Shattered Heaven

Final Chapter: Translucent Dreams and Memories

News spread from every channel, the attack on Tokyo was a chaotic failure for the TA as the EAP forces made quick work of them. Satellites rotating in space broadcasted each signal towards the Moon, the various Space Stations and Mars giving every man, woman and child an equal viewing of the destruction that occurred. Even though the forces that laid siege on Japan were not officially announced to have any connection with the TA everyone knew it was a fact. The Treaty of Humanity limited the war to space and had tried to keep peace on the cities of Earth but knowing the opportunistic politicians of the TA it was only a matter of time before battles broke out all over Earth. Any survivors from the battle had been taken into custody by EAP Special Forces in order to keep the true facts contained.

Mars had been overtaken by a sea of excitement as the small Red Fury camp outside of Evo had continued their victory celebration. Although it was a small success, it was still a success, one more than they had already accumulated up until this point. Michael Lyhte, a former commander for the TA, currently a member of the rogue faction known as Red Fury; he stood far from the burning flames of the fire that grabbed the attention of most of the members. He stood staring at the glistening stars above with his wife, Gina in his arms. He left the TA because of the lack of desire to help find his wife, and ended up joining with Red Fury where he found a friend in Carlos Rendetore. With his ambition achieved, it seemed there was little left for him to accomplish with Red Fury, Gina was his goal, and with her once again in his grasp there was little left for him to fight for. He stared at her while her hair danced in the wind that blew over the Red Fury site. It had been a tremendously long time since he felt such happiness, it wasn’t something he ever wanted to lose again; his family had become whole again.

“Haha, you’re such a jokester Michael and a terrible liar. It was the one thing you never did become
good at.”

“Heh…could never fool you. Gina…you don’t know how hard it was for me to keep going…” He replied, his words were soft and to the point, his posture wasn’t anything to be desired, his back arched forward with his arms hanging loosely off the ends of his knees.

“I know Michael….I know. But that’s in the past, I’m here now and that’s all that matters.”

“I mean, I joined up with Red Fury in order to save you, to get you back. And with that deed done I’m not sure what it is that I’m supposed to do.”

“Yeah…I like Carlos, and I do believe in his dream. But after seeing everything that I’ve been forced to
see, I’m not sure that fighting is the best thing in the world for me to be doing.”

“Well, this isn’t something for me to answer. You have to look for that one on your own. But once you decide, follow through and never regret it Michael.”

“So what do you think they’re talking about over there anyway?” Freya asked inquisitively.

Carlos merely shrugged his shoulders, he wasn’t one to pry into others business.

“Doesn’t matter really, the two had been separated for months it’s only natural for them to be together.”

“I suppose so… I hate to rain on our parade though Carlos, but now what are we going to do? I mean, we rescued Gina and located Prometheus. And you know the EAP are up to something with that facility.”

“I know….but it isn’t any of our concern. You know why I formed Red Fury; I have no desire to interfere with either the TA or the EAP. I only helped

“I know Carlos….but still; we can’t sit here and wait for the EAP to attack us! I know full well just how the EAP thinks. We’ve already infiltrated their defenses; they’re going to want retribution. And it’s only a matter of time before they come here after us. If we want to protect Mars then we’re going to have to investigate what it is that Prometheus is doing!”

“*sigh*….you’re so impulsive. I understand what you’re saying, and I’ll think it over. But for now, let everyone enjoy this moment of peace. It’s well deserved.”

Freya held back her comments and merely nodded her head in agreement. She hadn’t thought about how valuable this moment was, a time where there was no fighting, no means for concern; it was almost as if the ignorance that children bore had been reborn for all the adults there.

“I hate to break up this moment of ill fated tranquility but something’s happened.”

A voice beckoned from behind, both Freya and Carlos turned around astonished to see Stephen Novus standing before them. He stood there in casual attire, leaving his TA uniform in Alpha’s cockpit which at the moment was being held in the hanger along with the other MFs.

“Major Novus!” Freya exclaimed, her eyes wide eyed and innocent while Carlos simply snickered.

“No, the TA’s made its move against the EAP. I have to head back to Earth, unfortunately I was unable to make contact with the person I was searching for, but it’s going to have to wait.”

“I see…so they broke the treaty that forbids any battles to take place in the presence of citizens.” Carlos interrupted.

“Unofficially yes…the only information that has been leaked is scratchy at best. Tokyo was attacked a few days ago, nothing’s been confirmed but most already believe the TA was behind it. The news stations are calling the perpetrators a special unknown task force, but it’s pretty obvious that Luscious Malum isn’t wasting any time with the EAP.” Stephen replied.

“Simply…it means things are going to get a lot worse. Sorry Carlos, I still am a Major in the TA military.

I have to go down there, but I’ll say this, don’t get involved in anything else if you guys wish for peace. You guys got lucky with that stunt you pulled at the EAP facility, but if my fears are correct, things are about to get a lot more serious.” Stephen replied.

“Take care, I’ll do what I can to get the 181st off your back, but I can’t make any guarantees. Admiral Von Schuler’s dogs aren’t part of my jurisdiction.”

*************************

The Resource Satellite continued to float effortlessly between Mars and Phobos, shrouded in the dark abyss that plagued all of space. Orbis was still a faction in the early stages of development, the previous Mayor of New York, Gail Contadino found himself stuck between one, if not the biggest war in mankind’s history. He wanted peace much like Carlos Rendetore, but his biggest problem with Red Fury was the path that they were taking. Red Fury in Carlos’ mind would only fight to protect Mars. Every time he would think of this ideal he would cringe, in his mind sitting back and waiting for peace was as big a crime if not worse than preventing it from happening. And that was why he funded Orbis with his own money that he saved from his years as a politician. Orbis was his dream; he would pursue peace by putting a stop to the fighting with force. Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine, the custom MFs that his mechanics were working on had almost finished production. Between his own personal army of machines and former high ranking officers on his side it was hard for him to find regrets with his decision.

“The stars sure are bright….they are all looking down on me and soon….soon it will be my time to strike….hehehe.” Gail smiled slightly just before he put a freeze frame on his television leaving the image of a broken and battered OZ frozen on his screen with bits of static distorting the image.

“Why don’t you come to bed already? You’ve been staring at that computer for the past 2 hours already.”
Adam sighed; it was hard for him to move away with the current events taking over every station.

“Sorry….just some things are on my mind.” He meagerly replied.

“…” Sharon closed her eyes just as she stuffed her face into her pillow.

Adam smiled as he turned away glaring back at the screen. The image of OZ missing its head, arm and leg units began to stir up emotions inside him that he hadn’t felt before. For him it’d be a lie to say that he missed the thrill of being in battle, in the heat of battle he forgot his concerns and questions setting his mind on the task at hand. Since the end of Rebel’s failed Tribulation the last time he felt at home with himself was when he met OZ and its pilot on the battlefield. With their fight ending in a draw he knew what it was that he wanted, he wanted affirmation that he was the better pilot. Seeing OZ in that condition only dampened his goals, with the possibility of its pilot being captured or even dead.

“You idiot…what the hell did you go and do…I was the one who was supposed to beat you…”

***********************

Nathan Leviticus sat stirring in his chambers as the final touches were being done to the newly designed Diabolos MK2. His face echoing his state of mind, he leaned against the cold irregular solid pattern walls thinking. Hoping to find repentance in the form of helping a prisoner escape he realized his forgiveness would not come easily. He had hoped that by helping such a high rated prisoner escape the higher ups would kick him out of Prometheus labeling him a security risk. But to his surprise nothing happened, there was no punishment, nothing; the routines continued on as they normally would.

“Is there no escape for me…. Am I destined to give birth to things of destruction…”

“Are you talking to yourself again Nathan?”

“Hayate? How long have you been there?” Nathan asked just before turning to his door.

“Long enough. So you’ve heard then I take it?”

“About Japan?...Yeah, I’m sorry.”

“Thanks…but your apologies are wasted. I’ve received new orders from HQ, you heard about the POW they obtained right?”

“Yeah…what about him?”

“He’s being sent here. He’s to be enrolled in the Crimson Dawn project. And that’s not all, I am being sent back to Japan with the Diabolos MK 2. But before I can leave I’m supposed to make sure there’s a capable Crimson Dawn available to pilot it.”

“I see…the machine hasn’t even been taken off the production line and it already has a destination…”

“Yeah…so how about it? Is there any pilot ready? I mean really ready, we don’t want to have another rogue pilot.”

“Sorry Hayate….there isn’t anyone ready.”

“I see…then reconfigure the OS for me. I’ll pilot it.”

“What?! But….you have no idea…”

“Then train me. I have full faith in you Nathan, but make it quick. Those bastards are going to pay for attacking my homeland. And we’ve got just the plan….”

To be continued…..