Heaven Saga 3: Sojourn Into Despair

by Marcus Johnson

  “What?” Seles asked.

  “The holographic systems in the exoskeleton allow him to communicate with the Reiki more effectively than a standard translator,” Daes explained. “I’m amazed how quickly he learned their sign language.”

  Chapter 2 - Holographic Translator

  Brian blinked his eyes a few times on the elevator to the bridge while feeling a strange headache. He sighed before trying to shake it off. It must be all the studying lately. He thought as the door opened. After walking onto the bridge he stopped to salute his captain and the Reiki leader. On the bridge’s main monitor showed the bridge of the Reiki ship, along with its octopi looking crew members. Brian flicked his fingers in a specific sequence to activate a hologram on his arms that resembled Reiki tentacles. He flicked his fingers in a very precise manner to control the holographic limbs and cause them to move in a sequence.

  “I’m glad we have that system,” Valis remarked while Brian and the Reiki captain communicate through sign language.

  “So what’s he saying?” Kivi asked.

  Brian turned to them. “They’re just about finished with their work at this planet. All they have left to do is obtain a few samples of the moon below and we can be on our way.”

  “Is that all?” Valis asked.

  The Reiki captain began signing once more. Brian watched carefully and returned with another message. During the conversation via sign language, Brian laughed a few times, while the Reiki captain laughed via the sign and a few flutters from the mouth.

  Valis smiled. “He asked for a sample from you, didn’t he?”

  “That’s what he was asking. I kindly refused,” Brian answered.

  He saluted in the Reiki sign as the captain of their ship did likewise, ending the transmission. He stood in thought, thinking over everything he saw over the monitor.

  “What else was going on over there?” Valis asked as she walked over to Brian.

  “Everything,” he answered.

  “Please elaborate,” Valis commanded.

  “There’s something he’s worried about,” Brian said. “I’m pretty sure if what I read on the other Reiki’s signs were right they’ve found something they don’t want us to know about.”

  “What might it be?” Valis asked.

  “Is it a base of some kind?” Kivi asked.

  “I’m pretty sure that’s what they were signing about,” Brian paused. Damn, why is this headache bothering me so much. He shook it off again, “Although the base in question doesn’t seem to be occupied at the moment.”

  “What species does it belong to?” Valis asked.

  “Either an unknown species, or possibly an unused base for the Greys,” Brian answered.

  “If so, the Confederation is going to need to know as quickly as we can send the message,” Kivi said.

  “I’m going to prepare for battle,” Valis said before going to her chair to call up a battle plan. “Brian, go to the launching bay again and ready everyone just in case.”

  “Yes captain,” he said before leaving the bridge.

  Kivi returned to her seat, seeing the concern on Valis’s face. She’s scared. Kivi thought as she watched her old friend working frantically on a battle plan. “Valis, what’s your assessment on the current situation?”

  Valis continued working on her plan without looking up. “If we’ve discovered a Grey base this close to Confederation space it’s not good to say the least. There’s a good chance they left a few probes behind and know we’re here. If I was them I’d destroy the scouts before they could report back to base.”

  “Then assume the worst?” Kivi asked.

  “Yes, assume the worst,” Valis looked up, seeing a concerned look from Baed and Zae, “But if I’m right, at least we can come out on the surviving end of the story.”

  “I’m glad you say so,” Zae said as she turned back to her console. Baed looked over, seeing Zae blink at her. She smiled, turning back to her console as well.

  “The only hope we have to survive is if our mobile suits really can take on a Grey ship,” Valis stated. “I’m praying to Kali they will.”

  * * *

  Dreka stomped his foot while disagreeing with Jesela once more. Seles sat up in the cockpit of her Zero, watching the whole spectacle on her monitor. Daes stood nearby, working on the mobile suit’s computer systems.

  “Those two never stop, do they?” she asked.

  “Never,” Daes said. “I’ve gotten so used to it I don’t even think about it anymore.” She sighed, watching it on the monitor and hearing it going on outside. “Saying that, it never stops being funny.”

  “How do the other engineers feel?”

  “They laugh about it as well. In private of course, not to their faces,” Daes answered.

  “On another subject, who’s going to leave with Kivi for the new ship?”

  Daes looked at the monitor again. “If I remember right, Kivi said either Jesela or Dreka would be perfect. To be honest, I think Dreka’s the one to go with her. He’s waited for a long time to get a promotion and has the stuff to be a chief engineer.”

  “What about Jesela?” Seles asked. “You did say that she was an amazing engineer.”

  “Jesela’s great, but not a leader right now. In a few more years I can see it, but not yet,” Daes said.

  “I can’t imagine it feels great having all the talent sucked away like this,” Seles said.

  “No. I wish they could stay forever, but life dictates otherwise. Kivi will be leaving soon, along with a number of crew members. Even you’ll feel the pull.”

  “I know. Kaela’s leaving as the leader of the mobile suit units.”

  “That’s your top pilot,” Daes observed. “Not to mention the increase in responsibility put on you.”

  “Change is like that. We just have to adjust to it,” Seles said.

  “You’re starting to sound more like him every day,” Daes pointed out.

  “I certainly hope you’re wrong about that,” Seles said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Brian has a way of saying strange and sometimes foolish things,” Seles explained.

  “That’s quite true Seles, it really is.”

  * * *

  Brian’s vision began to blurring as the headache grew worse. He tried shaking it off, closing his eyes. How is it possible I’m getting a migraine? I need to see Celi once everything’s quieted down. He thought before opening his eyes. As he opened them a feeling dread filled his entire body. Right in front of him stood a creature he’d hoped to never see, a Grey staring him in the face with its unfeeling black eyes. He drew his rakna and tried striking the creature, but it vanished right in front of his eyes.

  “What the hell was that!?” He shouted, pounding his fist on the wall behind where the Grey stood. “Where are you!?” He shouted, receiving no answer. He frantically turned in circles, looking all around him. Something’s not right. Brian thought before focusing all of his mental energy to stave off the headache. I’d better get to the Mjolnir and fast. I have a bad feeling something terrible is about to happen.

  * * *

  “How are you and Brian getting along these days?” Celi asked Mira as the two worked on their ultimate project.

  “Hit and miss,” Mira said. “Seles and I agreed to alternate nights, but the duties we’ve been under lately have cooled things off.”

  “Be glad he cares about you as much as he does,” Celi said. “There are times when I’m jealous of you two. I’m even jealous of the captain at times.”

  “You can always make a move,” Mira said. “I’m sure Seles would understand. Of course I wouldn’t think anything of it.”

  “What about the captain?” Celi asked, smiling.

  “Now that may be a problem,” Mira said, laughing. “She does have the higher rank.”

  “He’s due for a physical,” Celi said as a grin appeared on her face. “Maybe I should take him up on his offer to play doctor.”

  “What?
” Mira asked. “He really said that?”

  “A long time ago,” Celi said. “I’m sure it was a joke, but I’m thinking of taking it seriously. Callun Daimya is just not for me.”

  “I thought you were open-minded?”

  “I am, and I understand why two Kalaidians would do that,” Celi said. “But, it’s not for me. And given that he’s the only male around of a compatible species it makes things rather difficult.”

  “If we figure out how to mix his genes with ours we can make a ton of men,” Mira said playfully. “Why not going with a ratio of two males for each female?”

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” Celi said. “That would be too many,” she laughed, “Although the concept isn’t a bad one. So what’s the news on the other couple?”

  Mira sighed. “Those two are so dense it’s frustrating. I really wish they’d stop dancing around each other the way they are and just admit it.”

  “So, in other words, no progress,” Celi said.

  “Yeah, no progress at all,” Mira said.

  * * *

  “What’s this?” Jesela asked as she looked at Daes’s new scanning device.

  “What is it?” Dreka asked. He noticed a few blips on the screen. “That isn’t good.”

  “What isn’t good?” she asked.

  “This scanning system is meant to pick up cloaked ships, as well as tiny space time distortions,” Dreka explained. “The only races that distort space in any meaningful way with their ships are the Original Five or the Greys.”

  “Daes, I think you’d better get down here!” Jesela shouted.

  Daes looked at Seles. “Prepare for battle. I have a feeling that’s our queue to fight,” she said, using the elevator cord to get down to the ground. She ran over to the scanning system.

  “Is it bad?” Jesela asked.

  “Really bad,” Daes answered before hitting the com. “Captain, our scanners have detected six space time distortions nearby.”

  “Six?” Valis asked. “Please send me their positions and probable mass.

  “It’s on the way captain,” Daes said.

  Chapter 3 - We’re Not Alone

  Valis gathered her thoughts as she looked over the plan one more time. Let’s do this. She thought as she stood up.

  “Kivi, ready the Avoni for battle,” Valis said. “Zae, contact the Reiki and tell them we’re launching our mobile suits and taking up a defensive formation around them. Inform them that we’ve picked up unknown ships.”

  “Yes captain,” Zae said.

  “Everything’s good here,” Kivi said after activating all weapons systems.

  “Good. Baed, turn the ship about and ready for evasive action,” Valis commanded.

  “Yes captain,” Baed said before turning the ship about.

  Kivi stood up after looking at the plan. “I like it.”

  “Since we’re unsure of our enemy’s intentions or capabilities, I figured the best defense is offense,” Valis said.

  “What if they’re not Greys?” Kivi asked.

  “Unless there’s been an appearance by a new space faring society in this section of the galaxy it must be the Greys. Brian will hail them before firing, so they will have a chance to avoid combat if they wish it,” Valis explained. “What I’m curious about is what has the Reiki so flustered.”

  “If they found a base it’s possible they stirred up something they shouldn’t have,” Kivi suggested.

  “That’s the most likely possibility,” Valis said. “The question is did they try to recover anything from the base?”

  “That situation is very similar to when we recovered Brian,” Zae said. She turned about to join the conversation. “In that case the Greys were after the ship we’d captured. If it wasn’t for the crazy maneuver you called for the Avoni would’ve been destroyed.”

  Baed looked up from her panel. “That wasn’t an easy trick to pull off in a ship this big.”

  “No, it wasn’t,” Valis said. “Now we’re faced with a much worse situation. Even though we have new weapons to attack and defend with, I’m unsure if they’re strong enough to fight Grey class ships. In our previous encounter there was only one enemy ship, but in this situation we’re faced with six or more. I hate betting on an uncertain factor the mobile weapons pose.”

  “But it’s what you’re best at,” Kivi said. “Taking a chance is something you do well Valis, better than anyone I’ve ever met.”

  “True,” Valis answered. “I’d better tell the rest of the crew the situation.

  Zae checked her panel. “They Reiki acknowledge our current situation and have begun calling their members back from the surface of the moon. It will take them less than half an hour to collect them all.”

  “Excellent,” Valis said. “Tell them if it is Grey technology to leave it behind.”

  “Yes captain,” Zae answered before sending the message over.

  * * *

  “Brian, get to the Mjolnir as quickly as possible. I‘ll be sending over a battle plan shortly,” Valis commanded over the com. He shook his head once more as he headed for the launching bay.

  “Yes captain,” he said. I can hear them. They’re nearby; close enough to mess with my head. Brian thought as he walked into the launching bay. He looked over to the main console, seeing Daes with Jesela and Dreka, discussing what to do. He ran over to them.

  “We need to launch immediately,” Brian said. Dreka nodded and headed for the Phase Talons. “Did you get that Seles?” he asked, turning to the Zero.

  Seles stuck her head out of the cockpit. “I got it,” she answered.

  A moment later a number of Kalaidian and Malcovin pilots entered the room and boarded their mobile suits. Brian ran over to the Mjolnir and did likewise.

  Captain Valis sent over the battle plan. The Mjolnir wrote on the screen.

  “Thanks,” Brian said. He sent the plan to all the mobile suits launching. In the former cargo bay, along with the same sized one on the opposite side of the Avoni launched at total of forty four Phase Raknas and twenty two Phase Talons.

  Dreka flew at the front of the Talon unit. “Our mission is to act as a defense for the Reiki vessels.”

  “We’ll do our best lieutenant,” his subordinates responded. The Talons created a circle around the half dozen Reiki ships with their backs to the moon nearby.

  Seles took the lead of half the Raknas as they took a defensive position around the Avoni. “We’re to act as the last line of defense ladies,” Seles said. “You’ve been training to fight in these for a long time now, let’s show some results!”

  “Yes lieutenant!” her subordinates answered.

  Brian took the lead of the other twenty two Raknas and flew them to a forward position where the strange blips appeared on the screen. The Mjolnir drew its pulse cannon and charged for a full blast. The Raknas behind it did likewise.

  “This is Lieutenant Commander Peterson of the Independent attack vessel Avoni hailing the unknown ships. We have no desire to fight you and wish to speak with your commander,” Brian said on all frequencies. A long silence ensued afterwards. He closed his eyes before aiming the pulse rifle on the Mjolnir. Here they come.

  A moment later something with a disc shape emerged and fired a pulse blast at the mobile suits. Each opened fire in a barrage that destroyed the Grey ship before it could do anything else. At the same time five more saucers emerged and fired back with a series of energy blasts. The Mjolnir barely dodged out of the way as five Raknas took heavy damage. They backed away while firing at the Grey ships. Another barrage later and another Grey ship exploded. Beside the Mjolnir two Raknas were destroyed in the return attack, along with a couple others being damaged heavily.

  “All Raknas that are damaged retreat to the Avoni,” Brian commanded as he watched the battle unfold. Another Grey ship exploded as it rammed a Rakna in a suicidal charge. He noticed that half of his fighting force had been either destroyed or suffered heavy damage. The three Grey vessels in front stopped su
ddenly and began retreating. Blinking his eyes and going berserk, Brian flew the Mjolnir forward at lightning speed and blasted one more Grey ship to pieces. The remaining two disappeared, leaving him with a mass of wreckage all around.

  * * *

  Valis watched as Brian’s forward attack force was decimated, clenching her fists in anger. This is worse than I thought. Even though the mobile suits are capable of destroying the Grey ships, they’re much easier to destroy than I had hoped. She looked at the damage caused by the Grey ships.

  “Seles, Dreka, remain in your positions,” Valis commanded.

  “Yes captain,” the pair answered.

  “Brian, return with all remaining mobile suits for repair.”

  “Yes captain,” Brian said after ending his berserk.

  Kivi watched as well, taking note of the damage. “I don’t think Brian enjoyed that very much.”

  “No, I could hear the frustration in his voice,” Valis said. “I’m not too happy about it either. We’re getting out of here.”

  “Agreed,” Kivi said.

  * * *

  Brian landed the Mjolnir in the launching bay as a number of Raknas followed suit. As he stepped out of the mobile suit, he gazed at the half dozen that had taken heavy damage. A number of the medical crew waited to receive the injured pilots. As he went down on the elevator cord Mira ran over to him.

  “Are you alright?” she asked.

  He shook his head while looking over at the battered pilots, along with the three destroyed mobile suits. “I knew what I was getting into when I joined the Avoni a long time ago,” he turned to Mira, “I thought I’d made my peace with death, but it doesn’t feel like it right now.”

  She looked at the injured pilots. “I’m sorry Brian, but I’ve got my duty to fulfill.”

  “Go and save them Mira. I’ll help Daes and the engineers get the mobile suits repaired as quickly as possible.”

  “Alright,” she said as she turned to put the injured in order of who needed treatment first.