Battle Earth II

by Nick S. Thomas

  * * *

  Chandra walked along the line of trenches where they’d so recently fought from. Many of the men were making repairs to them with their e-tools, others sat quietly with a mug of tea or coffee. She continued on towards what was the makeshift aid station. There were twenty soldiers in various states of care. Only one was seriously wounded. The base doctor and his aides were administering to them.

  “Doctor, I am Major Chandra.”

  He continued on his work of injecting a healing serum into one of the soldiers as he talked.

  “Matthew Wright.”

  “This the first combat medicine you have administered, Doctor?”

  “Yes, Ma’am, I was expecting more wounded.”

  She looked across at the injuries. They were mostly minor glancing strikes or shrapnel.

  “They don’t leave many. A good hit from their energy weapons will kill any man.”

  The doctor nodded. After studying the scenes of field hospitals in war from archive footage, he’d expected a far more blood thirsty and gruesome sight. There were no screams of agony. The burning hot energy weapons cauterised many of the wounds.

  “I was still expecting a lot more casualties, Major. The reports we have been getting have indicated far heavier losses.”

  “It’s true. This has been our most successful skirmish yet.”

  The doctor looked up and across at the casualties. He could see the mix of uniforms and had already realised they were an amalgamation of several units that had been decimated.

  “God save us all.”

  “God won’t save us from this enemy, Doctor. It’s up to us.”

  The Major turned and strolled away before the doctor could argue. She stopped, noticing Captain Becker stood in her path. His face looked more exhausted and distraught than ever. His previously impeccable uniform was now unzipped and dirtied. He either no longer cared for his appearance or was too distressed to realise it was in such a state.

  “What’s the status of your unit, Captain?”

  He didn’t respond immediately, staring blankly past her at the wounded.

  “Captain?”

  His eyes turned and gazed at her, though he still did not speak.

  “Becker, give me an update.”

  The Captain coughed to clear his throat and finally answered in a coarse voice.

  “Only two of my tanks are still operational, and even those are getting some urgent maintenance as we speak.”

  “And your crews?”

  He shook his head as he was reminded of the horror of it.

  “Eight still active, two wounded.”

  “Is that all that made it?

  He nodded. “The rest perished in their vehicles.”

  She looked out across the line to see the hulks of the vehicles still smouldering. The enemy had been quick to target what they must see as the greatest threat.

  “I am sorry for your losses, Captain, but you should know that your people have made all the difference in the past few days. Without you, we would all be lost.”

  The Captain nodded as he looked out across the plain at the twisted wrecks of the enemy vehicles and went into a daze. She knew there was nothing more she could say to consol the officer. Nothing would bring back his comrades.

  She continued on to the trench where she had stood beside Taylor. Captain Friday was sitting on the side with his legs dangling down into it. He had ripped off most of his gear and thrown it down. Now he wore nothing but his BDUs. He was opening a ration pack with such excitement that anyone would think he’d been given a plate of steak.

  “They don’t taste that great, you know,” she jested.

  “When you’re hungry, they do.”

  He dove into the meal.

  “That new equipment really as good as it looked?” she asked.

  The Captain nodded and grunted with a mouth full of food. As he swallowed it down, he looked up at the Major.

  “It’s the shit. If we can get this to every grunt, then this war could be turned around as quickly as it started.”

  “I fear they won’t give us that much time,” she mused.

  “Well, we stopped them here, didn’t we?”

  “It’s not the front line that bothers me. They’re building at an immense rate to the west, and whatever it is can’t be good. We won’t be the only ones looking for the next tactical advantage in this war.”

  Friday shook his head.

  “I’ll take the victory while I can. We did well today, and we should celebrate it.”

  “Oh, I am, Captain, but we must also think of tomorrow, and next week, next year. We have survived this long, but many haven’t. How much longer do you think our luck will hold?”

  Friday smiled as he threw the food down his throat.

  “When it runs out, I won’t know it. I’ll be dead.”

  Chandra laughed. She appreciated Friday doing his utmost to brighten the day.

  “So you think Taylor will find the Captain?” he asked.

  “I bloody well hope so, but I can’t say it’s likely.”

  She sat down on the opposite edge of the trench facing Friday. There was nothing left for her to do that day but rest in readiness for the next battle. Trucks were already arriving with fresh supplies to keep them in the fight.

  * * *

  Taylor looked out at the passing landscape as they rushed along the treetops at barely a couple of hundred metres from the ground. The landscape was mostly abandoned and peaceful, but they saw the odd smoke plume in the distance from various battles. They could only guess at the outcome of the war that raged along the ever changing lines.

  “We’re coming up on the town, Major!” shouted Rains.

  “You know where we’re heading, right?”

  “Yes, Siree. Major Chandra told me they were being held in a station directly south of the centre.”

  He tapped his controls and a map projected on a screen. He pointed out an area along a main street heading out of the city.

  “This has to be the place.”

  “Okay, let us out over the roof.”

  “Want me to stay in the air?”

  “No, I don’t want to attract any unnecessary attention. It that a field there?”

  Taylor pointed to a square area of greenery just over a block from the police station.

  “Looks like a kid’s park, Sir.”

  “Alright, you can wait for us there. Keep the hatches battened down, and be ready for anything.”

  Taylor stopped and looked to the empty co-pilot seat and then back to Eddie.

  “They were busy with the Moon runs. I was all they could spare.”

  Taylor smiled. For all of Eddie’s rebellious image, he was one of the most loyal and dependable pilots the Major had ever met.

  “Good luck, Mitch.”

  Taylor nodded and went back to his troops. All ten marines wore the identical new equipment as provided by Reiter.

  “We’ll be dropping onto the roof. I want to be in and out as quickly as possible, got it?”

  “Yes, Sir!” They shouted.

  “Let’s do this.”

  The marines stood up and took hold of the rails above them as the thrusters reversed. Eddie brought them in on a sharp and rapid decent until they came to a hover a hundred metres over the roof. Taylor reached forward and hit the door release. It quickly slid back and let the breeze of air rush in.

  Mitch didn’t say another word, and he simply jumped from the door. The others quickly followed him. They hit their thrusters on the way down and came to a surprisingly soft and cushioned landing. The suits took the impact from their legs.

  “Ortiz, Ryan, stay put, the rest with me!”

  They reached the roof fire exit, but it was locked from the inside. Taylor lifted his leg and smashed it into the door. To the surprise of them all, the door flew from its hinges with ease and down the steps below. Taylor turned to Silva with a grin, they’d never felt such power before. The Major lifted his weapon and ru
shed down the stairs.

  They arrived at the first line of offices to find nothing but empty cubicles and abandoned computers. Taylor rushed along the corridor with his rifle readied at the shoulder. He reached the stairwell he was looking for and charged down it. The building was seven storeys high, and he knew that the cell blocks would be on the ground floor.

  Footsteps echoed out down the long stairwell as the marines rushed to where they prayed they would find their missing friends. They reached the ground floor and found the reception area. Taylor noticed a map and quickly identified the cell block.

  “This way!”

  As he turned, he saw the door of the cell block area lying in the hallway. It had been ripped off. As they grew nearer, they could see that the wall around the door had been demolished in a size that was about right for a Mech.

  “No, can’t be.” Taylor rushed to the doorway as the others tried to keep up.

  “Sir, hold on!” shouted Silva.

  The Major came to a quick stop at the demolished entrance and looked in with despair. Silva reached his side and saw what had caused him to stop in his tracks. They could see inside that one of the doors had been ripped away, and a pool of blood lay in the middle of the cell.

  Two of them slowly stepped through the rubble to investigate. There was no sign of life or any way to know if Jones had been there, but Taylor knew it was the right place.

  “We don’t know for certain if this is where they were, Sir. They might have escaped.”

  “No, they didn’t escape from here. They were taken.”

  The other marines poured into the room and stared down at the bloody mess. They all thought it was evidence of the two soldiers’ demise, but no one wanted to say it.

  “This doesn’t make any sense,” said Taylor.

  “What is it, Sir?” asked Silva.

  “They were taken from here, not killed.”

  “They could have been taken for execution.”

  The Major turned to Silva with a grim expression. “Why? They aren’t trying to hide anything. They may well still be alive.”

  “But we have no way of finding out their location, Sir.”

  Taylor nodded. He’d hope they may be alive, but he knew that this was not the day when they would be found.

  “Sir, we should get the hell out of here before they come calling again.”

  Taylor looked down at the pool of blood. He looked over at a Private.

  “Get a sample of that blood.”

  “Uh, Sir, how?”

  “Get a piece of cloth and rub it in.”

  The marine looked foolish for asking for what was such a low tech solution. Taylor turned back to Silva as the man did as he asked.

  “Today’s search may be over, but I won’t give up on Jones and Walker.”

  “No, Sir, I’d expect nothing less.”

  Taylor’s disappointment was obvious to them all. He hated losing any of those he fought alongside, but to not know was even worse. Images of the torture of his friend went through his head until he finally asked himself, what would they want with Jones? He turned to Silva.

  “Why would they take them prisoner? What use would they have for them?”

  “We don’t know if they were taken prisoner, Sir.”

  “Come on, Sergeant, all the signs are there.”

  “If it was me, Sir, fighting an unknown enemy, I’d want to know them a little better.”

  “You think they’re studying them?”

  “Maybe, Sir.”

  He turned to see the Private folding a bloodied rag into his pocket.

  “Our time is done here, nothing more we can do, so let’s move out.”

  * * *

  “Sir, you think this is going to work?” asked Lewis.

  The comms officer watched as his Commander pulled on his dusty armour once again. Kelly shook his head, not knowing how to answer.

  “You must have some faith in the plan, Sir?”

  Kelly strapped the armour down and rested back again a desk. He looked up at the young officer.

  “I can’t say with any certainty, none of us can. What I can tell you is that we will choose the battleground for this fight. If we die, it will be on our own terms on our own soil, and not skulking down here waiting for those bastards to break down the door.”

  Martinez came from the conference room where he’d relayed the Commander’s plans to the other officers.

  “Sir, we’re ready to go, but...”

  “But what, Captain?”

  “Well, Sir, I don’t think you should be in this fight, Sir. You’re our leader, and an asset we cannot afford to lose.”

  “We cannot afford to lose any asset. I will fight alongside those who I ask to fight for us.”

  Martinez nodded. He understood it was no use arguing further. Kelly could see some excitement in the man’s eyes. They were advancing to face a most deadly enemy, but he knew the Captain believed as he did, that it was better to face them than to wait to die in the pits they had been forced to live in.

  “Have all the orders been issued?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Communication reels issued?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good, it’ll be chaos once we get up on the surface, so we’ll need to stay in contact. Lewis, you’ll be managing communications through the exchange. If any lines fall, you will have to send out runners. I have already allocated three to you.”

  He pointed down to two boys and a girl. None of them could be much more than fourteen years old. Lewis opened his mouth to question the responsibility and risk being placed upon them, but Kelly’s glare stopped him.

  “Everyone must play their part. They can die just the same as the rest of us, so let them have their chance to help save themselves.”

  Martinez strode up to the three runners and patted one of them on the head. Lewis recognised that it was the Captain’s son. It was yet another sign of how desperate their times were. He turned to Kelly as the Commander picked up his grenade launcher.

  “Sir, if you were to fall?” Lewis asked.

  “In the event of that occasion, Martinez will receive an automatic field promotion to take over my command. Be sure that is noted.”

  He turned to the Captain.

  “You may not be the highest ranking, but you would be the best man for the job.”

  Martinez nodded as he considered the tragic circumstances which would have to arise for him to receive such a promotion, and the horrific responsibility that would come with it.

  “Send out the word. We advance immediately.”

  He slung his weapon over his shoulder and took to a quick stride out of the room with Martinez close behind.

  “How many troops do we have, Captain?”

  “Under our personal command?”

  Kelly nodded.

  “A little over two hundred, Sir. Captain Morris and Lieutenant Perera will be accompanying us. The other companies will approach as ordered.”

  “Good.”

  “Sir, why the Parliament building? It means nothing to the enemy.”

  “But it means something to us, Captain. It’s been the symbol of our government since the colony was established here. It’s as good a place as any to take the fight to the enemy.”

  “You think we can take and hold ground against them?”

  “I reckon so, yes. Did you put out the order for masks to stay on at all times?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good, a breach is more than likely when this battle gets underway.”

  They walked through the colony tunnels passing hundreds of civilians who lined almost every passageway. Nobody cheered them on. They watched the bleak journey of the troops who marched to what could likely be a quick and brutal butchering.

  “There is little hope left in them,” said Martinez.

  “Can you blame them?” replied Kelly.

  “Do you believe there is any hope for us?”

  “Of course. Humanity ha
s lasted this long, so we could well weather it.”

  “I didn’t mean our race, Sir. I meant us, our colony, and our people.”

  Kelly turned to look at the Captain as they continued through the corridors. The Commander’s eyes told him everything he needed to know. They all knew there never much hope once they had fled below the surface.

  Ten minutes later they reached the access shaft. It would take them up into the basement of the parliament building via the Prime Minister’s underground bunker. It was the most robust building of any on the colony, and it could only be accessed by Kelly and a handful of other officials. They reached the lower entrance to the bunker, and Kelly activated the doors with the retinal scanner and key code.

  The vast doors prized apart, not having been opened in decades. The command centre itself was still fully lit but abandoned. After the attack on the building during the first day of the invasion, the Commander had thought it prudent to avoid any further usage of the facility. They passed through the centre with the other two units at their backs.

  A broad and long flight of stairs led up to the surface. As they reached the very top, Kelly lifted up his hand for the column to stop. He waited a moment for the sound of the troops to silence, and then moved cautiously towards the security doors that opened out into the parliament structure. They were hidden to anyone on the inside, but mirrored windows allowed vision from the stairwell.

  Kelly peered in through the glass with Martinez at his side. They looked into a storage room that was still lit like most of the building. There was no sign of movement. Huge transport cases and shelving were stacked through the room, but there was plenty of space to move. He drew back and nodded to Martinez. Kelly reached for the keypad and punched in the code. The doors opened and they went in.

  It was eerily silent, so much so that Kelly couldn’t believe they could get off so lightly. He lifted up his weapon in readiness, but the others didn’t sense any threat. Two dozen of the soldiers poured into the room with many more following. As they got a third of the way in, they were halted by the shock of two Mechs arriving at the archway at the far end.

  “Cover!” yelled Kelly.

  He fired a grenade from his weapon and leapt for shelter. The shell missed, but it was quickly followed up by others from his company. The Mech pulse weapons surged balls of fire down the room as they all jumped for cover. The first two enemy soldiers were quickly blown apart but more flooded in.