“Care to join us, Captain?” asked Jones.
The German nodded thankfully and slid a wheeled office chair up to them.
“Major, we’re all in position.”
None of them wanted to think about the fact they could only hold of a small wave of the enemy Mechs, but it was on all their minds. Chandra stared out of the window, and the light was already fading.
“How far are we from your home town, Captain?” she asked.
“Magdeburg, we’re a long way from it.”
The Major could hear the concern in his voice. There were still hundreds of kilometres between them and his family, but after the fall of all but the last towns of France, it didn’t seem so far.
“We’ve had help from other nations here, but not everything that could be given,” said Becker. “When will the rest of the world come to our aid?”
“This is an unknown enemy, Captain. Governments and militaries alike have watched in horror at the fall of France and Spain, and they don’t want to be next,” she replied.
“They may well be forced into the fight before long, anyway,” said Jones.
“Really, you think so?”
“It’s what I’d do. The Mechs seem to have the resources, so they’ll open new fronts.”
Chandra wished it to be the case. She knew that would condemn more to death, but anything to relieve the vicious mauling they were receiving at the hands of their invaders was welcome.
“Jones, it’s time we all got some kip. I want ten on guard at all times working two hour shifts, no longer. We need to make sure the sentries stay sharp. I’ll take the first shift. You can find volunteers to join me.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
The Captain gulped down the last of his tea and jumped to his feet. Even the concept of some real rest was the best thing he had heard in days. He rushed out of the room.
“Your Commander sent us here for time to rest up, did he not?”
“Yes, but we’re still too close to the enemy positions to think for a moment that we are safe.”
The Captain nodded in agreement.
“Had you ever seen action before these days, Captain?” she asked.
Becker sighed at the thought of it.
“Nothing more than a few peacekeeping duties. Had some rocks thrown at us, but not much else.”
They both turned and watched through the window as Jones delivered the Major’s orders and news that they could rest. He received a small cheer, but it was stilted and only mildly enthusiastic. Chandra didn’t blame them; rest isn’t so easy when you know you’re waking up to another day of hell.
“Captain, I want an officer on duty for every watch, Jones will liaise with you for a schedule.”
“Got it.”
She looked up to see an increasing fear in the tank commander’s eyes. She reached out her hand and placed it on his. The surge of warmth caused him to instantly relax a little.
“We’ll stop them before they reach your family, Captain.”
“We better or there is no hope for the world.”
He’s probably right, she thought to herself. When half of Europe is gone, you have to wonder if we could ever win the war. She forced a smile to reassure the man but deep down felt the same sorrow and fear.
“We’ve got a respite, Captain, use it well.”
Becker got to his feet, gave a casual and friendly salute to the Major and made to leave the room. She could already hear the sound of dozens of bed frames popping open throughout the building as the troops enthusiastically set up their home for the night. Every one of them carried a handheld retractable bed for field work, but few had gotten the opportunity to use them in recent days. They had lived day and night in rubble and trenches in fear that at any moment they would be attacked.
“Major, I have set the watches for the night, and the first will be on duty in five. Lieutenant Green will assemble them for you.”
“Thank you, Captain Jones. Now I suggest you do the only sensible thing one can right now, enjoy the sleep whilst you can get it.”
The Captain smiled as he strolled out of the room to do just that.
“Captain Becker, you must do the same, and that’s an order.”
He lifted up a pack which lay beside him carrying his bedding and rations. He was ready to drop where he stood. Chandra took to her feet and lifted her rifle onto her shoulder. She stepped out of the building to watch the flurry of movement outside as the troops hauled their equipment into the buildings, and the tankers did likewise. She sat down on the steps and simply watched.
As she knelt down to sit, she was once again struck by a bolt of pain through her leg that reached her spine. The injury needed many more weeks to heal, but she’d never admit it.
“Lieutenant Green reporting for duty, Ma’am!”
She turned in surprise at the formality of the soldier. “I think we are way past such things, Lieutenant.”
The man nodded and relaxed his shoulders.
“The Commander would have my arse if I didn’t keep to the protocols, Ma’am.”
“Don’t you worry about him. The only thing of concern out here is me, and the enemy.”
“So what are your orders, Major?”
“I want paired groupings. Two on permanent guard at the doors to this building and another at the other there,” she pointed. “The other three pairs will maintain a perimeter and rolling patrols.”
“Are you expecting any trouble, Ma’am?”
“I hope not, but that’s no reason not to be prepared.”
Captain Jones sat on the wall of the building they had made their home for the night. He stared out into the still of the night. To the north he could still hear music blaring from a few locations as some of the town’s people continued to party through the night. They were oblivious and ignorant of the danger posed against them. To the south it was totally silent, there being no humans left alive there and no obvious movement of the enemy.
The first of the morning rays were already appearing on the horizon. Daylight was always welcome when facing such a fearsome enemy. Jones quickly turned as he heard the sound of vehicles approaching from the north. He listened for a moment and noticed they didn’t sound like the distinctive engines of their enemy.
Private Walker, sitting beside him, leapt to his feet. They each took cover behind the wall of the steps and waited. The two men watched as three police vehicles rolled into view, so they lowered their weapons and stepped out from their position to greet the incoming officers. They must have finally decided to do some work, thought the Captain.
Several others on duty were watching casually. Jones held up his hand in both greeting and asking them to halt. The three cars slowly drew to a stop. Two men got out from each vehicle. The driver of the first shouted out.
“Good morning! I’m Sergeant Lambert!”
Jones was just a few metres away from the vehicle when he could see the police officer behind the Sergeant was raising a handgun. The Captain quickly reached for his rifle, but it was slung casually on his side. In a time when humanity was coming together against a common enemy, he had not expected to have to protect himself against their own.
Just as he got a hand on the grip of his weapon, he was struck by a stun round from one of the police non-lethal weapons. He felt the rifle clash against his leg as his body went limp and crumbled to the ground. The first thing he saw as his head hit the ground was Walker dropping a few metres from him.
Shouting erupted from the other guards, but it was too late. The two soldiers were hauled into the back of one of the vehicles and speeding away towards the centre of the city before anything could be done. Several of the soldiers trained their weapons on the vehicles and were ready to fire, but held back, knowing they might hit their own.