A few minutes later, they were lifting off the landing zone and gaining speed quickly. The engines were almost deafening. The unmistakeable drone of the enemy vessels was something to be feared, and yet they were now travelling aboard the aerial beasts. For all of their raucous bellowing, they were exceptionally fast craft.
The short trip to Paris felt like an afternoon, but they could see through the pilots’ cockpit that it was still day. Cloud cover got thicker as they headed further west until they hit rain clouds that peppered the hull. Chandra and Taylor carefully studied the surveillance images on her Mappad one last time.
“They are not a subtle enemy, but they must now know that we are not above these clandestine operations,” she whispered.
“You believe they’ll be better prepared for us?” asked Taylor.
“I don’t know. The weapon in Poitiers was an obvious target that they arrogantly assumed we could not reach. Their leadership may not seem such a draw for us, but they must surely have increased their defences.”
“Schulz seemed to think they had little more than fifty Mechs and a similar number of drones in the area.”
“Yes, well I wouldn’t place too much faith in that.”
Taylor smiled.
“We’re gonna hit the ground running. Whatever happens, you must find Karadag and end him. I don’t care what it costs you. If we all die today alongside that bastard, it will be a mission well done.”
“But I pray that not to be our fate.”
She nodded in agreement.
“Heads up, we’re making our approach!” Rains called out.
Taylor stood up and paced towards the cockpit, gazing out at the enemy base. It had been built right on top of the ruins surrounding the Eiffel Tower. The famous symbol of the city had been smashed during the battle for the city. Taylor could only think that the establishment of the enemy there was intended to rub salt into the wound.
The aircraft rushed over the enemy perimeter defences without opposition. Taylor could make out several dozen enemy Mechs and drones patrolling the grounds as they closed towards a line of metal structures that he recognised from their surveillance images. The buildings were fifty metres high, and their impeccable condition contrasted deeply against the rubble and ruins around them.
The nose of the craft lifted as Eddie came in for a landing. They were putting down in a quiet spot past the nearest structure, and out of the gaze of the patrols further out towards the perimeter. Taylor didn’t feel his heart race like he had gotten used to before such dangerous missions. He didn’t know if it was because he was used to the emotion, or that he no longer cared for his own life. But as he turned, he saw the faces of Eli, Chandra and the others and remembered why he had feared so much before.
A loud clang rang out as the undercarriage smashed into the ground in a less than eloquent landing. Eddie looked back at them and lifted his hands as if to mutter the word ‘what’. It didn’t matter. They were on the ground. Sergeant Silva smashed his fist onto the door release button, and it quickly lowered to make a ramp to the surface.
“Here we go again,” whispered Taylor.
They rushed out to find an empty and quiet district between the lines of enemy structures. The walls looked as if they were cast from solid steel. A pulsating hum protruded from the area as if some kind of power source was constantly fluctuating up and down. Taylor led the troops out on the ground that was laid with a fresh smooth surface. The enemy had clearly prepared the surface for their base only and left the ruins all around them as trophies of their conquest.
Chandra looked around to see the German Company pouring out from the other two craft. None of the troops wanted to take a step further. No human being could ever want to take a pace closer into the jaws of death, she thought. Taylor looked back and nodded at her in acknowledgement to move forward. She was still in charge overall, but she was more than happy for Mitch to run the Inter-Allied in such a fearful place.
Major Chandra turned to Wittman, pointing for him to split off and head for the perimeter. She hated that she was sending them right for the enemy positions, but it was no different to the dreadful choices she had been making since it all began. She watched as they paced off quickly and quietly to engage the enemy. She turned to see Taylor was already leading the Company forward.
Despite Chandra’s discomfort, a tingle went down her spine to see Taylor back among them. It made her feel once again that everything was going to work out. She followed and kept a keen eye on Mitch as he led the advance. Eli Parker was close by his side. As they grew near to the first building, they could hear the heavy footsteps of Mechs steps stomping along a corridor within.
Taylor led them all close along the wall of the structure as he made his way towards what appeared to be the entrance. Ambient lighting, which seemed to emanate from the structures, gave them more than adequate visibility; something they were highly thankful for when they knew they couldn’t risk night vision equipment, as gunfire could erupt at any second.
Taylor lifted his hand to stop them and edged forward to get a better view from around the corner of the vast structure. He looked back to check the position of Wittman’s troops, but they were already out of sight. He turned back and carefully crept around the corner. He could make out three Mechs stood by the doorway. The sight of them on their own soil reminded him of his encounter with Karadag.
He studied the terrain and spotted two drones a hundred metres away from the guards. He looked back and conveyed the numbers with hand signals before raising his weapon and taking a deep breath. He knew the time for covert action was over. He pointed forward as the go signal and leapt out, rushing towards the doors with his shield held out to protect himself.
He opened fire before the creatures could respond. The first Mech dropped dead when five shots pierced its armour. The drones were quick to respond. They got off several shots, but they were all absorbed by the Reitech shields as the Company advanced. Light from the soldiers’ weapons lit up the district as the Mechs and their drones were torn apart. They were still a hundred metres away when the creatures tumbled to the ground in a smouldering heap.
Another two Mechs appeared at the doorway as they approached but were met with a hail of gunfire, riddling each of them with dozens of rounds. Taylor continued at a sprinting pace to the door and slammed into the wall beside the entrance. His platoon formed up around the doorway and prepared to enter. None of them knew what they would find inside, but they were already too pumped up on adrenaline to worry about it.
“Go!” shouted Taylor.
He turned and leapt through the entrance and was the first in. They found themselves in a tall and broad corridor that seemed to continue for as far as they could see. Taylor had expected to see a vast and grand interior but appreciated the cover it afforded them. He looked back to see those who had entered behind him anxiously waiting for the order to continue on. He moved off, knowing they’d be at his back.
He continued on, and they grew closer to the drone from within. Taylor finally reached an adjoining corridor and stepped cautiously to its entrance. He peered around the corner and realised it was as empty as the one they had first entered. He wondered if the enemy had simply not heard the gunfire but knew it was too much to hope for. Chandra pushed her way to the front and stepped up to Taylor.
“Where are they all? Wittman must have made contact by now,” she mused.
“With these walls and that noise, there could be all out war, and we wouldn’t know it.”
“Shit, I don’t like this. We don’t have a fucking clue where we’re going.”
Taylor took a deep breath. He knew they had to find Karadag, but he already suspected that the enemy leader would have much the same idea about them.
“Let’s keep moving forward,” he whispered.