"You ever had to wear one of those things for any length of time?"
She shook her head.
"Yeah, well, it's not pleasant."
"Neither is the state of your face right now," she said as she picked out shards of metal buried in the surface of his skin.
Seven pieces were pulled out. She soon cleaned the wounds and wiped them down.
"It's not as bad as it looks," she said.
"It feels it," he replied.
"I can numb the pain, Captain."
"As long as it won't keep me out of this fight."
She put a capsule into his mouth. He bit down and swallowed. He felt the start of the effects almost instantly. His body began to relax and the pain dulled down.
"The bruising will take some time to come down, but you'll be fine," she said, and she moved on to Deny.
"And him?" Jones gestured towards Taylor.
"There’s nothing more we can do for him right now, but he should be fine. He just needs time."
"How long? How long until he wakes up?"
She shrugged, and he could tell it wasn't an answer he was going to like.
"Hours? Days?"
She shook her head. "There is no way of telling. He took a heavy hit."
"You could say that."
"She patched Deny up much the way she had Jones. They were lucky to find that both their wounds were superficial, and they were now riding on a high after the drugs they had been given. Jones stood up and was amazed to realise he felt almost normal. His head was still a little sore, but he felt ready for anything. He looked around to see where he was needed most. As Deny stood up to join him, there was a blinding flash in the sky.
They looked away for a moment, but then saw that an Aranui vessel had jumped in above the town. It opened fire with a series of beam weapons and missiles that smashed the positions ahead of them relentlessly. The troops gave out a cry of excitement and relief.
"The Aranui have come," said Deny in amazement.
Jones breathed a sigh of relief that finally they were not alone. He looked at his watch to see they had only a few minutes left, and as he did so, the first of the transports were breaking through the atmosphere to come and get them.
"Well, I'll be damned," he said, looking out across at the scores of bodies ahead of him, "We might just get out of this yet. He could see the troops ahead of him had stepped up their resolve, now realising they weren't alone. Beams of light flashed from the Aranui vessel as entire blocks burst into flames from their powerful weapons. A number of enemy fighters soared towards the huge vessel but were shot out of the sky on approach.
As Jones looked more closely, he saw a small craft drop from the vessel and rush towards them. He watched the aircraft, a little bigger than a car descend quickly and with precision. It landed just a few metres from him besides the field hospital, as if coming to greet him personally. A door slid open, and to Jones' shock, Irala himself stepped out with two other Aranui soldiers. They were all armoured up and ready for a fight.
"Councillor, what are you doing here?"
"Where is Colonel Taylor?"
Jones pointed and led the way.
"I'm relieved you turned up. It was getting pretty rough down here," said Jones.
"We have bigger problems that this world, Captain."
"Bigger?"
Irala said nothing as he reached Taylor. He knelt down beside him and pulled his helmet off, placing his hand down over his head as if studying him somehow.
"What are you doing?"
"We need Taylor right now."
"Well, yeah, I get that, but we can't wake him."
Irala opened a compartment on the slim line armour on his forearm and drew out a metal cylinder. He pressed a button, and a finer metal tube expanded out from one end.
"Oh, I don't like the look of this, Councillor."
"In a few days’ time he will pay the price for this, but it must be done."
Irala thrust the device down through Taylor's neck and deep into his body before quickly drawing it back out. Taylor's eyes snapped open, and he leapt up as if freshly invigorated. He looked around as though trying to find something.
"Where's my rifle?" he asked.
He looked on edge, as if overcome by some hard drug that was making him want to run and fight and use every bit of energy in his body. Jones grabbed hold of him.
"It's okay, Colonel. You were hurt and unconscious for a while."
"How long?" he insisted.
"It would have been a hell of a lot longer if Irala hadn't stepped in."
It was then that Taylor looked past Jones and recognised his old alien friend.
"What are you doing here?"
"They are trying to take the Pauri Tao," he stated firmly.
"The spear? They found it? How?"
"How does not matter. That weapon is our only hope of destroying Bolormaa, and it is at risk of being lost forever. We need your help."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
They could hear the engines roar from the first transports dropping down at the landing zones behind them. It wasn’t the escape Jones had been hoping for. They weren't moving to safety, but being picked up for another fight.
"You're all powerful, so what can we possibly do?" Jones asked.
Irala merely pointed to the frontlines where so many of their own lay dead.
"Those primitive creatures are no match for you, are they? And still they cut you down. The strongest tree is felled by a thousand cuts of the axe. I believe that is what your people say."
"We get the message. Let's move."
"After this? We've just taken a beating."
"And we'll rest when we're through," said Taylor.
"And when will that be? When we're all dead?"
"If necessary," he replied coldly.
Jones didn't look at all impressed.
"Get back to your fleet quickly, Colonel. Speed is essential. We do not have long now. We will cover your retreat, but you must be quick."
"Everyone back to the boats!" Taylor yelled.
Jones gritted his teeth, but he relayed the orders.
"Full withdrawal, everyone back to the boats."
He ran to the field hospital and grabbed one of those unable to walk, rushing them to the nearest craft, and others did the same. Explosions rang out all along the defensive perimeter as the Aranui vessel bombarded their attackers, and finally their own craft were able to lay down the fire, too. The transports fired over their heads and were creating a wall of fire as they made their way back.
"Come on, move!" Taylor screamed.
It was remarkable the speed at which they were able to clear out, but it also highlighted the full extent of those they were leaving behind. Hundreds of dead. Taylor and Jones were the last to step aboard the final transport out. It had taken just twenty minutes to evacuate thousands of troops and the few remaining civilians. Jones looked out at the field of dead one last time before stepping inside. The ramp closed, and finally he knew they were safe, but not for long.
"I thought you were dead for a while back there," said Jones as he turned back to more immediate matters.
"So did I. How did you bring me back?"
"We didn't. Councillor Irala did."
Taylor looked confused. "What did he do to me?"
"Something which is going to catch up with you in a few days he said. But right now I am just glad to have you with us again. I don't want command of this Regiment, Mitch. I never did."
"No, neither did I," he replied with a weary sigh.
"Was it worth it, Sir?"
He turned to see Antos sitting beside him with a dressing covering one side of his face. Bailey was the other side waiting for the response.
"We saved lives, didn't we?" he replied.
Though it was clear to all that there was some doubt in Taylor's mind, and he was well aware of the high price they had paid for it.
Chapter 10
As Taylor
stepped down the ramp of the docking bay, he was surprised to see Irala's shuttle, and the alien getting out.
"What are you doing here?"
"I will join you for this task."
Taylor didn't question it anymore. He was just glad to have Irala with them. He was both very clever and very powerful. Another Aranui vessel had landed behind them, and three Guardians were disembarking. Taylor knew Irala meant business. What worried him most was that they must be facing a great threat, if Irala was willing to risk himself in the battle.
"Side-by-side, once more?" said Taylor with a smile.
Irala didn't seem at all amused, and he was all business.
"Your Admiral says you will be ready to jump in five minutes. Have your troops ready for combat."
"Ready for combat? " replied Jones, "They barely just got out of it."
"I fail to see how that is relevant," Irala replied coldly.
“Relevant? These men and women, they aren’t machines! They’re tired and hurt. They have just lost a of their friends.”
“And they will lose a good deal more if we don’t get this done,” Taylor snapped.
Jones didn’t look happy at all, but he wasn’t going to argue.
“So what’s the plan?” Taylor asked Irala.
“We were holding the Pauri Tau on a planet within a nebula that cannot be jumped into safely. It is highly unstable and impossible to navigate from afar. It was the perfect place to protect the Pauri Tau.”
“Clearly not that perfect,” said Jones.
“Come on, nothing is ever untouchable,” Taylor joined in, “They had to keep it somewhere. You know that.”
“We should never have let it go. We found it, and you almost died for it, so why did we just give it away?”
“You would have faired no better at defending the Pauri Tau than my people,” Irala interrupted.
“It’s hard to see we could have done much worse, you have to admit,” replied Taylor.
“None of that matters now. We must protect it.”
“That much we can agree on. There must be a big fight ahead if you felt you couldn’t handle it yourselves.”
Irala humbly nodded in agreement. “Colonel Taylor, you have succeeded against unfathomable odds and are still here and alive today. It is for reasons beyond my comprehension. A light shines in you like no other, and we need such a light in these dark times.”
They heard a crate drop onto the ground and looked around to see it was fresh ammunition supplies. He walked over to them and began to re-equip as he went on.
“Yeah, I’m still here, but I can tell you that spear of yours, it will be the death of me. It’s too much to hope for that we can all be saved by some magical weapon.”
“He’s right,” added Jones.
“But you saw it work, didn’t you?”
Jones sighed as he nodded in agreement.
“I saw it kill a Prince, but that doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means everything,” replied Irala.
He turned to Taylor who still looked doubtful.
“You still believe it, don’t you, Colonel? After all that you went through to find and retrieve the Pauri Tau, you have to.”
“I don’t know what I believe in this fucked up world. Just point us at the fight, and we’ll fight it.”
“So do you have any information on our destination? Maps? Enemy strength?” Jones asked.
Irala shook his head.
“Well, this keeps getting better, Irala. Will you join me on the bridge?”
“I fear we will be needed here, Colonel.”
“We’re literally going right back into combat in the next few minutes?”
“That is why I came for you, yes, Captain.”
“I can’t help but feel this is just one big clusterfuck to add to all the others,” replied Taylor. He finished loading his gear.
“Here, you’ll be needing this.” Jones threw him an energy bar.
Taylor knew he was right. He ripped it open and took a bite.
“Tastes like crap,” he said as he grimaced.
“It’s supposed to keep you going, not make you happy.”
“Ain’t that the truth?”
Jones leaned in close.
“You know you’re running these men and women ragged. You’re not looking the best yourself. How much longer do you think we can keep this up?”
“Until it’s done or we are dead.”
“I’m being serious.”
“So am I.”
The countdown to jump began.
“Anything more you want to share with us about this mission before we jump in?” Taylor asked Irala.
“Where we are going, it is a series of underground natural caves. You will not be able to take armoured vehicles, nor have air support. On the surface the visibility is ten metres at best, due to atmospheric conditions.”
“Gives us some cover at least,” said Jones.
“And to the enemy as well,” Taylor added.
“I don’t like the sound of this at all.”
Taylor nodded in agreement. “Any word about Alita?”
Jones shook his head.
“I am not sure where she ended up, but you can be certain she will be getting the best treatment there is to offer. We’ll find her when this is over.”
“Damn right, we will, Jones!”
Taylor turned back to Irala. “You’re scared, aren’t you?”
Irala didn’t want to respond, but he looked uncomfortable.
“Of course you’re scared, aren’t you, Councillor?” Jones asked.
“Yes, I am. All my people are. We somehow survived the war with Bolormaa, and yet it has come back to haunt us. You say we are stronger together than we ever were alone, but my people have yet to see evidence of that.”
“And what are they doing about the spear? They sent you and one ship?”
“They will not send resources after the Pauri Tau. This is my responsibility.”
“So what are the rest of your people doing?”
“Waiting and watching, Captain.”
“For what?”
“For it to end, like it did before, Colonel. Many of them feel that Bolormaa will do as she wills, kill as she pleases, and stop when she pleases.”
“Bullshit,” replied Taylor sternly and slammed his hand down on the counter beside him.
“Yes, we are in agreement, Colonel,” he replied calmly.
Time was up. The countdown was upon them.
“Five, four, three, two, one…jump!”
As they came through, Taylor tapped into the bridge feed to get some eyes on the situation, but he was just met by a purple nebula like haze.
“I can’t see shit. What’s going on?”
“As I told you, atmospheric effects,” said Irala, “It is close to impossible to navigate this place. No human has ever stepped foot here, nor Krys or Cholan. Until now not even a Morohtan. Were it more suited to supporting life, we would have made it our homeworld after the Krys wars. There couldn’t be a safer place in the universe.”
“Safe, are you serious?” Taylor began to laugh.
“We had to try. There is no place Bolormaa would not go to find it. No length she would not go through to get it back. She has a great hunger for it.”
“Yeah, well, if I was an immortal being with only one weakness, I guess I would, too,” replied Taylor.
Vega appeared projected before them as if he were in the room.
“Councillor, this is your mission from here on in. Please lead the way. Colonel, I’d like to say we had your back, but the honest truth is that once you’re down there, you are on your own. We have no eyes or ears. The atmospheric effects are playing hell with our systems. We are having difficulty enough just communicating with the other vessels in the fleet. After you are beyond three hundred metres of a friendly vessel, you will be completely cut off.”
“That’s good to know, Admiral.”
“You have six hours, Colone
l. After that, we must get the fleet to safety.”
“I got you. Any sign of enemy presence?”
“None, but we can’t hear, see, or identify much at all around here. We are down to visual confirmation only, and if we get that with a Morohtan fleet, I am not sure what we can do but run. I won’t lie. If we come under attack from some of the things we have seen, we may not be able to stay put, but rest assured, we will do everything in our power to get you out alive. If we can’t, it’s because we’re dead.”
“Appreciated, Sir.”
“Good luck, Colonel. You’ll need it.”
“Just one last thing, Admiral.”
“What is it, Colonel?”
“Lieutenant Alita Hariz, she was wounded on the surface and made it out with the civilians. Find her for me.”
“I’ll do better than that. You have my word, Colonel. Good luck.”
His projection vanished, and Irala remained staring at him as if waiting for him to get started.
“Well, you’re leading this damn operation, aren’t you?”
“Follow me,” he said as he climbed aboard his ship. Taylor and Jones loaded up onto the craft they had come in on. Few others came aboard, and no other crew loaded up.
“How many are we taking down with us?” Jones asked in surprise.
“Two companies, plus Irala and his people.”
“Two companies, is that all?”
“Down there in confined spaces, it’s all we can manage. Anything more and we’ll just be causing trouble for ourselves.”
“You know what hunts for that spear, don’t you?”
The wound he had suffered at the hands of the Prince immediately began to sting.
“You don’t need to remind me.”
“And?”
“And what?” Taylor snapped as the ramp sealed shut behind them.
“And what the hell are we gonna do when we come face-to-face with one of those things?”
Taylor took a deep breath and sighed.
“I wish I knew. Maybe Irala has the answer.”
“Irala? He’s the reason we don’t have that spear right now. It was ours.”
“Yes, and now it isn’t. It’s time to get it back.”
Jones was shaking his head in furious anger.
“You know I sometimes wonder if you ever have a plan for anything of what you do, or you just tumble through it like some Wild West gunslinger, thinking you can shoot your way out of anything,”
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