Heaven Saga 3: Sojourn Into Despair (14 page)

“All
mobile suits prepare for combat,” Brian ordered. “I’ll be joining you shortly.
Our base formation is A-11.” He turned to Zae. “I’m leaving the Avoni in your
hands.”

“Alright,”
Zae said.

“Grigon,
did you get that?” Brian asked.

“Yes,”
the old birdman answered. “I’ll deploy the Talons as you specified.”

“Good,”
Brian said before heading to the elevator.

“Brian,
aren’t you forgetting this?” Baed asked. She pointed to the
rakna
blade
he’d planted in the floor.

“Should
I fall one of you will need to take it up,” Brian said. “Let’s hope it doesn’t
come to that.”

“Let’s
hope not indeed,” Baed said before turning back to steering the ship.

Before
the elevator opened Brian took out a small injector and hit himself in the
neck. It eased the pain while adding a much needed energy boost. He ran to the
launching bay and went to the Mjolnir. After taking the cord up he activated
its systems.

“Meldi,
we have thirty six mobile suits remaining including the Mjolnir,” he said. “I
want you and Myli to each take command of eleven suits. I’ll be doing the
same.”

“So
it’s three squadrons of twelve?” Meldi asked.

“That’s
the plan,” Brian said. “I’ll be commanding squadron one, you two, and Myli
three. We have no cover here so we’re going to have to rely on each another for
protection.”

“Is
squadron three to act as a reserve?” Myli asked.

“Yes,”
Brian answered. “Stick close to the Avoni unless ordered otherwise.” The mobile
suits started launching outside to take position in space around the Avoni. The
Vomada deployed the remaining forty nine Talons on autopilot in a formation
ahead of them. “Squadrons one and two will follow the Talon’s attack wave. The
goal is to overwhelm the carrier’s shields so we can strike it directly with
our ships’ main cannons.”

“Yes
sir,” the other pilots answered.

Each
squad moved into formation. Grigon positioned three squads of twelve Talons at
point. Myli and her eleven suits took a similar formation around the Avoni. The
remaining thirteen Talons formed a defensive shell around the Vomada to act as
a reserve force. Brian observed closely as the smaller Grey ships began mirroring
their formation. Their telepathic abilities caused their ships to shift and
look like mobile suits.

“Brian,
it they’re mirroring our weapons,” Meldi said with anxiety in her voice.

“I
had a feeling this was going to happen,” Brian said. “Aim for the heart of the
saucer.”

“Yes
sir,” Meldi and the others responded.

While
the forces of smaller ships closed in on each another the Grey carrier fired a massive
energy beam at the Avoni. The mobile suits in front scattered until the beam
finished. It drained the Avoni’s shields.

“We’re
alright,” Zae reported.

“Good,
I’d hate to think the new shields were useless,” Brian said with a sigh of
relief. “All units attack the smaller ships. Once we’ve destroyed half their
number we’ll break through to the carrier and hit it with everything we’ve
got.”

“Yes
sir!” the other pilots shouted as they began their barrage of pulse fire.

* * *

“It
looks like everything is going as planned,” Grigon said.

The
first wave of Talons tore into the center of the Grey ships. After a few
minutes of attacking in waves the Grey formation started falling apart.

‘Sir,
we’ve lost six Talons,” Droid A reported. “No Raknas have been destroyed yet.”

“Good,”
Grigon cawed. “Machines can be replaced but people can’t.”

“Sir,
we’re detecting a force of Grey ships appearing to the stern of the Avoni,”
Droid B reported.

“Send
over twelve to aid Myli’s unit,” Grigon ordered. He watched the Talons and
Raknas struggle while holding off the large force of enemies.
So that was
their plan the whole time.
“Brian, I’m sending my reserves to aid the
Avoni.”

“Alright
Grigon, I can see what their plan is now,” Brian said over com.

Thirteen
Talons flew to the Avoni to aid in the ship’s defense. Myli’s unit managed to
hold their ground with the Talons aiding them. At the same time the Avoni began
firing a barrage of into the Grey ships. The Talons coordinated with melee
attacks when the Avoni’s cannons weren’t firing. Myli and her fellow pilots
continued guarding the ship in a loose formation. Another massive blast emerged
from the carrier. This time it hit the Avoni’s shields dead on. As the beam
smashed into the Avoni it also hit a pair of Phase Raknas and vaporized them in
an instant. The shields of the Avoni held but power systems were drained for a
while.

“Is
everyone okay?” Myli asked.

“Yes,
but we’re going to need your mobile suits to act as shields once more,” Zae
said.

“I’ll
have the Talons reinforce your defense,” Grigon said. The Vomada moved closer
to the Avoni.”

“What
are you doing?” Zae asked.

“Your
ship can’t take another shot like that,” Grigon said. “The Vomada can take at
least few right now.”

“Thank
you Grigon,” Zae said.

* * *

“They’re
not sunk,” Meldi said with relief in her voice.

“We’d
better get this done as quickly as possible then,” Brian said. He blinked his
eyes before entering the berserk. The Mjolnir drew its massive
rakna
blade and began slashing through one Grey ship after another. When the Mjolnir drew
closer to the carrier Brian activated the pulse cannon and fired. “All units
attack the same point with your pulse cannons. Once the shield is breeched I’ll
gut it.”

“Yes
sir,” the Rakna pilots said as one by one they began to fire their weapons all
at the same point. After a few minutes of dodging fire and blasting the carrier
a small weakness began emerging. Brian threw the Mjolnir’s sword into the weak
spot and then fired the pulse cannon at it. The energy from all the weapons
converging on one point opened a small hole in the carrier’s shields. “Zae,
fire now!” he shouted.

The
Avoni and Vomada fired their main cannons. An explosion on the carrier‘s
surface began spreading. Brian and all the mobile suits in the area fired into
the hole. The carrier tilted as explosions filled the area. Its shields fell as
wave after wave of attack smashed into its hull. Before it finally exploded the
massive ship fired one last blast towards the Avoni. Close by, Brian and a
number of the other pilots activated their shields and tried to eat up some of
the energy from the beam. While doing this, the Mjolnir and six Raknas were
heavily damaged. Three more were vaporized in the attack. The attack still hit
the Avoni and damaged the main cannon. Brian blinked his eyes before ending the
berserk. The Grey carrier exploded below them.

“All
units return to base,” Brian ordered.

“Brian,
do you need help?” Meldi asked.

“No,
the Mjolnir can fly on its own,” Brian answered.

“Of
course sir, returning to base,” Meldi said.

Brian
turned his com to a private channel. “Zae how’s the ship?”

“Other
than the main cannon we’re still moving,” she responded.

“What
are our casualties?” he asked.

“Five
Raknas have been destroyed,” Zae reported. “The gunnery officers also suffered
seven deaths. Celi’s reporting we have over twenty wounded.”

“How
is it on your side Grigon?” Brian asked.

“I
lost fifteen Talons in this battle,” Grigon answered. “From the debris I should
be able to salvage a few of those back.”

“Alright,”
Brian said. He leaned back as the Mjolnir flew to the Avoni. He stared at the
debris field. “I’m never going to get used to this, am I?”

The
Mjolnir landed in the launching bay missing its left arm. The leg on the same
side was heavily damaged. Brian watched Jesela and the other engineers
scrambled to repair everything they could. Time seemed to slow down as he
watched the medical officers take the wounded pilots to sickbay.
I’ve fought
in many battles over the last few years. I’ve seen so much death I can’t count
the fallen anymore. But this is different. It feels as if each one of them is a
part of me.
He turned away and hid from view before smashing his fist
against the wall. After directing traffic for a moment Meldi walked over to see
if he was alright. She saw him turned with his back to her.

“Brian?”
she asked.

“Yes,
what is it?” he asked as he turned around.

Meldi
saw something in his eyes, something that told her more than his face or voice
ever could.

“I’m
sorry if I’m speaking out of line but you’re not yourself,” Meldi said. “I know
it’s not my place to say this, but…”

“No,
it is your place to say it Meldi,” Brian interrupted. “I’ve been so consumed on
what we need to do lately I’ve forgotten you’re people. I feel the pain all of
you do.”

“The
berserk gives you that ability,” Meldi said.

“Where
did you hear that?”

“My
grandmother once told me that a berserked
Maigar
was able to feel the
minds of those around him,” she explained. “When your eyes begin glowing you
can feel everything, can’t you?”

“It’s
kind of like that,” Brian answered.

“Then
you know how we feel,” she said. “We trust your decisions, even if we die in
the process of fulfilling them. Not because we foolishly believe in some legend
from back home. No, we trust you because you’ve proven yourself in battle.” She
took his hand. “Their deaths aren’t your fault, remember that Brian. The burden
of the dead is to be shared amongst the survivors. Each of us knew the stakes
when we joined this crew. We all know the path we’re walking may lead to our
destruction. The things we’ve bore witness to have proven that this enemy is
unlike anything ever faced before. The Greys won’t spare us.” Meldi looked into
his eyes. “And know that no matter how bad it gets, no matter how difficult, no
matter the cost of life, we’ll never blame you. Should the path chosen kill us,
so be it. We‘ll follow you to the end, no matter what form it takes.”

“Thank
you,” he said.

“Now
go to sickbay,” Meldi said. “I can tell something’s bothering you physically.
What I won’t ask, but I can see it in the way you move.”

“I’ll
do that,” he said before leaving.

* * *

Grigon
waded through the wreckage the Talons brought back and carefully examined each
piece mangled metal. He stopped when he came to a Phase Rakna and saw blood on
the wreckage.
War truly is an ugly thing. No beauty or grace to be found,
only blood and death. I can see why Brian despises it so much.
The old
Malcovin thought to himself.

“True,
that’s why we’re entering stage eight of the plan old friend,”
Myden said
telepathically. An image of him appeared behind the old Malcovin. He was dressed
in his usual grey cloak while holding his black telepathic staff.

“Stage
eight you say?” Grigon asked. “You never told me how that one goes Myden. He
turned to face the old Grey.

Myden
stopped to scan Grigon’s mind.
“I see. So it’s finally become active inside
him, hasn’t it?”

“Are
you speaking of the plague?”

“Yes,”
Myden answered.
“The odds of Celi’s success are close to zero percent. I can’t appear on their
ship at the moment, nor would I be of any help as things are right now. Saying
that, I see Brian has you working on the Maiden’s mobile suits.”

“The
Aegis will be finished in a few months,” Grigon said. “The other four I can’t
guarantee until a few years from now.”

“That’s
fine,”
Myden said.
“We’ll need them in about four years. Valis and Brian have
drafted the basics for the organization to fulfill the next stage of the plan.”

“What
are the last three stages?” Grigon asked.

“I’m
sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. But I deemed you didn’t need to know about the
latter stages of the plan. Now you have the right to know more.”

“I’m
glad to finally win your trust,” Grigon said.

“You
have old friend,”
Myden said.
“Now, onto to what you asked about. Stage eight is the creation
of an independent armed organization whose purpose is to unify the peoples of
this galaxy. Stage nine is the unification of the galaxy in its final phase.
The final stage is when the doors of the future are opened by the Goddess. The
eighth and ninth stages are straightforward in plan and execution, though quite
difficult to implement properly. The last stage is the one the Teacher never
told me much about. Who the goddess is, and what happens afterwards, I know
not, and to be honest Grigon, I have no idea what will happen.”

“I
think I have a clue,” Grigon cawed.

“What
might it be?”
Myden asked.

“I’ll
tell you once the system has been active,” he answered. “Be it Brian or one of
the ladies onboard this ship the system will finally see the light of day.”

“The
system you speak of is the next stage of their evolution. Are you sure that it
will be that easy?”

“When
the
Maigars
of old were near death their ability to fight was beyond
mortal. But they didn’t have a mobile suit to expand upon that newfound power.”

“Basically,
when he nears death, the system will become activated?”
Myden asked.

“Once
it happens I’ll tell you more on my theory,” Grigon cawed. “Until then you’ll
have to wait.”

“I’m
looking forward to that day,”
Myden’s image began flickering out of
view.
“I’m sorry, but communicating over such a long distance is extremely
difficult, so I won’t be able to check in very often. We’re making preparations
to send a rescue party out to search for you in a few weeks. Survive Grigon,
survive until the time to meet again once more is here.”

The
Grey disappeared and left the old Malcovin alone.

“It’s
time to get back to work,” Grigon said as he began working on a damaged Talon.

* * *

Brian
walked into sickbay to witness to the staff working full capacity. The medical
officers were at the center of the injured. Celi nodded in his direction before
pointing to the lab room he often went to these days. After a few minutes Celi
ran in to check him over with a scan.

“You’re
alright for now,” Celi said. “I’m sorry, but I have a lot to do.”

“I
understand,” Brian said before standing up to leave. Feeling lightheaded, he
decided to sit back down. He watched the wounded. Taking a deep breath he stood
and left sickbay. Outside of the door Vae waited with a wrap around her left
arm.

“Meldi’s
right Brian,” she said.

“You
overheard us?”

“We
believe in you Brian,” Vae said with a smile. “Never forget that.”

“Thank
you Vae,” he said before heading for the bridge. When he reached the elevator
he looked at his right arm again.
I’m going to have to ask Celi how to
deactivate it in case I need to.
The elevator door opened to the bridge.
Baed sat at her station while Zae was in the captain’s chair.

“How’s
she holding up?” he asked.

“Other
than the main cannon we’re doing remarkably well,” Zae reported.

“I’ve
found us an excellent spot to hide for the day,” Baed said. She displayed the
image of an asteroid. “It’s nothing to look at, but it’ll work for now.”

“Good,
bring us in there immediately,” he ordered.

“Of
course,” Baed said. She flew the ship inside.

“This
last battle is bothering you, isn’t it?” Zae asked. “I could tell by the tone
of your voice.”

“It
has,” Brian sighed, “The constant threat of death is dancing on my nerves.”

“That’s
understandable,” Zae said. “It’s hitting us all pretty hard.”

* * *

Celi
laid her bed, exhausted after a long day of work. The door opened and Brian
stumbled in before falling to the floor. She jumped up and ran to him.

“Brian!”
she shouted.

Celi
pressed the button to open his armor up. Emerging from the exoskeleton she
noticed his body was burning up. Brian opened his eyes and grimaced in pain.

“Guess
I pushed myself a little too much today. Sorry about that,” he said with a
pained laugh. Celi helped him limp to the bed. She went to take out a scanner
and some medicine, but Brian put his hand on hers. “No yet. Just stay with me
for a while, that’s all I want.”

“You’re
burning up,” she said. “If I don’t treat you, you could…”

“Die,”
he interrupted. “I know, I know it all too well. Death is all I can see these
days.”

She
held his hand tightly and felt his pain. “I do to,” she said.

“Promise
me Celi, that even if I die you’ll find the cure,” Brian said. “I need to know
my people won’t die like this.”

“I
promise I will,” Celi said.

“Good.”
He tried flexing his right arm and found it was numb. “You can give me whatever
medicine you want now. Also, I need to know how to deactivate this arm.”

“Open
the program panel and press the largest button three times in sequence,” Celi
explained before filling the injector with some fluid. She injected him in the
neck without one hint of pain from him. “I’m sure you’d feel better if Seles
was here instead of me.”

“No,
I wouldn’t want her to see me like this,” he turned his eyes away from hers, “I
don’t want anyone seeing me like this.”

“You
have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I’m
not ashamed, nor is it pride,” he said. “I just want to be left alone. I feel
like I’m a burden to you and the crew. I never wanted to be a burden to anyone.
Especially not like this.”

Celi
squeezed his hand. “You’re not a burden,” she said. “If that day comes I’ll
tell you, alright?”

“It’s
a deal,” he said.