Battle Earth VIII (Book 8) (6 page)

Dupont looked around again at the devastation all around Taylor.

"Do you destroy everything where you go?"

Taylor smiled in response.

"I never look for these fights. They just seem to land in my hands, or some wise ass throws me in the shit."

"It's good work here. We came so close to losing our evidence. Voice recordings, video footage, documented evidence; they are all pointless without the specimen as proof. We could have lost that, and now we have furthered our inventory."

"Where do we go from here?"

"I've got a meet arranged with UEN representatives, and you're just the man I need for it."

"Not going yourself, Sir?"

He shook his head. "Can't risk it, and anyway, your name means a lot to many people. If anyone can get the point across, it's you."

"I'm no ambassador or negotiator. I'm a marine, a fighter. You want to send a fighter to try and negotiate for peace? Only way I know how to win peace is to kill the enemy."

"You'll do just fine."

Well that's fucking great,
he thought.

"Get to the hospital and have them make sure you're all okay, and go see Jones' wife while you're at it. I want you and your senior officers for a briefing at 1300 hours."

He dropped the pole, threw the head over so that it rolled to a halt beside the clone’s body, and strode on out, leaving the soldiers in amazement at what they had seen. As he headed towards the hospital, he realised just how much he ached from the fight. The wrench strike to the arm had hit the bone in his forearm, and it was now swelling and a little numb.

Sometimes he felt as if he and his unit did everything in the war, and then he arrived at the hospital and was reminded how small a part they played in the overall picture. Parker was waiting for him at the door.

"What the fuck's going on?" she asked.

"You know Jones came back to us yesterday?"

"Yeah."

"It wasn't Jones."

"Shit."

"No kidding."

They walked on into the hospital to find Dubois, but they found an empty room. Mitch grabbed a nurse walking by.

"Sergeant Dubois, she was in this room, where is she now?"

"In surgery, Sir," he replied.

"Dubois? What's she doing here?" asked Eli.

Taylor couldn't bring himself to explain it, and he'd had enough of the stuffy air inside the hospital. It was air conditioned, but like all hospitals, it never smelt or felt good. He stepped outside and sat at a bench beneath a shelter extending over the front of the building, resting his head back against the wall. The sun was up now and it was baking hot; his exhaustion made him fall asleep where he sat.

It was an hour later when he awoke and found Parker still sitting beside him. A shadow passed over him, and he saw the silhouette of a man in front of him. He cupped his hand over his eyes to see it was Jones, though he barely recognised him. He wore casual civilian trousers and a loose khaki shirt. He had a beard now, longer hair, and looked nothing like the strictly disciplined Captain Jones he had known so well. It was at this point he thought if he had been in contact with his old friend, he would have known the clone to be false.

"Is it really you?" asked Taylor.

"I should have known you'd be at the centre of all this," replied Jones.

Taylor got up off his feet and offered out his hand in friendship, but Jones would not take it.

"Of course it's me, who else would I be?" he responded bluntly.

"Trust me, we've got a lot to discuss."

"I didn't come here to join you. I didn't come to fight. I came here for my wife."

Taylor was surprised to hear it. He thought Charlie might have finally come around, and it was a great disappointment to hear it was not the case.

"She out of surgery yet?" he asked.

Taylor shrugged and looked to Eli who didn't have an answer either.

"I'd like to know as much as you do."

"Did you speak to her when she arrived?"

Taylor nodded. "I told her you'd come back to us, and you had. That's what we need to talk to you about. Captain Charlie Jones drank with us last night, and this morning cut a bloody path through this base. It was because of Dubois I discovered he was not you, but too late to save as many lives as I would have liked."

Jones didn't seem to care for any of what he was saying.

"I want to see her," he responded.

Taylor led him inside to the room where he had first seen Dubois and was glad to see she had returned. They stepped through into her room, and she smiled on seeing Jones approach.

He looked over to the nurse tending her.

"How is she?"

"Well, she should make a full recovery in a few months."

A tear dropped down his cheek as he took her hand.

"I almost lost you."

"But you didn't," she replied.

Dubois was drowsy and barely able to stay awake.

"She needs plenty of rest," said the nurse.

Dubois beckoned for Jones to come a little closer, so he knelt in, but they could all just about hear Dubois' faint voice.

"I want you to do something for me," she said.

"What? Anything," he replied.

"Fight, fight for us."

He stood upright and looked into her eyes to see her sincerity and knew what he must do. It was a moment of clarity he'd not known in a long time. He turned to Taylor who could see new life in his old friend’s face.

"These bastards mean to take everything from me, and I don't intend to let them without a fight. I want my commission back," he snapped.

"You have it."

* * *

Inter-Allied was formed up and anxiously waiting to hear what was coming next.

"All gather in!" Taylor ordered.

They were a little shocked at his relaxed approach and ambled forwards.

"Come on!" he yelled.

"We have a new mission on our hands, but not for the Regiment; for just six of us. No mission we have ever undertaken has been safe or with any certainty of returning, and this is far from an exception to the rule. Six of us are going to a meet with the enemy where we frankly have no idea what to expect, or if they'll keep they word of a ceasefire. I am gonna ask for volunteers."

"I'll go with you," Jones added quickly.

Taylor knew it wasn't a good idea throwing him into a situation so soon after returning to service and with the stress of his wife's hospitalisation, but he could not say no to an old friend. He nodded in appreciation.

"I'll go," stated Grey.

Taylor shook his head.

"I'd be glad to have you at my side, but should this mission fail, and we not return, the Regiment will need experienced officers to move forward."

Taylor waited outside his quarters for Jones who was making use of his room. The door finally opened, and Jones stepped out like a new man, standing tall and proud like he used to. He was clean-shaven and his hair shaved at the back and sides.

How sad that all he needed to recover was the near death of his wife. Although it was as much what she said as what has befallen her.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, do we not?” asked Jones.

“More than you can imagine and then some,” replied Taylor.

“Then I am in this till the very end with you. Whatever it takes for my Dubois to lead a life of peace. I will hunt all those who wish to destroy us to the end of the galaxy, should it be required.”

Taylor smiled. He appreciated the sentiment, but he tried to lighten the tone.

“Dubois? You’re married, and yet still call her by her family name?”

“It is how I first knew her. Her name is Coco, Coco Dubois, and that is how I will always know her.”

“Sounds like it’s working out for you, unlike your first marriage.”

Jones smiled, the first time Taylor had seen him smile in years.

“Don’t remind me.”

For the first time in a long time, he saw hope that his closest band of friends were returning to what they were, unstoppable. He only wished they hadn’t lost so many along the way.

“You know what you are fighting for now? What drives you now? It’s what has fuelled the fire inside me all these years. You think I don’t want to settle down to a quiet life with a beautiful woman, too?”

“No,” Jones replied quickly.

Taylor was surprised by his brisk retort.

“I think you enjoy this. Never have you been more content than when you had an enemy to fight. You thrive on it, and it is why you lead us. You are the purest fighter among us. Unwavering, unflinching. You are the perfect soldier.”

Taylor didn’t know whether to take it as a compliment or an insult, for it could be both in equal measure.

“Except I’m no soldier, I’m a marine.”

“You used to be. What are you now as an officer in the European Alliance Army?”

Taylor didn’t have a response. His Marine heritage had been drummed into him his entire life, as he had done to all under his command. He doubted the feeling would ever leave him, but it was food for thought. He was born into a world where he had the weight of the United States armed forces backing him, and that was gone now. It was a feeling of safety and security he had taken for granted and now cause for concern to have lost it.

“Don’t be offended now, Charlie, but before we go anywhere, you are walking through the x-ray scanners which identify Krys agents. I hope you understand.”

“Has every one of our Regiment been through them?”

Taylor nodded.

“Then I should not like to be the odd man out.”

Fifteen minutes later they stood before Dupont and several other EA representatives. Taylor wondered if anyone else ever got such dangerous and specialist missions. The wars had been fought on many fronts and by many millions of people, but all he saw is what was before his own eyes.

“Today is the day we have our opportunity to end this war,” stated Dupont. “Not through weight of arms, not through a wonder weapon, or by casualties inflicted and lost, but by knowledge. This war was not started by humans, and yet we fight one another all the same.”

He looked around to all standing before him, as they nodded in agreement and hoped that such a plan could work.

“The meet shall take place in Basel at 1500 hours. Colonel Taylor, you are to act as representative of the EA, and as such will intend no violence while under the banner of peace, unless violence is conducted against you.”

“And should we expect it?”

“I hope not, Colonel. We have to pray common sense still prevails among our former comrades-in-arms, but I would not rule out the possibility of an attempt against you. With your name and reputation, you are an invaluable representative for us, but also a key target for our enemy.”

“So I’m being used as bait?”

“No, Colonel. I am placing you in danger, as I believe your name and reputation may be enough to sway officers who may otherwise not be swayed.”

More ways of saying I’m getting fucked both ways,
he thought. Taylor didn’t like any of what he was hearing.

“You can’t honestly believe this can work?” he asked dubiously.

“I do,” snapped Dupont. “It is what we have been working for long and hard week after week so that we can save lives, thousands, maybe even millions. If the Krys are setting us upon one another, it is only in order divide and conquer, and we cannot let that happen. Or do you not consider your life worth risking for the potential of saving millions?”

It was hard for Taylor to argue with that. He just wished it were someone else's neck on the line for once.

"You will take a single copter and six personnel, including yourself and a pilot to Basel, where you shall be met by an equivalent contingent sent by General Schulz. He assures me that he is sending one of his most trusted officers and guarantees your safety, providing you abide by the ceasefire that has been negotiated. You may take weapons, but be very careful about how you present yourselves. You may not fire or be seen to attempt to use your weapons, unless you are absolutely certain that your lives are in danger. I recommend you take only the coolest of minds on this one."

"Sounds like the perfect trap to capture the Colonel to me," said Jones. "Which would be a major blow to your cause and a huge victory for the UEN."

"I am aware of that problem, Captain."

"Aware of that problem?" asked Parker. "You could be sending us to our deaths, and that's all you have to say?"

"Yes, Sergeant, and I do not know why you are even present here when you lack seniority and have little to add."

"Enough!" Taylor interrupted.

Dupont was surprised he spoke out but knew they all needed to cool off.

"Sergeant Parker is a vital asset in the Regiment, but that does not excuse her tone," he said, glaring at her. She was silenced but not at all happy.

"I send troops out every day and with a good chance they'll die," said Dupont. "I don't like it, but that's my job. In this instance, I'm risking six to save God knows how many. Good odds and a calculated risk worth taking, wouldn't you say?"

She couldn't argue with that, but emotion was getting the better of her. For she would have any others risked in the mission besides Taylor.

"I have to wonder why we can't do this remotely?"

"I wish we could, Colonel, but I do not want any chance of the information discussed to be intercepted by third parties, and there is no way to be sure of security. Additionally, you will travel with and deliver genetic material which is proof of the Krys agents."

"Genetic material?"

"Armand's head. It has everything they need to know, and we get to retain a live specimen."

"That abomination should be put down," Jones snapped.

"I can understand your feelings on the matter, Captain, but the survival of that clone is essential, the only living proof of Krys clone technology."

"On that note, I have to bring it up, but how do we know they cannot clone any of us?"

"The official word from Rossi is we just don't know. However, Captain Jones spent considerable time as a prisoner of the enemy involving experimentation we never fully understood. Her educated guess is that they require substantial genetic material to replicate, and, or physical access to the subject."

Another load of maybes, great,
thought Taylor. He looked to Charlie as they discussed the darkest time in the Captain's life, but he seemed completely disassociated with the subject.

"Taylor, you understand what is going on here better than almost anyone. I trust in you to get the point across and reinforce it with the evidence supplied to you. I wish you every luck."

Taylor nodded in agreement and left. It was one of the shortest briefings he had ever attended, which was especially bizarre, considering the importance of the endeavour they were about to embark on. As they walked away from the brief, Taylor looked to Grey. He had become his right hand man since Jones had been gone.

"Assemble the Regiment."

"Everyone?"

"Yeah, at the drill square."

"Yes, Sir," he replied and hurried off, yelling commands through his comms channel.

Parker seemed surprise at the order and looked to Mitch for answers.

"If whoever goes on this mission doesn't return; it is important that the Regiment goes on as we intended."

"Regiment? When did that happen?"

"It's a long story, Charlie, but don't get your hopes up. It's a title awarded only in name and to give us some independence in our operations."

"What's the current strength?"

"About two hundred, give or take considering recent casualties."

"Two hundred? Not even close to battalion strength."

"Like I said."

Corporal Herrera and Silva took a pace forward simultaneously.

"That's four."

As he said, it Acosta leapt forward enthusiastically. Taylor could see he was trying to make an impression and had jumped before he had thought, but he liked that.

"Five, good."

He looked over to the copter crews who were milling about together at the edge of the circle.

"Last one needs to be a pilot to get us there, just one. We cannot spare the number for a co-pilot. Who'll it be?"

"Well, hell," said Rains. "Only one of us is crazy enough to fly you, Colonel."

He knew Eddie would be the man for the job.

"All right, that's it. I want you all to know what we're doing here and what's at stake. We have a chance to end this war, with proof of Krys involvement being the catalyst of it all. It could all end tomorrow. Or we six could be dead, and the war goes on anyway. Should that happen, Grey will have command of the Regiment and Sgt Parker will receive an immediate field commission as Grey's second. That will be my final orders should we fall, have you all got that?"

They grunted in approval.

"I said have you got that?"

The response that came was a mixed mess of "Aye, aye, Sir!" from the marines and "Yes, Sir!" from the British soldiers amongst them. It brought a smile to Taylor's face.

"Okay, then. We've got an hour till we depart. For those coming with me, grab your gear and be ready to move. The rest of you, you're under Captain Grey's command until I return. Fall out!"

Parker came right up to him with an amused expression.

 
"So all it would take for me to get a commission is your death? Seems a reasonable price," she jested.

Taylor passed off the comment; his mind was too focused on the seriousness of their situation.

"If I don't come back, you must step up and be the officer this unit needs. Inter-Allied has been a key driving force in winning the wars we have had to suffer through, and it must remain so. The World looks to us for inspiration, for courage, and for resolve. If we have none, where does that leave the World?"

"But you're not gonna die, you can't."

He took her hands.

"Yes, I can. We all can. But this Battle for Earth is about more than one man. Remember that."

"Not for me it isn't," she replied.

He put his hand to her cheek, realising she truly meant it.

"You're coming back from this because I need you."

"Then I'll make it back."

His hand slipped from her cheek, and he stepped past to join the volunteers who were awaiting him.

"All right, this is a peaceful meet...supposedly. But let's just try and remember when we've ever met an enemy and got away without a fight?"