“The longer we wait, the more lives it will cost.”
“And if we aren’t at the top of our game, it might cost our lives as well.”
“You know how rarely I have ever been on top form in a fight before? Life isn’t that simple, Alita. The enemy doesn’t attack when and where you want them to. Resources are spread thin, time is short, and a great many lives are on the line. We’ll just have to manage on stims for now.
“Stims? Much more and we’ll go crazy.”
“We’re already crazy, or we wouldn’t have taken this job.”
She smiled at him, and they began to pull on their gear. Taylor couldn’t help but notice Alita wince as she stretched her wounded arm and neck.
“You know you aren’t ready for this,” he insisted.
“How many times was it that you said you were on top form for a fight?”
He grinned in response. She had him there.
“Can you fly like this?”
“If I’m breathing, I can fly.”
He didn’t like her risking herself, but he appreciated her support. He picked up his rifle and slung it over his shoulder, ready to leave for the bridge. There were a few minutes before his deadline was up. He had not heard from anyone, but he had no doubt the bridge staff would have had their hands full with half the fleet looking for answers.
They stepped aboard the bridge and found it was surprisingly quiet. Everyone was at their stations and ready to go.
“We are prepared to jump as requested,” stated Fortier.
“Thank you, Captain.”
As he stepped closer, he saw plenty of doubt in the man’s eyes.
“Do you really mean to go through with this?” he whispered.
Taylor pulled back and responded calmly, “Of course, Captain.”
“We have a lot of questions from the captains. Many will not jump before having an audience with you, Colonel.”
“We don’t have the time, and I doubt there is much I can say that will change the minds of those who are uncertain, but I will address the fleet one last time before we do this. Put me on.”
He wished there was someone else to address them, but once again it had fallen to him. He hadn’t prepared anything or thought for a moment about what he was going to say. He hadn’t even considered what he would do on the other side. With little information, it was hard to even speculate, but they needed to hear something.
“You’re live with the entire fleet, Colonel.”
He tried to give a little thought to his words.
“I said that in one hour we would jump back to Earth and engage the enemy. That time is up, and I am here to tell you that I fully intend to go through with that plan. I know some of you have your doubts, and I will not order a single ship to join us. You must decide for yourselves. The rest of you that came here, Krys, Cholans, and Aranui; you said you came here to fight, and that the fight was on Earth, that it always would be. That it is the centre of all things. But will you fight for it now the time has come?”
He took a deep breath as he paced back and forth for a moment.
“I know some of you will stay behind, and you will not be thought less of for it. Heaven knows we might need somewhere to come back to. I can’t guarantee what we will find on the other side or how we will deal with it. We could be entering a fight that goes on for days, weeks, or months. All I can guarantee is that we are making the jump, and we are going to do everything in our power to help the people and the planet that we hold so dear. We make our jump in two minutes. Plot your course and prepare to jump. Good luck to you all, Independence out.”
The transmission ended, but within a few seconds Irala was projected in front of him.
“You just couldn’t stay away, could you?”
“Colonel, I cannot hold back any longer. This is the wrong course of action.”
“And yet you all came here to join this fight?”
“With the proper planning and execution.”
“Isaacs is dead. Earth has been invaded. How much longer will you wait before doing something?”
Irala shrugged the question off.
“If you go to Earth, you will die,” he said sincerely.
It was loud enough for all the crew on the bridge to hear.
“You don’t know everything. You cannot see the future,” he insisted.
“No, but we are rarely wrong.”
“Yeah? Well how did you get into this mess? You might be the most advanced race in the galaxy, but that doesn’t make you the smartest.”
“Listen to me, Colonel. I say this as a friend; you cannot go back to Earth. Not yet.”
Taylor would not accept that.
“Run and hide, that’s always your way, isn’t it? You would still be hiding on that desolate rock if it weren’t for us. It was us, the humans, who found you. We brought you back from the shadows.”
“And we are grateful for it, so much so, that we would not see you throw your life away now.”
Taylor sighed. “Will you support us or not?”
Irala couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Your stubbornness could yet be your undoing.”
“Many things could be my undoing, but I’ll have it on my own terms.”
“Then I am sorry, Colonel, we cannot support you in this endeavour, but we will be here if you make it back.”
His hologram faded away, and Taylor watched the gaunt expression on his face. Irala’s prediction weighed heavily on him, for he knew his old friend was so rarely wrong.
“How many have we got?” he asked.
“About half the fleet is preparing to jump with us, including the Yavuz and the Nakbe. Many of the Cholan vessels are not coming, and just half of our own fleet is joining us.”
“They’re badly mauled from the last fight, I don’t blame them. Let them recover and be ready for the next fight. There will plenty of time for them yet."
It bothered him how little support they had. He could see that not one of the Aranui vessels was willing to follow.
“You live as long as they do, maybe you might be a little more careful with how you risk your life,” said Fortier.
“Bullshit, you think we feel our lives are any less important as humans just because we live less years? Nobody sane wants to die.”
“I’m glad to hear it, Colonel.”
The Captain paced up beside him so they could talk more privately as the crew behind them made the final preparations.
“What is our plan when we get to the other side?”
“I can’t say till we know what we are dealing with.”
“Then let us at least send some scouting parties out first and get a picture of what is going on.”
“We already know what’s going on, and you send a few light craft out there, they’ll probably never come back. No, we hit them in force or not at all. It’s the last thing they will be expecting. As far as they are concerned, we have fled for our lives, exactly as we did before. We left Earth behind. I left her behind, and the survivors there to the horrors of her invaders. Never again.”
“Then it will be an honour to serve with you in this endeavour,” said Fortier.
Taylor looked in his eyes to see both sincerity and sadness.
“This is not the end, Captain. Oh, no, this is just the beginning. If you think I am going to let my world fall like this, you have another think coming. History has shown us one thing, humans are survivors.”
That brought a smile to his face.
“What?” Taylor asked.
“It’s just that I studied your exploits at the Academy, how could I not? Although I never thought I would see the day that I went into battle beside you.”
“Yeah, well, welcome the party, and try not to get your head blown off.” Taylor held out his hand in friendship.
“Begin the jump sequence!”
A thirty-second countdown began on the screens.
“When we get on the other side, we could face anything.
Stay calm, and stick to what you know. It’s like any other exercise, like in training,” said Taylor.
“Countdown to jump in five, four, three, two, one, jump!”
Lights flashed before their eyes, and in an instance they were there with Earth in plain view. It was a beauty to behold, but even as they marvelled at the planet, a long shadow was cast over them by something moving past their upper hull. A few seconds later, the entire ship rocked as they were struck. They managed to stay on their feet and watched an empty hulk of a ship pass on by. It was so badly damaged that it wasn’t even clear what ship it was, or even which part of the hull. A moment later a dozen dead bodies went past their screens.
“Poor bastards,” said Taylor.
“Where are the Morohtans?” Jones asked from in the background.
It was true. They were nowhere to be seen. There were dozens of wrecked vessels floating in space, and two were burning up in orbit as they were dragged into the atmosphere, but nothing still operational.
“They could be on the far side of the planet, lurking in wait?” Fortier suggested.
“Scan the system thoroughly. Every world, every moon, I want to know what is here and where,” ordered Taylor, “And while you’re at it, look for survivors. Pick up any boats with life signs.”
He studied the barren view before him. It was like a floating graveyard for vessels, and so many bodies. A bridge crewmember behind him threw up on the deck. He turned to look at them, and they looked up at him as if expecting to be struck down where they knelt.
“It’s okay. No man or woman was ever meant to witness this,” said Taylor.
He had become so accustomed to death, but he still remembered how sickening it felt the first few times. Now the bodies were little more than numbers on a page unless he knew them by name.
"Ah...Colonel..." began Fortier.
"What is it?"
The Captain pointed as he brought up what he was seeing on a screen. It was a map of Earth, and with twelve live video feeds from different battles raging on the surface. He heard several gasps from the crew around him, but it didn't surprise him at all. It was exactly what he had been expecting to see. Jones paced up beside him to study it, too.
"They have invaded every continent and eight of the largest cities," said Taylor.
"I don't understand."
Taylor looked at him. "Understand what?"
"They can destroy worlds, like the Krys could in your war."
"It wasn't my war, and neither is this one," he snapped.
"Okay, but you know what I mean. What are their intentions? If it were to wipe us out, wouldn't they just destroy the planet? Or attack with some kind of biological weapon that would cleanse our species?"
"Would you do it to the enemy?"
"No, but we are not savages led by despotic leaders."
"Right now we're not led by anyone, Jones."
"We both know that's not true, or what is it we are doing here?"
He looked at the brutal fighting that was going on across the screens. Explosions rang out as city blocks were levelled.
"Why aren't they jamming these signals?" Taylor asked.
"Maybe they want us to be able to see it," added Jones.
That was just the sort of sadistic thing Taylor would expect from the enemy.
"Get me a direct line to General Greer. Use my authentication codes."
"Greer?"
"She has been invested in this more than any other since this began. If anyone can give us a good insight into this, it is her. And more than that, she's probably the only person on Earth right now that will take my call."
Jones just about managed a smile, but it was hard in the face of what they were dealing with. A few minutes later another screen flashed up, and there was Greer. She was shaking about as if inside some kind of moving vehicle. She wore full armour as if she was in the thick of it, and was covered in dust and debris with a cut on the side of her cheek. Explosions rang out in the background, and he could see the fear on her face.
"Colonel, am I glad to see you!"
"I am sorry that we had to withdraw, but we came back as soon as we could. Tell me what is going on down there?"
"We have engaged enemy forces at sixteen areas throughout the United States. Contact has been made across much of the planet's surface. I am at present fifty clicks north of Washington DC. We have received calls for assistance. In all honesty, Colonel, we are really in trouble. National Guard forces are being deployed where possible, but we are being overwhelmed. Everyone is. Ground forces everywhere are fighting for their lives. It’s everyone for themselves."
"If this is what they can manage in a few hours, imagine what they can do in a few weeks," said Jones.
"We could sure do with whatever help you can provide, Colonel. What is the status of the fleet?"
"We've been hit pretty hard, General, but we're here now and ready to get back into the line."
"I'm not sure how much longer there will be a discernible line, Colonel. If things don't change substantially in the next twenty-four hours, it could be over."
"It's that bad?"
She nodded in response.
"I wish I had something else to tell you. We can hope it's a little better elsewhere, but none of the reports I have seen show any sign of it."
"The Vice President of the Alliance, is he alive?"
She looked surprised by his question.
"Why, where is the President?"
She could already tell the answer as she looked into Taylor's eyes.
"The VP of the Alliance was engaged at a conference with our President and a number of other officials when the invasion began. They were evacuated to a safe location..." Taylor looked relieved, but she wasn't through, "...but we received reports of an aerial attack supported by ground forces against the President's vessel."
"Is there a chance any of them made it through?"
She was already shaking her head.
"The entire area was obliterated. Whatever hit them did it in force. Real overkill. It was as if the enemy knew exactly where to strike."
"Enemy agents? Spies?" Jones asked.
"Probably," replied Greer.
"So what is the plan?"
"Help out where you can, Colonel. A little air cover would be welcome, and any boots you can get on the ground."
"We're on our way, Taylor out."
Jones was wide eyed and silenced, too stunned to say anything else.
"Full speed ahead! There are people that need our help!" Taylor shouted.
The orders were quickly relayed, and they lurched forward as they made their way through the field of wreckage and bodies.
"Colonel, this is...overwhelming. Far more than we can hope to handle," said Fortier.
"I get that, Captain."
"Well, what are we going to do? We can't be everywhere."
"We’ll head for Greer, and assist her and her people."
"Why?"
"Because, Jones, she's one of the only people in charge who understands what is going on and knows what needs to be done. If we are gonna help anywhere, it might as well be there."
"And it just so happens to be on your home soil?"
He scowled at the Frenchman.
"Don't you dare, Captain! I spilt more blood over your country than you can imagine. America has long since been my home, but Earth will always be."
"It makes sense. She's the best ally we have on the surface," added Jones.
"Get a message to Vega. Move in to deploy ground forces and provide aerial cover on the eastern seaboard of the United States."
"Where are you going?"
"It’s time for you to take the reins, Captain Fortier, as you should. I am a marine, and I intend to do what marines do best. I will leave a company aboard to assist your people in the defence of this ship, but we are going down there, and we are going to kick ass."
"That's your plan? Jump into a ground war?"
"The war is already there.
We are just doing what we can to help out. Provide what cover you can, and keep a look out for the enemy fleet. I am guessing much of it is on the surface, but don't be surprised if reinforcements come looking for you."
"And if they do?"
"You fight, Captain."
He turned and left without another word. It was clear that Fortier had never been under such pressure before, but he was still the best man for the job.
"So you have a plan?" Jones asked after they had left the bridge.
"You already know it."
"Yes, but you have to have more than just that."
"I have an idea, yeah."
"Thank God for that. I thought you were just throwing us into a meat grinder."
"Plan or not, it's gonna feel like that, Jones."
"You don't think our skills would be better used elsewhere?"
"How? For all that we are, we are fighters, and that's what is needed now."
They soon reached the docking bay to find the last of their Regiment boarding the craft.
"We must have what, fifty thousand ground troops that we can deploy?"
"Something like that, but since the fleet was divided, I just don't know. We didn't restructure or take count. We have a mix of troops from three races, and all we know is that they all want to follow you."
"Well, then you better keep me alive."
Jones sniggered, but only briefly as he realised it was true. Taylor was what was holding the entire Alliance together now. They climbed aboard Alita's craft together and sat down beside the cockpit.
"Welcome, Gentlemen," she said calmly.
"You sure you are good for this?"
"It's a bit late to be asking now, Colonel. You'll soon find out."
"I don't like surprises."
"Improvise and overcome," she replied with a smile.
"How long until we can launch?"
"ETA...three minutes."
It felt like a long time. There was not a single one among them now who wasn't a well experienced combat veteran, but none of them had experienced something on the level of a mass invasion like they were about to deal with. Taylor seemed to slip into a daydream as they watched the seconds count down. Jones hoped that meant he was working on the plan, but he didn't want to ask. At last the doors began to open, and the beautiful blue atmosphere and the light reflected from the Earth flashed into the cockpit of the craft. It broke Taylor out of his daze as he turned and admired it.
Battle Beyond Earth Box Set Page 88