Nick Thomas - Battle Earth IV

Mitch awoke at the sound of his voice being bellowed out by Silva. The Sergeant continued to bark his name, and it was getting louder as he closed the distance to his billet. Eli had arisen at the noise and was groaning at being woken so harshly. They could tell from the natural light flooding through the partially transparent fabric of the field billet that the sun had recently risen to bring them into the next day.

“Major Taylor!”

The calls continued. He could tell that it was urgent, and by the concern in Silva’s harsh voice, he could already tell that it was not going to be good news. He leapt from his bed and pulled on his boots and coat. He still war his BDUs from the night before. The heaters they had kept the billets from freezing, but it was far from warm. He opened the door to find Silva just reaching him. He could see a distraught look in the man’s eyes. He’d rarely seen such fear from the steadfast Sergeant.

“What is it?”

“Sir, you need to come with me, now!”

Taylor leapt out of the billet and followed the Sergeant. He’d never have taken orders from any NCO, but it was clear to him that he needed to trust Silva. The Sergeant led him to Commander Phillips’ command vehicle and stepped inside with him. Phillips and Chandra were stood around the briefing table, and Jones entered shortly after.

“What the hell’s going on?” insisted Taylor.

“I have just had official confirmation that thirty minutes ago, there was an attack at Ramstein air base.”

“What? How?”

“Preliminary reports suggest that an overwhelming force of enemy aircraft entered the atmosphere at speed and carried out a lightning fast attack which flattened most of the base. They struck quickly before any intercept fighters could counter them.”

“What about the ground defences?” Taylor asked.

“Seems they took down a few of the enemy bombers, but much of the system had still not been repaired since the last battle there. The base was only just getting operational again.”

“Christ,” whispered Jones.

“What are the casualties?”

“The only contact we have had is with the crew of the Deveron who narrowly escaped the same fate as they were on the way back from a refit in England, but their Captain, Reyes, was on the base when the attack struck. So we must assume he is among the dead.”

Taylor shook his head in disbelief. Then he remembered Chandra sending their last find to the research facilities there.

“The incubation chambers?”

“The only reports we have back so far are from the Deveron, and it doesn’t look good. These are the initial images they sent.”

Phillips tapped a few keys on the glass display of the table, and it lit up with the images of the devastated base. As a US base, it had been quickly rebuilt after it had been re-captured from the enemy. It was seen as vital to morale to rebuild what had become such a symbol of hope for them all. Now it lay in ruins once again. Fire and smoke rose from the wasteland the base had become. They could just make out parts of raptors and other aircraft that had been scattered amongst the debris.

“How many personnel were in Ramstein?”

“The US deployment was about fifteen thousand, with maybe another ten thousand foreign troops and civilians.”

Taylor gasped at the news.

“Reyes was a good man, one of many,” he replied.

“Why now?” asked Jones. “Why Ramstein? I thought the war on Earth was over?”

“Clearly not,” replied Phillips.

“It is too much of a coincidence that the only attack they have launched since their retreat was against the base where we sent the only remaining incubation chambers we have found so far,” stated Chandra.

“You believe they are that valuable to them?” asked Jones.

“I believe whatever we would have learnt from them was worth everything to the enemy,” she replied.

“This confirms one thing for certain,” replied Phillips. “This war isn’t over.”

Taylor could feel the anger growing inside him. He thought of his comments the night before, how he’d wanted it all to end. Now he remembered why they continued fighting.

“Reyes was a good friend and a great officer. I will not stand by and let this attack go unanswered.”

Chandra nodded in agreement. She was glad of having his support back but hated the circumstances that had led to it. Mitch looked to Jones who was still staring at the images of the devastated base.

“Jones, I know what we said before. But times have changed. We’re in this fight whether we like it or not. Will you stand by us?”

He looked up with a fierce anger that Taylor had not seen since the enemy had retreated from Earth. Gone was the peace in his eyes.

“I want every one of those bastards dead. I will not stand by to see our people suffer any longer against these animals!”

Chandra could see the Captain was almost reduced to tears. He, more than any of them, had suffered the most against the invaders, and she knew it was a horrible thing to ask him to face them time and time again.

“I want this news kept on the QT for now. It could destroy morale among our armies,” ordered Phillips.

Before any of the others had time to speak, they heard cries ring out around the base. They rushed to the door of the command vehicle to look out across the square in Reims that had become their staging ground. Troops were shouting as they ran towards a large display screen in the opposite end of the square. Even from the distance, Taylor could just make out scenes of devastation on the screen as hundreds of troops flocked to it. Phillips rushed to the edge of the ramp and shouted out to the nearest passing soldier. They were rushing towards the screen in a frenzy.

“Private! What’s going on?” he asked.

“They’ve bombed Ramstein! The fuckers have bombed Ramstein!”

Phillips turned and shook his head in disbelief.

“Guess it’s a little late,” said Chandra.

They turned to see a news anchor appear on the screen overlaid on top of the aerial images of the burning ruins.

“I’ve seen enough,” whispered Taylor.

He jumped from the ramp as the others watched the anger build among the troops. Phillips smiled as he realised their morale wasn’t dead. They weren’t at a loss. They were angry, and they wanted blood. Taylor strode away from the scene. Only Silva saw him leave and rushed after him.

“Where are you going, Sir?” he insisted.

“We are at war, Sergeant. I am going to make sure we have what we need to win it.”

“Mind if I tag along?”

He turned and saw the Sergeant was eager to assist.

“Sure.”

They continued on to the landing ground where the Company’s copters had been based. Kato and Rains were taking delivery of some components beside the last intact vehicle they had between them.

“Major! What’s the ruckus all about?” asked Rains.

Taylor responded in a grim tone. “Ramstein, it’s gone.”

“What are you talking about, man?”

“Bombed to hell this morning.”

“Fuck,” he replied. “What are you doing here?”

“I need a ride, to Paris.”

“Well, sure, you got mission clearance?”

“You just got it from me.”

Rains smiled. He knew just like many times before that it was best not to ask.

“Let’s fire this bird up.”

Taylor rushed into the HQ in Paris. It was a freshly built administrative quarters in the centre of the city that General Schulz was using as his command post during the reconstruction. Despite being a foreign officer, his reputation and achievements had awarded him an honorary rank within France and much support among its people. Taylor’s ID got him through the gate security and into the building, but the General’s secretary tried to stop him. She was a well-kept civilian in a perfectly cut and clean suit.