and Mira
couldn’t help but smile under their helmets.

“I look awesome,
don’t I?” he asked while standing tough with his newly acquired pulse rifle.

“Like a true
space hero,” Seles said.

“At least he’s
back to being himself,” Mira pointed out.

Seles opened the
door and led the three of them through the last few hallways before coming to
the gap in the station. Still waiting for them were the Artemis and Siren. As
they approached they noticed the dozen or so Lances floating nearby
motionlessly.

“That must be
the Siren’s song,” Brian said.

Mira took his
arm. “You’re coming with me.”

“I’m glad to be
wanted so much,” he said.

“No, I just
don’t want you flying around my cockpit,” Seles said.