Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence Read online

  “She’ll be okay,” Jesela said.

  “Having to share is the hardest part,” Seles said. “But then again, he has more than enough heart for it.”

  “I think he just likes the change between you,” Jesela said.

  “You’d snag him in a moment if we weren’t looking, wouldn’t you?” Seles asked.

  Jesela laughed. “That’s why I put a bed in the launching bay.”

  Seles laughed with her. “So what did you need me for?”

  “The Artemis’s special system needs some work,” Jesela said. “It’ll take a few hours.”

  “With things the way they are we should get it done,” Seles said.

  “Thanks Seles,” Jesela said.

  Chapter 13 - Preparing for the Siege

  Trai Gor stood in the main command center of the orbital ring surrounding the Shandi homeworld. Thousands of ships were gravity jumping in or flying from the surface into orbit. When the image of two planet killers surrounded by nearly fifteen thousand carriers appeared on the monitor he looked at Admiral Vik Jir.

  “What should we do?” Vik Jir asked.

  “Ready my Fang for battle,” Trai Gor said.

  “But sir…”

  “There are no buts about this!” Trai Gor shouted. “We need every available pilot for this battle. I will address our soldiers once I’m outside.”

  “Of course my lord,” the admiral said.

  Trai Gor noticed fear behind his warriors’ eyes. I can’t blame them for feeling afraid. Against such a foe we should be. All of them looked to their leader.

  “The darkness has come upon us my friends,” he said. “The skies will be filled with fire and there will be death in numbers never seen before. Therefore we must stand strong and fight. Man your stations and don’t give up. If we all do our duty the lives of our people should be spared.” He checked to make sure his falchion was on his back. “Take care of things here while I’m gone.”

  “We will sir,” Vik Jir said.

  All of them saluted their leader as he left for battle.

  * * *

  Valis sat alone in the Minerva with the system working around her. While her eyes glowed she saw the possibilities before her. After a few minutes of frantically moving variables around she sighed and ended the system.

  It’s not working out, is it? The Minerva asked in text.

  “No, it’s not,” Valis said. “The worst is I can see there will be many more deaths before things get any better.”

  Then focus on the next task only. The Minerva wrote. Otherwise you’ll find nothing but despair.

  Valis smiled. “You know me well Minerva, thanks.”

  I’ll always be here for you Valis. The Minerva wrote.

  “I know,” Valis said. “I’ll be busy for a while, so take care until then.”

  Valis stepped out of the mobile suit and went down to the floor of the launching bay using the elevator cord. The engineers were busy working on every mobile suit at the moment. She watched Daes work with Meldi and Myli on something when Celi tapped her on the shoulder.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. “You look terrible.”

  “I feel that way,” Valis said. “Sometimes seeing the future is a burden I don’t care to carry.”

  “Their deaths are not your fault,” Celi said.

  “I know what you’re saying is true,” Valis said. “But I can’t help but wonder if I could’ve done better.”

  “You’re only one woman Valis,” Celi said. “No matter what happens we have to keep our spirits about us. The moment we lose hope is the moment they win.”

  “Hope is a hard thing to keep going,” Valis said.

  “But it’s also hard to extinguish,” Celi said. “And remember, all of us feel it. Words can’t describe the anger and fear filling the souls of everyone still alive. The events of the last month will never be forgotten. Remember that the living will carry the memory of the dead wherever they go.”

  “I didn’t know you were a philosopher,” Valis said.

  “I had to become one after seeing what I’ve seen,” Celi said. “Do you feel a little better?”

  “Yes,” Valis said. “It’s time I stop hesitating and tell everyone the truth. We won’t win this war without some terrible sacrifices.”

  “When did anyone win a war without terrible sacrifices?” Celi asked.

  “That’s sadly true,” Valis said.

  * * *

  Mira gave Brian a kiss before leaving him to get ready in his quarters. As he ran a comb through his long brown hair he noticed Myden step out of the shadows.

  “I see,” Brian said.

  “You see what?” Myden asked.

  “I can see how you do that now,” Brian said.

  “Your power has developed that far?” the Grey asked.

  “You could say that,” Brian said. He noticed a smile on the old Grey’s face. “What are you grinning about?”

  “You’ve gotten used to your surroundings,” Myden said.

  “At first I looked at them as aliens,” Brian said. “But they don’t look that way now.” He chuckled. “You know, if I was carrying on like this on Earth I’d be called a sinner.”

  “The religious fools of all worlds fall to the tide of time my friend,” Myden said. “In my life I’ve seen all of them die off. One can deny evolution, but that same person will fall to it.”

  “You sound like you know from experience,” Brian said.

  “Like your people the Naerendi had numerous faiths,” Myden said. “And many of them had foolish notions. But I didn’t come here to talk about such things. I came to tell you it has been done.”

  “I’m glad,” Brian said. “As long as Daes takes care of the rest I’ll be relieved.”

  “What was it you saw?” Myden asked.

  Brian stepped into his exoskeleton armor and drew his rakna blade. After checking its balance he sheathed it and turned to Myden.

  “My time in this world could end at any moment,” Brian said. “But in a world like this, hope must live on. The Warrior can come of any world.”

  “Interesting,” Myden said. “You’re starting to sound like him.”

  “I hope not, I’m not him,” Brian said. “And as much preparation as I’m making I don’t plan on dying.”

  “Of all the things you’ve said that’s what I wanted to hear the most,” Myden said.

  “Have you gone to see the others?” Brian asked as they headed for the command center.

  “I will speak to them when I can,” Myden said. “I have a question. Why don’t you tell her?”

  “If I do the burden will only grow on her,” Brian said. “If the future I saw was true then the path before her is a long, dark, and terrible one.”

  Myden chuckled again. “And I thought I was the expert on secret machinations.”

  “I’ve learned the value of having several back up plans just in case,” Brian said.

  The two found themselves in the command center a moment later. All of the captains of the five ships, along with Grigon, Myden, and Baeron were there. On the monitor the leaders of the other seven bases were waiting. This included Captain Lena Obril of the Nevada base, Admiral Vikrit of the Sicily base, Shiken Ka of the Siberia base, Captain Javrin of the Alaska base, Admiral Miv Daek of the Hong Kong base, Captain Sheris of the Sahara base, and Captain Melana of the Death Valley base. All of their holographic tables displayed the current positions of their forces and the Greys. The fleet detected by the Siberia base had split into two forces. A pair of planet killers headed for Shandi Prime while the other two remained behind in Viken controlled space. The others looked to Valis as they usually did. After she showed them the basic movements of her plan everyone smiled. The eight bases were to go together to Shandi Prime and attack the flank of the Grey fleet.

  “Looks like we’re going on the offensive,” Kivi said.

  “We have to,” Valis said. “If we don’t bring the fight to the Greys they’ll pick us off one pla
net at a time.” She looked at everyone. “I’ve delegated the specifics to each base commander. You and your captains can fight over what’s left. We’re moving out now.”

  When everyone made their way back to their ships or stations Brian grabbed Valis’s arm.

  “It’s good to see you back being you,” he said.

  “It took a good kick in the backside from a friend,” Valis said.

  “Let’s make it through this Valis,” Brian said.

  “We will,” she said.

  * * *

  Outside of lunar orbit the two planet killers appeared with their fleet of carriers. The Shandi forces had spread themselves into ten fleets of a thousand ships each. Alongside them flew ten times that in Fangs. All other available pilots flew refitted Desert Spits. After seeing what happened to the Viken people Trai Gor had all of the people on the moon evacuated and left its defenses to automation. The orbital defense system was layered in two areas, right near the planet, and half way to lunar orbit. Before the Grey fleet came within pulse fire range they launched their smaller attacks ships. Nearly a million of them swarmed towards the Shandi fleets. Just as they came within firing range they found themselves in the thick of a series of explosions as phase cloaked mines went off. Trai Gor smiled as fire lit the area.

  “If you thought this would be easy it will not be,” the old Shandi said. He hit his com. “To the people of Shandi, this is Trai Gor speaking. As of now the first wave of Greys are being engaged by our mine field. But don’t take this as a victory speech. This battle will be long and difficult, and as such, I call upon each of you to fight. This planet gave birth to us and it’s our duty to defend it to the last.” He paused for a moment when nuclear missiles launched from the moon and started taking out Grey carriers. “The Greys represent a dead philosophy. Rather than fight them they gave into their fears and created a false deity to bow their will to. Such an abomination we can’t stand. Existence changes with each thought made within it. These thoughts lead to actions, thus changing reality. The cycle of change is born in each of our thoughts as we live. This is because we are the living universe. Without beings like us the universe is a dead and lifeless realm of physical interactions. The Greys have denied their place as part of the universe, thus usurping the collective will. We must correct this mistake. If it takes our lives then we accept it. Long live Shandi! Long live the Confederation!”

  “Long live Shandi! Long live the Confederation!” his soldiers shouted.

  Trai Gor adjusted his Fang’s systems to his preferences. The Shandi looking mobile armor drew its glowing sword in one hand and held a pulse cannon in the other. When the first Grey ship found a way through the mine field Trai Gor aimed and fired. Thousands joined him as they blasted the front line.

  Chapter 14 - The Battle of Shandi Prime

  The front line of mobile armors and Spits were currently engaging the attack vessels sent forward by the Greys. Whenever Trai Gor slashed his way through an attack ship it seemed ten would take its place. The first line of the orbital defense system activated when the Shandi fell back. All of the automated pulse cannons on the moon added in as wave after wave of pulse fire slammed into the Grey ships. After Trai Gor sent out the signal another wave of nuclear missiles fired and carved a hole through the center of the Grey formation. Before the swarm of attack ships could fill the void all nuclear equipped ships fired their weapons and cut down a thousand Grey carriers. Even with a powerful blow to the enemy the Shandi were still outnumbered more than ten to one.

  “My lord, the enemy is so numerous that we can’t…” Vik Jir said.

  “I know,” Trai Gor said. “This is a test of our resolve. It’s time the first and second fleets use our special weapon.”

  “Yes sir,” the admiral said. “All vessels in the first and second fleets are to activate the Dragon Scale system.”

  The two thousand heavy class ships of those two fleets all moved closer together. As the special defense system came on the shields from all the ships pulsed as they moved to form a single, nearly impregnable shield. All of their Fangs and Spits moved inside the protective barrier as the fleets advanced into the enemy formation. When the mass of Shandi ships were completely surrounded the shell around them pulsed as the defensive barrier fired powerful energy beams in all directions save for their rear.

  “The system is working sir,” the admiral said.

  “Of course it is,” Trai Gor said. “Make sure to ready the other fleets for their turns. Our goal is to clear a path to their planet killers before they fire.”

  * * *

  Seles and Mira prepared to go in the Artemis and Siren while Jesela did her usual round of checks.

  “Things seem so unreal right now,” Seles said.

  “Time will wear that down,” Jesela said. “What you’re seeing today won’t affect you now, but in the times when you’re alone a few years from now you’ll know it.”

  “Are you speaking from experience?” Mira asked.

  “I am,” Jesela said.

  “It’s only because of good luck any of us are still alive,” Seles said. “Though Mira’s cheating because of her father.”

  “I’ll admit to that,” Mira said. She glanced at the two mobile suits. “I still wonder why he wanted us to pilot these.”

  “The Maidens are to each have a chariot,” Jesela said. “Those were his orders after we met Grigon. Each is equipped with special system that can only be activated by an awakened Kalaidian.”

  “So berserking isn’t enough?” Seles asked.

  “No,” Jesela said. “You saw Brian in the Mjolnir. He was able to use the dimensional blade thing.” She looked over her scans again. “By the way, you’re both clear to fly.”

  “You’ve done your part, now it’s time for us to do ours,” Seles said.

  “I’ve got a song or two in mind that should clear the way,” Mira said.

  The two boarded their mobile suits while Jesela watched. They went to standby because the bases hadn’t yet reached their target. Jesela then left the two and headed for the bridge. When she got there Brian, Myden, and Grigon were ready with the four droids. She quickly took her station when the base gravity jumped again. Brian looked up after reading the battle plan he was working on.

  “What are our chances?” Jesela asked.

  “It should end in victory,” Brian said. “But at what cost I can’t answer.”

  “We’ll do our best then,” Grigon said.

  “That’s all we can do,” Jesela said.

  Brian finished the plan and sent it out to all the pilots in their mobile suits. He looked at the monitor and saw the flash of another gravity jump. One more and the eight bases would be at Shandi Prime.

  “I hope they were able to hold the Greys back,” Brian said.

  * * *

  Valis was in the Minerva when Kivi appeared on the screen from the Gemini.

  “It’s good to finally see you again,” Kivi said.

  “I haven’t been myself lately, have I?” Valis asked.

  “No, you’ve been much too hesitant to be the Valis I know,” Kivi said. “I know it’s difficult because the scale is larger, but this isn’t different from any other war.”

  “I think Brian’s idealism is rubbing off on me,” Valis admitted.

  “He’s that way because of what he’s gone through,” Kivi said. “Having your mind connected to some machine god can’t be healthy. I’m surprised he hasn’t gone crazy already.”

  “He is crazy, that’s the issue,” Valis said with a smile.

  “Agreed,” Kivi said. “Someday all of us will join him.”

  “I wonder what it’ll be like to awaken,” Valis said.

  “I do as well, but I’m not sure,” Kivi said. “Berserking is odd enough.”

  “True,” Valis said. She received the signal that their forces were now in position. After looking it over she noticed Kivi shaking her head. “What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t believe this is happe
ning,” Kivi said.

  “Let’s go Kivi, it’s time we bring the fight to them,” Valis said.

  * * *

  The Shandi line fell back again when the fifth and sixth fleets reached their limit and returned to the main force. The Greys had pushed them back to first orbital defense line while moving forward. Trai Gor cursed under his breath at the situation. The admirals behind him were hastily reorganizing the fleets to maintain a semblance of order. More than half of the Grey fleet had been destroyed, but the same could be said for the Shandi forces. While the Shandi were shifting things around the two planet killers charged up. Before they were fully charged the two massive ships fired a pair of beams. One slammed into the moon of the Shandi homeworld and wiped out most of the weaponry stationed on it. The other missed the atmosphere of the homeworld and instead slammed into the orbital ring. The shockwave of destruction quickly spread across the whole of the structure before it collapsed and slammed into the planet below. Millions of Shandi died as the fragments fell into the equatorial areas. The sky in the middle of the planet was filled with fire while the ground soldiers desperately tried destroying the falling fragments. The soldiers in orbit watched with horror knowing there was nothing they could do about it. With the command center in the orbital ring gone Trai Gor quickly changed the command structure within the fleet.

  “Admiral Jark Le, you’re now in charge,” Trai Gor said.

  “My lord,” the admiral said.

  “I know, but we must fight on,” Trai Gor said.

  “I understand,” Jark Le said.

  Behind the two planet killers the eight bases of Heaven’s Light appeared. As they deployed their forces Trai Gor opened his com again.

  “To all the remaining soldiers, our allies have come!” Trai Gor said. “Now is the time to drive this threat from our world forever. Long live Shandi! Long live the Confederation!”

  “Long live Shandi! Long live the Confederation!” his soldiers shouted.