Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence
Twilight of Innocence
By Marcus Johnson
Text Copyright © 2014 Marcus Johnson
All Rights Reserved
For my friends and family and all those who’ve supported me
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1 - A Violent Wave
Chapter 2 - The First Battle of Dega Jul
Chapter 3 - Struggle to Survive
Chapter 4 - The Cannons of Hades
Chapter 5 - Catching Their Breath
Chapter 6 - Finding a Reason
Chapter 7 - Fighting to Save Others
Chapter 8 - The Battle of Viken Prime
Chapter 9 - Two Killers
Chapter 10 - Yardek’s Sacrifice
Chapter 11 - A Moment of Sorrow
Chapter 12 - Siberia Returns
Chapter 13 - Preparing for the Siege
Chapter 14 - The Battle of Shandi Prime
Chapter 15 - In Blood, In Fire
Chapter 16 - Shattered Swords
Chapter 17 - Collecting the Pieces
Chapter 18 - Attack on Kailion
Chapter 19 - Scouting for a Counteroffensive
Chapter 20 - Shining Lights
Chapter 21 - Victory Without Rest
Chapter 22 - The Second Battle of Dega Jul
Chapter 23 - Furious Assault
Chapter 24 - Arrows from the Inside
Chapter 25 - The Scorched City
Chapter 26 - Grey Hunt
Chapter 27 - Dimensional Blade
Chapter 28 - An Eerie Calm
Chapter 29 - Reorganizing the Fleet
Chapter 30 - The Second Wave
Chapter 31 - The Song of Hope
Chapter 32 - The Third Battle of Dega Jul
Chapter 33 - Blue-eyed Defenders
Chapter 34 - Backs to the Wall
Chapter 35 - Broken Shields, Gold, and Bugs
Chapter 36 - A Crack in the Armor
Chapter 37 - Whispers in the Dark
Chapter 38 - A Day Amongst the Ashes
Chapter 39 - The Confederation Fleet
Chapter 40 - Evacuation before the Invasion
Chapter 41 - The First Defense Line
Chapter 42 - The Battle of Kalaidia Prime
Chapter 43 - Orbital Shield
Chapter 44 - Light of Apollo
Chapter 45 - Voice of a Dark God
Chapter 46 - The Dragon’s Wings
Chapter 47 - A Dual in the Red Star
Chapter 48 - On this Day…
Epilogue
Afterword
Prologue
Thousands of light years from Galactic Confederation territory was the homeworld of the Naerendi people, also known as the Greys. In place of the sky a colossal structure covered the planet. Spires that served as buildings as well as orbital elevators held the entire outer shell over the darkened surface of their world. Carved deep into the ground and accessible only through massive elevators sat the heart of their world. A sphere of computing power the size of a moon served as the mainframe of their machine god, the being controlling every aspect of their existence. Billions of Greys moved about in a mechanical manner for the constant upgrades and maintenance work required to keep their world functioning. All of the planet’s power systems came from either the thermal energy from the interior or the red dwarf star it circled around. Outside, millions of saucer shaped ships came and went at all times. Suddenly, all of the smaller ships in deep orbit scattered when five specially made planet killers appeared. Each of the giant spheres had a diameter of a thousand ketres but resembled the smaller planet killers in all other ways save for their coloration. Inside the room where the machine god was kept five figures appeared from the shadows. Each wore a gray cloak over their colored exoskeletons and held a telepathic staff in hand as they approached their lord. Once they reached a few vetres of their god’s body they knelt before it.
“Long has it been since you called forth the five generals,” Regen Alondes, the general of the Black Star Knights, said telepathically.
“I have called for the five of you personally because today is the day we destroy the Galactic Confederation,” the machine god said.
“Then it’s war my lord?” Regen asked.
“War it is,” the machine god said.
Regen stood before looking at the others. “If god commands us to war then we shall destroy the Confederation. Let not one world stand. Let not one colony escape. Trample them into the ground my soldiers! Until the last heretic is dead we shall fight!”
The telepathic link between the Greys echoed their general’s words throughout the empire. Regen turned back to his master.
“Is there anything else you wish of us my lord?”
“Yes,” the machine god said. “I order you to leave one seed alone.”
“Which one would that be my lord?” Regen asked.
“Terra Prime,” the machine god said. “Let it be the last world we destroy. For my desire is that you capture Brian Peterson and put him before me in chains.”
“What grand execution do you have in mind my lord?” Regen asked.
“Brian will watch as his world is purified in celebration of our victory,” the machine god said. “I will then curse him to a fate far worse than death.”
“As you wish my lord,” Regen said.
* * *
“Memento mori…”
Brian woke up hearing those words echo through his being. He stood up and threw his clothes on in haste at the same time Seles stirred and did likewise. She saw something dark behind his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“It’s happening,” he said.
She looked confused for a moment before the meaning behind his words came to her.
“How long do we have?” she asked.
“We need to get ready now,” he said. “Their first wave is already inside Confederation territory.”
“How do you know this?”
“Their god showed me,” Brian said.
She hugged him tightly. “Remember you’re not alone.”
“I know,” he said. “Thanks Seles.”
Chapter 1 - A Violent Wave
The Alaska base of Heaven’s Light appeared in lunar orbit of Reiki Prime. Captain Javrin and her second in command, Loc Shor, immediately sent out another warning signal.
“That should do,” Javrin said.
“I’ve got more bad news,” Loc said as she turned the monitors on.
All of the Reiki ships able to fight were currently engaged with a fleet of a thousand Grey carriers. Swarms of smaller attack vessels surrounded the Reiki as the force closed in on the homeworld. Javrin hit the com.
“All forces are to move out in formation A-1,” she ordered.
“Yes captain,” all the subordinate captains said.
The remaining nineteen Avoni class ships and almost a thousand Phase Raknas and Fangs launched from the asteroid base. Loc activated the main shields and readied their cannons.
“Do you think we have a chance?” Javrin asked.
“I’d start praying to your goddess about now,” Loc said.
“I’m already doing that,” Javrin said.
* * *
The Avoni was docked in the Columbia base as the asteroid orbited of Dega Jul. Valis was in her quarters working on the next battle plan against the Zarite forces when Brian appeared on her screen.
“It’s a bit early for you to be up,” Valis said.
“Valis, I need you to switch from what you’re doing to something else right now,” he said.
She could see the seriousness on his face. “What’s going on?”
�
��A thousand Grey carriers will be attacking Dega Jul in a few minutes,” he explained.
Her eyes widened while she changed her battle simulations. “Are you sure?”
“Trust me,” Brian said.
“I do,” Valis said. She sat in shock for a moment. “I thought we had more time.”
“We all did,” he said. “I’m heading out now. Please do your best to lead us to victory.”
“I will,” she said.
* * *
Veda and Reban calmly went about their work while the Columbia base stocked up on supplies.
“Even after two years the Zarites are still a problem,” Reban commented.
“They’re determined, I’ll give them that,” Veda said.
The monitor flashed and showed Valis in the cockpit of the Minerva.
“Veda, a fleet of a thousand Grey carriers is about to attack us,” Valis said. “Scramble all ships and mobile suits in formation D-3.”
“What?” Veda asked.
“She’s not lying,” Reban said.
The scanners began picking up a fleet of Grey ships.
“That’s an insane amount of enemies,” Veda said. “I’ll do as you say Valis.”
“Thanks grandmother,” Valis said.
* * *
Commander Baeron sat on the open hatch of his Lance Phalanx while sipping some water. His mobile suit was standing in the street of Dega Jul as the dawn broke on this side of the planet. While checking his zenti axe the bearman heard an alert come from the cockpit. He ran inside and saw Siata on the monitor.
“Baeron, the orbital alert system has detected a fleet of Grey carriers entering orbit,” the Mylor woman said.
“Are you sure they’re Greys?” he asked.
“There can be no doubt,” she said before sending a visual to his monitor. He stared at the fleet of twenty ketre wide vessels as they quickly approached. “We’ll deploy all our forces and defer to Captain Valis on the plan.”
“I understand,” Baeron said as he quickly booted his Lance’s systems up and hit the com. “To all Confederation units, a fleet of Grey ships has been detected and is approaching with deadly intent. Scramble every ship and mobile suit available and head for orbit. All ground forces are to evacuate the civilian population to the underground shelters immediately.”
“Yes sir,” his subordinates responded.
From the surface of the city planet thousands of mobile suits flew into orbit. Baeron led his unit of twenty to the Columbia base. His com flashed before Valis appeared on all of their monitors.
“This is Captain Valis of the Avoni,” she said. “All Confederation forces are to assume formation D-3. I’m currently in the process of determining their battle plan and will switch things accordingly. That will be all for now.”
Baeron hit the com to send a private channel to Valis.
“I can see you’re concerned commander,” Valis said.
“What do you believe are their targets?” he asked.
“Their goal is to keep us busy for a while before sending a planet killer,” Valis said. “I’ve told Siata to focus our defenses around the orbital ring.”
“Alright,” Baeron said.
* * *
Seles and Mira were in the Artemis and Siren when the alert system came on. Jesela was down below checking things over. All three of them stopped what they were doing when the Grey ships appeared on their monitors.
“That’s a lot of them,” Seles said.
“Too many of them,” Mira said.
Jesela tapped on their mobile suits’ legs. “All of the modifications are complete. There’s just one more thing I’d like to do.”
Seles and Mira both poked their heads out of their cockpits.
“And what would that be?” Seles asked.
“Attach those,” Jesela said while pointing up.
Above them were four refitted Novaguards.
“The automated system Grigon uses in his Talons are installed in them,” Jesela explained. “They’ve been tuned to your fighting styles so they shouldn’t get in the way during combat.”
“What about our special systems?” Mira asked.
“The upgrades are ready to go,” Jesela said.
“Then let’s move out,” Seles said.
Jesela quickly attached two Novaguards to the pair of mobile suits. She watched as the two launched into space.
“Good luck,” she said before heading to the bridge.
* * *
Brian stood on the bridge of the Freedom with Myden, Grigon, Jesela, and the four droids. The lone ship had taken the initiative and was far ahead from the others at the moment. Bearing down on them the fleet of Grey carriers began launching their smaller saucer shaped crafts.
“That should bring our foes to over fifty thousand,” Brian said.
“Are you sure we should be going it alone?” Jesela asked.
Brian smiled after his left eye began glowing. “Activate the Hades system,” he ordered.
“Yes captain,” Grigon said.
“Myden, do you have any special advice on how to destroy them?” Brian asked.
“Sink the carriers first,” Myden said. “The smaller crafts can be handled by our mobile weapons.”
“That was what I planned for,” Brian said. He hit the com. “Kyli, take our mobile suits outside and stick with the ship in formation D-3.”
“D-3 it is then,” Kyli said.
A moment later one hundred mobile suits launched and landed on the hull of the Freedom. On the back of each one was a Novaguard ready to be activated.
“Why do you think we didn’t receive word from the Alaska or Siberia bases?” Jesela asked.
“They used their planet killers to move their forces in quicker than anticipated,” Brian answered.
“Is that possible?” Grigon asked.
“It is,” Myden said. “No doubt they’ve launched an all-out attack on the Mylor territories as well. Their goal is to pin us down and pick us off one by one.”
The four gravity drives powering the Freedom lit up and spun to full power. On the outer hull of the two ketre long ship a number of specially created reflector plates emerged. Brian touched the controls for the main cannon and the intercom system.
“We are Heaven’s Light, the light that shines liberty upon the world. Wherever tyranny shows itself we will strike. Until the day the Freedom’s bell rings eternal our mission will never end.” Brian paused. “To everyone who can hear my voice I ask you to take up arms and fight. If you can’t fight then help those who can. These foes will not listen to reason or show you pity. Their mission is to destroy every one of us without mercy.”
“The Hades system is ready,” Grigon reported.
“Excellent,” Brian said.
The Freedom lit up as the bow of the ship shifted into a cannon barrel and fired a massive beam of energy through the three closest Grey carriers, destroying them in an instant.
* * *
The Alaska base and its forces were holding the Greys at bay with the aid of the Reiki fleet. The base shook when a number of the Grey attack vessels charged and crashed into the shields.
“What’s our status?” Javrin asked.
“We’ve lost four ships and three hundred and twenty mobile weapons,” Loc reported. “The Reiki have lost over five hundred ships and several thousand fighters.”
“How’s the evacuation going?” Javrin asked.
“All gravity drive enabled colonies in the system have left,” Loc said. “Every ship that can is taking those on the surface away as quickly as possible.”
The monitor flashed when the scanners picked up a pair of planet killers in lunar orbit.
“Captain…,” Loc said.
“I know,” Javrin said. “We’ll try our best to stop them. Ready all nuclear missiles.”
“Of course,” Loc said.
The Alaska base and its ships turned about to meet the moon sized enemy ships.
“We’ll focus everything on
the closest one,” Javrin said.
The fifteen ships and all the mobile suits armed their missiles and held close to the asteroid base. Swarms of smaller attack vessels launched from the planet killers and surrounded the Alaska base.
“Activate the Hades system,” Javrin ordered.
“Are you sure you can handle it?” Loc asked.
“None other the Captain Peterson himself showed me how to use it,” Javrin said.
“As you wish,” Loc said.
Javrin concentrated and let the berserk come over her as the Alaska base was enveloped in a powerful defense shield.
Chapter 2 - The First Battle of Dega Jul
Dozens of Grey carriers and thousands of attack ships surrounded the Freedom and pounded the vessel’s shields. Brian controlled the Hades system and shifted it quickly to Aegis mode to protect the ship and its mobile suits. The shaking made it difficult to stand still.
“This is crazy,” Jesela said.
“Crazy is who I am,” Brian said. “How many carriers are passing us by?”
“Eight hundred and ninety,” Droid B reported.
“Good,” Brian said. “Seles, Mira, it’s time you two cut loose.”
A number of the carriers fired their main cannons when they were in range and drove the Freedom back. The shield held as the ship returned fire and destroyed a pair of carriers.
“Are we still cutting loose?” Seles asked over the com.
Brian narrowed his eyes. “Of course, but make sure you fire your arrows at point blank range. Our cannons don’t work as well at a distance.”
“Got it,” Seles said.
“And Mira, don’t hesitate to sing a song,” Brian said.
“I’ll sing one of my favorites then,” Mira said.
The Artemis and Siren lit up as their pilots berserked and charged into the thick of the enemy ships. When they did so the two Novaguards on them detached to act as additional weapons and shields while circling the mobile suits.
“Your autopilot system is working well,” Brian commented.