"Well a fat lot of good that did. You should never have been put in the middle of this. Whoever is in charge of your security should be shot."
"She is already dead...killed in the early stages of the attack. I barely survived myself...I..."
He could see how shaken the President was, and clearly any more criticism right now would be useless and a waste of time.
"Colonel, I thought we could hold. With all the forces we amassed here, and it isn't enough. What are we to do?"
"Right now, you have a warship that we need. We are still in this fight. Have your Captain take up position on our starboard side. Stay close and let's give them hell."
"But, Colonel..." protested the Captain, "My job is to protect the President of the Alliance. We must..."
"We must win this fight. That's what we must do. If you want to protect Isaacs, then you will help us win this. What's your name?"
"Captain Fortier, but I..."
"But nothing. Admiral Vega has given me command of this fleet, and you will follow your orders. Get in this fight now, Captain!"
He stepped over to the Captain's chair and hit the button to end the transmission, even as Captain Fortier opened his mouth to protest once more.
"They're hailing us again."
"Ignore it!" Taylor roared.
He turned around to see the surprise on their faces.
"There is nothing more we can do for them right now. They have to help themselves. With any luck, Captain Fortier and the President can see that, and if they can't. Well...they're no use to us."
Jones looked concerned, but he didn't disagree as Taylor turned back to see how the battle was unfolding. He looked angry to have had so much time wasted, and he still couldn't believe the stupidity of how the President ended up in this situation.
"Why, oh why, do we have so many cretins in this world?" he muttered, although he soon focused on the fight. They still outnumbered the Morohtan vessels, but what the enemy did have were powerful. Explosions lit up on ships on both sides, and fighters zipped past as they engaged in deadly dogfights.
"We should have seen this coming," snarled Jones to himself.
Taylor overheard him and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, you should have," he replied, turning to Jones who had a look of despair in his eyes, "I should have seen it. The President should have seen it. The whole fucking Alliance should have seen it. But we didn't, and there ain't a damn thing we can do about that now but respond to the shitstorm that has been thrown our way."
He watched the battle once more and wondered what else he could do. This was not the sort of fight he was made or trained for. That was until he noticed the largest of the Morohtan warships slip past the Resolution and start to bank in order to cross her T.
"Take us forward and alongside that ship!"
The pilot responded quickly, and the engines roared to life. He wouldn't doubt the claim that the ship he had been given was the fastest of her size. He had never felt such a surge of speed and power from a fully-fledged warship.
"Come on," he said quietly.
He knew they could go no faster, but he watched the enemy vessel coming into line, and they were moving up on the far side. The Resolution began to bank herself as Vega had clearly seen what Taylor was manoeuvring them into. The enemy vessel managed just a few shots off before the Indy was up alongside her.
"Fire!" Taylor gave the order.
Every missile silo and gun deck on their port side opened up. Just as the first salvo smashed into the enemy vessel, the Resolution came into a parallel position to them so that the Morohtan warship was sandwiched between them. Both of the human vessels unloaded into the enemy ship with all guns blazing. Taylor could barely see the vessel as it became engulfed in a wall of flame and explosions. Some fire came back their way, but nothing compared to the brutal hammering the alien ship was facing.
"They're preparing to jump!" Jones called out.
Taylor snapped his head around to look at the Captain. They had a matter of seconds to finish the enemy vessel before it could escape. They couldn't afford to pass up the opportunity to relieve the enemy of such a powerful asset, but they just weren't doing enough damage as quickly as they needed to. He turned back to the fight and watched their engines flash to life. There wasn't much time left now, but he didn't know what else they could do.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a volley of fire poured into the aft of the Morohtan ship and smashed their engines with a crippling blow. He turned in time to see the source of the fire, as a second salvo was unleashed from the bow of the Forbin. The impacts crashed into the enemy ship and crippled her outright. The lights of the engines spluttered and died. Many of the weapon systems were rendered useless, too.
"Finish her!" Taylor gave the order.
They were still throwing as much at the enemy as they could. He watched in delight, as the ship was ripped apart by the combined fire of all three of their ships. It was a sight he wished he could see more often. Finally, the return fire stopped completely, and all lights faded from the vessel.
"Hold fire! We can't afford to use any more ammo than we have to."
The Resolution kept up the fire a little longer afterwards until finally she stopped, too. A number of other vessels were still battling it out, but they saw the flash of jump engines as those still able to fled the scene.
"We've got them on the run!" Jones declared, excitedly.
The crew of the bridge were enthusiastically clapping and cheering their victory. Taylor smiled, nodding in agreement, but he still wasn't as certain of their success.
"We're being hailed by the Resolution, Sir."
"Put them through."
Vega appeared on the screen, and he looked exhausted. He was too old to still be doing the job he was. Everyone knew that, but he was still the best they had.
"Nice moves, Colonel," he said.
He appeared somewhat surprised by Taylor's tactics.
"We all get lucky sometimes, Sir."
Vega shook his head.
"Luck had nothing to do with it, Colonel."
"Admiral, there is something you need to know."
"On a private channel?"
"There’s point. It's already out there for anyone who was listening. The President of the Alliance, he's here in the fleet. Aboard the Forbin."
"What? How?" he frowned.
"You got me there. It's a special kind of stupidity that saw him here today."
Vega just didn't have any words for it.
"Get to work on repairs, Colonel, and be ready for anything."
"You got it, Taylor out."
He looked around to the crew. It had begun to dawn on them that it was only just the beginning.
"Get everyone to work. I want this ship in full working order within two hours. And somebody get us some damn ammunition!"
"I'll do what I can, but what about the surface?" Jones asked.
Taylor froze in horror as he remembered how it had begun. The fleet they had engaged was merely the initial barrier. He thought back to the scenes in Paris of the enemy descending on the city he loved and so many others. He didn't even know what to say.
"Surely they can handle it themselves? There has to be hundreds of thousands of troops on Earth?"
"Yes, but most are reservists and poorly equipped. The emphasis had long been placed on the fleet. Maybe they can get it under control, but I don't know."
Taylor couldn't believe it at first, but somehow he wasn't totally surprised anymore to hear that they could be so ill prepared.
"We have to have information. Anything you can get. We need enemy positions and strength, whatever you can find. Can you manage it?" he added.
Jones shrugged, and there was doubt in his eyes. Neither of them were trained or prepared for the jobs they were now undertaking.
"I can," said a faint voice at the back of the bridge.
Taylor turned around. A woman of short and slight stature stood up and repeated herself more
loudly. She was very young and looked to be of Chinese origin, or as close to that region as Taylor could make out.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Captain Minn, Sir."
"And what is your job here?"
"I...I don't have one. I was here to assess the Independence on her maiden voyage."
"Shit, you sure got the short end of the stick. You come aboard a ship with me, you should know you are gonna go through hell. I need fighters, can you be one?"
"Yes, Sir. I have the means to get the information you need."
"All right, then get to it."
What the hell do we do now?
He turned back and marvelled at the devastation that had been caused. He thought to call the President but knew he would find no answers there. He began to wonder who he could turn to. Irala seemed forever held back by his people, and he had not heard from Jafar from some time. His old friend was getting old, and he wondered how much more he would be able to help. The last time Taylor looked to help from him it almost cost Jafar his life.
A few shots still flashed in the distance as the last remaining enemy ships were hunted down. He could only imagine they were the final stragglers unable to jump out because they either didn't have the ability or were too badly damaged to do so. Some glimmer of light far closer caught his attention, and he turned his head to see an object dart out from the vast Morohtan vessel they had so recently destroyed.
"What is that?" he asked.
Jones looked up just in time to see it zip past their screen with immense speed. They could see the lights of an engine of power source of some kind.
"Whatever it is, shoot it down!" Taylor yelled.
The screens panned to follow it but could barely keep track at the speed it was travelling at. They watched in horror as the object struck the flank of the Forbin's hull and punched right through and vanished inside.
Oh, shit, no!
He looked at Jones. They both knew what this meant.
"The Forbin is hit!" yelled one of the crew.
"That's no weapon. It's a boarding party," replied Taylor confidently, "Hail the ship, and get me a direct line, now!"
Captain Fortier appeared before them and looked calmer than he should be.
"Colonel, we have a hull breach. Crews are on their way to repair damages as we speak."
"Listen to me very carefully, Captain. You have a lot more than just a breach. That is a boarding action. You have been boarded. You have to deploy marines now. Lock down your bridge and sweep the vessel."
"What do you mean?"
"You heard me, Captain. You have enemy agents aboard your ship and are in very real danger. Lock down the ship, and send out parties to find and destroy them."
"I am getting readings of..."
"Captain, this is no joke. The enemy is at your door!"
"Oh, God," said the Captain.
They heard gunfire in the background, and the Captain turned to look in horror as he fumbled to draw his pistol.
"Seal the blast..."
The transmission cut out.
"Get them back on the line!" Taylor snapped.
"They aren't responding," replied Jones.
Taylor sighed.
"What do we do? We can't leave the President to die," added Jones.
Taylor nodded in agreement and shook his head in annoyance all at the same time. He turned back to face Jones and the rest of the crew. From the way they were looking at him, they wanted something to be done, and they wanted him to do it. He couldn't help but feel that the President was becoming increasingly incompetent and useless as the days went by, but he also knew what his death could mean for the fragile Alliance.
"All right, I need a boarding party of fifty men assembled to depart in five minutes."
"Who will be leading it?" Jones asked.
He took in a deep breath before responding exactly how they expected him to, "I will."
Jones didn't look happy.
"This ship needs someone to command her. She's already lost her Captain, and it can't afford to lose you, too."
"What about you?"
"Negative," said Jones, shaking his head furiously, "I am going on this mission. You know I have to."
"Fair enough," he replied. "Captain Minn!"
The young woman was so busy at her console she hadn't even noticed his call.
"Captain Minn!" he repeated more loudly.
She quickly turned in surprise and had the looked of a rabbit in the spotlight about her. She was surprised to be singled out and didn't even know why.
"Yes...Colonel?" she asked hesitantly.
"Captain Jones and I will be leading a rescue operation to the Forbin. I am leaving you in charge."
She looked horrified.
"I...I am just here for research. I am not..."
"Bullshit," interrupted Taylor, "You're on board this ship at a time of war, and you are a commissioned officer. You will do what is required of you. Stay safe, and good luck."
"But...what do I do if the enemy returns?"
"Then you'll fight them, with everything you have."
He acknowledged Jones and walked on past. He didn't look back again. He had to depend on Minn to do her job. He knew almost nothing about her, but the fact that she had come forward and offered some assistance when no others had meant a lot. He only hoped his instincts were right, as he was leaving the entire ship under her control.
"Do you think this is a wise idea?" Alita asked.
She was trailing right behind them.
"I'd rather not, but what choice do we have? We're the nearest vessel, and if someone doesn't reach them quickly, there may be no hope of saving the President."
"He could already be dead, for all we know."
"But that's just it, isn’t it? We don't know, and until we know for certain, we have to try."
"They will have a Marine detachment aboard, they can deal with it, surely?"
Jones laughed.
"A new ship on a Presidential escort, in what they thought was safe space? They won't cope with this."
Taylor agreed with his assessment.
"Seems like no matter what happens, and what we tell them, they just don't get it. Maybe this is what it'll take for the people of Earth to truly realise the threat we face. Let's just hope it isn't too late."
"Too late? For what?"
"To save us all."
She slowed down to a standstill in despair. She couldn't go with them, and that was eating her up inside.
"You keep him safe, Jones!" she yelled.
They strode into the docking bay and found their teams were already loaded up.
"Are you sure fifty will be enough?"
Taylor shrugged. "I hope so, Jones. I sure hope so."
"We could take more with us."
"No, let's keep this simple. Aboard a small frigate like that, there is nothing two hundred marines can do that fifty can't. Stick with me," he said as he strode up the ramp of the nearest craft and took a seat. He opened a channel to them all as the door closed.
"This is the Colonel speaking. We are going aboard a vessel that is currently carrying the President of the Alliance, and that vessel has been boarded by an unknown strength of Morohtan forces. I shouldn't have to tell any of you what is at stake here. The primary mission is to get the President out alive. The survival of the crew and vessel are secondary. The fact is; this is all about the President. We stick together and keep moving forward till we find him. It's as simple as that. It should be a walk in the park. Good luck to you all."
As the door began to close, he looked forward to the pilot’s cockpit. Even though he knew Alita had to be left behind, he still somehow expected to see her there.
"You okay, Colonel?" asked the pilot.
Taylor didn't recognise the man.
"Sure, get us moving!"
The engines were already firing up as he said it, and Taylor watched through the cockpit as the bay doors opened, and they pulled out into space.
"Here we go again," he whispered to himself.
They had just gotten out of the dock when several flashes lit up the area far in the distance. Taylor's heart sank, knowing what was coming. Dozens of Morohtan vessels poured through multiple jump openings. He jumped up out of his seat and rushed to the cockpit to lean on the pilot’s shoulder for a better view.
"What do we do, Colonel?"
"Stay on mission. The fleet can handle them."
"That many?" the pilot asked doubtfully and looked out to the beaten down remains of the multiple fleets that had defended Earth.
"It'll have to do. We can't leave without the President, not if there's is a chance of getting him out."
"But how many lives will it cost?"
"How many more will it cost if we lose the man in charge of all this? No, it isn't our decision to make. We must do our duty to the best of our abilities."
Taylor noticed his Mappad flashing as a personal transmission came in. He quickly answered it.
"Colonel, this is Captain Minn. How do you want us to proceed?"
"Contact Admiral Vega, and inform him of our mission. You are under his direct command, Captain."
"What else?"
"Just that we need all the time he can give us. We can't stay here and win, but you can buy us enough time to rescue the President."
She looked stunned.
"Get to it, Captain, and make sure we have somewhere to come home to when this is through. Good luck to you all, Taylor out."
All he could think about was the fact that he had left Alita on the Indy, and that he could no longer protect her.
“They aren’t responding. What do you want me to do?” asked the pilot.
“Okay, dock at the nearest bay. We should be able to get access manually.”
“And once you’re aboard?”
“Seal the doors and wait for us.”
“For how long?”
“For as long as it takes. If the President is alive, I am not leaving without him, and none of us want to be left out here.”
The pilot nodded in agreement, but he looked terrified at the prospect of being out there all by himself. Taylor looked over his shoulder to see his nametag. Lieutenant Dart.
“Dart? That’s hell of a name for a pilot,” said Taylor in a friendly and jovial manner, although he wasn’t in the mood for humour, “Let’s hope you live up to it, for all our sakes.”
Battle Beyond Earth: Revenge Page 3
