"Sir, we have to go, now!"
"What, what are you talking about?"
As they argued, a bullet penetrated the Mayor's skull and blew out his brains. His body slumped down in front of them.
"Cover!" Taylor hit the deck.
He was clipped on the temple by a bullet as he went down. He was almost in shock, the way Newman had been in his first engagement in combat. The Colonel was frozen on the ground, as if unable to move. Newman grabbed hold of his arm and shook him, but his paralysis seemed real. He wasn't faking it, and why would he?
"Lieutenant, Lieutenant!"
Sommer was up the stairs in a shot, but it still seemed to take an age to him. She clung low to every step. They were all wary of being picked off by a sniper. As she reached Taylor, she saw the same that Newman had. He was a wreck.
"What is wrong with him?"
"More than you know."
"I don't get it."
"You wouldn't. You haven't seen what he has."
"What do you mean?"
"The Colonel lost almost everything in the war, and it isn't the first time. There is only so much we can take before we crack. Taylor has made it through more than anyone I have ever known, but he is on his limit. How much do you think any of us can take?"
Newman shrugged, as if surprised. He'd expected Taylor to be invincible after everything he had read.
"After everything, this is too much?"
"Don't you understand the toll? This isn't one incident. It is one in a long line. Taylor is the most honest and decent man I have ever known, but he has just been fucked. Don't you see?"
Newman could see it. He just didn't want to believe it.
"We have to get him out of here, now!"
"No shit," she snapped.
"This is your command now, Sir. Lead the way!"
Babacan rushed up the stairs as they finished talking. He was as shocked as they were to see Taylor on the deck.
"The Colonel is hurt. We need to get him out of here!" Newman shouted.
Sommer nodded along in agreement. Neither even realised the extent of his wound, but they understood the state he was in. Babacan went to Taylor and gently lifted him onto his shoulders.
"Lead the way. I will carry him."
"What are we doing, Sir?"
For a moment the Lieutenant was frozen, but it lasted a few seconds, and she snapped out of it.
"We can't stay here. I won't die here, Corporal. We are fighting our way out, and I don't care who we have to kill to make that happen."
Newman had never heard her be so sincere about anything, and despite how crazy it sounded; he did not doubt her. He had seen things there that he never thought possible.
They rushed down the stairs with Taylor over Babacan's shoulders. None of the others understood what was going on, but seeing the Colonel incapacitated was enough.
"Listen to me!"
Newman rushed to the door to keep watch as Sommer informed the others of what was going on.
"This is a mess. I don't have time to explain why, but I can tell you that those out there with guns want to see an end to our Colonel, and to us all. I won't let that happen. Will you?"
"No!" The response was unanimous.
"Then take us back. Lead us home, away from this hell. Kilic, you are on point. Get us out of this, now!"
He did as commanded and rushed to the door where Newman had been evaluating the scene.
"We are going that way."
Newman had expected that, and he held a flash grenade in his hand ready. He looked back to Sommer one last time to be certain, but she simply nodded in agreement. He launched the grenade out into the corridor where they had come from and took cover. The blinding flash was brutal in its intensity, and they followed on after it. Newman and Kilic were at the front as they reached the bottleneck. Two of the rebels were stumbling around in pain. Kilic grabbed and snapped the neck of one, but Newman smashed the other with his rifle to knock him down. He couldn't bring himself to kill his own.
They took a bend and stopped, finding themselves facing an angry mob. They had equipped themselves with anything to hand, from knives to metal pipes.
“Form up!” Sommer yelled. Two ranks rushed ahead of them and activated shields as they created a wall.
“This is wrong, Lieutenant. We shouldn’t be hurting anyone,” said Newman.
“Nobody is going to get hurt that didn’t bring it on themselves.”
Newman understood her sentiment, but he felt they were walking into a disastrous situation. Shots were fired from amongst the crowd; all that was needed to spark chaos.
“Draw your Assegais, and don’t kill any you don’t have to!”
“No, stop it!” Newman shouted.
But it was too late. The ranks of marines charged the crowd. None were more aggressive and keen than the Krys Marines among them. Their unwavering loyalty to Taylor had put them in a rage upon seeing him hurt. Meric was at their head, the angriest of them all. He was beating many of the rioters with such force they were dropping from a single blow. None of their Assegais were activated, but they used them like truncheons against the unarmoured civilians, and their powered suits only served to increase that striking power. Not that a Krys warrior would need it. Newman saw several necks snap under the pressure of the blows being delivered. It was a horrifying sight, but then he heard a roar behind him. A dozen more of the angry mob was rushing towards them.
One leapt at him. He held up his shield, but was knocked back a few steps from the man’s weight. He felt his knee buckle slightly as a steel rod smashed into it. He looked about and could see how desperate things were getting. Dozens more were piling in. They were at risk of being swamped. Something heavy the size of a baseball soared past his head and smashed into Sommer’s helmet. She gave out a cry of pain as she went down. He turned to help her, but something crashed over his neck and back. He staggered slightly.
I’ll have to turn and face them. But there are just so damn many.
He noticed Giles was on the ground and getting kicked hard. Gallo was being pulled down as well.
He was despairing, and he had to do something. He smashed one of his attackers in the face with a hard blow and kicked another one back. Something more was needed. He drew out his pistol and fired three shots into the air. Screams rang out as the shots echoed loudly. Many froze in panic, and some backed off. The one he had kicked back was squaring off against him now, and took two steps closer. Newman took aim at the man’s chest, and he froze.
“What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do!” He was screaming like a lunatic.
Newman didn’t want to hurt him, but the man rushed forward, confident in the knowledge that he wouldn’t. He had to make a snap decision, and hated himself for it, but he lowered his pistol just slightly, and fired a single shot into the man’s leg. He cried out in pain as his leg gave way, and he crashed to the ground. Newman lifted his pistol and pointed it at the crowd behind him.
“I didn’t ask for this. I don’t want to have to hurt anyone, but mark my words, the next one of you that attacks one of my team is going to pay the price!”
Nobody said a word, but one of them rushed forward to help the wounded man.
“You shot me!” he cried out.
The brief pause in fighting had allowed Sommer to get back on her feet. She winced in pain, clearly a bit stunned as she tried to work out what was going on.
“Sir, we need to get the hell out of here!”
“Listen to me!” She drew her pistol out, “We came here to rescue your elected representative, and we have been attacked in the process. We wish none of you any harm, but an attack on my marines is unacceptable. The next one of you that even thinks about trying to do us harm won’t get a bullet in the leg. Ready your weapons!”
The rest of them pulled their rifles from their backs and took aim at the crowd.
“This is over. Disperse! Disperse, now!”
They didn’t dare test her, not after New
man had shot one of them. They backed down, but they didn’t look happy about it. Newman went to the wounded man’s side.
“Hey, get away from me!”
But Newman knocked his hands aside.
“Let me look at it.”
The man had no choice.
“Through and through, you’re going to be just fine.” He drew out a field dressing spray and sealed the wound on both sides.
“Get to a hospital. You’ll be okay.”
“Yeah, and no thanks to you!”
Sommer couldn’t believe he was even helping the man, and his lack of gratitude annoyed her further.
“You’re lucky it was just your leg. You attacked Alliance Marines without reason.”
“Without reason? Have you seen what is going on here?”
“I’ve seen enough.”
“Have you? Because while you live the high life, we have to live like animals down here.”
She reached down and backhanded him across the face.
“You see this marine that is patching you up? He lost twelve of his comrades, just days ago. Killed in action on a mission that is vital to the work we are doing to save this planet. They died for you, and he had to live it.”
“And what good is it? How far has Rivers got with ‘saving the planet’?”
Sommer didn’t know how to respond, and had some sympathy for the man.
"We aren't the enemy."
"Then prove it. We don't need empty promises. We need help that we can see."
They could hear shouts and cries in the distance as another angry mob came their way.
"Come on." Sommer hauled Newman to his feet.
"I'm sorry," he said earnestly to the man he had shot.
"Come on, move!"
Chapter 10
Taylor awoke with a pounding headache, as bad as the worse hang over he'd ever had. But it wasn't his quarters he was looking up at. He had felt the horrid lack of orientation before, and he shot up to find he was in a hospital bed. There was nobody in sight. He couldn't remember how or why he got there, but knew it was an experience he had been through before. He recognised everything in the room as being standard Alliance equipment, and that was at least a relief, or so he thought. He got to his feet. He was sore, but still in one piece, and wearing hospital blues. A fresh uniform was draped over a chair beside the bed, as if someone had anticipated him waking. He quickly changed as he tried to recall what had led to him being there, but he still drew a blank. The last thing he remembered was fighting to rescue the Mayor in Nova Scotia.
He reached the door, half expecting to find it locked, but it wasn't. It slid open, and he found a quiet ward, though he could hear voices further away. He looked suspiciously around as if expecting to be pounced on in any moment. But nothing came. He continued towards the sound of the voice, and could see a gather of patients and staff ahead. They were watching a large projection screen, and he was close enough now that he could hear a news anchor relaying a story. He cautiously continued forward as he listened in.
"It is a scene of utter chaos here. Videos are emerging that allegedly show Alliance Marines firing on innocent protestors. We have had reports of multiple deaths from gunshot wounds, as well as a number of other injuries and fatalities, too. Unconfirmed reports are coming in that this operation was led by Colonel Mitch Taylor, and that he may be implicated in one or more of the deaths..."
He reached the edge of the room and stopped as it hit him just what that meant. The memories of the event came flooding back to him. That is when he noticed how many of the patients and staff were looking at him with accusing eyes. He didn’t know what to do or say.
“Colonel,” a voice called out.
For a moment he couldn’t respond, but Sommer pulled him away.
“Hey, Colonel, you okay?”
He wasn’t okay at all, but he didn’t know how to explain it. She stopped him and forced him to turn to face her.
“Look, rule one, we made it out alive; do you remember that?”
He nodded in agreement.
“We did more than that, we accomplished some of our mission as well. The Mayor is safe.”
“Some?”
“Well, we didn’t exactly restore order, but the fighting has stopped.”
“Why?”
She looked uneasy as if she didn’t want to have to explain.
“Don’t bullshit me now. Give it to me straight.”
“Because they’ve got somewhere else to vent their anger on.”
“On me?”
“On all of us.”
“We were just trying to help. Don’t they know that it was a hostage situation?”
“I don’t think they care anymore. Come on. Let’s get you out of here. Let’s find you something to eat.”
“But…the mission.”
“The mission is over now. I don’t know where we go from here, but I am sure the President will have work for us in no time.”
Taylor’s head was still pounding. He felt it on the side and winced.
“What the hell happened?”
“You took a bullet. You’re lucky.”
“Lucky?” he asked in amazement.
They stepped off the ward and soon exited the medical facilities completely. As they did so, they were met with a wall of reporters all clambering to talk to Taylor, but between him and them was a wall of marines. They were all faces he recognised.
“Come on, this way, Colonel,” insisted Sommer as the Krys forged a path through. Cameramen were desperately trying to push through, but were powerless to do so. One tried to hold his camera aloft and get a shot over them, but Kilic took hold of it and crushed it in his hand. The man protested, but Kilic just pushed him away. Finally, they got clear, with several of the marines staying behind to block the path of the press.
“You can’t do this!” They heard one yell.
Once they were out of sight, Taylor stopped. His head was pulsating.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really, Sommer.”
He felt sick, and this was making him feel worse.
“How bad is it?””
“What?”
“Everything, the whole situation. What went on with the Mayor?”
She didn’t want to answer, and that told Taylor everything he needed to know.
“Sir, that was a setup, the cameras, the timing, everything. We were set up to take a fall.”
“The reasons why don’t really matter, though, do they? We are here now, knee deep in shit.”
“Mitch, let’s sit down and get a square meal down you. Then we can go at this fresh.”
But he was having none of it.
“Newman!”
The Corporal rushed to his side.
“Yes, Sir?”
“I need to hear it straight from someone not afraid to tell me what I don’t want to hear. Can you see a way out of this?”
“Sir, I never could have seen what was coming to us down there, and I don’t think anyone could. It was a setup, just like the Lieutenant said, and a good one.”
“So that’s a no?”
He nodded.
Taylor grunted in annoyance as he strode forwards.
“Where are you going?” Sommer asked.
“I won’t sit idle while this stupid shit goes on.”
“We should talk about this and not be rash. We rushed in down there, and look where it got us.”
“I’m not rushing in. I am going to find out how this can be fixed.”
The dozen others still with them followed as Taylor’s protection detail.
“Whatever you are thinking this is no time to be rash, Colonel!”
“What is it a time to be?”
“I don’t know, but whatever we are doing, it isn’t working.”
Nobody else said a word as he pressed on towards the President’s office. He was met with judgemental eyes everywhere he went, but he had no time for it. He got the same look from the guards on duty in front of
Rivers’ door, but they took one look at the posse he had in tow and held their tongues.
“You two, with me,” he said to Sommer and Newman.
Newman couldn’t understand why he kept getting singled out, but there was no time to question it. They stepped inside. The President was watching yet another news report about the terrible events that had taken place on the surface. He was mesmerised, as if he had been fixated on it for hours. Taylor strode up to his desk and waited for a response, but the President wouldn’t even take his eyes from the screen.
“It’s bad, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Sir,” replied Taylor.
“If I may, Sir, I saw what went on down there, and it isn’t what is being reported.” Sommer injected herself into the conversation. Taylor appreciated it, but it felt like a waste of time.
“I know that isn’t the real story they are telling. I know it for so many reasons.”
Sommer gasped in relief.
“But my opinion doesn’t matter. It’s what everyone else thinks that matters. Sure, I could come out publicly in support of you, and what good would it do? People will believe what they want to believe here.”
“Unless they are given evidence otherwise?”
“Like what?” Taylor asked Sommer cynically.
“Oh, there will be evidence out there, there always is, but it is a case of how long it takes to find it.”
“I’m not sure what you are saying, then, Mr President?”
“I am saying that we need cool heads, Colonel. We need to stop this madness. That means getting you are as far away from here as possible while I try and workout how we can fix this.”
“We are in crisis and you want me to leave?”
“Yes, I do. You are the face of this chaos now. Regardless of whether that is fair or not, we have to accept it. In fact, it may not be a bad thing. The people on Earth are more united than they have been in a while, and that has taken some pressure off the government.”
“So the Colonel is the fall guy? The scapegoat?”
“He will be whatever we need him to be. That goes for him, you, me, everybody. By now I think you have some idea how desperate our scenario is. We can’t worry about hurt feelings and egos. Not for any of this, our work here is too important. I will fix this, and I will absolve you of the crimes you are accused of. Trust me. If I was with the mob, I’d have you in chains by now.”
Beyond Earth- Civil War Page 15