Freedom Saga 2: Freedom's Bell Page 6

  “She and the Artemis are something,” Mira added. “What the heck happened?”

  Seles reached out with her right hand with her fingers outstretched. “I can’t describe it.”

  “We’ll worry about it later,” Valis said. “Everyone should return to base.”

  “See you later then,” Kivi said before flying the Gemini back to the Raulno.

  “Take care you two,” Celi said before flying the Aegis back to the Avoni.

  “Mira, keep an eye on our huntress,” Valis said before heading back to the Avoni.

  “You looked tired,” Mira said. “Do you need help getting home?”

  Seles smiled. “No, I can fly on my own.”

  Once the two landed back on the Freedom they left their mobile suits. In the dim light Mira noticed something strange about Seles’s eyes.

  “What?” Seles asked.

  “I might be seeing things,” Mira said. “Next time we have an off day I’d like to run few tests on you.”

  “If we ever have an off day that is,” Seles said.

  The two headed for the bridge. As the other pilots landed the interior of the Freedom became a flurry of activity again. When they entered the bridge everyone was at their station while Brian paced around the room.

  “What’s the situation?” Seles asked.

  “Their government has surrendered to us,” Brian said.

  “Shouldn’t we use the thing?” Mira asked.

  Brian shook his head. “Not yet, we have to receive word from the rest of the Reiki colonies. Once we have clearance we’ll use it.”

  “Are we staying or heading out?” Seles asked.

  “We’ll stay for a short time,” Brian answered. “I’m probably going to remain behind and help them form a government.”

  Seles sighed. “So you’re leaving us again?”

  Mira laughed.

  Brian smiled. “I won’t be long my lady, I promise you that.”

  “It’s going to cost you,” Seles said.

  “I’ll pay up in full when the time comes,” Brian said.

  “As interesting as this is getting I have to take my leave and check your crafts,” Jesela said before leaving.

  Grigon cawed. “Nobody is being serious these days,” he said before following her.

  “I wasn’t being serious, was I?” Brian asked.

  “No, you were being a fool,” Seles said.

  “An obvious one at that,” Mira said.

  “I am a fool, but not an idiot,” Brian said.

  * * *

  Grigon and Jesela checked the Artemis and Siren again. The old birdman used the console while Jesela used a tablet to do the work.

  “There’s a jump in your step today,” Jesela remarked.

  “We’re seeing the potential from one of these today,” Grigon said.

  “Her readings were off what the simulations predicted,” Jesela said.

  “That’s to be expected with technology like this,” Grigon said.

  “So what led to the design of the Talon?” Jesela asked. “I know many have dabbled in the idea of mobile suits or mobile armors, but not the special drive system.”

  “It was during the first war my people had with Kalaidia,” Grigon explained. “I fought Gaelic Kein in a number of dogfights and neither of us came out a definite victor. Before the plague struck your race I was working on a number of theories when I stumbled on a new way of using the particles in a gravity drive. With Rikai’s help we worked on how to best utilize them. The mobile suit ended up being the most efficient design.”

  “What about the black boxes?” she asked.

  “Those were the areas Rikai focused on,” Grigon said. “She’s the reason these are here today.”

  “If she drew up the blueprints for it then we should call the black box system the Rikai Drive,” Jesela said.

  “When my people are free of their foolishness I’ll do so,” Grigon said. “Justice must be served before such a thing can happen.”

  “It will be soon enough,” Myden said as he walked in.

  “What brings you here old man?” Jesela asked.

  Myden laughed. “I am old,” he said as he touched the leg of the Artemis. “She’s moving along nicely.”

  “That she is,” Grigon said.

  “Are you two talking about the mobile suit or Seles?” Jesela asked.

  “They are one and the same in this endeavor,” Myden answered.

  “I hope you two aren’t keeping secrets on us,” Jesela said. “I have a big mouth.”

  Grigon cawed. “No, we won’t keep anything secret anymore.”

  “Those days are past us,” Myden said. “Honesty is the best policy.”

  “If that’s true then what do you mean by she’s coming along nicely?” Jesela asked.

  Myden gazed at the Artemis. “Only Brian has ever used his craft to its maximum before Jesela. Seles and Valis are coming close though. In order to win the war we need the Maidens to reach their maximum.”

  “Even if our foes are equipped like the Malcovin military I doubt that,” Jesela said.

  “I’m not talking about our foes within the Confederation,” Myden said. “I mean the war with my people.”

  “On that I agree,” Jesela said.

  Chapter 12 - Ring the Bell

  “Very well,” Brian said as the new leaders of the Reiki people ended transmission. He looked to Seles. “You can have the honor.”

  “I’m more than happy to,” Seles said before touching the console near the captain’s chair.

  The intercom system of all ships nearby transferred the bell ringing as it spread throughout the main Reiki system. Over the next few weeks the signal spread until it reached all corners of the Confederation.

  “We are Heaven’s Light,” Brian started. “We are the light that shines liberty upon the world. Where tyranny reigns we will strike. Where the innocent are pleading we will go. Until the day the Freedom’s bell rings eternal our mission will never end.”

  Brian’s message traveled with the sound of the bell as it tolled once more.

  “It’s a bit dramatic but I think it works,” he said.

  “The tolling of a bell symbolizes something for each race,” Myden said.

  “It’s better than just saying we won,” Jesela added.

  “I have to agree with Jesela,” Mira said.

  “It’s a warning to those who oppose our cause,” Grigon said with a caw.

  “So you’re leaving me in charge?” Seles asked.

  “Yeah, the Reiki don’t trust Veda or Shiken Ka enough to leave it in their hands,” Brian said. “I’ll stay behind and help them. Until then I trust all of you to take care of the ship.”

  “We will,” Mira said before pulling him down for a kiss.

  “She’ll be exactly as you left her,” Seles said before doing likewise.

  “Thanks you two,” Brian said before leaving.

  Seles called up the next mission plan on the console near the captain’s chair. Mira looked over her shoulder as she scrolled through it.

  “At least he won’t be lonely,” Mira said.

  “That he won’t,” Seles said. “Alright, I think I’ve got it now.”

  “What are we doing next?” Jesela asked as she danced over to them.

  “We’re fulfilling Veda’s promise and heading for the Odairan territories,” Seles explained.

  “It’s about time!” Grigon cawed. “Zaris and his chitter chatters have been exploiting them for decades.”

  Myden laughed. “That’s an interesting way to put it old friend.”

  Seles looked at the old birdman. “If you know anything beyond our intelligence reports I’d like to know.”

  “Nothing of substance,” Grigon said. “For almost thirty years Zaris has disguised the Iron navy as mercenaries, thus keeping the legal status of what they’re doing in the Odairan territories a question. The Confederation knows this but refuses to do anything on the grounds that mercenaries don
’t have to explain who their employer is or where their weapons come from.”

  Seles called up the star map showing the twenty two systems legally considered the territory of the Odairan people.

  “How large are the Malcovin navies?” she asked.

  “There are four,” Grigon said. “Three of them are a thousand ships strong while the admiral of Gold has a fleet twice that.”

  “This fight will be fierce,” Seles said. “The Reiki don’t have mobile suit technology, the Malcovin military does.”

  “With Valis as our mission planner we should come out on top,” Mira said.

  “And we have better technology,” Jesela said.

  “All of you are right,” Seles said. “Let’s deliver a victory for the people of Odair.”

  * * *

  King Zaris sat in his throne room surrounded by his advisors. Shakar, the admiral of the Gold navy, stood next to his king.

  “What do you think my lord?” Shakar asked.

  “The Reiki are weak and feckless,” Zaris said. “We’re not. When they strike we’ll crush them.”

  “Admiral Regelik is in position as we speak,” Shakar said.

  “Vikrit and Takar will guard the borders,” Zaris said. “They may have superior mobile suits but we have the numbers to beat them.” Zaris stood and held his Keiker pike to the domed ceiling. “We are Malcov! We are the last line of defense between this Terran conqueror and the worlds of Alden. We will fight until all of Heaven’s Light is destroyed! We will be victorious!”

  The great hall of the bird people was filled with caws of defiance and unity as they cheered their king.

  * * *

  Deep under the city of Jerikai a number of females of the bird people met with pulse rifles in hand. Physically, the females were identical to the males of the species save for a slightly small beak and body. The colors ranged from black to red like their male counterparts. They watched Zaris’s rally after the tolling of the Freedom’s bell. At the center table sat a red feathered female named Seka. She had a Keiker pike in hand and rifle on her back. Two others equipped the same sat with her.

  “His time is coming to an end,” Seka said. “For decades we’ve waited to take back our rights as sentient beings. The time to act is coming and we must prepare.”

  “Is that why we’re meeting?” one of the other leaders asked. She had brown feathers and was named Kili.

  “Yes,” Seka answered.

  “We rarely get together like this,” the second leader said. She had black feathers and was named Teaika. “Is it the coming of Heaven’s Light you anticipate?”

  “They’ll come,” Seka said. “Through their agents Captain Valis Kein has sent us information. She’s even provided mission plans for us to fulfill while the organization makes their way to us.”

  “Let’s get to it then!” Teaika shouted before cawing.

  * * *

  Veda and Shiken Ka were in the command center when Brian walked in.

  “The battle has only begun,” Shiken said.

  “True friend,” Brian echoed. “Our forces have cowed the enemy but the hard part remains.”

  “Are the two of you alright with this?” Veda asked. “I can stay if you need me.”

  Shiken pointed to the other two asteroid bases outside. “They’ll stay with us for the time being.”

  “Very well then,” Veda said. “It’s time to fulfill the promise I made.”

  “I look forward to the good news,” Brian said. “Take care of things Veda; I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “As will I,” Shiken said.

  The two headed for a shuttle.

  “You want them to rely on their own strength, don’t you?” Shiken asked.

  Brian nodded. “The plan the Teacher made has changed. Because of that I want them to be able to lead on their own.”

  “Do you anticipate death?” Shiken asked as they boarded the shuttle.

  “We must always be ready Shiken, you know that,” Brian answered.

  “Of course,” the snakeman said.

  * * *

  Mira and Suv Gar worked in the Freedom’s main medical lab. In the room next to theirs Seles stared out the small window and watched the shuttle Brian was on as it headed to the surface.

  “Her heart is distant,” Suv Gar said.

  “I know the feeling,” Mira said. “Love can last the distance but it feels like an eternity at times.”

  “The two of you cope together no doubt,” Suv Gar said.

  “Friendship helps,” Mira said.

  The final assessment appeared on the screen.

  “Nothing’s changed,” Suv Gar said. “How’s that possible?”

  Mira laughed. “I see you were impressed.”

  “Anyone watching her would be,” Suv Gar said.

  Mira flipped through a number of different scans. “We’re missing something.”

  “Between the two of us we’ll find it,” Suv Gar said. “I recommend stopping for the day.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Mira said. “Let’s get together tomorrow at the same time.”

  “Of course,” Suv Gar said. “I’ll see you then.”

  The Shandi woman left while Mira stayed behind. She looked at Seles and couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. When she spaced out Seles knocked on the window.

  “Can I come out yet?” Seles asked.

  Mira shook it off and opened the door.

  “Sorry about that,” she said.

  “My situation must be dire if you’re acting like that,” Seles said after leaving the scanning room.

  “The problem is there’s no problem,” Mira said.

  “It didn’t feel any different than a regular berserk,” Seles said.

  “Jesela and her read outs differ on the subject,” Mira said before sighing. “We’ll keep an eye on you. That’s about the only thing we can do right now. By the way, do you want me to tell Brian about this?”

  “Not right now,” Seles said. “Let’s focus on the mission.”

  “It’s your call,” Mira said. “I’m beat, how about a bath?”

  “I’m in,” Seles said.

  Chapter 13 - Oppressed Odairans

  A fleet of two hundred Malcovin ships appeared over the Odairan home world, a planet a quarter smaller than Earth with a pair of large moons circling it. Surrounding the planet was a solar power generation ring and numerous space colonies. The admiral of the Iron navy, Regelik, stood on the bridge of the fleet’s flagship. At the same time numerous smaller fleets entered the other Odairan systems to initiate the crackdown. Regelik looked to his communications officer before speaking.

  “To the people of Odair,” Regelik started. “We’ve been hired to keep the peace in your territories for decades and until today that arrangement has been mutually beneficial. We come today with the intent of snuffing out those who would ally themselves with the tyrannical organization known as Heaven’s Light. As the security force hired to protect you it’s our obligation to expunge your world of usurpers. In doing so we must declare martial law and suspend your people’s legal protections. In addition, all of your government officials will submit themselves to arrest. We know this is painful, but it’s necessary to protect you.”

  After the admiral spoke hundreds of drop ships descended upon the surface of the planet and colonies. The other fleets throughout the Odairan territories did likewise. Thousands of Malcovin troops flooded into the cities of the rat people.

  * * *

  The Columbia base was making its way towards the Odairan border when a Malcovin agent entered the command center and handed Veda a data crystal.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get here earlier,” he said. “The Iron navy closed the borders and made things a lot more difficult.”

  “It’s alright lieutenant,” Veda said. She took the data crystal and put it into the slot on the console. “Have they caught our agents?”

  “None so far,” the Malcovin lieutenant reported.<
br />
  “Thank you,” Veda said.

  “I’m glad to help,” the birdman said before leaving.

  Veda put the information on the data crystal on the monitor. It displayed the numbers and positions of the Iron navy. She then played the message sent out by Admiral Regelik. Afterwards she sighed and shook her head.

  “Classic invade and blame the other party,” Veda said.

  “It might be old but it works,” Reban said.

  “True,” Veda said. “And given the legal status of their troops the Confederation can do nothing to them. Even our best agents are having a hard time finding the money trail back to the Malcovin government.”

  “The next best thing would be to capture their leaders and prove their guilt,” Reban offered.

  “That’s the only option available for now,” Veda said. “He must be confident since he spread his troops so thin.”

  Reban scrolled the positions around on the monitor. “If they found us and attacked with a thousand ships we wouldn’t survive.”

  “We would,” Veda said. “But we’d have to call in our reinforcements earlier than we want to.”

  “What reinforcements are you talking about?” Reban asked.

  “The Sicily base is waiting on the border of Malcovin space in case we need them,” Veda explained.

  “Should we call for a meeting?” Reban asked.

  “I think one is needed,” Veda said. “Send this to the other commanders so they can review the details.”

  * * *

  Seles and Mira joined the bridge crew on the Freedom after Veda sent the information over. After watching, Seles turned it off and looked at the others. She noticed Grigon was holding back his anger.

  “That’s the current situation,” Seles said. “Veda’s called for a meeting in a few minutes.”

  “Are you alright?” Jesela asked.

  Grigon cawed to let out his frustration. “Sorry, I don’t mean to lose it, I really don’t. But seeing my people act like this is infuriating.”

  “Not many enjoy the truth when it’s so ugly,” Myden said.