Battle Earth IV

by Nick S. Thomas

“We’ve got no wireless comms, but we’ll need information as it changes when we near the escaped prisoners. We’ll work from intercom to intercom, track our movements in relation to theirs at all times, and so update us at every opportunity.”

  “Sir, it’s insane. There are Mechs everywhere,” he replied.

  “If I wanted to do this, yes, it would be insane. But we have no choice.”

  Taylor lifted his rifle and rushed out of the room. He passed Parker and the others awaiting him without a word, but he knew they’d follow wherever he asked. He had a location to aim for and drove towards it with all determination. Down two of the corridors in the crossroads before the CP he could see the battle still raging. Parker rushed up to his side.

  “You really think you can catch them?” she asked quietly.

  “We don’t have a choice. It’s all that matters, right now.”

  “Then if I was them, I’d be heading for one of the docking bays and getting off this station in the shortest time possible. I’m sure they’d have no problem blowing it to hell once their Demiran is gone. They seem to have no care for their own soldiers.”

  Taylor stopped near a comms unit and quickly hit the open channel switch.

  “Lewis, can you find out where the nearest docking bays are, and if they have enemy craft aboard?”

  “Yes, Sir, just give me a moment.”

  “We’re continuing on as planned, so have that info ready for us when we reach our destination.”

  They continued on down the corridor, but Taylor came to an abrupt halt as two Mechs rushed into the far end of the corridor.

  “Shit!”

  He leapt aside and called out to the others, giving them just enough time to duck for cover. He peered around the edge of his cover to see that more of the enemy troops were flooding into the corridor.

  “Mitch, you need to go on. We’ll hold them here!” called Parker.

  It was the last thing he wanted to do, and it made him feel sick to have to do it, but he knew she was right. He looked back to Hall who was returning fire down the hallway.

  “Corporal, there was a turn twenty metres back. You and your platoon are on mine now!”

  Taylor leapt out from the cover and made a break for it. He heard Eli and her troops open up with covering fire, and it was just enough to pave the way for his retreat. He took the bend quickly and without hesitating to check what was down there. Mitch stopped Hall and the others as soon as they were safe. He took a deep breath and looked down the corridor to see a comms access point.

  “Come on, we need a new route through.”

  He rushed down to the unit that lay at an entrance to a dining hall that was still impeccably laid out as if it had completely passed the war by.

  “Lewis, we need a new route through. We’re in a large mess hall half way towards our original co-ordinates.”

  “I’ve got you, Major, and I’ve got that intel you asked for.”

  “Alright, go ahead.”

  “We’ve got enemy craft in two docking bays. One is on the other side of the station, and the other is not too far from your current position.”

  “How do we get there?”

  “Get through that hall, and when you come out the other side, take your first left. You’ll come into a main access route, larger than the other corridors. From there, you’ll have signs to Docking Bay Bravo.”

  “Good work.”

  “Good luck, Sir.”

  Taylor turned back to the others. He had just twenty-five men at his command in a station overrun with enemy forces, and they were against the clock.

  “Listen up, we’ve got no time to spare. We are making a dash for the docking bay. We do not stop. We do not hesitate. Anyone who falls gets left behind. I don’t care if that’s me or Hall, you keep moving. Someone has to get to that docking bay and stop Demiran. Whatever happens, he must not get off this station, you hear me?”

  They nodded solemnly. Taylor quickly turned and jumped to a running pace across the hall. He knew they could come under fire at any moment. All elements of his training would have him check every corner and corridor, but now he had to just keep running and hope for the best.

  They reached the far door to the hallway, and Taylor barged through, smashing the doors from their frame. He didn’t even break stride as the doors flew into the next hallway and crashed to the ground.

  “Come on!” he bellowed.

  He didn’t look back. He had to rely on them to follow him to hell and back. He took the bend as instructed and was quickly out into the main access hall. He could see the sign up ahead for the docking bay and sprinted past it.

  “Almost there!”

  He took a bend at a large sign, and the doors slid open as the motion sensors detected his position and opened quickly before he could barge through. He stood in the entrance and looked down at the vast docking area for movement. His heart raced as he saw a glimmer of movement near a small enemy ship.

  “That’s it!”

  Before the others could respond, a hail of enemy pulses rushed down the hallway before them. Taylor and Corporal Hall leapt into the cover of the doorway as two of their platoon were struck down, and the others dug in to return fire. Taylor looked back in horror at the realisation that the rest of the troops were stuck where they were. He turned to Hall.

  “This is on us, Corporal.”

  Taylor jumped out and rushed towards the enemy craft. He noticed some activity and turned to see Perera and several of the MDF soldiers closing in on the enemy vessel from another entrance off to his left side.

  “Take out the engines!” Taylor shouted.

  He saw one of Demiran’s guards rush up the access ramp as it quickly clamped up into the craft. The docking doors were already open, and they could see the pulsating of the engines increase as the craft began to lift from the deck. Taylor took quick aim and kept firing until his magazine was empty. They poured fire into the engines until smoke belched from the craft, but it still had forward momentum. He turned to Hall who was changing his magazine.

  “Get those doors shut!”

  The Corporal sprang into action and rushed for the access panel. Taylor slammed in another magazine and continued to fire rapidly. The small alien fighter was ripped apart by their fire, but they seemed unable to stop it in its tracks.

  “If they get into space, we’re fucked!” Taylor barked.

  Hall ripped open the cover to the panel of controls. He smashed down the large red emergency lockdown button. He turned to see the doors in front of the fighter quickly slam shut, and the locking mechanisms activate. The stricken enemy craft smashed into the doors but crumpled against them without making a dent. The engines powered down as the vehicle rocked back and came to a standstill. The Corporal lifted his rifle back up and loaded in a fresh magazine, following the Major down to the crash site.

  Perera and his two comrades closed on the vessel also with their weapons at the ready. Finally, the two groups came together beside it. For the moment, their personal feud was set aside in the presence of a greater threat. The five soldiers stopped with their weapons at the ready and hesitated for a moment, no one wanted the approach the door.

  “Oh, fuck this,” said Hall.

  He paced forward and reached around the corners of the door that jutted out from where their gunfire had torn apart the rear of the ship. Just as he was about to apply some pressure, it was blasted open and crushed him down to the floor. The three creatures rushed from the doorway and fired as they did so. The two soldiers with Perera were struck and killed in a hail of gunfire. Taylor was thrown off his feet by one of the bodyguards that launched him off his feet with a vicious barge. He landed hard and lost consciousness.

  A few moments later, Taylor came to his senses and looked up to see the barrel of Perera’s gun pointed at him. Flat out on the deck, and still stunned, he was unable to defend himself.

  “I knew this day would come, when I could end you. You left our people to die, and now you’ll
pay the price.”

  Taylor ignored his comments and replied with a question.

  “Where’s Demiran?”

  “He’s gone. It’s just you and me now.”

  Taylor sighed in disbelief. He didn’t care for himself, and he only thought of the fate of them all if Demiran had indeed gone.

  “Goodbye, Major.”

  Taylor stared his would be killer in the eyes as the man squeezed the trigger, but as he did so, he was lifted from the ground, and his neck snapped. His body was tossed aside like a ragdoll, and Taylor looked up in fear as one of Demiran’s bodyguards stood towering over him. He knew he was at the mercy of the creature, but to his shock it held out its hand as if to help him to his feet.

  Confused as to the creature’s intentions, Taylor had little choice but to go along with it. He offered up his, and the creature hauled him to his feet with no effort at all. As Taylor landed on his feet, he drew his Assegai and pressed the tip against the rim of the creature’s faceplate. Something stayed his hand though, and he held it to threaten but did not strike. The creature had saved his life, and curiosity made him wonder why he had been allowed to live.

  The alien before him did not respond to his weapon. Its faceplate quickly retracted and uncovered its face to the Major. Their faces were just twenty centimetres apart, and neither made a move. He took a pace back and slid the Assegai back into its sheath. He was confused by the situation and shocked to still be alive. The other bodyguard walked casually into view, stood beside the other, and likewise revealed its face.

  “What are your intentions?” asked Taylor.

  The first creature that had helped him finally spoke.

  “You saved our lives from your own people, despite all the death and destruction we have brought to your people, why?”

  “Because we are all soldiers in this war, and we didn’t start the war. And I’d like to think if I were captured, I would be treated in the way in which I would do to others.”

  The two aliens looked at him, as if utterly confused by what he had said.

  “Lord Demiran has escaped. He left us to die here, and yet you let us live. We would serve a master who values our lives like he does his own.”

  “What are you saying?” asked Taylor.

  “That you have our allegiance. You fight beside your soldiers like brothers.”

  “And you would fight against your own race because of this?”

  The creatures nodded in agreement.

  Mitch studied them intently. He was desperately trying to decide what the best course of action was. It was already clear to him that they were the only reason he was still alive. A cough echoed around the room, and Taylor turned to see that Hall had awoken but was still trapped beneath the ramp of the craft. Taylor looked back to the two creatures, and in that moment decided he needed their help, and that ruled out any other reservations he might have.

  “Help me!””

  He rushed over to the Corporal and tried to lift the ramp that was crushed down onto Hall’s chest. His body armour was all that had stopped his body from being flattened. Taylor tried with all his strength, but the exosuit was not enough. The ramp had fixed solid on its mountings to the wrecked enemy fighter. Without another word, the two creatures stepped up, and one gently pushed Taylor aside. Hall could only watch in amazement as they took hold of the wreckage, hauled it from his body and out the way, before dropping it with a heavy crash to the deck.

  Footsteps hammered into the docking bay, and Parker was at the head of her platoon. Taylor leapt up to stand in front of the creatures.

  “Wait!” he shouted.

  Eli stopped in shock, but none of them dared defy the Major’s orders.

  “Demiran’s gone, but these two are with us!”

  “What you mean ‘with us’? They’re the enemy!”

  “I don’t have time to explain. All you need know is that these two soldiers just saved my life and that of Corporal Hall.”

  “They’re the reason you’re down here and nearly died in the first place!”

  “Sergeant! This is not up for discussion!”

  He turned back to the two creatures. They were helping Hall get to his feet in a scene that touched them all. They were not sure whether to believe the sincerity of the creatures or not, but they were all amazed to have found Taylor alive, that they were willing to entertain the idea while it lasted.

  “The station is overrun, and we have to get back to our command centre. Have you got weapons, and are you willing to use them to fight alongside us?”

  The two creatures both nodded in agreement.

  “Mitch, if Demiran is gone, what hope do we have?”

  “Not much, but I will not sit back and wait to die. Let’s get back to Kelly, and make sure we give the Commander every chance he has to hold onto this God damn station!”

  Chapter 11

  Taylor strode briskly down the halls of the station with Parker and Hall one side and the two aliens on his other flank. They wore more sleek and embellished armour than the typical Mechs and were clearly something special. Taylor knew they were guards to an important enemy leader and were certainly an entirely different quality of soldier to the hulking infantry they were used to fighting.

  As they passed a corridor of Mechs, the two alien allies opened fire and struck down two of the Mechs as they passed. Parker watched in amazement. None of them knew yet whether they could be trusted or not. The aliens seemed to have such little regard for life that he wondered if killing their own would bother them at all. Taylor reached a comms unit and quickly patched into the CP.

  “This is Taylor, we’re en route. What is the current situation?”

  “Major, we’re in deep shit! Jones is trapped in an office near 71A. Achen has dug in outside the CP, and no word from Nichols. Chen is falling back here also.”

  Taylor could hear the screams of scores of wounded all around on the other end of the line.

  “Jones? Is he still alive?”

  “Last we heard, yes, but I’ve lost the feeds from the area, and we can’t reach him.”

  “Alright, we’ll do what we can to assist the Captain.”

  “Major?”

  “What is it?”

  “A small enemy craft attempted to leave the station just a few minutes ago.”

  Taylor’s eyes lit up. Demiran, you bastard!

  “Did it escape?”

  “Its engines were hit by our fighters, and the last I saw it was spinning out of control.”

  Taylor smiled. “Good to know, Lieutenant, over and out.”

  Taylor turned back to the troops, but Eli interrupted him before he could speak.

  “Why didn’t you tell him it was Demiran?”

  “Not on an open channel, Sergeant. If his ship went out of control, then there’s a good chance he won’t get picked up for some time. We might have just bought ourselves a little extra time. Until he can contact his forces, they will assume we still have him.”

  He turned to the others.

  “Jones is in trouble, and the rest of our forces have fallen back to the CP. I will not leave our people out there. Let’s move!”

  Taylor leapt forward and the two aliens were the first to follow after him. He still found it hard to fathom that they were at his side, but he’d take any help he could get when they were on their knees and fighting for their survival.

  Ten minutes later, they were close enough to hear the fire ahead. Taylor stopped quickly to survey a map of the area that was on one of the walls. He peaked around the corner of his position to see the enemy forces still pouring into the office district, and fire from Reitech weapons was flowing through the breach.

  “Alright, no time for subtleties. Jones might not have long. Parker, I want you to take half the troops down this parallel corridor. Engage the enemy at your first opportunity.”

  She turned and signalled for fifteen of the soldiers to follow her before leaping across the crossroads to take the next route as Taylor had
ordered. He looked back to see that Hall and the aliens were at his back. It still sent his pulse racing every time he turned back to see the aliens just centimetres from his face.

  “Let’s move.”

  They rushed out from the corridor and sprinted towards their target. Seven of the Mechs were visible at the entrance to the office, and the others were already inside. Pulses from the two creatures running beside him joined Taylor’s fire. They kept up the pace as they butchered the creatures. When they had made half the distance, their fire was met with Parker’s as her troops smashed the enemy ahead of them.

  Taylor did not stop when his magazine ran dry. He drew his Assegai and screamed a battle cry and continued rushing forward under the cover of friendly guns. He leapt onto the nearest Mech that had already been reduced to its knees and thrust his weapon into its torso, running it up to the hilt.

  The two alien allies reached his side and tore into the remaining Mechs. They fought with a nimbleness that he had only seen in Karadag. He was left speechless as they ripped apart four of the soldiers with their bare hands. Taylor sheathed his weapon and slammed his back up against the doorway for cover, slipping a new magazine into his rifle.

  The room had gone silent with both sides in shock and surprise. They knew there were still a sizeable number of creatures the other side of the door; and between them and Jones’ troops.

  “Jones!” called Taylor.

  The Captain’s ears pricked up in surprise.

  “Jones!” he repeated. “We’ve come to get you out of here! Watch your fire!”

  “You’ve got a clean angle!” he shouted back.

  Taylor took his opportunity and leapt around the corner into the broad open doorway. The Mechs fumbled to try and re-direct towards him but came under fire from Jones’ position as Taylor opened fire. Parker and the others jumped to his aid, and their enemy was caught in a brutal crossfire. A few seconds later, and there was nothing left standing of the enemy force. Their bodies lined the floor, and smoke arose from the burning pulses of Taylor’s newest allies.

  Jones arose from his position, and several of his platoon were helping the wounded to their feet. The Captain approached and looked at the two aliens standing beside Taylor in disbelief. He had already realised they were fighting alongside the Major, but he could not help but stare. He trusted Taylor’s judgement and so let it be.