But the President took a long deep breath and sighed.
“What is it?”
“The world isn’t like you, Mitch. She might not terrify you anymore, but you have told me everything you know and have seen of Bolormaa, and she still terrifies me.”
“Yeah? Well, I guess it’s time we turn that around. She is just one person.”
The President laughed.
“Oh, really? Because that is what people said about you.”
Taylor was stumped.
“You know why Bolormaa won’t win?”
The President shook her head, and he could see in her eyes that she still didn’t believe Bolormaa could fail.
“Because she is evil. She isn’t any normal enemy. She cannot be reasoned with. There will be no peace while she remains alive. She is pure evil, and evil cannot succeed. We will not allow it.”
“I did not think you were a spiritual man, Colonel?”
“I don’t know what I am. But I have seen some crazy, twisted shit, and I know we are fighting the good fight. Don’t ever stop what you’re doing. The day people lack faith is the day evil wins.”
“Then let’s hope we both live to a good old age.”
Taylor smiled.
“By my reckoning I’ll be five hundred years old before long.”
Even as he said it, he had trouble wrapping his head around the concept.
“Bringing you back was the best thing the Alliance ever did. Good luck, Mitch Taylor,” she said as she stood up and offered out her hand. He took it gladly.
“And good luck to you, Madam President.”
She held his hand for a moment, but her expression turned more serious.
“Don’t forget us now, Mitch. I know you have to do this, but every minute and hour that you are away, we are still fighting here. You must know how bad it is out there. I don’t doubt that. Just be sure you come back to us while there is something still left to fight for.”
“I will. I always do.”
He walked out without another word. She was right. He should stay and help, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t leave his friends behind. It’s what made him who he was, and he was unable to change. He stepped off of the bridge to find Babacan waiting for him.
“This lead, do you trust it?” Taylor asked.
“No,” he replied firmly.
“But it’s solid enough to warrant an investigation?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s good enough for me.”
They paced down to the docking bay. Everyone going with him was assembled and ready to move, a Krys platoon with Turan and a human one with Sommer. A platoon of Cholans led by Kaytun, and the Aranui Guardian machines. He shook his head in amazement.
“What a bunch of misfits,” he muttered.
Turan didn’t agree with him, and it was written all over his face.
“No, you don’t think so?”
“I don’t care what they look like. Only how they fight.”
“And you think they are up to the task?”
Turan nodded. He looked impressed, almost proud of what they had assembled. Taylor turned to Babacan, and he looked equally impressed.
“So this lead we have, what is it?”
“A weak signal on a distant world.”
“Sounds promising,” added Taylor sarcastically.
He couldn’t help but feel that he was filling Jones’ shoes while the Captain was gone. It was the reminder he needed that they were doing the right thing. He stepped up to address them.
“Thank you all for coming! Everyone who follows me on this mission and all others until I return to Earth is a volunteer. If you want to leave, I suggest you do so now, because once this has begun, it will not stop until we are finished. Any questions?”
There were none.
“I am sorry that I cannot tell you more about where we are going and what our mission is, but all will become clear soon enough. For now you are going to have to trust me, just as I trust you all to follow me in this endeavour. Load up, and move out!”
They quickly fell out and moved to their own transports and those allocated to them. Taylor could see Dart standing at the loading ramp of the copter that had transported them through thick and thin. He paced up to the Lieutenant who had a huge grin on his face.
“I’m not sure you’re gonna want to go where we will take you.”
“I told you before, Colonel. So long as I am flying, it’s all good.”
“You pilots, you are all the same. Adrenaline junkies.”
“That’s why we do it. Why else would I wear a uniform and get paid almost nothing?”
“You get paid?” Taylor asked.
Then it occurred to the pilot. Taylor had never even drawn a wage.
“Yeah, I’m dead according to the records. A dead man can’t claim anything.”
Dart was struggling to find any words, but Taylor patted him on the back as he broke out into a smile.
“Trust me, if money meant anything in my life right now, I’d be asking for what is rightfully mine, but sometimes there are things far more important than money.”
“Like flying?”
Taylor laughed. “Yep, I guess so, Lieutenant.”
They boarded, and Taylor slumped into the seat that he had become so accustomed to. He looked across at the empty seat where Jones had always been. It was yet another gut wrenching emotion that he could do without, but it at least reminded him of what he was fighting for. Sommer suddenly dropped into Jones’ seat, but she looked mortified, realising where she had sat. She moved to get up, but Taylor reached forward and gestured for her to sit back down.
“No, it’s okay.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded confidently.
“Sure am. It’s what Jones would have wanted. You have given everything to this fight, and it is much appreciated.”
“It’s what I signed up for, Sir.”
“We both know that is bullshit. Just because you signed up, doesn’t mean you agreed to every suicidal mission.”
“Maybe I just fancy myself a hero?”
Taylor smiled.
“You keep thinking that. In my eyes, you already are. All of you are. You have risen up and fought where so many others would turn their backs and run; or expect others to fight for them.”
She appeared concerned by his assessment.
“Not everyone was made for this, you know that, right?”
“No, I get it, I really do. Not everyone has a dream of serving, but at times like this, it isn’t an option.”
“You are too hard on people sometimes.”
“Maybe. But just maybe I wouldn’t have to be if they hadn’t been left to go so soft all these years.”
They had barely been in the air a few minutes when once again they were coming in to land.
"You know anything about this ship, the Tusk?"
"I know she's seen more years of service than I have been alive."
"What? The President told me she was pretty new."
Sommer shook her head and smiled.
"No way. My uncle served on the Tusk, must have been forty years ago. She just went by a different name back then. Sure she's been through refits, but she's an old girl."
Taylor grunted in disapproval. He wondered who had lied, the President, or whoever was advising her.
"Beggars can't be choosers, I guess. We should just be glad we’ve got a ship at all."
"We had a perfectly good one.
"Yeah, well, shit happens."
They felt the landing gear touchdown, and Taylor was quickly out the ramp. His enthusiasm would not be tainted by such a seemingly trivial detail as the age of the vessel. As he stepped down the ramp, he slowed as he recognised the officer awaiting him.
"Captain Minn?"
"Welcome aboard, Colonel."
He stepped up close, shook her hand, and whispered, "This your command?" he asked in amazement.
"You told me to make myself usefu
l, and I have. The Tusk needed a Captain."
"Yes, but have you ever had your own command?"
"No, but we all have to start somewhere."
Taylor recoiled slightly, realising what a mess their operation was, but he could see the smile on her face and the enthusiasm in her body language. He thought back to how she had stepped up when she was needed, and he decided to give her a chance.
"Do you know what our mission is, Captain?"
"President Caron was vague, but it doesn't take a genius to understand what it is you are doing here, Sir."
"Good, Babacan will fill you in with a location."
"Just so we're clear. We are pursuing each and every lead for the creature known as Zaya, as well as those members of your Regiment who are missing in action?"
"That about sums it up, Captain. You got a problem with that?"
"None at all, Sir."
"How long until we can jump?"
"We're just getting through the last of a series of technical glitches, but it should be within thirty minutes."
"Good, then we can continue this from the bridge," he said and gestured for her to lead the way.
"These technical issues, how serious are they?"
"You want the honest breakdown?"
"Always."
"I'm told they're routine issues that arise from a newly serviced and refitted vessel, but I know that's not true. I may not have ever had my own command, but reports, investigations, and cover-ups were my specialty."
"So what are we dealing with?"
"In theory, this ship has been brought up to the top line. In full order she would be one of the fastest in the Alliance fleet, and she packs a punch for her size."
"But?"
"But the engines are very advanced and under tested. When they run right, they are outstanding, but when they don't..."
"Great, just what we need. And the weapon systems?"
"Mostly based around high energy cannons derived from Krys and Aranui technology."
"Good, and the downside?"
"The power required to operate them is vast. If the engines cause power surges, we lose power to our primary weapons."
"So what you're telling me is that this is a test bed ship? An experimental ship?"
She nodded in agreement.
"Development on this project has been stopped. In theory, it is one of the best vessels in the Alliance, but anyone who knows anything about her knows that is only the case on paper."
Taylor sighed.
"You knew this, and yet you still took this command, why?"
"I owed you, Colonel. I owe you my life, and I must make sure now that you make it through."
"And you think you can make that happen?"
"Yes, I do, Sir. I am not a great fighter, nor leader, but I am a problem solver, and a pain in the ass for anyone who stands in my way."
I can work with that.
They stepped onto the bridge and found it remarkably calm.
"All systems up and running, we're ready to jump, Captain," declared one of the crew.
Taylor looked suspicious, but he was too anxious to get underway to worry about such details as whether the ship was actually combat worthy. Babacan was right behind him.
"You got the coordinates?"
"Yes."
"Then what are you waiting for? Let's get underway."
"Do you not want to address the crew first?" Minn asked.
Taylor shook his head.
"This is your ship, Captain. That was your job. We have waited long enough on this lead. Let's move on out."
"Then what is our location?"
Taylor pointed for Babacan to go forward.
"You will tell no one," added Taylor.
Minn looked surprised, but she understood why.
"I've never heard of this place."
"No, neither have I. It's remote, and a great place to spring an ambush, so let's hope the Tusk is up to the task," added Taylor.
He saw in her eyes she wasn't confident that it was. She hesitated and opened her mouth as if to protest, but Taylor shook his head.
"No more time to waste, Captain. We have a mission to do. Let's get it done."
"Yes, Sir."
It was clear to everyone that despite commanding the ship on paper, she was completely at the will of Colonel Taylor, and nobody minded that fact. She stepped up to the navigation console and personally input the coordinates, so as to keep them secret until they had made their jump. She looked at Taylor one last time for confirmation, but she could tell there was no going back.
“Prepare to jump in, five, four, three, two, one…jump.”
The sickening sensation overcame Taylor as it always did. He would never get used to it, and nor did he want to. Finally, they were out, and there was a hive of activity on the screens. A small Morohtan vessel lay in orbit, and three smaller ships were on their way from the surface. Nobody had thought to actually find the enemy so soon. Taylor had expected a cold trail if they found anything at all. His eyes widened in amazement, but he soon snapped back to reality.
“Target that ship, ready weapons, but do not fire!” Taylor barked.
Minn spun around to look at him in surprise as if she didn’t understand his logic.
“Scan that ship for human life forms, Captain.”
She realised his intent and pointed for one of the crew to make it so.
“And Zaya?”
“If there are no humans on board, you have permission to fire,” replied Taylor coldly.
Deep down he wished Zaya was still an ally, but he wasn’t going to take any chances. Zaya was a useful asset, but nothing more. All he cared about was getting Alita and William back, and he would do anything necessary to make that happen. A light flashed on the enemy vessel, and moments later they were struck. The ship rocked lightly, but it did nothing more than superficial damage.
“It’s only a small vessel. They must not have expected a fight,” said Sommer.
Taylor hadn’t even noticed her come aboard the bridge.
“We came with one frigate, and you think we didn’t come looking for a fight?” he replied.
“We didn’t, did we? This is a search and rescue mission.”
“It is, but we aren’t rescuing a downed pilot, we getting back POWs from a hostile enemy.”
“Maybe this isn’t a fight we should pick. It’s not in our interests.”
“You’re wrong. Maybe they are linked to this, maybe not, but killing the enemy is in our interests, and that’s just what we’ll do if there is no sign of human life aboard that ship.”
“Negative, Sir, no human life found.”
“Open fire, give them everything we’ve got.”
Minn looked over Taylor’s shoulder to Sommer as though looking for some support.
“Now, Captain!” Taylor yelled.
“Open fire, all weapons,” she said, relaying Taylor’s orders.
Lights and system modules on the bridge began to fluctuate as they heard a surge of energy building. The main lights cut off, and they were down to emergency only. The screens flickered, and finally a blast of light flashed before them. The volley from the weapons was so bright it filled the bridge with white light and blinded everyone in view of it. Taylor covered his eyes just in time to save himself from the worst of it, but it still blinded him momentarily.
He rubbed his eyes as he tried to clear them. The screens were still flickering. Half the crew ran around in a panic, the rest were too stunned to move. He looked at the main screen. It began to settle, finally it cleared up, and his vision came into focus. The area before them was strewn with debris where the enemy ship used to be.
“Holy shit,” he muttered to himself.
He looked back to see Minn next to a console with two of the crew. She looked terrified.
“What is it?” Taylor asked.
“Target destroyed, but firing the main guns has caused power surges across most of the ship. We’ve got almost nothing. No
engines, and little life support.”
“Weapon systems?”
She looked surprised that he even had to ask. Taylor looked to the screen. The smaller enemy craft were turning back to the surface.
‘They must not have jump capability.”
“Neither do we right now, Sir.”
“It’s perfect.”
“What do you mean? We’re dead in the water.”
“Yeah, and so are they,” he said as he strode towards the main door to leave the bridge.
“Where are you going?” Minn pleaded.
“To do my job. I’m going down there and engaging them on the surface.”
“We need you here, Colonel.”
“I am not a pilot, I am not a mechanic, and I won’t leave them down there to probably establish some means of communication with the enemy. Sommer, on me!”
He rushed off without another word.
“What about the Captain?” Sommer asked as they stepped outside.
“What about her?”
“You are leaving her hanging. Shouldn’t we stay and help?”
“If you want to captain a ship, you better sure make sure you are capable of the job. I am not here to babysit.”
He hit his comms channel.
“This is Taylor. All platoons to the docking bay!”
It only took them a few minutes to arrive, but he found them ready and waiting where he had left them.
“Sommer, you and your platoon are staying put to protect the ship. Everyone else, load up, it’s time to earn your pay!”
He rushed aboard his usual craft with Babacan by his side, but as Taylor slumped into his seat, he noticed Turan and his platoon of Krys had followed. It was a bizarre sight. Every passenger aboard the craft besides him was Krys.
“What is it?” Babacan asked.
“Just funny how the world turns, is all.”
“Where to Colonel?” Dart asked.
“Follow the enemy craft down to the surface. Let’s see if we can’t root them out.”
“Yes, Sir,” replied Dart with a smile.
The engines fired up, and they soared out of the docking bay.
“You think it’s strange to be leading Krys. I could never imagine the day that I served Colonel Taylor. If my father was still alive, he would probably kill me for it,” added Turan.
Battle Beyond Earth: Survival Page 5
