Blinker turned and continued onwards. The wounded man was clearly not what he was bringing her for. Then she saw it, the bodies of two marines laid out flat on the ground. Sergeant Silva was sitting on an ammunition box a couple of metres away with his head in his hands. She looked down at the bodies and instantly recognised Friday, but she didn’t want to believe it. Chandra took a few paces closer so she could get a better look at the face to be certain.
She shook her head as she realised beyond any doubt that it was Captain Friday. A gaping hole had been torn through his chest. The light armour they wore had done little to slow the path of the energy pulse. Little blood seeped from the Captain’s body due to the immense heat at which the round had struck. It was clear to her that he had died within seconds.
The sight of Friday’s body reminded her of her own mortality. She had thrown herself into the most brutal and prolonged combat with little care in the world. Now she was starting to appreciate life more. She looked at the faces of the troops around her. Many stared in astonishment that the Captain had fallen, and others looked away and hoped to forget. She had known Friday long enough to consider him a good friend, but it was clear that to the marines he was far more than that.
“Taylor should know,” said Monty.
Chandra nodded. She already knew that the news would be monumentally tragic to Taylor who was closer to Friday than any of them. Having lost Jones in Amiens, she knew to some extent how he would feel. But at least at that time she still had some hope of Jones’ survival; there was no coming back for Friday.
“You think this will be enough to warrant a pass to see the Major?” asked Blinker.
“It’s sad to think that’s what it could take, but you might be right,” she fumed.
She stepped over and knelt beside Silva who looked more lost than the rest. He was an astonishingly tough and capable man, but it had been too much to bear. As she lowered herself down onto one knee, he looked up at her with a distraught expression.
“He didn’t stand a chance,” muttered Silva.
“You were ordered out there alone? No support? No armour?” she asked.
Silva nodded as he came close to tears.
“You did right by your platoon, Sergeant. You got them out,” she whispered.
“When will it all end, Major? How many friends do we have to lose?”
Chandra shook her head. It was a question she had been asking herself since a few days after the war had begun. Death and dismemberment had become a part of their everyday lives, but it never got any easier to accept.
“We may be asked to give all of our lives before this is over, Sergeant. Would that be so bad? Us dying, in place of those who cannot fight for themselves, and the millions who do not stand a chance against these creatures.”
She could see that Silva was starting to see some sense. He looked up to see the platoon was at an all time low point, and that they all looked to him.
“Look at the good we have done. How many of those bastards have we killed and left in our wake? Together, we cannot be stopped. We are the Immortals, and remember that. Remember how many soldiers rely on us for inspiration.”
Silva nodded. He knew in his heart that the Major was right. He knew he was the one who should be giving such words of encouragement to the demoralised platoon. He could see that their shell shock and depression was already starting to rub off on the other members of the Company around them. He leaned in closer to the Major.
“We are stronger together. Get Taylor back,” he whispered.
Silva leaned back and stood up with a newfound confidence and strength. He drew in a deep breath to bellow his words to the demoralised marines. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by a vehicle’s horn blaring as the driver made his way through the surrounding troops. He looked to identify the incoming vehicle that was clearly trying to reach them with some urgency.
As the troops scattered, and the vehicle came in to view, they could make out the HQ stencils and realised that General Schulz sat in the back.
“Fuck,” muttered Silva under his breath.
Chandra’s back straightened as she saw the General she resented so much. He sat confidently in the back of the vehicle, as if to be welcomed and celebrated by the front line troops he had been sending to their deaths. He peered around at the joint allied units in surprise at the cold response he was getting. The jeep pulled up just a few metres from Chandra and the body of Captain Friday that still lay uncovered.
Schulz stepped out from his vehicle and looked around at the stone cold faces around them. He looked down to see the dead Captain and the horrific chest wound which was on display for all to see. He made a quick scan of the pips of his uniform that marked Friday out as an officer.
“Major! Why has the body of this Captain not been covered?”
Schulz’s tone was arrogant and lacked any understanding of the situation. Chandra did not respond, knowing she could do little to make him change his mind. Schulz turned to the nearest marine.
“You, find something to cover the body of this officer, immediately!”
The marine hesitated, as if he wasn’t sure whether to carry out the order or not. The very possibility of such infuriated the General.
“Now, Private!”
“Hold that order!” bellowed Chandra.
Schulz’s piercing eyes turned on the Major. He was taken aback by her comments, even more than the Private’s hesitation to carry out his orders. It left him so speechless that Chandra seized the opportunity to carry on before he could condemn her.
“Captain Friday is one of our own. He has been with us through the worst of this war, and he is not left there out of ill discipline or idleness. He is there for all to see and pay their respects. As you are well aware, General, there is little time for proper burials in this life anymore. This is the only time we have to pay our final respects.”
The General’s expression did not change, but he slowly breathed out and calmed himself. He looked around at the faces of the troops. He could tell that many had been with Friday when he was killed, and they looked down on the General with disgust that he would try and interfere.
Chandra knew the General had put Friday and his men in harm’s way. The rest of the troops did too, but they all knew it was not wise to anger the General. She could hear Silva’s knuckles crunch as he clenched his fists. He wanted to strike the General more than any of them, but he didn’t move a millimetre. Schulz coughed and cleared his throat. He had quickly realised it was not the time or place to risk angering the already distraught troops. He was also well aware that soldiers from many armies were watching. They were eyes and ears that could lead to his downfall if he made the wrong move.
Major Chandra could tell that Schulz’s arrogance had led him into a vulnerable position, and it was one that she was all too ready to take advantage of. She stepped forward and squared off against the General. Her body language could have been read as either respectful or challenging, and she revelled in the fact that he could not tell which.
“Sir, Captain Friday was a brave and competent officer in my Company, and whose actions have saved the lives of many. He was selfless in life, and loyal and honest to the end. Friday was a marine under the direct command of Major Taylor, as well as a very close friend. As the commanding officer of both men, I request a visitation to Major Taylor in order to pass on this tragic news.”
She could see the fury in Schulz’s eyes. The German General hated the insolence he had witnessed with the Inter-Allied Company that she led. Yet he had no choice but to accept her presence whilst she remained a competent and honest officer. He had done his utmost to keep Taylor isolated from any of the personnel he had served with. Schulz had already realised that few who came into contact with the Major would not be sympathetic to his situation and actions.