"Good of you to join us."
"I told them I will help all I can, but where you go, I go."
"How'd they take it?"
"Why should you care?"
"Mmm... fair enough. Good to have you with us. This ain't the strike I was expecting, but atleast we're heading in the right direction."
Chapter 7
"2nd Inter-Allied, you are to report to Italian Authorities in Naples to establish a base of operations south of the city. The coordinates are being sent to you now. 5th Marine is continuing on to Potenza where they will engage any enemy presence."
Ryan looked around and to see the pissed off expression on Taylor's face.
"Looks like we just got benched."
"I said they wanted their glory."
"Let 'em have it. You have nothing to prove, and chilling out and taking in a few rays can't do any of us any harm."
"They're going in hot headed, and without intel on the area and enemy deployments, not smart. I want as much info as you can get me in the next twenty minutes on enemy movements. Something tells me we're gonna be called for soon."
"And this order to head for Naples?"
"Go with it. We'll be a short distance from the fight."
"Sir, I have an incoming transmission from Colonel Harney for you."
"Put him through," Taylor said through gritted teeth.
A projection of the Fighting Fifth Commander appeared before them.
"We're glad to have you aboard this mission, Colonel. The 5th is heading right for the enemy targets to eliminate them quickly. I understand you are accustomed to being at the head of the action, but I want you to secure the area at our backs and take it a little easy. Your people have been through enough."
"No easy life for a marine when the enemy is at our door, Sir."
"You have your orders, Colonel, good luck."
They came down quickly onto a field where Italian forces were assembling south of the city. The country had been brutally ravaged by the first war like most of the Mediterranean, and Taylor knew their military was a long way from recovering. They had mustered just a two companies at the staging area, which meant the elite 2nd Inter-Allied outnumbered the local forces they were going to assist.
The Deveron and the two other craft put down just twenty metres in front of the group of soldiers and their lightly armoured vehicles. Taylor stood and studied them from the bridge for a moment after they had made their landing.
"They're young, inexperienced," Jones finally said.
"Are you surprised? Few of their soldiers survived the last war. Most of what they can muster are barely out of training, and with few experienced officers and NCOs to see them on their way."
"I guess that's why they sent us."
Taylor turned to face the other officers of the Battalion standing at the back of the bridge awaiting his orders.
"Let's get something straight. We may be on their soil, but we are not under their command. You follow my orders or those of our own command. Commander Phillips is en route to assume HQ duties of both us and several other units in the area. I don't care if there's a General out there. This command is mine. I will not have any of our own put in harm's way because some freshman wants to make a name for himself.
"You think that's what we'll face?" asked Jones.
"Probably. Jackson, dismount and have the Battalion form up. Jones and Jafar, you're with me. We're going to meet whoever thinks they're running this thing."
Jones smiled, he could only imagine the humiliation an unsuspecting young officer was about to receive. They stepped down the ramp to find a greeting party awaiting them. The man at the centre wore the rank of Major, and he appeared to be the highest ranked among them.
"Colonel Taylor!" he shouted rather informally.
There was no salute, and he rushed up to Taylor with his hand outstretched. He quickly stopped, realising his mistake. His arm shot up into a salute, but the smile still adorned his face. He stretched his hand out once again which Taylor could not rightfully refuse.
"Colonel Taylor, it is such an honour to meet you."
The man tried to shake his hand vigorously, but the strength provided by the exosuit made for little movement. It was clear to him that they had never been equipped or trained with the Reitech gear. They had been entirely equipped from pre-war stores.
"The Immortals standing before us. I could never have imagined it! I am Major Gallo, and I welcome you to Naples."
Taylor looked out across to the Major's men who stood casually about. Many were leaning against the vehicles for the shade and few looked eager to work.
A lazy Italian? Who would have thought it?
He smiled at the sight and just refrained from saying what he saw.
"Have you boys encountered the enemy yet?"
"Uh, no, Sir. We have had a few reports of fighting breaking out further south, but we were ordered to assemble here and await further support."
"Well, we're it. Don't take this the wrong way, Major, but have you or any of your troops fought a Mech?"
"No, Sir, but we have been in training for a year and are eager to do so."
Taylor nodded and groaned in doubt.
"We are here to fight for our country, Colonel, ready and prepared."
"It is not your courage or determination I doubt, but this gear you have. When the first war started, we needed to outnumber them ten to one to stand a chance. They have superior weapons, armour, and strength to anything that we had in use at the time. If you're going to go to war with that gear, better ensure you never try and take on more than a platoon of the Mechs."
The Major was taken aback by his words. His instinct was to defend his abilities and those of his men, but his respect for Taylor stopped him. It cast a heavy shadow over his optimism.
"Then you believe we are close to useless without this equipment you have?"
"Not far short. If you had witnessed the losses I had early on in the war, you would understand where I am coming from."
"What do you suggest we do?"
"Talk to your commanders. Arrange for Reitech equipment to be issued immediately through whatever urgent operational requirement facility you have."
"Urgent operational requirement?” the Major sniggered."It's a wonder we got issued what we have. Most of it we had to find ourselves in old stockpiles. There was little remaining of my country when the enemy had gone. My family left with little more than the clothes on our backs, and came home to not much more. I wish we had access to the resources you did, but until I do, we must do the best we can."
"All right, no offence meant, Major."
Jones stepped forward to address the young Italian. He appeared to be no older than twenty and was of short and slight stature compared to the two of them. And yet he stood proud and tall. He was far too young for the rank he held, but they both knew it was a result of the war. It was a reminder of how lucky they were to have survived this far.
"We just want to see you get what you need and deserve to make it through this fight."
"Then please, do anything you can to see it happen. I have trained these men and women to the best of my ability, but my training officer was a sixty-five year old Major who was just a week from retirement when the war began. He was one of the few to make it through, after he was put in charge of seeing thousands of civilians to safety. I have no contacts to get these things, and no one to help."
"That's where you're wrong," replied Taylor. "You just got us, and we're here to make sure you get through this alive."
Taylor had expected an arrogant and self-important officer, but instead he found himself liking the Major. He’d already decided he would make it is his mission to get them equipped and able to face the enemy as a force to be reckoned with.
“Where are you based, Major?” asked Taylor.
“You are within the borders of our base here. Much of it was destroyed during the war. We have begun rebuilding here in the last six months.”
&
nbsp; He stepped closer to whisper to the Colonel.
“My only task since getting my commission has been to begin rebuilding the base here. We have basic accommodation and training grounds for six hundred soldiers, with many more still living under temporary shelters.”
Taylor stepped back to talk more plainly.
“Don’t be ashamed of what you have done here. We live in difficult times, and you and your lot have had the courage to volunteer in the face of evil.”
Gallo laughed hesitantly.
“We volunteered after the war was over. We never expected to fight in the next one.”
Taylor laughed.
“None of us wanted it, but that doesn’t make it any less necessary. You and I are here, and we have a job to do.”
* * *
The day passed quickly once they had been given a plot to assemble their own billets. Taylor grew restless being sidelined by the 5th Marine Regiment, and he could sense the others felt the same. Their fear of combat had been replaced with a desire for revenge. A bloodthirsty desirehe knew had to be controlled. He sat up in his bed, realising how much he missed Parker. They could not rightfully share a bed on an operation even though she made every opportunity to do so.
Taylor stepped out of his billet into the open air. It was warm and comforting. He looked up to the stars and took great pleasure in seeing the skies so peaceful and quiet, despite the fact he knew it would not last. As he stood there in the moonlight, a voice spoke out from behind him, but he did not react for it was the soothing sound of a friend.
“You are thinking about her too.”
He knew it was Charlie Jones. The British officer’s stern and deep voice was unmistakeable even among his own country folk.
"We never leave anyone behind. We lost you momentarily, but we did everything in our power to get you back. What have we done to see Chandra returned home? Dead or alive, she deserves more than to be left out there."
"It's all very well, but some things are simply beyond our reach. It was a wonder we didn't lose more in Tau Ceti. The only reason we're still here is because we weren't sent to Red 1 with her."
They both knew in their hearts that she was dead, for there was no possibility of her surviving the onslaught they witnessed.
"And maybe if we had been there, the story would have been different," replied Taylor.
"We have pulled off some miraculous things in our time together, but we are only human after all. We couldn't have made a difference down there."
They stopped and watched the stars for a moment. It was a beautifully clear night.
"We've lost a lot of friends since it began, and we'll lose many more before this is over. The end of this enemy force is in sight. Both sides must see it, but neither can nor will back down. We have to slug it out and see it through," said Taylor.
"These Italian boys, they aren't ready. Not even close."
"No, but their hearts are in it. They deserve better, better equipment, better training. I'm going to make it my mission to see that happens."
"In the middle of a war?"
"You heard our orders. After the European coastlines are clear, we're gonna be held up here for some time."
"And you think these things ever go to plan?"
Taylor laughed.
"No, but we can only hope."
* * *
Daybreak came and Taylor awoke to the sunrays beating down on his shelter and trying to cook him in his bed. It was all the incentive he needed to get to his feet and out the door. An HQ shelter had been setup with their comms officers and equipment not far from his billet. Jones was already up and at the station. He stood over an ops table, studying the information they had been provided, but there seemed little urgency to his job.
"We got any accurate information on enemy positions yet?" asked Taylor as he strode forward.
Jones nodded, pointing down to the ops table map.
"We've got positive enemy sights at three locations. However, the two reconnaissance craft sent over took heavy fire and were unable to get much info. Satellite imagery is still down also. The 5th is approaching from three positions north of Potenza to engage two of the enemy locations."
"Have they requested our assistance?"
Jones shook his head.
"Fools. I want you to keep in regular contact with the 5th. They will need our support, and I want to be ready for when that time comes."
He turned to see Major Gallo approaching on foot.
"What are your current orders?" asked Taylor.
“To hold the southern roads to Naples.”
"And what does that entail?"
"We have defensive lines covering four kilometres."
"With what did you say, six hundred men?"
Gallo nodded.
"How are your defences organised?"
"We have a bunker every kilometre, and sentries roaming the spaces in between."
"What have you got on your eastern flank?"
"Reconnaissance regiment with armoured cars and protecting ten kilometres inland. I do not know what is beyond them."
Taylor thought about it for a moment. It reminded Jones of being back in Brest on the west coast of France - spread thin and ill equipped.
"Sir, the 5th has made contact at Buccino and north of Potenza."
Taylor turned back to the ops table, for the names meant nothing to him. As far as his knowledge of the country extended was the rough location of Rome and Naples from looking at the map that morning.
"Okay, so that's what, eighty kilometres from here?"
"About that, yes," replied Gallo.
"Have we got any idea on enemy numbers yet?"
Jafar stepped up towards them, and Gallo recoiled at the sight of him. He could see the uniform markings on his armour but still could not believe it. He looked to both Taylor and Jones for confirmation that Jafar was for real and friendly.
"This is Sergeant Jafar and he is one of ours," Taylor said.
"But..."
"But nothing, Major."
Gallo turned to study the alien. They could all see it was the closest he had ever come to one, but it was not what he was expecting at all. The short Italian officer had to look up to see the eyes of the towering Jafar.
"Are there many more like you, fighting for us?" he asked.
"There was one, but he was lost in Tau Ceti."
"Enough, there'll be time for questions when the enemy isn't at the door."
They turned back to the map.
"The marines will have their work cut out at those two towns. Rolling hills and many narrow mountain roads. Much of the terrain is barren and without cover."
"Do you have any forces south of here?"
"Small numbers in Cosenza and extending into Sicily, but all have been ordered to setup defensive lines at their locations and await further support. The civilians from here down are being evacuated by air and sea, and above Naples they are being moved north."
"That's gonna take time."
"Yes, but not as long as you might think. The population of my country is a shadow of its former self. So many ghost towns."
Taylor looked back to the map, which was being updated live with enemy positions throughout the Med and Africa as they came in.
"What are they doing in southern Italy? Doesn't look like they are in great numbers, and we don't have any sign of them receiving additional support as of yet. Much longer, and our fleets will ensure they are cut off completely."
"Maybe this wasn't their intended target?" asked Jones. "Seems all that could amassed in North Africa. Perhaps this was the closest they could get if their ship was severely damaged."
Lieutenant Yorath was clearly receiving new information at his comms station, and Taylor waited impatiently to hear the news.
"Sir, first recon images from the 5th are in."
"Anything useful?"
"I believe so, Sir, looks like some kind of crash site. They'll be on the table presently."
Five i
mages popped up, and it took a few seconds for them to realise what they were looking at until Jafar finally spoke.
"That is a heavy cruiser, and it looks badly damaged."
"Then it is a crash site?" asked Jones.
"Yes."
"What can we expect from a ship of that size?"
"A thousand crew and enough equipment for them all to fight on the ground. Support ships may also have remained with them."
"All right, at least we have some idea on numbers. They must have sustained losses in the battle and probably more in that crash landing. But if their support vessels have joined them, we must assume they have their full one thousand strength or more."
"Potentially many more," replied Jafar.
He pointed to a wooded area where part had been flattened that only a key eye would have spotted.
"You think that's another crash site?"
"Or a good hiding place," added Jones.
Jafar nodded, without giving a solid answer to either of them.
"Where are these two sites in relation to the 5th's current position?" asked Taylor.
"The map is being updated as we speak," added Yorath.
Taylor looked over the map and could see the three elements of the 5th Marine were advancing on the heavy cruiser and had already passed the other potential landing site.
"They haven't seen it."
"Idiots," replied Jones.
"Yorath, mark the second potential crash site and warn them immediately!"
Before the Lieutenant could react, he received frantic new calls across the radio.
"Sir, 5th Marine is reporting enemy advances north of their position."
"Christ, they're getting surrounded," said Jones.
Taylor looked to the map again.
"Muro Lucano, that's where the second ship is. They must have moved south quickly."
"Heavy woodland in that area. It would cover their movements well. No idea of telling how many of them are there."
"Have they requested our assistance?" asked Taylor.
"No, Sir," replied Yorath.
"Well, tough shit. They're getting it anyway."
Battle Earth VI (Book 6) Page 12
