"Secure the bridge. Send out marine parties to defend our borders!"
"Let us help," Taylor pleaded.
Nichols shook his head. "You will remain under arrest. Take these officers to the brig!"
"Come on, Captain, for whatever your differences, you have two of the best combat officers at your disposal. Use them," Song pleaded.
"Don't be a fool," added Taylor, "Don't get us all killed because of some dispute between us. We can settle our differences after we survive this. Think of the crew first. You need us."
But Nichols said nothing and turned back to the screens. Four security personnel led them off the bridge.
The blast doors shut behind them, but Jones knew that would not be enough to protect them.
"Keep your eyes open," he said to the guards, "These Stalkers are the nightmare from hell you wished you never had to encounter."
"Just keep moving."
Jones grimaced, feeling naked without any weapons, though at least they still wore their suits.
"What's the play here?" he whispered to Taylor.
Taylor shrugged.
"If they don't want our help, there isn't a lot we can do."
"Nonsense, I've never seen you give up over any hurdle before."
"You can't help those who refuse to be helped. Nichols has to learn from his own mistakes before he will come to me for help."
"Those mistakes will probably cost him his life."
"Then so be it."
Jones was surprised to hear how lost Taylor sounded. He had not seen him like it before.
"Will you not fight this?"
Taylor shook his head.
"Why? I help Nichols survive this, and he will only have me behind bars and before a tribunal. You know he can. What happened down on Moana was wrong, and every court in the Alliance would be forced to act upon that. If I don't have the support of those around me, I don't have anything at all."
"Yes, you do," Song joined in, "The crew is scared. Of course they are. But Nichols is the one feeding their fears. The crew will support you, given the chance."
They heard gunfire ahead, and the guards around them looked terrified.
"Not ever been in a gunfight, have you?" Jones asked them.
It brought a small smile to Taylor's face. Jones was quickly becoming the veteran his namesake had been.
"Just keep your wits about you, and be ready for anything," added Taylor.
The gunfire became a little louder, and they heard sharp cracks as the alien weaponry fired its high-energy weapons. A few flashes lit up ahead. They were getting close to the action.
"Think those carbines can touch a Stalker?" Song asked.
"I know they can't," replied Jones.
"Sergeant, you are leading us all to our deaths," she said to the man leading them.
"I have my orders."
"Don't be a fool. You'll get us all killed."
He ignored Taylor. "Come on, move."
They had two of the guards at their front as they went forward into the affray.
"Can't say this is how I ever wanted to go into a fight," whispered Jones.
"Our only hope is our Assegai. You get a chance, you take it."
Gunfire rang out ahead, and the bodies of two crewmembers flew into view as a Stalker took the bend and tossed them aside. It was a six-legged variant with a single weapon mounted to its torso. It was a little bulkier and cumbersome than the ones Jones had first encountered. Its steel armour looked like an ancient relic.
"Fire!" yelled the Sergeant.
The two at the front took aim and opened up with uncontrolled sustained fire. It didn't matter. The shots glanced off the armour of the spider like Stalker as it rushed towards them. Shots hit the two men in front. Taylor and Jones held them up as Human shields as they drew out their Assegai from the belts of the fallen soldiers. They went forward to meet the metallic creature in close combat. Shots hit the bodies in front of them, and one glanced off Taylor's armour before they came head to head with the creature. It drove one of its legs through the body Taylor was carrying. It passed through with little resistance, stopping as it brushed his torso armour.
He threw the body aside with the creature’s leg still impaling it, causing the Stalker to tip to one side. He used the small opening he had to drive his Assegai into its leg at one of the joints. The tip penetrated right through and severed the limb. Blood flowed out all over the corridor.
The Stalker quickly responded by lashing out with one of its other legs. Taylor narrowly avoided the strike, but it slashed into Jones' left arm just above the elbow. He screamed in pain and was thrown back a little, but it was another opening for Taylor. He kicked out another of the creature’s legs, and it tumbled into the wall with its flat underbelly presented to them. With one quick leap, Taylor was on top of the creature and drove his Assegai deep until he felt it impact and burn into the bulkhead. The creature was pinned to the wall. He drew out the blade, and it slumped down. He looked back. The two other guards stood shocked and stunned by everything they had seen.
"If you'd listened to us, your two buddies here would still be alive. Willing to follow my lead now?" he snapped.
They were both shaking in fear, and that helped them to agree quickly, anything to not have to face the enemy alone. Taylor picked up one of the carbines from the dead guards and thrust it into Song's arms.
"Time to get your hands dirty, Sir."
She accepted the weapon but didn't look too impressed.
"I thought this couldn't hurt them?"
"It can't, but you can at least piss them off," he replied.
Taylor activated his shield and led them on.
"What do you think their intentions are?" Song asked quietly as they cautiously retraced their steps and towards the gunfire ahead.
"I'd say they are part of the minefield. They can't know who or what we are."
"So destroy us? That's all?"
Taylor nodded. It wasn't much relief.
"This minefield must have been here for a hell of a long time," she added, "Since the Morohta left..."
"Not likely. We've never found any sign of their existence until Kepler. This field is probably Krys."
"So the Stalkers could be a new addition?"
"Maybe."
"Then the Morohta might well know we are coming."
"That's just a risk we are going to have to take," replied Taylor.
"This mission just gets better by the minute," joked Jones.
They could hear a hive of activity ahead and stopped to wait in ambush for whatever was going to take the bend. It sounded like multiple targets coming their way. Jones noted the two crewmen were pale and terrified. They were on the very edge. He looked back just in time to see a glimmer of movement as someone turned into their corridor. One of the crew fired a burst, and the other joined in even before they realised what they were looking at. Shots bounced from a Reitech shield, and a hail of abuse came their way as they leapt back into cover.
"Hold your fire!" a voice boomed.
Jones knocked down the barrels of both the crew beside him as he shook his head.
"You could have just fragged one of your own," snapped Taylor.
Babacan stepped out and looked far from impressed that he had been shot at. He looked surprised to see the Commander with Taylor, but he did not question it. Four of the Immortals were with him.
"What's our situation?" Taylor asked.
"I thought you might know," replied Babacan.
Taylor shook his head.
"It's complicated, what do you know?"
"We were boarded by at least four Stalkers. We have taken one down and found the body of another."
"One for us, too," replied Jones.
"So we aren't in the clear yet. We're heading for the bridge. Keep sweeping the ship," Taylor ordered.
Babacan rushed onwards with his team.
"Don't we need them?" asked one of the crewmembers. He was looking a little sheepish hav
ing fired on one of their own.
"We can handle this. You just keep your eyes peeled. Follow up and watch our asses, okay?"
They nodded in agreement and Taylor went on.
* * *
"How long until we get engines back?" Nichols asked. He was frantic.
The young female officer he had appointed as his XO looked terrified and unable to answer.
"Lieutenant Capek, how long?" he insisted.
"I...I don't know, Sir. Head of engineering is doing everything he can, but we have sustained severe damage."
"I need answers, not problems."
Capek didn't know what to say, so she said nothing. Another explosion rocked the ship as a mine struck the hull.
"Can you bring this ship to a stop or not?" demanded Nichols.
"I think so. If we can..."
"Just do it!" Nichols yelled. He almost sounded hysterical.
He looked around for someone else to offer him something, but all he saw was warning lights flashing from hull breaches. All camera feeds but the one outside the entrance to the bridge was now lost. As Nichols watched this single remaining feed, he saw a Stalker step into view and casually stroll up to the door. Its single body-mounted weapon opened fire on the two guards outside, and they were cut down before they could even fire a shot. Several of the bridge staff gasped in horror.
"Don't worry, it won't get through those doors. Nothing can!"
But his voice was full of doubt, and yet he still hoped. The Stalker stopped a few metres in front of the door.
"Get our marines up here!"
"Sorry, Sir, but our internal comms are down."
"Is nothing on this damn ship still working?" Nichols screamed.
The entire bridge crew sat frozen and staring at the screen as they fixated on the creature. It seemed to study the blast door for just a moment, and then it fired eight shots around the opening. It lunged forward and threw its bodyweight at the door. It came crashing down inside the bridge. The Stalker just stood on the fallen door triumphantly as if studying them all and waiting for someone to make a move. It appeared to be eyeing up its prey.
"What do we do?" Capek asked.
"Nothing we can. It's over," replied Nichols in a defeatist tone.
The Stalker made two steps towards the Captain when it suddenly twitched and righted as if it had been prodded with something. It staggered forward just a few paces, slumping dead in front of Nichols with an Assegai buried deep into its torso. As it fell, it revealed the source of the impact. Taylor stood at the far end of the corridor leading to the bridge. Jones and Song were with him. They jumped into action and strode onto the bridge as the triumphant defenders that they were.
Nichols was frozen in terror. He made no attempt to reach for a weapon.
"Captain Nichols, update me. What is our condition?" Song asked firmly.
Nichols was so surprised by the question he seemed unable to speak a word.
"Answer the Commander," Taylor ordered.
"We...we are dead in the water..."
"Then let's see what we can do," replied Song.
"I...I...don't...am I under arrest?"
Taylor shook his head, but Song answered him.
"Negative. You made a mistake, Captain, and we have all made them in our time. What lesson you should take from this is that we are stronger together. You will resume your position as XO of this ship, and do so in a manner that seeks to serve and protect all who serve aboard her. This mission is about more than just one person, one ship, or one race. Whether you question its relevance is not at all a reason to question the authority that the Colonel and I hold. Just remember that the next time you consider munity, it is because of Colonel Taylor that you are still alive today."
Taylor wanted nothing more than to strike Nichols down and send him on his way. Fortunately for Nichols, he could see that the crew morale was low, and Song's leniency was the right way to go.
"I...I am sorry," said Nichols with his shoulders slumped low, and his eyes looking to the floor in front of Taylor's feet.
"Don't be sorry. Do your job."
Taylor had to muster everything inside him to be polite to the Captain, but somehow he managed it, and it did not go unappreciated by the crew. Song still saw it fit to ram the message home.
"Like it not, this ship and this crew needs Colonel Taylor, and the Alliance needs this ship. Enough dissent, from now on we go forward together!"
It was clear to Taylor that Song was still considered as much an outsider to them as he was, and yet she was doing a damn good job of becoming something far closer to all their hearts. Song took a deep breath and resumed to her duties.
"Have the Massri and Curlew come alongside us and engage towing braces. They can guide us out of this mess while we get our engines back online."
Nichols looked shocked that he hadn't thought of that, and it was some relief that he was once again in the right place. He smiled as he went about his business, clearly glad to relinquish the responsibility of the ship to Song.
"Not easy is it, having responsibility for everyone around you?"
Nichols turned to see Taylor standing beside him and asking the question.
"No, Sir."
"We can't always make the right decisions. Sometimes we just have to make do with the best we can manage, or the one that will save the most lives. When you learn to appreciate that, you will earn your own command."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For not destroying me over this. I was a fool. I panicked and made the wrong call."
"Yes, you did, and you won't be the first one to do something brash for all the right reasons, and then realise your mistake afterwards. We all do it, but we also learn from it."
Nichols nodded slowly as if in thought and then went back to his duties.
Song approached Taylor. She looked relieved as she took up position by his side.
"As much as I hate to say it, that attack couldn't have come at a better time," she whispered.
"Yep, nothing like the risk of death to shake things up."
"So what I asked about before, these Stalkers. Do you think they have been waiting here for what, hundreds of years? Or are they are the result of this modern conflict?"
Taylor shrugged.
"I wouldn't begin to speculate without some evidence. We are alive, and they are dealt with. That's all that matters right now."
"And if we pass through this nebula and find a Morohta fleet waiting for us the other side?"
"Then we'll turn tail and run as quickly as we can."
Song shook her head. "I don't like this at all. If we were going to pass so far into uncharted space with potential enemy presence, we should have come in far greater number. A dozen warships would have barely made me feel safe."
"That wasn't my choice to make. You can take it up with the President."
"I don't have his ear like you do, Colonel, nor would I want to."
He wouldn't have wanted it either. He'd do anything to stay away from the politics and management of the war, if he knew he could rely on those in position to do the job right. He stared out into space and the nebula that reduced their view range to only what the Human eye could see. Explosions lit up the foreground as the gun systems continued to blast a path through the minefield. It was a waiting game now, and Taylor could not help but feel excited to see what was on the other side, no matter how terrifying it might be.
* * *
Taylor was lounging on his bed when he found himself drawn to the videos Dubois had left him. They had hit hard before, and he wasn't ready for them, but he needed something from his old life to hang on to. Some reminder of what he was still fighting for. He played the next video in sequence and smiled as she appeared before him overlooking a city from a great height.
"Taylor, look, repaired and as good as new. The Eiffel Tower. You remember fighting for this city and this magnificent landmark," she said, walking along one of the walkways high up the
structure and looking down at the beautiful parks and rivers beneath.
"This is what we all fought for, and finally we have it. I pray someday you wake up so that you may see for yourself what we achieved. I still think of you all. Those we lost, and those who still remain. Come back to us, Taylor."
The door light went. He paused the video and yelled, "Come!"
Jones stepped through and opened his mouth to speak when he spotted the woman frozen on the screen.
"Who is that?" he asked, and it was clear he at least partly recognised her.
"Coco."
Jones instantly realised who she was.
"Please, continue."
Taylor shook his head and ended the video.
"No, some things are too personal to share, at least for now."
Jones did not argue the point. He saw it meant a lot to Taylor.
"What can I do for you?"
"Have you considered what a high profile target we will become if we get our hands on that spear? Every power hungry fool will want it, and that doesn't even begin to include the Morohta. You know that much power corrupts?"
"All too well."
"Then what are we to do about it?"
Taylor laughed.
"Let's worry about finding the thing first. You worry like a gambler planning how to spend his millions of winnings."
"You don't seem to worry at all. Someone has to."
"We all have our part to play," he smiled.
"Anyway, what I really came here for. Engines are up and running, and we are now fully operational."
"Good to know. We may just make it through all this yet, then."
"Have you ever doubted it?"
Taylor smiled in response, and that was all Jones needed to know.
Chapter 11
"Three minutes, Commander," said Nichols.
Taylor stood on the bridge in full armour with his Morohta hammer attached to his back. He was ready for anything. With all the concerns that had been levied at him now, he half expected to find a Morohta fleet ready to blast them into dust. However, nobody said a word as they counted down the seconds to breaking out into open space.
Taylor thought of what the world might look like.
Battle Beyond Earth: Insurrection Page 17
