“Should I take the Red Star into battle now?” Sunadin asked.
“Continue as planned,” the machine god answered. “Focus on the Kalaidian territories. Their turning to the Confederation side was an unfortunate setback for our plan but not one we should be concerned with. And while you’re there make sure the Braiden are wiped out for good. We can’t allow any more survivors to threaten us in the future.”
“I understand my lord,” Sunadin said.
Chapter 34 - Backs to the Wall
Brian stepped inside the Artemis and joined Seles in the cockpit.
“Are we doing the same thing as last time?” she asked.
“Pretty much,” Brian answered. “Fly until we reach the center. Then unload everything you’ve got.”
“Alright,” she said.
He concentrated his power and enveloped the Artemis in an aura of green light. The two halves of the Gemini charged forward and slashed a path to the planet killer for them. Before flying in Valis appeared on the monitor.
“They’re going to try trapping you two inside,” Valis said.
“How are they going to do that?” Seles asked.
“Their best bet is to invert the planet killer’s drive,” Brian said. “I’ll do what I can Valis. Have everyone else get out of here.”
“Alright,” Valis said.
The other Maidens turned around and retreated. The ships and bases followed suit when everyone nearby moved as far away from the planet killer as possible. The energy field around the planet killer began inverting while the vessel shook.
“Are we really flying into that?” Seles asked.
“If we don’t stop it the ship will explode,” Brian said. “Our friends may live, but half of Dega Jul will be destroyed in an instant.” He looked at her. “If you don’t want to I can fly the Artemis in myself.”
“If I’m going to die it’ll be by your side,” Seles said.
He smiled under his helmet. “I love you.”
“And I love you,” she answered. “Now let’s do this.”
“Fly in there with the speed of the goddess,” Brian said.
“Of course,” Seles said as she piloted the Artemis through the outer levels of the sphere.
“This is Captain Peterson to all androids,” he said. “Prepare to self-detonate simultaneously to disrupt the planet killer’s self-detonation.”
“Yes sir,” the androids responded.
“Will that be enough to stop it?” Seles asked as they approached the center.
“No,” Brian answered. “I’m going to try something extremely stupid. The only issue is I’ll need to touch the main control system of this planet killer.”
“That is stupid,” Seles said.
“Mortals alone can’t stand against a being such like me,” the machine god lashed into Brian and Seles’s minds. “Even if you succeed here I will return and destroy everything you love.”
Brian started laughing. “Words can’t change the world, only actions can.” He looked at Seles again. “Drive the being from your mind! Don’t let him take you over!”
She closed her eyes and did as he asked. When they came to the center she landed the Artemis in front of the miniature version of the machine god. The entire planet killer was beginning to implode as its drive inverted. The Keinien androids each blew up at the same time to counter the inversion, but it only held it in place for a moment. Brian flashed and appeared outside. With all of his concentration the Artemis remained incorporeal while hundreds of Greys ran about the chamber. Their pulse fire flew right through his body like he was a ghost as he approached the machine. The mental attacks from its master staggered but didn’t stop him. When he touched the column he felt like his body was tearing apart while covering the machine with glowing green energy. He stumbled but held his ground as he pumped all of his power into the planet killer. The aura from Brian began extending outward as the entire vessel was set ablaze. He let out a primal scream before pushing the vessel into another dimension. Seeing his situation, Seles used the Artemis to grab him and fly away. As they fled he and the Artemis stopped glowing while the planet killer disappeared from view and exploded. Seles’s mind touched his as they flew away and she felt him fading away. She quickly got his body inside the cockpit. As her berserk ended she tore off her helmet and ran to Brian. His body was motionless when she removed his helmet and saw the life leaving his eyes. He tried to say something but the words wouldn’t leave his mouth. She grabbed her med kit and injected him with a shot but found it didn’t help. When tears fell from her eyes Seles felt a strange power come over her. She held Brian as her body was covered in light and kissed him. The light from her flowed into him and she felt his heart beating again. After the light left from the cockpit Seles pulled back and saw life returning to his eyes. As she cried she felt his hand reach up and take hers.
“Thank you,” he said weakly before falling unconscious.
She held him and cried for a moment. “Kali, thank you for giving me the strength,” she wiped away the tears before touching the com, “Mira, would be so kind as to take him home?”
Mira appeared on the screen. “Is he alright?”
“Not really,” Seles said. “I was able to stabilize him for the moment though.”
“Let’s land on the Freedom right now,” Mira said.
“Alright,” Seles said.
The two separated from the other Maidens and landed inside the Freedom’s launching bay. Seles quickly used the elevator cord to get Brian to the ground. At the same time, Mira called in a pair of medical officers and had him placed on a stretcher. She quickly scanned him and found his life signs were weak.
“He did something really foolish,” Mira said. “How did you save him?”
“I don’t know,” Seles said. She looked at him and grasped his hand again before running to get back on the Artemis. “Take care of him Mira.”
“I will,” Mira said.
* * *
Myden cracked a smile as he worked in front of the captain’s chair. The Hades system went off so the ship could start recharging.
“What was that light?” Myden asked. “I know you’ve seen it once before.”
Jesela looked up. “When Brian left on the Mjolnir during the sojourn all of us saw that light. Celi saved him then, I hope Seles did the same.”
“She did,” he said. “His mind hasn’t left this world yet.”
“You seem happy about this,” Jesela said. “Can I ask why?”
“The Warrior is a catalyst to awaken the Maidens,” Myden answered. “Both Seles and Celi have done so, even if it was only for a brief moment.”
“What does that mean?” she asked.
The Grey turned to Jesela. “For years you’ve toiled on the special models and not once have any of their black box systems been activated. If the Maidens awaken all of that work will come to fruition. If you’ve been amazed by his power then you’ll be even more so by the Maidens.”
The two watched the Artemis take off again and head to the front. The fleet of Heaven’s Light had moved to attack the flank of the last remaining planet killer. The Mylor and Confederation forces had suffered great losses while blocking the planet killer’s main cannon.
“What did he do?” Jesela asked.
“He threw the beast into another plane of existence,” he said. “Now let’s get back to the battle at hand.”
“I’d rather do that than think about the things you’re talking about,” Jesela said.
“Indeed,” Myden said.
* * *
After Seles rejoined the other Maidens they appeared on her screen.
“Is he alright?” Valis asked.
“Mira’s taking care of him right now,” Seles said.
“He’ll be okay then,” Celi said.
“Seles, what was that strange light?” Kivi asked.
“I’ll explain later,” Seles said.
“What’s the plan now?” Celi asked.
“O
ur special systems have been pushed to their limits,” Valis said. “Given the situation we should approach in formation A-3.” She noticed Veda and the others were continuing their chant. “It may not let us berserk anymore, but at least it’ll keep our spirits up.”
The Artemis and Gemini took the front with their cannons in long range mode. The two mobile suits destroyed as many smaller attack ships as they could on the approach. The Aegis remained in the center with its shields going while the Minerva remained in the rear. The mobile suits from the ships remained on the hulls to add their shields together. On the other side of the planet killer the Mylor and Confederation forces were holding their own against the majority of the carriers. The planet killer flared up and fired its main cannon. A dozen Mylor ships flew into its path and used their power to deflect the blast. After they exploded there was massive hole in the Confederation forces leading to the planet.
* * *
Siata stood on the bridge of her ship while her subordinates worked at a furious pace. Blast after blast from the planet killer was thinning the Third Mylor fleet down to nothing. With less than an hundred ships left she glanced at Baeron on the monitor.
“Commander, if we’re destroyed then follow Heaven’s Light,” Siata said.
“What are you saying?” Baeron asked.
“If we don’t act soon it will hit Dega Jul,” Siata said. “If this is my time I accept it. Take care Baeron.”
“And to you as well Siata,” Baeron said as he saluted her.
“This is Captain Siata speaking,” she started. “Our allies have fought well and sacrificed much. Now we must do the same. All remaining Mylor ships will gather together and charge the planet killer head on. No matter what, we must prevent it from directly hitting the planet.”
“Yes captain,” all of other others said.
“So this is it?” Commander Uta asked.
“Victory is paid for with blood and fire,” Siata said.
Chapter 35 - Broken Shields, Gold, and Bugs
Grigon and the fleet with him were about to join the others when the Mylor began their charge.
“So it’s come to this?” Grigon asked before hitting the com. “Valis, are you still with us?”
She appeared on the screen. “I’m here.”
“Things aren’t looking good, are they?” the old birdman cawed.
“Brian’s out for the moment, our shields are flickering on and off, and our special powers are all spent,” Valis said. “Take formation A-3 and give it a shot.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Grigon said.
The automated Talons and the ships with the Vomada moved into formation before joining the fleet of Heaven’s Light. With planet killer charging up things were beginning to look grim. The defenders of Dega Jul continued their movement forward and met the enemies’ last line of carriers. Grigon rubbed his beak nervously.
“I don’t like this at all,” he said.
A second later their scanners flashed and showed two thousand heavy class Malcovin ships appearing. They quickly launched their Talons and joined the attack. A moment later an asteroid base like one of Heaven’s Light’s appeared with a similar number of Ick-Tckt ships around it. After deploying their Auguar Stars the ant people swarmed in to help. Everyone’s com flashed when the Malcovin flagship signaled them.
“This is Admiral Regelik of the Malcovin Gold Navy,” the admiral said. “We have cleared a path from our homeworld and the Ick-Tckt territories to join in the defense of our Confederation. Admiral Khcha and his second, Commander Tctie, represent the Ick-Tckt forces in this endeavor. We will link up with your commanding officers in a moment.”
Grigon cawed. “It’s about time they showed up!”
* * *
Valis quickly calculated the new battle plan with the added forces from the Gold Navy and the Ick-Tckt fleet. The planet killer was forced to cease its attack and send all of its energy to the shields. The Maidens stayed together as they made their way to the edge of the massive ship’s shields.
“Seles, do you have any arrows left?” Valis asked.
“If I push things there are three left,” Seles said.
“I’ll catch you if you fall unconscious,” Kivi said.
“It would be better she didn’t,” Celi added.
“Crack it open Seles,” Valis said. “Caution doesn’t serve us right now.”
“Alright,” Seles said.
The Artemis lit up when Seles berserked and charged the rifle. The Gemini moved behind her craft as she took aim and fired. Three successive beams hit the shields of the planet killer and weakened it to the point where the others started hitting the sphere’s hull. Feeling exhausted, Seles fell unconscious while the Gemini caught the Artemis. The Maidens backed away when explosions rumbled throughout the planet killer. The Mylor ships encircled it and used their power to keep it from gravity jumping away. The lights flickered out as barrage after barrage of pulse fire and HV missiles slammed into the massive ship. The Ick-Tckt base moved forward and fired a beam three hundred ketres long into the center of the planet killer, exposing its interior. The Mylor ships flooded the sphere with energy and crushed everything inside. After it went dead the remaining Grey carriers collected their smaller attack ships and gravity jumped away. The sound of cheers for their victory filled the com lines once the battle was over.
* * *
Brian gasped for air as he sat up. He was still in his exoskeleton and in the medical lab on the Freedom. Both Mira and Suv Gar stood next to the bed he was on with shocked looks on their faces.
“What?” he asked.
Both Mira and Suv held up their instruments.
“We haven’t done anything yet,” Mira said.
“I’d say he’s had a full recovery,” Suv said.
Brian shook his head before getting off the bed. “How long was I out?”
“About half an hour,” Mira answered. “Are you feeling alright?”
“Yeah,” he said.
“The scanners say everything’s okay,” Suv said.
Seles tapped on the window.
“We’ll talk about this later,” Mira said. “I want to do a full physical tomorrow if that’s alright.”
“Sure,” Brian said.
Mira and Suv left to attend to the wounded. Seles stepped inside with black bags under her eyes.
“You look like hell,” Brian said.
“I’ve had better days,” Seles said. “I’m glad you’re alright.”
“Thanks for saving me,” he said.
“What were you thinking?” she asked.
“I wasn’t, that’s the problem,” he said before sighing. “I don’t know how to control this power at all.”
“What did you do to that planet killer?” Seles asked as she leaned against the wall.
Brian shrugged. “I think it’s in another dimension or something right now. Hopefully there was nothing on the other side.”
“That’s all we need, extra dimensional life forms attacking us,” Seles said. “I know there are some things we need to talk about but I’m about to fall over.”
“Go get some sleep,” Brian said. “I’ll head to the bridge and make sure everything gets done.”
“Thanks,” Seles said.
* * *
Jesela worked on her tablet computer in front of the Artemis and Siren. Myden walked in and went to the Artemis. He reached out with his three fingered hand and touched the mobile suit.
“What are you doing?” Jesela asked.
“The same thing you are,” he answered after pulling his hand away.
“You can scan a craft using a touch alone?” she asked.
“That wasn’t what I was doing,” he said. “I sense some residual artifacts left by Brian and Seles.”
“Now I’m even more confused,” she said.
“Confusion leads to breakthroughs,” Myden said. “Have you ever wondered why the older races aren’t more advanced than they are?”
“It does p
ose the question,” Jesela said.
“It’s because technology and theory only can go so far before hitting a wall,” Myden said. “Think of your people only a few years before Brian.”
“Our gravity drive technology and Novaguards hadn’t advanced much in a century and a half,” Jesela said. “Everything sped up after Brian received the plans for the Phase Talon.”
“Don’t you find that strange?” Myden asked. “In less than ten years the entire paradigm of the Confederation changed. For centuries before there was little advancement in such weaponry, even by the older races.”
“Are you implying Brian had something to do with it?” Jesela asked.
“A breakthrough isn’t always a piece of technology or theory,” Myden said. “Think of all living things as the branches of a tree. From the simple trunk we came and to the upper branches we reach. But eventually gravity holds us down. Until the day a new branch grows just above us. Terrans are the branch above us Jesela. They reach towards the heavens and in doing so pull us with them.”
“Interesting metaphor,” Jesela said.
“I’m speaking in such a way because there’s no other way to express it easily,” he said.
“What about your people?” she asked. “Where do they fit into this?”
“The Naerendi tree is black and withered,” Myden said. “Our homeworld is lifeless and it reflects on our society. We do not reach for the heavens but instead spread darkness wherever we go. My people are a sickness onto the universe.” He went to leave. “Remember to look at the flowers of your world when you’re there Jesela, lest you forget their beauty.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said as he left.
* * *
Veda and Reban quietly worked on getting the Columbia base back to normal when Siata and Baeron entered. A pair of android guards stopped them for a moment before letting them pass.
“It’s been a long time since I saw one of those,” Siata said.
Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence Page 20