Nick Thomas - Battle Earth IV

“It’ll do the troops a lot of good. We’ve been a ramshackle mix since we were first merged.”

Another officer rushed up to Jackson’s side and stopped to salute the Colonel. The woman was of Asian descent and stood surprisingly tall beside the Captain.

“Colonel Chandra,” stated Jackson. “This is Lieutenant Ota, my second in command.”

“Welcome, Lieutenant.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.”

“I want all senior NCOs and officers to join me at the mess. Follow me,” ordered Chandra.

It wasn’t long before the group were enthralled in conversation around the same table they had sat arguing whether or not to continue fighting, only two days before. Chandra could see that new life had been breathed into the troops. More so than anything, she was grateful to have Taylor back on her side.

“Lieutenant Grey, you said the officers of your Company were killed in one unlucky attack, how did you survive?”

Grey sat up tall. She could tell he was an immensely proud man, but curiosity required her to know his story.

“My CO and all the officers of the Company were in a briefing with the Colonel of our Battalion and many other officers. It was an emergency meeting called in the field. Their command vehicle was struck by enemy artillery, just bad luck I am afraid. As for how I escaped that fate, I was not an officer but CSM at the time. I was promoted in the field after the attack.”

“Company Sergeant Major to Lieutenant? Got to be a kick in the balls?” asked Jones.

“It’s certainly been a challenge, Sir,” he replied.

Jones chuckled. “Amongst us at this table, you don’t need to call anyone Sir.”

“Are you happy in your new role, Lieutenant?” asked Chandra.

“Honestly, Ma’am?”

“Speak freely here.”

“I would never have chosen it, but I will continue to do what is required of me. I didn’t sign up to the Army thinking I could have my own way.”

Chandra laughed.

“Well, Lieutenant, you’ll fit in here just fine.”

It was a new day and a seemingly new dawn for Inter-Allied. Chandra and Taylor stood before eight hundred of the finest soldiers Earth had to offer, and they were theirs to do with as they saw fit.

“Hell of a sight, ain’t it?” asked Taylor.

“Damn right,” Chandra whispered in reply.

She watched as the NCOs make their inspections.

“You know I heard Reiter wasn’t in Ramstein. He’s still alive,” Taylor went on.

“Bloody hell, the crazy bastard’s still with us. Good, we’ll need him.”

They were formed up on the hard standing of the old school. It had been abandoned for so many months that it was beginning to look derelict. The troops fell quiet as the NCOs took up their positions and awaited the Colonel.

“Good morning to you all!” she called. “You all have come from proud units, just as we had. Inter-Allied started as a simple way to combine two key units during the battle for France. As time went on, more were added, to the extent that you could no longer begin to explain our identity. I do not ask you to forget where you came from but to embrace where you are now. We stand together as one!”

A cheer rang out as the NCOs led the call.

“No soldier likes re-organisation. We get used to what we have. I will do my very best to change as little as humanly possible. From now on, the Battalion will be structured as four Companies. Major Taylor will remain second in command for Inter-Allied. Alpha Company will be commanded by Captain Jones and will encompass the remaining members of my old Company, with a number drawn from 2 Para to bring them up to strength.”

She paced along the line and looked to the officers to see Jones nod in gratitude.

“Bravo Company, the remainder of 2 para, will be under the command of Lieutenant Grey. Charlie and Delta are to be led by Captain Jackson and Lieutenant Ota respectively. The US rangers among you are to report to the Charlie and Delta to make up their number.”

She took in a deep breath and looked across at the troops’ faces. They seemed content with the news.

“Lastly, I am appointing Sergeant Silva to Company Sergeant Major. He has been a force of reason and discipline throughout this war, and I cannot think of a better soldier to keep things in order. Congratulations Sergeant!”

Whistles broke the silence, and the troops that had been with them since the beginning clapped to the Sergeant’s success. She smiled at their appreciation. Silva was humbled and could not bring himself to discipline them for such open support. Chandra lifted up her hand to request silence, and it was quickly given.

“Company commanders have been sent full lists of those personnel who will serve under them. Please report to them upon dismissal. We’re lacking the NCOs and officers we need at platoon level, and I will leave that to Company commanders to resolve as they see fit. You will see along the back wall there four letters. Those are the designated assembly areas for each Company.”

She could see a number of the troops start to shiver in the cool morning breeze.

“It is vital that this Battalion learns to work as one in the shortest time possible. Change is never easy, and I know that you will all have become closely tied with those you have served beside. That same bond must now be extended to all standing here today. Thank you. Fall out and assemble with your Company leaders.

She nodded to Silva to relay her commands. Within seconds, the troops were scattering to assemble as requested. Most of the officers rushed to take command of their troops, but Taylor watched in amazement.

“Strange isn’t it?” asked Chandra.

“What’s that?”

“To be stood back here watching while everything is done for you.”

“For now, but we won’t be taking desk jobs anytime soon.”

“True. Although at Battalion HQ we will need some additional staff. Having Silva at hand will be most useful to us, but we are still lacking a medical officer, quartermaster and several other administrative staff. A chaplain may also be useful.”

“Really? For what?”

“The pressure these troops are under on a daily basis, don’t you think they could do with some outlet?”

Taylor shook his head.

“Not much of a believer myself.”

“You don’t have to believe in anything to simply just have someone to talk to. I don’t want any cracks appearing in this Battalion, so whatever is necessary to keep it strong will be done.”

They watched as the four Company commanders quickly formed up their troops, and it was clear the Battalion was quickly taking shape. Chandra marvelled at the troops who now all wore matching uniforms for the first time since amalgamation.

“We are finally getting the army we always needed,” she stated.

“We need to put these troops through combat simulations. We need to know they are going to be able to work together as sharply as the Company always has done.”

“Agreed. Sergeant Major!” she yelled.

Silva rushed to her position.

“Sergeant, I am placing you in charge of assembling a series of combat tests. You have free rein to use the former industrial park a kilometre south of here for any and all exercises, including live fire. Put them through their paces.”

“Yes Ma’am!”

He rushed off with a new level of enthusiasm.

“Schulz may have give us all this, but he’s going to expect a lot in return,” she whispered.

“Agreed, but wouldn’t it be expected, anyway?”

She nodded in agreement. It seemed hard to imagine that they could have ever played a larger part in the war.

“Shouldn’t we get in on this training?” asked Taylor.

“Not yet, this is our Battalion now. Let the troops get used to the chain of command. Right now we have other work ahead of us. We may have wings, but we’ll need more substantial transport for where we’re going.”