Freedom Saga 3: The Dawn of Liberty Read Free Page B

deeper into the asteroid
field with their phase cloaks up. Each of the pilots kept a close eye on their
sensors as they searched.
    “So
commander, what are we looking for?” Kyli asked over the com.
    “Kivi
has a hunch the Malcovin have a hidden base in this area,” Seles explained. “I
figured it’d be a good chance to teach you two how to do this.”
    “Learning
by doing is the best method,” Tctie said.
    “I
couldn’t agree more,” Kyli said. “It’s a good change of pace as well.”
    Seles
noticed Tctie’s antennae were twitching.
    “Is
something wrong?” she asked.
    “I
don’t know. Something feels…strange,” he answered. “It’s going away now.”
    “Keep
us informed if something changes,” Seles said.
    “Of
course commander,” Tctie responded.
    The
Artemis’s scanner found something. In the distance it detected a large asteroid
with a strangely uniform opening. The other two mobile suits detected the same
thing a moment later.
    “Looks
like we found our quarry,” Seles said. “Approach with caution and be ready for anything.”
    “Alright,”
Kyli said.
    “Ready,”
Tctie said.
    The
three mobile suits approached the asteroid. It had a diameter of ten ketres and was relatively sphere shaped. The opening in question was a large cylinder
of smooth stone. None of their sensors detected any activity coming from the
base.
    “That’s
pretty bad camouflage,” Kyli commented.
    “The
rough rock was probably knocked off a long time ago,” Seles said. “Kyli, Tctie,
I want you to check the cylinder and see if you can pop it open. I’ll keep my
cannon ready in case something attacks.”
    “We’re
on it,” Kyli said.
    The
two mobile suits flew to the cylinder and began prying at it. After several
minutes they managed to push the gate open. Both drew their cannons and pulled
back as the gate creaked open to reveal a shaft to the interior.
    “I’ll
take point,” Seles said.
    “We’ll
watch your back,” Kyli said.
    “That
we will,” Tctie said.
    The
three mobile suits descended into the base. As they moved deeper they noticed a
large amount of old wreckage and parts from derelict Malcovin vessels. Once
they reached the docking area they noticed a section that looked new.
    “They
were here recently,” Seles said.
    Tctie’s
antennae were twitching again. He turned his mobile suit around and shined a
light.
    “I’m
sensing something,” he said.
    Kyli
shined her mobile suit’s light on the same area. “Our sensors aren’t seeing anything.”
    “I’m
going to trust him on this one,” Seles said.
    She
aimed the Artemis’s rifle and fired in the area Tctie was shining light on. The
pulse was absorbed by a shield as something flew away from them. Seles followed
its track and fired again.
    “Looks
like it got away,” Seles said after her shot missed.
    “What
was that?” Kyli asked.
    “It
wasn’t Malcovin,” Tctie said. “What I sensed was the presence of my kind.”
    “That
brings up a number of questions,” Seles said. “How is it we can’t detect it?”
    “Perhaps
their phase cloaks are better than ours,” Kyli suggested.
    “The
other thing I’m wondering about is why an Ick-Tckt craft is here,” Seles said.
    “I
can’t answer that commander,” Tctie said. “But I can tell you whatever was
flying it wasn’t a drone like me.”
    “What
was it then?” Kyli asked.
    “It
was a warrior type,” Tctie explained.
     
    * * *
     
    Brian
stepped inside the Freedom’s sickbay and went to the side room. Mira came in a
moment later.
    “What’s
the problem?” Mira asked.
    Brian
pointed inside his mouth. “I was wondering how to take care of these.”
    She
flashed a small light into his mouth and saw a pair of mouth sores. She shook
her head and looked him in the eye.
    “You’ve
been drinking too much tea again, haven’t you?” she asked.
    He
nodded. “I haven’t had a canker sore since being taken from Earth. I forgot how
annoying they