Freedom Saga 3: The Dawn of Liberty

by Marcus Johnson

  “He’s told me for a long time he’s an atheist,” Seles said.

  “Then his experience will be devoid of god,” Myden said. “For one of your kind Kali would act as your guide. For me, it was my grandfather.”

  “So we’re talking about something that’s mystical, aren’t we?” Kivi said.

  “If you view it that way, then yes,” Myden answered.

  “This is too subjective,” Celi said. “I can tell he’s changing by the data, that’s all I need.”

  “What changed about you?” Mira asked.

  “Physically, my people don’t change much at all,” Myden said. “But it differs from species to species. The Daemos and Mylor undergo some extreme changes, whereas others don’t.”

  “Will he live?” Seles asked.

  “If he’s made it this far without dying I’d say yes,” Myden said.

  “How long will this take?” Valis asked.

  Myden laughed. “I can’t say. For my people we stay like this for six months to a year. For the Mylor it takes almost a hundred years.”

  The five women looked at the Grey with blank stares in their eyes.

  “So he could be stuck like this for a hundred years?” Seles asked.

  “Or a thousand,” Kivi said.

  “In other words, prepare to do things without him for a while,” Valis said.

  “How long does it take for a Daemos to change?” Mira asked.

  “About ten minutes,” Myden answered.

  “That makes no sense,” Celi said. “There should be some reason why it takes different times for different species.”

  “I’ve lived a long time,” Myden said. “And in that time I’ve learned much, but as to the answer to this, I haven’t.”

  Mira laughed. “Basically, we need to observe several species over thousands or millions of years to know the rate?”

  “Exactly,” Myden said. “Let’s leave him alone for now. When he’s finished he’ll stand up and tell us what happened.”

  “Hopefully without becoming a ball of light,” Seles said.

  Chapter 15 - Civil War

  A few days later the Columbia base appeared on the edge of Viken territory. As they approached the second planet they saw the devastation wrought upon the orbiting colonies. Wreckage filled the space around the moons of the gas giant. Veda and Reban watched from the command center. When they got close enough an encoded com line activated. From behind one of the larger moons a fleet of a hundred heavy class Viken ships approached. Their design was a mix of long and narrow with sharp, triangular edges. Each of the ketre long ships sported two engine towers jutting from their sides. Around each of them a hundred triangular fighters flew. The screen flashed and showed a tall male Viken with black scales. He wore a tight fitting black and green uniform with a star at the center to show his rank as general. Behind him, officers wearing the same uniform with different symbols manned the stations. The Viken man moved his hand over his heart to salute.

  “I am General Yardek, leader of the freedom fighters of the Viken Republic,” the man said.

  Veda saluted using the Kalaidian form.

  “I’m Veda Kein, leader of Heaven’s Light,” she said. “This is the first time we’ve met, but I’ve heard much of your exploits.”

  “We’ve been fighting for eight months now,” Yardek said. “Though our spirits are high our bodies have grown weary. I’m glad you answered our call for help.”

  “That’s what Heaven’s Light was created for,” Veda said. “Is this area secure?”

  “As secure as we can make it,” Yardek said. “They don’t send large numbers of ships out here to attack very often. What we’d like from you now is aid for our civilian supporters in this system.”

  “We’ll do as you request,” Veda said. “How goes the war?”

  “We’ve secured over half the territories of our people,” Yardek said. “But the loyalists have the financial backing of the regime. A few months ago I thought we could handle this without asking for you organization’s aid, but now things are stalemated.”

  “We’ll help you liberate your people,” Veda said.

  “Thank you Lady Kein,” Yardek said.

  “Our leaders would like to meet with you in person in the next few days,” Veda said.

  “I’m happy to accommodate that,” Yardek said. “For now I’ll send you the details for aid.”

  “Thank you,” Veda said.

  * * *

  Brian climbed the stairway of stars for what seemed like an eternity. Looking to both sides he saw nothing but black.

  “Is there an end to this?” he asked.

  His voice echoed for a long time afterwards. As he continued he noticed something strange sitting on the steps above him. Clad in blue armor with the motif of the sea serpent was a Kalaidian man. He had long red hair in a tail with matching beard and mustache. Underneath one of his blue eyes was a scar. The man stood as Brian approached and drew a pair of rakna blades. The stairway faded and shifted to platform of similar appearance. The Kalaidian man stepped back to allow Brian join him.

  “You’re a tall lad, aren’t you?” the Kalaidian man asked with a smile.

  “I could say the same thing Gaelic,” Brian said.

  Gaelic waved his blades and sighed. “I should’ve made her a little taller.”

  “Mira’s fine as she is,” Brian said.

  “How’s that daughter of mine doing?”

  Brian moved his blade and extended the shield on his left arm. “She’s as beautiful as ever.”

  “I’m glad,” Gaelic said. “I was worried when she got lost for a while.”

  “Why you are in here?” Brian asked.

  “I’m your guide Brian of Terra Prime,” Gaelic said. “But before that, I’d like to spar with you. I haven’t had a good fight in ages.”

  Brian smiled as he took a defensive pose with his sword and shield. “Sounds like fun.”

  * * *

  Veda, Reban, Valis, Seles, Kivi, Esra, El Kar, Grigon, Dreka, and Myden all waited in the command center. After landing his and nine other ships in the empty docking bay General Yardek made his way to them. He waved for his two guards to wait outside the room.

  “You’ve got quite a base here,” Yardek said.

  “We strive to be the best,” Grigon said.

  “If that’s the case then I’d say you are,” Yardek said. He looked to Valis. “What thrills do you have in store for us?”

  Valis smiled. “You’ll see soon enough.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” Yardek said.

  “By the way, where’s Representative Ulad?” Veda asked.

  “She’s busy leading our effort on the front,” Yardek answered. “So as to not exhaust ourselves we’ve switched places a few times. Now that you’re here we can end this war.”

  He placed a data crystal in the console and displayed the last known formation of rebel and loyalist troops across the Viken territories. He highlighted a number of planets and colonies to show the damage.

  “As you can see our infrastructure is in shambles,” Yardek said. “Our intention was to avoid damage like this, but the loyalists have been ruthless. It seems their only strategy is to crush all opposing elements as mercilessly as possible.”

  “Looks like war crime charges are going to be needed,” Esra commented.

  “War crimes indeed,” Yardek said. “I’ll admit the freedom fighters have killed some civilians, but it was never intentionally nor on such a scale.”

  “What prompted your rebellion in the first place?” Seles asked.

  “For decades our election system has shown itself more and more rigged in favor of the wealthiest citizens,” Yardek said. “It used to be the candidate that worked for the people was the norm, but now all we see are those boosted by the most money. Representative Ulad and her allies put everything into winning a majority in parliament last year. They lost in a close vote. But it was revealed shortly after the election was a fraud. The P
rime Minister, Daran, used the opportunity to declare martial law. When he went to arrest Ulad and her supports the people rose up and that led to where we are now.” He looked at everyone. “Never let money into your politics. It’ll only lead to a war like this.”

  “We won’t,” Seles said.

  “The same for us,” Grigon cawed.

  “Let’s get back to the plan,” Veda said. “How much military strength does the government have left?”

  “They have around a thousand ships,” Yardek said. “What hinders them is none of the generals stayed with them.”

  “What happened to the others?” El Kar asked.

  “I was the only one to flee in time,” Yardek said. “All the others were executed in a military purge. Because of that the military split in half.”

  “If that’s the case then our goal will be even easier,” Valis said. “Soldiers who don’t trust their commanders have little chance for victory.”

  The monitor flashed and showed two hundred Viken ships approaching the base.

  Yardek growled. “It appears we’ll have to postpone our planning session.”

  “Pull your ships into our shields for now,” Veda said. “We’ll show you the power of Heaven’s Light.”

  * * *

  Brian and Gaelic sparred for hours without tiring. Although he was a head shorter than Brian, Gaelic was quicker and more flexible, forcing the bulkier human on the defensive. But Brian’s size gaze him extra reach with his blade to prevent the other from getting close enough for a decisive blow. As their blades clashed each sang. After a long time Gaelic backed off and saluted the human.

  “Well fought young man,” Gaelic said.

  “Are you giving up?” Brian asked with a smile.

  Gaelic laughed. “No, but we must get on with our journey. For now let’s call it a draw.”

  “A draw it is,” Brian said before sheathing his sword.

  The starlit background shifted and showed images of Earth. All of them lined up as memories to Brian. Gaelic looked on with a bit of awe.

  “So many,” Gaelic said as the images of cities flowed around them.

  “There were almost seven billion when I was taken,” Brian said. “By the way, what are we looking at?”

  “We start the journey with your memories,” Gaelic said. “In order to change you must first understand yourself. By the way, who’s the pretty lady?”

  Gaelic pointed to a cluster of memories of Layla. Brian blushed while shaking his head.

  “Layla,” he answered.

  “You should’ve grabbed her up while you could,” Gaelic said.

  “We all have regrets and she’s a big one,” Brian admitted.

  “It’s good to know you’ve felt pain,” Gaelic said. “Only those who’ve suffered can sympathize with others. For the role you play that’s vital.”

  “For the role I play, huh?” Brian asked.

  “That’s right lad, you have a role to play,” Gaelic said. “You may not believe in Kali, but she’s right there, watching you all the time.”

  “I think I understand,” Brian said.

  The images shifted to when he first met Seles and Celi. Afterwards they watched his first year on the Avoni.

  “She looks just like her mother,” Gaelic said.

  “When I first met Celestia I thought the same thing,” Brian said.

  “Let’s watch some more,” Gaelic said.

  The two men turned in circles as visions of Brian’s time on the Avoni and Freedom surrounded them in a colorful light show.

  Chapter 16 - Annoying Bugs

  The six ships deployed from the Columbia base at the same time the Maidens flew to the front. The Artemis and Gemini took their places at the front with the Aegis in the middle, while the Minerva and Siren flew in the rear.

  “We’ll attack using formation A-1,” Valis said.

  “Nothing easier than that,” Kivi said.

  “A frontal assault without any strings attached,” Seles added.

  “Isn’t this too simple?” Mira asked.

  “No,” Valis responded. “Because our enemies lack mobile weapon technology our attacks should easily destroy them.”

  The Viken fleet approached in attack formation. When the Artemis and Gemini were within range they began picking off ship and fighter alike with their pulse cannons. The Viken ships fired with everything they had but found the Aegis’s shield impossible to penetrate. After the five flew into the enemy fleet the Artemis and Gemini switched to spread attacks and destroyed everything around them. The Minerva and Siren picked off anything getting too close. The enemy fleet of two hundred had been reduced in half when the six ships and their mobile weapons waded into the fight.

  “Looks like A-1 was all we needed,” Seles said.

  “Don’t let your guard down,” Valis said.

  “She was just stating a fact,” Kivi said.

  “I know that,” Valis said. “But the Minerva thinks our invisible friends will strike.”

  “Is that why you kept Tctie back?” Mira asked.

  “Yes,” Valis answered. “Our detection system has a limited range he’s able to surpass.”

  Flashes of light appeared and pulse fire hit the Columbia base from behind.

  “I hate being right,” Valis said.

  * * *

  Tctie led the mobile suits of the Freedom. The eight squadrons were in sphere shaped formations of ten or eleven. The attacking Ick-Tckt crafts appeared on their scanners as Tctie turned his units around.

  “All squadrons are to attack using formation E-4,” Tctie ordered.

  “Yes lieutenant,” the other pilots answered.

  Tctie felt something as his eyes started glowing again. His mobile suit drew its four blades and charged into the Ick-Tckt forces. As he sliced through them he felt the confusion on their side. They weren’t ready for us to be able to detect them so soon. He thought as he sliced another mobile armor in half. He noticed they changed their main target to his mobile suit. As his craft backed away the Mjolnir sped in and fired a few spread shots to clear the area. Meldi appeared on his screen.

  “You’re turning into another Brian you know,” she said.

  “I understand lieutenant,” Tctie said before his antennae started twitching.

  “Are you sensing something?” Meldi asked as she fired another volley of spread shots.

  “I can hear it in their thoughts,” Tctie said. “Could you buy me some time?”

  “Sure,” Meldi said.

  She moved the Mjolnir next to his mobile suit while he concentrated on the nearby Ick-Tckt. After a minute of doing so he shook his head and resumed firing.

  “What did you find?” Meldi asked.

  “I saw their attack plan,” Tctie said. “Although I’m not an expert in tactics I can relay what I saw to the others.”

  “Valis would be your best bet,” Meldi said.

  “That’s who I was thinking about,” Tctie said.

  The Ick-Tckt forces changed their tactics and moved to surround the mobile suits. While they were being pounded from all sides the battle with the Viken was ending. The Maidens turned about and headed into the fray.

  * * *

  Veda and Reban performed their usual tasks as the battle continued. The loyalist Viken forces had been nearly annihilated with the few survivors fleeing via gravity jumps. As the battle shifted Yardek’s fleet and the six ships started moving to the other side of the Columbia base. At the same time the Maidens charged into the Ick-Tckt forces and destroyed everything in their path.

  “They look confused,” Esra said from the bridge of the Daevoni.

  “It’s obvious they weren’t ready for us to see them so easily,” El Kar added from the bridge of the Reinkar.

  “Who are these new enemies?” Yardek asked from the bridge of his ship.

  “They’re Ick-Tckt,” Veda answered.

  “Does this mean the Ick-Tckt have joined this war?” Yardek asked.

  “We don’t
know,” Veda said. “Because they’re attacking our ships and avoiding yours I’d say not.”

  “Our scanners aren’t detecting anything,” Yardek said.

  “Though our stealth systems are excellent theirs are better,” Veda said. “We just installed the detection system on all our vessels.”

  “The third and fifth defensive towers have suffered severe damage,” Reban reported.

  “Send some engineers over there,” Veda ordered. She looked at Yardek. “You don’t have to help us on this.”

  “It’s your call,” Yardek said.

  * * *

  The Ick-Tckt switched their main targets to the mobile weapons of Heaven’s Light. As Rakna, Talon, Lance, and Fang alike took damage or was destroyed the Maidens began carving the center of the enemy formation.

  “All mobile weapons are to pull back and move into formation D-11,” Valis ordered.

  All the mobile suits and mobile armors did so and moved within the shields of the Columbia base.

  “I don’t like losing pilots,” Seles said.

  “I know the feeling,” Kivi said.

  “Then it’s time to cut loose,” Valis said. “Seles and I will berserk. The three of you will stay together.”

  “Yes Valis,” the others said.

  The Minerva and Artemis lit up as the two pilots berserked. Seles fired a pair of arrows before the two tore through the Ick-Tckt forces.

  “They’re amazing,” Celi said.

  “That they are,” Kivi said.

  “I haven’t had a chance to sing in a while,” Mira added.

  “It’s a good thing,” Kivi said. “If we had to use your power every time we’d be in trouble.”

  “It’s the same with the Aegis’s shield,” Celi said.

  The Artemis and Minerva returned after a few minutes and ended their berserks. When they rejoined their friends the Ick-Tckt vessels began disappearing.

  “Looks like we have them on the run,” Kivi said.