Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence

by Marcus Johnson

  * * *

  All of the ships and mobile weapons from the eight bases deployed in attack formation. The Columbia base moved to the front with its main six ships doing likewise. The Maidens flew from their ships to the front of the mobile suit line. The Mjolnir stayed with the Avoni to act as the mobile suit commander. Brian and the other commanders on the ships sent out their orders as they quickly approached the rear planet killer. He noticed Veda looking to him from the base.

  “I want you to make the call,” Veda said.

  “Charge with everything we have,” Brian said.

  “A charge it is,” Veda said. While Reban worked to organize the others on the base Veda hit the com. “To all bases of Heaven’s Light, activate the Hades system immediately. We will head straight for the closest planet killer and destroy it. Once this has been done we’ll do the same for the second.”

  The leaders of the bases began berserking to activate the Hades system. Each of the asteroids glowed with particles as their gravity drives spun at greater than normal speeds. Five of the six ships in front of the Columbia base did the same a moment later. When the Shandi charged the Grey ships the forces of Heaven’s Light did the same from the opposite direction.

  Chapter 15 - In Blood, In Fire

  When the Shandi forces charged the front line of the Greys the smaller attack ships used their telepathic energy to take the form of the Fang mobile armors. Trai Gor hit the com.

  “They can copy our ships, but not their special systems,” he said to his soldiers. “To all the remaining ships, use the Dragon Scale system. All Fangs and Spits are to move within the field.”

  “Yes sir,” his soldiers said.

  The remaining five thousand Gant class ships moved together to form the protective bubble. The Grey forces swarmed them and pressed in from all sides.

  “To all squadron leaders, you have clearance to fire,” Trai Gor said.

  “Yes sir,” his subordinates responded.

  Each of the Fang leaders loaded and aimed a nuclear missile before firing into the Grey formation. As light flashed all around the Shandi bubble the Grey forces nearby were devastated. Most of the smaller attack ships were destroyed in the attack. In front of the Shandi, the carriers began moving closer together and used their telepathic powers to form a glowing energy shield capable of blocking everything coming at it. The Shandi were stopped dead in their tracks by the barrier.

  “Hold your position,” Valis said over the com. “The Greys can’t destroy you if you concentrate of defense.”

  “We’ll do as you say Captain Valis,” Trai Gor said.

  * * *

  When the bases of Heaven’s Light closed in a number of the carriers moved in front of them and resonated to create a shield like the ones in front of the Shandi. The eight bases were glowing bright as their output increased dramatically. At the same time their ships and mobile weapons fired on any smaller Grey ships coming near them. Brian’s eye glowed brightly while the Freedom flew at the front. The others on the bridge worked hard as pulse fire from the Greys increased.

  “Are you sure about this?” Grigon asked. “We’ve never had a chance to test this system.”

  “Better we try and die then not at all,” Brian said. “Don’t worry Grigon, I trust the work you and the others have put into this.” He looked at Veda on the monitor. Her eyes were glowing as well. “You can hear my thoughts, can’t you?”

  “It’s very strange,” Veda said.

  “Although we only need two bases to resonate having all eight should do something extra,” Brian said with a smile. “Be ready for my order.”

  “We are,” Veda said.

  Brian touched the com. “Valis, we need you and the others to clear a path. We’ll take care of the rest after that.”

  “As you wish Brian,” Valis said.

  The eight bases and their ships charged into the Grey line with their weapons firing. Explosions filled the area as the glowing fleet slowly forced its way through the energy barrier.

  * * *

  The Maidens made their way quietly to the assigned location. From the movements of the Grey ships it was obvious they weren’t primary targets anymore. Ship after ship slammed into the bases and their shields in the attempt to stop them. Seles fought off the urge to berserk and fired at the smaller crafts nearby as they the form of Fangs.

  “I can’t believe they can do that,” Kivi said.

  “We saw it happen during the sojourn,” Celi said.

  “It seems to increase their effectiveness,” Mira said.

  “They’re still the same old target, just a bit more powerful,” Seles said.

  “Keep your wits about you,” Valis said. She looked back at the bases. “Though I have to admit it’s hard to believe we can do anything in this battle.”

  When a number of attack ships came closer a pair of Novaguards popped off each of their mobile suits and automatically fired their pulse cannons at the enemy. Each quickly matched their guard fighters and destroyed the wave of enemies.

  “I’m glad we’re getting some use out of these,” Kivi said as the Novas returned to standby mode.

  “Better to use then waste,” Seles said.

  Her and Kivi switched their cannons to spread mode and blasted a mass of Grey ships moving to surround the five.

  “It’s good to have a few cannons near me,” Celi said.

  “Why don’t you carry a rifle or something?” Mira asked.

  “It’s because the Aegis’s system wasn’t made for that,” Valis said.

  “Defense is my game,” Celi added. “The theory is I can’t waste any energy on offense. That’s what the Artemis and Gemini are for.” When the Greys put some pressure on them she increased the shields to compensate. “See what I mean?”

  Behind them, the Mjolnir and thousands of mobile suits and mobile armors formed a line to keep the five linked with the main force. Seles smiled when she saw the Mjolnir cut its way through a carrier with its sword and cannon. The mobile suit quickly moved to join the others before it was swallowed up in the mass of Grey ships. That’s it Meldi. Seles thought while firing at the enemy. The Maidens and the mobile weapons behind them had cleared a path to the first planet killer when they detected an energy surge coming from the massive ship.

  “That’s our queue,” Valis said. “Seles, everyone will follow your lead to the target point.”

  “I’m on it,” Seles said.

  The Artemis took the lead with its arrow system charging. Next to it the Gemini split into two and slashed its way through any incoming enemy vessels. Behind them the Aegis, Minerva, and Siren flew. Any enemy coming near the five was either disabled or destroyed by its own reflected attack from of the Aegis’s shield. The mobile weapons led by the Mjolnir kept with them to prevent them from getting cut off. When they reached the edge of the planet killer’s shields the advance stopped while the Artemis shifted its reflector plates into power position. Seles fired five successive arrows. All of the others within range joined the barrage to open a hole to the surface of the planet killer. As soon as the shields weakened everyone retreated to clear the way for the bases to fire. The five snapped out of their berserk and return to normal to save some energy for the second wave. After thousands of mobile suits flew out of the way the eight bases and the five main ships fired their Hades cannons. Beams of light hundreds of ketres long slammed into the planet killer one after another. As its shields were drained its ability to attack went as well. After a few minutes of the barrage the massive ship was filled with explosions. When it looked like it was limping away the bases of Heaven’s Light fired a series of nuclear missiles. The planet killer went dead moments afterwards. The eight bases stopped glowing and were forced to return to normal while the second planet killer moved away with the remaining five thousand carriers. Both the Shandi and Heaven’s Light fleets took the opportunity to regroup.

  “Looks like it worked,” Seles said.

  “It’s a bit early to pat ourselves
on the back,” Kivi said.

  “You sound like a cranky old lady,” Mira said.

  “She’s right you know,” Celi said.

  Valis laughed. “I have to agree with them.”

  Kivi sighed. “Sorry to be a song killer.”

  “So what’s the plan now?” Seles asked.

  “We unloaded everything we had with that attack,” Mira said. “Hopefully we have enough for a second wind.”

  “I wanted us to save a little for the next phase,” Valis said. “With the help of the Shandi we should be able to corner the other planet killer and destroy it. The plan all hinges on whether or not our allies have anything left.”

  * * *

  When the battle went quiet and the two sides regrouped Trai Gor took the opportunity to contact his forces on the homeworld.

  “To all available ships, use this opportunity to get as many of our citizens off planet as you can,” he ordered.

  “Yes sir,” his subordinates responded.

  He switched the com to talk with the Siberia base. Shiken Ka appeared on the other side of the video.

  “It’s good to see you’re alive,” Shiken said.

  “You as well,” Trai Gor said. “But our time may be near.”

  “What makes you say that?” Shiken asked.

  “Our special shield is down,” Trai Gor said. “And with the destruction of the orbital ring power systems are failing across the globe we call home.”

  “I see,” Shiken said.

  “Shiken Ka, in case I don’t make it I have a final request,” Trai Gor said.

  “I’m listening,” Shiken said.

  “When I’m gone you and Miv Daek will be the last of the Seven Swords,” Trai Gor said. “All of the others have fallen in this battle. Should the worst happen I leave the future of our people with you.”

  “I accept the burden with grace,” Shiken said.

  “Thank you old friend,” Trai Gor said.

  * * *

  Valis opened her eyes after communing with the Minerva. She quickly changed the plan she was working on and hit the com.

  “Everyone, this is Captain Valis speaking,” she said. “Our enemy has changed their strategy and we must act quickly. The planet killer intends to lower its shields on purpose to charge the main cannon. All forces are to assume formation E-12.”

  “Yes captain,” all of the pilots and captains responded.

  Valis narrowed the channel to the other Maidens. “Seles, we need your arrows to fire true.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Seles said.

  “Kivi, guard her,” Valis said.

  “I’m on it,” Kivi said.

  “Mira, Celi, you’re with me,” she said.

  “Yes Valis,” the two said in unison.

  She switched the com to the Mjolnir. “Meldi, I need you to join us this time.”

  “But I can’t…,” Meldi trailed off.

  “I trust you Meldi,” Valis said.

  “I’ll do what I can captain,” Meldi said.

  Before the Maidens charged in they waited for the Mjolnir to join them. Valis kept her eye on the dragon looking mobile suit. You were given that weapon by him for a reason. Why he chose you over Seles I can’t say, but I know there’s a reason. Show me what you’re capable of, show all of us. She thought as the berserk took over her and the Maidens. A moment later Meldi’s eyes glowed when she joined in their attack. The six mobile suits plowed through the Grey forces as they made their way to the planet killer.

  Chapter 16 - Shattered Swords

  “Memento mori…”

  Brian growled. “I know.”

  “What do you know?” Jesela asked.

  He turned to Jesela as his eye started glowing again. “It’s mocking me again.”

  “I can feel its presence as well,” Myden said.

  “Captain, the planet killer is charging up,” Droid A reported.

  “Grigon, Jesela, give the engines everything we have left,” Brian said. “I don’t care if we blow them out, we must stop that thing.”

  “We’re trying,” Jesela said.

  She noticed he was staring at the Shandi homeworld.

  “You’ve never seen fear from him, have you?” Myden asked her telepathically.

  “What’s wrong with him?” she asked.

  “Close your eyes in a moment if you don’t want to see it,” Myden said.

  * * *

  The Maidens and the Mjolnir flew as quickly as they could to the planet killer. On all their scanners the massive ship was charging up quicker than normal. When they got close enough their weapons easily blasted through the weakened shields. Before Seles could fire the arrow blasts she had remaining the Mjolnir flew next to her craft. The left shoulder of the Mjolnir shifted as it loaded and fired a larger than normal nuclear missile. The blast shattered the outer hull of the planet killer. The Mjolnir then fired four more missiles in succession. Each blast was ten times more powerful than explosions from the nuclear weapons previously used. The core of the planet killer was wide open to them now.

  “It’s all yours Seles,” Meldi said.

  “Thanks for clearing the way,” Seles said.

  The other Maidens gathered around to protect the front two from incoming enemies. Seles took aim and fired four arrows in a row. The interior of the planet killer lost power when its core started taking damage. Seles carefully aimed the last shot before firing. While the core collapsed explosions filled the sphere. Before going silent the power spiked and a beam shot out. The massive beam of destruction plowed through the most of the Shandi fleet before slamming into the northern hemisphere of Shandi Prime. As the atmosphere superheated everyone on the ground and in the air was vaporized by the intense heat while the oceans boiled away. All electromagnetic activity from the surface ceased after billions of the snake people died. The planet killer went silent afterwards. With her eyes still glowing Seles felt each and every one of the snake people as they died. One at a time the other Maidens and Meldi felt the same thing as the screams filled their minds. Seles clutched her ears and felt tears flowing down her cheeks. I can hear them. I can hear it all…

  * * *

  The surviving Grey ships disappeared after the battle was over. Of the original fleet defending the Shandi homeworld less than a thousand remained. Brian’s eye stopped glowing before he touched the com. Shiken Ka, Miv Daek, and El Kar appeared on the monitor with shock in their eyes.

  “I know that no words can sooth what just happened,” Brian said. “I’m sorry my friends, I’m sorry.”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” Shiken said after collecting himself. “For now, let’s focus on helping the survivors. As long as the Shandi live we can rebuild.”

  “He’s right,” Miv said. “Heaven’s Light did all it could.”

  “Remember your duty as a captain,” El Kar said. “Instead of dwelling on what we could’ve done let’s focus on what we can do.”

  “You three are strong,” Brian said.

  After they disappeared from the screen he turned to the others. For the first time in his life Brian saw tears on Jesela’s face. Both Myden and Grigon were grimly quiet.

  “Those don’t suit you Jesela, not at all,” Brian said.

  She wiped the tears off and smiled. “Sorry about that.”

  “That’s three,” Brian said. “How many more have to die before this ends?”

  Grigon cawed in frustration. “If only we had developed a shield capable of blocking their attacks.”

  “We’d need access to a thousand gravity drives to pull it off,” Jesela said.

  “Start working on it,” Brian said. “If we can’t destroy them fast enough we have to come up with another option. As it stands all we can is fire our weapons and hope they miss.”

  * * *

  After an hour of patrolling outside the Artemis and Siren returned to the launching bay. Both Seles and Mira had cried and wiped away the evidence, but their eyes were still hollow. They used the elevator cords
to reach the ground and stood there lifelessly. Jesela mechanically walked in with her tablet in hand before seeing the two.

  “You two look like wrecks,” Jesela said.

  “We are,” Mira said.

  Seles clenched her fists in silence before relaxing and looking at the other two.

  “How about we pity ourselves later,” Jesela said. “We have a job to do, let’s worry about the heavy stuff tomorrow.”

  “You’re one to talk,” Seles said.

  “I know,” Jesela said.

  “Alright,” Seles said. “I’d rather run maintenance then go to my quarters anyway.”

  “I feel the same way,” Mira said.

  * * *

  Brian was in his quarters as he watched the footage of the previous battle. After it was finished he growled and cursed under his breath. He held off on destroying anything in his main room and stared at the mirror. His imaged moved off line and grinned with malice.

  “I told you I’d kill them,” the image said.

  “You love gloating over this, don’t you?” Brian asked.

  “Of course, because victory is my goal,” the image answered. “By the way, all of the seeds except for your precious Earth are gone.”

  “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” Brian asked.

  “The official word will come in due time,” the image said. “I enjoyed watching all twelve of those worlds as they died.”

  “You’re insane,” Brian said.

  “No, I’m a divine being chosen to lead the rest of you,” the image said. “Submit to my will and your lives will be spared.”

  “To live as a slave is worse than death,” Brian said.

  “That’s your opinion human, but one amongst many,” the image said. “There are many who are willing to submit right now.”

  “They’re not as weak as you presume,” Brian said.

  “We both know the Viken and Reiki had weak militaries, but the Shandi were different,” the image said. “Two more and the Confederation will crumble.”