Freedom Saga 3: The Dawn of Liberty

by Marcus Johnson

  “Kyli!” the drone shouted.

  A moment of silence passed before he heard her moan.

  “My leg’s broken, that’s all,” she said. “You’ll have to take care of the rest.”

  “All mobile suit forces are to maintain formation,” Tctie ordered.

  His mobile suit held the rifle with two of its hands as it drew two curved blades. The Ick-Tckt’s black eyes began flicking blue before he let out a primal scream. His mobile suit flew into the enemy and cut the craft in half, causing it to explode.

  * * *

  The Minerva, Aegis, and Mjolnir flew together as they headed outside the Columbia base. The invisible attackers had damaged a number of the shield outlets on the base and were working their way inside.

  “What’s the plan captain?” Meldi asked.

  “The Mjolnir will switch to spread mode while the Aegis goes to full power,” Valis ordered.

  “Switching over now,” Meldi said.

  “Going berserk,” Celi said.

  The Aegis began emitting particles and extended its powerful shields outwards like a wave until it covered the entire base. The enemies’ weapons began reflecting back at them and damaging their crafts. As their silhouettes appeared the Mjolnir aimed in that area and fired.

  “Looks like it’s working,” Meldi said.

  “For now,” Valis said. She finished her plan and sent it to all her allies in the area. “That should help.”

  Veda appeared on her monitor. “I think you should see this.”

  Valis watched a live feed showing the attack on the Freedom.

  “Let’s pray they can hold out on their own,” Valis said.

  * * *

  Myden was firing the weapons when a sensation filled his mind. He looked up as Tctie charged into the enemy. I can hear his thoughts, like a scream from beyond. The Grey looked at the city. I can also hear his thoughts, but they’re calm and collected.

  “What’s wrong Myden?” Grigon asked.

  “He…he’s changing,” Myden said. “I can hear Brian’s thoughts, but more importantly, I can hear Tctie.”

  “He’s destroying one enemy after another,” Grigon said. “I’ve never seen him fight like this before.”

  “He can read the thoughts of his kin,” Myden said. “I always suspected the Ick-Tckt would have powers similar to my people.”

  The Artemis and Siren launched as Jesela ran into the room and took her station.

  “They’ve really made a mess for us, haven’t they?” she asked.

  “That’s for sure,” Grigon cawed.

  Myden hit the com. “Seles, Mira, Tctie is berserking and able to find the enemies. But I don’t think he can control it.”

  The Artemis fired a spread attack and hit a few invisible crafts. The Siren finished a pair off as they flew into the thick of things.

  “What can we do to help him?” Seles asked.

  “Mira,” Myden said. “When you get close enough sing a song to focus his mind.”

  “I’m ready,” Mira said.

  Chapter 6 - Seeing Lights

  The Artemis and Siren followed Tctie as he rampaged through the invisible enemy mobile armors. Seles watched carefully and fired to help the drone as he continued forward.

  “He’s cutting through them like they’re nothing,” Mira said.

  “I didn’t know his race could berserk,” Seles said.

  Inside his mobile suit Tctie’s eyes were glowing bright blue as he sensed his kin in his mind and attacked. He felt the pressure of Seles coming from behind but resisted attacking her. As he clicked his mandibles Mira and Seles appeared on his monitor.

  “You need to calm yourself lieutenant,” Seles said.

  “Commander…I don’t know if I can stop,” Tctie said.

  “You need to focus and not let it take over,” Seles said.

  The battle around them lessened as the enemy retreated.

  “I can hear them,” Tctie said. “It’s like everyone’s in my head right now.”

  Mira flew the Siren closer and began singing a quiet chant. After a few minutes Tctie’s eyes faded back to black as he calmed down. Mira stopped singing when she saw he looked normal.

  “Are you feeling better now?” Mira asked.

  “Thank you,” Tctie said.

  “Thanks Mira,” Seles said. “Let’s return to base.”

  “Yes commander,” Tctie said.

  “Of course,” Mira said.

  * * *

  What is this feeling? Brian thought. He found himself floating in the sea of blue. All around him he felt the thoughts and heard the voices of everything near his body. In front of him he watched the attacks on the Freedom and the Columbia base. In the distance he saw a light flying towards him.

  “Come back to us,” Kivi said as she appeared from the ball of the light.

  “I thought I told you to go back to the Raulno,” Brian said.

  “I never remembered you being a higher rank than me,” she said with a smile. “What are you doing in here?”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “I guess I’m still fighting, but I feel oddly removed.”

  Kivi reached out with her hand. “Come back to us.”

  He took her hand. “Thank you.”

  As he snapped back into his body Brian found he could see things he never thought he could. It was as if reality had lines and holes to it. By flying into or around them he was able to fight without being touched. As he turned he noticed Kivi had taken flight and was fighting at his side.

  “Are you awake now?” she asked.

  “How do you do that?” he asked.

  “I’ve meditated on it a number of times and found that strange world by doing so,” Kivi answered. “I can’t go any further than the border realm though.”

  The last enemy craft was destroyed after the two attacked from both sides and carved it to pieces. Both felt something ripple through their minds as they landed on the street. While Kivi ended her berserk and returned to normal she noticed the red glow coming from Brian’s eye persisted. He took his helmet off and used an injector in the neck. The red colored blinked back and forth before turning to blue. He covered his left eye and looked at her.

  “I think I’ve got a problem,” Brian said.

  “It’s not working anymore, is it?” she asked.

  “No,” Brian said. He put his helmet back on and turned on the com. “Mira, I need you, now.”

  “I’ll be there,” Mira responded.

  * * *

  The Minerva, Aegis, and Mjolnir fought the enemy off while the base took a pounding. Veda looked at the situation and shook her head.

  “They planned this well,” she said.

  “Our shields are down to forty one percent and we’ve taken significant damage,” Reban reported. “The Vomada and Daevoni are heading back for repairs.”

  “That leaves the Avoni and Reinkar for defense,” Veda said.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Valis said over the monitor. “My plan has just about been finished. Be ready to strike when the time comes.”

  “As you wish,” Veda said. She glanced at the video showing what was going on down on the surface. “It’s good to see they’re faring well.”

  “Better than us,” Reban said.

  The structure shook as another volley of pulse fire tore into the base’s exterior.

  * * *

  Seles landed the Artemis inside the Freedom while the Siren quickly turned about.

  “You take care of Brian, I’ll look after the ship,” Seles said.

  “Got it,” Mira said while flying away.

  Seles departed the Artemis and made her way to the bridge. Myden, Jesela, and the four droids were present.

  “What’s our status?” she asked before activating the console next to the captain’s chair.

  “Our shields are functioning at fifty five percent,” Jesela reported. “Our mobile suit forces confirm seven killed and twenty two wounded.”

  “Our weap
ons systems are at eighty percent,” Myden said.

  “Communications are functioning normally,” Droid A reported.

  “All other systems are normal,” Droid B said.

  Seles gritted her teeth. “They got us good.”

  “They planned well,” Myden said.

  “How are our allies in orbit?” Seles asked.

  “They’re holding their own,” Myden said.

  “Good,” Seles said. “I have to check a few things out. Call for me if something happens.”

  “We will,” Jesela said.

  Seles quickly made her way to sickbay as the wounded were being moved inside. All of them were being treated except for Kyli. She was sitting in a bed looking annoyed when Seles headed in. Suv Gar led the effort to help the wounded. When she saw Seles she slithered over.

  “Everything’s under control commander,” Suv said. “The wounded should be alright now that the battle is over.”

  “Excellent,” Seles said. “Thanks lieutenant, keep up the good work.”

  “I will,” Suv said before resuming her work.

  Seles went to Kyli.

  “What happened?” Seles asked.

  “We were ambushed,” Kyli said. “If it wasn’t for Myden and Tctie we would’ve been destroyed.”

  “What did they do?” Seles asked.

  “Both of them sensed something,” Kyli said. “I don’t know how, but that’s what happened.”

  “How’s your leg?”

  “I’ll live,” Kyli said. “But I won’t be flying for a week or two depending on the regenerative treatment.”

  “I’m glad,” Seles said. “I was worried I’d lose my best pilot.”

  “I won’t go down that easily Seles,” Kyli said.

  “You take care,” Seles said. “I need to go see the other one.”

  * * *

  Valis closed her eyes and let the berserk come. As the Minerva lit up she saw the enemy crafts flying around them. As the Minerva’s system continued she saw the face of their enemies.

  “This is Valis speaking,” she said. “Our enemy appears to be elite Ick-Tckt forces armed with specially crafted mobile armors and heavy class cruisers. Their stealth system uses the phase system we have with a dampener to conceal themselves better. All forces are to fire at any outlined craft caught within the Mjolnir’s spread attacks.”

  “We’re on it,” Veda said.

  “Meldi, sweep the area,” Valis ordered.

  “Yes captain,” Meldi said.

  The Mjolnir began firing spread attacks in a wide berth to reveal a number of outlines. The mobile suits and cannons of the Columbia base targeted those areas and fired. A number of the Ick-Tckt crafts were destroyed as they fled. Celi’s berserk ended and caused the shield of the Aegis to return to normal. Valis stayed where she was and watched the battle. After a few minutes she ended her berserk.

  “That was a close one,” Celi said.

  “Too close for comfort,” Meldi added.

  “We’re not heading back yet,” Valis said. “They may have a second wave so we need to stay on guard.”

  “Of course captain,” Meldi said.

  * * *

  Baeron watched the battle from his office on Dega Jul with his fists balled. Siata floated in a moment later and watched with him.

  “This was expected,” she said.

  “I know, but that doesn’t make it legal,” Baeron said.

  “For whom?” she asked.

  “For the attackers,” Baeron said. “Heaven’s Light has been deemed legal by the High Council, therefore are allowed to port here legally.”

  “That’s not what you’re concerned with, is it?” she asked.

  “No, the legal aspects are long past us,” he answered. “I don’t care for their methods.”

  He turned to leave.

  “Where are you going?” Siata asked.

  “I can’t sit here and watch in anymore,” Baeron said. “My duty is to the people of Dega Jul. Unannounced acts of war threaten that.”

  “You have permission then,” Siata said. “Take twenty Lances with you.”

  “I will,” Baeron said before leaving.

  Siata watched Brian in the distance and saw the Siren land in front of the Terran. She felt something and could tell he wasn’t well.

  “I wonder if we’re ready for an awakened human,” Siata said.

  Chapter 7 - Mira’s Voice

  Brian looked at Kivi as his head ached horribly and his vision blurred. He stumbled as she grabbed him and laid him on the ground. As he stared at the night sky of Dega Jul he watched all the lights. It was as if they spun around and flooded his senses. He felt himself falling unconscious as his body convulsed. Turning his head, Brian saw Kivi trying to talk to him. A moment later the Siren landed with Mira rushing down to him. As she knelt next to him she prepped her med kit and gave him an injection.

  “Can you hear me?” Mira asked.

  He nodded his head but couldn’t speak.

  “You can sleep Brian, don’t worry, I’ll take care of you,” Mira said.

  After he closed his eyes Mira used her scanner. Kivi cradled his head while the crowd in the street watched. Above them, a dozen Lances flew in to secure the airspace while a number of Minan soldiers took to the streets.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Kivi asked.

  “He’s overheating,” Mira said. “You see how his eye is glowing, that’s happening all through his body. If I don’t find a way to cool him down he’ll die.”

  She opened the panel of his exoskeleton’s arm and programmed the temperature of the interior to be much lower than normal. As the air inside the armor cooled his body she locked his helmet back into place. The convulsions ceased but light was still emitting from his left eye. Mira sighed with relief and started scanning again.

  “He’s stable,” she said. “But it looks like the treatment we were using won’t work anymore.”

  “What’s going to happen to him?” Kivi asked.

  “What I did was a stop gap measure,” Mira said. “If nothing else is done he’ll be dead in a few days.”

  A Lance landed and Baeron exited. He calmly walked over and knelt next to Brian.

  “Our ship has the best equipment for a Terran,” Mira said. “Can I take him there?”

  “Of course,” Baeron said. “But I’ll need a statement from you later.”

  “Thanks,” Mira said.

  After Brian was put into a stretcher and inside the Siren, Mira flew him back to the Freedom. Kivi watched with Baeron at her side.

  “Captain Kivi, can I get your statement now?” Baeron asked.

  “Of course,” she answered. “But only if you let me help with the investigation.”

  “That’s fine,” he said.

  * * *

  Veda and Reban were in the command center overseeing repairs when Valis, Esra, and El Kar entered the room. All of the ships and mobile weapons had returned to base for repairs for the time being.

  “What’s our status?” Valis asked.

  “The base is operating at fifty percent,” Reban answered.

  “The Daevoni will need repairs for a few days,” Esra said.

  “The Reinkar is the same,” El Kar said.

  “Who’s our enemy?” Veda asked.

  “They were Ick-Tckt special forces,” Valis answered. “An analysis on their wreckage will show as much.”

  “How did they catch us unaware?” Esra asked.

  “Their stealth system is a generation ahead of ours,” Valis explained. “How are our friends on the surface?”

  “We’ll let them speak for themselves,” Veda said.

  The monitor flashed and showed Dreka on the bridge of the Raulno while Myden was on the bridge of the Freedom.

  “Our systems are operating at sixty five percent,” Myden said. “But we lost a fourth of our mobile suit forces.”

  “We suffered minimal damage,” Dreka said.

  “Once your ships collect their
crew members I want you back in space,” Valis said. “The Ick-Tckt will attack again, probably very soon.”

  “Acknowledged,” Dreka said before ending transmission.

  “I didn’t want to tell you this, but I must,” Myden said. “They attacked Brian and Kivi while they were returning to the ships. Kivi’s alright, but Brian’s in critical condition.”

  “What happened?” Veda asked.

  “He was forced to berserk,” Myden said. “And in doing he pushed beyond the point of return. Mira’s taking care of him right now.”

  “What about Seles?” Valis asked.

  “She’s taking care of the crew,” Myden said. “I’ll keep you updated.”

  The screen went black.

  “They knew this would happen,” Valis said. “They’ve been planning this for months, and now we may lose a lot more than we bargained for.”

  “Do you have any ideas?” El Kar asked.

  Valis nodded. “No matter what happens to Brian we have to survive as an organization. These attacks were carefully planned by the Ick-Tckt. And no doubt their government will deny these are their forces.” She looked at Veda. “I want you and Daes, Jesela, Dreka, and Grigon to look for a way to detect them.”

  “We’re working on it,” Veda said.

  Valis looked at the other captains. “You two need to focus on repairs. My plans will be adjusted to assume you’re not involved.”

  “As you wish,” El Kar said.

  “I’m alright with that,” Esra said.

  * * *

  Seles helped with a number of things in the launching bay before making her way to Tctie’s mobile suit. He stepped outside and headed to the ground on the elevator cord before noticing her. After setting down he let go of the cord and bowed his head.

  “I’m sorry commander,” he said.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for,” Seles said. “I’m glad we got to you before anything bad could happen.”

  “I heard voices in my head,” Tctie said.