“No!” Alita screamed.
Two were wounded and being dragged into cover the other side of the road. Taylor peered around to look down the street. The tank hadn’t moved. It was about a kilometre ahead of their position. Alita hadn’t even turned back from looking at their dead. She couldn’t take her eyes of them and just stood upright with her rifle lowered. She began to pace slowly towards the bodies as if drawn to them. He grabbed hold of her by the armour on her back and hauled her back into cover.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Her eyes were wide with shock. She couldn’t even respond. Taylor smacked her helmet once again like he had done before, and she looked him in the eye.
“I need you right now, Alita. We all do.”
“But…but,” she began to mutter.
“But nothing. We can’t change what has happened. We can’t save those men and women. They are gone. But there are a hell of a lot more lives we can save.”
She nodded, but she was still in shock. He looked around and found that just one platoon had made it to safety beside him. A second platoon lay in wait on the other side of the road. That was all they had, less than seventy troops. Then it struck him that they weren’t getting any communication on their radios.
“Jones, come in, Jones?”
Nothing came back.
“Ah fuck!”
“The dome is blocking radio signal?” Alita asked.
“A situation that I have known more often than I would want. It was a common strategy of the Krys. Communication is everything. Well that just fucked us.”
“What are we gonna do?”
“Stay the course. We have a job to do.”
“But how, with these numbers? We’ll get murdered, and that tank…”
“All I am hearing is a whole load of problems. How about some solutions?”
“We can’t do this.”
“Don’t ever tell me we can’t. Bullshit, I don’t agree with that. I wouldn’t still be alive with that attitude.”
She fell silent, and he was starting to realise that she was close to breaking point. He looked over the road to see a Lieutenant whose name he didn’t even know awaiting orders.
“Who is that?”
“Wallis, I believe,” she replied.
“Lieutenant, keep working your way to the target, and stay off the main road. We’ll do the same. See you on the other side!”
“Splitting up?”
“Someone has to make it, Alita. We need to give ourselves the best chance of making that happen. Now, let’s move!”
Chapter 7
Taylor rushed into the road that ran parallel with the main street. It was swarming with civilians running to get to the outskirts of the town. He knew they had no way out now, but at least they would be away from the fighting. He hurried past them and heard gunfire ahead. They took a bend and found a makeshift barrier made of cars. A dozen soldiers were fighting from behind it. Two Gurvs had made it over the top and were hacking at them with their blades.
Taylor raised his rifle and opened fire, killing them both instantly as he moved forward. He sprinted to the barrier to find the soldiers looking relieved.
“Thank God,” a corporal said.
“This isn’t over yet. Who is in charge here?”
“I…I am, Corporal Deny.”
He was a small, thin, and boyish looking man. He was cut and bleeding. A blade had clearly glanced off his helmet and struck his shoulder and upper arm, but he was trying to ignore it. They had antiquated equipment, the same equipment Jones had started the war with. He took a look over the barrier to see twenty dead Gurvs.
At least the old guns are good enough for the task.
“Are there any more of you, Corporal?”
He shook his head, and the look in his eyes told Taylor everything.
“I am Colonel Taylor, and I am in charge here now. You are coming with us. We need all the support we can get.”
The man’s eyes lit up as Taylor said his name, but his expression soon turned to a frown.
“What can we do, Sir? Is this all you brought with you?” he asked, looking at the platoon.
“There are plenty more on the way. My Regiment is working on one aim right now, to bring that damn dome down. Do that, and we can get the air support we need, will you help us?”
The Corporal didn’t look keen to move from their position of relative safety, but his comrades seemed to be in agreement.
“We’ll come with you, Colonel. Just please save the people here.”
“We’re doing all that we can. Now let’s move out.”
They ran onwards and soon found a group of Gurvs heading their way. They activated their shields and advanced as a solid wall. Firing as they advanced with the locals bringing up the rear. They cut down two-dozen when they noticed a Morohtan warrior amongst the Gurvs. A four-legged creature that looked like a smaller version of the Princes that everyone feared so much. A few shots ricocheted off its thick armour, and it was firing back. Shots bounced from their shields until a salvo of fire found enough weak points in the creature’s armour to bring it down.
“What the hell is that thing doing here?” Alita asked.
“Did you think the Gurvs were the worst we were ever going to face?” Taylor said breathlessly.
They could hear gunfire off to their flank and knew that it was Wallis’ platoon. There was the echo of heavy fire from both friendly and enemy weapons. They stopped for just a moment before realising they had to go on. Taylor dropped a magazine and slammed in a new one. He checked, and there was just one left on his webbing. He shook his head in disbelief at how poorly prepared they were for the operation, and yet that did them no good now.
“If only this place had been equipped properly, we could have at least taken ammo from their stores,” said Taylor.
“I guess priority has been given to frontline forces.”
“Yeah? Then we got fucked, didn’t we?”
They stopped at the body of the warrior.
Corporal Deny approached. “We’ve seen a few of ‘em, Colonel, leading groups of those awful things,” he said, pointing to the Gurvs.
“Morohtan officers leading Gurvs, is this how they work?”
But nobody had the answer.
Alita shuddered. “We can only hope. An army of those things would be a nightmare.”
“Their armour is tough. Our weapons can’t even penetrate it. Only thing I saw take one down was an AT rifle off the back of a truck.”
Taylor’s eyes lit up at the revelation.
Finally something we can use!
“Where is it now?”
“Last I saw it was heading for the centre of town. I’ve not seen it since.”
“Have you got any more of those weapons?”
“A few at the armoury, and the vehicle depot, I guess.”
“Can we get to either?”
“There’s a vehicle depot just around the corner, yeah.”
“All right, stick with me and lead the way, Corporal.”
They crossed over two blocks to the north and were met by two-dozen Gurvs in the open. They were looking around for more people to kill and had no cover at all. One of them quickly opened fire as several others charged. Two shots hit Taylor’s shield that he used to cover himself and the Corporal. He returned fire. The platoon opened fire as they advanced and soon cut them down.
Deny couldn’t believe the ruthless efficiency in which they operated.
“Damn, when are we gonna get kit like that?”
“You should have had it a long time ago, Corporal.”
He walked over the bodies and towards the open door of the depot. The bay was big enough for about eight trucks and that was all. They were all long gone. Taylor took one quick look in through the opening and rushed inside.
“This way,” said the Corporal.
They reached a locked armoury door that was two metres square.
“I don’t know the code.”
“I do, Corporal.”
Taylor drew out his Assegai and drove it into one of the huge metal hinges at the top. It passed through like butter. He drew it back and thrust into the lower hinge before barging into the door and prising it open. The rifle racks to the left were empty, but to the right were three AT rifles. They were two metres long and looked heavier than any man could carry.
"Without the trucks, I don't know how we are gonna use them. Takes two just to move them, and we don't have any other mountings."
Taylor just grabbed one and lifted it out to the Corporal's surprise.
"As I said, you should have had this kit a long time ago," Taylor said, indicating to his suit. He slung his rifle onto his back, as it wouldn't be of any more use.
"Come on, load up!" he yelled.
Several others came in and grabbed the other two. The magazines were vast, far larger than he could fit into his webbing. They carried just seven rounds each. He looked around for some solution and finally spotted a shoulder bag that someone had left on a chair. He grabbed it and emptied the contents onto the floor before stuffing two magazines in and throwing it over his shoulder. He slammed another into the gun and walked out.
"You think they'll get through that tank?" Alita asked.
"Probably not."
She shook her head, but he ignored it.
"Come on, let's move out and get this shit done."
He hurried onwards, hauling the huge weapon as though it were just a rifle to the local troops. They passed a block in the right direction and upped their pace. It wasn't long before a squad of Gurvs came running at them. Taylor lifted the AT rifle and fired a shot at the first of them. It went right through him and ripped a huge hole in his body, but it didn't stop there. It passed through into one of the Morohtan officers behind him and killed that one, too. Taylor couldn't help but smile.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" he shouted as gunfire around him cut down the rest.
They ran on and were covering ground quickly now. They could hear gunfire all around and were well aware that they were getting into a more and more dangerous location with every step they took. They would be coming up on that tank soon, and no one had a clue as to how they were going to deal with it, not even Taylor. They looked to him for answers and assumed he had them, but in reality he just hoped something would come up along the way.
Gunfire rang out once again as they engaged another group of Gurvs. The primitive warriors were no match for the Immortals, but they certainly slowed them down. They all feared the moment that they would become swamped by the sheer numbers of them. They took a bend and stopped in horror as they found the tank at the crossroads ahead. They were just fifty metres from its flank and with a clear view.
Taylor lifted his rifle and took aim, hoping that the gun might be powerful enough to pierce its flank armour, praying the flank was weaker. He pulled the trigger, and the shot struck the hull. It bounced clean off without even a dent. He fired again to be certain, and the same thing happened.
I have to have one last attempt!
He took aim at the side of the turret and squeezed the trigger. The shot ricocheted off and over the tank, and the turret soon began to traverse towards them.
"Ah, fuck! Take cover!"
They dashed each side of the road as they had done before. With so few, and the time it took the huge turret to traverse, they were long gone before it had turned around. Still the guns fired, and the blast knocked Taylor to the ground from the sheer force. He stood back up a little stunned. Everyone around him was down, except for Babacan who was the only one strong enough to stay on his feet. He reached down and helped Alita up.
"What the hell are we gonna do about that?" she asked.
He shook his head in disbelief. He didn't have any answers, but as he tried to find one, a hail of gunfire and explosions rang out. Taylor looked around the corner. The turret of the tank was pointing to the far side to where Wallis' platoon was engaging them with everything they had. Shots were bouncing off and grenades exploding at the base of the vehicle.
"That's our chance!" Taylor shouted.
"What?"
Before anyone could stop him, he ran out from cover and sprinted towards the imposing vehicle.
“No, stop!” Alita screamed.
He didn’t even hear her words and was focused on just one thing. He covered the ground quickly. As he reached half way, the guns fired, and an explosion ripped through a building on the far side of the vehicle. Taylor saw debris fly into the air, but he couldn’t see the point of impact. He kept sprinting and simply prayed that his plan would work.
A Gurv soldier leapt out at him just as he was about to make it, but he didn’t have time to stop. He smashed the receiver of the rifle into the creature’s jaw with such a thunderous impact that he heard it break. The Gurv was smashed down onto the ground, and Taylor kept going. He took a leap as the turret began to traverse back in his direction.
He crashed into the side of the turret before finding his feet. The gun was now close to targeting Alita’s position. He took a few places along the hull as gunfire landed all around him. A shot from one of the Gurvs glanced his torso and right leg armour but didn’t go through.
“What the hell is he doing?”
Babacan quickly grabbed hold of Alita and hauled her out of the way. They rushed around the next building and managed to find a view over the shallow roof. Taylor activated the visor on his helmet and lifted the rifle up, jamming the barrel into the muzzle of one of the huge gun barrels of the tank. Now she understood what he was trying to do.
“No, Mitch, No!” she cried.
Taylor reached up and squeezed the trigger, and as he did so a massive eruption occurred in the hull of the tank. Babacan pushed Alita down for cover as debris came crashing down, and the ground shook violently beneath them. Alita pulled away from Babacan’s grasp and rushed out to find him.
“Mitch!” she called desperately.
She could see no sight of him and looked distraught.
“Mitch!” she screamed at the top of her voice.
That only attracted three Gurvs who ran out from a nearby alleyway towards her. She showed no fear at all, as she went forward with only one thought in mind. She advanced with sheer determination and fired from the hip. A burst killed one of them instantly. A second burst killed another, but the third Gurv was on her. He swung clumsily with his blade. She stepped out and under it and drove the stock of her rifle into its stomach. She then smashed its head down with the muzzle, firing a burst into its head as it slumped to the ground.
Alita carried on as if it were nothing. All that mattered to her was Colonel Mitch Taylor. She reached the tank to find the turret had been blown clean off of its ring. Smoke bellowed from the hull. She looked around in every direction for some sign of Taylor, and then she spotted the turret of the tank upside down. It was embedded in a partially destroyed section of wall of a nearby building. She rushed to it and looked through the breach. Taylor was lying flat and lifeless inside.
“He’s here!” she screamed and leapt inside.
She raced to him. His chest armour was smouldering where two pieces of shrapnel had embedded. She hit the release on his helmet, terrified of what she would find.
“Come on, Mitch. You can’t be dead,” she pleaded.
“Not yet, Alita,” he whispered.
He suddenly opened his eyes and began to cough. She helped him sit upright as he looked in amazement at the wall he had gone through.
“Ah, I think I am gonna feel that in the morning,” he groaned.
“Feel it? You should be dead, you crazy fool.”
“Yeah, you know how many times I have heard that?”
She reached out her hand, grabbed his, and hauled him to his feet. He groaned again in agony, but it wasn't just the bruising and shock of the impact.
"You're bleeding," she said in horror.
A piece of shrapnel was stuck in his right arm. It had hammered i
nto his armour and entered his flesh. As he tried to move his arm, he could feel the way it had pinned his armour to his arm and restricted his movement. It made it hurt more. He took hold of it.
"No, don’t…." said Alita.
Before she could stop him, he yanked it out. Blood spurted out from the hole in the armour as he did so, but it soon stopped.
"You're crazy, you know that, Mitch."
"Yeah, maybe."
He stepped out of the hole in the wall to view the wreckage of the tank. A few shots rang out as stragglers were mopped up.
"How did you even know that would work? How did you know you would even survive it if it did?"
"I didn't," Taylor replied calmly.
"Well...I..."
"Take it easy. We made it, didn’t we?"
"Barely, though."
Lieutenant Wallis rushed to their side with his platoon fanning out around their position. He looked at the tank and the wall Taylor had gone through with astonishment.
"You okay, Colonel?" he asked.
"Fucking great, couldn't be better," he said as he brushed himself off. He looked down to check what he had left on him. His rifle sling was gone, and he turned around. The rifle was broken in two in the building where he had landed. All he had left was his pistol, and with only three magazines. He drew it out.
"How far are we from the centre of this thing?"
They shook their heads. Nobody knew.
"Well, come on, then."
He stepped around the wreckage, and they now had line of sight to the source of the dome. It was a huge cylindrical metal structure. To Taylor it looked like a giant washing machine drum. It was vented from top to bottom, and the light emanated from every hole as it pulsated.
"There has to be a whole lot of power being generated from that thing," said Alita.
"All right, let's keep moving. Skirt the edges of the road all the way, and keep your eyes peeled," Taylor ordered.
He let Babacan lead the way, for he was still feeling a bit dazed. Corporal Deny stopped beside him for just a moment.
"The stories are all true, aren't they, Sir? You are superhuman."
Battle Beyond Earth Box Set Page 70