Freedom's Battle Read online

  "At one point five kilometers long and half a kilometer wide the Class-5 line of Alliance cruisers are the largest ships in the Inner Alliance fleet," fifty-four year old Jane Sect recited. A 3-D hologram of the ship she commanded floated in front of her, along with blue-white text describing that particular line of ships.

  "As of now only three Class-5 cruisers exist: the Deliverance, the Ringleader, and the Peacemaker," she continued.

  "Oh, now why did they have to put this ship last?" Redrick Callow said from his specially placed seat next to Jane. While Jane was the captain of the Peacemaker Redrick was the admiral aboard it.

  "I don't know sir," Jane replied tiredly.

  "Maybe it's because we're here above Mars rather than out there kicking butt!" exclaimed the young helmsman Draiman Dell.

  "People just don't know how to respect the people who look like they do less work," Melissa Vasquez said. The twenty-six year old communications and sensors officer sat to the right of the commanding officers and Draiman, who sat a few feet directly in front of Jane.

  To the left of everyone were Karn Tenneco and Liaare Tringston, the weapons officers. The small bridge lit mostly by holograms gave little evidence that the ship it occupied was so massive, and so well armed.

  "Any news over there Lieutenant? Jane asked Melissa.

  "No captain, just fleet chatter."

  Jane, who had only asked the question in an attempt to keep herself awake longer, yawned fiercely.

  "Feel better now?" Redrick asked jokingly.

  "Honestly, couldn't some lone frigate just pass up by so some blood can start flowing in here?" Draiman asked.

  "We should be thankful things are so calm here," Jane said.

  "She has a point," said Karn. "In war action isn't all that great."

  "That's interesting coming from someone who shoots things for a living," Draiman said.

  "We tell people to shoot things," Liaare replied.

  "We all do," Jane said. "Except for Draiman and Melissa.

  "That's why I joined the Fleet, so I wouldn't have to shoot anybody," Melissa responded.

  "I was just to skinny for the Marines," Draiman added. "But they just had to assign me to a piloting a big ass starcruiser. I mean, you guys are great, but you got to admit, this is pretty boring." Everyone nodded and hummed in agreement.

  -0815 HOURS (COLONIAL TIME)

  -HANGER B OF CLASS-5 CRUISER PEACEMAKER

  "No, put that corvette over there, not there you idiot!" yelled Norenn Trenh. A twenty meter long red Gateway R-77 "Reaper" corvette hovered above the hanger floor, held up by a magnetic field. Directly below it at the moment were two tons of explosives.

  Norenn personally guided the hanger officer with a com link.

  "Please be careful with my ship! Do you know how much this thing cost?!" Norenn exclaimed. The bridge officer remained silent as he magnetically guided the ship a few feet away from the explosives.

  "That's better!" Norenn said, and the red Reaper dropped to the floor. The loud thud was barely a whimper amongst the noise of technicians and pilots and such working on any number of ships.

  "These hanger officers…"Norenn said under his breath. He looked around the hanger to make sure everything was going smoothly. Technically it wasn't his job to do so but nothing restricted the commander of the Warbears.

  Nothing also restricted the commander with fraternizing with anyone he wished. His anger and loathing of hanger officers suddenly disappeared when his eyes fell upon a young, blonde-haired girl he hadn't seen before.

  "Must be new," he said to himself. "That should make this all the more easier."

  Norenn strutted over to the girl who appeared to be trying to do something on a robotic fighter's wing. Just as Norenn reached her the panel she was working with starting to fizzle and smoke. The girl stumbled back and grumbled something angrily.

  "Looks like you could use some help," Norenn offered his hand with his most charming smile.

  "Yeah, I'm kind of new at this," she said, taking the commander's hand. When he pulled her up she looked at his face and realized who he was.

  "Oh, Commander Trenh, sir!" she exclaimed, saluting him clumsily.

  Norenn let out a false, yet believable laugh and said, "When we aren't in the field you can dispense with the formal 'commander' and 'sir' stuff. Things are pretty relaxed in here."

  As Norenn and the girl talked another woman came up near them. She leaned against the black robotic fighter and listened.

  "Oh, okay, sir…I mean…" the girl stuttered.

  "Just call me Norenn. Or Mr. Incredible."

  The girl laughed and blushed. The woman shook her head in disgust.

  "Mr. Imbecile would work must better," the woman interjected.

  Norenn cringed at both the comment and at the recognition of the voice. "Lieutenant Grace, so glad you could…join us," Norenn said with the same loathsome he had for hanger officers. "Shouldn't you be off someplace cleaning a hole, or cranking something?"

  Grace smiled and prepared her comeback and Norenn's reaction, thinking far ahead than him. "I think I'll leave the cranking to you, even though you don't have much to crank."

  "It was more than enough to make you yell!" Norenn exclaimed.

  The young girl suddenly caught on and said, "Eww, that's, ugh…I think I'll leave you two alone." With a disgusted expression and first impression of Norenn she walked off.

  "I guess that didn't go so well Commander Playboy," Grace said sarcastically.

  "Why do you do these things?" Norenn asked.

  "Someone needs to keep you in check. If I didn't then you'd probably get every girl on this ship pregnant."

  "You just hate me, that's all."

  "No. It's part of the equation though. You did treat me like trash."

  "That was a long time ago!"

  "A month! But…I won't let it interfere with our job. Besides, we're supposed to be relaxed, right?" Grace then began laughing at Norenn's sour look.

  -0900 HOURS (COLONIAL TIME)/1600 HOURS LOCAL TIME

  -OUTPOST ALPHA OUTSIDE OLYMPUS CITY, MARS

  "Stay cool…stay tight…stay cool…" murmured Tumeria Soren as she aimed her IAM-80B all-purpose rifle at a meter tall shape five hundred yards away. Without the assistance of her helmet's HUD or the rifle's scope her target appeared to be nothing more than a dot. When she felt she had the weapon at just the right spot she fired. A second later a patch of red sand beside her target exploded.

  "Better than last time private," said Lieutenant Tringston. He held a pair of binoculars and could clearly see every detail of the meter tall bull's eye and the small crater next to it.

  "Permission to ask a question, sir," Tumeria said.

  "Granted."

  "Why do I even have to this, sir? The technology we have would allow me to blow his eye out from five miles away."

  "Because you never know when technology will fail you Private Soren. Got to always be prepared. That's what the Marines do, prepare you!"

  "I see…"

  "Lieutenant Tringston, report to Command as soon as possible," boomed the speakers spread out across the small defensive base.

  "Keep practicing private, I'll be back."

  "Yes sir," Tumeria mumbled.

  Tumeria tried to align her rifle again. She fired and created another crater next to her target.

  "This is impossible," she murmured.

  Suddenly there was a bang behind Tumeria and the bull's eye in the distance exploded.

  "Sure about that?" said Tani Orrick.

  "You'll able to do that because you're a sergeant," Tumeria said, rising from her crouched position.

  "I like to think it's because I'm a woman, but maybe rank has something to do with it. Anyway, I need to a
sk you a few things for a survey."

  "And that involves you carrying around a rifle…."

  "This rifle is my best friend, my life, my lover. They did teach you that in boot camp, right."

  "I suppose…what do you have ask me anyway?"

  "So enthusiastic," Orrick said. She unclipped a holo-pad she had on her beat and pulled out a pen. "First…why did you join the Inner Alliance Marine Core?"

  "I didn't, I was drafted," Tumeria replied. "I don't really want to be here, but there's no way I could avoid getting drafted. I didn't have my whole life planned out like most people. Besides, I thought this war would be over before I turned eighteen anyway."

  "I see….well I think I can predict your answer for this one. What is your position in this war?"

  "I don't have one, other than it should end now."

  "Most people say that about wars....oh, I already know these."

  "Don't think you know everything about me."

  "Well let's see, you're obviously female, and your profile said your nineteen and from Mega Berlin. You'd be surprised what computers can tell us."

  Quadrant Three, Sector Seven

  CHAPTER TWO

  QUADRANT THREE, SECTOR SEVEN…

  "I think I'll be heading back to New Alamo," Redrick said, rising from his seat. The chair retracted into the floor moments after he left it.

  "Okay…I'll get someone to take you there," Jane offered.

  "Thanks. I think I'll recommend you for nicest captain of the year award."

  Jane chuckled and began searching for Commander Norenn Trenh.

  "Uh, Captain, Admiral, I'm picking something up in Quadrant Three, Sector Seven," Melissa said.

  "What is it?" Jane asked.

  "One Imperial-Class cruiser, a Devastator-Class cruiser, ten Iniquitous-Class frigates and fifteen Tsunami-Class frigates," Melissa reported.

  "This is it," Reedmen said. "Open a link to all ships in the fleet."

  "Links open sir."

  "Alright fleet, listen up. This is the day we've been waiting for. The Coalition is attacking Mars, and we are ready! Now I need all ships in Quadrants Two and Four to collect in Sectors One through Eight. All ships in Quadrant One are to create a perimeter around Mars. All ships in Quadrant Three are ordered to engage the enemy."

  Dozens of "copy that" and "yes sir" flooded the communication system, followed by captains synchronizing themselves with each other.

  "They're launching torpedoes captain!" Melissa announced.

  "Karn, get starboard shields up to full power. Draiman, turn this ship to port. Liaare, prepare our plasma cannons and torpedoes on the starboard side."

  Everyone immediately went into action as the nearly eight torpedoes sped towards the Peacemaker. The giant cruiser began to turn to portside, firing a multitude of thrusters. Dozens of plasma cannons turned to face the Coalition fleet, and the ten starboard torpedo ports opened.

  Jane watched on several of her holo-screens as auto-cannons tried to deflect the missiles. One exploded under the firestorm, but the other seven continued undeterred. "All hands, brace for impact," Jane said. As the torpedoes hit the screens blinked out for a few seconds and the entire kilometer long vessel shook with the impacts.

  "Damage report!" Jane demanded.

  "Shields are down to eighty percent, and are recharging at one percent per minute," Karn reported. "The rest of the ship is unaffected."

  "Fire the cannons and torpedoes," Jane ordered.

  "Tubes eleven and fifteen report they are not yet prepared," Liaare announced. "All plasma cannons are on standby though."

  "Okay, fire the cannons. Once the torpedoes are ready fire at will."

  One of Jane's screens began beeping sharply. She pressed the floating light screen and an image of Norenn appeared. "Captain, do you wish for use to launch?"

  "I need you personally to stay there Commander, I have a mission for you. The rest of the ships have permission to launch, but to stay away from their capitol ships."

  "Copy that Captain. What about my mission?"

  "You're going to get Admiral Callow back to New Alamo. I trust you can take care of that."

  Norenn smiled and said, "You know me Captain. Signing off." The screen went blank and Jane turned back to Redrick.

  "Norenn is the best pilot on this ship. A bit egotistical but he's the best choice for getting you back to command."

  "Thanks. You have command of the fleet while I'm in transit." Before Jane could even absorb what she heard Redrick rushed out of the bridge and to one of the Peacemaker's several monorails.

  "Fleet has moved to Sector Six," Melissa said. "They cruisers are launching their ships.

  "Firing torpedoes," Liaare said.

  "What's the status of the ships in Quadrants Two and Four?" Jane asked, still comprehending her newly, but temporary, assignment to fleet admiral.

  "On standby in Sectors One through Eight."

  "I need the ships to in Sectors Eight, Seven, and Six to move in and engage the Coalition fleet. I want another wave of torpedoes and continuous firing of plasma cannons."

  "Shields are being hit by plasma captain, going down by three percent per minute," Karn reported.

  "Melissa, tell the nearest ships to use to pull back to Sector Three. Draiman, do the same."

  "What are going to do Captain?" Draiman asked as he moved the massive ship. "

  "Drawing a line lieutenant," Jane replied.

  "Shields down to seventy percent!"

  "We'll be fine."

  "Uh-oh," Melissa murmured. "I have more ships coming in Sector Nine. Twenty Gamera-Class frigates."

  "Tell those ships to…push through the first wave," Jane ordered.

  "Are you sure Captain?" Melissa inquired.

  "Positive."

  Melissa relayed the message then noticed another set of torpedoes coming at the Peacemaker, this time a complement of thirty. "Incoming torpedoes."

  "Get some small craft to take care of them."

  "We've arrived in Sector One, captain," Draiman said.

  "Captain, we've lost all our ships in Sector Five," said Melissa. "They were unable to get away from the Coalition. And ships in Quadrant Four are reporting heavy loses."

  "Tell the ships in Quadrant Two to pull back," Jane said. "I want three anti-cruiser torpedoes launched at those cruisers."

  "Arming nukes," Karn said.

  "Captain, the ships nearby us are requesting orders," Melissa stated.

  "Tell them to fire all their weapons at the enemy."

  -HANGER ONE OF PEACEMAKER

  After a thirty second trip on one of the Peacemaker's monorail systems Admiral Redrick finally reached hanger B. In it he found only three ships left: a sleek black Phantom bomber, a silver Microsoft Systems Auto-fighter and a red Reaper Corvette. Four turrets, two on top and two underneath the ship, provided its main offensive option. Two slots one either side of the nose showed were the forward cannons were hidden. Three engines occupied the ship's rear, and they shivered as they auto-prepped for launch. Standing by the Reaper was the ship's commander.

  "Admiral Callow," Norenn said with a salute. "Forgive me for rushing but I'd prefer to get into action as soon as possible. I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

  "I just hope your piloting is equal to your enthusiasm," Redrick said as Norenn lead him into the red Reaper.

  Most of the corvette was devoted to the ship's power systems, leaving only a small section for boarding the ship, its two pilots and four gunners. The control station for the turrets was occupied by three women and a man.

  "Admiral Redrick, meet Kim, Melissa, Jim, and Lauren," Norenn said.

  "Nice to meet you all…don't you have a copilot?" Redrick asked.

  "That'll be you, if you'd like to take the position. I don't really need one, but I guess a copilot could be useful."

  "As long as I get back to command," said Redrick as he sat in the second seat.

  "Everyone ready back there?" Norenn
inquired.

  "Yes sir!" the gunners replied.

  Norenn said, "Here we go," as he commanded the corvette to rise and retract the landing gear. He directed it towards the open bay door and accelerated forward. Sound outside the ship ceased as it passed through the force field.