Battle Earth II (15 page)

The Mayor scurried off as she raised her rifle and stepped out of the precinct to see the tanks rocked back as their guns roared. The rest of the Company had taken cover in nearby buildings, but the incoming enemy had not yet come into range.

“What do we do now?” asked Green.

She continued to stare down the road past the tanks to the south. She could just make out the outline of a column of enemy vehicles approaching in the distance. Captain Jones and Private Walker now lay far behind enemy lines, if they were alive at all.

“There’s nothing left for us here but death and destruction,” she whispered.

“What was that, Major?”

He could barely hear her words over the sound of the gunfire.

“Immediate withdrawal, spread the word, we pull out now!”

Green nodded in relief, but also sadness in the realisation that they had to leave men behind. He ran along the edge of the buildings shouting the orders as the Major leapt onto Becker’s tank. She knelt down and yelled.

“Get us the hell out of here, Captain!”

The troops flooded across the street and clambered onto the vehicles as they reversed back to the square, so as to not expose their flank or rear armour. As they got to the turning point, Yorath and the last of the troops reached them and clambered aboard. Energy pulses smashed into the ground around them, but they were still far enough off that the fire was inaccurate and harassing at best.

The six armoured vehicles rotated on the spot. The Major turned and gazed down the southern road in the direction of Jones’ reported location. She hated having to leave him there, but more than anything, she despised Mayor Legrant and his people for being the cause of such a pointless loss.

“Where is the Captain?” Friday shouted.

Chandra turned to see him calling her from the other side of the vehicle as they rocked forward and began to gain speed going easterly. She shook her head, and he understood immediately.

“What did they do to him?”

She looked up at the saddened Captain.

“He’s being held a few kilometres to the south, right behind that enemy offensive.”

Friday sat back against the armour of the vehicle, knowing that all hope was lost.

“Why are we leaving him?” Yorath asked.

“Because any other path would have us all dead before midday,” countered Chandra.

The young Lieutenant reached forward aggressively to argue with the Major. Captain Friday grabbed him by the chest plate of his armour and threw him back.

“Don’t believe for one second that any of us want to leave Jones or Walker behind. We’ve fought alongside them longer than you have been in this war. Let it go!”

Chandra rested back against the turret of the vehicle and slumped as her vision blurred. She could feel her eyes water just slightly, and a single tear trickled down her face. She could think of nothing but the sorrow of their loss. The column reached the open road, passing civilians as they desperately tried to load up vehicles and leave. None of them had any sympathy for the town’s people as explosions continued to erupt across the centre.

“Give me an update, Major.”

Taylor stood at a large display screen on the sidewall of the research centre. He was looking at a display monitor with General White sitting with many other high ranking officials. They both knew that such programs should take months or years to complete, not the days that he had been given.

“The first dozen suits are complete, Sir. We have been liaising with suitable manufacturing plants across Europe, but it’s taking time.”

“That’s one luxury we don’t have, Major.”

No shit, thought the Major. We’re the ones fighting this damn war.

“General, these factories are predominately civilian firms that are used to working to deadlines in months and years.”

“I fully appreciate the problems, Major. We are getting production moving domestically, but it’s all taking time.”

“Any news on the enemy’s manufacturing progress?”

“Not much. What we do know, is whatever they are doing, it’s big. Our armies are suffering enough at the hands of these bastards. We cannot afford for the enemy to gain an even greater advantage.”

“I don’t see we can do much about it, Sir. Our armies can barely hold the Mechs back as it is.”

The General turned to listen to news that was being handed to him. He was heavily distracted until he looked up at the other officers in the room with a morbid expression.

“Gentlemen, we have reports of substantial forces having left Tartaros and heading for the coast of Florida at high speed. The invasion of the United States has begun.”

White turned to the Major.

“Mitch, we’re going to do everything we can to fight on our shoreline. The armies in Europe have shown remarkable resolve, but let us not be under any illusions. At present, we are losing this war. Whatever the enemy is building will almost certainly be a game changer. You are well placed to do something about it, and have the best equipment available to you.”

Taylor shook his head. They were being driven back on an almost daily basis. Yet the General was asking him to pursue a major operation behind enemy lines. He knew it had to be done, but he could not help but feel that it was suicidal.

“Get hold of Brigadier Dupont, he will provide you with intel and resources. Do whatever you have to, Major.”

* * *

Jones lay flat on the small prison bed. He appeared so relaxed anyone would think there wasn’t a war on. Private Walker stood grasping the bars of the door of the barred cell. They could both hear Becker’s tanks roaring in the distance and enemy gunfire pounding the city.

“We’re finished,” said Walker.

Jones didn’t respond. He was in a daze.

“How can you just lie there like that?” screamed Walker.

The Captain could not believe that his undoing had been caused by his own race. His hatred of the enemy had been surpassed by that of the Mayor and his supporters. In the distance, he could hear the town being bombarded, but he had no sympathy. Not only had the population been ignorant and stupid, they had aided the enemy.

“What are you gonna do? How are we going to get out of here? Captain! Wake up!”

“I’m here,” he replied dryly.

“How can you just lie there?”

“What else is there to do?”

“We have to find a way out of here!”

“These cells were built to keep people secure. We have no weapons, no tools and no allies, so what do you suggest we do?”

“Something...anything!”

Jones sat up on the bed and leaned back against the wall as he looked at the stricken Private.

“This station is empty, the police have gone and we’re the only ones in holding. There is no way out, not unless a lucky shell blasts a way out.”

“So we just sit here and hope?”

“Not like there’s any another choice, we’ve been left here to die.”

“The Major will come for us. She won’t leave us behind.”

The Captain sighed. He knew the Private must know they were lost, but he didn’t want to accept it.

“I am sure Major Chandra will have done everything in her power to help us, but the fact remains that this town is being overrun. What can the remains of our Company do against an army?”

Walker rested back against the bars, collapsing down to the ground until he lay back against the door. His shoulders sagged, and he was starting to realise how desperate their situation was.

“We’re going to die in here, aren’t we? No food, no water, and no hope of rescue.”

“It’s entirely possible, but I wouldn’t give up all hope just yet. There’s always a chance.”

The man dropped his head in sadness as he imagined the prolonged and unheroic deaths facing them. The two men sat silently listening to the onslaught rage on in the streets around them. They knew that many of the civilians would not escape Amiens, but they no longer cared. The two men straightened as they heard the doors of the precinct being blown off.

The police station was relatively small, and they were only thirty metres from the entrance. Walker leapt to his feet as Jones leant forward on the bed. They both listened intently.

“Think that’s the Major coming for us?” asked Walker.

Jones knew that it was highly unlikely, but he didn’t want to dash the Private’s hopes. Then over the explosions they realised the heavy footsteps of Mechs were approaching. Walker turned back to the Captain with a grim and lost expression. He wanted to do nothing but run, but he was trapped like a beast awaiting the hunter.

“How did it come to this?”

“We gave them hell, Private. Our comrades fight on, we did not falter.”

“And yet we will die for some idiot that doesn’t deserve to live?”

The Captain nodded, and he could not disagree. He stood up slowly to meet his enemy standing up. All they could hear were the heavy footsteps of several Mechs pacing steadily down the corridor towards them. A second later the door to the cells block erupted as it was struck by an energy pulse. The door flew off its hinges and smashed into the bars of the adjacent cell.

The two soldiers barely flinched at the impact as they had already come to accept their fate. They stood in the centre of their cell staring at the gaping hole where the door used to stand. A Mech came through it. They had always been a frightful and imposing enemy, but without a weapon in hand they were now terrifying.

“Don’t show any fear,” said Jones.

It stepped closer as a second entered the room although neither showed any signs of firing. They circled around the cell as a third joined them. He was instantly recognisable as being different and more important. He wore the same armour as the others, but it was lavishly decorated with etching and symbols that were not recognisable to the human eye. Whereas the other Mechs had a flat glass-like section to protect their head, this soldier wore an actual helmet. It was made out to look like some kind of aggressive animal, like a bull’s head with spiralling horns.

The two normal Mechs separated to allow this new enemy to come forward in the cell. Jones watched in fascination as he had quickly realised that this was one of their leaders. For a moment the two groups glared at each other, studying the other intently. Jones and Walker knew they were at the enemy’s mercy and therefore did nothing but watch them. Suddenly the lead Mech grasped the bars of the cell and ripped the door from the cage, throwing it aside as if it was nothing.

The door was off, but the three enemy soldiers stood in their way. Both men knew it was suicide to make a break for it, but they still considered it. The leader tapped a few devices on the left arm of his suit and then righted himself. A fine mist burst from the suit as several seals were released and sections of the armour hinged open.

Jones could do nothing but stand and watch as the creature within the suit was revealed to them. He couldn’t understand how the two of them were still alive. The mist cleared and they could make out the shape of the beast within. It stepped out from the suit. It stood a head taller than Jones.

The creature wore a close fitting type of compression suit. Its waist was as narrow as the Captain’s, but its chest and shoulders were broad. It’s dark blue skin almost blending in to the charcoal gray suit that it wore. Despite the creature resembling a human in basic design, every element was individually different.

“What do you want with us?”

“I doubt it speaks English, Sir.”

The creature shot a glance at the Private and turned back to the Captain. The two men expected to die at any moment. They could think of no reason for the situation, other than for their attackers to revel in their deaths. Then the creature spoke.

“Captain Jones.”

The voice was coarse and gravelly, and it spoke slowly as if speaking the language for the first time. Charlie was taken aback. The last thing he expected was to hear the English language come from the enemy’s mouth, let alone his own name. Still speechless, he simply nodded. The creature was more imposing than any man he had ever met. He knew from Taylor’s account that the beast could kill him with its bare hands in seconds.

“You have fought well,” the creature growled.

As it spoke, it bore its sharp teeth that looked as if they were cut from steel.

“Is that why you know my name?”

The beast nodded sternly. It continued in a deep rumbling voice.

“I am Karadag, leader of the 5
^th
Army.”

“And?” snapped Jones.

The wit and rudeness was lost on the creature who took the Captain’s comments literally.

“You are strong, you and your two Majors, that impresses me.”

“You going to give me a medal?”

Karadag flicked his arm, releasing a blade that spun from the forearm section of his suit and caught it in his grip. He thrust the blade into Walker’s shoulder. It pierced the man without resistance and exited by his shoulder blade. He gave out a loud cry in pain. Jones took a quick step towards the beast, but it snapped its head around and held up its other hand to stop him. Jones knew it was futile.

“I have learnt something of language, Captain. You would be wise to avoid angering me.”

Charlie looked at the wincing face of his comrade who was still skewed by the blade.

“Alright, you’ve made your point!”

Karadag ripped the blade back out from Walker’s shoulder. The soldier immediately crumpled to the floor in agony. Jones dropped down beside him to look at his wound. It was a clean strike, missing anything major, so he could be patched up. Jones turned as Karadag’s blade folded away into in to his suit, and he stood glaring at them.

“What do you want from us?”

The Mech leader ignored the Captain and turned to his two guards. As he reached them, he stopped and turned back.

“Do you still not have a name for us?”

I can think of many, you bastard, thought Jones. But he shook his head.

“Then you may call us the Krycenaeans.”

Karadag turned again to leave but stopped as Jones fired another question at him.

“Is that the name of your people?”

“No, but it is the best your language can manage.”

The imposing leader strode out of the room as the two Mechs approached. Jones knew he could do nothing to resist them, and they were going where the enemy wanted.