"They're heading for another World war."
"You have chosen the wrong side," stated Jafar.
"I wasn't aware we had chosen one," replied Taylor.
"You will not see harm come to the prisoners. So you are with the UEN."
"And should we not protect prisoners of war?"
"You assume they are all like me and Tsengal. They are not."
They turned their attentions back to the news as they caught sight of an alien soldier. Narration continued over the images.
"As the Spanish forces have pushed further into the Gafsa facility, we are getting reports that escaped prisoners are fighting alongside German soldiers. This video captured by one of the networks aerial drones appears to show exactly that, but representatives from the UEN have denied to comment on the matter.”
Taylor looked more closely and could see the creature. It was wielding a Reitech weapon. He froze the image and zoomed in. In the background, he could just make out another of the Krys armed the same, and a human standing behind that.
“They’ve really done it,” he whispered.
“How? How can they have gone from guarding the prisoners to fighting alongside them in such a short space of time?”
“It’s not that big a leap,” said Taylor. “These are people willing to fight to protect those prisoners, and once the camp was invaded, they’d take any help they could get. Think about it. Prison buildings being torn apart, and the detainees fighting for their lives, taking up arms beside the humans fighting for them is logical. On top of that, I bet the German UEN never expected it to go this far. I bet they haven’t been able to muster troops quick enough to get there in support. That’s why the air support went in so hard.”
“Okay, well what do we do now?”
Taylor shrugged.
“We could go home. The US won’t want a part in this if it can be avoided. We could go home and forget all about it,” he stated cynically.
“After this, I can’t believe you’d let this go.”
“Those are our orders.”
“Like that’s bothered you. Let’s say we stay, which side do we take?”
“I’d say that at least is pretty clear. Armand is UEN, UEN forces are enlisting Krys to fight with them. Enlisted armies of Krys, where do you think that is leading?”
“Agreed, so we’re on the wrong side of the border.”
“I’m not so sure. Local government here has been opposed to any pro-alien standpoints. Looks to me like the borders are still being drawn up. God knows which side Belgium will end up on.”
“Well, we need to know.”
“Agreed. Monitor all local news networks, and try and get a feel for which side both public and government opinion is swaying. At present, we are an American vessel with no allegiance to either side, none that is implied anyway. The minute we pick a side, let’s make sure we’re in the right place, hey?”
“So we just wait?”
“For now, yes. We should be fine. We could all do with some rest. Double the number of guards on duty, and ensure you have enough crew ready to fly this boat at a moment’s notice. If the need should arise to get the hell out of Dodge, I want it to be an option.”
Taylor welcomed the rest, but long before the sun had risen, Ryan woke him. He groaned briefly until he remembered the seriousness of their situation.
“What is it?”
“Announcement from the Belgian President, regarding their membership to the UEN and their standpoint on the conflict.”
“This is what we have been waiting for.”
He rushed to the conference room, still wearing the clothes he had slept in. He sat down at the table and realised what was lacking. Every time he had been through such troubles, he had his close friends to hand, those from 2nd Inter-Allied. Now he was heading for another war and so few remained at his side.
The Belgian President was announced in Dutch, which meant nothing any of them. But as she stepped up to the podium, she began her address in English. The screen gave her name as President Mertens.
“Welcome to all of you. I have gathered you all here today, following emergency discussions on recent troubling matters. After considering all the evidence before us, and with our nation’s best interests always at the centre of my concerns, I hereby announce our departure from the UEN and our condemnation of their failures, as well as recent recruitment of former enemy combatants. Following discussion with President Jacques, as of 0900 today, Belgium is a member of the European Alliance and will do everything in its powers to bring an end to alien inhabitation of Earth.”
“So, we are on the right side of the border,” said Ryan.
“I wouldn’t be too hasty to say it,” added Taylor.
“What? Are you not watching this?”
“I am. But Belgian is still a country strongly divided, on this as much as anything in their history. The Germans will know this and will be eager to replace the government with one in support of their needs. Of any nations bordering them, this is the easiest to draw to your cause with the right person at the reins.”
“Sir, I’m getting reports of incoming aircraft from the German border, dozens of them,” said a voice over the intercom.
“No, not this soon? They wouldn’t invade, would they?”
“We got this announcement today, but I bet they’ve been discussing it since all this began. Somebody close to the President wants her out the way, and I bet you a task force has been waiting to move for some time.”
“And the Belgian armed forces?”
“Won’t be able to respond this fast, but we can.”
“No way,” replied Ryan.
“Why not? We’ve picked a side, but they don’t trust us. We have an opportunity here to make a difference. We get the President to safety, and we could steal a victory out from under the UEN.”
“Are those your orders?”
“They aren’t orders. The crew must decide for themselves here. Gather all those who aren’t on duty, and have those who are kept on an open channel to this room. It’s time we set this to right.”
Twenty-one gathered in the room moments after being called. Taylor knew they had no time to waste.
“There are a thousand things I could and should say to you all, give you some explanation. But time is not on our side. In short, the UEN are becoming an enemy who must be stopped, but the US doesn’t seem interested. The Belgian President is soon to be in trouble, and she could be a valuable ally. I’m going to do everything I can to protect her, but you must decide for yourself. I know I have provided little explanation, but you know the UEN is allying with alien POWs, and you know the kind of man I am. So what’ll it be?”
None of them responded, but they all looked to Ryan to do so for them.
“We’re always with you, Colonel. Lead the way.”
“Break out weapons and armour. Remember, we can’t go stomping through the streets armed to the teeth. We’ll drop in from the roof of the Parliament building and get her out and over the border into France.”
“And what about the German forces en route?”
“We can only hope the Belgians scrambled a few fighters that slowed them down. If not, they’ll already be there. Either way, we have to move fast. All agreed?”
“We’re with you.”
“Get us in the air!”
They were lifting off within twenty seconds, and the crew were rushing to gather equipment. He was quickly reminded that he was in command of a ship’s crew, and not experienced marines as he was used to. Even worse, he was coming to realise it was all too easy.