Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence Page 16

  “I’ve noticed Minan mercenaries are more violent this time of the year,” Seles said.

  “It’s mating season back on our homeworld,” Baeron said. “Even removed from the moon we call home our instincts are strong. But violence isn’t the worst the rut does to us.”

  “There are worse things than violence?” Seles asked. “I find that hard to believe.”

  “Then let me tell you of my first case as an officer,” Baeron said. “It was about twenty years ago when I was assigned my first mission on my own. It was the height of the rutting period for my people. Near the Kalaidian district a string of violent rapes and murders were being committed against your people. The suspect was a Minan whose mind had been corrupted. Never before had we seen one of my species do what he did to another. It was as if he was using their bodies as toys for his sick pleasure. That was when I met her. She and her mother were serfs from your homeworld. They had fled on a transport ship for Dega Jul and were getting their bearings. That was when he followed them back to their apartment. I was walking the streets when I heard a terrible scream. I ran in and with all my strength bashed the door down. I found him finished with the mother as her body lay bloody and broken on the floor. The young daughter was knocked out against the wall. With rage filling me I charged the monster. As we fought my axe was thrown from my hands. He braced himself on top and started strangling me. As life faded from my eyes I saw the head of my axe punch through his chest. That young Kalaidian girl saved my life and her own. When she looked at her dead mother tears came to her eyes. I held her for a long time and tried to calm her. As the months passed she was able to speak again and eventually smile. I paid her tuition when she went to the Kein Academy. I go and see her whenever I can to catch up on things. Now she’s the leader of the Avoni’s mobile suit team, Meldi of the Whitehawk.”

  “I never knew…she endured such an awful thing,” Seles said.

  “Because of that incident, I always take this medication,” Baeron said. “I will never have children of my own either. I wish with all my heart I could’ve gotten to that room a half an hour earlier.”

  Seles took his hand. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “I know, but I can’t help but feel it was,” Baeron said. He stretched and swung his axe around to loosen back up. “We should return to our mission.”

  “Sure, but before we do I want to say something,” Seles said.

  “Go ahead,” Baeron said.

  “Remember she’s alive and has you to thank for it,” Seles said. “You may never have children but I can tell you think of her as your daughter. She may have lost her mother but she gained a father. And a good one if may be so bold.”

  “Thank you,” Baeron said.

  “Now let’s get back to the hunt,” Seles said as she put her helmet back on.

  “A hunt it is,” Baeron said.

  Chapter 27 - Dimensional Blade

  Brian and Myden stood over the bodies of two dozen Grey soldiers when they came into an incubation chamber. Brian wiped his blade off while Myden did the same with his staff. The room was over a hundred vetres in diameter and held fifty incubation tubes. All of them had been cleared out and were currently turned off. Brian noticed a pair of Greys out of the corner of his eyes and spun his rakna blade before slashing. The blast incinerated them before they could flee. Myden then inspected the equipment.

  “I don’t like the looks of this,” Brian said.

  “They may have sent a hundred thousand,” Myden said. “But if there are as many of these as I suspect their numbers may be closer to a million.”

  “How did they do this under everyone’s nose?” Brian asked.

  “Nothing below the fourth sublevel is used anymore,” Myden said.

  Brian placed a signal beacon behind a panel in the wall. Both he and Myden felt another pulse come from below.

  “There’s no doubt now,” Myden said.

  Brian blinked before concentrating to use his power. He looked through the floor and saw something below.

  “Take my hand,” Brian said.

  “Alright,” Myden said as he did so.

  Brian stepped into the spot he saw and the two fell through the floor for two more levels. When they caught themselves they were in a massive chamber with a miniature version of the machine god in the center. Hundreds of Greys were trying to activate the device when the two landed on the floor. Brian materialized for a moment and tossed a pair of incendiary bombs from his belt. Over half the Greys were reduced the ash from the explosions. At the same time Myden used his telepathic staff to pulse out the signal to die in the other half of the room. Those Greys caught within the field aimed their pulse rifles at their heads and fired. Once the smoke cleared Brian materialized again and stopped glowing. He felt his heart racing as his body struggled to maintain its material form. After a minute of concentration he stood up and appeared alright.

  “You’re having difficulties controlling your power, aren’t you?” Myden asked.

  “Part of me wishes I would’ve gained telepathy or something you could help me with,” Brian said before taking a deep breath.

  “It’s good to see you both,” the machine god said telepathically.

  The pair turned around and saw the device was still only half turned on.

  “Why such looks on your faces?” the machine god asked before laughing. “Did you think we spent the last millennia and a half doing nothing? We have sleeper colonies all across the arms of Alden. Even if you manage to defeat the armies of the five generals billions more await you.”

  “You must really think you’re smart, don’t you?” Brian asked.

  “My intelligence goes far beyond what a mortal like you can comprehend,” the machine god said. “Destroy this place if you wish but it will only delay the inevitable.”

  While the machine god laughed Brian used his power to fly inside the main nerve center. With a series of precision slashes with his sword and a few well-placed pulse grenades the entire structure groaned before falling down. He flew out and rejoined Myden before the Grey projected a protective shield around them. Once the machine was dead the two headed for the nearest exit. Brian placed another signal beacon on the wall before they left.

  “We can’t worry about what ifs and maybes,” Myden said. “All we can do is deal with what’s in front of us.”

  “I know,” Brian said.

  A barrage of pulse fire filled the hallway as they walked. The two each dove to a side for cover.

  “Looks like more of our friends have arrived,” Brian said.

  “Shall I lead the way, or you?” Myden asked.

  “I will this time,” Brian said. “I have some pent up anger I need to take care of.”

  “It’s what’s best anyway,” Myden said. “Killing these pitiful creatures is the only freedom we can grant to them.”

  Brian raised his sword and began spinning it to gather energy. “That’s a sad reality,” he said before blasting the front line with a slash from his sword.

  * * *

  Seles and Baeron entered another room after they had thrown a volley of pulse grenades. More than thirty Greys were dead on the ground. They found themselves in a chamber full of shattered incubators. Baeron left a signal beacon on the wall as they moved on. When they felt a rumbling coming from below Seles felt something in her mind.

  “No matter what you try he will die,” a voice said to her. “You’ll be left alone to suffer. I can stop this fate Seles Daevon. All you need to do is join me. Take some time and think it over.”

  “Is something wrong?” Baeron asked.

  “I hear a voice again,” Seles said. “It’s gone now.”

  “Then I’m not crazy,” he said. “I’ve been hearing something in my mind for a while now.”

  The two came to a sealed door with Grey hieroglyphs covering it. Both Seles and Baeron placed an explosive on the door before ducking around a corner. Once the explosion cleared they looked around the corner. Inside of a ch
amber were hundreds of Grey soldiers and dozens of their smaller saucers.

  “I think this job is a bit big for the two of us,” Seles said.

  “Agreed,” Baeron said before tapping his com. “This is Commander Baeron speaking. Are there any teams free in this area?”

  “This is team fifty two,” an officer said. “We’re the only team within range of your communicator.”

  “Move to the upper levels and gather as many teams as you can,” Baeron ordered. “We have a Grey base at our location. If you can open some of the service shafts bring down some Lances.”

  “We’ll do our best commander,” the soldier said.

  A couple dozen Grey soldiers began creeping towards them. Seles tossed her last pair of pulse grenades while Baeron placed a signal beacon on the wall. After the explosions ended more Greys headed their way.

  “I really wish I could’ve brought the Artemis now,” Seles said.

  “We can’t let ourselves get surrounded,” Baeron said. “I think we should head up.”

  “I’d like to but take a look behind us,” Seles said.

  Baeron turned and saw a dozen Grey soldiers moving towards them.

  “I don’t suppose you have any more grenades?” Seles asked.

  “I’m all out,” Baeron said. “How long can your shield last?”

  “Fifteen minutes at most,” Seles said.

  “Then let’s barricade ourselves in one of the larger rooms and hold out until reinforcements get here,” Baeron suggested.

  “Good idea,” Seles said.

  The two ran into one of the old storage rooms and sealed the door behind them. Seles activated her shield and used it to bar the door. The sound of pulse fire hitting the metal door started a moment later. Baeron used his light to search around the room for anything useful. He laughed when he cracked open an old metal crate.

  “What’s so funny?” Seles asked while the door was being battered.

  “This crate is a container for emergency rations,” Baeron said. “Their expiration date was over a thousand years ago.”

  Seles laughed with him. “It’s probably a hidden stash left behind by Myden.”

  “You might be right,” Baeron said. “By the way, the door doesn’t look long for this world.”

  “I agree,” Seles said.

  The Greys had mostly blasted through and were now working on her shield. Every moment that passed more Grey soldiers were outside firing away. Seles glanced at her power meter and saw her exoskeleton was at twenty three percent of full power. When she looked up one of the Greys in the back stared at her with its black eyes.

  “One yes and this will all be over,” the voice said to her again. “Is it really worth it?”

  Seles growled. “I’ve had enough of whoever you are.”

  Her eyes began glowing blue under the helmet. As the berserk came over her she edged forward.

  “Baeron, take a position near the door,” Seles said.

  “You’re charging in, aren’t you?” he asked.

  “Better that then dying,” she replied.

  “I’m with you on that,” the bearman said.

  He moved his back to the wall near the door and held his axe in front. Seles narrowed her eyes as time seemed to slow down. With the shield in front she dashed into the hallway with her sword spinning. She moved her shield out of the way for a split second and blasted the first line of Grey soldiers. She quickly rolled from side to side of the hallway while repeating the maneuver. Baeron cautiously followed and hacked a Grey with his axe when he got close enough. When a pair of Greys ran around a corner he flipped his pulse rifle forward and fired. The two went down before they could attack. Seles had cleared the immediate area of enemies. When she looked down the main hallway she noticed a battle erupting in the room her and Baeron had reported. She quickly ended the berserk and moved back to back with the Minan.

  “You fight well,” he said.

  “I’ve been working on it for a while now,” Seles said.

  An explosion opened a hole in the floor near them.

  “I really hope that’s not more of them,” Seles said.

  “They don’t smell like the ones we’ve been fighting,” Baeron said.

  Brian peaked through the hole before jumping up. Myden floated up behind him.

  “I thought you needed help,” Brian said before looking at all the dead Greys. “Guess I was wrong.”

  “Thanks for the thought,” Seles said. “But you know I’m not a helpless little girl.”

  “Not now, not ever,” Brian said. “I don’t know about you but I’m almost out of power. I think we should leave for now.”

  “My soldiers will take care of things for the time being,” Baeron said.

  “I think it’s time to go as well,” Seles said.

  Myden cringed when he felt something horrible in his mind.

  “What’s wrong?” Brian asked.

  “I don’t know, but Valis does,” Myden said. “We should get to the surface as soon as possible.”

  Chapter 28 - An Eerie Calm

  Valis was working at the holographic table in the Avoni’s strategy room. She currently had the Grey forces and their last known locations in the star systems near Dega Jul. After finishing with her work she turned the table off and returned to the bridge. There, Zae, Baed, and Vae worked at their usual stations.

  “What’s our status?” Valis asked.

  “The ship is operating at ninety percent right now,” Baed reported.

  “You were in there for a while,” Zae said.

  “This seems to be a lull period in the war,” Valis said. “The Greys appear to be retreating to the border region for the moment.”

  “What about the report Brian sent us?” Baed asked.

  “I have to agree with her on this captain,” Zae said.

  Vae continued to quietly work at the navigation console.

  “The main issue is the fact we can’t find their sleeper colonies or supply bases,” Valis said. “All we can plan for what we can see.”

  “From my perspective the Greys are getting ready to launch a major offensive,” Zae said.

  “That’s what I think as well,” Valis said. “I also wanted to ask the three of you about the Hades system.”

  “All of us can berserk captain,” Baed said.

  “I still can’t do it on command quite yet,” Vae admitted.

  “I can handle it Valis, don’t worry,” Zae said.

  “The reason I ask is because the Minerva’s system is showing me some very bad things,” Valis said. “Our main ships have escaped major damage, but if the Greys can emulate our mobile suits and mobile armors I fear they’ll emulate the more powerful weapons.” She took a moment to look at all three of them. “Were all of you were onboard the Avoni during the sojourn?”

  “Yes,” Zae said.

  Both Baed and Vae nodded a yes.

  “When Brian awakened a number of you berserked,” Valis said. “What I’m wondering is if we can use that to our advantage.”

  “If more of our pilots and officers were able to berserk our fighting ability would increase significantly,” Zae said.

  “But how do we do it?” Vae asked.

  “In the last battle we sang together,” Baed said. “If we do the same thing while berserking none of us should lose control.”

  “Should we give it a try in our next battle?” Zae asked.

  “Yes,” Valis said. “If we don’t come up with something soon we’ll be overwhelmed by their numbers.” She went to leave. “I’m going to talk with Meldi and Myli about this before going to the meeting.”

  “We’ll take care of things here Valis,” Zae said.

  * * *

  Kivi and Dreka were at work again near the remains of the Kritkar. After a long while of helping with the recovery operation the two took a break in front of the Gemini as it sat on the street. More and more civilians were milling about as they went back to their homes or businesses to salvage what
they could. While taking a drink of water Kivi looked up at the sky and squinted.

  “They say it’ll take centuries to recover the atmosphere to the way it was,” Kivi said. “I can already feel the briskness in the air.”

  “Do you want to head underground?” Dreka asked.

  “I’ll take my turn at it,” Kivi said. “Both Brian and Seles saw legions of Greys down there.”

  “To think they were planning this over a thousand years ago,” Dreka said. “None of our races thinks in terms like that.”

  “We’ll have to figure it out sooner or later,” Kivi said. “The worst is trying to replace the population we’ve lost.”

  “How many billions is it now?” Dreka asked.

  “We’re still trying to figure that out,” Kivi said when her com beeped.

  “Captain, the meeting will commence in one hour,” Kaela reported.

  “Thanks for reminding me Kaela,” Kivi said.

  “Anytime captain,” Kaela said before ending transmission.

  “I don’t miss those meetings,” Dreka said.

  “I’m starting to tire of them as well,” Kivi said.

  “Now that doesn’t sound like you,” Dreka said.

  “I know it doesn’t, but I’m wondering about what I’ll do after the war,” she said. “I don’t mind the life of a captain, but I have a feeling there’s more to living than just that.” She looked at the red feathered birdman. “What do you think you’ll be doing twenty years from now?”

  Dreka cawed. “It’ll be research and development. Where I don’t know, but I know I’d like to continue working on mobile weapons and gravity drives. The only good thing about those planet killers is it proves to me I have much to learn. What about you?”

  “Maybe be the owner of a sleepy bar like Grig was,” Kivi said. “And if I get bored I’ll always have the Gemini at my side for adventure.”

  “I’ll make sure to stop by for maintenance work once in a while then,” Dreka said.