Battle Earth V

Chapter 1

“Come, move!”

Troops rushed past Colonel Chandra with sweat pouring down their uniforms. Summer was fast approaching, and the horrors of war seemed a distant memory. The narrow footbridge she was stood on shook violently as the remainder of her Battalion trundled onwards.

“Move it! Move it!” she shouted.

Jones approached at the head of his Company and stopped to take a breather as he gestured for the others to continue. He could see she was as sweat covered and exhausted as the rest of them, and yet she persisted and did everything to show no sign of fatigue.

“The heat too much for you, Captain?” she asked.

“Damn right. Don’t you think we’ve all had enough for one day? They’ve all been waiting for the war to be over for so long, yet here we still are at the grindstone.”

“This is our job, remember. We can’t afford to go slack just because we have seen success. Follow me.”

Jones sighed from both his exhaustion and the Colonel’s seemingly unending energy. They tacked on to the side of his Company and followed on several hundred metres to the end of the course. At the end of the route, they found hundreds of weary faces and troops panting to get their breath. The last few of the half strength Battalion were making their way in.

“Everyone listen up!”

Several of the troops who had sat down staggered to their feet. Within a few seconds, all had arrived and stood in silence in a circle around Chandra. At her feet were several Assegais, the close combat tool that Reiter has provided. Jones shook his head in disbelief, as he could already see what was coming.

“The last war taught us that we must be prepared and able to fight at all distances. The ability to effectively wield the Assegai is something we are all new to, but we must master it quickly!”

Blinker yawned loudly as she finished.

“Am I keeping you up, Private?”

Monty stood beside him and smirked at the grilling his brother was about to receive.

“Step forward, Private. You too, Corporal!”

The two of them sighed but obliged.

They wore full packs and had to carry their Reiter rifles without the exoskeleton suits the scientist had developed. Chandra was eager to keep them fit and healthy. They wore their old body armour. It wasn’t enough to withstand an energy pulse, but it sure worked well to weigh them down during their run.

“Put down your rifles!” she ordered.

She picked up two of the Assegais and tossed them over to the brothers.

“I had these put together for future training; same weight and feel of the real thing, but they just put out a small charge, which you’ll be sure to know if you’ve been hit. This is effectively an MPs stone baton.”

“Great,” muttered Blinker.

The Colonel ignored his rambling, knowing she’d teach him a lesson soon enough.

“Remember, you can strike humans with the edge and break jaws, crush skulls and break limbs, but not against an armoured Krycenaean. The thrust is the only way you can hope to hurt them. They are bigger, stronger and better armoured than we can hope to be. Our strength is in our agility and our speed. If you blunder about like an ox, you will die.”

She lifted one of the training Assegais and pointed at the two brothers to pick them up. They looked surprised, as she was gesturing for them both to come at her.

“What’s wrong? Don’t want the opportunity to strike an officer? Or are you not up to the task?”

A reserved and quiet laughter broke out amongst those watching and in that moment, the two brothers felt their anger grow. None of them liked being humiliated before the unit. They’d never heard the Colonel be so confrontational. They snatched up the weapons and rushed at her.

Blinker was ahead of his brother, and in his rage, swung a wide horizontal swing just as the Colonel had told him not to. She nimbly ducked and rolled under it. She landed firmly back on her feet and thrust her Assegai into Monty’s hip, a little below his armour. She’d rolled forward so quickly against their charge that he’d not even got his weapon forward before he felt the electrical charge pulse through his body.

The Corporal shook violently before going limp and dropping to the ground. She had not seen their effect before and smiled at the result. Chandra quickly straightened her legs and turned to face Blinker who had turned from his bullish charge and was coming back at her.

It was clear he had learnt something from his previous mistake and thrust forward as he rushed. Chandra tilted her body just enough to allow the weapon to pass over her right shoulder as she drove her knee into his groin. The Private keeled over her hip and winced in pain. She pushed him back, striking him with a hard left hook that smashed him to the ground.

The audience remained silent as they looked on at the two veteran soldiers lying incapacitated, and the Colonel not having a scratch. Their smiles were gone. She could already tell the lesson was getting through.

“I don’t mind you hating our enemy. Despise them, but never let your rage and anger drive you to recklessness. You are all professional soldiers. Our training is preparation for the real thing, and you must treat it as such!”

She paced around the arena her audience had created. She was pleased with herself but equally disappointed in her opponents.

“I know you’re tired. I know I’ve worked you hard. But let us not forget the conditions we had to fight in. We often went into combat with minimal sleep, exhausted and hungry. If you cannot fight to the best of your ability in such conditions, then you are not fit to be in this Battalion!”

Jones sighed but nodded in agreement at the same time. It was a lesson hard learned. They were being pushed to the limits of their bodies, but he knew she was right to do it.

“Today’s training is over. Rest and relax for the rest of the day, but remember today. Tomorrow we start hand-to-hand training from the start. Well done to you all for making it here and in good time. I am at least glad to see that fitness levels are being maintained. That’ll be all, fallout.”

Taylor’s eyes opened softly to see the comforts of his officer’s quarters in Camp Pendleton where he’d been back for only two days. The bed was soft and comfortable, the air fresh, and the temperature perfect. Beside him, he could feel Eli nestled into his side. It was a life of luxury he’d almost grown to forget. She stirred from a deep sleep and stretched out. Eli looked around for a moment as if surprised by her surroundings. Then she turned to Taylor and smiled at the realisation it was all real.

“I’ll never get bored of this,” she whispered.

Taylor smiled in agreement.

“Where do you think Jones and the Colonel are now? We’ve been with them so long, its weird to be apart.”

“Well I guess Jones will be catching up with his wife. She won’t be too happy to not have seen him for a year.”

“He’s married?” she responded in surprise.

“Jones is an Englishman. He’d never discuss her publically. I only found out a few months back. Chandra is probably busting someone’s balls and preparing for the next battle.”

“Really? You don’t think she’s kicking back for a bit?”

He turned and looked to see if she was being serious before nodding with a smile.

“No way.”

He looked at his watch and sighed.

“We gotta go.”

“Ah, come on,” she pleaded.

“Hey, we’re living like kings compared to what we had to put up with, so let’s appreciate what we have. We’re still marines, remember that.”

She sighed. She knew he was right, but getting out of bed in that moment seemed like the least logical action in the world to both of them. Eli groaned once again as she sat up and reached for her shirt. She stopped for a moment, looking at Taylor.

“Inter-Allied, what will happen to it now?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“The war is over. We’re divided by the Atlantic and of different nations, and we have no headquarters or official status.”

“The war may be over, but it won’t be the last. One thing this has taught the world, is that our armies need to work more closely with each other. Inter-Allied will continue on. Don’t you worry about that.”

“It’s hard to imagine how it can work any longer. Separated like this, how can we continue the way we were?”

“That’s something to discuss over the coming weeks. For now, I think everyone is just happy to be back home and enjoying a little peace. Or what little peace the Colonel will allow our British friends. Come on, our two Companies will be forming up as I ordered. We can’t be late.”

“You’re in charge around here now, and you can be whatever you want to be,” she said with a smile.

She was clearly touting for more time in bed, and it was an alluring proposition, but he couldn’t allow himself to give in, no matter how tempting.

“Whilst we remain in the Corps, we’ll act like marines, Sergeant.”

She smiled in response at the hilarity of the comment, considering their current situation.

“Hey, I’m not saying a few rules can’t be bent here and there, but we can never let it get in the way of our duties.”

She nodded in agreement.

Ten minutes later, they were out on the parade ground, where Silva had formed up the two Companies Taylor currently commanded. Jackson and Ota were stood chatting until he came in to view. They quickly turned as Silva called the rest of the other ranks to attention. Taylor nodded in greeting and thanks to the Sergeant Major as he came to a halt, taking a deep breath and surveyed the troops before him. Only a few months ago he knew few of their names, and now they were tightly knit comrades.

They were still missing a number from those killed or wounded in combat, but they were at better strength than almost any time during the war.

“Stand easy!”

Mitch was glad to see the relief in their faces that they were once again on home soil and without the ever-imposing danger of the enemy. At the end of Jackson’s Company, the two alien allies stood in formation, mimicking everything the others did. They were still not bound to any platoon or company. All that was certain; they were with Taylor, and they would remain with Inter-Allied. The towering creatures shadowed the men alongside them.

It struck Mitch that none among the Inter-Allied looked upon the two aliens with any doubt or fear any longer. There was no hiding the fact they were different, but they had been accepted within the unit. Like the others, they wore no armour that morning. Their skin-tight body suits had been sprayed in a camouflage pattern that resembled the fabric the rest of them wore, and their sleeves were emblazoned with the same insignia.

On their right arms they wore large Star and Stripes. It was an odd sight to see, but they all knew it was necessary to keep them from being shot by friendly forces.

“Good morning to you all! And what a morning it is!”

He looked up at the gleaming sky, squinting at the low sun that was already promising a blisteringly hot day.

“During the war, you received no leave, no rest, no R amp;R. Our orders are to re-equip and re-assemble to be back on our feet at full combat effectiveness within three weeks. I am sorry I cannot let you take the time we all deserve, but we cannot risk weeks to pass, without getting back on top of things.”

The grimaces of disappointment were hard to conceal. He smiled in response and continued on.

“However, as acting commander of the Battalion on this base, I am issuing you all three days leave.”

Cheers rang out as the troops could barely contain themselves.

“Pipe down!” Silva’s booming voice barrelled around the parade ground, quickly bringing them under control.

“I’ll see you all back here Monday morning, 0600 hours. Until then, your time is your own! Inter-Allied, fallout!”

The cheers and laughter broke out once again as the troops scattered quickly, to find loved ones and any enjoyment they could. Taylor smiled as he watched their sheer joy, but he stopped as he noticed Jafar and Tsengal still stood at ease. Parker leapt to his side in joy, but he brushed her off.

“Hang on a minute.”

He walked over to the two aliens still stood, awaiting their orders.

“I appreciate this brings us to a difficult position. You joined us as soldiers, but there is now not a war to fight.”

“There is always another war on the horizon,” replied Jafar.

Taylor smiled. He wasn’t sure whether to feel comfort in their support, or sadness in that they were probably right.

“You’ve got free movement around this base. Just be sure to be in uniform at all times, and to keep your ID cards handy. We are proud to have you among us. You earned our trust and respect, but it will not come so quickly to the rest of this world.”

“Thank you,” replied Jafar.

Taylor was taken aback by their response, as if they should be thankful for what little faith was placed in them.

“I cannot promise you will be treated fairly by many humans. You must remember the horrors we faced against your kind. There is little you can do that will help them overcome it. They need time. Continue to do what you’re doing, and eventually you’ll, well, fit in.”

“Lieutenant Rains suggested he could use our help,” stated Tsengal.

Taylor turned in curiosity but had no answer where there was not a question.

“May we assist him?”

Taylor nodded. “Of course, I’m sure he could use a hand. Crazy bastard would rather work on his bird than take a little time out.”

“A true warrior,” replied Jafar.

“Maybe, or maybe he just has a screw loose.”

The two creatures looked confused by his statement and went silent.

“I’m out of here. Remember what I said. Stick to base, keep insignia on at all times, avoid restricted areas, and you’ll be just fine. I’ll see you Monday morning.”

Mitch turned and grabbed Parker. She giggled as he tore her away to the jeep they had waiting.

“Where we heading, Sir?” she jested.

“When was the last time you kicked back on a beach, Sergeant?”

She smiled in response. Half an hour later they were at San Onofre, laying in front a beach hut they’d not seen since long before the war had begun. They knew that come the evening it would be a hive of activity, but until the end of the working day, they could enjoy the peace. Time seemed to pass them by as they relaxed and slowly fell into a deep sleep.

The constant bleep of Taylor’s communicator caused him to spring up. He hit the answer button and responded in a croaky voice.

“Taylor.”

“Mitch, you want to get your ass over here now. MPs are here with a particularly abrasive son of a bitch. They are trying to arrest our two alien friends.”

“What? Why?” he asked.

“Nothing they have done. Apparently, they’re acting like they are hunting for spies.”

“Christ, Eddie, where are Jafar and Tsengal now?”

“I hid them in a maintenance room, but they’ll not last long there. I sent the MPs packing, but they’ll soon be back when they find out the two of them were supposed to be here.”

“Alright, you just hold on. Do not let any bastard touch two of our own!”

“You got it, but you hurry on up here now. I can’t fight them off alone.”

Taylor leapt to his feet, which caused Eli to rouse and sit up with a smile. She looked disgruntled and disappointed that he was in such a flurry during their only leave in over a year. Then she noticed the concern in his face and quickly rubbed her eyes and tried to come to.

“What is it?”

“Jafar and Tsengal, MPs are trying to arrest them!”

She sighed, and he already knew she was put out by his support of the creatures. She shook her head in disapproval, but that only served to anger Mitch.

“Those two are part of us. Would you leave any other one of the Company in such a time?”

“No, but they aren’t one of us, are they?”

“People have said the same about female soldiers and black soldiers not so long ago. They stand with us, and that’s enough for me.”

“For Christ’s sake, will we never get a break?” she complained.

“Do what you like, but I’ll not leave them behind.”

He pulled on his shirt and buttoned it quickly as he rushed to the vehicle. Eli watched him leap aboard in a furious manner, speeding away from the tranquil paradise she had so recently been enjoying.

“You fool,” she whispered.

Taylor was already travelling well over the speed limit by the time he passed the gates to the road, and dust and sand swept in through the open sides of the jeep. His shirt was only half buttoned, and he was still wearing sandals. It was far from the well-kept image he maintained on base, but there was no time to change.

“God damn fucking bastards,” he yelled to himself as he hit the wheel of the car.

“I go for two God damn minutes, and they try to fuck us in the ass.”

Taylor had no love of the MPs, few did, but he genuinely had more than enough reasons to want to shoot some of them. Many despised him because of his combat record and all the glory they felt it brought. It was an envy he had to deal with on a regular basis.

Mitch could feel his head pounding as his anger and rage built. He reached the base gates in half the time it had taken the two of them to get to the beach. The dusty jeep came to a halt at the guard post, and a Corporal stepped forward to check his ID. The man looked suspicious of Taylor’s rough appearance, as he rightfully should be.

The Corporal desperately wanted to say something about his ill disciplined attire but looked to the rank on his shoulders, and knew he could not risk insult if Taylor really was what he was claiming.

“Identification, Sir?”

“For Christ’s sake,” he muttered.

Taylor reached into his pocket and fumbled around for his card that had seen so little use. He’d long forgotten what life was like at home.

“Here,” he snapped, passing the man a bent identify card. It was heavily worn and slightly burnt in one corner. The guard looked in shock at the card and took it suspiciously from his hands. Taylor sat impatiently.

“Well, come on, I haven’t got all day,” insisted Taylor.

“Uhh, yes, Sir.”

The man lifted his scanner, twisting the bent card to make it read properly and stood surprised as Mitch’s name and identity was displayed. There wasn’t a marine on base that didn’t know the name.

“Major Taylor, sorry for the delay, Sir.”

Mitch snatched the card from the Corporal’s hands and put his foot to the floor. The jeep raced forward and narrowly made it through the gates. They were only half open when he squeezed through. The Corporal shook his head in astonishment.

“Crazy bastard.”

Taylor’s jeep slid around the first corner, and he was quickly able to open up the throttle and tear across an open road towards Rains’ hangar. He slammed the brakes on and slid to a halt at the open doors where the pilot sat with his feet up as if it were any other day.

“Where are they, Eddie?”

The Lieutenant took another sip from his mug, not affected at all by the Major’s flustered state. He sighed and turned to Taylor, signalling over his shoulder with his eyes and a nod. Taylor turned to see three military police vehicles approaching. He snapped back around.

“We can’t keep them hidden forever,” mused Eddie.

Taylor shook his head. He knew his old friend was right, but it weighed heavily on his conscience that he would have to give up his own men, without them committing an offence. He turned back and stood confidently upright, glaring at the approaching vehicles. His right hand instinctively reached down to his thigh to rest on the pistol that had lived there for the last year, but it was nowhere to be found. He looked down in shock at the realisation that he was unarmed.

Caught without a weapon, for God’s sake, he thought.

The recent peace had let Mitch slip back into an easy life, not yet earned. He coughed to clear his throat and prepare himself for the assault of the MPs. The three jeeps slid to an abrupt halt less than ten metres from his position, and eight soldiers leapt from them. At least they were officially soldiers; Taylor could never see them as such.

“I am Captain Ames. We are looking for the two aliens under your command, Major.”

Taylor grimaced. He had hoped they were unaware of who he was. He quickly realised that they were well informed, and he was not going to talk his way out of it.

“On what charge do you wish to arrest men under my command?”

The Captain squinted in surprise at Mitch’s description of the creatures.

“The alien soldiers known as Jafar and Tsengal are soldiers of an enemy army which sought to conquer this world. The reason for their arrest should not need explanation.”

Taylor’s face turned to bitter anger.

“I do not need reminding what this war was about. I fought it whilst you lay about polishing your pretty uniforms. I will not surrender any under my command without just cause.”

Before the Captain could respond a door opened behind Eddie, and they all stopped to look. The two alien soldiers step out from hiding. The MPs quickly lifted their handguns.

“Whoa!” yelled Taylor. Tell your men to stand down!”

He looked back to see the two creatures stepping slowly towards the group, without showing any signs of aggression. Taylor snapped back around and roared at the troops.

“Put your weapons down!”

The Captain lifted his hand and signalled them to lower their pistols, in an attempt to alleviate the situation. The two stopped before Taylor, and Jafar finally spoke.

“We will do as is ordered. We will not hide from this any longer.”

“No, they can’t do this!”

He turned back around. “Who gave these orders?”

“I do not have that information, Sir. We are only doing our job. They are happy to surrender, so let us get this done, and there need not be any further trouble.”

The Captain stepped forward to pass right through the Major without stopping. Taylor could see he was uneasy with the task he had been given, but nothing was going to convince him to act against those orders. Mitch reached forward, firmly grasping the hand in which the MP carried his pistol and twisted until the man yelped in pain. Taylor struck him on the nose with one firm knife hand blow that caused his nose to burst and throw blood over his gleaming uniform.

Two more of the MPs rushed forward with batons in one hand and pistols in the other. One took a swing for him, and he nimbly ducked under the clumsy and excessive swing. He thrust an uppercut into the man’s stomach, throwing him off his feet, and quickly turned to the other. The baton was thrust forward at him with a more experienced fighter than the last. He narrowly avoided it with a quick sidestep. Before the MP could respond, he wrapped his one arm around the elbow and pushed with his other hand. The man’s arm snapped in on itself, driving the shock baton into his chest.

The MP spasmed from the voltage pulsing through his body, and he collapsed with the loss of motor control. Taylor looked up to see that remainder of the MPs were lifting their pistols to fire, but he was too far away to do much about it. He defiantly stood over his vanquished foes, praying they would not shoot a superior officer.

Taylor’s face grew long as he saw the look in their eyes. They were willing to pull the trigger, and he could do nothing but hope for a miracle. Two shots rang out, but as they did so, Jafar leapt in front of the Major. The small calibre rounds ricocheted from his armour and hit the hangar beside them.

The alien dwarfed Taylor and completely blocked the MPs view of him. Jafar stood calmly between them. He had no weapon in hand nor made any attempt to join in the fight. Taylor stepped around his newly found friend to see the two MPs stood in shock. He could see just a tiny bit of the horror he had first witnessed on the beaches in France upon their first meet with the enemy.

The MPs still held their weapons high and trained on the alien, but they knew that any more shots would be futile. They stood silently, awaiting the next move. Taylor turned to Jafar and looked at him in surprise. It was in part for saving his life once more, but more from the restraint he had shown in not fighting back.

“These men come to take you away. I cannot say for certain their reasons, but I can say that it will not be pleasant. They want you for lab rats.”

Jafar shrugged his shoulders.

“We both knew this day would come. Your commanders must have many questions for us, and we will assist them in any way we can.”

“But not like this, you are with us now.”

“And I follow your orders, just as you must follow your superiors. Do not throw your life away so quickly.”

The deep voice pierced Taylor’s thoughts, and he instantly calmed himself.

“You never cease to amaze me. How on Earth can the rest of your race be the way they are, when you bare so little resemblance?”

“Just one of the questions which will require an answer in the coming days.”

The area went silent as all reflected on what had just happened. The MPs on the ground reeled in sighs of pain. Then the silence was broken by the rushed pace of a jeep soaring towards the hangar bay. The vehicle bore the stars of General White. It slid to a halt, and Sergeant Gibbons leapt out, the General’s driver. He had two marines with him. Neither were MPs.

Gibbons stopped and quickly surveyed the scene, shaking his head at the bloodied police on the ground.

“Christ, Major, the war’s over, and yet you want to keep fighting?”

Had it been any other Sergeant questioning him, he would have been most put out, but Gibbons commanded respect across the base.

“I didn’t come looking for one. These idiots came to arrest troops under my command, without right or reason.”

“The two aliens are being brought in for questioning by direct orders of General White, and even if you can get away with this incident, you will not defy the General and get away with it.”

Taylor suddenly felt the tension in his body release, and his pulse calm at the sobering realisation of what a mess he had made. He was still bitterly angry about what was about to happen, but now knew he could not stop it.

“I want to speak with the General immediately!”

“And he is waiting for you. In the meantime, you will step aside and allow the MPs to carry out their orders.”

He thought about it for a moment, finally nodding in agreement. The MPs lowered their weapons and went to the aid of the others. Mitch stepped forward and reached out his arm to help one to his feet.

“Please understand I was only protecting my own. I meant you no harm.”

The man nodded as he gritted his teeth.

“Not much of an apology,” he replied.

“A fitting one, considering your actions.”

The man scowled, but Gibbons immediately cut in.

“That’s enough, gentlemen! This situation has already been messy enough. Major Taylor, please join me.”

He gestured for Taylor to follow him. Mitch looked back for a moment to Eddie who stood with a rifle in hand. He had no doubt the Lieutenant would have been willing to use it had the fight escalated. He nodded in gratitude before turning and continuing on to the jeep.

It’s gonna be a long fucking day, he thought.