Battle Earth V

Chapter 8

Chandra stood by a drone they’d become accustomed to seeing in combat with the enemy. It was partially disassembled and parts she had not seen before lay nearby. Tools and component lay everywhere, as well as a storage room filled with another dozen inactive pieces.

“Looks like they were trying to modify and upgrade,” she said to Tsengal.

“Yes, I have not seen some of these components.”

“This whole planet seems to be devoted to the development of weapons. It’s not what I’d expected to find.”

Tsengal looked at her as if to ask why but did not speak.

“Throughout this entire war, we have been researching and evolving our equipment, more so in two years than the last two hundred. I just didn’t expect to find them doing the same.”

“Our former leaders underestimated the humans. A mistake they are rapidly trying to correct, by the looks.”

“Back on Earth, we found scores of humans, or what looked like humans in some kind of incubation chambers. Do you know anything of them?”

He shook his head.

“I am sorry, Colonel.”

A transmission came in to her personal comms link.

“Colonel Chandra. Colonel Chen is requested your presence at the CP immediately.”

Her curiosity turned to concern. She had been waiting for bad news for days.

“Come on let’s go!”

She took to a running pace. Several of the troops they passed on the way turned in surprise and reached for their weapons. They could all see it was serious, and yet even she didn’t yet know the reason for such an emergency. The two of them rushed into the Command centre that they had established in what seemed to be the docking bay control room.

Passing through the guards and the entrance, the Colonel could already see the worry in the faces of those waiting for her. The three Battalion commanders were all gathered around a table that had a map of their area displayed. She rushed up to them without a word, looking to Colonel Chen for answers.

“We have confirmed sightings of the enemy, Ma’am.”

“What’s their strength?”

“Unknown, but it’s not small. They’re coming right for us. At their current speed, we have about eight hours until they arrive.”

“We should prepare our defences,” Major Warren added.

Chandra nodded in agreement. The Commando officer was thinking exactly as she did.

“We’ve got what, less than three thousand troops? Enough to hold off a scouting party or small assault, maybe more with the terrain here. But if they come at us hard, like we have seen so many times…” continued Chen.

Major Klimenko’s fist smashed down on the table like iron. It made them all jump in shock. The Russian marine stood taller than everyone in the room, except for Tsengal, and his cold fearless expression spoke a thousand words.

“The time for giving up ground is over!” he boomed. “We will spill their blood on their land.”

Chen shook his head in disbelief.

“How can you…” he continued.

“Enough!” Chandra shouted. “We came here to fight, so I don’t want to hear any talk of bugging out. We have no idea what we are dealing with yet. We have a strong position here, with enough troops to defend it.”

The room went silent as Chen swallowed his words.

“There may come a time when we have to turn tail and run, but that is the very last resort. We’ve been ordered to defend this colony, and we will do so until we are no longer able.”

“Suicide? That’s what you are asking of us?” asked Chen.

Chandra took a deep breath. She knew Chen was a good man and a solid officer. She didn’t want to insult him.

“You fought hard to save the Moon Colony, against all odds. That battle assisted all of us on Earth. As important as that fight was, so could this one be. If we do not stand in the face of the enemy, who will?”

Chen accepted her words, as he knew there was no chance of changing her mind.

“At least request assistance from the fleet,” he pleaded.

“I will do so, but no matter their answer, our task is set. I know the breaches we made here have already been sealed, but I’d like them checked and reinforced if need be. You all have your areas marked out. I’ll attach myself to Major Warren’s commandos for now. You have a good few hours. Let’s make this as defensible as we possibly can.”

They turned and left. Chandra stood her ground and continued to survey the map of the colony. She could see they had more than enough troops to defend the confined underground facility. She turned to her comms operator.

“Get the Admiral for me.”

Taylor had been called to the bridge. He knew it must be important. The Admiral was well aware he was partaking in hull breach drills and defence practices. He didn’t like being interrupted when he was running such drills, as they could mean life or death for many of them. He stepped onto the bridge with a scowl, but it was quickly wiped from his face with a few simple words from Huber.

“Colonel Chandra in on the link.”

He quickly stepped up to the briefing table where a projection displayed a video feed.

“Please carry on, Colonel,” Huber ordered.

“As I was saying, Sir, we have confirmed enemy incoming in unknown but large number.”

“Are they heading for you or us?” asked Taylor.

“Hard to say as their path runs towards you, but we’re right in the middle, so you can bet your arse they’re going to want this place back.”

“We should reinforce Red 1, Sir,” insisted Taylor to Huber.

Huber thought about it for a few seconds before directing his question to Chandra.

“What is your analysis of the situation, Colonel?”

“Sir, we have enough strength to effectively defend this colony against a sizeable attack. It is my belief that we should make all efforts to defend this place. If the enemy are heading for the gateway, then they are heading for Earth. The longer we can hold them back, the better prepared our colonies will be.”

“You think a few hours or days could make a difference to that?” he asked.

“In the past, I would have said no, but our production, recruitment and training is at an all time high. Every day Earth gains to develop its strength could be vital in determining the outcome of a second invasion.”

Taylor could see Huber already agreed with her. They had all witnessed the vast shipyards slaving away and putting new ships into space, in what seemed like a daily basis.

“I will not order you to stay on Red 1, Colonel, but I do believe staying there is the right decision. As you know, we cannot quickly assist you, and if the fleet comes under attack, we may well be unable to provide any extra help.”

“Understood, Sir.”

“Request for Inter-Allied to return to assist the Colonel, Sir,” Taylor asked.

I know it’s a long shot, but I had to ask.

“Denied, we need the best we have here on the the Washington, to protect us in the event of another breach.”

“We’ll be fine here, Mitch. I’ve got some of the very finest troops at my disposal. We bled for this land. I’m not willing to give it up without a fight.”

Taylor nodded in agreement. He was well used to the Colonel’s stubbornness.

“You look after yourself.”

“Always.”

“Good luck, Colonel,” Huber added.

“And to you, Sir.”

The projection stopped, and Taylor was once more struck by the realisation he was again divided from friends.

Time flew by on Red 1 as the troops hastened to prepare the defences. Enough hours had passed, and they now waited for the inevitable attack. Chandra sat in the CP with just five other personnel. All the other officers were stationed at their designated zones. Her platoon waited at the door for her.

All were silent as she waited for some news from the staff sat at their stations. She sat upright and sternly, with a straight back. Her rifle lay on the table next to her. They had no planetary defence batteries or fighters to engage the enemy. All they could do was wait for the enemy to come to them. Her comms operator, Corporal Bradley waited anxiously for information more than any of them.

“Ma’am, we have identified forty vessels so far.”

She nodded in response.

They had little idea of the enemy strength based on that information, other than it was more than a mere scouting party.

“Transmit all information to the fleet live while you still can.”

She could see the fear in the operator’s face. It was a gloomy outlook to be trapped in a siege.

“Don’t worry, this is only the beginning. They’re going to wish they’d never met the human race.”

She was trying her best to boost all their morale, but she wasn’t sure they believed her. She had the opportunity to smash an enemy army on their own soil, and yet she could not get the support she wanted or needed to do the job properly.

Why will they not commit the fleet?

She knew defending the gateway was important, but taking the fight to the enemy would have protected it also, or at least she believed so.

“They have passed within five kilometres, Ma’am.”

“And they have not fired?”

The man shook his head.

Why? They must know we now occupy this place, so why would they not shell the colony? What is so important about it?

Ever since she had arrived on the planet, she had felt there was more to learn there than they had seen or found so far. The waiting game was a dreadful experience for them all. Finally, the comms operator spoke again.

“Incoming craft landing on the surface.”

“Still not a single shot fired? No bombs dropped?”

“No, Ma’am.”

“Then our odds just improved. They want this colony badly enough to not risk its destruction. That’s the first bit of good news I’ve heard all day.”

He could see what she was saying, but it was little relief when the wolves were at their door.

“We’ve lost all communications. Hard lines only now, Ma’am.”

She had given strict orders that all breaches were to be reported on the hard lines or with runners. The Colonel knew they had a good chance of holding when their lines stayed firm. Any breach must be filled quickly, or they could be overrun. Bradley now sat in front of a board of lights indicating an incoming communication along the wired lines they had set up. It was an antiquated and painfully tedious way of working, but it was the best they could do.

An explosion erupted far from them, and they could just about hear it echo through the corridors. They waited with bated breath for news, and it wasn’t long before one of the incoming call lights was flashing. Bradley opened a channel, outputting on the speakers so they could all hear.

“We’ve got a breach in grid 6B. Enemy contact.”

Chandra looked down at the map they had hastily put together of the colony layout, and the positions she had designated for them all. It was Major Warren’s area. She wanted to rush out and help, but she knew she must wait for more news. Two other lights quickly flashed on the console, and Chandra could feel her pulse race as each of them lit up.

Within two minutes, they had five breaches in the colony’s perimeter, and all three Battalions were reporting enemy contact. She knew it was time to join the fight. They needed all the fighters they could get. She grasped her rifle from the table and rushed to the exit of the room. Stopping at the doorway, she turned back to Bradley and the others for just a moment.

“Have your weapons ready. We’re in for a hell of a fight.”

It wasn’t much relief to any of them, but at least they would be prepared. Suarez and Tsengal were waiting for her with the rest of the platoon. They looked raring to go and eager to draw enemy blood.

“Come on!” she yelled.

They took to a jogging pace and headed for Warren’s position. It was the site of the first breach and was therefore the priority. It took just a couple of minutes to reach the back of the Battalion. The small colony allowed them to pack in tight and concentrate their fire. The gunfire they could hear was controlled and steady. Chandra pushed her way through the lines, until finally she reached the front where Warren was overseeing the action.

The defences had been built tall, and she could not see over the barricades what the lines of commandos were firing at. They all seemed remarkably calm, and there were no casualties in sight. The three-dozen rifles firing were evidently holding back whatever was coming at them down the broad hallway.

“Give me an update, Major!” she shouted over the echoing shots.

“Enemy advance has been halted here. We have sustained no casualties.”

“Damn good work.”

“They’re being funnelled in through the breach in so few enough numbers that they aren’t making any headway at present.”

Chandra was glad to hear it and continued on up to the barricade to see for herself. She leapt up onto the make shift rampart to immediately see two Mechs being cut down by crossfire. The creatures were only able to get through in small numbers and were little trouble for the commandos, and yet they kept coming.

“Crazy bastards keep running onto our guns!” called one of the troops next to her.

She thought back to the lives Jafar and Tsengal had described. It was a hard and bitter existence for their race. She wondered if the first wave were just testing the defences, or even just expending their opponent’s ammunition. She didn’t share her thoughts. She wanted them to enjoy any little victory they could. The Colonel turned and jumped back down, striding to Warren’s position.

“Keep it up, Major.”

She strolled on more confidently than she had arrived. They had all expected to be hit with overwhelming force, and yet they were holding steady. The more she thought about it, the more it unsettled her until she decided to turn to Tsengal for answers.

“Why do they attack in such small number? This is too easy.”

“This is just the beginning,” he replied.

“Why not amass their forces for an assault?”

“My former leaders would not care for lives lost. The order to attack would have been given and must be followed.”

“And you lived like that?”

“Until we met Major Taylor, there was no other way to live.”

They got to the end of Warren’s troops to find a seamless transition to Chen’s soldiers. She was glad to see there was no break in the line. As she arrived, the guns went silent. She could see the first wave was finished. The Chinese troops had just four wounded and stood triumphantly before several dozen of the enemy. The soldiers were taking the hiatus to reload and ready themselves for a second wave. Chandra was about to congratulate Chen when they heard a ruckus from over the defences.

“Drones!” she heard one cry.

A surge of gunfire opened up, and she jumped to the line to see for herself. The hover drones they had gotten used to seeing in France were pouring in like ants. Their weapons fired the second they came into view, and there seemed no end to their number. She lifted her rifle and quickly joined in the fight.

Gunfire poured in from above their heads, and she looked up to see several platoons of Chen’s troops on a platform above them. Tsengal and four of her platoon leapt up to join in the fight, but they were all that could fit in the space left. Pulses from the drones smashed into their positions, but much of the defensive line was made from alien metal and stopped the worst of it.

The drones were being smashed as quickly as they poured into the hall, but still they kept coming. Several of the troops fired grenades into the mass, sending debris sprawling out across the ground and pelting the walls. Chandra’s magazine ran dry, so she ducked back down behind the cover to load in a fresh one. Back on her feet, she could see the drones had made a couple of metres progress, despite the floor being littered with the wreckage of those that came before them. Pulses continued to smash their position and rush overhead. Clearly, the fire from the humans overwhelmed them.

Seeing the relentless push of the drones was a frightful sight. Even the aliens themselves could eventually be broken and forced into retreat, but the drones kept going until the bitter end. She remembered studying the use of them in human history, and how they fell out of favour due to the inhuman nature of them. Hearts and minds is what she always remembered.

The last of the drones were finally reduced to a line of twisted and burnt metal, and the hall was silent again. There were no cries of celebration. Destroying machines seemed to have little effect on their morale, but it was at least a relief to have stopped the first attack.

Taylor sat silently as the information from Red 1 was relayed to them on the briefing table. The bridge was quiet as they listened to the audio relay from Bradley until the moment contact was lost. For ten whole seconds after the feed went dead, no one said a word. Taylor looked up to the Admiral and pleaded.

“We have to go to their aid. We have to do something!”

Huber shook his head.

“We can’t just leave them there and sit on our asses!”

Huber liked the Major, but he didn’t like anyone raising his voice on his bridge, and telling him what he should and shouldn’t do.

“You will do exactly as is ordered and expected of you. You heard your Colonel. They have ample ability and strength to hold the colony.”

Taylor fell silent. He knew he could not challenge the Admiral’s decision. Huber turned to his XO.

“Double the range our scouts are going. I want to know if anything is heading our way.”

He turned back to Taylor and could see the sadness in his face.

“Follow me, Major.”

The two of them stepped inside the Admiral’s quarters where they could talk freely. Taylor remained silent. He expected a grilling for his performance, but it didn’t come.

“Please do not think I want to leave them out there, but remember this war is about more than one officer, more than one battalion, more than one army. This fleet is the only thing standing between the enemy and Earth. Would you risk it all far into enemy territory, when we still know so little? We created this fleet to protect Earth and our other colonies. When we can be certain that we have the ability and strength to move forward, we shall. But don’t let yourself believe that one victory means we are all powerful.”

Taylor accepted his words. He knew the Admiral was right, but it was a harsh reality to accept.

“I thought we were coming here to take the fight to the enemy, Sir.”

“And we have, but now we must consolidate and defend what we have taken. This is a major breakthrough for our civilisation. We have travelled light years from Earth, invaded alien territory, and seized one of their colonies. Let’s not forget how far we have gotten. It was not so long ago that Earth was on its knees.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Go now, calm yourself, and remember your Colonel is more than capable of taking care of herself.”

Taylor showed himself out and skulked miserably off the bridge. By the time he had reached the elevator, his sadness was gone, and it was replaced by anger and a pig-headed resolve. When the doors opened, he strode out with purpose. He rushed towards the berths where Inter-Allied were living. Silva was the first familiar face he found.

“Sergeant, gather the troops. We’re heading out.”

The Sergeant looked puzzled.

“Sir, aren’t we…”

“You heard me, Sergeant!”

Silva was never one to disobey his orders and quickly turned, rushing off to carry them out. Taylor lifted up his comms unit.

“Captain Ryan, prepare the Deveron for take-off.”

“Roger that,” came the reply.

He turned quickly to rush to his quarters to get his gear when he found himself confronted by Parker. She blocked his way and brought him to an abrupt halt. He could see from the look on her face that she had been listening in and did not approve.

“Don’t do it.”

“Don’t do what? Help our friends?”

“Don’t throw your life away again. Last time you were left to rot in prison because you disobeyed an order, and as a result a friend died, anyway. The Colonel is more than capable of looking after herself. The best thing you can do for her is to do as she asked, and protect the fleet.”

He wanted to disagree and knew he could quite easily ignore everything she said, but deep down she was right.

“Why do we have to leave so many friends behind?” he asked.

“Why do we have to fight this damn war in the first place? I know she means a lot to you, but she does to all of us. You know what she’d want you to do.”

He shook his head in disbelief.

“How can we just leave them there?”

“She may just surprise you yet. The Colonel is a hell of a woman.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“So what’s it gonna be?”

Taylor thought for a few seconds, and she could already see he’d come to accept the grim turn of events. He lifted up his comms unit once again.

“Captain Ryan, belay that order. Sergeant Silva, stand down.”

He looked back to Eli and was thankful she’d been there to stop him, but still in his heart, he knew it was the wrong thing to do. Eli lifted her hand and rested her palm on his cheek. She didn’t envy his position as second in command.

“I am sick of this fucking war,” he whispered.

“I know,” she replied even more quietly as she leant into his shoulder.

“It’ll be the death of us all.”

“Don’t talk like that. We’ve made it this far. What makes you think we can’t see this through?”

“Just how much more luck do you think we have? We’re put on the frontline every time. We can’t go on like this forever.”

“Well then I guess we better just win this war soon.”

He smiled in response. A little light humour was the only thing that would break him from the cycle.

Chandra leapt down from Chen’s position and rushed on to find Klimenko. In a war where they had little communications or visual displays, she had to see it all for herself. She could hear Suarez cursing under his breath at having to follow her, but she didn’t care.

As she reached the Russian lines, she could see a number of dead who had been set aside and several wounded being carried away. The battle was clearly already over. Along the defensive wall, the marines had propped up Reitech shields in a regimented fashion every metre, providing protection and firing positions that resembled the ramparts of an old castle.

Major Klimenko sat at a table with a box of ammunition on the ground beside him, reloading his magazines. Several of his marines were with him. He looked surprisingly calm as his troops helped the wounded and adjusted the defences around him. As she approached, he peered up and greeted her.

“A good start, Colonel.”

She leapt up onto the line of defences to peer over at the destruction below. The bodies of several dozen Mechs lay there. Some of the marines were passing through the enemy wounded, and she watched as one of the Russians fired two shots into one of the aliens that was still struggling.

Nothing seemed to shock her any longer, and she could see the rest of the troops had become just as polarised. She turned and jumped back down to address Klimenko.

“Any news on their strength?” he asked.

“Sorry, all I can say for sure is it’s big.”

He nodded in acceptance. “Any possibility of reinforcement?”

“Not likely. I’d think plenty of the enemy fleet have continued on to the gate.”

“Do we present enough of a threat to draw some of their attentions and give Huber a fighting chance?”

“Hell, yes. I’m sure they’re already well aware they’ll need more than a few hundred soldiers to take this colony back. We’ll make them pay a high price here.”

“And ourselves? What price will we pay?”

“Whatever we have to. Our fate is now tied to this planet. Nobody leaves.”

“I wasn’t intended on going anywhere,” he replied dryly.

“We’re in this for the long haul. I’ll arrange further supplies to be brought to you, presently.”

He nodded, and she turned to return to where she had come from. The CP was still as silent as when she had left. The five personnel inside all turned to her for news. She was hoping for answers from them, but they had little information to share.

“The first wave has been held off. Casualties are as minimal as could be hoped for.”

There was a small sigh of relief that was barely audible from several inside.

“Have you got any news on their numbers and the state of their fleet?” she continued.

“We still have a few camera feeds open. About half of the enemy ships continued on for the jump gate. The others have remained in orbit over our position.”

“Then they must be readying themselves for a proper assault. They tested our defences today. I would not be surprised if the next wave comes before the day is over.”

No one responded. They didn’t want to speculate at what horrors they might face next.

“Have we got any means of contacting the fleet at all?” she asked.

“The only possibility is to send a physical message aboard a ship or something similar, like one of the delivery drones.”

Delivery drones. It’s time we put drones back into action, she thought.

“Do you believe such a message would get through?”

Bradley shrugged his shoulders.

“We have no idea what’s out there now, or what capabilities they have for stopping whatever we send out.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“Sorry, Colonel.”

“It’s alright, there’s nothing worth saying yet, anyhow.”

She turned, leaving the room in silence once again. Tsengal was the first thing she saw as she stepped outside.

“They will not stop,” he stated.

“We will break their armies over this colony.”

“I have no doubt, but they will never give it up.”

“Then let’s make them pay a bitter price for it.”

She carried on to Warren’s position, as it was where she felt most at home. Chandra didn’t like having to fight a battle without the 2 ^nd Inter-Allied soldiers she had become so close to. Several wounded were being carted through to designated rooms with sealable environments. The breaches in the colony walls were causing oxygen shortages through much of the complex.

Chandra reached the commandos’ position and stepped up again to their defensive line. Dozens of the marines were busy rebuilding and improving the walls. Many others waited with their rifles at the ready for the next assault. Major Warren paced up to talk her privately.

“Do you think the General will send any help?”

“It’ll be sometime before he could organise and get troops here. I fear they will be a long time short of reaching us in our time of need.”

“So we’re fucked. Left out here alone?”

“Pretty much. But we have a chance to make a difference. We have the opportunity to make those bastards pay a dear price.”

She looked out to the carnage. There had been no attempt to clear the enemy dead. They provided obstacles to the next assault, if nothing else. Despite wearing a fully enclosed suit with her own oxygen supply, she could smell the burning bodies and armour. The taste and putrid smell was something she could never forget, and despite her suit protecting her from it, her mind projected it for her.

“They’ll come in much greater number next time. Make sure you keep plenty of ammunition handy. If we can keep them bottlenecked in these hallways, we have a chance.”

“A chance for what?” asked Warren.

“For victory.”

He appeared surprised and looked into eyes to see if she truly meant it. He could tell she believed her own words. He just wasn’t sure what she defined as victory.

“We’ll nail those bastards. This planet will run in blue rivers of blood.”