"Nope, not while we fight to defend it."
Chapter 2
"What are their intentions? What are they coming for? How can they be stopped?" These are the questions we must all ask and get answers to," said General White. "Let us remember that this is an emergency meeting. We have little information but must make quick decisions."
The room was silent for a moment as over thirty high-ranking military officials from the major powers in the World discussed the news. Most were projected through screens placed around the table. Only five sat in the room from where White hosted the talks.
"The Secretary of Defence has left this in my hands to discuss and take the appropriate measures once we, as a collective, can make a decision."
Finally Field Marshal Copley spoke up.
"Seems to me that we need information more than anything. We must gather our forces at Earth while scouts are sent out to find out what the hell is going on, and what is bearing down on us."
"Are we here yet again? Ready to fight to the death once more for no reason?" asked Dupont.
White shook his head in disbelief. He had quickly come to understand how Taylor had come to blows with the idiot of a General.
"The simple facts are this, General. We have a fight coming our way. That shouldn't be such a surprise anymore. We can wait for them to come to us and have no information at all. Or we can send out intelligence gatherers so that we better understand our position."
"And those are our only two options?" Dupont replied sharply.
"Clearly they are," Schulz said.
Dupont had his nose put out of place by the German officer, but he could do little but accept it as Schulz continued.
"We have a fleet like never before. Clearly Commodore Clark managed to put up a fight against the enemy with what little he had. I propose we prepare the fleets for immediate action while information is gathered through scouting parties."
"Okay, then we are in agreement. As you are all aware, Colonel Taylor has a turncoat that joined him some way back. That defector has proven to be more than useful and trustworthy. Taylor's unit is presently training MDF forces on the Moon. I can have him dispatched immediately. Between them, they are our best hope of reliable information."
Out of the corner of his eye, the General could see Dupont curse at the name of the Colonel. That tickled him a little, as he already hated the Frenchman.
"We should send another four scouting parties alongside him. Each aboard different ships, the fastest we have. We need to know everything we can," General Richards added.
"Then it is decided. We have many dark days ahead, but we have seen it all before. Seen it, fought it, beaten it. Let's make sure all our people know we're on the winning side."
* * *
"Second team go!" shouted Taylor.
Soldiers rushed from cover past the Colonel and Commander Kelly who stood watching. A platoon of his Inter-Allied was opposing the MDF in a training exercise.
"An enemy ship has breached your perimeter, and your guys have just a minute or two to contain them before they run rampant," Taylor said.
"I don't think any of us need reminding of it," he replied.
Shouts rang out as the MDF soldiers advanced and laid down fire. The blank ammunition was every bit as loud as the real thing, and the laser tag devices fitted ensured they had the correct effect.
The two officers watched as a hundred MDF soldiers closed in on their target. They all utilised the Reitech equipment that Taylor had become so accustomed to.
"It's a God damn miracle we're even still alive to be training for this," Kelly said.
"Amen to that," he replied.
Buzzers went off in the distance as the lasers tagged the opposition. The battle was out of sight now as the close quarter battle continued in the distance. Fifteen minutes later the shots finally stopped.
"Clear!"
Taylor lifted his comms device.
"Training exercise complete. Well done, return to the rally point."
The troops began to flood back down the corridor past them. Jafar was among them and could be seen many ranks down due to his towering presence.
"That's not a sight I'm ever going to get used to, one of them in our uniform," Kelly.
"I used to think the same, but I'll never say never after the shit I've seen."
Kelly smiled and nodded in agreement. Jafar now wore sergeant stripes upon his armour and was directly attached to Taylor's command staff. The alien had become good friends with Silva while learning everything he could from the Sergeant Major.
"Colonel, I'd have you and your command staff dine with me tonight."
"It would be an honour," replied Taylor.
"I'll see you there, Colonel."
Taylor stepped into the officer’s quarters he had been provided and could already tell Eli was occupying the place. Her gear was scattered over the desk, and the shower was on. He knew she couldn't have been there long, as the water restrictions only allowed the showers to run for up to two minutes every twelve hours. That was considered adequate for a single occupant.
The door closed behind him, and the shower turned off moments later. She was clearly aware of his presence. She stepped out of the bathroom with a cheeky smile on her face.
"You know that'll be all the water I get for hours."
"Ah, you don't need it, Colonel. You've stood around watching all day while the rest of us sweat."
He could do nothing but smile. He had been looking forward to getting cleaned up, but the sight of her was so much more appealing.
"So the Commander has invited you to dinner?"
"Yep, sure has."
"Damn, bet you'll be getting some good food."
"Bet your ass."
"Don't fancy taking a date?"
Taylor shook his head.
"We may just about get away with carrying on like this, but if we flaunt it before those around us, it'll only bring trouble."
"And what would they do to the great Colonel Mitch Taylor. Leader of the Immortals, slayer of Karadag?"
"Hey, you're not the one who spent a few months in the brig. I can do without that experience again."
He pulled of his BDUs and threw them down over Parker's gear. The room was a mess, but he figured he couldn't make it any worse. There was just enough water left to wash his face.
"That food tonight will better than the shit we get."
"Privileges of rank," he replied with a smile.
Mitch pulled out his service dress from the wardrobe. It was the only other uniform he had with him, and the smartest thing he could manage. He figured evening dress would be too much for Kelly anyway, who was a man of simple tastes. As he tried to get dressed, Eli did her utmost to stop him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and tried to entice him to stay.
"Come on, you know Kelly can't withstand lateness."
She let go and slumped down on the bed with a sigh and curse.
"Is this all our lives are now? One training exercise to another on base after base?"
"We're in the Corps. Our lives are what we are told. Another few weeks and we'll get our leave. We can head for Monterey and soak up the sun. Down cocktails to our hearts content and be the layabouts you fancy us to be."
"Mmm, sounds good. I'll believe it when I see it."
He made the final adjustments to his tie in the mirror, looking down at her glum face.
"Hey come on. This is luxury compared to the times we have known, a real bed, regular sleep, and nobody trying to kill us. I'll only be a few hours."
"I'll be waiting."
It was a short walk to Kelly's home, an apartment atop one of the towers of the colony. Two MDF soldiersposted at the door ushered him inside. It struck Taylor as strange that he would have a protection detail at his personal residence.