Fucking medals. My people are out there fighting and dying, for this? She was disgusted by the General’s attitude, but she knew she was foolish for expecting anything else. He only cared about figures, not soldiers. She turned and strode out of the room without a salute. It was an insult to her superiors that she knew they could do little about. In a time when they needed every capable soldier they had, she could get away with a lot.
The Major stormed out of the Headquarters to find Taylor awaiting her. He could already see she had failed in her attempt to get the General’s approval.
“Bastards,” he muttered.
“I shouldn’t have wasted my breath,” she snapped.
“What now?”
“I won’t leave our people there to rot. Find Phillips, he’s the only one who can get us what we need.”
“You think he’ll help?”
“He’s our only chance.”
Chandra squinted as she peered over Taylor’s shoulder.
“There he is.”
She brushed past Mitch to confront the Commander. He could already see that she wanting something from him and wasn’t in the mood to accept anything less.
“What can I do for you, Major?”
“Glad you asked, we need to talk, now!”
She led the Commander back to their bunkhouse where she knew they would get some privacy. The Company was busy getting chow, and nobody would dare invade their space. Phillips was already restless by the time they reached the room, and he didn’t like being led around. When they were finally shut inside the dorm room, the Commander opened his mouth to talk but was cut short my Chandra.
“The enemy are taking prisoners, and we think we know where. Captain Jones is almost certainly among them.”
Phillips shook his head. It was clearly something he had heard before and had been the subject of much pressure from those around him.
“I have already heard this from the mouths of other officers who want to rush headlong into enemy territory to get them back.”
“You knew and have done nothing?” shouted Taylor.
“What can I do? We have been losing ground since the day this war began, and we are lucky to ever hold on to anything for long. We have endless lists of dead, wounded and MIAs. General Schulz will not risk any more troops to pursue this. I am guessing you already know this, as you would only be coming to me if you had already failed with him.”
“Damn straight!” snapped Taylor.
“What do you expect me to do?”
“I don’t give a damn who’s in charge of this base. Your responsibility is to us. We have people out there left to the mercy of the enemy, and that includes at least two of your own. I expect you to do whatever you must to get them back!” shouted Taylor.
Phillips looked insulted and put out by Taylor’s sudden lashing out.
“Must I remind you of the chain of command, Major?”
Chandra stepped forward. She could not take anymore.
“Don’t give us that shit. We’ve been getting our arses blown off since this war began while you sat comfortably at command. We don’t expect you to pick up a weapon and join us, but we do expect you to give us the support we deserve.”
Phillips gasped as he lowered his head in shame. He knew it was wrong to leave troops behind, but he had treated the losses as pure statistics. He looked back up and spoke softly.
“If I help you, the General will have my balls.”
“And if you don’t, soldiers will die. We are going to find Jones, and any other prisoners, with or without your help. Without you, we go in blind and will likely pay a high price for it. With your assistance, we may just pull it off.”
The Commander knew he was between a rock and hard place, but they had made a solid case. As much as he stuck to the rules, he despised both Schulz and Dupont.
“Alright, to hell with it. With the way things are going, there’s probably little they can do to me anyway.”
Taylor smiled as he patted the Commander on the shoulder.
“You’re doing the right thing, Sir.”
“I hope so.”
“What intel do you have on this?” asked Chandra.
“We know prisoners are being kept in a facility in Metz in small numbers. What we don’t know is why.”
“What have we been doing since they arrived here?” asked Chandra.
Phillips looked up to the Major dumbfounded.
“We have studied them. We have tried to understand our enemy,” mused Taylor.
Phillips nodded in agreement.
“You really think that’s what they are doing? Studying our soldiers?”
“I’d be amazed if they weren’t,” replied Chandra. “Something tells me that this invasion has not resulted in the blitz success which they had hoped for. We are starting to slow their advance and adapt to better fight them. They may now be looking for every avenue to exploit.”
“That would explain it. From what we can tell, they have only taken military personnel from the front lines.”
“How many prisoners do you figure they have?”
“Maybe a dozen or more.”
Taylor nodded. “Alright, few enough that we should be able to make this quick and quiet.”
“Do you really believe you can get them out?” asked Phillips.
“If we were able to take out the Poitiers weapon, we can do anything. With accurate information of their location, it is more than doable.”
“Okay, I can get you maps and heat signature images from the area. I can authorise you on a mission to the west, but not for this purpose. Once you head for Metz, you will be on your own. You must be aware there will be repercussions for this even if you succeed.”
Taylor nodded, but he didn’t care what might become of them when they got back. He stared at the Commander until it became clear he had no desire to hear any more about it.
“I will help you get to Metz, but once you return, I cannot admit to any involvement. We cannot afford to have it know that command level officers have been subordinate in the face of such a conflict.”
Taylor sighed. Typical fucking politician, he thought as he rubbed his brow. He looked over to Chandra to be certain he had her support. He knew she would take the brunt of the flack as the Company commander if she went along with it.
“You should let my marines do this alone, Major. You are needed with the Company. Better still, we’re Americans, and there’s only so much Schulz and that idiot Dupont can do to us.”
It was clear that Chandra wanted more than anything to go on the mission, but she held her tongue and thought a little longer.
“As much as it pains me to say it, you’re right. I would never have you take this risk alone, but it may be the only way of keeping this Company together. With the reputation you have earned, you hold a lot of weight around here. A platoon of gung ho yanks going on a suicidal mission without orders is far easier to justify than the entire Company being implicit in the affair.”
Taylor chuckled.
“For once our reputation may be what keeps us from the brig?”
“The Major is right. If you can pull this off, then the punishment will be minimal,” Phillips added.
“Alright, that’s it then. Taylor, you are now in command of the rescue mission which we will designate Operation Dead Stick. You will need to get Eddie Rains on board along with a second copter. He should be able to get another of the modified FVs if you ask nicely.”
“I’m sure he’d be more than capable of the task and happy to help.”
“Commander, I need all the intel you have on their location and enemy positions in and around Metz, and I need them before sundown. We are doing this tonight.”
“Tonight? Don’t you think that’s a little hasty?”
“You’re damn right it is,” snapped Taylor.
“If command hadn’t arsed around and waited on this, we could probably have succeeded with a rescue attempt weeks ago and with far less risk. If we wait much longer, who knows where they will be or what situation the front line will be in.”