“God damn fucking bastards,” he yelled to himself as he hit the wheel of the car.
“I go for two God damn minutes, and they try to fuck us in the ass.”
Taylor had no love of the MPs, few did, but he genuinely had more than enough reasons to want to shoot some of them. Many despised him because of his combat record and all the glory they felt it brought. It was an envy he had to deal with on a regular basis.
Mitch could feel his head pounding as his anger and rage built. He reached the base gates in half the time it had taken the two of them to get to the beach. The dusty jeep came to a halt at the guard post, and a Corporal stepped forward to check his ID. The man looked suspicious of Taylor’s rough appearance, as he rightfully should be.
The Corporal desperately wanted to say something about his ill disciplined attire but looked to the rank on his shoulders, and knew he could not risk insult if Taylor really was what he was claiming.
“Identification, Sir?”
“For Christ’s sake,” he muttered.
Taylor reached into his pocket and fumbled around for his card that had seen so little use. He’d long forgotten what life was like at home.
“Here,” he snapped, passing the man a bent identify card. It was heavily worn and slightly burnt in one corner. The guard looked in shock at the card and took it suspiciously from his hands. Taylor sat impatiently.
“Well, come on, I haven’t got all day,” insisted Taylor.
“Uhh, yes, Sir.”
The man lifted his scanner, twisting the bent card to make it read properly and stood surprised as Mitch’s name and identity was displayed. There wasn’t a marine on base that didn’t know the name.
“Major Taylor, sorry for the delay, Sir.”
Mitch snatched the card from the Corporal’s hands and put his foot to the floor. The jeep raced forward and narrowly made it through the gates. They were only half open when he squeezed through. The Corporal shook his head in astonishment.
“Crazy bastard.”
Taylor’s jeep slid around the first corner, and he was quickly able to open up the throttle and tear across an open road towards Rains’ hangar. He slammed the brakes on and slid to a halt at the open doors where the pilot sat with his feet up as if it were any other day.
“Where are they, Eddie?”
The Lieutenant took another sip from his mug, not affected at all by the Major’s flustered state. He sighed and turned to Taylor, signalling over his shoulder with his eyes and a nod. Taylor turned to see three military police vehicles approaching. He snapped back around.
“We can’t keep them hidden forever,” mused Eddie.
Taylor shook his head. He knew his old friend was right, but it weighed heavily on his conscience that he would have to give up his own men, without them committing an offence. He turned back and stood confidently upright, glaring at the approaching vehicles. His right hand instinctively reached down to his thigh to rest on the pistol that had lived there for the last year, but it was nowhere to be found. He looked down in shock at the realisation that he was unarmed.
Caught without a weapon, for God’s sake, he thought.
The recent peace had let Mitch slip back into an easy life, not yet earned. He coughed to clear his throat and prepare himself for the assault of the MPs. The three jeeps slid to an abrupt halt less than ten metres from his position, and eight soldiers leapt from them. At least they were officially soldiers; Taylor could never see them as such.
“I am Captain Ames. We are looking for the two aliens under your command, Major.”
Taylor grimaced. He had hoped they were unaware of who he was. He quickly realised that they were well informed, and he was not going to talk his way out of it.
“On what charge do you wish to arrest men under my command?”
The Captain squinted in surprise at Mitch’s description of the creatures.
“The alien soldiers known as Jafar and Tsengal are soldiers of an enemy army which sought to conquer this world. The reason for their arrest should not need explanation.”
Taylor’s face turned to bitter anger.
“I do not need reminding what this war was about. I fought it whilst you lay about polishing your pretty uniforms. I will not surrender any under my command without just cause.”
Before the Captain could respond a door opened behind Eddie, and they all stopped to look. The two alien soldiers step out from hiding. The MPs quickly lifted their handguns.
“Whoa!” yelled Taylor. Tell your men to stand down!”
He looked back to see the two creatures stepping slowly towards the group, without showing any signs of aggression. Taylor snapped back around and roared at the troops.
“Put your weapons down!”
The Captain lifted his hand and signalled them to lower their pistols, in an attempt to alleviate the situation. The two stopped before Taylor, and Jafar finally spoke.
“We will do as is ordered. We will not hide from this any longer.”
“No, they can’t do this!”
He turned back around. “Who gave these orders?”
“I do not have that information, Sir. We are only doing our job. They are happy to surrender, so let us get this done, and there need not be any further trouble.”
The Captain stepped forward to pass right through the Major without stopping. Taylor could see he was uneasy with the task he had been given, but nothing was going to convince him to act against those orders. Mitch reached forward, firmly grasping the hand in which the MP carried his pistol and twisted until the man yelped in pain. Taylor struck him on the nose with one firm knife hand blow that caused his nose to burst and throw blood over his gleaming uniform.
Two more of the MPs rushed forward with batons in one hand and pistols in the other. One took a swing for him, and he nimbly ducked under the clumsy and excessive swing. He thrust an uppercut into the man’s stomach, throwing him off his feet, and quickly turned to the other. The baton was thrust forward at him with a more experienced fighter than the last. He narrowly avoided it with a quick sidestep. Before the MP could respond, he wrapped his one arm around the elbow and pushed with his other hand. The man’s arm snapped in on itself, driving the shock baton into his chest.
The MP spasmed from the voltage pulsing through his body, and he collapsed with the loss of motor control. Taylor looked up to see that remainder of the MPs were lifting their pistols to fire, but he was too far away to do much about it. He defiantly stood over his vanquished foes, praying they would not shoot a superior officer.
Taylor’s face grew long as he saw the look in their eyes. They were willing to pull the trigger, and he could do nothing but hope for a miracle. Two shots rang out, but as they did so, Jafar leapt in front of the Major. The small calibre rounds ricocheted from his armour and hit the hangar beside them.
The alien dwarfed Taylor and completely blocked the MPs view of him. Jafar stood calmly between them. He had no weapon in hand nor made any attempt to join in the fight. Taylor stepped around his newly found friend to see the two MPs stood in shock. He could see just a tiny bit of the horror he had first witnessed on the beaches in France upon their first meet with the enemy.
The MPs still held their weapons high and trained on the alien, but they knew that any more shots would be futile. They stood silently, awaiting the next move. Taylor turned to Jafar and looked at him in surprise. It was in part for saving his life once more, but more from the restraint he had shown in not fighting back.
“These men come to take you away. I cannot say for certain their reasons, but I can say that it will not be pleasant. They want you for lab rats.”
Jafar shrugged his shoulders.
“We both knew this day would come. Your commanders must have many questions for us, and we will assist them in any way we can.”
“But not like this, you are with us now.”
“And I follow your orders, just as you must follow your superiors. Do not throw your life away so quickly.”
/>
The deep voice pierced Taylor’s thoughts, and he instantly calmed himself.
“You never cease to amaze me. How on Earth can the rest of your race be the way they are, when you bare so little resemblance?”
“Just one of the questions which will require an answer in the coming days.”
The area went silent as all reflected on what had just happened. The MPs on the ground reeled in sighs of pain. Then the silence was broken by the rushed pace of a jeep soaring towards the hangar bay. The vehicle bore the stars of General White. It slid to a halt, and Sergeant Gibbons leapt out, the General’s driver. He had two marines with him. Neither were MPs.
Gibbons stopped and quickly surveyed the scene, shaking his head at the bloodied police on the ground.
“Christ, Major, the war’s over, and yet you want to keep fighting?”
Had it been any other Sergeant questioning him, he would have been most put out, but Gibbons commanded respect across the base.
“I didn’t come looking for one. These idiots came to arrest troops under my command, without right or reason.”
“The two aliens are being brought in for questioning by direct orders of General White, and even if you can get away with this incident, you will not defy the General and get away with it.”
Taylor suddenly felt the tension in his body release, and his pulse calm at the sobering realisation of what a mess he had made. He was still bitterly angry about what was about to happen, but now knew he could not stop it.
“I want to speak with the General immediately!”
“And he is waiting for you. In the meantime, you will step aside and allow the MPs to carry out their orders.”
He thought about it for a moment, finally nodding in agreement. The MPs lowered their weapons and went to the aid of the others. Mitch stepped forward and reached out his arm to help one to his feet.
“Please understand I was only protecting my own. I meant you no harm.”
The man nodded as he gritted his teeth.
“Not much of an apology,” he replied.
“A fitting one, considering your actions.”
The man scowled, but Gibbons immediately cut in.
“That’s enough, gentlemen! This situation has already been messy enough. Major Taylor, please join me.”
He gestured for Taylor to follow him. Mitch looked back for a moment to Eddie who stood with a rifle in hand. He had no doubt the Lieutenant would have been willing to use it had the fight escalated. He nodded in gratitude before turning and continuing on to the jeep.
It’s gonna be a long fucking day, he thought.
Chapter 2
Taylor stood to attention before the General’s desk. White ignored him and continued to read through information on a datapad. The door opened once again, and another soldier stepped into the room. Taylor turned slightly and saw it was Captain Ames. He held a blood soaked cloth to his nose that was still gushing. The blood was smeared over his cheeks, and it had already dried to a flat brown over the white straps of his MPs webbing. General White looked up at the injured man and turned sternly to Taylor.
“This is Captain Ames, a military police officer who you struck whilst he was carrying out his orders. I know you have no love of MPs, Major, but when you undermine them, you undermine me.”
Taylor butted in, despite it being completely unacceptable for him to do so.
“On what orders were they arresting honest and reliable soldiers? Last I looked, we protected our own, simper fi, Sir!”
White’s face began to redden with rage, but he quickly calmed himself before he responded.
“Major, we have a lot to learn about their race. We must do everything in our power to better prepare ourselves for the next potential war. I am sorry for the way this was handled, which was certainly clumsy and ill conceived, but that does not change the fact it was necessary.”
“They are more than happy to help in any way, so why on Earth arrest them?”
“I find your trust in these aliens curious, Major, when you’ve probably been single-handedly responsible for more of their deaths than any other human being.”
Taylor tried to butt in, but White didn’t let him.
“They are aliens, aliens! They may indeed have defected, but I’d like to know for certain. And if they truly are on our side, then they can fill in many blanks.”
Taylor shook his head.
“I agree they can do that, but sending this idiot to imprison them was a dumbass move. We’re only lucky Jafar and Tsengal saw reason. They had every right to tear Ames and his MPs apart.”
Ames gasped and tried to speak up, but White interrupted.
“Captain, you’ve caused enough trouble today. I have no doubt your CO will have much to say about it. You can tell him from me that he’ll suffer if he pursues this.”
Ames begrudgingly nodded in agreement.
“Now get out and get that looked at!”
Taylor smiled at the MP being sent packing with his tail between his legs. The door slammed behind him, and Mitch looked back to see White with his head in his hands.
“Jesus, Mitch, can you never stay out of trouble?” he whispered.
Taylor didn’t respond. He knew the General was as in as much a difficult spot as himself.
“I put out an order for the two aliens to be brought in for questioning. I did not ask for them to be arrested, nor treated as the enemy. If you honestly believe they are on our side and willing to bet your life on it, which you clearly are, then I believe you’re right.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“Now, these creatures are not human, and therefore are not necessarily bound by our law, unless we choose to treat them as enemy combatants. For now, they will remain in holding for their own protection and to assist us in our research. As a result, you may visit them anytime you like. You, as their acting CO may be present during any and all questioning that takes places, and I suggest you are.”
“It just seems wrong, Sir. These two have proven themselves to us more than a few times already. They are as much marines as you and I. They deserve better.”
“I never said it was fair, Mitch. We need information. We cannot fret about upsetting a few individuals as a result of that. You above all should understand that.”
Taylor nodded in agreement.
“Got it, Sir.”
“And for God’s sake, stop getting into fights. I can only get you out of so much shit. The only reason you have got away with it all so far is based on your war record. The further we get from your glory days, the less leeway you’ll get.”
“Those MPs are total assholes, Sir. When will the day come when we don’t have to put up with such shit?”
“When you die or retire.”
Taylor smiled as he turned and walked to the door.
“The questioning of your two friends is being undertaken by Major Weller. He has strict orders to inform you before any and all contact.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
He stepped out of the room and looked down to see a few specs of blood on the floor where Ames had rushed off. The thought brought a smile to his face, and he quickly set off to find his two imprisoned friends.
Jones stepped into the officers’ mess and was immediately greeted pleasantly by many that knew of his reputation. He passed through them and exchanged a few greetings, as he made his way to the bar where he hoped to find Chandra. She was sat alone there, exactly as he had expected. She was savouring a whiskey that had clearly been stood for a while. She was never one to drink to excess, but he could tell she was far from at ease.
As he approached, she turned and acknowledged him but said nothing. He took a seat and asked for a drink. He looked once more and could see she was not ready to start a conversation.
“You don’t exactly seem ecstatic to be home. Isn’t this what we’ve been fighting for all this time?”
She took a small sip from her drink before answering him. Her voice was croaky. He didn’t kn
ow whether it was as a result of sitting in silence for a few hours, or for shouting for most of the day.
“Everyone is slacking off, as if they can return to the easy lives they had before the war.”
“Haven’t we all earned that?”
“In theory, yes. But the war should have taught us a valuable lesson. That we weren’t ready.”
“How could we be?”
“You prepare for the next war, not the previous one.”
“But we could never have had an idea of what was to come.”
“True, but now we do.”
Jones sighed. “I am not sure whether you want war or peace.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’d never want war, but that should not be a reason not to be ready for it.”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
She turned and smiled with a smug but friendly expression.
“Many things.”
Her face turned serious once again.
“Commander Phillips tells me that we have intel of enemy positions not far from the Mars colony. He is in talks to get an operation launched to investigate.”
“Mars? Not again?”
“Keep your voice down,” she whispered.
He looked around to see if anyone else had noticed his shock, but they were too busy enjoying their drinks and conversation. She continued.
“Not an attacking force from what we can see. Phillips believes they have been there from the very start. Perhaps some kind of logistical troops.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“It was our point of contact. They have maintained a presence throughout, and we still don’t know how they reached our Solar System.”
“What do you mean?”
“Where do they come from, do you think? They cannot have originated in our Solar System, or we’d have crossed paths long ago. It begs the question, how they got here? Their ships are fast, but it would take hundreds or thousands of years to reach a habitable planet, or wherever they came from.”
“And you think whatever they have left here will give us the answers?”
She nodded.
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