Heaven Saga 3: Sojourn Into Despair

by Marcus Johnson

  “Let’s crash their party!” Jesela exclaimed.

  “No objection from me,” Baed said.

  “This is the right thing to do,” Meldi said.

  “Justice needs to be served,” Celi said.

  “Then it’s decided,” Brian said. “But before going through with this I’d like to give the crew a chance to voice their opinion by voting on whether we should do this or not.”

  “Good idea,” Zae said. “I’ll send the message to everyone onboard immediately.”

  She went to the side console and sent the battle plan to everyone on the Avoni. The senior officers waited patiently for a few minutes while the results were calculated.

  “It’s unanimous,” Zae reported. “Every crew member agrees to the plan.”

  “Alright,” Brian said. “We’ll commence the operation tomorrow. I want to give everyone ample time to memorize their part of the mission.”

  * * *

  The next day the cloaked Avoni and Vomada entered deep orbit of the fourth planet in the Braiden system. Brian stood on the bridge with Zae and Baed. Celi was at his side. On the monitor was a picture of Grigon on his bridge with Jesela and a number of Kalaidian engineers in the background.

  “This is where we go our separate ways,” Brian said. “The Avoni will secure the mass driver the Greys have in orbit for moving resource asteroids.”

  “We’ll blow those orbital pillars in no time,” Grigon said.

  “Commence operation,” Brian ordered. The Avoni and Vomada flew in different directions. Brian turned to Zae. “I’m going to lead the mobile suits.”

  “Of course,” Zae said before taking the captain’s chair.

  “I’ll head to sickbay just in case,” Celi said. She handed him a med kit. “Inside are a number of shots you’re going to need for this battle.” She headed to sickbay.

  “She knows me well,” Brian said before leaving a moment later.

  “We all know you pretty well,” Baed said. Zae smiled.

  “That’s our Maigar for us,” Zae said. “Everything’s in place.”

  * * *

  In front of the Avoni was a large ring shaped structure. There were a few smaller Grey ships on guard. Brian ran into the launching bay to find all of the pilots were ready to launch. He jumped onto the Mjolnir and activated its systems.

  Is it time for justice? The Mjolnir asked in text.

  “That’s exactly it my friend,” Brian answered. “Though our forces are small we’re going to cause some hell.”

  I’m all for it. The mobile suit wrote.

  “Thanks,” Brian said before turning on the com. “We’re going to divide into three squadrons like last time. Meldi, your squad and mine will attack the mass driver. Myli, keep your unit as a guard for the Avoni.”

  “Yes commander,” the two answered.

  The Mjolnir and all thirty of the Raknas launched with their stealth cloaks up. Brian and the ten Raknas under his command flew straight for the mass driver. Meldi and the nine she commanded followed. The two squadrons of mobile suits created a spiral formation as they flew towards the Grey space station. As they closed in each deactivated their stealth cloak and opened fire on the ships guarding the mass driver. The Grey ships tried countering, but it was too late. The smaller ships were targeted one by one with concentrated pulse blasts from the mobile suits. Once the mobile suit formation reached the ring a number of Grey ships took off from the station. The Mjolnir drew its sword before flying at the base.

  “I’ll handle these Meldi,” Brian said. He blinked his eyes and went berserk. “Give me the time I need.”

  “We’ll hold them off as long as we can,” Meldi responded.

  She and the other mobile suits blasted the ships flying past the Mjolnir. Brian’s mobile suit slashed through one ship after another. After he was through their defense line Brian landed the Mjolnir in the Grey’s launching bay. He shot a number of Greys with the pulse cannon. He grabbed his rakna blade and put it on his back before making sure the shield was working. Before leaving Brian put his helmet on.

  “Take care yourself while I’m gone,” Brian said to the mobile suit.

  I can act on my own for several hours if need be now. The Mjolnir responded.

  “I won’t need that long, but it’s good to know,” Brian said as he opened the hatch and entered the station.

  * * *

  “All targets set,” Droid A reported. “We’re ready to launch the Talons anytime now.”

  “Good,” Grigon said. He looked over to Jesela. While doing her job she seemed fascinated with the droids.

  “You’ve done a great job with these,” Jesela said. “How advanced are they?”

  “We’re self-aware,” Droid B said. “So please don’t talk over us to the master. We can answer for ourselves.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,” Jesela said. “I’m not used to interacting with an A.I. as advanced as you are.”

  “To answer your question Jesela, they’re as capable as a Malcovin crew could be if not better,” Grigon explained. “They don’t need sleep nor require food or water, so it makes things easier on me.”

  Ensign Trina walked in from the engineering section. “All the Talons are loaded with the things you requested lieutenant.”

  “Thanks Trina,” Jesela said. “I’m going to join the others.”

  “Take care down there,” Grigon said as they left.

  “We will,” Jesela said.

  “Funny girl,” Grigon cawed.

  “She is for sure,” Droid C said. “But she’s also an excellent engineer.”

  “Yes,” Grigon said as his ship approached the planet. Before them was a planet smaller than Braiden Prime by a third with a swirling atmosphere of storms and lightning. Around the planet’s equator was an orbital ring for collecting solar energy. Stationed on the rings were thousands upon thousands of Grey ships.

  “This planet looks much like one of their core planets near the homeworld,” Droid A said. “This one’s far from that area of space though.”

  “Is it a supply base?” Droid B asked.

  “That’s probably it,” Droid C answered.

  “No, this is a front line base,” Grigon said. “We’re one standard month from Confederation territory using standard gravity jumps. Given how quickly the atmosphere is taking form I’d say they’re readying for a war in the next twenty to fifty years.”

  “Is that why Lieutenant Commander Peterson is intent on destroying it?” Droid B asked.

  “That and a few other reasons,” Grigon answered. “How’s the position of our presents?”

  “Talons one and two have reached their target tower and are standing by,” Droid C reported. “Talons three and four have the furthest to go and will take another ten minutes. Talons five and six just arrived at their target tower.”

  “Brian was smart to use the automated Talons,” the old Malcovin said. “Without a sentient creature onboard the Greys can’t detect them until it’s too late.” Grigon tapped his finger. “This will be the first time I’ve seen an orbital ring destroyed,” he cawed, “Justice for the weak is what you deserve!”

  Chapter 39 - Just Deserts

  Brian closed his eyes and focused on blocking the Greys’ telepathic energy from his mind. Once the hatch of the Mjolnir opened he felt their minds trying to contact his. He opened his glowing eyes again and let rage guide his actions rather than reason. He drew the rakna blade as he left the mobile suit for the open hallway ahead. Upon reaching the opening Brian saw a number of Greys running away from him. With a spin of his rakna and a slash he vaporized a number of the small creatures with blast of the blade‘s energy. Brian landed on a small panel before the hall and saw a number of Greys inside. He narrowed his eyes as he stalked them throughout the complex and cut one after another to pieces. He vaporized those who ran away. Brian made his way into the central chamber where only a few Greys were still alive. He stalked them one by one and killed them. There was no me
rcy, no formality. There was only rage and hatred filling his heart at the moment. After killing all the creatures but one he slowly walked up to the creature. It was a little over half his height. He felt it begging for its life in his mind. He removed his helmet and revealed his blue glowing eyes as they flickered towards red. He picked the creature up by its neck and held it to a wall before focusing all of his energy towards the creature’s mind.

  “Tell me how to control the station’s systems,” Brian uttered. He felt the creature probe at his mind as he slowly ate away at its mental defenses. “So that’s how it works,” he grinned. “I no longer need…” Brian stopped as something powerful reached into his consciousness. He felt something digging into his mind. It was much more powerful than the tiny creature before him. He closed his eyes and screamed as loud as he could. “I’m not one of your playthings!” He took the Grey in his hand and tossed it up into the air before decapitating it with a swipe of his sword. With his eyes glowing red and mind reeling, Brian placed the helmet back on. He staggered to the control panel. Before the system could lock itself Brian loaded the mass driver and programmed its new target. He slowly walked back to the Mjolnir as the ring shaped station began loading an asteroid. Once he boarded the mobile suit he reactivated his com system. “The mission has been accomplished,” he reported. “Have there been any changes in our situation?”

  “Two carriers are headed for our position,” Meldi answered.

  “If everything goes according to plan we won’t have to engage them,” Brian said.

  He flew the Mjolnir back to join the other mobile suits. As he did so the mass driver shot the first asteroid.

  * * *

  “We’re detecting a large object heading for the planet,” Droid A reported.

  “Looks like what they’ve completed the first phase,” Grigon said. “It’s time for phase two. Jesela, ready the cloaked Talons for self-detonation.”

  “Already done,” Jesela said over the com. “I sent out a decoy.”

  “Good,” Grigon said.

  Outside on the other side of the planet a single Talon deactivated its cloak and revealed its position to the Grey ships nearby. Instead engaging them, the mobile suit put its shields to maximum and flew away at full speed. A number of attack ships flew after the Talon. On the near side of the planet a massive asteroid was about to crash into the orbital ring when a number of ships launched and began firing at the large rock. The Greys managed to destroy the asteroid before it caused any major damage. Another asteroid was on the way right after the first. The Greys were forced to deploy more and more of their ships in the region to destroy the incoming space rocks. A number of them began flying towards the mass driver.

  “That’s the signal,” Grigon said. “Set the Talons for timed detonation.”

  “Done,” Jesela said a moment later.

  Grigon watched as a number of carriers and smaller ships headed for the mass driver. He shook his head before cawing.

  “Brilliant strategy young man, brilliant,” the old birdman said.

  “As long as the Greys can’t detect our ships we’re safe from their attacks,” Jesela said. “Brian’s taken in all factors so this mission can be completed.” She shook her head in surprise. “It’s hard to believe we’re going to pull this off. One would think the Greys would have better defenses than this.”

  “They do Jesela, but not on this planet yet,” Grigon explained. “If they had ten more years this plan wouldn’t have lasted past the first phase. It’s only luck we came across this planet in the vulnerable stage it’s in right now.”

  “How do you know that?” Jesela asked.

  “My ship’s seen the core planets,” Grigon said. “Planets there look like massive space ships rather than worlds. The Greys have had thousands of years to build up their defenses there. This planet will take another century to be anywhere close to those places.”

  “How many planet killers have you seen during your travels?” Jesela asked.

  “Maybe one or two others,” Grigon answered. “Like I said, the ships near the core region are much tougher. If the Confederation has any plans to defeat the Greys in the future our current technological level needs to be upgraded by several hundreds of percent.”

  “We’re entering the fifth phase of the mission,” Droid B reported.

  “Good, it’s time to bring us into position and deliver those presents the Braiden left in our hands,” Grigon said.

  “I doubt the Greys would call them presents,” Jesela said.

  “No, it’s a gift to the Braiden,” Grigon said.

  * * *

  “That’s six asteroids fired,” Brian said.

  The Avoni and the mobile suits surrounding it were still at the mass driver as it fired one rock after another at the planet. They’d succeeded in drawing a number of Grey ships and carriers towards the mass driver. As the enemy fleet approached Brian signaled the other mobile suits to fire a barrage into the enemy formation. The Grey ships dodged skillful. But the Avoni and the mobile suits weren’t targeting the Grey ships. Within the center of the Grey formation their ships occupied were a number of asteroids. The pulse blasts hit each asteroid and set off a nuclear explosion. A large number of Grey ships were destroyed as the area lit up. From the rear the Vomada and Talons joined the fire fight and detonated a number of nuclear warheads from their position. The Grey fleet had been significantly reduced in numbers and power. The mobile suits flew back to their ships for their exit. At the same time the six Talons positioned in pairs at each orbital tower of the planet below appeared and inverted their gravity drives. They exploded and caused the orbital ring to break off of its tether to the planet. Those on the Avoni and Vomada watched as the orbital ring teetered. After a number of successful hits from the mass driver the colossal structure crashed into the planet. Explosions covered the planet as falling debris slammed into the ground below. Brian landed the Mjolnir as the spectacle unfolded.

  “Justice is now served,” he said.

  He removed his helmet and ended the berserk. As he stood up to leave, Brian stumbled and coughed up some blood before falling to the ground unconscious.

  * * *

  Myden sat alone in meditation in a dark room on the Raulno. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and staggered to his feet. An image filled his mind, the image of the planet Brian and his companions had just attacked. He turned on the star map in his room.

  He took the path of vengeance. He thought to himself. I know justice needed to be served, but I was hoping we could dispense with it at a later date. With this there’s no quarter for him or the Avoni. My people will hunt them down and destroy them. Should I tell the others? No, that wouldn’t do them any good. I can’t resign them to the fact Brian sealed his fate. But at the same time, I understand why he would do such a thing. The crime committed is inexcusable. I hope they make it out alive. But as long as the Maidens live there’s a chance for the plan to be completed. When the time comes I’ll tell the others of their death. Until that moment arrives I must meditate upon this further.

  Chapter 40 - One Flower Still Blooms

  Celi ran into the launching bay and saw a number of pilots gathered at the feet of the Mjolnir. As she went to the mobile suit Meldi stopped her.

  “We’ve tried numerous times to contact Brian, but he won’t answer,” Meldi explained. She looked at the Mjolnir. “None of us have the strength to take a look inside.”

  “I understand,” Celi said. She walked up to the mobile suit and placed her hand on its foot. “Please, let me inside.”

  A second later the hatch opened and the elevator cord descended. Celi took the cord and headed to the cockpit as the others watched. Celi noticed they were praying and closed her eyes to join them. I know I don’t observe you like I should Kali. But please give me the strength to save him. She opened her eyes upon reaching the top and found Brian collapsed on the floor with blood trickling out of his mouth. She ran over and scanned him quickly before pulling out the
regenerator to fix his ailments. Time slowed down as her eyes began glowing blue. Her hands moved faster than she had ever known and fixed each problem as it came within. The bleeding stopped as his breath and pulse stabilized. She took out a towel from the med kit and cleaned the blood from his face. She brushed her hand on his blanched face

  “Lieutenant commander, is everything alright?” Meldi asked from outside.

  Celi poked her head out. “He’s alive and stabilized,” she answered. “Go get a stretcher. I’ll also need two of you to carry him.”

  “You heard her,” Meldi said. She motioned for ensign Vae to join her. “I’ll help Celi from above. Wait for us down here.”

  “Alright,” Vae said.

  Inside the Mjolnir, Celi pressed the button inside Brian’s exoskeleton to take the armor off. A moment later Meldi came in with the stretcher behind her.

  “Is he going to be alright?” Meldi asked as she helped Celi load him onto the stretcher.

  “For now,” Celi said. “This last battle took its toll. If I can’t find the cure for him soon he won’t last more than a few weeks.” The two finished putting him on the stretcher and locked him into place. Using some extra cord for bracing, the pair tied Brian to the elevator cord and lowered him to Vae. Celi put a hand on Meldi’s shoulder. “Until further notice, you’re in charge of the mobile suits. Brian won’t survive another battle.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Meldi said as they left the Mjolnir.

  * * *

  The Avoni and Vomada entered orbit of Braiden Prime again. Zae and Baed were on the bridge. Grigon joined them via a video feed on the monitor. They stared at the picture of the thickly clouded wasteland.

  “We should be leaving as soon as possible,” Grigon cawed.

  “I know,” Zae said. “But Brian insisted we check one more time before leaving this solar system.”