Battle Earth: 12 (20 page)

“One last time, Sergeant, will killing Erdogan end this?”

Jafar nodded. “Lord Erdogan is the leader of the Krys people, the High Lord. The one who kills him will take his position, or be allowed permission to declare another to stand in his place.”

“Has this ever happened before?”

“Not in my lifetime. Erdogan has ruled for as long as I have existed, and nobody has been strong enough to oppose him.”

“But you think we can?”

“I believe Colonel Taylor can, with help.”

“Well, think you can do it?” White asked of Taylor.

“If the survival of us all depends upon it, I will find a way,” he replied confidently.

Deep down he knew what a monumental threat Erdogan presented, but he could not admit it, or they could never embark on their mission.

“Then it is decided!” Lasure said, “At 1800 hours the fleet will depart for Earth, and we will not come back. We either take our homes back, or we die trying.”

He quickly turned and left, but White remained at Taylor’s side.

“You know what you’ve just gotten us into?”

“The most dangerous and best chance we ever had of winning this war.”

“I sure hope you’re right.”

Silva stepped forward and snatched the drink from Taylor’s hands.

“You’ve got four hours, Colonel. Get some rest. We need you on top form.”

Taylor was appalled at his tone, yet accepted it was true. He stumbled over to his quarters and collapsed into bed just seconds after stripping off his armour. It seemed like no time at all had passed when he felt something tugging on his shirt and awoke to find Silva once more standing over him.

“Is it time already?” he croaked.

Silva smiled. “Afraid so.”

Taylor pulled on his armour and stepped outside to see a very different sight to when he had gone to rest. All but three of the human ships had lifted off, the three that were too badly damaged to take to the skies.

“Irala find us our targets?”

“He sure came through.”

Taylor then watched dozens of small transport craft lift off from the surface. He looked out across to the bar that had accommodated so many thousands of their people. It was dead now. Everything had been left behind.

“You know I’m gonna miss this place, Sergeant.”

“Really?”

“Find a place where you can rest easy at night and not wake up to find some bastard trying to blow your head off, that’s a lot to like.”

“I have had Charlie Company assemble aboard the Baron. Admiral Lasure has requested that we accompany him personally.”

Taylor nodded in response. He knelt down and pressed his hand into the sand until he felt rock beneath. He gripped a pile of the sand and let it pass out of his hand.

“This could be the last time we ever see this place,” he whispered, “It has done us a damn good turn, as has its inhabitants.”

“All things must come to an end, Colonel.”

“Don’t say that. Certainly don’t repeat it. We’ve been fighting to prove otherwise all this time.”

“We should go, Sir.”

Taylor stood back up and followed him to the copter awaiting them. It was one of the last human transports still on the surface. He climbed aboard to find just Jafar and Lang aboard, as well as Rains at the helm.

“We’re going home! And this time it’s for good! Woohoo!” yelled Rains. They shut the door, and he powered up the engines.

“Didn’t think I’d ever regret leaving this place,” said Taylor.

“It is the resting place of Eli, so it was always going to be difficult to leave. But you can come back when this is all over and take her home.”

Taylor shook his head.

“No, she’s been laid to rest, and I shall not trouble her any further.”

They were soon breaking out into orbit where the fleet awaited them. They could see the civilian barges had already separated, and a number of Aranui vessels remained in position around them. Taylor soon found himself strolling on the bridge of the Diderot where Lasure awaited him alongside White and Irala. Much of the bridge had been hastily repaired following the previous engagement.

“Welcome aboard, Taylor,” said Lasure.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this now? Should this fail, we will not get another chance,” said White.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, General. All roads have led to this day. When we left Earth, we were a weak and defeated people. But now it is us who choose the time and place that we fight. Their forces are divided, and it is us who have the element of surprise.”

“We still don’t have the numbers to win in an all out war,” said White, “Not even close.”

“We don’t have to. We aren’t in this for the long fight. All we need do is cause chaos and draw him out.”

“Taylor, I have taken the liberty of selecting targets from a list Irala has compiled for us. We will hit twenty targets. Twelve of which are in Europe where we presume Erdogan is most likely to be. Other targets across the world will ensure we have a presence on every continent, but we will be spread thin in most locations. There are only so many of us.”

“Good. Our opening attacks should strike them hard and remove their capacity to retaliate quickly. I want utter chaos. I want to strike fear into our enemy. We’ll hit them so hard in the first wave that they will dread the second.”

“A second assault that will never come,” White added.

“But they don’t know that.”

“Our attacks on the ground forces, industry, and aircraft on Earth were more successful than you might have imagined,” Irala said, “If we are quick to despatch the fleet in orbit, we will have supremacy of the skies.”

“Almost makes you wonder why we ever left Earth,” said Taylor, “but we were never this strong. We were never this focused, and only through the help of Irala and his people have we made it this far. Can you believe it? For all the hatred we had of aliens, and yet we needed aliens to save us and give us this opportunity to come back? Will you come with me? Will you fight with us?” he asked Irala.

“I will remain aboard the Diderot and man a Guardian. I will be at your side throughout.”

“And when that is destroyed?”

Then I shall take up another. I can be both by your side and here to advise and assist your Admiral.”

“So, General, I assume you have selected a target for my Regiment?” Taylor asked.

“Warsaw,” he quickly replied, “It is home to one of the greatest troops in Erdogan’s army. They are called the Sampions.”

Taylor had never heard the name.

“Warriors from my world, and two others like it,” said Jafar.

“As many as a thousand of them reside in the city itself, with many thousands of Mech warriors supporting them.”

“Reside?”

“They have made it their home, Colonel,” added White, “For most of the Krys the war has been over for some time.”

“And the human populace?”

“Some fled to Ony with us, others were captured and now work as slaves. Many more we don’t know about. Thousands still work in the city itself, serving their Krys masters.”

“We’re ready to jump when you are,” said Lasure.

“Not exactly going into this with a lot of planning?”

“Just your sort of style I thought,” replied White, “I have already had detailed maps of the area sent to your Mappad, as well as a full list of everyone going in with you. You’ll have close to five thousand troops to take the city.”

“So probably the same as they have? And you tell me they’re the elite?”

“Yes, but you’ll be striking with the element of surprise. I thought this would be good odds for you?”

Taylor almost smiled.

“We’ll make it work.”

“Colonel, I want you en route to your destination within three minutes of our arrival. There is no time to waste. In these few short hours we have put more into this operation than I think you can imagine.”

“I understand, Admiral.”

He turned to leave for his craft.

“Colonel, before you go, I have someone who wants to see you.”

He turned and was surprised to see the door to the Admiral’s quarters open, and Coco stepped out. Taylor strode quickly towards her and stopped dead in front of where she stood.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he pleaded.

“She’ll be safe here,” added Lasure, “She’ll have the finest of medical attention and will be as safe as she can be.”

“You still shouldn’t have come.”

“You have already said that if this fails, it is over. I am putting my faith in you, Mitch.”

It was the first time he had been called that by any woman since Eli, and it silenced him completely.

“You can do this, Mitch. You were born to do it. Every day of your life has led you to this. You can win,” she said.

She reached forward and kissed him. He froze and didn’t know how to react. She pulled back and smiled as tears slid down her face.

“We’ll be waiting for you, both of us.”

He couldn’t bring himself to respond or make promises he couldn’t keep. He ran his hand down her cheek and brushed some of the tears away, and finally carried on past her without a single word. He knew there was nothing he could say. More than anything it was a reminder of the friends he had lost, and allies he could well do with now. He stopped at the exit to the bridge and looked back to Lasure and White one last time.

“This is it. There is no retreat. There are no more chances. We do not hesitate, we do not stop, and we do not falter, or we lose. There is no room for weakness or sentiment. We are in this to the very end, victory or death.”

“We’re with you,” said White.

“Initiate jump when ready.”

He turned and left with Jafar by his side.

“You think I got the message across?” Taylor asked him as they strode towards the docking bays.

“Yes.”

“And you?”

“I am ready.”

“For what?”

“Anything.”

Taylor couldn’t argue with that.

“I am surprised they did not insist you stay behind. You are, after all, more important than I am if this works. How did you swing it?”

“I told them I go where you go, and if I am not at the final fight of this war, I will never be accepted as their leader.”

“Fair enough.”

They climbed aboard Rains’ ship and wondered if it would be the last time. Before he could say a word, the Admiral’s voice came over an open comms channel.

“This is Admiral Lasure. You all know what you have to do. This is the greatest and probably last opportunity we will ever have to secure the existence of the human race. Stick to the plan, and see this through. And remember, we have Taylor and his Immortals at the spearhead of this operation. Remember their victories, and go forth to pursue such greatness of your own. Good luck to you all.”

“Well that was short,” Rains laughed.

“What more do you say to a race of people on their last legs about to throw down for one last try?” Silva asked.

“I guess I’d try and be a little more upbeat about it,” he jested with a smile that caused Silva to jab him in the shoulder.

“This really the end?” Morris asked of Taylor.

“Beginning of it, one way or another,” he replied sternly.

“What makes you so sure?”

“My gut.”

“All vessels prepare to jump in five minutes,” said a voice over the comms.

Taylor leaned over Rains’ seat to whisper in his ear.

“All bullshit aside. You’ve been one hell of a pilot. Were it not for you, we would have been dead a long time ago. Just see us through to the end, you hear?”