Battle Earth VII

by Nick S. Thomas

  Every news agency was focused on the gathering of Spanish forces and awaiting their next move. Five seconds past the hour, and nothing had happened. Taylor prayed for a moment that it had all been a sabre-rattling exercise, but then it started.

  “We’re getting reports that the thousands of soldiers are boarding craft ready to cross the sea as the President warned. This is it.”

  “Christ, Europe could be at war in a matter of hours, and what the hell can we do about it?”

  Just as he said it, a message came through that interrupted the news. He accepted it and was pleased to see Captain Ryan before him.

  “Sir, glad to see you’re all right, but damn, what the hell are you doing in Brussels? General White is livid and is after your balls.”

  “Yeah, well, he can wait in line. We have larger problems. Where are you?”

  “On our way. We’ll be putting down at a landing zone one klick south of your hotel. I am ordered to recover you and Jafar immediately, and return you to report directly to General White.”

  “Yeah, well you can pick us up, but I’m not leaving Europe while there is still a chance we can make a difference.”

  “Sir, I am under strict orders.”

  “Do you not trust me, Captain? I knew I could always depend on Captain Reyes and his crew, and you have honoured him, will you sway from that path now?”

  He shook his head. Taylor knew he had persuaded the man who had long called Taylor a friend.

  “Sir, no matter what you do, the shit seems to slide off you. Can you extend that luxury to us when we get home?”

  “I wouldn’t worry about getting home, Captain. We’ve got a war to stop.”

  “One last thing, Sir. Just moments before I called, Tsengal woke up.”

  “What? Is he talking?”

  “Not yet, but his eyes are open, and something’s going on in there.”

  It was the best news he had heard in a long time.

  “Thank you, Captain. We’ll be there when you land.”

  As the message ended, Armand stepped through into the room.

  “My ship is en route, will you join us?”

  He looked unsure, but Taylor continued in an excited manner.

  “I have aboard a friend of Jafar. He’s the only survivor from Red 1. I have long believed he may hold some vital information for us. Before he slipped into a coma, he tried to tell me something important, who knows what.”

  That seemed to get his attention.

  “Of course, Colonel. If I may, I will have my personal staff transfer over to your ship where we can work from.”

  Taylor was surprised at his enthusiasm, but it gave him a great excuse for not obeying White’s orders. Taylor couldn’t wait to see Tsengal, and it seemed forever that they stood at the landing pad awaiting the ship. Finally, the sight of it made Taylor feel the best he had done in days. The Deveron was an eternal sign of hope for the Colonel.

  Captain Ryan came out to greet them in person, but Taylor did not stop for any pleasantries. He rushed inside and towards the room where he knew Tsengal would be. Jafar was close at his side but didn’t seem to share his enthusiasm.

  “Have you not looked forward to this moment for all these years?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, you don’t look it. Four years he’s been dead to the World and is now awake.”

  “I always expected him to wake up, and I could wait as long as need be.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not that patient.”

  He rushed into the room to see the ship’s Doctor at his side monitoring levels. Tsengal turned his head just a little to acknowledge their arrival and seemed to recognise the two of them.

  “My God, you really have woken up. It’s good to see you back from the dead.”

  Tsengal did nothing but nod in recognition.

  “You must have so many questions, as do we. Important thing to know is that we won the war.”

  “He needs rest,” said the Doctor.

  “Any chance of him speaking anytime soon?”

  “His body seems to be coming online fairly rapidly. He could well be talking within a few minutes or a few hours. It’ll be quite some time before he walks again.”

  “You let me know the second he shows any sign of improving. I want to know what he knows. God knows what he saw in the time he was away.”

  He left the room feeling the best he had in a while.

  “The World maybe going to shit, but we’re coming back together,” he whispered.

  Armand stood waiting outside the room. He had with him three assistants and two bodyguards. It appeared the wounded man had already been replaced.

  “Step this way.”

  He led them through to the operations room where he imagined they would be spending many days, but right now the most important thing was the news. He turned it on to see a live feed of ships landing in North Africa.

  “They’re really doing it?” he asked.

  “It was inevitable they would cross the water. The only question is are they willing to fire on the Germans?”

  “What do you think?”

  “Doesn’t matter what I think, only what we can affect.”

  “How long do we have until all this kicks off?”

  “Protestors will move out of their way. Having soldiers rolling in willing to kill every Kry in the land is exactly what they have been calling for. It’ll take them an hour to get assembled and in place ready to assault. Then the only question is how much are they willing to negotiate with the German forces there before they go in?”

  “How long would you give them?”

  “I wouldn’t set an ultimatum on allied forces. We shouldn’t be killing our own. But I guess they’ll give the Germans a thirty-minute ultimatum to think it over. Anymore than that, and they risk other forces being moved into play.”

  “You’re a smart man, Colonel.”

  “Smart enough to have stayed alive this long, so what’s our play here? We heading over to negotiate with the Spanish forces in person? I know a few among them. I might be able to sway a few senior officers.”

  “No, we tried going to the source once and look how that went. We’re sitting this one out for now. The UEN will call upon us when they need us.”

  “Shit, the World’s going to hell, and you want us to sit tight and watch? I’m not too good at that.”

  “Even so, that is our job. There are forces at play here far larger than either one of us.”

  “That’s what worries me.”

  Taylor got up and left, for there was nothing more to say on the matter. He strode up the bridge where the crew sat idle.

  “Your orders, Sir? Where are we heading?”

  “Absolutely no where,” he said with a sigh.

  “What? World’s going to hell and we aren’t heading for it? Colonel Taylor isn’t heading for it? What’s happened?”

  “Can’t say I like it either, but this isn’t our fight. If the Spanish and the Germans really want to kill each other because of a few Mechs, who are we to stop them?”

  “Somebody has to.”

  “This isn’t our fight, Captain! We are members of the United States armed forces! We have zero authority in these lands!”

  “Amazing how they were happy to have us when aliens were crawling through every street.”

  The bridge went silent. None of them liked sitting there while the World seemingly went to hell again. Taylor knew he had to raise morale, something to break through the thick and depressing atmosphere that had arisen. He stood up tall and proud.

  “I know what you are all feeling, because believe me I feel exactly the same. It makes me sick to the stomach what is going on right now. But don’t forget what we got through together these past few years. Nobody ever said life was gonna be some paradise once we beat the invasion. We stick together, survive, and do our duty to our country, the Corps, and our race, and we’ll be just fine!”

  It sounded uplifting. He wasn’t sure he believed i
t, but at least the rest of them did. Just when they expected him to continue, a call came through from the Doc.

  “Sir, Tsengal is coming to.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  He looked back up to the crew. “You see that. One who was lost to us has returned and is making a recovery. That’s hope if I ever saw it.”

  He raced off the bridge to reach Tsengal. As he got to the entrance to the room, Armand met him.

  “What can I do for you, Councillor?”

  “I hear your friend is awake. If what you tell me about him is true, I’d love to meet him and see what he has to say.”

  Taylor nodded in agreement. He didn’t even think about it. All he cared about was seeing his friend was okay. He entered the room to see in his eyes that his mind was returning to him, and that was a great relief.

  “Great to meet you,” added Armand.

  Tsengal turned his attention to the Councillor, and Taylor noticed an odd expression on the alien’s face, almost as if he recognised the man but could not understand how. It was something for a later conversation in private.

  “Great to see you again, buddy. We were all wondering if you’d ever wake up. It’s been four years.”

  He was silent, clearly trying to piece together his memories.

  “Last time I saw you, Tsengal, sounded like you had something real important to tell me. You remember what that was?”

  He was racking his mind for the memory, but it wasn’t coming to him.

  “It may take some time before his memory fully recovers, and he may still have blank spots for awhile, maybe permanently,” added the Doctor, “He should get some more rest.”

  “Councillor, can you give us a moment?”

  “Sure, Colonel.”

  Something was eating at Taylor that he had to ask. The second Armand was out the room; he came right out with it.

  “You recognised him, didn’t you? How and from where?”

  Armand was just the other side of the door and listening in. He was as eager to know the answer as Taylor was. Tsengal was still racking his brain for answers, but he could find none. He shook his head.

  “It’s okay. You get some rest and tell me anything you can, when you can.”

  Armand was long gone by the time Taylor stepped out of the room. He returned to the operations room and found Armand sat there as if he had never moved. He had no real reason to assume otherwise.

  They were watching the news and were absolutely fixated on it.

  "Guys, this sucks. We can't just stand here helplessly watching this unfold," Taylor murmured.

  His words fell on deaf ears, as they all knew they had to do exactly that. The Spanish troops were formed up and ready to move at any moment. Reporters were at the scene of several prisons, waiting to film the scenes of carnage that may ensue. But then the news network went back to the studio with an important message.

  "President Marin of Spain is about to make a statement from Madrid, live in..."

  The video cut immediately to the announcement, and Taylor noticed the French President stood at his side, along with several other European leaders. Captain Ryan walked into the room just in time to see it.

  "This can't be good," whispered Taylor.

  "They calling it all off?" asked Ryan.

  Nobody could bear to answer him, as they watched and dreaded what might come next.

  "In light of the recent inactions of the UEN and the ongoing threat of the alien populace on earth, Spain can no longer remain as a member of an organisation which actively defends the existence of an invading force on our very doorstep. And we are not alone. From this day forth, Spain is withdrawing from the UEN, along with six other nations who have already agreed to be part of a new initiative, a new organisation; one which has the safety of European citizens at its heart."

  "They're setting up the crowds for civil war in Europe."

  "Surely not, Colonel?" asked Ryan.

  They watched open mouthed as the speech continued.

  "In partnership with my good friend and colleague, President Jacques, I want to announce the creation of the European Alliance, an Alliance of free nations without universal rule or regulation, with the single aim of making the World safe for all. I want to extend a welcome to all our European brothers and sisters. Join us, for the greater good."

  There was a long pause, but no one in the audience made as much as a sound. They waited with bated breath to hear it to the end.

  "May all Europeans see the way to peace and security for us all, and join us in this venture which will finally bring an end to the wars which have plagued our nations. As we speak, the armies of Spain are poised to move against the remaining aliens on Earth, and while I would never wish harm to come to another human, any who stand in the way of this task will meet the same fate. The advance begins in precisely ten minutes. All human forces protecting alien life have until that time to walk free. We do not ask that you lay down your weapons, nor surrender. For you are our allies. Simply join us, or walk free. Thank you, and good luck to you all."

  "Ten minutes!" Ryan sighed. "That's a hell of an ultimatum. Surely they won't go ahead with it."

  It was a waiting game now. Five minutes later, the news attention was turned to a hastily set up conference led by the German Prime Minster, Ms Muller, in Brussels where she had remained for the trial. She stood confidently and looked firm, but they could see in her eyes the sadness of what she was expecting.

  "Thank you all for coming. I am sure you all appreciate the seriousness of the unfolding events in the World. On behalf of the UEN, I am forced to condemn the departure of nations from the UEN. Since 1957, the powers of Europe have stood as one, just as they did during the most recent wars. However, the UEN respects the rights and freedoms of those nations who choose to depart the Union. Additionally, I must state in no uncertain terms, that the UEN will not be bullied, nor stand down from its duties."

  She took a deep breath before she continued with what none of them wanted to hear.

  "The warmongering of this new Alliance will not be tolerated. The UEN policy on prisoners of war remains as it always has, and the forces of all our nations will fight to protect those laws and policies. The UEN does not seek bloodshed on either side, and will only respond in kind. I must repeat the comments of many of my colleagues in the UEN that we do not want war. Do not bring it upon us."

  This isn't right, Taylor thought.

  He could not believe they had reached the current situation so quickly, and it was clear it stunned all around him, except for Armand. The Councillor seemed all too comfortable with the events as they unfolded. He wondered if maybe he really just was that cold and heartless, or if he had a vested interest in a new conflict. He put the thought aside, as it didn't make any sense. Muller was rounding off her speech. It was heartfelt, but he couldn't imagine it would be enough to sway minds that were already polarised.

  "I must underline once again. The UEN does not wish pain and suffering to come to a single human being nor alien. Remember what we fought for, and remember how hard won this peace was. Thank you, and may God be with us all."

  God? He ain't gonna save you.

  He looked at his watch. They were two minutes from the ultimatum. The news cameras were on the Spanish forces once again, with a timer ticking loudly at the corner of the screen. They cut to the German defenders who were equally as anxious.

  "Surely they won't fight? Not to defend the Krys?" Ryan whispered.

  Taylor shrugged. He prayed they would open the gates and leave the Spaniards to it. It was now the only possibility he could see for peace. The timer kept creeping down, and neither side seemed willing to back down.

  Come on, don't do it.

  The timer reached zero and for a moment nothing happened at all. They all held their breath and hoped, but it was not to be. After a few seconds, the Spanish forces launched into action.

  Armoured vehicles rolled across the sands towards the prison complex. It was the G
afsa compound they were seeing where Taylor had recently been. They watched in silence as the vehicles tore across the sands. The press crews were filming from the air a kilometre away.

  The armoured vehicles were only half a kilometre away now, and they could only watch in horror as the guns opened fire, tearing holes in the gates and walls of the facility. The troops at the walls returned fire, but they could do little against the might of the army bearing down on them. As the vehicles reached the walls and smashed into the compound, a dust cloud arose so high the camera crews could no longer see what was unfolding.

  "They really did it? Human versus human?"

  "It sucks, Captain, but that's our lives now. What do we do about it?" Taylor asked.

  They looked to Armand for answers.

  "The UEN will not and cannot stand by and let this go unanswered."

  Taylor could see he knew a lot more than he was letting on as he pointed to the news screen.

  The cameras panned up to the skies to dozens of fighters flashing past the news copter and opening fire. They panned back from the prison to the rest of the incoming Spanish forces. Explosions erupted amongst their ranks, and the fire demolished armoured vehicles.

  Anti-aircraft missiles and gunfire soared into the sky. A few seconds later, the cameras rocked aboard the news copter as a massive explosion burst through the ship.

  "We've been hit. We've been hit!" the screams rang out as the cameras shook. “We’re going down!"

  Screams followed until the screens went dead, and the news feed cut back to an anchorman in an office far from the action. He was too stunned to speak for a full ten seconds."

  "I...we apologise, for we have lost the feed there in Tunisia and are experiencing technical difficulties..."

  He looked down at new reports coming in at the screen in front of him.

  "We are getting confirmed reports that UEN forces have engaged the Spanish armies in North Africa, in what seems to be a bitter battle fought over the multiple prisons in the north of the continent."

  "What he hell do we do?" Ryan asked.

  "Right now? Nothing we can do."

  "Why? They're killing each other."