“You point the way, Major, and we’ll do the talking,” said Sugar.
The hulking gunner grinned again as he stood still holding his treasured weapon.
“We’re heading for Metz. All intelligence would suggest that the major mass of enemy forces are further east around Saarbrucken, but that doesn’t mean we’ll have an easy run of it. The copters should be able to get us in without resistance if we fly low through the valleys and stay out of trouble.”
“Sir, do we have an extraction plan?” asked Parker.
“We’ve got Rains and Kato here who will stick with us where possible, but aside from them, no. Nobody but those here and Major Chandra know of our intentions. The most assistance she could provide us with is her pleading with the Generals to help. They have already shown they will not risk assistance to save those prisoners, so I would not expect them to extend any more help for us.”
“Shit, a suicidal mission behind enemy lines. Sounds just like our kind of gig,” roared Silva.
Chuckles rang out across the lines. Taylor appreciated them making light of the situation. It was the only way to stay sane.
“Parker and Silva will lead their own sections, and the rest of you are with me. Remember what it’s like to fight on their terms. No radio links means we need to stay close. This new gear we have got has made it a fair fight, but let’s keep the odds in our favour. Sections stay in visual contact at all times. Any questions?”
The landing zone remained silent.
“Alright, load up, and let’s get our people back!”
The troops separated and began shuffling quietly into the copters. A sombre tone fell over the landing zone as they all considered the danger they were facing. Going deep into enemy territory, and without hope of backup or assistance, was a daunting task. They had only done it once before to destroy the enemy weapon in Poitiers.
Destruction of the invaders’ super weapon had been seen as the only hope for humanity’s survival. They had accepted it might have been a suicide mission and gotten on with it. Now their lives seemed to carry more value, but they knew they had a responsibility to the prisoners to bring them back. Taylor noticed light footsteps approaching and turned to see Major Chandra step out from the darkness.
“You said you’d stay out of this.”
She nodded.
“And I will, but I could not let you set off alone. It’s a grim day that our own people are giving up on each other. Perhaps this can go some way to reinforcing the value of our soldiers’ lives. Men and women from every nation have given everything they had to give.”
“You may support us in spirit, Major, but it is vital that you isolate yourself from this mission. You could lose command over the Company should your involvement be known.”
Chandra sighed. She was stuck in an abominable position.
“I hate this. I must turn my back on comrades to save others.”
“You’re doing the right thing. The Company has tight bonds, and we cannot lose that. General Schulz would gladly split the unit.”
“I’d like to see him try. He may be in charge of this front, but he is not a British officer. We have more than earned our right to stand together as one.”
Taylor nodded in agreement. For years he had trained against the British in friendly exercises, and they had been their best competition. Never could he have imagined to have become one with them. He looked down at the slight Indian officer and smiled at her. Her stature hid her strength of character and body well. Now before him in the Reitech suit, she was dwarfed even further.
It made him think of his brutal mauling at the hands of Karadag, the alien Commander. The memory ignited a spark of pain to soar through this body. His wounds had largely healed, but the aches and pains were far from gone. He did his utmost to hide it from his comrades, and they respected him further for soldiering on.
“Have you got anywhere on securing Reiter the resources he needs?” asked Taylor.
“Barely had a chance since we got onto planning this mission.”
“Last time I came up against one of those alien bastards in close quarter, I got my ass kicked. Every time they get close, we get torn apart. I never thought I would see the day when we would need to fight hand-to-hand, but it doesn’t change the fact that it has been thrust upon us.”
“I hear you.”
“That shield technology could work if Reiter can just get it to an operational level. I know he has some ideas on a close quarter weapon, so push him.”
“You think he’ll still be working at this time?”
“Trust me, that man doesn’t sleep. He only works.”
“Then I’ll get on it and good luck tonight.”
“Thanks, we’ll see you at dawn.”
He turned and paced up the ramp of the copter to see that his marines were sat along the fuselage in readiness. He turned to Rains who was awaiting his signal. He gave a nod. It was all the Lieutenant needed. The engines powered up, and they knew there was no going back.
Chapter 3
The copters soared through a thickly wooded valley towards their target. Taylor watched the shadows of the imposing trees flash by just twenty metres from the windows. Having sat down with nothing more to do but ponder his actions, he was starting to realise how much trouble he was stirring up. He had broken orders to save Parker, but that was in the heat of a battle. This time it was different, and he knew it.
“I guess Schulz will have your balls for this?” asked Silva.
He looked up at the calm and confident Sergeant. Their two sections rode with Rains. Sergeant Parker and her team were with Kato.
“Schulz can tough talk as much as he likes, but he needs us,” growled Taylor.
“You think that’ll be enough to save us from the can?”
Taylor shrugged his shoulders. He wanted to believe that it was true, but he also knew that his insubordination could not go unchecked. Never before had he simply deemed his orders to be unjust and unreasonable. Perhaps Schulz will see he was wrong if we pull this off, he thought. He shook his head in response to his own question. Schulz was a bastard and wouldn’t ever change.
He looked down the line of marines and admired their resoluteness. They were just as calm and cool headed as if on a training exercise. He wondered how much was down to their training and discipline, and how much to do with the death and destruction. After all they had witnessed, he wondered if they had become accustomed to the thought of death and the loss of friends.
The Major had never asked his marines whether they should even be risking themselves for two British soldiers. The two units had become so integrated that they rarely saw a distinction anymore, unless it was for the sake of a quick joke. He lifted up his Mappad and studied the surveillance images one last time.
Heat signatures showed that up to a dozen humans were being held in a prison just a few kilometres south of the city. It had been constructed a hundred years previously and was a vast sprawling complex which could house ten thousands criminals. He wondered what had become of the occupants after the area had fallen to the enemy. The guards had a duty to protect them and move them to safety. In reality, he knew that in the chaos of the invasion, many would have been left to their own devices.
Thinking about the prisoners for a few minutes, he wondered why there were not more signatures of the prison’s inhabitants. He looked up to the Sergeant who he knew to be a smart and well-informed man.
“The prisoners, where do you think they are?”
Silva sighed as he looked away and back to Mitch.
“It was chaos getting everyone out of the cities. I guess they either let them loose or…”
His voice faded away as he thought about the alternative.
Neither man wanted to consider the slaughter that they both suspected. Most of the others weren’t paying attention or didn’t cotton on to their train of thought. Taylor nodded to the Sergeant. They both knew what they must prepare themselves for. Taylor sat back against the fuselage and relaxed as much as he could for the last few minutes of peace they would have.