“Then why do we need reinforcing at this stage?”
“The next phase of the war is coming. We all knew it would. While the Krycenaeans occupy the Moon, or any territory in this solar system, there can be no peace.”
The table went quiet once again. Chandra had accepted long ago that the war was not over, but the others had hoped for it. Jones finally spoke up.
“This war has almost killed me many times over. I have been through hell and given everything I have. That isn’t to diminish the rest of your service and devotion. But I, for one, am finished. Is there not a point where a man has simply done enough? Have we not all done enough for a lifetime?”
The others remained silent. They were stunned by the Captain’s words. He was as respected in the Company as much as the two Majors, and they all knew his word had both merit and influence. Chandra didn’t agree, but she found it hard to speak up against him. She finally tried to speak but was interrupted by Taylor.
“I agree. Are we to continue until every last one of us is dead? What purpose would that serve? How can we ask the men and women of this Company to go on, knowing that there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and nothing to work towards, nothing to go home to?”
“It isn’t an ideal situation, or one I would ever have wished on any of us. But simply put, we are an essential part of the line that holds the defences of this world together. If it were not us out here, enduring such hardships, who would it be? Would you leave civilians to their deaths, rather than face the enemy yourselves?”
“But when do you draw the line?” asked Jones. “Historically wars go on and on. New reasons, new enemies, and the same soldiers can’t keep fighting them day after day, year after year.”
Chandra took a deep breath, sighing as she realised the morale of the Company was being sapped away. None of the others spoke. She could see they were all thinking hard about Jones’ words, and there wasn’t one among them who didn’t agree with him.
“These past few months we have fought over ground which saw some of the greatest and most bloodthirsty battles the world’s ever known. You all know your history. Look back to the twentieth century when a relentless enemy sought to conquer the world.”
She took a deep breath again as they thought back to their military history.
“When Hitler took hold of Europe, Britain was all that stood against the Nazi regime. Surrounded on all sides, it was a state of total war. Negotiation and diplomacy was at its end. That war would end when one side was utterly vanquished. Our troops did not get leave. Their leave would be when victory was won, and the war was over.”
She could see they thought about her lesson in history, but it had not yet changed their minds.
“Did the allies stop when France was re-taken, with an enemy still on the doorstep? No. They knew that peace could only be won through absolute victory. Make no mistake. This war is not over. You can go back to your homes and try and enjoy a normal life until the next invasion, or you can take the fight to the enemy with me.”
Taylor looked up and began to realise what her initial words had meant.
“We’re going to the Moon, aren’t we? It’s the only reason we’d be reinforced so quickly after the war was over. We’re invading the Moon.”
She shook her head, knowing that her privileged information was out.
“Keep your voice down,” she said.
Jones sighed in disbelief as she continued on at a whisper.
“Yes. The Moon must be re-taken. This unit has more experience against the enemy than any other. It has proven its worth, and Taylor’s marines have already fought there before. We’re going to the Moon, and we’re ridding ourselves of this invading force for good!”
The rest of the evening was a quiet and sombre affair as all who had sat at that table thought of the perils that were to come. They watched the rest of the Company joyfully party, but they could think of nothing else. Taylor and Parker went to bed that night and lay beside each other in silence. It was a sadness they had wished they’d never feel again.
“Major Taylor! Major Taylor!”
Mitch awoke at the sound of his voice being bellowed out by Silva. The Sergeant continued to bark his name, and it was getting louder as he closed the distance to his billet. Eli had arisen at the noise and was groaning at being woken so harshly. They could tell from the natural light flooding through the partially transparent fabric of the field billet that the sun had recently risen to bring them into the next day.
“Major Taylor!”
The calls continued. He could tell that it was urgent, and by the concern in Silva’s harsh voice, he could already tell that it was not going to be good news. He leapt from his bed and pulled on his boots and coat. He still war his BDUs from the night before. The heaters they had kept the billets from freezing, but it was far from warm. He opened the door to find Silva just reaching him. He could see a distraught look in the man’s eyes. He’d rarely seen such fear from the steadfast Sergeant.
“What is it?”
“Sir, you need to come with me, now!”
Taylor leapt out of the billet and followed the Sergeant. He’d never have taken orders from any NCO, but it was clear to him that he needed to trust Silva. The Sergeant led him to Commander Phillips’ command vehicle and stepped inside with him. Phillips and Chandra were stood around the briefing table, and Jones entered shortly after.
“What the hell’s going on?” insisted Taylor.
“I have just had official confirmation that thirty minutes ago, there was an attack at Ramstein air base.”
“What? How?”
“Preliminary reports suggest that an overwhelming force of enemy aircraft entered the atmosphere at speed and carried out a lightning fast attack which flattened most of the base. They struck quickly before any intercept fighters could counter them.”
“What about the ground defences?” Taylor asked.
“Seems they took down a few of the enemy bombers, but much of the system had still not been repaired since the last battle there. The base was only just getting operational again.”
“Christ,” whispered Jones.
“What are the casualties?”
“The only contact we have had is with the crew of the Deveron who narrowly escaped the same fate as they were on the way back from a refit in England, but their Captain, Reyes, was on the base when the attack struck. So we must assume he is among the dead.”
Taylor shook his head in disbelief. Then he remembered Chandra sending their last find to the research facilities there.
“The incubation chambers?”
“The only reports we have back so far are from the Deveron, and it doesn’t look good. These are the initial images they sent.”
Phillips tapped a few keys on the glass display of the table, and it lit up with the images of the devastated base. As a US base, it had been quickly rebuilt after it had been re-captured from the enemy. It was seen as vital to morale to rebuild what had become such a symbol of hope for them all. Now it lay in ruins once again. Fire and smoke rose from the wasteland the base had become. They could just make out parts of raptors and other aircraft that had been scattered amongst the debris.
“How many personnel were in Ramstein?”
“The US deployment was about fifteen thousand, with maybe another ten thousand foreign troops and civilians.”
Taylor gasped at the news.
“Reyes was a good man, one of many,” he replied.
“Why now?” asked Jones. “Why Ramstein? I thought the war on Earth was over?”
“Clearly not,” replied Phillips.
“It is too much of a coincidence that the only attack they have launched since their retreat was against the base where we sent the only remaining incubation chambers we have found so far,” stated Chandra.
“You believe they are that valuable to them?” asked Jones.
“I believe whatever we would have learnt from them was worth everything to the enemy,” she replied.