"You can't blame yourself for that," said Morris.
"Believe me, I don't," he replied confidently, “I know exactly who was to blame for it, just as you all do. But we can't go on living in a perpetual state of misery. I'm gonna get revenge for Catherine's death. I've had a fair share of it already, and I'm gonna go on living as she'd want me to do as well. So believe me, when I say I know how you feel, and I know how to deal with it."
Taylor nodded in agreement, and he felt humbled.
"So will you take some time to relax with us, and enjoy the time we have?"
He knew he couldn't refuse, no matter how he felt.
"You have any children, you and your wife?" he asked.
"We had a son. Signed up to be a Ranger on his eighteenth birthday. That was two years before the invasion. After the war started, I only ever saw him twice more. He died defending New York."
"Hard fighting there," Taylor said quietly.
"Hard fighting all over. If it weren't, we wouldn't be out here. We've all lost a lot. Not one of us here who hasn't lost a loved one. Plenty of us have lost everyone we share blood with. Ain't nothing we can do but pick up a rifle and go forward. Keep living, keep fighting."
"Do you think we can win?" Morris asked him.
"Of course we can. If we don't think we can, then we have no hope."
"It's one thing to know you have to believe in winning to achieve it, another thing entirely to believe in what you preach."
"I don't believe it is," said Taylor, "You either believe it or you don't."
"So we're gonna win?"
"I can't tell you when or how, but yes, we're gonna win," said King confidently.
"And say we do. What will we do when this is over? What will any of us do?"
Nobody answered Morris’ question. It was hard to imagine a world without war now.
"I'm just not sure what any of us have got to go home to. I have no idea if anyone I knew back home is still alive, not even my ex-wife, who I'd actually be happy to see now. What have any of us got?" asked Morris, "No family, no home, nothing. Not for any of us."
"We have our lives," said King, "It's the only thing that hasn't been taken from us yet."
"And we have Earth, the home that we can take back," Taylor said.
"But will it be the Earth you knew? The Earth you fought to defend? Or will it be a barren wasteland?"
"What do you mean?" King asked.
"Say we can beat Erdogan, you think he's gonna leave our world as he found it? And what about his armies? We can never go back to the way it was."
"We never can. We can never go back to yesterday, last week or last year, no matter how good or bad it was. Times change, people change, life goes on," Taylor said.
Taylor finally relaxed properly for the first time in weeks, and he knew he had Captain King to thank for that. He rested back in his chair and sighed in relief, feeling everything was going to be okay, but his mind soon wandered back to the mission they were due to undertake. He looked to Jafar. He sat motionless across the table from him as if waiting for something interesting to occur.
"Tell me more about these arenas."
"You are no stranger to the arena," replied Jafar.
"No, but I've never seen a Krys one before."
"It is the same, just more violent."
"So they fight to the death?"
"Often. Little to no armour and using blades."
"Blades? Just metal blades?"
Jafar nodded.
"It is a tradition many thousands of years old. Sometimes the fighters fight to kill, or until only one still stands. Sometimes it is an execution."
"Sounds all too familiar," he replied.
"What do you mean?" Morris asked.
"Just sounds a little too close to our own history, don't you think?"
"Yeah, but we gave it up a long time ago. We evolved beyond barbaric entertainment," Morris retorted.
"Until recently, anyway," added Taylor.
"But your arena fights weren't assassinations."
"Weren't they? Put me in a ring with your average Mech without any heavy weapons, how fair is that? Might as well leave them shackled and have me take their heads off with an axe."
"That was a mistake. Those shows," said King.
"I know," Taylor said wearily, "I knew then, and I still know now. They were bad times."
"What, and these are better?"
King shook his head.
"What?"
"You're still missing the point, Morris. We can't change what has been and gone. All we can do is go forward. Right now we’ve got a little respite with friends, enjoy it for what it is. You want to change the world? Start going about it, and get your head out of the past."
Taylor smiled when Morris was brought to silence and pondered King's words, and he himself heeded them also. He rested back and put his feet up on the table. Just as he was getting comfortable, he heard a voice calling.
"Colonel Taylor!"
Ah, fuck!
He recognised the accent and looked up to see Coco approaching. He'd not seen her since the funeral service for all they had lost. Her face was taut, and she walked with intent as if on an important mission. She was heavily pregnant, but that wasn't going to stop her.
"What can I do for you?" Taylor asked, pulled a chair up beside him, and pointed for her to take a seat, but she stopped before him and remained standing.
"You're going to leave those people down there?"
Taylor shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me. I deserve better. You're going on a mission to where people are being held prisoner, slaves. Forced to fight for their pleasure. You know it's going on, but you're going turn the other cheek and leave them to rot. Shame on you!"
She was absolutely irate, and yet she wasn't wrong. He reached up and physically forced her down into the seat beside him and whispered back.
"Who told you this? This is vital mission information that should not have passed into your hands."
"It's doesn't matter how I got it. What matters, is you leaving those people to die. How could you? How could you leave them?"
Taylor shrugged. "It's just too dangerous, for us all."
"Too dangerous? That is not the Taylor I used to know, and not the friend Charlie loved so much. You know what he'd think of you if he was still alive?"
"He'd understand."
"No. He'd find a way, and so would you have. What's happened to you, Colonel? You used to care enough that you'd do anything to help those in need."
"I'm sorry, but I have to think about the safety of all of us, and not just those prisoners."
"The Taylor I used to know would do both. It is a sad day that you would shy away from helping our people."
"You have to understand, this is the best course of action for all of us."
He reached in to wrap his arms around her. She tried to resist and smacked him several times to the chest with hard strikes from the side of her hand, but he still pulled her in close as she began to cry.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled through her tears, "Just imagine if that were Jones in that prison. What would you do, then?" She was still wrapped in his arms with her head buried into his shoulder. Finally, she pulled back wiping the tears from her eyes and began to calm down.
"What would you do, then? Would you leave him there?"
Taylor shook his head. "Not a chance."
"Whoever is being held in those prisons, don't you think there are people out there who care about them as much as we did about Jones, and how much you care about all of these people?" she asked and pointed around the room, "They deserve your help the same as the rest of us. I don't care what your orders are; you have always found a way to do the right thing. Please don't stop now. Charlie admired you for your devotion to those you cared for. Do it for him."
He looked over to Morris. He had heard most of what she had said.
"She's not wrong," he replied.
"Twenty minutes ago you were saying we couldn't take the risk."
"Maybe so, but a pretty face can change a man's mind."
"Ain't that the truth," King joined in.
Taylor shook his head in amazement.
"So you two will back me up on this?"
Morris nodded.
"I don't even know the mission yet. But given the choice of rescuing a load of our own, and not, you know where I stand."
Taylor sighed.
"Damn it, I should have listened to my gut."
"If we can't do everything to help save our own people, what is it all for?" asked Coco, "And you know what Eli would say."
He thought he could almost hear her then.
"This is gonna piss a few people off. Our allies among others," said Morris.
"Shit, well they'll just have to live with it," said Taylor. He looked to Coco. "You have my word that I will do everything I can to get those people out, everything."
"Thank you, Colonel. Now if I may, I must rest."
He helped her to her feet, and she was on her way.
"That's one strong-willed woman," said Morris.
"Damn right."
"So what are you gonna do now?"
"I'm gonna say how it's gonna be."
"So much for not meddling."
Taylor leapt to his feet and stormed back to the HQ building. Only Jafar followed him this time. He was ushered through into the operations room where he found General White alone. He was going over maps, and a few assistants were working in the background.
"Back so soon?" he asked.
"Get me a line to the Admiral."
White didn't question the request even though it was rather forceful. A video call opened before them to the bridge of the Diderot. Lasure was on the bridge and turned in surprise to see Taylor on screen.
"How can we help you, Colonel?" he asked.
"I thought I could let this go. I thought I could leave our people to suffer to keep us safe, but I can't, Admiral. A good friend of mine just reminded me what it is that makes us human, and keeps us human. I am sick of being the hunted. I am sick of leaving people behind."
"We've already discussed this matter, Colonel."
"I don't think you're hearing me, Sir. We're going to get those people out, and there's not one among my Regiment who would disagree with that decision, as I am sure the rest of the fleet will agree. We've had to compromise a lot in this war, and we've had to give up a lot. It's time that came to an end."
Lasure didn't know what to say. He looked around the crew on the bridge of his own ship, and they clearly were in support of Taylor.
"Do you think it can be done?" Lasure finally asked him.
"We have a chance. I know that."
"And the risk of losing it all?"
"Sometimes the risk is worth taking."
"Then you have my approval, Colonel. General White, please see that our allies are informed of the change in plan, and be sure they are ready to assist. Lasure out."
White looked at Taylor with utter amazement.
"How on Earth did you just manage that?"
"I appealed to his humanity. It's what we've got left, and can never be taken from us while we still draw breath, and that's why we're going after those prisoners - our humanity."
Chapter 7
Taylor allowed himself to slip into a dream world inhabited with the fond memories he had of Parker. The R&R seemed to pass quickly as he spent much of it sleeping to rest up. He was aboard the Baron once again now and still dreaming of her when he heard his name being called over and over. Suddenly he felt something strike his helmet, and he snapped back to reality to find Rains had just given him a good smack.
“Still with us?” he asked as Taylor came around.
“Unfortunately,” he replied.
Rains sat down beside him on benches in the docking bay of the frigate.
“Finally feels like we’re at the beginning of the end, doesn’t it, Mitch?”
“That a good thing?”
“It is if we win.”
“Any particular reason you’ve picked this time to come and annoy me, Eddie?”
“Do I need a reason?”
“All right, Eddie. No, it doesn’t feel like the beginning of the end. You know why? Because we’re still not back on Earth for good, we haven’t freed the however many thousands, maybe even millions of people enslaved there, and Erdogan still lives. So no, it doesn’t feel like that at all.”
But Eddie wouldn’t be swayed.
“Come on, you miserable bastard. It wasn’t so long ago that we thought it was over, and now look at us. On the road again and hitting Erdogan where it hurts.”
“You’re positivity is outstanding. I’m just not sure it’s grounded in any facts,” replied Taylor.
“And yet he’s right,” Morris said, “Stay the course. You’ve held us all together this far. We need you to the very end.”
“I’ll be here to the very end. I just wish so many of our friends could have been. Jones, Chandra, Friday. We’ve sacrificed and lost too much to lose now,” he said.
He looked at his watch.
Fifteen minutes to go.
It was that awful wait before a big event, compounded by the fact they were never certain what they’d encounter on the other side of the gateway, no matter how much surveillance had been carried out. He looked out across the deck and the four copters waiting to go. Close to half their Regiment was waiting to embark for the assault. He knew that to call themselves a regiment was far fetched at best, but he still like the way it sounded, even if they were an independent company in reality. He liked to feel they did the work of a regiment.
He looked about the deck to see that half the faces were trained on him, waiting and hoping for some words of encouragement. He didn’t feel enthusiastic at all, but then he turned his thoughts to Coco’s words, and it inspired him to get to his feet. He looked at each and every one of them. There were so few left of those he had begun with at the start of the first war. But there was not a rookie amongst them.
“Thank you! Thank you for your continued support and confidence. You’ve never faltered or failed me, or the cause. You are the reason I am still alive and fighting today. We are about to embark on the biggest operation since we left Earth. Over ten thousand personnel, including five thousand ground troops and the largest fleet commitment we’ve ever mustered. This operation began as a hit and run attack, but has evolved into a complex operation the likes of which we never dreamed we’d ever experience again!”
He looked to Irala, or the projection of him at least.
“Our allies have given us an opportunity to win the victory that was stolen from us. Humans were born to live on Earth, and Earth is where we shall live, but until that time comes, we must preserve human life, wherever it is. We have selected ten targets for this operation. They will be hit simultaneously in order to maintain the element of surprise and create mass confusion and a division of enemy resources.”
He took a deep breath.
“What you may not know is the reason for the escalation of this operation. There are humans at these locations. Imprisoned and made to work as slaves. Worse still, they are being forced into fights to the death for the enemy’s pleasure and entertainment. I cannot tell you how many of our own we expect to find, but every single one that we get out of there is a victory in itself.”
He could see the amazement in the faces of them all, but it soon turned to hope as they realised the chance they now had.
“We could come out of this with a few dozen POWs, a few hundred, or even a few thousand. We’ve got plenty of transports waiting to jump in to deal with whatever capacity we need. Once we hit the ground, we’ll likely have a one-hour window. So let’s do this. Let’s get our people out of there!”
There was deadly silence while they all contemplated what they were facing, and stayed silent as they waited for the countdown. Finally, they were given the ninety-second c
ountdown over the tannoy.
“All right, people, let’s load up!”
The tone was solemn as they emplaned ready to begin the operation, and Taylor took his seat beside the cockpit as Rains climbed aboard.
“You know, Taylor, I don’t how you are still alive after all you have been through. But what amazes me further is that I’m still here to fly you. You know what the odds are of me surviving all the bat shit crazy missions you get me in on?”
“What?”
“Zero, man, the odds are not in my favour anymore. Whatever power protects you, I ain’t got. I don’t know how many more of these missions I’ve got in me.”
“Told you before, Eddie, you’ll outlive us all.”
“Yeah? What gives you that idea? Your friends don’t seem to last all that long.”
“You’re one of them, and you’re still here.”
Rains shook his head as the final ten-second countdown began.
“Promise me one thing, Taylor.”
“Anything.”
“Promise you’ll never leave me to them. I always come back home, or I don’t come back at all, got it?”
Taylor was shocked to hear it. It was the most sincere and serious Rains had ever been.
“You got it.”
“Three…two…one…jump.”
Taylor and Rains watched the scanners in the cockpit. It was a tense moment, waiting to see what they would come up against.
“Anything?” Taylor asked.
“We’ve got…shit…incoming!”
Taylor looked to the screens. Two large enemy vessels and fighter wings were on an intercept course.
“Guess they’re getting a bit bored of us pissing in their back yard!” Rains yelled.
“It’s our yard, and we want it back,” replied Taylor casually.
The docking bay doors opened, and natural light flooded into the cockpit. The beautiful sight of Earth greeted them.
Battle Earth: 12 Page 10