“Rains still in the area?” asked Chandra.
“Yeah, he’s running high priority jobs for command. I saw him a few hours back.”
As they reached an intersection, they halted abruptly to avoid being run down by a dozen Russian heavy tanks rolling across the thoroughfare. The three officers could barely hear each other over the constant noise of chatter and vehicles travelling throughout the base. Combat-weary soldiers lay about, getting any rest they could. Fresh recruits sat awaiting deployment, and there was no excitement or enthusiasm in their eyes. They had seen the faces of those who had faced the Mechs and the ever-mounting dead.
Many of the troops looked at the Reitech suits with amazement and envy. There were still less than two hundred on the base. Production had been marred by delays due to the chaos that had engulfed the planet. Transportation networks were in shambles, and many nations’ workforces were in disarray.
Few begrudged the Company’s almost exclusive issue of the latest equipment, and anyone who did, was quickly reminded of their heroic actions from the day the war began. Chandra and Taylor were becoming household names among the human armies along with their battalion; the Inter-Allied had become known to many, as the ‘Immortals’.
Few knew of the horrific losses of the unit. Soldiers had become familiar with the stories of their dare devil escapades and were never informed of the heavy price which they had paid for such antics. They only saw the triumphant returns and celebrated their victories.
Up ahead, they could see Phillips sat on top of a freight box with a mug of tea in his hand. His uniform was as clean as the newest recruits. There was no dread in his face. He had not met the enemy face to face, and to him the Mechs were nothing more than a statistic. Just as the human dead were a number on a computer.
“You can bet your ass he took the credit for your mission to Poitiers,” said Friday.
Taylor was amused by Friday’s vocalisation recently. He had always been a man of few words. Maybe he just never had much that was important enough to voice an opinion, thought Taylor. The war had put many of their troubles into perspective. The petty squabbles in their lives seemed to be exactly that.
“Undoubtedly,” replied Chandra. “But had it gone wrong, it would have been his balls.”
“You think that responsibility is equal to the risks we take with our lives?” asked Taylor.
“No, but we must each play a part.”
The Commander lifted his mug as a greeting to them when he saw them approach. He had a smile on his freshly washed face, as if they were back home and enjoying a relaxing weekend. Deep down they all knew the pressure upon the Commander, and the work that he put in, but they could not help but feel he hadn’t earned his reputation in combat.
“Got any news for us, Sir?” shouted Chandra.
Phillips got to his feet and waved for them to follow him into the building he was sat in front of. They walked through and into a large mirrored elevator that took them fifty metres below the surface where the underground HQ had been established. The doors opened, and Phillips strode out without a word.
Just as the Commander was about to reach the pair of guards stood either side of the Command centre entrance, he veered off down a side corridor, leading the three officers into a smaller meeting room. He slumped down into a chair in the room as they went in behind him.
“Shut the door.”
Friday begrudgingly closed the door behind them. He didn’t like being treated like a ranker, but there was little that could be said on the subject. Phillips looked up to see the three officers stood awaiting some big news. In that moment, his relaxed mood dropped as he realised quite how imposing the troops were in their Reitech suits. Only Taylor wore no armour, but he still carried a rifle and sidearm.
“What have you got for us, Sir?” asked Chandra.
“I have it on good authority that British forces are planning to cross the channel and engage the enemy in northern France. I don’t know when, but the fact remains, that they will not do it until they can see we have brought the enemy to a halt.”
“Well hell, Sir, we did that last week, didn’t you hear?” fumed Taylor.
“I hear you, Major. I am doing everything in my power to convince Field Marshall Copley to launch his attack immediately. We have stopped the enemy once, but they were hot on our tails. We all know too well that we can’t get the equipment we need to the frontline fast enough.”
“And if we don’t get all the support we need, there may not be anyone left to use it,” snapped Chandra.
Phillips nodded in agreement.
“I completely agree. I believe help is imminent. A British offensive in the north could be a game changer.”
“How big an offensive are we talking, Sir?” asked Taylor.
“His Majesty’s armies are fully prepared and ready for war. I have seen reports that Commonwealth forces have flocked to Britain to give assistance. If the British army is landing in France, they’re doing so in number.”
“Alright,” muttered Friday.
“What about the US, Sir, any news?” asked Taylor.
“Not much beyond what you already know. They’re having a hard time of it just as we are, but they are holding. Major, you have been key in the testing of Mr Reiter’s research, and I am sure you have plenty more to give. These Reitech suits are now out of his hands. Find out what he’s working on, and give what assistance you can.”
“But I am cleared to return to the Company, Sir.”
“We both know that isn’t true, Major. There may come a time when we put wounded men out in the field to fight, but they will be desperate times indeed.”
“Are things not already desperate enough?” asked Chandra.
“Look around. The base has been heavily reinforced. The Company is managing perfectly well. There is more to winning this war than being on the frontline.”
Friday smirked in the background. He knew what the Commander was saying. The frustration and pressure of being behind the lines whilst everyone he knew was in danger was not pleasant. So maybe it did take balls to do his job, thought Friday.
“Right now, we need every advantage we can get. Major, you’re up for guard duty this afternoon, is that correct?”
“Yes, Sir. Light duties to give the troops a little rest,” she replied.
“Good, then they can manage without you. Captain Friday will handle that while you assist Taylor. Your continued combat experience while he has been recovering should be valuable.”
Chandra moved to confront the command, but Phillips interrupted her.
“Major, you two have more combined experience in close combat with this enemy than anyone I can think of. You’ll be back to the front line before long. Any work you put in now could save just as many lives as you being out there.”
Both of them knew there was no sense in arguing any further. The more Chandra thought about it, the more she had problems she wanted solutions for. She knew Reiter was the man for the job.
“We’ll get on it, Sir.”
“Good. Your Company is on base duty until further notice while you work on R&D.”
The three officers saluted the Commander and quickly turned and left. None of them spoke until they had got out of the building and once more into daylight and fresh air.
“Captain, we may well have a couple of days rest here. Giving us guard duty was just a simple way of getting our people out of any hard work, and they’ve earned it. We’ve got plenty more numbers than are needed for the area we have been posted. Be sure to get some e-readers and music up there. There are also beds that you can use on rotation.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“This is a rare chance for the Company to recuperate, so use it well.”
Friday nodded as he turned and strode quickly back towards the Company who lay scattered about at a staging ground.
“I am guessing that nose wasn’t busted in a fall?” asked Taylor.
Chandra smiled. It was one of the
many near-death experiences she had faced of late. Having survived it, she could now look back on it with humour and analyse it further.
“Those things are deadly up close. I was lucky.”
“Then clearly we have an agenda for Reiter.”
* * *
Reiter sat in his office chair with his back to them. He stared out of the tall pane of glass that looked onto his research centre. A few employees worked casually in the room, but it was the quietest Taylor had ever seen it. The two officers could only see the scientist’s mostly baldhead. A small grey patch of hair was all that remained of his hair. Even though they could not see his face, they could both tell he was frowning.
“Sir? You okay?” asked Chandra.
He swivelled round in his chair and glared at the Major.
“I hold no rank here. You are the officer. You can call me Doctor Reiter, or by my first name, if you would consider us close.”
“What’s going on here, Doc? Production is delayed, and we need the kit. Why’s this place so quiet?”
“Manufacturing is out of our hands. We’ve been ordered to move on with further development of new ideas.”
“Well, why aren’t you?”
Reiter sighed at the insult.
“Mr Taylor. I have not stopped working my entire life. But without the resources and manpower I need, there is little more I can do.”
“What do you mean?” asked Chandra.
“Most of my staff has been re-assigned to manufacturing plants to oversee the production of the equipment I designed. I am getting few deliveries of the supplies and resources I need. There isn’t a lot I can do.”
Taylor sighed and paced around the room.
“I am sure this has all been necessary, Doc. The only thing that matters right now is getting that hardware into combat.”
Reiter nodded.
“Then why are you here?”
Taylor shook his head. He realised that he was asking just the opposite of the wise scientist.
“Command wants us to oversee your future developments.”
Reiter coughed. He was in part amused and insulted at the same time.
“I appreciate the problems you are dealing with,” said Chandra. “But you have to understand, we all face the same hardship. Our Company isn’t getting the replacements we need. We aren’t getting the support we need. Times are tough, and we have to manage.”
Reiter nodded. He knew what the Major was saying was right before she’d said it, but he couldn’t help but feel sidelined.
“I can’t believe you’ve got nothing new on the drawing board?” asked Taylor.
Reiter swivelled around in his chair once again and smiled, as he looked out into his facility with his back to the two officers. Taylor squinted to look at a large item that two of the staff were lifting up onto a table. It appeared to be of a similar construction to the armour of the Reitech suits, but in a large rectangular sheet with grips on one side and a small window. He stepped around the scientist’s desk to get a closer look but could not identify what he was looking at. He turned quickly to ask a question of Reiter but was interrupted.
“I am still working with what I have, Major.”
The scientist smiled. Chandra stepped around to join the other two and marvel at the object. She already knew it would be a fascinating creation, but she just didn’t know its purpose yet. Taylor couldn’t wait any longer.
“What the hell is it?” he insisted.
Reiter gestured towards the suit Chandra was still wearing from her mission.
“The armour on the suits which you are wearing has proven successful, yes?”
“Damn right. It has saved more than a few lives.”
“But its coverage is still limited. A suit of such armour would weigh more than double what the exoskeleton could hope to manage. That doesn’t even take into account the problems of joints and other such weaknesses.”
“Then what?” Taylor asked.
“My dear, Major, we do what fighting men have done for centuries. Carry a shield!”
Mitch looked into the lab with a dumbfounded expression. A shield was something utterly quaint and antiquated to his mind. He turned back around with the same shocked look.
“You’re not serious?”
“I most certainly am, Major. The shield has throughout history proven to be the simplest, cheapest and most effective protection, when all things are considered. It provides the most coverage for its weight. It can be manufactured quickly and repaired just as easily.”
“Then why aren’t we using them already?”
“Look at the thing,” exclaimed Chandra. “Those two techs are struggling to move it.”
“Indeed. A shield that can withstand such high ballistic and thermal conditions will weigh eighty kilos or more, and a weight that will present no problem to the wearer of that suit.”
He pointed to Chandra’s equipment with pride.
“Come on, let’s take a look.”
Moments later, they stood before the huge slab shield which lay on top of the table. The construction was crude with huge visible bolt threads and a handle that looked as if it had come off a truck.
“We have salvaged what parts we could for this project. Things are a bit short, right now.”
Taylor stepped up beside the shield and passed his hand over the metalwork. It felt cold and dull, just like the armour they wore with a slightly rough mottled texture. The composite material had remained a secret ever since it had been fitted to armoured vehicles two decades before. He slipped his fingers beneath it and attempted to lift. Mitch’s face strained as his muscles tensed, and the shield didn’t move.
He placed his other hand alongside his first and put some effort in, lifting the shield edge from the table before dropping it clumsily back down onto the table. The vast shield landed with a crash that made the scientists cringe.
“Jesus, this thing weighs a tonne!”
Taylor took a step back and shook his head in astonishment at the creation.
“You think our suits can handle this?”
Reiter turned to Chandra and gestured for her to try. She stepped forward uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the pessimistic Taylor. She circled the table as she intently studied the device. It was so simple, and yet to her it was utterly alien. The Major reached forward, placed her hand on the grip of the shield and lifted.
Taylor gasped as Chandra lifted the device as if it were a bottle of water. She twisted it in to a comfortable grip as she moved it around and studied its coverage. The viewing window was made from inch thick ballistic plastic, affording at least some visibility. She turned head on to Taylor and hunched down behind the shield to allow him a view of its defensive ability.
“With this device, you will achieve at least ninety percent frontal protective coverage. You will be able to cover open ground in safety and fight where no cover exists,” claimed Reiter.
Taylor nodded in astonishment at the facts he was being told. He was already starting to appreciate the potential for Reiter’s device. It was in so many ways simple, and yet a beautifully efficient solution to their problem.
“With these shields, you will become the medieval knights of the modern era. You will be able to advance like armoured vehicles and move like infantry.”
Taylor stepped up to Chandra, who stood with the shield in a guard position as if it weighed nothing at all.
“No strain at all? You can keep that up?” he asked.
Chandra squinted at him, trying to understand if he was picking on her for being a woman, or if he was just being serious.
“Barely notice it, nothing worse than carrying a rifle.”
Taylor looked down at the launcher resting at her side.
“Pick it up, your weapon.”
Chandra reached for the grip with her right hand, and then hesitated as she realised she didn’t have her other arm to use with it. The Major lifted the weapon clumsily against the shield, trying to find a way to aim it fro
m the protection of the shield.
“Ah, yes, you have found the next dilemma.”
Taylor spun around on the spot with a furious expression.
“Dilemma? What good is the shield if we can’t use our weapons?”
“I will remind you, Major, that this is an experimental department. We develop solutions to problems. We have found a solution to the armour problem, and we will take it from there.”
Taylor shook his head. God damn it, we haven’t got time to waste on shit that won’t work, he thought.
“I know your frustrations, Major, but this is life in research and development. I already have a few ideas on how to solve this problem. I just need a little time.”
“Time? Shit, Doc, that’s the one thing we definitely haven’t got.”
“Mitch!” shouted Chandra.
The marine officer turned at the call of his superior. She glared at him, and he instantly knew it was his cue to back down. He took a deep breath and turned back to the scientist.
“I’m sorry, but these aren’t easy times for any of us. Your equipment has been saving lives, and that’s making a big difference. I can see technology here that could be a real game changer, but you have to work faster.”
“Then I beg that you convince your leaders to allocate more resources and manpower to my operations.”
Chandra placed the shield down on the table beside her and pulled the Doctor around gently from his shoulder.
“Listen, I can see what you are doing here, and we desperately need everything you have to offer. If resources and manpower are what you need, then we will see it done.”
The scientist nodded gratefully.
“Thank you, truly. You have all given me the greatest opportunities to develop my work here.”
“No, Doc, thank you.”
She turned back to Taylor.
“Let’s get this man what he needs!”
Battle Earth III Page 2