Freedom Saga 2: Freedom's Bell (10 page)

Grigon
and Jesela maintained the shields and engines while Myden fired the weapons.
The four droids steered the Freedom and kept communications going. The mobile
suits outside were busy maintaining a defensive shell around the ship.

“This
is getting rough,” Jesela said.

“We
expected as much,” Myden said.

Outside,
a number of enemy ships exploded in flashes of lights.

“I’d
bet they’re wishing Dreka and I were still on their side,” Grigon cawed.
“Foolish are those who throw away talent.”

“I’d
hate fighting you two,” Jesela said.

“Between
you and Daes you’d find a way to manage,” Grigon said.

The
Aegis’s shield started waning.

“We
need to find a way for those systems to last longer,” Grigon said.

“I
have some ideas on that,” Jesela said.

“You’ll
have to run them by me later,” Grigon said.

After
the Aegis’s shield returned to normal the shaking got worse. The Malcovin ships
focused their attacks on the base. As they aimed at one spot the shields opened
a weak spot and caused an explosion.

“They’re
going to make us work even more,” Jesela said.

“That’s
the least of Veda’s worries,” Myden said.

* * *

The
Columbia base shook as pulse fire and HV missiles slammed into the asteroid.
The six ships quickly moved into the hole in the base’s shield.

“No
casualties to report,” Reban said.

Veda
sighed with relief. “I’m glad we got that fixed quickly.”

“Another
wave incoming,” Reban said.

The
Malcovin fleet shifted and attacked a single point in the shield array again.
Five points of light flashed as the Maidens made their way to the enemy forces.

“Should
we send out the reserves?” Reban asked.

Veda
shook her head. “Valis told me not to unless we have to.”

“Alright,”
Reban said.

* * *

Seles
fired one shot after another as they flew into the enemy fleet. The ships and
Talons changed their target and surrounded the Maidens.

“Everyone
needs to move together,” Valis ordered.

The
five mobile suits moved closer to each other while firing their weapons.

“Seles,
Kivi, use attack pattern C-5,” Valis said.

“Yes
Valis,” Seles said.

“Easy
enough,” Kivi said.

The
Artemis landed on the Gemini again while each fired at the same target. The two
focused their attacks on the ships surrounding them while the Siren and Minerva
picked off any Talon coming too close.

“Once
we’ve reached the other side I’d like to circle around and use attack pattern
C-6,” Valis said.

“Got
it,” each of the others said.

After
slicing through the enemy fleet the five turned about and headed straight
through again. The attacks were starting to take their toll as the shaking got
worse. The Artemis and Gemini shifted their cannons to spread mode and fired a
series of attacks through the enemy fleet.

“I
think we have them on the ropes,” Seles said.

“You
might be right,” Kivi said.

* * *

Regelik
watched the battle closely as his fleets were being attacked on all fronts. The
chatter coming over the com showed the Malcovin forces were beginning to panic.

“What
should we do sir?” his commander asked. “If we don’t do something we’ll be
annihilated.”

“Call
in the reserve fleets,” Regelik ordered.

“But
if we do that we won’t have anyone defending Odair Prime,” his commander said.

“I
said call them,” Regelik said. “We have a chance to destroy their base and I
won’t pass it up.” He hit the com. “All forces are to maintain the current
battle plan. We’re calling in our reserves.”

“Yes
sir,” all of the captains responded.

The
admiral tapped his clawed finger.

“Is
something wrong sir?” his commander asked.

“Yes,”
Regelik said. “Focus all attacks on the silver and white mobile suit.”

“Yes
sir,” his subordinates said.

* * *

Seles
continued firing when Valis narrowed her eyes. The Talons and ships nearby began
focusing their attacks on the Artemis.

“Seles,
they’ve changed their target to you,” Valis said.

“Is
there something you’d like me to do about that?” Seles asked.

“When
the time comes be ready to berserk,” Valis said. “I trust you’ll come out of
this alive.”

“Alright,”
Seles said.

“To
all forces,” Valis said. “Our enemy has called for their reserves. Change plans
accordingly.”

* * *

After
a moment a number of lights flashed as another two hundred ships appeared near
them. Reban adjusted their plan and showed it to Veda.

“So
we can use them after all,” Veda said before hitting the com. “All mobile
weapon pilots are to launch and take formation D-17.”

“Yes
admiral!” five hundred pilots shouted.

Ten
hidden launching bays opened all around the Columbia base as two hundred and
fifty Phase Raknas, a hundred Phase Talons, fifty Lance Phalanxes, and a
hundred Fangs launched and surrounded the base.

* * *

“I
bet they weren’t expecting that,” Mira said.

“No
they weren’t,” Valis said.

“The
base is holding well,” Celi said. “I can’t say the same for us.”

“They
really don’t like me,” Seles said.

“I
can’t imagine why,” Kivi said.

The
constant attacks by the enemy forced the five to move closer to each other
again. Despite the powerful shields protecting it the Artemis was starting to
take damage from incoming HV missiles.

“Seles,
Kivi, change back to attack pattern C-5,” Valis said. “Our enemy is getting
wise to your spread attacks.”

“Let’s
give a try,” Kivi said.

“I’m
on it,” Seles said.

The
two mobile suits switched back to targeting larger ships with their combined cannon
attacks. The Malcovin forces started using their attacks to push the Maidens in
a specific direction.

“Seles,
that’s your queue,” Valis said.

“Going
berserk,” Seles said.

The
Artemis sped into the enemy and fired. Each enemy trying to attack her aimed
correctly but shot too late for it to matter. Seles felt power pulsing through
her as she tore through their ships.

Regelik
watched the Artemis destroy his ships one after another. The other Maidens
finished off any ships still functioning in their path. While his main fleet
was being destroyed he hit the com.

“All
ships are to retreat to their designated points,” the admiral said.

“But
sir, we’ll leave the reserve forces behind,” his commander said.

“We
don’t have any other choices,” Regelik said. “I said retreat!”

“Yes
sir,” his subordinates said.

The
fleets around the Maidens collected their Talons and gravity jumped away. While
the admiral’s flagship flickered he stared at the Artemis.

“May
the gods help us,” he said as his ship disappeared.

* * *

“All
ships and mobile weapons are to change their targets to the remaining enemy
fleets,” Veda said.

“I’m
disappointed,” Esra said from the bridge of the Daevoni. “It was just getting
interesting.”

“It
was the wise decision,” El Kar said from the bridge of the Reinkar.

“He’s
trying to preserve his force for the next battle,” Veda said.

The
base shook as an enemy ship slammed into its shields and exploded.

“That
hurt,” Reban said.

“Get
our engineers on it,” Veda said.

* * *

The
six ships and their mobile weapons moved to the other side of the asteroid to
attack. The Maidens gathered together after Seles ended her berserk. They took
their usual formation and joined the others.

“Seles,
you can stand down for a while if you need to,” Valis said.

“I’m
alright,” Seles said.

“Are
you sure?” Mira asked.

“Thanks,”
Seles said. “I’m a little tired.”

“I
don’t think we’ll be needed,” Kivi said.

The
Malcovin fleets ceased firing and signaled their surrender. The forces of the
Columbia base stopped attacking and held their positions.

“Can
we handle that many?” Celi wondered.

Valis
looked over the data. “They have a hundred and thirteen ships left. There are
also two hundred and thirty one Talons.”

“The
spoils of war go our way once again,” Kivi said.

“If
things continue as they are we’re going to need every scrap of metal we come
across,” Valis said.

* * *

Seles
and Mira landed their crafts before heading for the bridge. Along the way Kyli
ran into them.

“You’ll
have to show me those moves someday,” Kyli said.

“I’ll
try, but I’m not sure if you can keep up,” Seles said.

“I’ll
give it my all,” Kyli said.

“That’s
the spirit,” Seles said. “By the way, where are you headed?”

“The
mess hall,” Kyli said. “The birds decided to attack before I had a chance to
grab something to eat.”

Mira’s
stomach grumbled. “I feel the same.”

When
they came to split in the hallways Kyli went to leave them.

“We’ll
join you in a little while,” Seles said.

“Looking
forward to it,” Kyli said as she left.

“She’s
in a good mood,” Mira said.

“That’s
because I had a talk with Tctie,” Seles said. “I think he’s starting to get
it.”

“You’ve
been pushing yourself a lot lately,” Mira said.

“I
can’t help it,” Seles said. “I think I’m trying to do Brian’s part and mine at
the same time.”

“You
could’ve stayed at Reiki Prime and led the negotiations,” Mira said.

“I’d
rather dance with an Ick-Tckt,” Seles said.

The
two entered the bridge and found everything in order. Jesela was humming a tune
as she worked on the console near the captain’s chair. Seles looked at Grigon.

“I’m
sorry, but you’ll have to repair her a little bit,” Seles said.

“That’s
alright,” Grigon said. “I’m bored doing only readings.”

“He
prefers to get his claws dirty,” Jesela said. “Is the Siren alright?”

“They
didn’t care much for me,” Mira said. “By the way, what’s got you so
interested?”

Jesela
showed them the video. “Veda just relayed a message from Brian.” She looked at
the old birdman. “Well Grigon, let’s get to it.”

“Agreed,”
he said before following her off the bridge.

“Do
you want to play it now?” Mira asked.

Seles
sent the video to each of their quarters. “Not now.” She looked at Myden. “You’ve
been rather quiet lately. Is something going on?”

“Nothing
extraordinary,” Myden answered. “Now that the plan is in action my schemes
aren’t needed.”

“That’s
an interesting way of putting it,” Mira said.

“I’ve
been doing my best to get back into the habit of fighting,” Myden said. “I
haven’t been involved like this for centuries.”

“Living
on Kalaidia didn’t keep your skills sharp, did it?” Seles asked.

“Not
at all,” Myden said. “Too much relaxation and meditation erodes the warrior
spirit. I’m better now.”

“Well,
we’ll be leaving for the mess hall then,” Seles said. “Do you want anything to
eat?”

“I’m
alright, thanks though,” he said.

Seles
and Mira headed to the mess hall.

“Have
you ever seen him eat?” Mira asked.

“Come
to think of it, no,” Seles said.

* * *

“Oh,
look what she’s done,” Grigon said while repairing the Artemis.

“It’s
not that bad,” Jesela said while looking over the Siren.

“I
wish shield technology had a better way of handling HV missiles,” Grigon said.

“Why
aren’t we working on that then?” Jesela asked.

“Because
we have too much to do as it is,” Grigon cawed. “That’s the problem with
science. There are so many things left to explain and each of us can only hope
to figure but one thing out in our lifetime.”

Jesela
finished checking the Siren and went to do the same on the Artemis. “Our life
spans are longer now than before.”

“True,”
Grigon said. “Look at Myden; two thousand years and still kicking.” He laughed.
“Even though I’m old I have a lot longer to live.”

“A
hundred years or so,” Jesela said. “That’s if we don’t find a treatment
sooner.”

“I’ll
take you up on that offer,” Grigon said. “My feathers are grey but my mind is
still vibrant.”

Something
blinked on Jesela’s computer. “We should check the gravity drive,” she said. “I’m
getting some unstable readings.”

“Don’t
worry about it,” Grigon said. “Berserking twice in one day taxed the mobile
suit as much as the pilot.”

“Are
you sure?” she asked.

“Now
you’re starting to sound like Dreka,” Grigon said.

Jesela
laughed. “I won’t do that anymore.”