Taylor turned back to Chandra for clarification.
“It’s alright, I’ll see you back at our post in a little while.”
Taylor followed the Commander around a corner to a quiet spot. Kelly didn’t appear to present any threat to him, but curiosity made Taylor’s mind run wild with what he might have to say. They were finally out of earshot of the passing troops, and he whispered carefully.
“When you hunted Demiran down, I know Lieutenant Perera was involved too. I know you both got to that docking bay, and I know he didn’t make it out alive. I also know his actions earlier were counterproductive to our operations and insubordinate.”
Taylor sighed and tried to answer, but Kelly cut him short.
“Perera hated you. We both know it. All I want to know is if his death could have been avoided. Are you a man I can trust, and are you the man that your reputation would imply?”
“I hope so, Sir. Perera did not die at my hands, but only because I was unable to defend myself in that moment. He’d have gunned me down, there and then.”
“Then I am sorry. Sorry that one of my own could do such a thing. Please let us put this all behind us. You have already convinced me of your worth. Pull this mission off, and you will gain the respect of my people.”
“I wasn’t looking for it, Sir. I never have. I have tried to do everything I can in this war and continue to do so. If people don’t like me, that’s their problem, not mine.”
Kelly smiled. “You’re a true warrior, Major. I am only glad you are on our side.”
Kelly turned and left Taylor. He was glad of the Commander’s support. He’d almost been stabbed in the back once that day, and the last thing he needed were enemies on his own side.
Taylor got back to their billets for the day. They’d had been allocated a sports facility, consisting mostly of open halls and with little furniture. Many of the troops had already set up their beds and were relaxing, playing cards, or chatting with their comrades. He was glad to see that the newly enlisted troops to Inter-Allied were mingling with the hardened veterans as if they’d never been apart. Chandra was busy looking over her Mappad when he strode up to her. She looked up with a grim expression.
“Final casualties for us, thirty-three dead. Twenty-eight wounded.”
“It could have been a lot worse,” he replied.
“I wonder when this is all over if this will even resemble the unit we started in any way.”
“We’re still here, aren’t we?”
She nodded in agreement. “For now.”
Taylor could see that the Colonel was sitting amongst her own gear and in the same room as the rest. There were no luxuries afforded the officers that day.
“All this worry for our own good, and you volunteered us to assist Kelly without a moment’s thought?”
“It didn’t need any further thought. We’re going to the Moon tomorrow, whether we want to or not. If we’re at the centre of the assault, it’ll boost the morale of all who join us. We also need this bitter animosity resolved between your marines and the Lunar colonists. It’s almost led to your incarceration and death, and maybe you won’t be so lucky a third time.”
Taylor hunkered down and took a seat on Chandra’s bed beside her.
“You know we need to promote Grey before this mission is over. He’s proven more than capable, and as a Company commander, he needs greater authority. And let’s not forget, when Suarez returns, we want the better man in command.”
“Where is the Lieutenant? I haven’t seen him since a few days after we reached Paris,” asked Chandra.
Taylor laughed at the idea that she hadn’t even noticed his absence.
“General White wanted a volunteer to head back to the US and assist with the training of newly enlisted troops. He thought one of the Immortals could do wonders for recruiting and training.”
“And you sent them Suarez?”
“Hey, I did exactly what was asked. I wasn’t about to give up anymore than I had to.”
She nodded in agreement.
“How did he ever come to be an officer in your marines? He’s selfish, confrontational, and obnoxious. I’d not want to trust my life in his hands.”
“No, and yet he’s been with us through the worst of it all. I don’t like him, but I will not dismiss his efforts. Suarez certainly pulled some strings to get where he did, but can you blame him?”
They both fell silent for a few moments as they watched the troops who had quickly made the halls their home. They could see fatigue in many of the faces, but they were as steadfast as ever.
“You’ve got until morning to rest. I suggest you make good use of that time,” Chandra said.
“Morning? If I didn’t have a watch, I’d never have known night from day here. Remind me to never take a posting off of Earth in the future. There ain’t much to like about it.”
“Agreed, and yet thousands of people think otherwise.”
“God knows why.”
Taylor sighed as he pulled himself to his feet and stepped over to where Parker had set up her gear and erected Taylor’s bed next to hers. He wearily unclipped the harness of his exosuit and webbing, dropping it down to the floor. He stretched and felt immense relief to have the weight and bulk off his shoulders. He turned to see that Jafar and Tsengal were sat against a wall just a few metres from their position. The two aliens were silent. He had not noticed them immediately, for they now sported camouflage paint and Inter-Allied insignia. They both remained quiet and seemed to be studying everything around them.
Parker kept a keen eye on the two aliens, and Taylor could tell that it was the most uncomfortable thing he had ever done, allowing them to become one of them. He wanted to explain to her how they had saved his life, but he knew he had to be careful who knew about that turn of events. He turned and looked to Jafar and Tsengal.
“How do you like your new look?”
They peered down at their camouflaged suits that still shone from the fresh paint, even though it was a perfect matt finish. They seemed overwhelmed by all that was happening to them but far from uncomfortable. Taylor got up and staggered over to their position and took a knee.
“I can’t make you one of them overnight, but bit by bit, you will become one of us. Tomorrow we go into combat once again. Will you join us? Will you help us take back the Lunar colony?”
“Whatever you ask of us,” replied Jafar.
Taylor shook his head.
“No, I am not your master. I am one of your officers, but I want to know how you feel about it.”
Tsengal looked confused.
“Why would you ask us? What does it matter?”
“Because while I may be in charge of all, bar the Colonel around here, I value the opinions of my troops.”
The two still looked puzzled but also quite impressed by his sentiment.
“Now tell me something. You speak our language as if you always knew it. How is that possible?”
“From when we are born, we are inserted with a chip in our brains. It works as a subconscious translator so that we can speak and listen in any language. New languages can be learnt within a few hours of reading or hearing them. I am surprised your race have nothing similar when you have many languages, like our people.”
Taylor shook his head in disbelief.
“Fascinating, but we’ve not got anything like it.”
He thought back to Schulz who wanted them sent back as lab rats.
“Many of our leaders would have you sent back to our homeland for interrogation and experimentation. I promise you, I will not let that happen while you remain members of this Battalion and continue to give everything you have to fight for it.”
“You have our allegiance.”
“I ask a lot of you, what do you ask in return?”
Once again the two creatures looked surprised that they were asked their opinion.
“Only to be one of you. You have shown us what life could be like, and we want what you have.”
Taylor smiled. Their lives had been hell since the war began, and yet here were two from the other side who would give everything for the same.