Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence by Marcus Johnson Read Free Book Online Page B

flagship, the Hyrken. All of the fleets from
the lizard people’s territories had been called back to the homeworld. On the monitor
Yardek watched the latest intelligence report and video.
    “What do you
think general?” his commander asked.
    “Our chances
aren’t good,” Yardek said. He looked at his soldiers on the bridge before
hitting the com so the others in the fleet could hear him. “Today we can’t
settle for less than our best. The Greys have targeted our world with their
monstrous planet killers and our ships stand little chance against them. But
the duty of a soldier is to protect those they serve. We serve the people first
and foremost; if we must die in that service then so be it. Today we stake our
lives for our fellows who can’t fight. Today we rise and fight with the
strength of gods! Long live the Viken Republic! Long live the Confederation!”
    “Long live the
Viken Republic! Long live the Confederation!” the soldiers echoed.
    “Quite the
speech Yardek,” Prime Minister Ulad said over the monitor.
    “Speeches are
nice but victory would be better,” Yardek said. “How goes the evacuation?”
    “We’ve packed
every transport and colony to its limit,” Ulad admitted. “We’ve resorted to
setting up shield systems around the largest cities.”
    “Excellent,” he said.
“They may kill our home but they will not kill our people.”
    “The loss of our
homeworld would be terrible,” she said.
    “I know,” Yardek
said. “But for now we must do what we can. Save the most lives, that’s our
charge right now. I wish you luck prime minister.”
    “You’re the one
who needs luck general,” Ulad said.
    Inside lunar
orbit the Viken detected a thousand Grey carriers. Behind them appeared a pair
of planet killers. Yardek sneered as he stared down the enemy.
    “Perhaps luck is
all we can hope for,” he said.
    Flashes of light
filled the space above the lizard people’s homeworld as five thousand of their
ships and innumerable fighters charged the Grey fleet.
     
    * *
*
     
    The Columbia
base appeared in orbit of Viken Prime and saw the entire military of the lizard
people engaging the Grey fleet. Veda and Reban manned the command center while
the six ships deployed. With them flew out another twenty five heavy class
vessels from the Confederation forces. Joining the almost eight hundred mobile
weapons from the base and six ships were nearly a thousand Lance Phalanxes led
by Commander Baeron. Veda opened a com line to the Viken flagship.
    “This is Admiral
Veda Kein of Heaven’s Light,” she said.
    “I hear you
admiral,” Yardek said. He sent over the Viken attack plan. “That should help
you figure out what to do.”
    Veda smiled.
“It’s good to see a suicidal charge isn’t the only thing you planned for.”
    “Of course not,”
Yardek said.
    From the larger
and closer of the two moons of the Viken homeworld a number of silos opened up
and launched a barrage of two hundred nuclear missiles. As light filled the
area over four hundred Grey carriers were destroyed. From both the moon and the
homeworld pulse fire came as the orbital defense network activated. Valis
appeared on the monitor from the Minerva. On the other screens were the
commanders of the six ships and Baeron in his Lance.
    “I’ve looked
over their plan and have to give them credit,” she said.
    “That means we
have a chance,” Veda said.
    “Yes, but only
if we strike down the two planet killers,” Valis said. “I hate leaving the
Viken alone but we need to focus on the bigger targets. Let’s begin with
formation A-3 and modify as we need to.”
    “We’re on it,”
Veda said.
     
    * *
*
     
    The Minerva,
Gemini, Artemis, Siren, and Aegis flew to the front of the forces of the
Columbia base. Valis turned to her monitor and looked at the Mjolnir. She hit
her com to open a channel to her subordinate piloting the mobile suit.
    “Are you alright
with this?” Meldi asked. “I normally trust your judgment but