Taylor tried to pull the knife out for a second strike, but it was firmly encased by the beast’s flesh. Warm blue blood trickled onto his hand. On his back, and without a weapon, he realised how helpless he was and accepted that he’d finally met his end. The beast struck him with a hammer fist, breaking his nose with a single strike. Blood burst across his face, and his vision blurred slightly. His head twisted to the side from the force as he caught sight of a large iron wrench.
The Major knew it was his last opportunity to save his life, and that of the Sergeant who was unconscious across the floor. He wriggled slightly from the beast’s grip and quickly grasped the wrench. As he swung it, the creature lifted its arm in defence. The wrench struck its arm like metal on metal. It smashed the arm down slightly, and Taylor didn’t hesitate to strike again.
The second hit from the large wrench caused a sickened crunch to emanate from the beast’s arm and forced it down. He hit a third time against the creature’s face with all the strength he had. The force sent sharp pains all through his arm and body, but the stunned the creature was sent tumbling over beside him.
The wounded and bloody Major scampered to get on top of the alien before it could recover. He raised the wrench to strike. The beast lifted its wounded arm as if to protect its face, and he recognised fear in its narrow eyes. The creature’s skin was a dark glimmering blue, almost black. It was so similar to a human, and yet still so far apart. It had a broad jawline and wide eyes. The nose was flat against the face but with a very narrow bridge.
Taylor stopped briefly to see the beast’s emotion before crashing the wrench down onto its face. The strike was met with a deadening crunch. Mitch lifted and struck again, and a third time. He had little idea about the constitution of their enemy, but it was clearly stronger than theirs. He threw down the wrench and looked down at the result of his labour.
The alien lay lifelessly beneath him, its face mangled and disfigured. Blood ran down the wrench and the Major’s arm, mixing with his own and the layer of dirt. He put the end of the tool onto the floor and used it to support his weight to stand up. Taylor stared at the creature. He was intrigued and also concerned to be sure it was dead.
He staggered over to Silva. The Sergeant lay partially propped up against a chest of drawers, but he showed no signs of life. Taylor checked his pulse and sighed in relief at feeling the life still pulsing through the Sergeant. Taylor knelt down and picked up his weapon, hauling himself into a seated position on the table beside Silva.
Taylor knew he could do nothing but wait. He had no means of transport and couldn’t carry the Sergeant, nor leave him there. He rested back against the wall and propped up his splinted leg on the table top. Mitch laid the launcher to rest across his thighs and rested his head back. He wished for sleep, but the pain would not let him.
Chandra looked through the glass into the room where Sergeant Eleanor Parker was resting and recovering. She had not met the Sergeant before, but she was well aware of her importance to Taylor. The Major had been willing to disobey the orders of his commanders in order to save the Sergeant. She knew that relationships amongst troops were not allowed, but she also appreciated that it had led Taylor and his troops to their assistance.
She wondered if she would still be alive if it were not for Major Taylor. It humbled her to know that he had led to the saving of so many lives. This made her compelled to do what she could for Parker. Still using a crutch, she could do little to help Taylor himself, so this was the least she could do.
Parker’s head turned. Her hair was loose and spread across the pillow. Her blue-grey eyes were piercing. She appeared to recognise the Major, but they had never met before. She didn’t move another bone in her body, but her eyes invited Chandra in. The Major stepped through the doors into her room.
Eleanor lay in her regulation marine shirt and boxers. Across the room lay a clean and pressed battledress uniform and it was obviously newly issued. Beside it on the counter lay a battered set of armour and a well worn but impeccably clean rifle.
“The Major was able to find me a new uniform, but the rest had to be sourced from the field, Ma’am,” said Eli.
Chandra nodded, but she knew that meant they had come from dead or severely wounded marines.
“We have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, Sergeant.”
Eli studied her rank pips and name patch. It was clear that she knew of the Major. Chandra looked uneasy at addressing the Sergeant, and she could see it.
“Ma’am, you wouldn’t be here if Taylor was alright. You have your own people to take care of. What has happened to the Major?”
Chandra stubbornly nodded and sighed.
“I don’t have a lot of news right now. Taylor headed out with three of his marines on a scouting mission earlier today, but he has been out of contact and has yet to return.”
“Where is Captain Friday?”
“Still at the front line, I’m afraid.”
“Then the Major has been left out there?”
“Not quite. We have been ordered back home, but we have a little time to kill. Captain Jones is out there now.”
Parker smiled a little. She had gotten to know the Captain from their joint training missions and had always liked him.
“How many troops has the Captain taken with him?” asked Parker.
“Just a handful, it is already a breach of his orders.”
Parker’s eyes widened. “If Taylor has got into trouble, then do you really think a handful of troops will make a difference?”
Chandra gave the Sergeant a scornful look. She had never been spoken to in such a way by an NCO. She quickly calmed down as she gave further thought to the Sergeant’s words and her situation, but she was left speechless. Parker sat up wincing in pain and swivelled her legs over the side of the bed.
“Where do you think you’re going, Sergeant?”
“To find my Major, Ma’am.”
She dropped off the side of the bed and painfully stood up. She had clearly only just begun to walk again. Chandra could tell that she was a fighter, more so than most.
“I cannot let you do so, Sergeant.”
Parker stopped and righted herself, squaring up to the Major. She had no care for the authority of her rank.
“You are being sent home, Major. Then I am assuming the Inter-Allied Company has been disbanded? You have no authority here anymore.”
She moved to step past the Major and towards her weapon, but Chandra outstretched her hand and stopped her.
“Sergeant Parker, I have no desire to boss you around. Major Taylor cares greatly for you, but he would not want you to throw your life after his.”
She turned and stared into Chandra’s eyes.
“Then help me, Major. Help me get him back safe.”
Taylor hadn’t moved for at least thirty minutes. His head lay back against the wall, and his body was limp. If it were not for the artillery bombardments that rumbled the ground every few minutes, and the pain, he would gladly have fallen into a deep sleep. He was astonished to still be alive, but he wondered how the two of them could ever get out alive. The invaders were building up to a major offensive, and so their position would soon be overrun.
The sound of a vehicle caught his attention. He focused on it, trying to identify its origin. It was a light vehicle and wheeled. It didn’t fit with any of what he’d seen of the invaders, but after his experience of the flying troops that morning, he was not eager to jump to conclusions.
Despite the rumble of artillery in the background, the neighbourhood was quiet, and he could hear the vehicle coming from many blocks away. The silence of the room was broken by a few muffled words from Silva.
“Sergeant, keep it down.”
He was glad that Silva was regaining consciousness, but they could not afford to be identified by any enemy forces.
“Sir, what happened? Where are we?”
“Quiet, Sergeant.”
Taylor carefully lifted his launcher in read
iness. He knew that he had no more ammunition other than what was already loaded in the weapon. They couldn’t survive another fight. Silva was coming to his senses and dragged his rifle up from the ground. Taylor wasn’t sure if Silva was fully aware of their situation, but he understood enough that they could be heading for another fight.
The vehicle ran quietly and not like anything they had heard from the Mechs. Taylor could feel every trickle of sweat drip down his face as they anxiously waited. It was almost in view when it came to a halt. The occupants had been alerted by the debris across the street and had stopped to investigate. The Major would never have chosen to stay at the scene of the fight, but he’d not had any other choice.
They listened as metal hatches opened, identifying it as an armoured vehicle. Taylor lifted his launcher to his shoulder. Footsteps grew nearer. They sounded like human steps, but the Major wondered if he was just being optimistic.
“Major Taylor!”
Mitch’s heart raced with relief and excitement at hearing the familiar voice of Captain Jones although he didn’t lower his weapon.
“Major Taylor!” Monty called.
Silva turned back to Taylor with a broad grin. He could not believe their luck.
“In here!” he shouted.
Seconds later the group of soldiers appeared at the smashed windows. Jones looked shocked at the wreckage, and he could barely tell the two soldiers apart from the debris and fallen Mechs.
“Major!”
Jones rushed in through the opening where the shop front windows used to stand. He crashed over glass and a pool of Mech blood that squelched as he passed through. He looked down at Silva, glad to see another survivor.
“We found your jeep, thought you were goners.”
“Almost, Captain, much longer out here and we’d never have made it home.”
Jones looked down at the splint on his leg and back up at his blood soaked face.
“You look like hell.”
“Better than those bastards.”
He gestured to the body of a Mech. Jones’ eyes widened at the sight of one of the creatures out of its armour. At first he thought it was the body of a dead human.
“Christ, so that’s what they look like! They don’t look so tough.”
“Believe me, Captain, you don’t want to get to blows with them.”
Jones nodded and smiled. He could see from the Major’s state that he spoke the truth. He reached forward and pulled Taylor up. Silva staggered to his feet but wobbled and fell against a shelving unit.
“Give him a hand!” Jones ordered.
Monty leapt in and took the Sergeant onto his shoulder.
“Let’s get the hell out of this shithole, Captain.”
They moved out of the shop across heaps of smashed glass and rubble.
“Remind me if we get through this, to check Paris off as a city ever to visit.”
The Captain chuckled.
“With you there, Major.”
They hobbled out into the street to be greeted by the other paras and Dubois. She was sticking half out of the driver’s hatch and gave the Major a mock salute. He returned the gesture.
“Good to see you again, Sergeant. I wish it could have been under better circumstances than last time.”
“At least we’ll be driving out of here, Sir.”
Taylor nodded as Jones helped him around the vehicle and in through the rear door. He winced in pain as he lowered himself into a seat. There was barely a part of his body that didn’t hurt. Green hauled the thick door shut behind them.
“Let’s get moving, Sergeant!” shouted Jones.
The vehicle lurched forward and quickly gained some speed. They struck the debris from the building, shaking the vehicle around but easily overcoming it. Taylor looked at Jones with relief. He had accepted that they would die out there; yet again his companions had come through for him.
“Don’t stop for anything, Dubois!” Jones ordered.
He reached forward and tapped the power button to the display monitors attached to external cameras. They passed through one empty block after another until they were just a kilometre out from the defences. The armoured car took a bend and their jaws dropped as the sight before them. Ten Mechs stood in front of the bridge they needed to pass.
“Monty, get on that gun!” screamed Jones.
“What do we do, Sir?”
“Go through them, Dubois!”
Jones didn’t like the idea, but he knew that they’d likely not have any better luck if they diverted to another bridge.
“Go!”
The vehicle surged towards the bridge as Monty opened fire. The first few rounds landed short. The Mechs were lifting their weapons to fire. They all knew that the vehicle wouldn’t stand up to much against the enemy fire. The next shots from the turret struck one of the Mechs, smashing it to the ground. A second later, the area around it erupted with an explosion, quickly followed by several more.
Muzzle flashes littered the rooftops of the buildings either side of the bridge. The Mechs spun around in a desperate attempt to return fire against the overwhelming onslaught. Rifle fire, rockets and grenades pounded their position, quickly ripping the aliens into twisted metal and burning rubble.
Dubois didn’t slow and rushed towards the burning scene. They didn’t want to linger in hostile lands for a second longer. They reached the bodies of the Mechs, and one was thrashing about on the ground, trying to get to its feet. Dubois headed right for it, striking the beast at speed. The crew didn’t even notice the impact as the armoured hull smashed it to the ground.
Taylor and Jones looked at the display screens. They could see friendly soldiers standing up on the rooftops. They could make out a mix of British and American uniforms. Sergeant Dubois drew the vehicle to a close as they got over the bridge and to safety. Taylor reached for the door and swung it open, clambering out on his splinted leg.
Chandra was stood in the doorway of the building beside them. She was leaning on her crutch but was in full combat attire with her rifle slung across her chest.
“You haven’t been cleared for duty, Major.”
She smiled in response. Taylor limped over to her position.
“No chance you were authorised to come find us.”
“Nope, but that didn’t stop one of your Sergeants convincing me, and she has as much respect for authority as yourself.”
Taylor’s eyes lit up. Chandra knew what his next question would be, and she pointed back to the bridge. Taylor turned to see Eleanor walking at the head of a group of troops returning across it. She caught sight of him and ran all out.
Eleanor let her rifle fall to her side and jumped at the Major, embracing him with a firm grasp. She pulled her head back and rubbed it against his, not caring for the blood and grime. She kissed him quickly, provoking whistles from the troops.
“I couldn’t lose you,” she said.
“Likewise.”
Taylor let her go and turned to Chandra. They both knew he was breaking many rules pursuing a relationship with one of his team. He wanted to ask why Chandra had not enforced disciplinary action, but she had already read his mind.
“We’re at war, Major. Some rules simply don’t apply.”
He strode over to her as quickly as he could on his leg and grabbed her with a strong hug, lifting Chandra off her feet, much to her surprise.
“Major!” she shouted.
He put her down with a broad grin spanning across his face. She blushed slightly as they both knew she should not encourage such activity.
“You saved our asses, Major, thank you.”
“Glad you made it. Clearly you have by now realised that the northern districts are no longer safe. We have trying days ahead of us, Major. We need you rested and ready to fight.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
He saluted her with a smile.
Chapter 4
Taylor awoke to a dark and drizzly morning. Parker’s head was resting on his shoulder. Chand
ra had managed to secure a room in a hotel for them near the main assembly area. The mattress was soft and cushioned, and the duvet smooth and thick. He’d not known such luxury, even in his own officer’s quarters.
He pulled the duvet back and sat up at the side of the bed. His leg had been reset and was held in an articulated leg brace. It allowed him full movement and strength while it healed; making him ninety-five percent combat effective already. He’d had a hot shower and was now clean, but his body was bruised and scarred.
The Major stood up and walked across the room. Despite him being able to walk, his muscles and joints still ached. He pulled back the curtains and looked out across the vast assembly and command area. It was long past sunrise. Chandra had kindly allowed them to sleep till they woke up naturally. He doubted it was all due to kindness as he was more valuable to them in a fully recovered state.
As he felt a warm hand touch his shoulder, Taylor flinched a little. He was always impressed at Parker’s stealthy agility. She wrapped her arms around him and braced her body against his back, resting her head against his shoulders.
“If only every morning could be like this,” she said.
“Add room service and I’d agree.”
She turned him around to reveal a bag of rations on a small table at the end of the bed.
“Got what I could in the night, but it’s a far cry from a fresh breakfast.”
Taylor smiled. It was a thoughtful gesture. He turned to look out of the window. In the distance, he could see the energy pulses striking their lines. They were only a kilometre or two back from the bombardments, but it was far enough to enjoy the rest period. He strolled over to the table, taking a seat. Eli joined him and reached forward, resting her hand on his. He looked up into her eyes.
“You risked everything for me,” she whispered.
“As did Jones for me, we are all in this for each other.”
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