Taylor shook his head, for he wasn't willing to accept that fact.
"You are all aware of the technology my people possess. We are able to jump ships and fleets throughout the galaxy without need of gateways. This is a technology that we have safeguarded to protect our existence. It was once stolen from us by the Lord Erdogan, and you must all be aware of how close that took us all to destruction."
Taylor nodded in agreement.
"But the Morohta also possess such technology."
"Then why do they not merely jump to our homeworlds and attack them directly?" Isaacs asked.
"Because Bolormaa is a cruel being. She revels in the suffering and angst of those she destroys. She will break each race down piece by piece."
"Back to the gateways, what about them?" Taylor asked.
"The secrets of their operation are hidden deep within our homeworld of Onesaka. You see no ship can navigate jumps through space without a navigation hub, an immensely powerful facility hidden in the core of our planet. Erdogan began to understand that, and for a while he came close to possessing full jump capacity, as we know it."
"So without it your ships cannot jump?"
"They have the capability, but not safely. No Captain would ever make a jump without access to the hub. It would likely be suicidal."
"Where are you going with this, Councillor?" Isaacs intervened.
"The Morohta possess the very same technology. If you want to buy our Alliance time to prepare for this war, then destroying that hub is the only way."
Groans and sighs echoed around the room, and Isaacs simply laughed at the insanity of what was being suggested.
"Are you out of your mind, Councillor? You want us to send a fleet into enemy space, even if we knew where that was, and to attack their most carefully guarded facility? How can that ever be successful?"
The room went silent as everyone dwelled on their situation.
"How much time would it buy us?" Taylor finally asked.
"A Navigation gateway is extremely complex. If destroyed completely, it would take up to a year for us to replace. It is unlikely the Morohta could do it much quicker."
Taylor's eyes lit up with the prospect.
"But that does not change the fact that this is nothing but a dream," stated Isaacs, "We do not know where it is, and you have said yourself that we do not have the strength to face them and win."
"I didn't say we couldn't beat them in a fight," replied Taylor, "Just that we can't carry on the way we are going. With a concentrated effort, and with the element of surprise, I believe we could make this work."
"You're still just dreaming, Colonel. You know nothing about this hub."
"No, but I intend to find out. Use me. I am a weapon. Point me in the right direction, and let me raise hell."
He turned back to Irala.
"Can you find their hub?"
"It will be dangerous, but I believe so, yes."
They both looked to Isaacs for a decision. He slumped back in his chair and rested his head in his hands.
"I can't condone this," he said in a muffled voice, "We would have to commit resources that are needed to defend our colonies."
Even as he said it, a Cholan advisor rushed into the room and to their Ambassador. Everyone waited to hear the news, but they already knew what it was likely to be. The Cholan Ambassador looked sick to his stomach as he got to his feet with weak knees and spoke out with a shaky voice.
"The planet of Uxmal has fallen to the Morohta."
"Fallen? Completely?"
The Ambassador nodded to President Isaacs.
"One billion Cholans lived on that world. None of them had time to escape. The fleet in orbit was mostly destroyed. Only three vessels escaped to bring us this news. President, I am here on behalf of my people to ask you to do anything in your power to make this stop. We cannot survive this. And we have no doubt that when the Morohta scourge is finished with us, they will come for each and all of you. You must act now."
"We cannot send another fleet into Cholan space. We cannot afford such losses again. I am sorry," said Isaacs.
"Then you will let us die, one by one?"
"No!" Taylor shouted, "I will not."
He couldn't help but feel for the Cholan people, even though he still knew almost nothing about them. He thought back to Earth, and how heart wrenching to lose it once.
"You will not act without Alliance agreement, Colonel."
"Then don't force me to. This is our chance, probably the only one we will have, unless anyone in this room can think of something better. Give me access to what I need, and I will do everything in my power to succeed. Know that I never ask anyone to do what I would not. I will lead this. I will deliver the crushing blow with my own two hands if I need to."
"Is it not true that you have a death wish, Taylor? As has been reported by even your own second-in-command, Lieutenant Jones?"
Taylor looked around in surprise at the Lieutenant, and he could tell instantly that it was true.
"You said that?" he whispered.
For a moment he felt betrayal like a knife in the back.
"I believed it."
"And you still do?"
Jones shook his head and stepped past Taylor to address the President directly.
"Sir, when I wrote that report, I did not understand the Colonel. I did not agree with him being back, and I resented being attached to his team. But these past few days, I have seen changes in myself, and those who went with the Colonel, that I could never have imagined. I was wrong, and I am not ashamed to admit that."
"So you would follow Taylor on this mission, knowing the dangers?"
"I would, without a single hesitation. I know my history Mr President, and the one thing I know is that Taylor has achieved success in situations that you could never imagine another doing so, or even surviving the experience. Please put your trust in him, as I have learned to."
"What do you need to make this happen, Taylor?"
"As much as you can give me."
"And if you fail?"
"Then we lose this war, just as we are going to right now if we do not act."
Isaacs rubbed his head once more. It was clearly the biggest decision of his career, and they all knew they were gambling on a monumental level.
"Then you will have it," replied Isaacs solemnly.
"Thank you."
He turned quickly back to Irala.
"How long do you need to find the hub?"
"Maybe a day or two."
"A lot can happen in a day, a lot has."
Irala nodded and vanished as he stopped his hologram.
"I'll take the Guam. She has seen us through adversity once. Maybe she can take us to hell and back. But I'll need more. Jafar, what can you provide?"
"Five cruisers, and another five from Tau Ceti. They have committed themselves to whatever course of action I order. They are yours."
"If this device is buried deep in the core of a planet, then we are going to have to deliver some kind of device to it by hand. I've managed this before, and I will manage it again. I need access to the most powerful weapon you have got. No such thing as too powerful. If it's world ending, then all the better."
"We do not have such destructive weaponry. We have not needed them and banned their use and existence in the Alliance. We worked for better times, Colonel. Peaceful times."
"I get it. I fought my entire career for that. I just never got to reap the benefits, but now I need something. There must be a weapon, some kind of nuke? Something that can devastate this device."
"I am sorry, Colonel, I cannot help you. I do not have that kind of technology to give."
"I do," Jafar said.
Isaacs looked at him in shock and horror.
"How? There has long been an agreement about such weapons of war."
"Because I wasn't willing to risk a day like this. I will provide a bomb that will be sure to destroy the hub, and most life on the planet it occupies. Jus
t do not be on that planet when it ignites."
"Okay."
"What else do you need?" Isaacs asked.
"Manpower. Your troops aren't geared up for this war. We've already begun to make changes, and I need these implemented on a much larger scale. Up armour, up guns, and I need access to weapons experts. People who can make this happen."
"Anything you want or need, if it can be provided, you will get it."
"I need someone go drive this along, make sure things happen."
"You have already met General Fin? I will ensure that he works to provide everything you need."
"What now?" Jones asked.
"We wait and hope. But right now I need a drink."
* * *
Taylor and his team sat at a bar on the space station. He looked at the full glass of ice-cold liquid before him. It was a bubbling light blue substance. He was told it was alcoholic and that was all that mattered. He licked his lips and raised his glass.
"To friends, comrades, and all those we have lost!" he shouted and raised his glass.
Many of them clashed their glasses together with him before throwing back the first mouthful and then slumping back down.
"You know this breaks all the regulations there are?"
"Really, Jones? I thought we were just having a drink after a hard fought day," he replied with a smile.
Jones pointed around the room.
"Look around, see any uniforms?"
Taylor shrugged. "Doesn't make any sense."
"No drinking allowed when active."
"Even off duty?"
Jones nodded.
"What kind of stupid fucking rule is that?"
"Regulations state that all personnel while on deployment must refrain from alcohol and all other controlled substances. They must be prepared and able for duty at all times of the day and night."
"Bullshit, that was written by an idiot with a stick up his ass."
"How do you mean?"
Taylor laughed. "Don't worry about it."
He took another sip and looked around at the happy smiling faces of his team as they chatted away.
"You see that?" Taylor pointed to them for Jones.
"I just see people enjoying themselves."
"It's priceless. Have all the discipline and rules you want, but if a group of fighters can't just chill out and make merry, you've got no hope of success in the field."
"So you think drinking makes you a better soldier?"
"Marine," he replied with a smile, "A better fighter, yes I do. Until this time you've never know war, right?"
Jones nodded.
"So you never knew pressure, the fear of death, of losing friends. You lived in a state of bliss with no real worries in the world."
"I wouldn't say, no worries."
"Trust me, you had no worries," Taylor replied firmly, "And when you have to put up with that shit, it will destroy you. It will break you down until your mind is gone, even if your body remains. Work hard, fight hard, and play hard."
"And when it's all over?"
Taylor took another sip and sighed. "I wouldn't know. I never really got to that part."
He threw back the last of his drink, but even as the glass landed on the table, a second fully loaded one was placed beside it. He looked to see Hariz had come to join him.
"Looked like you needed another," she said.
He nodded with appreciation as he took it. She shifted up the bench a little until her thigh and elbow were jammed against his. He wanted to move her away, but he was overwhelmed by how good it felt. Instead, he just lifted his glass and threw it back.
* * *
Ten hours had passed, and so far Taylor had heard nothing from Irala, and he was relying on Fin and Jafar to assemble what he needed. He stood in what looked like a laboratory, but was in fact an armoury and weapons development centre. He had completely phased out what the man before him was saying as he slipped into an endless drone. It was a level of technological knowledge and reasoning that he had no care for. He felt something tugging on his arm, and he snapped out of it. It was Jones trying to provoke a response.
"What's up?"
"What do you think?" Jones asked.
Taylor shrugged. He wasn't even sure what Jones was referring to.
"Assegai, tell me you have them?"
Jones shook his head and smiled as the technician in front of them continued.
"As I have already told you, Colonel. The Assegai, as you call it, is nothing more than an antique today. There are a few in museums and private collections, but we do not use them."
"Then make one."
"I could very easily. It is a crude and primitive weapon. Barely even a weapon really, but an imprecise cutting torch. I must insist that you consider the range of ballistic options we have on offer in this age."
Taylor stepped forward and right up into the man's face and well beyond his comfort zone.
"Got it, Doc, now get me. An alien bastard is this close to you. You have no ammo, you have no gun, what do you do?"
"But...but with the advancements in weaponry today, a situation such as you speak should never arise."
"Many things should never have happened. You can't predict life one hundred percent. I need the weapon for when everything goes to shit. The Morohta will rip you apart without hesitation. Make me something. You know what an Assegai is. Make it, same or better, and have twenty-two made for my team before we leave on our next mission."
"When is that?" he asked wearily.
"Could be in six hours, a day maybe."
"Colonel, I cannot work miracles."
"Yes you can. You just have to try a little harder."
Taylor lifted his hand, formed the shape of a gun, and pressed it to the side of the man's head.
"You ever been told that if you don't achieve something by a certain time, you will die?"
The man shook his head violently in fear at both the intimidation and imagery.
"Those are the sorts of deadlines we face. So don't tell me something can't be done. You do whatever you have to do, but you get me something that works."
The man nodded.
"What's your name?" Taylor then asked calmly and politely.
"Haines."
Taylor smiled. "Well, Haines, I have every faith in you. Good luck. Yeah...we're gonna get along just fine."
With that, he turned and left.
"That really necessary?" Jones asked as they stepped outside.
"Everyone needs a little motivation. Now he has found some."
"You sure do have a strange way of handling people. I thought you really hated people and had no respect for them. But now I am thinking this is how you show respect and friendship."
"Hey, there's plenty of stuff in this time that looks and sounds stupid to me, too."
Jones laughed.
"You know, this, the team, what do we call ourselves?"
Taylor shrugged.
"Honestly, I have no idea, but I leave it to you to come up with something."
Six hours later Taylor sat stripping his rifle and checking equipment with the rest of the team when the comms unit on his arm started to flash. He was waiting for news from Irala, so he quickly accepted, but to his surprise Haines was projected before him.
"Haines, what can I do for you? Have you worked any miracles?" he smiled.
"Yes...yes, Sir. I believe I have something that will satisfy your requirements."
"Then I'll be with you presently," he replied, abruptly ending the call.
"You see," he said to Jones, "You just have to find the right way to motivate people."
* * *
Taylor and Jones stood before Haines who held what appeared to be little more than a handle from a bike.
"I'm not sure you are quite getting this," said Taylor suspiciously.
Haines appeared to press a concealed button on the device, and it shot out to half a metre length, in what looked like a slightly longer Assegai. Taylor's ey
es widened. Haines had his attention now. He turned around and thrust the weapon towards a plate of armour set up on a bench nearby. The tip flashed on impact and cut through like butter. Taylor was already nodded and smiling with appreciation.
"I am impressed."
"It is really very simple. I combined the elements of a shock baton and a cutting torch. What you now have is a retractable Assegai. Every bit as good as the antique weaponry you knew in your day, and now made better."
"You really came through," said Taylor.
He reached forward to take the weapon, but Haines interrupted.
"That is not all, Colonel," he said, pulling back the weapon from Taylor's reach, "Maintaining the shock baton’s technology with the increased power source of the cutting torch, you may now use the edge to shock the enemy. It probably won't kill much, but it can deliver quite a blow, and also has the potential to destroy electrical components."
As he finished, he held up the Assegai and cut down with it against the metal plate. The edge connected, and it fizzled with energy and sparks erupted as it burnt into the surface of the armour.
"Not a relation of Reiter, are you?"
"The great Reiter?"
Taylor nodded.
"I could only wish. Reiter was one of the greatest of his generation."
"Yes, I know. He built me the first Assegai, and now you have filled his shoes."
Haines was glowing with excitement at the prospect.
"I'll be needing plenty more from you in the future. Can you get more of these made quickly?"
"In small numbers, yes."
"Enough for my team?"
"Certainly."
"Then do it."
He turned back to Jones.
"It's time you all learned to fight the old way."
Chapter 9
Taylor watched over his team as they slugged it out with one another in the gymnasium. They were in full combat gear and with shields up. But they used a simple wood training baton in place of the Assegai. He could see they were coming together now. Jones put down his baton and stepped over to Taylor to take a rest and get his breath back.
Battle Beyond Earth Box Set Page 13