Battle Earth V

by Nick S. Thomas

  “Your mission is to destroy that fleet. It will be for Admiral Uxbridge to determine whether it is safe to continue to Red 1. The priority is the defence of this fleet. If you have a solid chance of reaching the planet safely then take it, but nothing more. You will follow my orders in this.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Taylor had broken more than his fair share of orders in the past, but he knew he couldn’t break his word to Huber. He finally felt like they were getting somewhere, and he rushed out of the bridge with new life in his body. Jafar was waiting for him beside the other guards and had clearly been there without rest.

  “Still here?”

  “Always, that was my promise.”

  Taylor lifted his communicator.

  “This is Taylor to Captain Jones. Have your Company assemble at the Deveron immediately. Full combat order. Captain Ryan, prepare your ship for departure.”

  “Sir, you sure about this?” asked Ryan suspiciously.

  Taylor smiled. The Captain is already becoming familiar with my antics.

  “Orders direct from Admiral Huber. We’re heading out. Be ready to move ASAP.”

  Taylor signalled for Jafar to follow him as he leapt into a jogging pace. He could feel his heart rapidly thumping with excitement.

  Finally, I’m coming for you, he thought, as images of Chandra passed through his mind. He felt new life in his bones at the realisation there might be a chance to save his friends yet.

  Chapter 11

  Chandra paced along the battlements to be sure that the troops saw her face. A small pulse from an enemy scout smashed into the wall just two metres from her position. Two of the commandos near her flinched but not her. A second after the pulse landed, a gunshot rang out from their own lines.

  “Got you, you bastard!” shouted out the sharpshooter.

  The Colonel smiled as she passed him, but their joy was short lived. A massive explosion burst out ahead of their positions, causing the floor beneath them to shake and them all to duck down behind cover. Dust and debris blasted over their position and knocked anyone still standing onto their backs.

  Chandra was the first to peer up over the battlements but was soon joined by Warren. All was silent for a moment as the dust settled, but then it came; the thunderous sound of an army of Mechs advancing through the breach. The almost continuous drone of their heavy footsteps was a fearful sound to even the most veteran among them.

  Through the smoke ahead, they could see a wave of drones pushing forward ahead of the main force. She looked down across the line to see that the troops were readying their rifles along the makeshift battlements. She looked back to see that the first drone was in range and in her sights. She shouted her order as she looked down the length of her weapon.

  “Fire!”

  She squeezed the trigger before the sounds had even left her throat. The shot alone was enough to signal to the rest who quickly followed suit. The first volleys were carefully aimed shots that stopped a dozen drones before they could get off a single shot. The next wave passed right over them and met a similar fate after getting off just a few shots. The first pulses smashed into the defensive lines and were broken across the mix of enemy materials and the human shields.

  Chandra was glad of the cover they had assembled. It allowed them to fight in relative safety. Another three-dozen drones came through the cloud of dust and despite getting off several shots, were smashed by the volley of fire. The hall went silent for a moment until they finally caught sight of the Mechs. They were packed in deep, as the breach was still small enough that they had to enter shoulder to shoulder.

  “Knock the bastards down!” Chandra screamed.

  She wasn’t sure if any of the troops could hear her, but it instinctively came out anyway. The Mechs were amassed in such deep columns that she barely had to aim and resorted to bursts, despite the distance they were firing at. The hallway ahead was rapidly becoming a corridor of death. Smoking armour and blue blood scattered every metre of the floor within a few minutes.

  In just ten minutes, the bodies of over a hundred Mechs and many more drones lay there, but there seemed no end in sight to the enemy attack. Chandra ducked back down into the barricade and looked back to see there was now a constant stream of troops reloading at the crates behind them.

  Suarez was among them and appeared to be casually going about his job in a fashion she did not consider acceptable of any soldier, let alone one in combat.

  “Lieutenant!”

  He looked up in surprise as if he’d been caught doing something naughty, and froze.

  “Get to the CP. I want to know the current condition of all sectors!”

  “Wouldn’t it be best for you to go?” he asked.

  She glared at him with fiery eyes.

  “Get me the fucking info, Lieutenant!”

  She could see him mouth some curse as he rushed off in a huff.

  “Arsehole,” she muttered to herself.

  Pulses continued to light up the defences as they rushed overhead, and others smashed themselves over the line. She rose up once again to join in the action. She gasped as she realised the Mechs had gained ten metres of ground and were pouring in thick and fast. There seemed no breaking of their morale. Tsengal was alongside her and giving everything he had.

  “What does it take to stop them!” she called to him.

  “Death.”

  She wasn’t sure if he was trying to be funny or not, but it brought a smile to her face as she turned back and continued to fire.

  * * *

  “The Trafalgar will be in range in three minutes, Sir.”

  “Thank you, Lieutenant,” replied Taylor.

  He stood on the bridge of the Deveron with Jones and alongside Captain Ryan. The Deveron was the smallest ship in the group that had assembled to sally out against the recovering enemy forces. They kept close to the carrier and within the defensive perimeter of the frigates assigned to protect her.

  “Feels good to stick it to them, doesn’t it?” Taylor asked Ryan.

  “Hell yes, Sir. About time, too.”

  “Let’s not count our blessings just yet, gentlemen,” Jones added.

  “You can be one cynical bastard, you know that?”

  Charlie looked to Mitch in surprise but could see it was a mere jest, though not a very funny one. They both remembered the dark times of misery he’d suffered through. His present state was of utter joy by comparison. He leaned in close to Taylor so that only the three of them could hear.

  “What really are your intentions? Will you really stop here like Huber has ordered?”

  “The Admiral was clear that we were to proceed to the planet if it is within our power.”

  “And if it is not? Will you go anyway?”

  Taylor was torn between saving Chandra and the forces on Red 1, and risking the lives of just as many aboard the ships he had been given by the Admiral. He shrugged his shoulders.

  “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

  “Sixty seconds until the Trafalgar has a firing solution.”

  They all went quiet and watched the display screen of the enemy fleet ahead. They had formed up to face the human fleet but maintained their position.

  “Why aren’t they going anywhere?” asked Ryan.

  Jafar, who was stood quietly in the background, spoke up.

  “Because they have been ordered to stay there and await reinforcement.”

  “So they’ll just wait there to die?”

  “No, they’ll fight to win.”

  “Then we’ll end them,” replied Taylor.

  An intercom channel opened on the tannoy above them.

  “The is Admiral Uxbridge. All crews fire when ready. I want no survivors.”

  A few seconds later, the Trafalgar lit up like a firework display as its guns opened up in a fierce opening salvo. The Deveron was still a way out of range, but they continued on course with the carrier. Fighters rushed out from the Trafalgar’s bays. It was an
odd sensation to watch the enemy ships hold their ground against such a relentless attack, as if they awaited their death.

  “How can they not run? What purpose does it serve to stay and die?” Ryan asked.

  “It serves their masters’ orders,” replied Jafar.

  “See, you think you have problems with authority?” Jones laughed.

  The Washington’s guns destroyed two of the enemy’s larger ships in its opening fire. The ships were the size of the human frigates, and both displayed damage from their earlier engagement. There were just five smaller vessels and one of the frigate size left, as they descended upon them at speed.

  “We have a solution, Sir,” said the gunnery officer.

  “Fire,” replied Ryan in a sombre and monotone voice.

  It was a bloody slaughter and far from the brave sally out they had expected. The fighters rushed in against the last enemy craft, like crows encircling the dead and dying of a battlefield. Even Taylor found no joy in the senseless slaughter. The Trafalgar’s guns continued relentlessly until the last enemy ship was blasted into a thousand pieces. Just as the guns went silent, so did the bridge of the Deveron. They all stared morbidly at the smashed hulks of the enemy ships. In the overwhelming assault, the humans had not lost a single vessel.

  “This is what they fight for, this is what is a victory to them? They want to kill us all and feel nothing for it?” asked Ryan.

  He turned back to Jafar for answers.

  “How can your people be so cold? How can they want such devastation?”

  “Former people.”

  “But you were one of them, you fought for their goals?”

  “That’s enough!” yelled Taylor.

  “No,” replied Jafar.

  Taylor looked up in surprise. It was the only time the alien had defied him, and it was in the most unusual of circumstances. Taylor thought he had to defend his newly found friends, but they didn’t need it.

  “I am not proud of my time in their armies. I will not defend their actions.”

  Ryan relaxed as he could see there was no fight in Jafar.

  “Sir, we have an incoming transmission from the Trafalgar?”

  Ryan cleared his throat before replying.

  “Put it on screen.”

  A video feed of Admiral Uxbridge was displayed aboard the Trafalgar.

  “To the fleet, well done. The enemy is vanquished, and we are without injury. A perfect victory.”

  Taylor took his opportunity, leaping forward to address Uxbridge.

  “Admiral, we have succeeded in our endeavours here. We have the opportunity to continue on to Red 1, as Admiral Huber recommended should we meet with success.”

  Uxbridge took in a deep breath as he thought it over. It was clear he had not intended to do as such.

  “We will continue onwards, Major, until we can scan the area of the planet and assess the situation.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Recall all fighters. We continue on without delay. Uxbridge out.”

  Taylor sighed in relief.

  There is hope yet.

  * * *

  “Colonel! We can’t hold much longer!” Warren called out to her.

  She looked up over the defences to see that despite the fact the Mechs were being cut down in vast numbers, they continued to advance. In places their dead were now two or three deep, but they would not stop.

  “How can we fight such relentless enemies?” she whispered.

  “We have to fall back, or we’ll be overrun!”

  She looked around to see dozens of Warren’s troops lying dead behind the defences, and she knew the casualties would be as bad or worse further down the lines. They held the ground nearest the surface. She knew the docking bay lay just two floors down, and that it was the last place they could go where there was still a way out. They’re backs would soon be against the wall.

  “Alright, sound the retreat. Fall back to the docking bay entrance!”

  She jumped off the wall and rushed to the CP to pass the word herself. Jafar was closely at her side, but Suarez was nowhere to be found. His platoon lay scattered along the defensive line and had quickly fallen under the command of Major Warren. She rushed through into the CP to find the five personnel frantically dealing with communications from all sectors.

  “Pack it up. Our lines are falling, and we’re falling back!”

  Corporal Bradley turned in horror at her orders.

  “What about our comms?”

  “Grab what you can, and get a rifle in hand!”

  They leapt into action, grabbing everything they could carry as she ushered them onwards.

  “Come on! Go!”

  They rushed out of the room to find troops flooding past them in a frenzied rush to retreat. Many fought on at their backs to cover their retreat. Chandra dreaded to think how many hundreds or thousands lay dead at their frontlines, but she feared more the realisation that they may be burying themselves into a hole they would never get out of.

  * * *

  Taylor had been waiting anxiously to see Red 1. Never before had he been so eager to see an enemy world. He knew they were just a couple of hours out now and prayed for good news. He and Jones had not left the bridge since the battle, and Jafar would not leave his Major either.

  “Major, we’ve got a visual.”

  He nodded for the Captain to go ahead.

  A projection flickered, and several gasps rang out as they realised what they were looking at. Taylor felt his stomach turn, when he realised over a hundred enemy vessels surrounded the planet. Transports were pouring down to the surface. He could see no signs of battle but knew it must still be ongoing beneath the surface. They all gazed open mouthed at the frightful sight for a minute when a transmission came in from Uxbridge.

  “Admiral Uxbridge to all ships. Come around, full withdrawal!”

  Ryan nodded to his crew to carry out the orders, for he could not bring himself to say the words and resign thousands of comrades to their fate on the enemy world.

  Fuck! Taylor thought.

  They had gotten so close. The planet was in sight, and yet there was no chance of getting through to Chandra. He could not believe they had made it so far only to turn back.

  “We could still...” began Jones.

  “It’s over,” cut in Taylor.

  “We’re just going to leave them there?”

  Taylor did not reply.

  “Major! This is Chandra we are talking about!”

  Taylor turned quickly and grabbed Jones by the collar of his body armour and wrenched him in close.

  “Don’t think I don’t want to, but it would be folly to throw our lives away. Do you think that is what she would want?”

  “I know she wouldn’t want to be left behind to the mercy of those bastards!”

  Taylor shook his head.

  “What would you have us do?”

  He spun Jones around so that he was looking at the video feed of the planet and the enemy forces in orbit.

  “Look at them! What can we do against that?”

  Taylor could feel Jones go limp. His anger was replaced with sadness and desperation as he slumped against a console and lowered his head. They could see several dozen of the enemy ships engines fire up and pursue them. It was enough to pose a threat in itself, let alone the remainder of their fleet.

  “The Colonel will do her duty, just as I expect every one of you to do so.”

  “So they’ll die down there, and for what?” whispered Jones.

  “Look at the time we have gained for Earth. We’ve smashed two fleets that were amassing. Destroyed much of their weapons research and development. We’ve held them in their own lands. Every day we gain for Earth could make a difference in what comes next.”

  “And you believe that? You believe we are making a difference?” asked Jones.

  “You are,” replied Jafar.

  They all turned in surprise at hearing the alien’s inception into the conversat
ion. He stepped forward to continue.

  “My people believed they were the most powerful beings in the universe. Every victory you gain weakens them. They are beginning to see they are not all powerful, and that they might not win this war. I saw it the day I joined you. Continue as you are, and you may well win the war yet.”

  The alien’s words had a profound effect on Jones. It gave him hope and did the same for all of them there. For most of them, it was the most words they had ever heard the alien say, and yet they appeared words of wisdom. He continued on.

  “The Colonel is a brave warrior, and I can say I have been honoured to fight alongside her. Even now, in the face of armies so vastly larger, she battles on. She should be an example to us all.”

  The bridge fell silent once again as they reflected on his sentiment. The sights they had seen were dire, but he gave them all hope and the desire to fight on with a new sense of pride and belief in themselves. Taylor looked into the eyes of his alien friend and nodded in gratitude.

  * * *

  Warren’s commandos were formed up at the next line of defences that lay at the entrance to the docking bay. It was a relatively narrow corridor and would only allow the Mechs to advance fifteen wide and without cover. The ramp they had to descend before reaching flat ground meant that few could fire on the human defences at any one time.

  Troops continued to flood into the docking bay, as others tossed anything they could find onto the makeshift wall. Many had left their shields behind in the frenzied retreat. They waited now for the enemy to reach them. Chandra turned to look across the hall to the other two entrances that were guarded by Klimenko and Chen’s Battalions. They looked even more decimated than Warren’s forces.

  They had less than half of the troops they had when the battle begun, fifteen hundred dead or dying. It was a level of brutal devastation they had not known since the war in France. She turned to see Warren was reloading his rifle at the frontline of the defence. He looked exhausted, and his helmet had taken a glancing strike by a pulse that had burnt into his visor. Chandra strolled up to the Major, and he looked up to her as she approached.