Nick Thomas - Battle Earth IV

“And a little more than that. You nearly got yourself killed earlier today,” Chandra added.

“Go on,” continued White.

“Found a few stragglers in Reims, nothing we couldn’t handle.”

“Yes, I have been hearing more about pockets of enemy forces. There is chatter about assembling a few hunting teams to sort them out. Your names have been floating about as you’re more than suited to the task.”

Taylor’s eyes lit up. He was all for helping the civilian population, but their lives had ground to a monotonous halt. The near death experience earlier now felt like a spark of excitement in their tedious lives.

“Sounds like our kind of work.”

“Good. Now, those cells, or chambers we saw just now. What the hell do you propose they were doing there?”

Taylor sighed at the thought of it as Chandra stepped in.

“We’ve thought and talked it over almost every day since, Sir, but it’s only speculation.”

“Well, go on then, speculate.”

“I believe they were being readied as an army against us. I wouldn’t like to say if they were captured humans, or some kind of cloned or genetically created beings. It’s clear we have given the enemy a much harder fight that they could have imagined.”

White nodded in agreement. He wasn’t shocked at all by the theory as she continued on.

“We outnumbered them in every major engagement, and once we had started to modify their own technology, they were overwhelmed. Despite everything we had developed, they were still better soldier for soldier. What they needed more than anything was manpower.”

“Based on the number of incubation chambers, if they had gotten those people into combat, the war could have gone very differently,” whispered White. “I won’t lie to you, we were having a rough time of it back home. Germany would have quickly fallen, and the joint armies that fought across France and over the Rhine would have been encircled within weeks. It’s a damn miracle what you pulled off.”

“How many of those incubation cells are there?” Taylor asked.

“From what I understand, five hundred thousand or more. That’s a lot of manpower.”

“We need to know what they were planning,” mused Taylor.

“Can’t we just be happy we won?” asked Chandra.

“To lower our guard so soon after a narrow victory would be foolish indeed,” replied White.

The next hour was filled with questions for the two Majors that neither could answer. They were quizzed as if they were intelligence officers, when all they did was fight. After an exhausting grilling by the Command staff, they were finally allowed to leave aboard another plane. The two of them slumped into the comfortable seats of a luxury civilian transport, sighing in relief as they finally laid to rest.

The plane could seat fifty, but only five were aboard. Few would choose to leave the recovering capitol for the ruins of Reims.

“What was the point of it all?” asked Taylor.

“We’ve got to do our best to understand our enemy,” she replied.

“I understand that, but they have experts for that. Our job is to fight.”

“Schulz wanted to revel in his victory. Word is spreading of your defeat of Karadag, but many still do not believe it. There’s no body as proof, no video footage, just the word of one gung ho marine who is hated by Command, and claims to have slain a monster with only the aid and confirmation of his girlfriend. Would you believe it?”

Taylor smiled.

“You should have been there. I still can’t believe we managed it.”

The two went silent as the craft lifted off and headed back to the only home they knew.

“You heard White. Taskforces are being created to hunt down the remaining forces, and we’re right at the top of the list.”

“Because of our reputation, or because certain individuals are still hoping they can get me killed before this is over?”

“Both I should think. The Company is restless. They need something to occupy their minds. We aren’t talking about a meat grinder here. Hunting a handful of Mechs with the numbers and firepower we have should be exactly what we need.”

“Agreed.”

“Captain Jones.”

“What of him?”

“I wasn’t there when you all took on Karadag as you have just mentioned, and your report did not reflect it, but I know Jones went wild. He has had a death wish. Do you believe he is over it?”

“Back then I would have said no, but you saw him with Dubois. He’s a changed man, and back to his old self.”

“You believe it could all change overnight?”

“You’d be amazed what the love of a good woman can do.”

“I’ll take your word for it. I agree, though. I thought we’d lost him for good. On that note, we’ll be getting our orders regarding this new matter tomorrow, and I’m sure that Command will be keen to get us in the field ASAP. I’ve seen enough drunken exploits to last a lifetime. Take it easy tonight, and rest up for the morning.”

Taylor trundled back to his billet. He felt like a week had been crammed into the day, and he was once again left in the lurch, awaiting some news of what they were to do. He opened the door on the popup shelter to find Eli comfortably asleep inside. It wasn’t quite the coming home to his own house experience but was an appealing sight, nonetheless.

As he pulled off his equipment and clothing, she rolled over and slowly came to. A smile came over her face as she watched him take his shirt off and reveal his toned but scarred body.

“Hey, stranger,” she whispered.

“I thought you’d be out having a drink.”

“I figured we’ve done enough damage,” she laughed.

He sat down on the edge of the bed as she got up to hold him. She ran her hands softly over his body. His arms and legs were bruised and scraped from his fall, and he winced in pain as he found so many muscles and bones to be throbbing.

“How much more of this do you think you can survive?” she asked.

“I’m still standing, aren’t I?”

“Just about.”

He turned to see if she was truly worried for him but quickly realized she was merely having fun. His own mortality was always something that prayed on his mind.

“How are we still alive?” he asked. “All the crazy shit we’ve done, and made it through?”

“Our training, skills, common sense, and a heap load of luck.”

Taylor sighed. “That’s reassuring.”

He lay down and took a deep breath as he settled in comfortably beneath the sheets, and Eli huddled up next to him.

“You almost died today,” she whispered. “Remember the rules, never go anywhere alone. Just because the enemy is in retreat, doesn’t mean it’s over. None of us are safe.”

He nodded in agreement. He kicked himself for being so reckless, but without such a visible enemy to fight, it was hard not to try and move on from it all. He felt an immense feeling of satisfaction rush through his body that almost made him shiver.

All the drinking and partying we have done, and this feels a whole world better.

Taylor drifted into a calm and tranquil sleep as if he’d been waiting for it for months.

Taylor awoke early and feeling fresh, unlike the previous few weeks when his head throbbed. He was up and out of bed in a flash. His ripped and filthy uniform from the day before was gone, and a fresh pristine replacement lay in its place. Parker was already gone, and he could only assume she was responsible for the service.

As he pulled on his clothing, he could hear Silva shouting outside, calling the Company to attention. He rushed to the door as he buttoned his shirt just in time to see a jeep pull up with Commander Phillips on board. The road they had set up in was largely covered by a huge shelter that span the full width to the buildings either side. Mess tables filled the shelter, but a roadway had been maintained through the centre where the officer’s vehicle arrived.