Battle Earth VII

Chapter 6

Six hours later.

“Sir, we have three incoming ships.”

“What’s so special about them?” snapped Spiteri.

“Sir, they aren’t transports or Red Cross. They’re UEN warships.”

“What!”

The ships approached without a declaration of their intentions or request to land, but Spiteri knew he could do nothing but let them land and find out their purpose first hand. Taylor knew it was the reckoning for the Colonel. He prayed he would not be lumped into the whole affair.

The two of them paced out into the landing zone with a dozen guards and Armand close by Taylor’s side. He still looked horrified by what he had seen and had barely spoken more than a few words since that time.

“What do you think they’re doing here?” he whispered.

“You don’t know?” replied Taylor.

“I came here as a negotiator, nothing more.”

Taylor got the impression he knew far more than he was letting on, but he’d let it slide, considering recent events.

“UEN can’t let this stand. If they leave Spiteri in charge, they’ll have a tonne of bricks down on their heads. They’ll want to distance themselves from him and his actions ASAP.”

Armand didn’t seem surprised.

“You do realise this is a disaster? Besides the obvious loss of life, it has given the protest movement all the fuel they need for this fire?”

“We can only do what we can do, Colonel. We are but human, after all.”

Taylor was starting to get the impression he’d expected this to happen, and it had been part of his plan. If it was, it was far from his understanding yet. He looked over to see Spiteri was worried.

So you should be, you asshole.

From out of the ships poured UEN soldiers from Germany and a familiar face at their head, General Schulz. Military police flanked him also; something that still sent shivers down his spine. Taylor had learnt to tolerate and respect the General, but he’d never forgive him for his incarceration.

“Welcome to Tunisia, General…” started Spiteri, as the imposing force approached.

The General ignored his gesture completely.

“Lieutenant-Colonel Spiteri, under the authority of the UEN, I am relieving you of your command and placing you under arrest!”

Spiteri looked around to his colleagues, looking for some support, but none would stand against the General and his troops.

“Arrest? For what?” he pleaded. “For doing my job, for saving a Councillor’s life?

Schulz ignored his comments and sent the MPs forward.

“All prison staff involved in the shooting earlier today are to hand in their weapons at the armoury and return to your billets, where you will remain under house arrest until notified over wise. UEN soldiers will take over perimeter guard duties for the entire facility!”

He looked over to Taylor and saw he had no weapon in hand.

“Colonel Taylor, I am told you did not draw your weapon during the incident. Is that correct?”

Before he could answer, Armand jumped to his aid.

“I can confirm that, General. He protected my men and me and did not use a weapon throughout. Two of my own were involved but used only non-lethal ammunition in self defence.”

“Very well, Councillor. As key witnesses of the events here, you are both to escort the prisoner and me to Brussels where a full and immediate investigation is to begin. The World wants answers.”

“And the protests? We came here to negotiate to bring them to an end.”

“Negotiations are over. My own soldiers will ensure no one else comes to any harm, both inside and outside the facility, while this is resolved.”

The MPs removed Spiteri’s sidearm and took up positions around him. His shoulders seemed to sink as it sunk in that he was in big trouble, yet he didn’t seem to show any sympathy towards the dead and wounded or regret for his actions, only disappointment at his arrest.

Ten minutes later, Taylor was aboard yet another ship being whisked away to yet another country he had no interest in visiting, on a mission not at all suited to his talents. He had listened to Armand relay the entire events of the shooting within minutes of getting aboard.

Schulz seemed more interested in Taylor and turned his attentions to him.

“You’ve heard what Armand has reported to me, all of which has been recorded, will you corroborate his story fully?”

“It’s what happened.”

“So you agree with every detail?’

“It was a pretty simple affair, and yeah, I do.”

“Then Spiteri is going down,” replied Armand.

“It’s not a victory,” added Taylor. “Only another hurdle on the way to resolving this great big mess.”

“Agreed, so let’s get it done quickly. On arrival, you will be escorted to the Hotel Be Manos, along with Colonel Spiteri who will be kept closely guarded until the trial begins in the morning.”

“Tomorrow morning? And a trial beginning without an investigation?” Taylor asked him, surprised.

“Prosecution teams and UEN investigators have already been working on it and will do so throughout the night. You’ve seen the escalation of protests in the World. People need to know we are acting in their interests.”

“I’ve been on the wrong end of these events before. I can’t imagine being condemned for life with so little time or thought.”

“Then never open fire on and kill civilians.”

Taylor could feel it was all going too fast. Anger was brewing on all sides, and rushing it was only going to cause brash decisions, but he felt powerless to stop it.

* * *

It was another short journey to Brussels, but the day had felt like one of the longest since the war. As Taylor wearily stepped inside the lavish room that had been selected for him, all he wanted to do was sleep. But first, he mustered up the energy to put a call through to Eli.

“What the hell is going on there? Are you okay? You said you were in Paris, but I just saw you on the news at that prison where the shootings happened.”

“I’m fine.”

“Fine? Turn on the news, Mitch, and look at what that shooting means to people. They’re going psychotic over it.”

“Not as a result of anything I have done. I was asked to go and help there, and that’s what I’m still doing.”

“Well, you better figure out pretty quick which side you’re on.”

“Side?”

“Have you not seen the news today?”

Been a little busy, he thought.

“The World is dividing into those who want the aliens executed and those who don’t. They’re at each other’s throats. Riots have broken out in Washington and New York between the rival groups and in other cities around the World.”

“I’m a marine, not a politician.”

“Hardly,” she replied. “You’re out there on your own, making your own decisions. Out there you aren’t a marine, you’re a celebrity; one which both sides will be eager to recruit.”

He shook his head, “How did it all go to shit so quickly?”

“The day aliens invaded,” she replied.

“That’s a big help,” he said with a smile.

“Nothing good can come of this, Mitch. Get yourself out of it and home ASAP. We don’t have anywhere near the number of Krys held over here. It’s not such a problem. Get your ass out of it.”

“Do my best.”

“I love you,” she replied.

He could hear the worry in voice, and he was starting to realise how serious the events were in determining their future. She cut off the transmission before he had time to reply. Within five minutes, his armour was off, and he was in a deep sleep, the best he’d had in a long time. The recent events weighed heavily on many minds, but he was simply content to never have to do the circus displays his job had become ever again.

* * *

A loud knock at the door awoke him from his sleep. He staggered over to open it and found Jafar standing there.

Does the alien ever sleep?

“Any news?”

“A conference has been called at the UEN.”

“Great, another opportunity for politicians to bore each other to death.”

“I don’t think so.”

Taylor was surprised and invited Jafar in, as he paced over and turned the news on. Every news channel seemed to be a live feed of the conference that was already heating up. The Italian President was almost screaming across the room at his peers at such a volume and strong accent, Taylor could barely make out his words. Fortunately, he finished up, and the French President was invited to talk, President Jacques.

“France cannot risk enemy combatants on her lands ever again, and must take any move necessary to remove that threat. As the representative of my people, I feel it my duty to call for the immediate execution of all enemy combatants held within EU lands, and a strong recommendation that the rest of the World see merit in doing so with all haste.”

Grunts of approval and anger echoed around the room.

Taylor watched the conference for two hours. It seemed little more than a screaming debate between two groups who would never be swayed from their standpoints.

Finally, the Spanish Prime Minister arose and looked around the room, carefully studying the faces of all the representatives there. He clearly had something major to say, and all were silenced as they waited to hear it.

“The people of Spain will no longer tolerate the existence of murdering invaders on Earth. At 0900 hours tomorrow, Spanish time, two divisions of our armies will cross over into North Africa on orders to exterminate the enemy held there.”

Heckles came from the crowd, but he only lifted his hand and waited to speak.

“The UEN has proven impotent to act on this matter for four years, and we can no longer stand by and let this threat remain so close to our homes. Our forces will carry out these orders, and have strict orders to not be stopped by any force on Earth. Should any human stand in our way, we will have no choice but to do what we have to. We will protect our country and this World at any cost!”

“Oh, shit,” Taylor said quietly.

“Your people are turning on each other?” asked Jafar.

The German Prime Minster, Ms Muller, leapt to her feet to address the issue.

“Our forces currently serve at those bases and have a duty to protect those within the prisons, as much as those outside them.”

“Then have them redeployed, for nothing will stop out forces from doing their duty!” shouted the Spaniard.

Taylor could see they had reached deadlock as he continued.

“Any further discussion on this matter is wasting breath. No human is safe while an alien remains alive on this planet! Tomorrow, the men and women of the Spanish Army will do their duty to protect human lands across the World, and God spare any human who may stand in their way!”

He got up and stormed out of the room. Several other leaders followed suit, including President Jacques.

“Oh, we have some trouble on our hands now.”

“Will they really kill each other over this?”

“We’ve a long history of doing so, why should now be any different? Even so, this all seems to be happening a lot quicker than I’d expect. A few months ago, the protests were an annoyance to local governments, now we’re heading for war. It’s as if we’re being moved around like pieces on a board. Somebody wants this war, and there seems little we can do to stop it.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Me? What the hell can I do? I’m not a President, Prime Minister. I supposedly have a Battalion, but have not seen them in a year. It’s just you and me, and everywhere we go a fight starts.”

He looked at his watch. Spiteri’s trial was going to begin shortly, but there seemed little point, as he was going to face the full sentence for his crimes. He pulled on his uniform that had been cleaned by the hotel staff overnight and headed out the door to be met by armed escorts. It made him uncomfortable. He’d been escorted like this before, and it was right to a prison cell.

“Lead the way,” he ordered.

The court was right opposite the hotel with a pedestrianized area between them. On entering, he was met by a guard who expected him to give up his firearm. He knew he had no choice. Jafar tried to follow him through the foyer but was quickly stopped.

“Authorised personnel only,” said a guard.

Taylor nodded in response. He could fully understand their position, considering the topic at hand. He was led into the courthouse to join the audience. Just five minutes later, Spiteri stood before them all. Taylor had only ever seen a few court cases in his life, and they never moved this quickly and with such single focus.

Spiteri looked utterly unashamed of his actions and stood tall in his dress uniform. Taylor still wasn’t sure from which nation he came, but his query was soon answered as the judge introduced him as Maltese. Mitch had been one of the key witnesses at the scene, and one of the few who had no agenda towards the Colonel. He’d expected to be called up before the court quickly, but instead was surprised to see a recording of Armand recounting the tale and him agreeing with it.

“Is that enough to condemn the man?” he muttered to himself.

In three hours, they’d heard all there was to hear, including first-hand accounts from protestors who had been wounded at the scene. On the one hand, Taylor knew the man was guilty, but he couldn’t help but feel sorry for him as he wondered how it could have been handled differently. He was also beginning to wonder why he was even required to be there, seeing as they had all the evidence they needed.

“The court is adjourned until sentencing at 0900 hours tomorrow.”

Thank God for that. Another minute of hearing the condemnation of Spiteri would be enough to put me to sleep.

He got back to his room at the hotel and found a message waiting for him. It simply said, ‘Contact General White immediately’.

Great.

He put the call through, and once again the General was ready and waiting to accept it.

“Colonel Taylor, was I not absolutely clear that you were to stay put in Paris, keep your head down, and wait for everything to blow over?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Was I not absolutely clear that you had to stay out of the news?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Then please explain to me why you not only went to North Africa, but ended up in a fight with protestors, and a key witness in an UEN tribunal of a senior officer?”

“Sir, I was only trying to do what’s best for everyone.”

“What’s best!” he screamed, “You are an officer in the United States Marine Corps, and therefore you belong to me!”

“Maybe I used to be, Sir, but I’m not the combat officer I signed up to be. I’m a puppet being flown around the World for entertainment.”

“You’re whatever the Corps wants you to be, Taylor. Now, I’ve let a lot slide because of the great things you’ve done for us all, but this has to stop. You’re running around like a cowboy out there raising all kinds of hell. I’m told you are needed in court tomorrow for the sentencing of Lieutenant Colonel Spiteri. After that, you are to return immediately and report here, where you will be dealt with accordingly!”

“Yes, Sir.”

The General shook his head, “What happened to you, Taylor? In war, you were one of the greatest assets the World had, and now you’re nothing but a troublemaker. I don’t want to hear your name on any channel, whether it’s civilian or military, for some time. Do not screw up again!”

The transmission stopped, and Taylor was left feeling nothing but pissed off. He turned to see Jafar had watched the whole thing from the other side of the room.

“What does he want of you?”

“Who knows? All I know is life was a lot simpler when we were at war.”

“But you said you didn’t like war.”

“Maybe I was wrong. Anyway, we’re stuck here till tomorrow now. I hate to say it, but let’s keep our heads down. Wherever we go, we seem to attract trouble. We can’t find trouble if we stay here. I’ll order up room service, and we’ll have a few drinks.”

Taylor spent the rest of the afternoon flicking through channels on the TV, the thing most guaranteed to bore Jafar to death. At 2000 he ordered up food and was surprised to see it arrive within ten minutes. A staff member pushed a trolley through into their room. It was the best thing he’d seen all day, and the only thing he’d been looking forward to. As the man lifted off the covers from their meal, the lights went out.

“Ah, hell.”

It was a complete blackout.

“Don’t worry, Monsieur, the secondary power will start shortly.”

Nothing happened. As Taylor’s eyes adjusted to the dark, he stepped out into the corridor. The whole building was out. He went back to the room and hit the switch for the window shutters to open, but the power outage meant they wouldn’t move. He pulled the manual cord override, and they slid aside.

The city before them was still lit up as before.

“I don’t understand it,” said the concierge.

“You’ve not had this kind of power outage before?”

“Oh, yes, but the whole block, not just this hotel, and it recovers within fifteen seconds.”

Taylor strode back to the wardrobe and pulled on his Reitech suit.

“What do you think is happening?” Jafar asked, who seemed surprised at his response.

“I’m not sure, but I don’t like it.”

He could see Jafar had no concept of the scenario they might be facing, but he was automatically suspicious. He heard footsteps in the corridor and quickly grabbed his pistol, heading to the door to look out. The shadow of a man with a gun was approaching. Taylor leaned out just far enough not to be noticed by the figure until he was right on him.

He grabbed the man’s arm and pulled him inside the room. He was in utter shock, but Taylor’s firm grasp had him pinned and with a pistol to his head. It was one of the UEN Military policemen who had escorted him to the court that morning. Taylor relaxed his grip and took a step back.

“What’s going on here?”

“No idea, Sir. The power is out. Communications are being jammed. I really must continue, Sir.”

Taylor took his hand off him, and the man instantly leapt out the door. He turned back to see the concierge was terrified. Before any of them could say a word, they heard something tumble to the ground in the corridor in the direction the soldier had gone. Mitch leaned out the doorway to look and saw the soldier collapsed and lifeless. He turned to see several armed figures moving towards him. They had already noticed his head, despite the near darkness.

As he ducked back, a dart struck the doorframe. He spun back against the wall and threw the concierge aside to get him out of the way. Jafar also had his pistol drawn. They were the only weapons they had. Seconds later, the first gunman rushed through the doorway with his rifle held high. Taylor let him pass and went at the second man through the door. He smashed his fist into the man’s face. As the punch connected, he noticed a night vision visor hanging down from a compact helmet.

As the man tumbled back into the next gunman, he saw they all wore Reitech suits. Jafar launched out from the bathroom area to tackle the first man who had come through the door, shoving him across the room so that he smashed through one of the interior walls and landed in the bedroom. The third gunman got a shot off, and the dart hit Taylor in the chest, embedding in his armour. Jafar responded by firing two shots at his attacker, but the thick armour he wore absorbed both.

Distracted from taking another shot, Taylor took the opportunity to smack the man in the face with his pistol. He collapsed unconscious to the floor. Jafar rushed through to the bedroom and hauled the man out, who was dazed but still conscious. Taylor yanked the dart out from his armour and looked at it with surprise and intrigue.

“What do you suppose are in them, Jafar?”

The alien reached over and took it from his hands, jamming it into the throat of the man he was holding. He went limp immediately in his hand.

“What did you do that for?”

He stepped up to the body and felt for a pulse. It was still there.

“It’s not lethal, but you didn’t know that beforehand.”

Jafar had nothing to say on the subject. Taylor took off the man’s helmet and pulled it on to his head. The night vision gave him a near perfect view of everything around. He looked down and quickly studied everything on the man.

“French Special Forces. Can’t be.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s crazy, Jafar.”

He thought back over the day’s events.

“Oh, no, the Spanish going after the camps tomorrow; Spiteri is probably a hero for the Earth for Humans campaign. Him being forced to kill protestors because of the UEN, when he actively supports the execution of the aliens. The conflict within him is something they can cling to, and rally more people to their cause.”

Jafar looked completely confused by the hypothesis.

It seemed farfetched and bizarre, so much so, it made a little sense to Taylor.

“Spiteri is the perfect man to highlight the stupidity and absurdity of keeping the Krys alive. They’re here to rescue him before sentencing.”

Taylor still couldn’t believe the French President could be in on it, but he knew plenty of those around him would be capable of it.

“Come on, we have to stop this, and make sure Spiteri gets to that sentencing tomorrow, or he’ll be a catalyst for war in Europe.”

They each took one of the rifles from the incapacitated Frenchmen and rushed out the door, leaving only the hotel concierge still backed up against one of the walls and frozen stiff in fear.

Taylor was at a jogging pace now, going as fast as he could safely do so when he had no idea how many other gunmen occupied the building.

Two marines against God knows how many well training and armed gunmen? Great odds.

The elevators were clearly down, so they headed for the stairs. The door was almost jammed shut and appeared not to have been opened in years. The steps before them were covered in dust. Clearly, they had become completely dependant on the elevators and the expectation they would never fail.

Footsteps thundered down on the stairs from above, most likely another wave of the gunmen they had heard before.

“Where is Spiteri?”

“Two floors above us,” Jafar replied.

“How does the shit seem to follow us wherever we go?” he muttered, as they stormed up the stairs.

Taylor was in the dark, just as he had been during the war. No comms, no technology to aid in enemy troop movements. Just him, a gun, and his friends; or single friend, as was the case here. They flew up the two flights of stairs at lightning speed, twenty seconds ahead of those coming down from the roof.

They both knew they had to deal with those approaching before going any further. They took up positions either side of the corridor, continuing on five metres to a turn that would provide some cover. Then they readied themselves. The troops rushed into the corridor as if there were no threat at all. Taylor could only assume they had seen him and assumed he was one of them, due to his equipment; a single lucky break at least.

He squeezed the trigger, and the dart hit the throat of the first while Jafar’s shot went into the cheek of another. Their two comrades were through the door before they had realised the danger, due to the silent weaponry. They took them down the same way as the first. For a moment they stayed put, waiting for more to come through, but that was the last of them.

Taylor got back up to his feet and pointed for Jafar to go on and lead the way. He knew the location of Spiteri better than he did. As they passed quickly down the corridors, they took a bend and found two gunmen at a doorway and another rushing out with Spiteri at his side. They saw Jafar, and the game was up. Darts soared down the corridor, forcing them to duck back down.

“Shit,” muttered Taylor, “Come on, they must be going for the roof via the other stairs.”

Taylor rushed back to where they had taken down the four Frenchmen and hit the stairs as quickly as he could.

“We have to get there before they do, or we’re finished.”

Taylor was at the front when they burst onto the rooftop, stopping instantly as they were met by the sight of Armand with a pistol to his head.

“Lay down your weapons, or he dies!”

Taylor didn’t know what to do for a moment and looked around for some other possibility. Another dozen French Special Forces occupied the roof, with two transports ready to whisk them away.

“Lay down your weapons, and you will not be harmed!”

“Do it,” said Taylor.

Jafar seemed utterly astonished.

“They don’t mean to hurt us. They don’t want any blood spilled here.”

He put the rifle down, and Jafar reluctantly followed suit.

“You’re sidearms, too!”

Taylor drew out his pistol and put it down before him. As he stood back up, he felt naked. Not a single weapon to hand and helpless to stop them taking Spiteri. Several of the troops rushed past them and down the stairs. It was clear they wanted to recover their wounded. He wasn’t sure if it were evidence they were concerned with, or leaving their comrades behind.

“Thank you for trying!” Armand shouted.

Spiteri strode over to them under the cover of the soldiers and had a broad smile about his face.

“I think you picked the wrong side, Colonel.”

“I wasn’t aware we had any amongst humans.”

“Then you’re an idiot. Look around you. The only time we were unified was when we were at war. It can’t survive during peacetime.”

“They’ll just parade you around as a poster boy for all that’s wrong in the World.”

“Then let them, for I’ll be playing my part in doing what should have been done four years ago. Genocide isn’t a pretty business, but someone has to do it.”

“Maybe they do have to die or be exiled or something, but this isn’t the way! We can’t turn on one another while the threat remains very real. What happens when the next invasion comes and humanity is divided?”

“Then we should be sure to root out alien sympathisers and enablers quickly, and you are one of them, aren’t you. Colonel?” he said, walking over to Jafar and staring at the alien.

“I don’t know what your game is, but I don’t like it, and letting you stand by his side was Taylor’s biggest mistake, and probably his undoing. You’ve lost, Colonel. You’ve let the enemy in. They have manipulated you, and now you let them stand beside you as equal.”

Taylor could see his point of view, even if he knew he was wrong about Jafar.

The French were quick to recover their comrades; a task made easy by the power of the Reitech suits that allowed a soldier to carry another without any restriction at all.

Spiteri picked up Taylor’s pistol from the floor and pointed it at Jafar’s head. Taylor knew it was helpless to act, but Armand leapt in to try.

“You don’t want to spill blood here, Colonel!”

He turned around in shock.

“No? Really? Why would I not want to kill one alien, when I am happy to kill them all?”

“This can still be resolved peacefully. And even if the powers of the World agree to genocide, they’ll never condemn that one. He has been invaluable to us.”

“Probably because he’s working an angle! Getting at us from within.”

The Frenchman who had the gun to Armand’s head stepped forward to resolve the matter.

“No blood is to be spilled here!”

“But…”

“I have strict orders. We are to accomplish this mission, only if it can be done without any fatalities on either side. You will put the weapon down and come with us!”

Spiteri waved the gun around a bit with a smile, just to prove he had Jafar’s life in his hands before finally laying it down a couple of metres from Taylor.

“You should come with us, Taylor. A man like you should be on the right side. Leave this creature behind with his own kind and continue the fight you excel at.

“You know I can’t do that.”

“Why, because you swore an oath to some idiots, some of whom have put you behind bars, others have thrown you into an arena to slug it out with creatures that could rip you apart. Choose the right side before it’s too late, Taylor.”

He was helpless to act now and could only hope they’d make it out alive. Finally, the Frenchman ordered them all to load up. He dragged Armand across the rooftop to the entrance to his ship. At the last moment when all were aboard, he pushed the man forward to quickly shut the door.

Taylor and Jafar leapt for their handguns and took aim, but the craft was already lifting off the rooftop as they took aim. They looked to Armand for answers. He seemed surprisingly calm, despite the drama.

“Guess there’ll be no sentencing tomorrow?” asked Taylor.

“Never mind, we have larger problems now.”

“Ain’t that the truth?”

With his last word, the power to the building came back on. The three of them ambled back to Taylor’s room. The door was still open, and the entrance trashed from the fight. The only thing missing was the concierge who must have finally mustered the courage to leave.

“So what now?”

“Negotiations are still ongoing at the UEN, but with several key members missing. I should imagine all attempts are being made to get the Spanish back to the table. Now we wait and see if they really do cross over the sea and make their attempt at the prisons.”

“And we just let them? There are German soldiers defending those prisons now. Will we let two European, two human powers slug it out over this?”

“I don’t think we have a choice.”

Taylor turned to Jafar, “What’s your take on all this?”

“You are making a simple situation complicated.”

“And, what would you do?”

“Put them to work or put them to death.”

“Hardly humane, is it?” asked Armand.

“Is civil war?” retorted Taylor.

“So now it’s a waiting game? Waiting for what could be the start of a war between major powers, the likes we have not seen in a few hundred years? Have we not fought enough recently?”

“You like war though?” asked Jafar.

Taylor turned and looked pained, already wishing he hadn’t made those comments.

“I didn’t say I liked war. I said it wasn’t all bad, and some elements were preferable to the life I now had to lead. And anyway, I was talking about war with the Krys, not other human beings.”

It seemed Jafar couldn’t tell the difference, but he nodded in acceptance.