Battle Earth III

Chapter 1

“Shhh,” whispered Chandra.

She looked back to the road through the thick foliage she was taking cover in. A small enemy column approached in the narrow road at the base of the valley. She lifted her Mappad to check their location. They were five kilometres west of Ramstein; exactly where they should be. She looked down at the exoskeleton suit which was strapped to her body and the huge weapon she bore in her one hand; the weight being of little notice. Come on you bastards, she thought.

Across the roadway she could just make out Captain Friday’s position. He was poised and ready for the onslaught they all eagerly awaited. They outnumbered the enemy three to one and had plenty of Reiter’s new hardware. She took slow deep breaths to calm her nerves. As she breathed out, vapour rose from her mouth. They were rapidly approaching a cold winter, and it was a crisp morning.

The Company had been waiting in ambush since before dawn. Other than the approaching vehicles, the valley was quiet. Even the burning smell of the ruined cities of the country was absent from the tranquil countryside on the border; and the bitter coldness, of being immobile on an autumn morning, was only overcome by the rush of adrenaline from knowing they were about to fight.

Three enemy armoured vehicles approached along the road with over a dozen Mechs visible on top of each of them. They were clearly some form of open top armoured personnel carrier. They cruised along the road at a solid and steady pace, but without any form of urgency; just weeks before, the enemy armour was a frightful sight to the infantry. Come on, Chandra thought.

She licked her lips as they approached, and she envisaged their vehicles burning and Mechs scattered dead across the roadway. It was a brutal thing to wish for. She only accepted the desire in the knowledge that it was them or her. She felt no empathy for the creatures. The Major could only imagine what it must be like to have to face humans in such a conflict. Her hatred ran as deep as the soldiers of the most extreme religious wars in their planet’s history.

The Major stared intently at the approaching force, and she didn’t look back at her comrades again. She knew they had her back. The enemy below were oblivious to their position. Their forces were well concealed within the evergreens of the valley. She could feel the excitement inside her grow as she lifted her weapon into view and readied herself to scream her battle cry.

Her mouth was dry now. The build up of tension had caused her to forget to breathe as she looked down the sight of her weapon. She coughed lightly and took in one last deep breath to be able to bellow the only command she needed.

“Fire!” she cried.

Before she could squeeze the trigger of her weapon, a hail of gunfire rang out. Pulses of light emanated from the tree line as Reiter’s latest weapons rained death upon the invaders. Chandra had been lucky enough to be able to hang onto all of the latest equipment for her Company. Rifle and grenade fire joined the shooting gallery as the volley smashed the enemy vehicles.

Chandra watched as the Mechs tried to leap off the vehicles and out of the line of brutal fire. Many were struck and killed outright before they could get to their feet. She watched in amazement as the creatures were torn apart by their fire. It was a turkey shoot that only made her believe for the first time in weeks that they had a chance. She revelled in the destruction as she continued to fire relentlessly.

The almost continuous hail of gunfire began to die down as Mechs tumbled to the hard mud beside the road, and others slumped lifelessly atop their vehicles. The Major got to her feet and admired the results of their work. Smoke arose from one of the vehicles, and steam poured out from the charred wounds of the Mechs.

Chandra had become accustomed to seeing the sight of dead soldiers, and it always made her feel sick, but not Mechs. She could not see them as people. They were not their equals, and they had no value. Their thick blue blood that seeped out through the gaping holes in their armour was no different to seeing oil leak from a car for the battle-hardened Major.

The valley went silent once again as the Company awaited the Major’s orders. They’re nothing, she thought, and no better than us. We can beat these bastards. Chandra knew the war was far from over, but she was starting to gain some hope of victory. Taylor’s heroic deeds had shown the strength that was left in the human race. She turned and looked to the section beside her, nodding for them to follow her as she waved them forward with her weapon.

The Reitech exoskeleton suits, as they had become to be know after their designer, proved their worth every day. The first few useable suits had been delivered to Brigadier Dupont’s command, but they were still far from a common sight among the human armies. Chandra found the equipment to fit like a glove. Ever concentrating on their enemy, she barely noticed its presence anymore.

She stepped cautiously down the embankment to the carnage below. The stabilisation of the suit kept her balance perfectly on the uneasy terrain, as others slipped and slid on the slope. She reached even ground and stepped over the bloodied body of one of the creatures. Smoke arose from the burning hole in its armour.

Chandra walked past one of the vehicles, but there was no sign of life. She could already hear her troops ripping the cab open to be sure as she moved on to the next. As she approached, a door to the front of the vehicle swung out and smashed into her weapon. The force ripped it out of her hands and broke the sling hook holding it to her side. Her back crashed into the hard hull of the vehicle. Her armour took the impact, but the wind was taken out of her.

A tall creature climbed out and stood before her. The beast towered over the short officer who, with a frame so slight, appeared as a child before the monster. It studied her for just a moment before rushing at her like a charging bull. Its sudden turn of speed caught her off guard, but she still managed to narrowly avoid its strike.

The monster crashed into the side of the vehicle with the loud resonating clash of metal on metal. It wore a skin-tight suit that was of much smaller and less bulky proportions than they had been used to seeing the creatures in. It appeared to offer only minimal protection. From her hunched position, the Major thrust up with the power of her body, and aided by her suit and with all she could muster, delivered an uppercut into the creature’s stomach.

The Reitech suit afforded her a strength she had never known. Her hardened kneecap drove hard into the creature, causing it to fold at the waist. Before she could make a second strike, the beast swung wildly with a powerful hook. She ducked under the strike and spun around the beast. As she lifted back up to a standing position, she drew her knife and thrust it up under the beast’s jaw.

Thick warm blood gushed down over her hand. If she had closed her eyes, she could not have told the difference between their blood and her own. The beast spun in anger and struck her with the back of its hand. The strike felt as if it almost broke her neck and threw her onto her back. She looked up from the ground as the creature took a few wobbly steps towards her. It finally collapsed onto the hard and cold ground beside her.

“Major!” shouted Monty.

The soldier rushed to her side with his brother close behind. He outstretched his hand and hauled her to feet. Blood gushed from her nose and trickled out from her mouth. She saw Monty looking at the wound and instinctively drew her hand across her face, looking down at the smear of blood on her skin. The blood tasted sour in the cold morning, and worse than it normally would.

“Jesus, Major, that’s some hard core shit,” exclaimed Blinker.

Captain Friday arrived beside her and looked down at the body of the creature with the Major’s knife still imbedded up to its hilt under the jaw. He looked up at the Major to investigate her injuries.

“You ok?” he asked.

She nodded. Chandra was still in shock from the attack. Her instincts and muscle memory had taken over her actions to save her life, but now she was starting to realise how close she had come to death.

“Thank God he didn’t have armour.”

Chandra nodded in agreement.

“Every time they get close to our troops, they rip us apart. These new suits have given us a lot more strength, but we need weapons that can handle hand-to-hand combat.”

“Shit, you really want to do that again, Ma’am?” snapped Blinker.

She quickly turned around to oppose the Private. The blood on her face had already begun to congeal in the cold morning chill. She could never stand tall over any of the men, but her presence was enough to command respect.

“Uhh… sorry, Ma’am.”

“No, you’re right. I wouldn’t want to do it again, and certainly not against one of the fully armoured bastards. But were it a choice, we wouldn’t fight them at all! Fact is we have to do whatever we need to. The next time we get into hand-to-hand, I want to be prepared.”

“Guess we better get on to Reiter,” mused Friday.

“He’s probably thought of it before us, Captain. Let’s see what he has to offer. Do a last sweep of the site, and be sure none of them live. We move out in five.”

They were on foot to return to base. Vehicle patrols to the west of Ramstein attracted too much attention from enemy air and artillery support. Neither side had launched any noteworthy offensives since the destruction of their facility in Poitiers. Chandra thought to herself as she peered around the valley. They’re in disarray. For once they aren’t moving forward. We could break them here.

The return to Ramstein was without incident. They passed four other allied units, and each one of them from another nation. Was this what we needed? Chandra asked herself; a common enemy to ally the Earth’s people together for the first time in its history. Then she remembered the loss of Charlie Jones and the Frenchman behind it, Legrant. The Mayor of Amiens, where they had been betrayed. She still harboured a bitter hatred for the man and prayed to never see him again, for she didn’t know if she would be able to restrain herself.

As the Company approached the western Perimeter of Ramstein, they could all make out the outline of Taylor waiting for them in front of the trenches. Behind him lay dozens of armoured vehicles and many more troops. His crutch had gone. His injuries had healed quickly, but he still showed the scars of the beating that Karadag had given him. The marine Major was smiling as they drew near.

“Good to see you back with us!” shouted Chandra.

She strode up to Mitch until she was close enough to speak privately.

“You cleared to come back?” she whispered.

“I figure so.”

“You figure?”

Taylor’s smile grew wider.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

“Without you there might not have been one,” she replied.

“You trying to kiss ass, Major?” he jested.

The two of them laughed as they turned and led the Company through the defences and into the safety of the base. It was already a hive of activity. Just a few weeks earlier, they had rushed across abandoned and desolate districts of the base to reach the western perimeter. Now it was littered with military vehicles and soldiers.

Ramstein was no longer an Air Force base. Its airfields had been lined with armoured vehicles. For the first time in decades, the base was truly alive. The hangars were over spilling with troops using them for accommodation. Tens of thousands of troops now occupied the base which was previously just a few years from closure.

“General Schulz still making you work at HQ?” asked Chandra.

“Just as an advisor. You know things have run a hell of a lot smoother since he took command.”

She nodded in agreement.

“Dupont still bitter about it?”

“Of course.”

“Well, we’re on German soil now, so it’s only right and proper they oversee the defence.”

“Commander Phillips is also still on board and assisting, along with leaders from most nations around here that I can think to name. A day with them could never be described as fun, but it is interesting.”

“Whoever thought it could work?” she asked. “The military minds of all nations coming together in a joint cause?”

“It isn’t all plain sailing. Dupont is still bitter, and rightly so. He has lost his country and many of his people.”

Chandra stopped and turned back to look at her Company. The troops came to a halt without command. They looked weary. The war had been reduced to a slog over the western border of Germany with no significant progress for either side. It was a meat grinder. They knew the brass would think that a good thing. All intelligence would suggest that the human forces significantly outnumbered the enemy, so much so that they could afford like-for-like losses.

“Good work! We kicked some arse today! Get some chow. At 1500 hours we take over guard duty at the western gate. Until then your time is your own!”

A restrained cheer rang out. It was a relief to the troops to be given a rest, but none of them were under any illusions concerning their situation. Captain Friday paced up to join the two Majors.

“We got any news on re-enforcements?” he asked. “We need to get back some way to battalion strength if we’re going to stay effective.”

“We’ve got no such luck, Captain. UK forces are amassed, but I have little idea on their intentions. You won’t be seeing any more yanks this side of the Atlantic anytime soon. Word is your boys are having a rough time of it.”

“Any news on that front?”

Taylor turned to his friend with a grim expression.

“The invasion has been widespread across the coast. As far as I can tell, New York has been hammered. Maine, Phili, Massachusetts and Delaware are mostly under enemy control. Most of the fighting right now is happening in Pennsylvania and Virginia.”

“How about DC?”

“Last I heard there were a couple of divisions fighting it out there. God knows how long they can keep it up.”

Friday sighed. The thought of such vast warfare on their own soil was something they could barely comprehend. Chandra stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry about it, Captain. Invasion is nothing new to the rest of us. The game isn’t over.”

Friday still shook his head in disbelief.

“We should be there,” he muttered.

“No,” snapped Taylor. “We should be wherever the fight is, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

“Major!”

Chandra spun around. Her hand reached for the weapon slung on her side as her pulse raced. She had become accustomed to being on guard at all times. Lieutenant Green stood before her.

“What is it?” she snapped.

“Commander Phillips is requesting your presence, along with Major Taylor.”

“Got it, thank you, Lieutenant. That’ll be all.”

Green rushed off to join the rest of the Company and to enjoy the few hours of recuperation they would get.

“What do you think he wants?” asked Taylor.

“You know better than me. You’re the one that’s been on base.”

“Not a clue. Hopefully he has some news.”

Chandra turned to Friday.

“You can join us also, Captain.”

“You sure the Commander will be keen on that idea?”

“I don’t give a shit. We’ve lost more soldiers than I want to remember. The fact that we three are still alive is a miracle in itself. There may come a time when you have to take over from Taylor or myself. I’d rather you were ready for that responsibility.”

“She’s right,” mused Taylor.

“Not the most positive of thoughts, Ma’am,” went on Friday.

“We have to be realistic, Captain. We have made it this far, and I pray we all make it through this, but we must be prepared for the worst.”

The Captain agreed, even if he didn’t like the thought of it. The three of them turned and continued on towards Headquarters. Troops from a dozen different nations saluted and greeted them as they passed down the busy roads. Chandra’s Company no longer had any vehicles at their disposal, not even for the Major herself. They scrounged lifts where they could.

“Rains still in the area?” asked Chandra.

“Yeah, he’s running high priority jobs for command. I saw him a few hours back.”

As they reached an intersection, they halted abruptly to avoid being run down by a dozen Russian heavy tanks rolling across the thoroughfare. The three officers could barely hear each other over the constant noise of chatter and vehicles travelling throughout the base. Combat-weary soldiers lay about, getting any rest they could. Fresh recruits sat awaiting deployment, and there was no excitement or enthusiasm in their eyes. They had seen the faces of those who had faced the Mechs and the ever-mounting dead.

Many of the troops looked at the Reitech suits with amazement and envy. There were still less than two hundred on the base. Production had been marred by delays due to the chaos that had engulfed the planet. Transportation networks were in shambles, and many nations’ workforces were in disarray.

Few begrudged the Company’s almost exclusive issue of the latest equipment, and anyone who did, was quickly reminded of their heroic actions from the day the war began. Chandra and Taylor were becoming household names among the human armies along with their battalion; the Inter-Allied had become known to many, as the ‘Immortals’.

Few knew of the horrific losses of the unit. Soldiers had become familiar with the stories of their dare devil escapades and were never informed of the heavy price which they had paid for such antics. They only saw the triumphant returns and celebrated their victories.

Up ahead, they could see Phillips sat on top of a freight box with a mug of tea in his hand. His uniform was as clean as the newest recruits. There was no dread in his face. He had not met the enemy face to face, and to him the Mechs were nothing more than a statistic. Just as the human dead were a number on a computer.

“You can bet your ass he took the credit for your mission to Poitiers,” said Friday.

Taylor was amused by Friday’s vocalisation recently. He had always been a man of few words. Maybe he just never had much that was important enough to voice an opinion, thought Taylor. The war had put many of their troubles into perspective. The petty squabbles in their lives seemed to be exactly that.

“Undoubtedly,” replied Chandra. “But had it gone wrong, it would have been his balls.”

“You think that responsibility is equal to the risks we take with our lives?” asked Taylor.

“No, but we must each play a part.”

The Commander lifted his mug as a greeting to them when he saw them approach. He had a smile on his freshly washed face, as if they were back home and enjoying a relaxing weekend. Deep down they all knew the pressure upon the Commander, and the work that he put in, but they could not help but feel he hadn’t earned his reputation in combat.

“Got any news for us, Sir?” shouted Chandra.

Phillips got to his feet and waved for them to follow him into the building he was sat in front of. They walked through and into a large mirrored elevator that took them fifty metres below the surface where the underground HQ had been established. The doors opened, and Phillips strode out without a word.

Just as the Commander was about to reach the pair of guards stood either side of the Command centre entrance, he veered off down a side corridor, leading the three officers into a smaller meeting room. He slumped down into a chair in the room as they went in behind him.

“Shut the door.”

Friday begrudgingly closed the door behind them. He didn’t like being treated like a ranker, but there was little that could be said on the subject. Phillips looked up to see the three officers stood awaiting some big news. In that moment, his relaxed mood dropped as he realised quite how imposing the troops were in their Reitech suits. Only Taylor wore no armour, but he still carried a rifle and sidearm.

“What have you got for us, Sir?” asked Chandra.

“I have it on good authority that British forces are planning to cross the channel and engage the enemy in northern France. I don’t know when, but the fact remains, that they will not do it until they can see we have brought the enemy to a halt.”

“Well hell, Sir, we did that last week, didn’t you hear?” fumed Taylor.

“I hear you, Major. I am doing everything in my power to convince Field Marshall Copley to launch his attack immediately. We have stopped the enemy once, but they were hot on our tails. We all know too well that we can’t get the equipment we need to the frontline fast enough.”

“And if we don’t get all the support we need, there may not be anyone left to use it,” snapped Chandra.

Phillips nodded in agreement.

“I completely agree. I believe help is imminent. A British offensive in the north could be a game changer.”

“How big an offensive are we talking, Sir?” asked Taylor.

“His Majesty’s armies are fully prepared and ready for war. I have seen reports that Commonwealth forces have flocked to Britain to give assistance. If the British army is landing in France, they’re doing so in number.”

“Alright,” muttered Friday.

“What about the US, Sir, any news?” asked Taylor.

“Not much beyond what you already know. They’re having a hard time of it just as we are, but they are holding. Major, you have been key in the testing of Mr Reiter’s research, and I am sure you have plenty more to give. These Reitech suits are now out of his hands. Find out what he’s working on, and give what assistance you can.”

“But I am cleared to return to the Company, Sir.”

“We both know that isn’t true, Major. There may come a time when we put wounded men out in the field to fight, but they will be desperate times indeed.”

“Are things not already desperate enough?” asked Chandra.

“Look around. The base has been heavily reinforced. The Company is managing perfectly well. There is more to winning this war than being on the frontline.”

Friday smirked in the background. He knew what the Commander was saying. The frustration and pressure of being behind the lines whilst everyone he knew was in danger was not pleasant. So maybe it did take balls to do his job, thought Friday.

“Right now, we need every advantage we can get. Major, you’re up for guard duty this afternoon, is that correct?”

“Yes, Sir. Light duties to give the troops a little rest,” she replied.

“Good, then they can manage without you. Captain Friday will handle that while you assist Taylor. Your continued combat experience while he has been recovering should be valuable.”

Chandra moved to confront the command, but Phillips interrupted her.

“Major, you two have more combined experience in close combat with this enemy than anyone I can think of. You’ll be back to the front line before long. Any work you put in now could save just as many lives as you being out there.”

Both of them knew there was no sense in arguing any further. The more Chandra thought about it, the more she had problems she wanted solutions for. She knew Reiter was the man for the job.

“We’ll get on it, Sir.”

“Good. Your Company is on base duty until further notice while you work on R amp;D.”

The three officers saluted the Commander and quickly turned and left. None of them spoke until they had got out of the building and once more into daylight and fresh air.

“Captain, we may well have a couple of days rest here. Giving us guard duty was just a simple way of getting our people out of any hard work, and they’ve earned it. We’ve got plenty more numbers than are needed for the area we have been posted. Be sure to get some e-readers and music up there. There are also beds that you can use on rotation.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“This is a rare chance for the Company to recuperate, so use it well.”

Friday nodded as he turned and strode quickly back towards the Company who lay scattered about at a staging ground.

“I am guessing that nose wasn’t busted in a fall?” asked Taylor.

Chandra smiled. It was one of the many near-death experiences she had faced of late. Having survived it, she could now look back on it with humour and analyse it further.

“Those things are deadly up close. I was lucky.”

“Then clearly we have an agenda for Reiter.”

Reiter sat in his office chair with his back to them. He stared out of the tall pane of glass that looked onto his research centre. A few employees worked casually in the room, but it was the quietest Taylor had ever seen it. The two officers could only see the scientist’s mostly baldhead. A small grey patch of hair was all that remained of his hair. Even though they could not see his face, they could both tell he was frowning.

“Sir? You okay?” asked Chandra.

He swivelled round in his chair and glared at the Major.

“I hold no rank here. You are the officer. You can call me Doctor Reiter, or by my first name, if you would consider us close.”

“What’s going on here, Doc? Production is delayed, and we need the kit. Why’s this place so quiet?”

“Manufacturing is out of our hands. We’ve been ordered to move on with further development of new ideas.”

“Well, why aren’t you?”

Reiter sighed at the insult.

“Mr Taylor. I have not stopped working my entire life. But without the resources and manpower I need, there is little more I can do.”

“What do you mean?” asked Chandra.

“Most of my staff has been re-assigned to manufacturing plants to oversee the production of the equipment I designed. I am getting few deliveries of the supplies and resources I need. There isn’t a lot I can do.”

Taylor sighed and paced around the room.

“I am sure this has all been necessary, Doc. The only thing that matters right now is getting that hardware into combat.”

Reiter nodded.

“Then why are you here?”

Taylor shook his head. He realised that he was asking just the opposite of the wise scientist.

“Command wants us to oversee your future developments.”

Reiter coughed. He was in part amused and insulted at the same time.

“I appreciate the problems you are dealing with,” said Chandra. “But you have to understand, we all face the same hardship. Our Company isn’t getting the replacements we need. We aren’t getting the support we need. Times are tough, and we have to manage.”

Reiter nodded. He knew what the Major was saying was right before she’d said it, but he couldn’t help but feel sidelined.

“I can’t believe you’ve got nothing new on the drawing board?” asked Taylor.

Reiter swivelled around in his chair once again and smiled, as he looked out into his facility with his back to the two officers. Taylor squinted to look at a large item that two of the staff were lifting up onto a table. It appeared to be of a similar construction to the armour of the Reitech suits, but in a large rectangular sheet with grips on one side and a small window. He stepped around the scientist’s desk to get a closer look but could not identify what he was looking at. He turned quickly to ask a question of Reiter but was interrupted.

“I am still working with what I have, Major.”

The scientist smiled. Chandra stepped around to join the other two and marvel at the object. She already knew it would be a fascinating creation, but she just didn’t know its purpose yet. Taylor couldn’t wait any longer.

“What the hell is it?” he insisted.

Reiter gestured towards the suit Chandra was still wearing from her mission.

“The armour on the suits which you are wearing has proven successful, yes?”

“Damn right. It has saved more than a few lives.”

“But its coverage is still limited. A suit of such armour would weigh more than double what the exoskeleton could hope to manage. That doesn’t even take into account the problems of joints and other such weaknesses.”

“Then what?” Taylor asked.

“My dear, Major, we do what fighting men have done for centuries. Carry a shield!”

Mitch looked into the lab with a dumbfounded expression. A shield was something utterly quaint and antiquated to his mind. He turned back around with the same shocked look.

“You’re not serious?”

“I most certainly am, Major. The shield has throughout history proven to be the simplest, cheapest and most effective protection, when all things are considered. It provides the most coverage for its weight. It can be manufactured quickly and repaired just as easily.”

“Then why aren’t we using them already?”

“Look at the thing,” exclaimed Chandra. “Those two techs are struggling to move it.”

“Indeed. A shield that can withstand such high ballistic and thermal conditions will weigh eighty kilos or more, and a weight that will present no problem to the wearer of that suit.”

He pointed to Chandra’s equipment with pride.

“Come on, let’s take a look.”

Moments later, they stood before the huge slab shield which lay on top of the table. The construction was crude with huge visible bolt threads and a handle that looked as if it had come off a truck.

“We have salvaged what parts we could for this project. Things are a bit short, right now.”

Taylor stepped up beside the shield and passed his hand over the metalwork. It felt cold and dull, just like the armour they wore with a slightly rough mottled texture. The composite material had remained a secret ever since it had been fitted to armoured vehicles two decades before. He slipped his fingers beneath it and attempted to lift. Mitch’s face strained as his muscles tensed, and the shield didn’t move.

He placed his other hand alongside his first and put some effort in, lifting the shield edge from the table before dropping it clumsily back down onto the table. The vast shield landed with a crash that made the scientists cringe.

“Jesus, this thing weighs a tonne!”

Taylor took a step back and shook his head in astonishment at the creation.

“You think our suits can handle this?”

Reiter turned to Chandra and gestured for her to try. She stepped forward uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the pessimistic Taylor. She circled the table as she intently studied the device. It was so simple, and yet to her it was utterly alien. The Major reached forward, placed her hand on the grip of the shield and lifted.

Taylor gasped as Chandra lifted the device as if it were a bottle of water. She twisted it in to a comfortable grip as she moved it around and studied its coverage. The viewing window was made from inch thick ballistic plastic, affording at least some visibility. She turned head on to Taylor and hunched down behind the shield to allow him a view of its defensive ability.

“With this device, you will achieve at least ninety percent frontal protective coverage. You will be able to cover open ground in safety and fight where no cover exists,” claimed Reiter.

Taylor nodded in astonishment at the facts he was being told. He was already starting to appreciate the potential for Reiter’s device. It was in so many ways simple, and yet a beautifully efficient solution to their problem.

“With these shields, you will become the medieval knights of the modern era. You will be able to advance like armoured vehicles and move like infantry.”

Taylor stepped up to Chandra, who stood with the shield in a guard position as if it weighed nothing at all.

“No strain at all? You can keep that up?” he asked.

Chandra squinted at him, trying to understand if he was picking on her for being a woman, or if he was just being serious.

“Barely notice it, nothing worse than carrying a rifle.”

Taylor looked down at the launcher resting at her side.

“Pick it up, your weapon.”

Chandra reached for the grip with her right hand, and then hesitated as she realised she didn’t have her other arm to use with it. The Major lifted the weapon clumsily against the shield, trying to find a way to aim it from the protection of the shield.

“Ah, yes, you have found the next dilemma.”

Taylor spun around on the spot with a furious expression.

“Dilemma? What good is the shield if we can’t use our weapons?”

“I will remind you, Major, that this is an experimental department. We develop solutions to problems. We have found a solution to the armour problem, and we will take it from there.”

Taylor shook his head. God damn it, we haven’t got time to waste on shit that won’t work, he thought.

“I know your frustrations, Major, but this is life in research and development. I already have a few ideas on how to solve this problem. I just need a little time.”

“Time? Shit, Doc, that’s the one thing we definitely haven’t got.”

“Mitch!” shouted Chandra.

The marine officer turned at the call of his superior. She glared at him, and he instantly knew it was his cue to back down. He took a deep breath and turned back to the scientist.

“I’m sorry, but these aren’t easy times for any of us. Your equipment has been saving lives, and that’s making a big difference. I can see technology here that could be a real game changer, but you have to work faster.”

“Then I beg that you convince your leaders to allocate more resources and manpower to my operations.”

Chandra placed the shield down on the table beside her and pulled the Doctor around gently from his shoulder.

“Listen, I can see what you are doing here, and we desperately need everything you have to offer. If resources and manpower are what you need, then we will see it done.”

The scientist nodded gratefully.

“Thank you, truly. You have all given me the greatest opportunities to develop my work here.”

“No, Doc, thank you.”

She turned back to Taylor.

“Let’s get this man what he needs!”