"That was just one boarding party! Maybe even just one stick. Reload, and let's get this barricade back up!" she ordered.
Jafar dragged a Mech body to the line and stacked it up along with the crates they had been using. A few of the navy personnel looked in horror at the sight, but for the men and women of the Inter-Allied Regiment, it was a necessity of survival they had long come to accept as part of day-to-day life. He used the huge enemy shields to bolster the defence, and their bodies to hold them up either side, before once again taking up position behind them.
"So this is what it has come down to?" Huber asked, "Every single one of us fighting with our bare hands for one last gasp chance of survival. Is this what the end looks like?"
"This isn't the end. I say it isn't. I choose that it isn't, so don't let it be so," she replied.
* * *
A trail of blue drips followed Taylor as the enemy blood still poured from his boot. He carried on as if not even noticing.
"We're not far from the main weapon controls grid," he whispered.
As he said it, they saw the bodies of four marines ahead and several other of the navy crew scattered about them. Two Mechs lay dead amongst them. Taylor shook his head.
"Idiots, we can't afford those kind of losses."
"Looks like they put up a fight," replied Morris.
"Not much of one," he spat back, "If those are the kind of losses we can expect, then we might as well give up now."
Taylor increased his pace; knowing time was not on their side. A moment later, they heard the ship power up, and all remaining lighting come on. It revealed the extent of the bloodshed around them, but Taylor knew that didn't matter right now. He put a direct call through to the bridge.
"This is Taylor. Someone speak to me."
The response finally came, and it was far more casual than he had expected, but it was good to hear a voice.
"Taylor, how's it going out there?" Huber asked.
"We're not far from the weapons grid control point now. Looks like power is back up, and you?"
"Negative, nothing's changed our end."
"That's not good."
"What do you mean?"
"The Krys took out our power for a reason. If they've just returned it, then it must be because they've got what they wanted."
Over the comms channel Taylor could hear an alarm sound, and frantic voices followed.
"What's going on, Admiral?"
He had to wait for a response.
"Weapon systems are powering up. Oh, God! They could wipe out half the fleet. Colonel, you must get to them. Stop our weapon systems before they are ready to fire!"
"How long have I got?"
"The core reboot and calibration of weapons can take up to two minutes. That's all you have."
"Got it, Taylor out."
Shit!
"Two minutes until those bastards fire on our own. No time to play this cautious. Let's move!"
He leapt forward into a running pace and had to rush right over the top of fallen soldiers from both sides. He went forward now without a care for his own life. He well understood the thousands of lives that would be lost if he did not complete his mission. He took the bend up ahead and instantly spotted four Mechs standing guard at their final destination, but he did not stop or hesitate.
Pulses raced towards him from the creatures concentrating their fire. He fired his rifle as he closed the distance and killed one with a lucky shot, but two carried shields and firearms in the same way his own marines did. As he got halfway, he felt his shield buckle, and the heat transfer was becoming unbearable. He fought through it and kept going until the shield shattered into three parts and dropped from his arm.
As it did, Taylor leapt into a roll. Pulses flew overhead, and he came up to one knee in front of the first creature. With his left hand, he took hold of the barrel of its pulse cannon and held it up so that the shots dispersed into the roof above. He then raised his rifle and placed the barrel against the creatures' stomach, holding the trigger until the magazine was empty. He let go his firm grasp, and the Mech dropped dead before him. His glove was smoking from the burn on the heat shield of the weapon, and he could feel his skin cooking beneath the reinforced fabric.
A Mech spear came at him as he got to his feet. He could only step aside to avoid it and drew out his Assegai. The creature lunged at him again, but in doing so exposed its flank. Taylor's comrades took their opportunity and opened up with a devastating barrage of fire. The alien stumbled back against the frame of the doorway they were protecting and collapsed in front of the Colonel.
The final Mech turned to face the vicious salvo and absorb the impact with its shield, but now it was Taylor's chance. He jumped towards the alien, without it even noticing under the weight of fire and unable to move. He drove his Assegai deep into its flank. It reacted quickly by swinging its shield around to strike him. Taylor was quick to respond but didn't clear the distance quick enough.
The impact smashed his shoulder back and nearly tore it out of its socket. But as he winced in pain, he saw the creature spasm with the impact of a dozen shots riddling its body. He felt he's knees go a little weak until Silva's steady hold kept him up.
"Let's finish this."
Taylor nodded in response and turned to see two of his people placing charges on the door.
"Ready to breach, Sir."
"Do it."
He reached down and picked up a massive alien shield that was as tall as he was. The charges blew; their shaped charges being comparatively short and quiet, and blowing the door open in one. Taylor leapt ahead and was the first through the breach. He was propping the weighty shield up with his other hand that still carried his Assegai and sprinted forward.
The shield had transparency to a large upper section, allowing him to stay covered while advancing. He could see a pulse rushing to his head, but he continued at a rapid pace, under the assumption the shield would be defence enough against the alien weapons.
Taylor didn't break stride but hit the Mech full force at a sprinting pace. It lifted off its feet, smashing down on the deck, as he clumsily rolled over and landed the other side of the creature. From the floor, he reached back and drove his Assegai into its head before it could get back up, killing it with a single blow. As he drew it out, the blood sprayed across his armour, and he saw Silva and the rest rush past, guns blazing.
But then his heart almost stopped when he heard what he had prayed he would not. The Washington’s weapons batteries began firing, and they could be felt and heard throughout the entire ship. He didn't have to say a word. They all knew what was at stake. He jumped to his feet and followed on behind the cover of his platoon. They advanced on the main control panels where three Mechs now defended.
"Take them down! Take the fuckers down!" he yelled.
One of the marines beside him was struck in the face by a pulse and dropped dead, but he didn't even get to see who it was. There was no time. As they approached, the sheer weight of fire was knocking the last few creatures back out of their cover. He saw his moment and pushed his way to the front, leaping on the nearest creature to end it quickly. He stabbed it five times into the abdomen until it collapsed towards him. He brushed it aside.
Taylor instantly turned to the consoles that Silva and Morris had managed to reach.
"I can't turn this off," said Morris.
"What do you mean, you can't?"
"They've programmed it with something. We're locked out."
"Who can unlock it?"
"Ship’s engineers, I guess, but it could take them hours."