Chandra spun around. Her hand reached for the weapon slung on her side as her pulse raced. She had become accustomed to being on guard at all times. Lieutenant Green stood before her.
“What is it?” she snapped.
“Commander Phillips is requesting your presence, along with Major Taylor.”
“Got it, thank you, Lieutenant. That’ll be all.”
Green rushed off to join the rest of the Company and to enjoy the few hours of recuperation they would get.
“What do you think he wants?” asked Taylor.
“You know better than me. You’re the one that’s been on base.”
“Not a clue. Hopefully he has some news.”
Chandra turned to Friday.
“You can join us also, Captain.”
“You sure the Commander will be keen on that idea?”
“I don’t give a shit. We’ve lost more soldiers than I want to remember. The fact that we three are still alive is a miracle in itself. There may come a time when you have to take over from Taylor or myself. I’d rather you were ready for that responsibility.”
“She’s right,” mused Taylor.
“Not the most positive of thoughts, Ma’am,” went on Friday.
“We have to be realistic, Captain. We have made it this far, and I pray we all make it through this, but we must be prepared for the worst.”
The Captain agreed, even if he didn’t like the thought of it. The three of them turned and continued on towards Headquarters. Troops from a dozen different nations saluted and greeted them as they passed down the busy roads. Chandra’s Company no longer had any vehicles at their disposal, not even for the Major herself. They scrounged lifts where they could.
“Rains still in the area?” asked Chandra.
“Yeah, he’s running high priority jobs for command. I saw him a few hours back.”
As they reached an intersection, they halted abruptly to avoid being run down by a dozen Russian heavy tanks rolling across the thoroughfare. The three officers could barely hear each other over the constant noise of chatter and vehicles travelling throughout the base. Combat-weary soldiers lay about, getting any rest they could. Fresh recruits sat awaiting deployment, and there was no excitement or enthusiasm in their eyes. They had seen the faces of those who had faced the Mechs and the ever-mounting dead.
Many of the troops looked at the Reitech suits with amazement and envy. There were still less than two hundred on the base. Production had been marred by delays due to the chaos that had engulfed the planet. Transportation networks were in shambles, and many nations’ workforces were in disarray.
Few begrudged the Company’s almost exclusive issue of the latest equipment, and anyone who did, was quickly reminded of their heroic actions from the day the war began. Chandra and Taylor were becoming household names among the human armies along with their battalion; the Inter-Allied had become known to many, as the ‘Immortals’.
Few knew of the horrific losses of the unit. Soldiers had become familiar with the stories of their dare devil escapades and were never informed of the heavy price which they had paid for such antics. They only saw the triumphant returns and celebrated their victories.
Up ahead, they could see Phillips sat on top of a freight box with a mug of tea in his hand. His uniform was as clean as the newest recruits. There was no dread in his face. He had not met the enemy face to face, and to him the Mechs were nothing more than a statistic. Just as the human dead were a number on a computer.
“You can bet your ass he took the credit for your mission to Poitiers,” said Friday.
Taylor was amused by Friday’s vocalisation recently. He had always been a man of few words. Maybe he just never had much that was important enough to voice an opinion, thought Taylor. The war had put many of their troubles into perspective. The petty squabbles in their lives seemed to be exactly that.
“Undoubtedly,” replied Chandra. “But had it gone wrong, it would have been his balls.”
“You think that responsibility is equal to the risks we take with our lives?” asked Taylor.
“No, but we must each play a part.”
The Commander lifted his mug as a greeting to them when he saw them approach. He had a smile on his freshly washed face, as if they were back home and enjoying a relaxing weekend. Deep down they all knew the pressure upon the Commander, and the work that he put in, but they could not help but feel he hadn’t earned his reputation in combat.
“Got any news for us, Sir?” shouted Chandra.
Phillips got to his feet and waved for them to follow him into the building he was sat in front of. They walked through and into a large mirrored elevator that took them fifty metres below the surface where the underground HQ had been established. The doors opened, and Phillips strode out without a word.
Just as the Commander was about to reach the pair of guards stood either side of the Command centre entrance, he veered off down a side corridor, leading the three officers into a smaller meeting room. He slumped down into a chair in the room as they went in behind him.
“Shut the door.”
Friday begrudgingly closed the door behind them. He didn’t like being treated like a ranker, but there was little that could be said on the subject. Phillips looked up to see the three officers stood awaiting some big news. In that moment, his relaxed mood dropped as he realised quite how imposing the troops were in their Reitech suits. Only Taylor wore no armour, but he still carried a rifle and sidearm.
“What have you got for us, Sir?” asked Chandra.
“I have it on good authority that British forces are planning to cross the channel and engage the enemy in northern France. I don’t know when, but the fact remains, that they will not do it until they can see we have brought the enemy to a halt.”
“Well hell, Sir, we did that last week, didn’t you hear?” fumed Taylor.
“I hear you, Major. I am doing everything in my power to convince Field Marshall Copley to launch his attack immediately. We have stopped the enemy once, but they were hot on our tails. We all know too well that we can’t get the equipment we need to the frontline fast enough.”
“And if we don’t get all the support we need, there may not be anyone left to use it,” snapped Chandra.
Phillips nodded in agreement.
“I completely agree. I believe help is imminent. A British offensive in the north could be a game changer.”
“How big an offensive are we talking, Sir?” asked Taylor.
“His Majesty’s armies are fully prepared and ready for war. I have seen reports that Commonwealth forces have flocked to Britain to give assistance. If the British army is landing in France, they’re doing so in number.”
“Alright,” muttered Friday.
“What about the US, Sir, any news?” asked Taylor.
“Not much beyond what you already know. They’re having a hard time of it just as we are, but they are holding. Major, you have been key in the testing of Mr Reiter’s research, and I am sure you have plenty more to give. These Reitech suits are now out of his hands. Find out what he’s working on, and give what assistance you can.”
“But I am cleared to return to the Company, Sir.”
“We both know that isn’t true, Major. There may come a time when we put wounded men out in the field to fight, but they will be desperate times indeed.”
“Are things not already desperate enough?” asked Chandra.
“Look around. The base has been heavily reinforced. The Company is managing perfectly well. There is more to winning this war than being on the frontline.”
Friday smirked in the background. He knew what the Commander was saying. The frustration and pressure of being behind the lines whilst everyone he knew was in danger was not pleasant. So maybe it did take balls to do his job, thought Friday.
“Right now, we need every advantage we can get. Major, you’re up for guard duty this afternoon, is that correct?”
“Yes, Sir. Light duties to give the troops a little rest,” she replied.