“Goodbye, Major.”
Taylor stared his would be killer in the eyes as the man squeezed the trigger, but as he did so, he was lifted from the ground, and his neck snapped. His body was tossed aside like a ragdoll, and Taylor looked up in fear as one of Demiran’s bodyguards stood towering over him. He knew he was at the mercy of the creature, but to his shock it held out its hand as if to help him to his feet.
Confused as to the creature’s intentions, Taylor had little choice but to go along with it. He offered up his, and the creature hauled him to his feet with no effort at all. As Taylor landed on his feet, he drew his Assegai and pressed the tip against the rim of the creature’s faceplate. Something stayed his hand though, and he held it to threaten but did not strike. The creature had saved his life, and curiosity made him wonder why he had been allowed to live.
The alien before him did not respond to his weapon. Its faceplate quickly retracted and uncovered its face to the Major. Their faces were just twenty centimetres apart, and neither made a move. He took a pace back and slid the Assegai back into its sheath. He was confused by the situation and shocked to still be alive. The other bodyguard walked casually into view, stood beside the other, and likewise revealed its face.
“What are your intentions?” asked Taylor.
The first creature that had helped him finally spoke.
“You saved our lives from your own people, despite all the death and destruction we have brought to your people, why?”
“Because we are all soldiers in this war, and we didn’t start the war. And I’d like to think if I were captured, I would be treated in the way in which I would do to others.”
The two aliens looked at him, as if utterly confused by what he had said.
“Lord Demiran has escaped. He left us to die here, and yet you let us live. We would serve a master who values our lives like he does his own.”
“What are you saying?” asked Taylor.
“That you have our allegiance. You fight beside your soldiers like brothers.”
“And you would fight against your own race because of this?”
The creatures nodded in agreement.
Mitch studied them intently. He was desperately trying to decide what the best course of action was. It was already clear to him that they were the only reason he was still alive. A cough echoed around the room, and Taylor turned to see that Hall had awoken but was still trapped beneath the ramp of the craft. Taylor looked back to the two creatures, and in that moment decided he needed their help, and that ruled out any other reservations he might have.
“Help me!””
He rushed over to the Corporal and tried to lift the ramp that was crushed down onto Hall’s chest. His body armour was all that had stopped his body from being flattened. Taylor tried with all his strength, but the exosuit was not enough. The ramp had fixed solid on its mountings to the wrecked enemy fighter. Without another word, the two creatures stepped up, and one gently pushed Taylor aside. Hall could only watch in amazement as they took hold of the wreckage, hauled it from his body and out the way, before dropping it with a heavy crash to the deck.
Footsteps hammered into the docking bay, and Parker was at the head of her platoon. Taylor leapt up to stand in front of the creatures.
“Wait!” he shouted.
Eli stopped in shock, but none of them dared defy the Major’s orders.
“Demiran’s gone, but these two are with us!”
“What you mean ‘with us’? They’re the enemy!”
“I don’t have time to explain. All you need know is that these two soldiers just saved my life and that of Corporal Hall.”
“They’re the reason you’re down here and nearly died in the first place!”
“Sergeant! This is not up for discussion!”
He turned back to the two creatures. They were helping Hall get to his feet in a scene that touched them all. They were not sure whether to believe the sincerity of the creatures or not, but they were all amazed to have found Taylor alive, that they were willing to entertain the idea while it lasted.
“The station is overrun, and we have to get back to our command centre. Have you got weapons, and are you willing to use them to fight alongside us?”
The two creatures both nodded in agreement.
“Mitch, if Demiran is gone, what hope do we have?”
“Not much, but I will not sit back and wait to die. Let’s get back to Kelly, and make sure we give the Commander every chance he has to hold onto this God damn station!”
Chapter 11
Taylor strode briskly down the halls of the station with Parker and Hall one side and the two aliens on his other flank. They wore more sleek and embellished armour than the typical Mechs and were clearly something special. Taylor knew they were guards to an important enemy leader and were certainly an entirely different quality of soldier to the hulking infantry they were used to fighting.
As they passed a corridor of Mechs, the two alien allies opened fire and struck down two of the Mechs as they passed. Parker watched in amazement. None of them knew yet whether they could be trusted or not. The aliens seemed to have such little regard for life that he wondered if killing their own would bother them at all. Taylor reached a comms unit and quickly patched into the CP.
“This is Taylor, we’re en route. What is the current situation?”
“Major, we’re in deep shit! Jones is trapped in an office near 71A. Achen has dug in outside the CP, and no word from Nichols. Chen is falling back here also.”
Taylor could hear the screams of scores of wounded all around on the other end of the line.
“Jones? Is he still alive?”
“Last we heard, yes, but I’ve lost the feeds from the area, and we can’t reach him.”
“Alright, we’ll do what we can to assist the Captain.”
“Major?”
“What is it?”
“A small enemy craft attempted to leave the station just a few minutes ago.”
Taylor’s eyes lit up. Demiran, you bastard!
“Did it escape?”
“Its engines were hit by our fighters, and the last I saw it was spinning out of control.”
Taylor smiled. “Good to know, Lieutenant, over and out.”
Taylor turned back to the troops, but Eli interrupted him before he could speak.
“Why didn’t you tell him it was Demiran?”
“Not on an open channel, Sergeant. If his ship went out of control, then there’s a good chance he won’t get picked up for some time. We might have just bought ourselves a little extra time. Until he can contact his forces, they will assume we still have him.”
He turned to the others.
“Jones is in trouble, and the rest of our forces have fallen back to the CP. I will not leave our people out there. Let’s move!”
Taylor leapt forward and the two aliens were the first to follow after him. He still found it hard to fathom that they were at his side, but he’d take any help he could get when they were on their knees and fighting for their survival.
Ten minutes later, they were close enough to hear the fire ahead. Taylor stopped quickly to survey a map of the area that was on one of the walls. He peaked around the corner of his position to see the enemy forces still pouring into the office district, and fire from Reitech weapons was flowing through the breach.
“Alright, no time for subtleties. Jones might not have long. Parker, I want you to take half the troops down this parallel corridor. Engage the enemy at your first opportunity.”
She turned and signalled for fifteen of the soldiers to follow her before leaping across the crossroads to take the next route as Taylor had ordered. He looked back to see that Hall and the aliens were at his back. It still sent his pulse racing every time he turned back to see the aliens just centimetres from his face.
“Let’s move.”
They rushed out from the corridor and sprinted towards their target. Seven of the Mechs were visible at the entrance to the office, and the others were already inside. Pulses from the two creatures running beside him joined Taylor’s fire. They kept up the pace as they butchered the creatures. When they had made half the distance, their fire was met with Parker’s as her troops smashed the enemy ahead of them.