Battle Beyond Earth: Resurrection (16 page)

“Bullshit,” replied Taylor, “So we took a beating. We gave one, too. If you aren’t willing to accept the losses to fight for our survival, then maybe you are the wrong woman for the job.”

“And you think we can win this?”

“Always, and if you don’t believe it, you don’t deserve to be here.”

Cohen was shaking her head and began to weep.

“You didn’t answer the question,” he added, “Do you really believe?”

“Always. I wasn’t born to lose.”

He looked back at Jones and Hariz who stood waiting for him.

“I need a pilot to join my team, permanently. You want the job?” he asked Hariz.

“Yes,” she replied confidently.

She was beaming with enthusiasm. He couldn’t understand where that was coming from, but he was going to run with it.

“You can’t just poach my crew,” replied Cohen.

Her voice was shaky, and Taylor only shook his head, but it was Jones who stepped up.

“Actually, Sir, I have the personal authorisation of the President of the Alliance to acquire any and all resources that the Colonel requires. Lieutenant Hariz is ours now.”

There was no fight left in the Commander. Taylor didn’t know whether to be glad Jones had grown some balls or depressed that Cohen had lost hers, but either way, he was glad to have Hariz on board.

"Please wait here," said one of the guards outside the conference room on Ares 4 where Jones had previously been hauled up before Alliance leaders. He hated having to return there, but this time he had Taylor leading him. They were both still wearing their crude armoured suits. They were unarmed but were still an imposing sight. The Colonel ignored the command he had been given.

"Stop! You can't go in there!" yelled the man who had tried once before.

He went for his sidearm, but Taylor simply put his hand on the centre of the man's torso and shoved him quickly. He flew back and bounced off the wall. The doors opened, and the two of them strode in with security hot on their tail. They went straight to the centre of the room, and Taylor could sense the guns pointing at his back now.

"Stand down!" a voice boomed.

Taylor turned around and looked for the source. It was Jafar. The security immediately stopped in their tracks.

"Get out!" Jafar roared.

The security went back with their tail between their legs.

"What is the meaning of this?" President Isaacs asked.

Taylor looked over to him and back to Jafar, without even looking at the name plaque projected over him.

"Who is this?"

But Isaacs answered, "I am the President of the Allied races. Who, Sir, are you?"

"This is Taylor," replied Jafar.

"Taylor? This is Taylor? The man we resurrected from the twenty-second century? He doesn't look like much."

"No, but you couldn't ask for a better fighter, and a better friend."

The alien strode across the room and wrapped both arms around Taylor in a bear-like hug. He was clearly in the later stages of his life. His blue skin had faded and become deeply wrinkled. And yet with his age seemed to have come growth. He now stood almost as imposing a figure as Erdogan once had.

"Could have brought me back at a better time, don't you think?" Taylor asked him.

"There could not have been a better time. This is what you were born for," said Jafar, as he let him go and returned to his position. It was then that Taylor noticed Irala standing beside Jafar. He didn't appear to have aged a day. Taylor lifted up his hand and gave a casual and friendly salute to the Aranui Councillor.

"What is it we can do for you?" Isaacs asked Taylor.

"You've got some psycho queen bitch roaming the galaxy, and I don't see a lot of work going on to stop her. Where are the fleets? Where are the armies?"

"The fleet that we sent into Cholan space was already the largest armada in a hundred years."

"And it wasn't enough. So where is the rest?"

"Colonel Taylor, I do not much like your tone. You may be a simple man from simple times, but I still do not believe it would have been acceptable to talk to your superiors in this fashion, even back then."

"Of course it fucking wasn't, but sometimes someone has to cut through the bullshit and say it how it is."

"Okay, Colonel. I will entertain this for a moment, but only because Lord Jafar has spoken so highly of you. Tell us, how it is."

Taylor shook his head but continued anyway.

"You are facing a vastly superior enemy. I know a thing or two about that. We took the biggest fleet out to face them, and I'd be willing to bet that what we took was only just a fraction of their strength. They are going to cut a path through this universe with no one able to stop them."

"And you have some idea on how to do things differently? Some great plan?"

"I've got an idea. It's almost a plan."

"Then please, enlighten us."

"Okay. You, we...whatever, we cannot stop this enemy. The Aranui have already told us how dangerous they were the last time they were encountered. I've seen the extent of the forces you can put together, and it ain't enough, in quality or quantity. Throw everything you can muster against them, and we’ll still lose."

"So you are saying this is it? We have already lost."

"No," Taylor quickly replied, "I am telling you that we must do something differently. You have God knows how many worlds, access to resources, manpower. The only resource we do not have is time. With enough time, I believe we could build the fleets and armies needed to take this battle on, but right now, we're fucked."

"But how can we buy time?" asked Isaacs in amazement, "You have said yourself that we do not have the fighting capability."

"No, we don't. But you’re thinking this all wrong. Every step of the way we have been on the defence here, always on the receiving end. It's time we struck a blow back that resonated through their race. Something that will stop them in their tracks, and give us the time we need."

"And how long do we need?"

"Six to nine months, I'd say."

Isaacs gasped.

"You're living in a dream. You want to attack a technologically superior enemy, and somehow think you can make a difference?"

"I didn't say I had all the answers, but I am telling you that if we do not bring this invasion to a standstill, I don't think any one of us will be here in a year's time."

Isaacs looked around the room for some comment. Nothing came, and he didn't expect it to, but then to everyone's surprise, Irala stepped forward.

"There may be a way," he stated calmly.

"Then spill it," replied Taylor.

The alien looked uneasy and unsure of whether to continue.

"Don't bullshit me now. You know I want only what is best for us all," said Taylor.

"If you know something that could make a difference, please do not withhold it from us," pleaded Isaacs.

Irala still looked very unsure. He looked to Jafar and then into Taylor's eyes.

"Please," said Taylor.

"Very well. But the information that I am about to disclose to you has kept my people safe for thousands of years. I tell you now only because I fear we may not survive this war either way."

Taylor shook his head, for he wasn't willing to accept that fact.

"You are all aware of the technology my people possess. We are able to jump ships and fleets throughout the galaxy without need of gateways. This is a technology that we have safeguarded to protect our existence. It was once stolen from us by the Lord Erdogan, and you must all be aware of how close that took us all to destruction."

Taylor nodded in agreement.

"But the Morohta also possess such technology."

"Then why do they not merely jump to our homeworlds and attack them directly?" Isaacs asked.

"Because Bolormaa is a cruel being. She revels in the suffering and angst of those she destroys. She will break each race down piece by piece."

"Back to the gateways, what about them?" Taylor asked.

"The secrets of their operation are hidden deep within our homeworld of Onesaka. You see no ship can navigate jumps through space without a navigation hub, an immensely powerful facility hidden in the core of our planet. Erdogan began to understand that, and for a while he came close to possessing full jump capacity, as we know it."

"So without it your ships cannot jump?"

"They have the capability, but not safely. No Captain would ever make a jump without access to the hub. It would likely be suicidal."

"Where are you going with this, Councillor?" Isaacs intervened.

"The Morohta possess the very same technology. If you want to buy our Alliance time to prepare for this war, then destroying that hub is the only way."

Groans and sighs echoed around the room, and Isaacs simply laughed at the insanity of what was being suggested.

"Are you out of your mind, Councillor? You want us to send a fleet into enemy space, even if we knew where that was, and to attack their most carefully guarded facility? How can that ever be successful?"

The room went silent as everyone dwelled on their situation.

"How much time would it buy us?" Taylor finally asked.

"A Navigation gateway is extremely complex. If destroyed completely, it would take up to a year for us to replace. It is unlikely the Morohta could do it much quicker."

Taylor's eyes lit up with the prospect.

"But that does not change the fact that this is nothing but a dream," stated Isaacs, "We do not know where it is, and you have said yourself that we do not have the strength to face them and win."

"I didn't say we couldn't beat them in a fight," replied Taylor, "Just that we can't carry on the way we are going. With a concentrated effort, and with the element of surprise, I believe we could make this work."

"You're still just dreaming, Colonel. You know nothing about this hub."

"No, but I intend to find out. Use me. I am a weapon. Point me in the right direction, and let me raise hell."

He turned back to Irala.

"Can you find their hub?"

"It will be dangerous, but I believe so, yes."

They both looked to Isaacs for a decision. He slumped back in his chair and rested his head in his hands.

"I can't condone this," he said in a muffled voice, "We would have to commit resources that are needed to defend our colonies."

Even as he said it, a Cholan advisor rushed into the room and to their Ambassador. Everyone waited to hear the news, but they already knew what it was likely to be. The Cholan Ambassador looked sick to his stomach as he got to his feet with weak knees and spoke out with a shaky voice.

"The planet of Uxmal has fallen to the Morohta."

"Fallen? Completely?"

The Ambassador nodded to President Isaacs.

"One billion Cholans lived on that world. None of them had time to escape. The fleet in orbit was mostly destroyed. Only three vessels escaped to bring us this news. President, I am here on behalf of my people to ask you to do anything in your power to make this stop. We cannot survive this. And we have no doubt that when the Morohta scourge is finished with us, they will come for each and all of you. You must act now."

"We cannot send another fleet into Cholan space. We cannot afford such losses again. I am sorry," said Isaacs.

"Then you will let us die, one by one?"

"No!" Taylor shouted, "I will not."

He couldn't help but feel for the Cholan people, even though he still knew almost nothing about them. He thought back to Earth, and how heart wrenching to lose it once.

"You will not act without Alliance agreement, Colonel."

"Then don't force me to. This is our chance, probably the only one we will have, unless anyone in this room can think of something better. Give me access to what I need, and I will do everything in my power to succeed. Know that I never ask anyone to do what I would not. I will lead this. I will deliver the crushing blow with my own two hands if I need to."

"Is it not true that you have a death wish, Taylor? As has been reported by even your own second-in-command, Lieutenant Jones?"

Taylor looked around in surprise at the Lieutenant, and he could tell instantly that it was true.

"You said that?" he whispered.

For a moment he felt betrayal like a knife in the back.

"I believed it."

"And you still do?"

Jones shook his head and stepped past Taylor to address the President directly.

"Sir, when I wrote that report, I did not understand the Colonel. I did not agree with him being back, and I resented being attached to his team. But these past few days, I have seen changes in myself, and those who went with the Colonel, that I could never have imagined. I was wrong, and I am not ashamed to admit that."

"So you would follow Taylor on this mission, knowing the dangers?"

"I would, without a single hesitation. I know my history Mr President, and the one thing I know is that Taylor has achieved success in situations that you could never imagine another doing so, or even surviving the experience. Please put your trust in him, as I have learned to."