Battle Earth: 12 (16 page)

"It's okay, you know."

He shook his head as if to not know what she was talking about.

"You're as stubborn as Charlie was."

"What do you want from me?" Taylor asked abruptly.

"We've both lost the ones we love, do we not deserve some consolation?"

Taylor shook his head. He could see what she meant now, and it was just too soon for him, but he could see in her eyes how lonely and desperate she was.

"If you can't be there for me, be there for my son, Jones' son. He will grow up without a father now, and you are the closest thing that he will ever have."

He shook his head again. He could not bear the responsibility.

"You owe him, and you owe me. Most of all you owe our son!" she said, raising her voice.

Taylor was shocked and stunned by the prospect.

"Will you not do this for all of us?"

"I can't," Taylor replied softly.

"Can't? Or won't?"

"I am no father. Even if I survive this war, what kind of father figure do you think I'd make? All I know is how to fight."

"And to love," she quickly added, "You loved Charlie as much as I did. You loved Eli, and you love those who fight beside you. Nobody can replace Charlie as a father, but you can honour him and respect him in doing this."

He thought on it for a moment. It was never a subject he had ever given any thought. He knew the child was not far from birth now. He thought back to Jones and what he might want, and as he did so, the more he realised Coco was right. Quietly, he gave his response.

"If I survive this war, you have my word that I will be there for your son. I can't promise I'll be good at any of it, but I will try."

Coco wept a little in relief.

"You don't know how much that means to me," she replied and leaned forward, reaching once again to lay her hand on one of his, "Thank you."

He still felt uncomfortable with her hand over his. It reminded him of being with Eli, and so he just wanted to reach across and kiss her, and that made him sick to the stomach with guilt. He also couldn't help but feel he was dishonouring Jones' memory by even thinking such of Coco, and she could see that in his face.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of here," she whispered, "Little Charlie needs you. I need you, and you cannot go on alone."

He wanted to accept that, but it felt so wrong. He pulled his hand back and stood up.

"I promise you I will be there for your son," he stated formally, "but I cannot offer you anything else but my friendship."

He quickly knocked back the last of his drink and headed for the bar. It was a lot to take in. For all the responsibility he had ever taken on board in his life, this hit him harder than much of it. He knew Jones would want him to look after Coco and their son, but he'd been too engaged with the war to give them a second thought.

The music went quiet and groans rang out from many around him. He turned to face the podium where addresses had often been made to them. Tens of thousands of military personnel were gathered there, and all were silenced now as they could see the Admiral himself had climbed up top to address them personally. He had been given no formal introduction. Few could get close enough to see his expression, but Taylor was just a few rows back. He could see the smile on Lasure's face.

"Congratulations to all of you!" he began.

Speakers were set up all around the site and carried his voice to every human on the planet, as well as into the ships stationed there.

"Because of your efforts, there are now more humans out here on this world and in this fleet than we arrived with. That's right. Our numbers have strengthened because of your efforts. It's been a long and hard struggle since we left our homes, but I want you all to know that we are making progress. We are winning this war, and time is on our side now. I'm here to tell you that all operations to Earth are suspended for seven days for you all to rest and enjoy yourselves. Because when those seven days are up, we go at the enemy stronger than ever. Relax, rest, and be ready!"

Cheers rang out as the Admiral stepped down from the podium, and the music started back up, but Taylor was one of the very few who wasn't delighted by the news. He pushed through the ranks of partying troops to reach the Admiral. Lasure's people let him through, and he carried on walking beside the Admiral.

"Colonel Taylor, quite the accomplishment you achieved."

"We did all right, but why are we stopping?" Taylor asked abruptly.

"Because we're working our people into the ground. They aren't machines. You may be single minded in this matter, and I think that is at the expense of those under your command sometimes, Colonel. I will not send exhausted personnel into combat when it is not necessary,"

"Necessary?" replied Taylor sternly, "We aren't talking about a small task here, Admiral. We have to take our home back, and that won't be achieved by sitting around drinking beer and sleeping."

The Admiral stopped and turned to face Taylor head on and make eye contact.

"How many men and women under your command have you lost since we left Earth?"

"Too many."

"And how many of those losses have you replaced?"

Taylor sighed. "Not enough."

Lasure reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Look to your people, Colonel. See their spirits remain high and that recruits are brought in as quickly as you can. No good can come of running yourselves into the ground. We need you until the end of this."

He turned and left Taylor alone. He knew Lasure was talking sense, but he still didn't like it. On top of all that, he knew that time off would only allow him to dwell on the guilt he was feeling regarding Coco and the responsibility she had placed on him. Captain King pushed through part of the crowd and appeared before him with a drink in hand that he thrust towards Taylor. He had the same infectious grin that had spread across all who were there.

"Come on, Colonel, enjoy yourself!"

It was clear the Captain had gotten more than his fair share of drinks, but he was still standing, and his enthusiasm and joy were hard to avoid. Taylor finally smiled in response and took the drink. King led him over to a table where a number of their officers and senior NCOs had gathered. Silva raised his cup in recognition as they approached, but Taylor felt a tingle run up his spine when he saw Kelly sitting amongst them. The former MDF Commander leapt out of his seat when he saw Taylor. He knew Kelly must be nearing seventy years old now, but he looked fitter than ever and sprung up like anyone of Taylor's own unit.

He froze and thought of backing off, but Kelly continued onwards anyway and stopped right in front of him.

"I know what you have been through. Morris has filled me in. Words can't express how sorry I am."

"It wasn't you who did it," although his voice was vague and unconvincing.

"But it might as well have been. I failed by allowing my people and myself to be captured by the enemy. I cannot change any of that now. All I can do is give you my promise that I am with you until the end. I have already discussed it with my people, mostly former MDF and Becker and his people. We want to volunteer for service in the Inter-Allied. I know it's a big ask. But every single one of us is trained and with combat experience expected of one of the Immortals. I want to give back what you have done for us. Let us join you and stand beside one another in the coming weeks and months."

Becker strode into view to join them.

"You want in on this?" Taylor asked him.

"We owe it to you, and we want payback same as you," he replied.

Taylor looked over to King and Morris who had been listening in throughout. Both nodded in approval.

"How long until you can be at full combat capacity?" Taylor asked.

"Arm us tomorrow and we're good to go."

Taylor thought about it carefully and back to Lasure's comments about their losses. He knew this was a valuable opportunity to gain hundreds of trained fighters for his Regiment.

"Just give us a chance, Taylor. You know we've got what it takes. We survived a long time down there. Even more significantly, we fought. We didn't hide and run. We fought back. We gave them everything we had to give, and it cost us dearly. Now we've got a chance to hit them harder than ever. We just need you to say yes."

"And you'd submit to my command?"

Kelly nodded. "Without question. Equip us and feed us, and I promise you will not be disappointed. We will earn the reputation your Regiment has established."

Taylor tried to think back further than the clone of Kelly and remember the man he really was. He had never had anything but the utmost respect for the man. He was the oldest combat officer he knew, and yet his age never seemed to hinder him, and the weight he had gained through working at a desk for so many years was long gone. All that was left was a hardened fighter and combat officer offering his assistance.

"Come on, Colonel, do it for all of us," whispered Kelly.

Taylor finally stretched out his hand in friendship, and Kelly quickly took it with a huge smile across his face.

"We'll take you in, Kelly."

"Tom," he replied.

Taylor looked confused, eventually realising that in all the years he had known Kelly, he'd never asked him his full name.

"Thomas Kelly," he added.

In hearing his name, it suddenly humanised Kelly over the clone Taylor had witnessed kill his friends, and he felt a great weight lifted from his heart and shoulders. He took a step back and raised his voice for all around them to hear.

"Thomas Kelly, I hereby give you a field commission in the Inter-Allied Regiment. From now on, you'll be a Captain in this Regiment, and you'll lead Charlie Company, who you will raise from those who fought alongside you on Earth.”

Kelly couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked up into the night sky in relief before finally looking back down to Taylor.

"You won't be disappointed," he replied, "Thank you."

"To Captain Kelly!" Silva barked.

His voice carried far, despite the music and cheering that shortly followed. The celebrations continued as they took a seat together to discuss the details.

"Kelly, being newly established, you'll be a support Company to get going. You'll also command the largest Company in the Regiment. I want you to choose your staff and platoon leaders personally. I'll keep Captain Morris with me as my second and liaison to your Company."

Kelly nodded in agreement.

"You've almost doubled our numbers!" King said.

"MDF forces in the Inter-Allied, though, Sir?" asked Lieutenant Matthews.

"Why not? We're already a bastard mix of everything else, US Marines, British Paras, and Rangers. We've got Welsh Fusiliers, and a few others from British Regiments I can't even remember anymore. We've even got German Marines now. Doesn't matter where you came from. We maintain a high standard, and if you can keep to that standard and follow my orders, then you're welcome among us."

"Yeah, and let's face it, we need the numbers," Silva said.

Two days passed where they seemed to do little but rest and lay about on the safe surface of Ony. The war seemed so far away when they couldn't hear or smell what war meant to them all. But on the third day Taylor awoke to find Irala waiting outside the door to his quarters.

Taylor stretched as he stepped outside and buttoned up the collar of his uniform.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"We have vital information on a build up of enemy forces," Irala replied calmly.

"What? Have you informed our commanders?"

"Yes, they are awaiting your arrival."

Fuck,
Taylor thought.

He jumped forward into a stride towards headquarters.

King, Morris, and Kelly were all standing outside the building when he got there. They looked anxious and as if they hadn't been waiting long.

"Any idea what's going on?"

"No, but it can't be anything good, Sir," replied King.