Taylor smiled.
“That’s cute,” he added, but the sarcasm went right over her head.
“What now, Colonel?”
“We wait, assemble what we can, this mongrel unit that we are going to make,” he said jovially, “Let’s just hope Turan can get his people on board.”
“He will,” she replied confidently.
“Then we find Jafar, find some lead, and we follow it.”
“Just like that?” she asked in bewilderment.
“Just like that,” Taylor smiled.
His confidence gave her both hope and concern all at the same time, and she didn’t know quite how to respond. He walked out of the room with her close on his heels.
“Really, what now?”
“The pieces are in play. Get some rest. You need it. We all do.”
They carried on to their quarters without another word until they reached their prospective doors that were just a few metres apart. Taylor stopped at the door hesitantly, and Sommer did the same.
“We are going to win this war, aren’t we?” she asked.
“Of course we are, and you keep telling yourself that.”
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t look like you believe it, how can anyone under your command?”
With that, he put his hand on the pad. The door slid open, and he stepped inside without another word. It wasn’t the answer she had been looking for, and even though she understood it, she was desperate for a more reasoned argument.
The door shut behind Taylor, and he stood there looking at the bed. The sheets hadn’t moved since he and Alita left them the last time. He hadn’t even been back since then. He couldn’t face it and wasn’t willing to stop until they had answers, but he had to have some sleep. He was pushing the limits of the stims, and his mind was starting to wander. His vision was beginning to blur, and he felt the stomach turning sickness which excessive use of stims brought on. It was not unlike the sensation of passing through a jump gate, and yet it was almost continuous. He stumbled over to the bed and collapsed onto it with his boots still on.
He breathed in the air. Even the air conditioners could not remove Alita’s scent from the sheets, and it was a warming sensation, but it brought on a hollow and lonely wave of emotion all at once. That woke him back up, and once more he was unable to get the sleep he needed as he wallowed in his sorrows.
“Coco files, play next entry,” he declared.
A projection appeared on the ceiling above him. There she was, looking at him with a smile. She was twelve years older than when he had known her. She was standing on a beach in what looked like the coast of France.
“Taylor, I’m back. I am sorry I haven’t left a message in so long, but life gets in the way. It’s complicated, you know.”
Taylor felt a tear come to his eye, but he didn’t have the heart to wipe it away. He had been kept awake through all the thoughts and worries swirling around in his head, but as his mind wandered to the old days, he felt fatigue set in and finally was at peace.
His sleep turned from comfort to strain as his dreams took him from one battle to another, and one loss to another. Chandra, Eli, Tsengal, the list seemed to go on and on. He felt more and more empty until the point that his mind swayed to the face of Jones. Charlie Jones, his old friend. The best friend he had ever known. And he felt bitterness sink in as he thought of the clone that wore his old friend’s face. He snapped awake and sat up sharply in a sweat.
Clamminess had caused his uniform to cling to his skin. He was still wearing everything from the day before, including his boots. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but to his relief he did actually feel rested. He looked down at his pad to see the time, and his eyes widened as he realised just how long he had been asleep.
“Fifteen hours? Are you kidding me?”
He leapt up from the bed. He was glad of the rest, and angry that he had wasted so much time, in equal measure. He rushed to the basin and threw water on his face before patting himself down. He jumped into his armour as though expecting a fight. He always was. It would have to do. He rushed out of the room and found Sommer and Turan standing outside as if guarding his door.
“What are you doing?” he asked in surprise.
“Waiting for you, Sir,” replied Sommer.
“Why didn’t you wake me sooner?”
“There was no news to give, and you needed the rest,” she replied quickly.
Taylor initially looked annoyed, but they were acting in his best interests.
“You need to be at your best,” added Turan.
“If that were always possible, it would be a welcome thing, but we all know that it is not.”
“No, but you have been running yourself and all of us pretty hard lately. That is not a complaint, but we all needed to take some time out to recharge the batteries.”
“And we have, more than enough. What news do you have?”
Sommer shrugged.
“Nothing much. The war goes on without us. The Cholan platoon has arrived. They boarded about an hour ago. That is all.”
“They look like they are up for much?”
“I haven’t managed to get a word out of them. I can’t figure out if they are well disciplined or just rude.”
“Okay, well, let’s find out.”
She squinted as she tried to understand his meaning, but he didn’t give any more explanation.
“Lead the way.”
Sommer did just that. Taylor shook his head and rubbed his eyes. He was trying to shake off the fatigue of having just woken up, and beginning to appreciate just how exhausted he had been. Though his mind was well awake, his body felt like it had been through hell.
“Turan, have you met these Cholans?”
“Yes.”
“Well?”
“They are small and weak.”
Taylor laughed.
“How did I know you’d say that?”
“They are not strong enough to fight by our side.”
“Yeah? We’ll see about that.”
They soon reached the docking bay to find the Cholan unit formed up as though they had been waiting for him.
“Did you do this?” he asked Sommer.
“No, they must have been like this since we left them!”
“Right, then.”
Taylor turned back to inspect them. He couldn’t help but feel lonely without Jones by his side. He paced up and down with Sommer and Turan at his back as they studied the faces of the Cholans. Like those they had met and fought before, they were of small stature even compared to the average human. They were the size of young teenagers, and that did not impress Turan. Their armour looked far more advanced than anything seen on the Cholans before. It appeared heavily inspired by the suits they themselves wore and powered by a slimline exoskeleton.
“Who is in charge here?”
One of them stepped forward. He wore boards on his armour that denoted some kind of rank, but Taylor wasn’t familiar with what it meant.
“Lieutenant Kaytun, reporting for duty, Sir.”
The voice was soft and feminine, and it struck him that Kaytun was a woman. He didn’t ever remember meeting a female Cholan, or realise that they served in their armed forces. These were well-disciplined troops, just as Tuin had said they would be. Now he wondered if they were up to the standard that had been promised.
“You know why you are here, Kaytun?”
“To carry out your orders, Sir.”
That brought a smile to Taylor’s face.
“There’s the Colonel’s new pet,” Sommer whispered to Turan, who finally broke into a smile. Taylor looked at them with scorn as though he did not approve. Sommer could tell he had heard what she said, and that it was a mistake. She saw in his eyes he intended to call her up on the matter, but he soon turned back to the Cholan.
“Well, Kaytun. Your President tells me that you are his best.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I expect every officer
under my command to lead from the front and be every bit as good a fighter as they lead, and more. Think you fit the bill?”
“Yes, Sir,” she responded calmly.
Taylor nodded slowly. He still wasn’t convinced either way, but he liked the woman’s confidence.
“Care to put your President’s confidence in you to the test?” he asked inquisitively.
Taylor stayed calm and friendly, but nobody was under any illusion that this was a serious test.
“Whatever you require,” replied Kaytun.
Taylor smiled at Sommer.
“That there is Lieutenant Sommer, a relatively new addition to this Regiment, but an experienced combat veteran, and tough son of a bitch to boot. Do you think you can take her down? Unarmed.”
Sommer could see Taylor was killing two birds with one stone. He was testing the new officer and punishing her all at the same time. There was nothing she could do about it, but she didn’t look happy.
“Front and centre, both of you. No weapons. First one to submit, or be unable to get on their own feet, loses.”
Sommer passed off her sidearm to Turan.
“This is crazy.”
Turan shook his head and smiled. He was enjoying every minute of it. She stepped out and faced off against the Cholan who had removed all her weapons, too. They were both wearing full armour but had removed their helmets. Kaytun stood calmly and casually as though she had confidence but no training. Taylor could tell that was all an act. The subtleties in her body language showed she was poised to strike like a deadly snake. He stepped over next to Turan, crossed his arms, and smiled.
“Sit back and enjoy the show,” he muttered.
“Both ready? Begin!”
Sommer rushed forward confidently and aggressively as though she wanted to end the fight quickly, and prove to everyone that the Cholan troops were not even in the same league. Kaytun slipped aside and pushed her so that she lost her balance and tumbled unceremoniously to the ground. The Cholan had used her aggression against her, and that impressed Taylor, but not Turan. Sommer was quickly up on her feet. She had cracked her head on the ground on the way down, but her ego was bruised more than her face. She looked furious but tried to hide it.
She moved forward more cautiously this time, as though she had learnt from her mistake. She jabbed forward, but Kaytun nimbly ducked the blow. Sommer threw another, but stopped short and delivered a kick under the cover the jab had given her. It would have aimed at the thigh were she fighting another human, but instead it levelled for the Cholan’s flank. The impact landed, but much of the power was taken out. Kaytun had folded at the waist and taken hold of Sommer’s leg. She shook to try and get free, but the lock was firm. She was stuck and tried to reach to strike with her hands, but she did not have the distance.
Kaytun lifted her leg further and drove forwards until Sommer lost balance and was once again on her back. She grunted in frustration as she leapt back onto her feet. Kaytun stood as casually and confidently as she had at the beginning. She was toying with Sommer now, who rushed forward aggressively once again. She launched one strike after another in an attempt to overwhelm the smaller fighter, but in the middle of her flurry of punches, Kaytun leapt up and wrapped her legs around Sommer’s throat. The two collapsed to the ground.
Sommer was struggling to breathe and tried to fight out of the Cholan’s grip, but she could not. She was starting to lose consciousness when finally she tapped out and Kaytun released her grip. Sommer gasped for air as she got onto one knee. She looked astonished to have been beaten. She heard the sound of clapping. It was coming from Taylor.
“Size isn’t everything, is it?” he said and looked to Turan.
“Size still requires skill to use,” he added, as if he wanted to take his turn against Kaytun. He took a step forward to challenge her, but Taylor put his hand out and stopped the Krys officer. Taylor was shaking his head.
“She’s more than proven herself. Let’s not grind each other into dust just yet.”
Turan didn’t look pleased, but he still walked over and helped Sommer to her feet.
“No shame, Lieutenant,” said Taylor, “You just learnt a lesson that one day might save your life, and that’s what we’re all about,” he said and looked to Kaytun.
“Lieutenant, it’s an honour to have you join us. Welcome to the Regiment.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“Now do you understand what it is that you are here for? We aren’t continuing the fight with the rest of the Regiment, you know that, right?”
She shook her head. “We are here to follow your orders, and that is all we need to know.”
Taylor smiled.
“I appreciate your loyalty and devotion, but it’s just as important to me that those under my command know what they are getting into. I am not a butcher like some of the officers who lead the men and women under their command to slaughter. We’re in this together.”
“Yes, Sir,” she replied, but she was surprised and didn’t really know how to take it.
Lights flashed off to their flank, and they heard the surge of Aranui engines. Sleek and quiet as ever. A single vessel put down on the far side of the docking bay. Taylor didn’t need to say a word as they all crossed over the bay to feed their curiosity. The ramp dropped down onto the deck, and moments later, two-dozen Guardians strode out and formed up before them.
They were a fraction of the size of the Guardians Taylor had known. They were only a little bigger than Turan in all his armour. They glistened as though made of polished steel, but as they came to a halt, their armour faded into a camouflage scheme to match that which Taylor and his people wore.
“Well, that’s cool,” said Sommer.
One of them spoke, “Colonel Taylor, what are your orders?””
Taylor smiled.
“I guess we’ve got the band together. It’s time to get to work.”
Chapter 3
“You know I can’t approve of this?” Caron asked.
Taylor gritted his teeth. Once again he found himself alone with the President. She seemed sympathetic to his cause, but torn between so many responsibilities.
“However, I’d be a fool to think I can stand in the way of Mitch Taylor. I know my history well enough to see it never ends well for those who do,” she added.
Taylor smiled. He knew it was true, and yet terrible all at the same time.
“I only want the best for those who have stood by me, and in doing so, allow me to keep fighting on.”
“As I said, I cannot approve of this, certainly not officially.”
“Approve of what?” Taylor asked with anticipation.
“We have a lead on the location of the Morohtan Prince Zaya. It is a small lead, but it’s something. Now I cannot approve of you pursuing this lead, certainly not while the fate of Earth hangs in the balance. Anyone in my position must insist that you have a duty to serve the people of Earth first and foremost, and I must maintain that position. If I do not, this administration could collapse before it has even really begun.”
Taylor was silent. She was doing all she could, and he was happy to let her go on. He was relieved that he hadn’t made an enemy of her.
“Your Regiment is staying in this fight, and that is well known. Aside from a few specific members that you have selected.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“This ship also stays put. I know that General Greer arranged for this ship to be made available to you, but times have changed. The Regiment stays here, and the Independence stays as well.”
He was in no position to argue the fact, and he didn’t want to risk angering the President now that he had a good rapport with her. He remained silent.
“That is my official line. What you are about to do, you do on your own. You are going rogue, as you have so many times before. The Alliance doesn’t mind it when you get results. But if you ever come back without results, I cannot guarantee your standing.”
“That’s nothing new
,” he said with a sigh.
“Believe me I know the situation all too well. Everyone is smiles and pats on the back while you are doing well, but they always have the dagger ready to stick in your back when you don’t get the result they want.”
“But you are President of the whole Alliance now.”
“Yes,” she said wearily, “but the Alliance is fragile at best. Plenty of the key players aren’t too happy about my appointment, even amongst the humans. Contact with the Krys and Cholans has been little, and nothing at all from the Aranui.”
“With Irala gone, they don’t want to know.”
She looked shocked and appalled.
“Don’t they know what is at stake here?”
“Believe me, if I could make them understand, I would. Irala kept their connection to humanity and the rest of the Alliance. I don’t know what it was about him, but he was different. His loss was one that we could sorely afford.”
“We can’t afford a single loss in this war, and yet they keep stacking up.”
He saw how exhausted she was by it all. She had aged ten years since that time when they first met.
“That doesn’t mean I won’t help you. I just can’t be seen doing it. The Tusk has just come out of repair and refit. She’s a fairly new light frigate. Her Captain was lost a few weeks ago, along with many of her crew. Officially, I am giving you the Tusk so that you may conduct a diplomatic mission to the Aranui homeworld, in lieu of their recent lack of communication.”
“I appreciate it, I really do.”
“Just remember, Colonel, Bolormaa wants you dead, or perhaps worse. To suffer the loss of everyone you care about before she finishes you. You cannot trust any lead we have. We still have no indication as to whether we can trust Zaya. I would be inclined to say that we can’t. We both know you are a headstrong leader. Don’t run into a trap just because it’s the next step to Bolormaa.”
“Maybe, but I still don’t think she’s as smart or powerful as she wants the universe to believe she is. She’s been weakened, there is no doubt about that.”
“We don’t know anything for sure.”
“No, but life is a gamble, war is a gamble. She’s desperately trying to hold on to her reputation, but if the universe knew what I know about her, they might not think she is the nightmare they have always feared.”
Battle Beyond Earth: Survival Page 4