He reached the landing pads that had been cleared. It was little more than a dusty plain with the copters lined up and a few instant shelters beside them. Their engines were already fired up, and the three companies were clambering aboard the dozen birds. Eddie was back to his old self, wearing his ragged clothing and shunning the body armour and suit he had been provided.
"Damn it feels good to be fighting in the fresh air again!" he yelled as Taylor approached.
"Can't argue with that."
Though the air wasn't especially fresh. The copter engines were kicking up dust and debris that was filling his nostrils and throat, but he'd still prefer it to the full helmets. He looked at his watch, just eight minutes had passed, and the last few marines were climbing aboard. He was the last to step up onto Rains’ copter. He lifted his comms unit.
"All aboard, let's move out!"
Rains was quick to respond, and the dust cloud seemed to explode beneath them as the power was increased and they lifted off. Taylor stood at the open side door to watch their departure. Gallo was watching them for the ground. Taylor knew he had made the right decision to leave the Italian soldiers behind.
They would be like lambs to the slaughter.
He stepped up to cockpit to see the view ahead.
"Colonel Taylor, meet Luke Wiseman, my new co-pilot."
"It's an honour, Sir."
"Yeah, well you serve with us for a few weeks and see if you still think as much. We get the shit missions, and there ain't no payoff or bonuses."
Rains burst out into laughter. It took just ten minutes for them to reach the outskirts of Muro Lucano.
"That's their landing zone, we reckon!" Taylor pointed.
"Aren't we going to assist the 5th?"
"We have to neutralise all enemy targets to the north before jumping in and making the same mistake they do. Take us in close. I want to come down right on their heads. With any luck, we'll be sweeping south in no time."
"You think that's a good idea? We don't have any idea what's down there."
"They must have committed most of their forces to drive south, so there can't be a lot. Time is not a luxury we have right now."
The copters came in low and skimmed the treetops before roaring out over the area of collapsed trees. Within it lay an enemy frigate in seemingly perfect condition. Jafar leaned out over the side for a good look.
"They landed her deliberately!"
Taylor knew there was no more time to waste analysing the situation.
"All companies move in!"
He reached the door and leapt out between the gap Jafar had left. His alien comrade was quick to jump after him. Their boosters activated and brought them to a quick and safe landing on the ground just fifty metres from the enemy vessel. Only two Mechs stood guard at the entrance ramp to the ship, and they were overwhelmed by gunfire before they could get more than a couple of shots off.
Taylor was moving towards the ramp the second he hit the ground. Six more of the soldiers rushed out from the doorway and were hit by automatic fire by thirty of Jones' troops. They didn't stand a chance against the overwhelming odds. He reached the ramp and could see no sign of further movement. He looked up at the vast space ship that was four times the size of the Deveron. He doubted there were many enemy left inside.
"All units, deploy charges by sector at ten metres intervals, two minute timers. Rendezvous at the clearing one click south for immediate recovery."
The platoon he was with moved up and placed the magnetic charges onto the hull. Individually, they could only do minimal damage, but with two-dozen or more, he calculated it would be enough to cripple the vessel and likely kill anyone onboard.
"Taylor to Yorath, we have confirmed enemy presence at Muro Lucano. Call in a strike on our coordinates in fifteen minutes."
"Affirmative, Sir."
"You think that'll be necessary?" asked Jones.
"This will disable them for now, but I don't want anyone surviving or them having equipment they can recover. It's the only way to be sure."
Jones wasn't going to argue with that. He would happily see all evidence of the enemy obliterated beyond recognition.
"Let's move it, haul ass!"
They rushed from the clearing at a quick pace into the nearby trees and beyond until they reached the edge, bursting out into open ground where the copters were awaiting them. As Taylor reached Rains’ position, the explosion erupted at their backs. A loud boom echoed for kilometres all around. Jones nodded in satisfaction.
"Another one bites the dust," he whispered to himself.
"We need to move fast. That can't have gone unnoticed by whatever forces headed south!" Taylor called out.
"It's always nice to make an entrance," replied Jones.
They leapt aboard and were in the air within a few minutes. Their feet had barely touched the ground. They were just ten kilometres north of the Fighting Fifth now; Taylor only prayed they were in time to help. He watched with bated breath as they passed over one hill to the next. They kept low to hide their position, but it also meant they had little visibility on what was ahead. As they passed a crest, it opened up into a broad valley, and they were hit with what resembled a fireworks display. Pulses and tracer fire were going in all directions.
"My, God," said Rains.
Mech forces were on both sides of the valley, with troops of the 5th Marine Regiment in the basin fighting for their lives. They could already make out lines of dead from both sides scattered throughout the valley where each side had fought desperately to gain ground.
"Put us down, now!" Taylor shouted.
"Right here?"
"Now!"
He turned to Jones.
"We have to take on this northern assault now, or they aren't gonna make it!"
The copters came to an abrupt halt.
"Why the hell didn't we know about this?"
"Either they were too proud to call it in, or couldn't!" yelled Taylor.
I know Harney wants his glory, but I doubt the Colonel would compromise so many lives for it. That begs the question, has the enemy found new ways to jam communications?
It was a disheartening thought whatever the answer, but there was no more time to think about it."
"Go!" he ordered the troops closest to the door. He rushed after them and leapt out. He quickly found himself descending onto a burst of gunfire from a Mech weapon and pushed his shield down enough to take the impact and land safely on his feet. He already knew the tactics sucked, but they had no time to plan and conduct a better strategy.
He and Jones' platoon landed amongst ten Mechs who had been advancing over the crest of the valley edge and were caught completely by surprise. He fired quickly with his rifle, killing one just a second after hitting the ground. Another pulse smashed into his shield, twisting it on his arm and almost breaking the joint. The support of his exosuit was all that saved him. He spun around and threw the shield at his attacker with all his strength.
"Son of a bitch!"
The weighty metal shield smashed into the Mech and launched it off its feet. Seizing the opportunity,he rushed at the beast and jumped onto it. He held the barrel of his gun to its faceplate and fired a burst before it could recover. He turned to see the troops of Inter-Allied dropping all around. Many fired as they made their descent. The first Mechs they landed amongst were completely overwhelmed. He reached for his shield which had blue blood splattered over it from the burst he had just fired.
"God damn disgusting," he said as he spat out on the grass.
His mouth was full of sweat and dirt, mixed with the foul iron taste of their blood.
"Ota move west, Grey to the east, Jones' Company with me. We're going forward!"