“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.
When have I ever been able to see the whole picture like this?
The pieces seemed to be coming together too easily, but there was no more time to think on it.
The Deveron was soaring across the skies to the government headquarters from where the President had made her speech. But as they drew nearer, they could make out other craft approaching from the north.
“Identify those craft,” said Taylor.
He was on the bridge beside Ryan. Every one of the crew was now equipped in Reitech gear, but he knew few of them were experienced in using it.
“I need your three best marksmen.”
“My five best are at the main door at the lower level. Take whichever you need.”
“We’ll be jumping onto the roof. You be ready to pick us up.”
“That’s the plan? And what about the Germans?”
“Keep ‘em busy?”
“Keep ‘em busy? Only way I got to keep them busy is let them blow holes in us.”
‘Relax; this is one of the finest vessels the US has ever built. You’ll be fine.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“Those are German ships,” said an Ensign.
“They haven’t fired on us. Don’t provoke them,” said Taylor.
He patted Ryan on the shoulder before pulling his helmet on and rushing out the door. Jafar was awaiting him and passed him his rifle. They hurried to the lower hull of the ship where the five men were waiting just as Ryan had said. They looked scared to death. Guarding the ship was the closest they’d ever come to combat. They were Navy seamen, not marines.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Sure, Jafar, why, you’re not?”
“You always told me to look at things from all angles. You are making a lot of assumptions here.”
“Facts are a luxury in this business. You know that.”
He turned to the others. You three, Waters, Malok, and Hughes, you’re coming with us. Stay close. He had to look at their nametags to remember their names; a fact he wasn’t proud of.
“You jumped before?” he asked them.
T
hey shook their heads.
“Set your boosters to auto, and they’ll control our descent. When we hit the ground, you just follow me and Jafar, and keep an eye on our backs, you hear?”
They felt the reverse thrust kick in as the Deveron came in towards their location. Taylor hit the door switch, and it slid open, letting the fresh air pour in.
“This is it. Keep your eyes open and your weapon at the ready!”
He leapt from the edge the moment the ship came to a near halt in the sky. They were on the roof in a heartbeat, and there was not a sign of life.
“Get moving!” he shouted down the intercom to Ryan.
He looked around in surprise, and something didn’t feel right at all. The sound of engines roared beside the building, and two ships lifted up into view before turning and soaring into the sky.
“Something’s wrong.”
“What?” asked Malok.
“A Presidential building with not a single guard in sight. No, something is wrong here.”
“Colonel Taylor!” a voice called.
He turned to see Armand stepping out onto the roof from a nearby stairs.
No, can’t be. He played us all along.
Now he knew why everything had fitted together so well in his head. It had been a carefully calculated plan to get him at his most vulnerable.
“You’re a great fighter, Colonel, maybe even a great leader, but not the smartest!”
Troops poured out from the stairs behind him and from two other locations at their flank until over a hundred fully equipped soldiers encircled them.
“Oh, shit,” he whispered, “When I shout, follow me, and do as I do.”
“I can’t say getting the President was important, but capturing you was an opportunity which I couldn’t pass up, and you fell for it from day one,” said Armand.
“Getting identified and recognised for who you are part of your plan as well?” he yelled back.
“Irrelevant now. Your only evidence is dead, and now I have you, too.”
Taylor opened up his comms channel and left it open.
“So you are from Red 1?”
“Sure am, along with all the loyal soldiers you see around you. I thought we had an opportunity with you, Colonel. I thought you might be convinced to join the winning side, but clearly you’d rather die a martyr.”
“You’re gonna regret killing Tsengal because I’m not gonna kill you quick or easy.”
“Big words for a man at the end of his days.”
Engines roared overhead that gusted over the rooftop, kicking up dust around them all. The Deveron flew overhead and slowed to a crawling pace.
“Now!” Taylor shouted.
He hit his boosters and launched up into the air. The others followed suit and were hurled up into the sky up and over the ship. Taylor landed smoothly on the roof and Jafar beside him. He turned to see Waters rocketing towards him. He reached out and took hold of the sailor, grabbing him as he passed. Malok hit the deck hard but was okay. Hughes was coming in hard and fast. He hit the hull of the ship and slid along it. Taylor leapt after him and managed to get a hold on his leg but was pulled over the side. He thought he was going overboard but felt Jafar’s iron grip around his ankle. As he was pulled, he called into his comms.
“Go!”
The engines roared. Gunfire zipped past the ship but could do nothing against its armour. Taylor got to his feet in time to see Armand standing on the rooftop at an absolute loss.
“Sooner or later, I’m gonna kill you,” Taylor said to himself.
A hatch slid open as they rolled in, and the turbulence began to get unbearable. He quickly got on his comms.
"Ryan, can you catch those two ships?"
"Bet your ass, Colonel."
"Do it!"
They felt the Deveron bank and go to full burn. Taylor brought up the ship’s forward display screen on his Mappad. It only took them a few minutes to reach the two craft that were at a cruising speed and apparently in no rush. One was a small gunship and the other an armed transport.
"Ryan, knock the engines out on that gunship and bring us alongside the other."
"Sure about this, Sir?"
"No, but do it anyway."
The tracer coming on screen followed the crack of gunfire. The first volley narrowly clipped the aft of the gunship, and as they began to take evasive action, the second struck their engines. Their power was knocked out instantly, and they began to lose altitude. Taylor watched and waited to see if the crew would bail out. They did, and he gave a sigh of relief. He didn't want to see them dead.
"They are the enemy?" asked Jafar.
"Maybe, but they are also human. We kill only if we have to."
He looked to the other three who looked terrified.
"We have any explosives aboard?"
They shook their heads.
"Grenades?"
"No, Sir," replied Hughes, "We only carry what is necessary for the protection of the Deveron."
"Yeah, well, that's all fine and dandy when things go to plan. We'll just have to improvise.”
"Ryan, we need to get aboard that ship, can you use the docking gear?"
"Airborne?" he asked.
"We need you to get that transport locked, even for just twenty seconds. Give us enough time to get aboard."
"I'll give it a shot."
The nose of the Deveron dipped as they came up under the transport that was half her size. They were at full burn now, but they couldn't outrun the Deveron.
"Just bear in mind, Sir, that we're in German airspace, not a place we want to be, considering."
"Got it, Ryan. We'll be quick."
Magnetic clamping arms extended from the Deveron as they came in close and took a hold on the hull. Taylor could see an access door now. He lifted his rifle and fired a dozen shots at the hinges.
"Do the honours," he said to Jafar.
The alien leapt onto the roof of the Deveron and got his grip inside the damaged door. With one big heave, he ripped it from the hull, and it flew off into the distance.
The two ships rocked as the transport shook violently.
"Sir, they're onto us. We can't keep them locked like this for long!" Ryan called over the comms.
"Let's move!"
He leapt out onto the roof and jumped up into the ship. Jafar and Hughes got inside with him, but as the other two were getting out onto the roof of the Deveron, the seal broke from the docking arms. The transport banked hard to get away from their ship. Malok was thrown overboard, but Waters managed to stay safe.
Hughes looked in horror as his crewmate descended rapidly.
"He'll be okay. The suit will get him down safe!"
"Safely into enemy territory, Sir!"
"We've got bigger things to worry about, right now! You stay here."
He readied his weapon and rushed up the ramp where he found Jafar already firing his weapon. The body of a soldier lay between him and them. It made him sick to see a human dead at their hands, but he knew it was unavoidable. He took up position beside Jafar and peered around the corner carefully. Three German soldiers lay in wait for them. One was using President Mertens as a human shield. The other two held rifles at the ready. All were equipped as they were.
"I am Colonel Mitch Taylor of the 2nd Inter-Allied Battalion, United States Marine Corps. Lay down your weapons!"
"You have no authority here!" one shouted back.
"Think about this. You're kidnapping a head of state!"
"We're at war, and we are under orders to detain President Mertens!"
"At war? Belgium declared independence from the UEN, a voluntary union!"
"And sided with those who are trying to kill us!"
"Do you want to die here?" he asked.
No response came.
"Because the only options here are we kill you, or you kill us and that ship out there blows you out of the sky. Handover the President and leave with your lives!"
"That's not happening!
"
Taylor shook his head.
"Remember, you wanted this, not me!"
He pulled out a magazine from his webbing and threw it around the corner as if it were a grenade. He heard them shout in German and duck for cover. In that moment, he leapt out and fired two shots into one of their rifles. The rifle was smashed in two as the rounds penetrated his chest armour.
Jafar fired the next two shots doing exactly the same. Only the man holding the President remained. He still held a pistol beside her, but now it was pointed at Taylor.
"Nobody else has to die here. We're taking the President whether we have to go through you or not. Hand her over and you can survive this."
"And if I give her to you, what stops you shooting us, anyway?"
"That's Colonel Taylor," said one of the men.
He could see they all knew his name even if they didn't recognise his face. For once his fame was working in his favour. He lowered his weapon and relaxed his body language, although he knew Jafar and Hughes had him covered.
"You must know this is wrong."
He could see in the man's eyes that he'd made up his mind.
"The President is coming with us or not at all. Those are our orders, and I am following them!"
His pistol turned towards the President. As the barrel touched her head, a shot zipped past Taylor from the barrel of Jafar's weapon, hitting the man just off centre between the eyes. Blood burst out from the exit wound and sprayed across the wall behind him. His body slumped, and the President remained frozen in fear.
Two more soldiers went for their pistols, but Taylor's rifle was up in a flash.
"No!" he shouted.
It was too late. The guns were in hand and being raised towards him. He fired at one, and Jafar took the other. They didn't stand a chance. But as one of them dropped, two shots rung out from his gun and hit the ceiling above. Sparks flew out and the lights cut out. Cries of panic came from down the corridor to the cockpit, and Taylor knew they were losing power and altitude.
Battle Earth VII Page 13
