Battle Earth II

Chapter 4

Taylor awoke to a dark and drizzly morning. Parker’s head was resting on his shoulder. Chandra had managed to secure a room in a hotel for them near the main assembly area. The mattress was soft and cushioned, and the duvet smooth and thick. He’d not known such luxury, even in his own officer’s quarters.

He pulled the duvet back and sat up at the side of the bed. His leg had been reset and was held in an articulated leg brace. It allowed him full movement and strength while it healed; making him ninety-five percent combat effective already. He’d had a hot shower and was now clean, but his body was bruised and scarred.

The Major stood up and walked across the room. Despite him being able to walk, his muscles and joints still ached. He pulled back the curtains and looked out across the vast assembly and command area. It was long past sunrise. Chandra had kindly allowed them to sleep till they woke up naturally. He doubted it was all due to kindness as he was more valuable to them in a fully recovered state.

As he felt a warm hand touch his shoulder, Taylor flinched a little. He was always impressed at Parker’s stealthy agility. She wrapped her arms around him and braced her body against his back, resting her head against his shoulders.

“If only every morning could be like this,” she said.

“Add room service and I’d agree.”

She turned him around to reveal a bag of rations on a small table at the end of the bed.

“Got what I could in the night, but it’s a far cry from a fresh breakfast.”

Taylor smiled. It was a thoughtful gesture. He turned to look out of the window. In the distance, he could see the energy pulses striking their lines. They were only a kilometre or two back from the bombardments, but it was far enough to enjoy the rest period. He strolled over to the table, taking a seat. Eli joined him and reached forward, resting her hand on his. He looked up into her eyes.

“You risked everything for me,” she whispered.

“As did Jones for me, we are all in this for each other.”

She smiled. Taylor had not seen such sentimentality and love in her face before. She surprised herself and quickly took her hand back to reach for the food.

“You think we’ll make it through this?” she asked.

Taylor coughed to clear his dry throat, still surprised at how much he had learnt about their relationship, and what it meant to both of them.

“I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some alien bastards take our planet.”

“Doesn’t really answer the question.”

He looked back up at her with a serious glare as he reached for a ration pack.

“Every day is a harder struggle, and we’re at the forefront of it. I can’t say our chances are good, but at least we’ll be fighting it side-by-side.”

She nodded, satisfied by his answer. They both knew there was little more they could ask under the circumstances. Before they could say another word, the comms on the dresser spluttered to life.

“Come in, Major Taylor.”

The two of them sighed, knowing that their time in peace and luxury was over. Mitch stood up. His body ached, but it was a relief to be so active after the vicious previous day. He strode across to the comms link. Eli lay back, putting her feet up as she opened her food packet.

“This is Taylor.”

“Sir, Commander Phillips is requesting your presence,” said Captain Friday.

“Where exactly?”

“I’m outside your building, Sir. I’ll take you to him.”

“I’ll be out shortly, Captain.”

He put the communicator down and looked back to Eli with disappointment.

“Guess our vacation is over.”

She huffed as she dropped her feet down from the chair and stood up briskly. They watched each other as they pulled on their clothes and armour, mesmerised by one another. The Major’s armour was scratched and battered, and his clothing torn in a few places. They had no spares to replace it, but at least it had been cleaned overnight.

Taylor ripped open the door and stepped out into the hallway. It was alive with activity. It seemed the hotel had become one of many desirable locations for the officers of all the armies in the area. Most were high ranking and had clean uniforms. Many of them stopped and stared at the battle worn marines, humbled by the signs of their recent combat experience.

Nobody said a word to them as they made their way out of the luxury quarters. Friday met them at the door, and Ortiz and Campbell were sitting on the wall outside. They turned and looked in with shock at the Major’s recovery. The last time they saw him he was a wreck, but now he looked ready to go right back into battle.

“Phillips wants my balls, I take it?”

“No idea, Sir, but it sounded urgent.”

“When isn’t it?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Alright, lead the way.”

They marched through line after line of temporary structures and vehicles. Even on their largest training exercises, they had never seen such an assembly of forces. Friday led them to Phillips’ command vehicle. They stopped outside as the Major stepped in. He was greeted by Phillips stood at his briefing table, alongside Chandra and Jones.

“Welcome back, Major.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Phillips waited for a moment, expecting Taylor to speak, and leading to an uncomfortable silence.

“You know very well that you have caused utter chaos to the Inter-Allied Company, Major. I would have you disciplined for it, but I cannot afford to lose any soldier that can still carry a rifle.”

Taylor ignored the Commander’s ridicule of his actions, only angering Phillips further.

“It still exists then? The Inter-Allied Company?”

“For now, but your troops will remain under the command of Captain Friday.”

Taylor shot a glance at Chandra, trying to understand the circumstances.

“Sir, my marines were sent to assist you and we’ve done a damn fine job of saving your asses. You can’t relieve me of my command!”

Phillips smiled with an amused grin. He had been put out by the insubordination of his officers, and he was now enjoying seeing Taylor suffer a little.

“These aren’t my orders, Major. General White has ordered you to re-deploy to Ramstein Air Base. Apparently, there is some equipment being trialled there which could make a major difference in this war, and he wants you to pursue it.”

Taylor was initially shocked at the news. It was not the disciplinary action or punishment that he had been expecting. That surprise quickly turned to concern and anger.

“Sir, I can’t just leave my marines out here!”

“You’ll do as you are ordered, Major!”

He dipped his head and shook it in disbelief. After having narrowly survived and got back to his companions, he was once more being dragged away from them. He looked up to Chandra and Jones, but he could see that he had no choice but to comply. Deep down he knew it was the right thing to do, but it saddened him to leave his friends once more.

“Alright, Commander, fill me in.”

“As you can imagine, Major, our leaders are not confident about our situation in this war. Holding Paris has been our only major victory yet, and it may not last. The enemy is enveloping the city, and we believe they are building up to a major offensive. While we are going to need every soldier we can get, your task may be more vital than any one of ours.”

“This technology, what is it?”

“I only know a little, Major, but from what I hear it could greatly increase the combat affectivity of our units.”

“If it’s experimental, then how can we hope to get any of it into production fast enough?”

“You leave that to those who manage such things, Taylor. If we can hold out, then this war could go on for some time, so we need to pursue every avenue that could give us an edge in this battle.”

“When do I leave?”

“An Air Force transport is putting down as we speak. I want you to take Sergeant Silva with you. He’ll be a valuable asset, and it will give you both a chance to heal up.”

“And the rest of the company, Sir?”

“Chandra will remain in command in a non-combat role from this location. The company will be deployed at the defences of the city.”

“And these orders come directly from General White?”

The Commander could see the doubt in Taylor’s eyes. He didn’t much like his tone and questioning of authority.

“I haven’t got time for your games, Major. You’re shipping out and that’s final.”

Mitch nodded as he knew there was no merit in arguing further. After all his struggles, he felt that he was letting his friends down to leave them at the greatest battle that had been seen in their lifetimes.

“This better be worth it,” he countered.

Phillips stared at the Major. He hated his lack of respect, but could not help but give him some leeway after the brutal days he had seen.

“That’ll be all, Major.”

Taylor turned to leave but stopped and looked back at the Commander.

“I assume no actions will be taken again Captain Jones and Major Chandra for their hand in yesterday’s events?”

The Commander glared at him, and he was fuming inside.

“I do not have a choice in the matter, Major. You and your colleagues are reckless and subordinate, but you’re also some of the finest combat officers. As much I hate to say it, Major, we’re stuck with each other.”

Taylor grinned wickedly. He had the Commander over a barrel. All he wanted to do was get the job done and he didn’t need anyone getting in his way.

“Fall out, Major, you’ve got places to be.”

He nodded and strolled out from the room. He felt in part relieved that they were all okay, but also saddened to be leaving them once again. He walked out into the daylight to be greeted by Friday and the other two marines, all eager for the word. He looked to Friday.

“Captain, you’re taking charge of the marines, so I suggest you get in there to receive your marching orders.”

He turned to the other two marines, but the Captain interrupted him before he could speak.

“Where are you heading, Mitch?”

Taylor could see the concern in the Captain’s eyes. They had been good friends for a long time.

“To Ramstein. Those are our orders, and this time I want you to stick to them. You’ll remain under Chandra’s command. Good luck, Captain.”

Friday nodded and stepped past into the Commander’s vehicle. Taylor turned back to Ortiz and Campbell who were hanging on to his every word. It occurred to him that he had absolutely no idea where their troops were.

“Where’s the company?”

“Just around the corner, Sir,” replied Ortiz.

“Lead on.”

“Sir, if you don’t mind me saying, this is bullshit. We’ve lost enough already, how can we be split up now?” asked Campbell.

Taylor sighed, and their faces showed despair at losing the Major they had only recently got back.

“We’re marines. We go where we are told, fight when ordered to and die when called for. Where I am going, and what I am doing, could change our fate in this war. Stay the course, follow Chandra as you have me, and we may get through this.”

Campbell nodded, but he felt no happier about the situation.

“I don’t like it either, but we have a job to do, so let’s do it.”

The marine dipped his head, a little shamed at his doubt in their orders. He lifted his head up with a smile, pulling himself together.

“Semper fi, Sir.”

Taylor nodded in appreciation. They’d come from a long heritage of combat soldiers, but none of them could ever have predicted that they would themselves see such dire times. He gestured for the two men to lead on.

Jones stepped through into Phillips command vehicle.

“Ah, Captain, I assume the Major has sent you forth?”

“Yes, Sir,” he muttered.

“Take a seat, all of you.”

The three officers sat about the briefing table as the Commander walked around them in deep thought. They all knew that a grilling was coming. Phillips smiled as he paced around them all. They had all contravened his orders, and in doing so left them still in France.

“Captain Jones. Did I not give you a direct order to ensure that you were to ship out yesterday?”

He continued to pace around the room, speaking in a slow and steady voice.

“Did I not give you those exact orders in person?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Major Chandra, was I unclear about the time and location of your pickup?”

“No, Sir!” she exclaimed.

“Did I not specifically order you not to pursue Major Taylor?”

Chandra turned and glared at him. She knew they had done the right thing. Commander Phillips knew they had also, but he could not let them get away with breaking his orders so easily.

“And, Captain Friday, were you not posted to the western lines?”

“Yes, Sir, though our patrol was over, so we pursued the Major in our down time.”

The Commander spun around, glaring at the Captain and ready to explode. He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

“You are the officer who is least in the wrong here, Captain.”

He shook his head. He wanted to discipline them, but he knew that ultimately they had done the right thing. He rested on the back of his chair and looked up.

“I know I’ll get nowhere with this. The Major needed help. You put further troops at risk. This time it worked out, and I am glad we have Taylor back. But I cannot have my officers disobeying my orders. Without discipline, we are lost.”

“It won’t happen again, Commander,” said Chandra.

Phillips nodded. He had no doubt that they would do the same thing again under similar circumstances, but he’d have to live with it.

“Sir, what happened to our orders to return home?” asked Jones.

“Our last planes have already left. Command has instructed us to now stay and assist with the defence of Paris.”

“With what, Sir? We can’t even muster two platoons between us,” stated Chandra.

Phillips pulled out his chair and sat down with a weary sigh.

“The remnants of a company from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers are still active in the city. They fought at Nantes and all the way back to here, and they are a tough bunch of lads. The truth is, you have too many officers and they have too few. Just one Lieutenant left amongst them.”

The Commander tapped a few buttons at the side of the table, causing it to light up with a map display of their defences.

“The bridge that you engaged the Mechs at yesterday during Taylor’s rescue, it’s a solid position to defend, as you had clearly already realised. I am merging the Welsh into the 2 ^ nd Inter-Allied. I am also having any Brits still in the field hospitals ready to return to duties sent to you.”

“Sounds like a real cluster fuck,” said Friday.

“It’s far from ideal, Captain, but I can only work with what I have. I will be working with Brigadier Dupont from now on and will remain under his command for the foreseeable future. I figure that you should be able to muster a couple of hundred soldiers at that bridge.”

Jones shook his head in astonishment. They all knew they were scraping the barrel.

“And armour, Sir?”

“I should be able to get you a detachment from the German division, but it’s not going to be much. You are to be stationed at the bridge until further notice. You can take up residence in the nearby buildings. I’ll ensure supplies are brought to you.”

Chandra looked down at the map. She could see a vast amass of troops along the west and south perimeter of the city.

“Sir, are we expecting an attack in the north?”

“I wouldn’t be putting you there if I didn’t think so, Major. Based on what we have seen the last two days, we expect a major offensive is imminent. Paris stands in defiance. If they think at all like us, they’ll not want it to stay that way.”

“Air cover, Sir?” asked Jones.

“Limited. They’ve taken a real beating this last week. What is left has little ordnance left to shoot.”

“Then we’re in for a rough ride,” Friday mused.

“Will that be all, Sir?” asked Chandra.

“Affirmative, Major. You are to take up positions at the bridge immediately. I’ll have the troops and supplies sent to you as and when they become available.”

“Sergeant Silva!” shouted Taylor.

The Sergeant leapt to his feet and to attention. He had been cleaned up, but his face was still bruised. A bandage wrapped his head to cover the worst of his wounds. Taylor knew he’d be feeling like hell, but he didn’t show it. Seeing the battered Sergeant made him realise quite how rough he himself must look to those around him.

“Grab your gear, we’ve been re-assigned.”

“Which of us, Sir?”

“Just you and me, Sergeant.”

Parker leapt to her feet.

“What it to become of us, Sir?” she insisted.

He stopped and looked across at the faces of the few marines and paras that had survived the onslaught of little over a week of fighting. They looked far from impressed by the news. Ortiz and Campbell took their place among them, not wanting to be under the glare of the troops.

“I want to thank you all! You saved my life and that of the Sergeant. However, we all have our orders! General White wants me to pursue kit that could even up the odds. I’ll return ASAP with whatever equipment I can beg, borrow or steal that I think could make a difference.”

“Sir,” called Monty. “We may not survive that long.”

Taylor nodded. It was a tough leaving his friends and companions at such a time of need.

“Survivors of the Welsh Fusiliers and a few other units will be joining you shortly to bolster your numbers. The Commander may even be getting some armour support. General White thinks we have an opportunity here, and I will not see that opportunity wasted.”

He could see a number of them nodding in appreciation of the support, but it was also a bitter reminder of the tremendous losses they had all faced.

“You will remain under the command of Major Chandra. She will see to the organisation of the new troops. Good luck to you all!”

Some of them nodded, but there was little enthusiasm about the Major leaving. He knew there was nothing more that could be said to boost their spirits.

“Silva, let’s move.”

The Sergeant hauled his kit onto his shoulder with a groan from the various bruises in his body. The two marines strolled on towards the landing zone. As they took a bend around one of the vehicles, they were met by the sight of Sergeant Parker blocking their path. She stood for a second with a saddened expression before taking flight and launching herself at the Major.

Silva turned away as they embraced and kissed. He wanted to give them privacy, just as much as he wanted plausible deniability. Taylor finally put her down and she passed off between them. He turned to watch her leave and then looked back to the Sergeant.

“You know back home you’d probably lose your command for such activity, Sir?”

“But we aren’t at home, Sergeant. We’re in a god damn hell hole and with no end in sight. It’s the very last of my concerns.”

Silva nodded.

“As long as you don’t try and kiss me like that, Sir.”

Taylor chuckled as he patted the Sergeant on the back.

Parker returned to the camp just as Chandra and Jones came to a standstill at the edge. She had gotten rid of the crutch and was supporting her own bodyweight.

“The Commander has a bridge he wants us to defend, and you can probably guess its location.”

“You coming with us, Major?” asked Parker.

“Officially, no, I cannot return to combat duties until this leg is fully recovered. Between us, I can manage a rifle, so I’ll be there with you. Gear up! We leave in five!”

The troops jumped to life. It was clear that they were still not at all content with Taylor’s departure, but her presence had softened the blow a little. Sergeant Parker strode up to her with an inquisitive look.

“Taylor really doing what you say? Looking for super weapons that could change this war?”

She didn’t much like the Sergeant’s tone, nor her lack of respect, but she sympathised with Eli.

“That is what I have been told, Sergeant.”

Chandra took a step closer so that she could speak more quietly, and the other troops could not hear.

“Taylor is going to be fine. He’ll be in a safer place than any of us. Right now you need to focus on keeping yourself and the rest of us alive.”

Parker nodded as she grit her teeth. She knew she was letting her emotions get in the way of her job and acting in an unprofessional manner. After all that she had been through, it was difficult not to have Taylor at the centre of her thoughts.

“We’ll make it through this, Eli. I just need you to do your job,” whispered Chandra.

Eli smiled as she lifted her shoulders a little higher and regained her composure.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“That’ll be all, Sergeant.”

It was not long before they reached the bridge they had fought over just a day before. The wreckage of the Mechs was still on the site, though it had been hauled out of the vehicular route by the armoured units in the area. It was as desolate and quiet as when they had arrived the first time. It was clear to Chandra that they had few troops to divert to the defence of the northern districts.

“I want trenches either side of the bridge! Fortify the buildings this side!”

She beckoned for the two Captains to assemble at her side as the others got to work.

“You think we can hold here?” asked Jones.

“Your guess is as good as mine, Captain. We have our orders, and we’ll do our utmost to fulfil them.”

They looked across the bridge to the wreckage of the Mechs and down the long empty road before them.

“What kind of strength do we anticipate them to come in?” asked Friday.

Chandra shook her head.

“No idea, Captain. Dupont believes that an attack will come. The resistance Taylor faced yesterday would support that.”

“And if we can’t hold?” asked Jones.

“We’ll do what we can. Worst case, we move further in towards the city. If we can’t hold onto Paris, it does not bode well for the rest of Europe.”

“Perhaps you should have returned home. The channel has saved you many times throughout history,” said Friday.

“We stand together or not at all, Captain. No one nation can stand against the invaders. I can’t deny I’d gladly return to England, but it would only delay our fight a little longer.”

“And when the fight goes to America, what will you do Friday?” asked Jones.

“I’ll fight wherever I am ordered, or wherever I may be. We don’t fight as nations any longer. We are a world united.”

Chandra agreed as she stared back down the bridge in deep thought.

“To think this is what it took to finally bring us together, an apocalyptic war which could end our race.”

“It won’t last,” said Jones. “Everyone always wants more, and the Mechs want what we’ve got. If we ever win here, we’ll only want to take what is theirs.”

“War is in our blood, Jones, in the fibre of our species.”

Chandra dipped her head, overcome by the realisation that there was no end in sight. Was this to be her life, to fight until her last breath? She was alerted to the sound of tracks that wiped all the troubling thoughts from her mind. She turned to see a dust cloud emanating from between the buildings they had recently passed.

The three officers stood and stared at the sight as twelve tanks rolled into view, and the rest of the company cheered them on.

“Looks like the Commander came through,” said Jones.

The vehicles had German crosses painted onto their bodies and showed significant wear and repair from recent combat. The lead tank rumbled up and stopped just a few metres ahead of them. The roof hatch opened in the broad and flat turret. A sharply dressed officer in a black tanker’s suit stood up before them. His clean and well cut uniform was in stark contrast to his dusty and scarred tank.

“Major Chandra?”

He spoke in a coarse and distinctly German accent. He stood upright and proud, and with his arm resting on the holster about his waist. She could make out his rank.

“You’re in the right place, Captain.”

“Captain Becker, at your service.”

The German had a friendly grin spanning across his face and showing off his gleaming white teeth. He was a man who cared for his appearance more than most soldiers. It was obvious they had been involved in plenty of action in the previous week, but he looked as if he could have been on the parade ground.

“Good to have you, Captain.”

“Your orders, Major.”

“We are to hold this bridge until told otherwise, Captain. I suggest you go hull down.”

Chandra could just see the faintest of emotion in the man’s eyes. The prospect of standing against the Mechs once again was a fearsome one, but he did everything to hide it. He turned to the vehicles in his column and was already barking orders into his mic.

Taylor and Silva strolled onto the landing zone towards the transport that had been marked out for their journey. They stopped as a familiar face appeared on the loading ramp.

“Captain Reyes, you’re the last man I expected to see.”

“I’d have to say the same if I hadn’t already been briefed.”

Taylor stood back and looked at the transport craft.

“Bit of a step down from the Deveron?”

“She’ll be back, Major. Laid up until we need her again. Right now it’s too dangerous for her up there and too much of a target down here.”

Taylor nodded, but it was good to see a familiar face.

“I’ve got to be frank with you, Major. I’m amazed you’re even still alive. We were lucky to get off the Moon, but your luck seems to run on.”

“So far, Captain. Have you been briefed on our mission?”

“Yes, Sir. I am to act as your liaison officer at Ramstein. You’re stuck with me, Major.”

Taylor turned back to look at the camp. He felt awful for leaving almost all the friends he had in a city under siege, but there was nothing he could do about it. He turned back to the Captain.

“This better be worth it.”

They strolled up the ramp into the ship and were lifting off with a minute of taking a seat. They watched the city from the portholes one last time. The artillery continued to rain down through the vast metropolis. There was no sign of an enemy assault, but they all knew it was imminent.

Chandra walked along the lines of trenches that had already been set up. They had less than a quarter of the men they needed to fill them. She only prayed that the troops the Commander had promised them would materialise.

She stopped as a familiar and soothing smell wafted past her face. She sniffed again to be sure she wasn’t imagining it. She turned to see Captain Jones sat in the bottom of one of the trenches beside a military issue stove. Steam arose from it as tea brewed, Earl Grey.

“You want one, Major?” shouted Jones.

She smiled. She could not think of anything she’d rather have than a one-way ticket out of the city. She jumped down into the trench with the Captain and sat down on the firing ledge above him.

“Where on earth did you get that? All I could get at the camp was coffee.”

“Personal supplies, got enough to keep us going another few days. Dubois sourced it for me.”

“From where?”

“Those are the sort of questions you don’t ask, Major.”

She had visions of them being poached from the Commander’s own cabin. She hoped that was nothing more than her wild imagination, but sadly she knew it was likely a possibility. She didn’t care. Chandra knew there was a good chance the bridge would be the last place they ever saw on earth.

“Sergeant Dubois, you seem quite taken with her?”

Jones looked up with a quizzical and innocent expression.

“I won’t hold it against you, Captain. In this age, a little care could do us all some good.”

“Even if it compromises our integrity and professionalism?”

The Major knew that Jones was talking about Taylor’s insubordination to save Parker. They both knew it went against everything they had ever been taught, and yet they could fully understand.

“Mitch did what he thought was necessary. Sometimes life isn’t as rigid as the rules we are expected to work with. Tell me you wouldn’t have done the same?”

“That’s what worries me.”

“What, that we care for one another? That we are human? What are we fighting for, if it is not that?”

Jones nodded as he poured out the steaming hot tea into two mugs and passed her one. It had not rained that day, but the ground was still soaked from the previous day’s downpour. The smell of fresh rain at least hid much of the smell of death and destruction that filled the city. Chandra took a sip from the mug as a shout echoed around them.

“Incoming!” Captain Friday called.

Chandra threw down the mug and jumped up to look over the trench to the other side of the bridge. She could hear Becker shouting commands to his crew as they battened down their hatches. She lifted her rifle onto the ledge and used the scope to try and identify the threat. She squinted as she tried to make out what she was seeing.

“What the fuck are those?” asked Jones.

“Looks like some kind of hover platforms, sure aren’t ours?”

Light pulsed from one of the incoming targets, almost blinding Chandra through her scope. A second later the blast smashed into the ground just a few metres from their position, throwing chunks of concrete all over the two officers. Chandra shook off the dust and turned over.

“Fire!”

Captain Becker was ahead of her, his tank firing before the word had left her mouth. The cannon fire was deafening, but it was also greatly appreciated by the troops. Chandra peered through her scope to see the results of their work. The enemy objects hovered a metre off the ground, and they were little more than the size of a motorbike. They had high-speed downwards facing rotors in each corner, and nothing but a fixed gun up top. She ducked quickly back down as fire rained down on their position.

The ground around them shook as the tanks continued to pound the incoming enemy, their machine guns opening fire now as well. She knew it was the signal that they had come into range. She turned to Jones who had a launcher in hand and was ready to go.

“Fire at will!”

She leapt up to a firing position on the trench shelf and quickly acquired a target. She figured there must be two dozen of the things. Cannon fire ripped many apart as their shots landed. Grenade fire hit a few dead on, the troops getting deadly accurate with them now. Just a few seconds later, the guns went silent as they looked on at the carnage.

The putrid smell of sulphur filled the air, clinging to their throats. Despite its foul taste, it was the residue of victory. The Major climbed out of the trench and stood up to survey the scene. The Mech devices were littered along the street across the bridge. They were little more than smouldering wrecks.

“You think those were manned?” asked Jones.

She lifted her rifle and peered at the wrecks through her scope.

“I guess not, they must be drones.”

She turned and looked all around. The entire area was mostly silent. She wondered for a moment what the purpose of the enemy drones was, a preliminary attack or a scouting party. Seconds later they heard artillery rounds whistling towards them.

“Cover!” she shouted.

She fell into the trench as the first pulses smashed into their positions. Chandra and Jones were huddled at the very bottom of the trench with their heads down to protect their faces. The ground around them shook violently as the fire landed everywhere. One of the buildings was struck dead on and blasted out across their positions. Rubble smashed against the tank turrets and rolled into their trench.

They could just make out the muffled sound of footsteps approaching them hard and fast. They lifted their weapons and aimed at the top of the trench. Seconds later a dozen soldiers jumped and rolled into the cover with them, ducking low into the trench. Explosions continued to erupt all around their positions. One of the troops looked up with a smile. He was a Lieutenant in the Royal Welsh.

“Lieutenant Yorath, reporting for duty, Ma’am!”

“You picked a hell of a time to turn up, Lieutenant!” she shouted.

“How many are you?” Jones asked.

“Eighty-five, plus a few dozen stragglers from other units!”

Chandra nodded in appreciation. She’d been promised re-enforcements, but she wouldn’t believe it until she’d seen them.

“You the officer in charge?” asked Jones.

“I’m the only officer, Sir.”

Jones gasped as he remembered the Commander briefing him on their losses. An artillery pulse landed just a few metres from them, shaking the ground so violently that it sent several of them tumbling from their kneeling position. As Chandra got back up, her ears were aching and her hearing numbed, but she realised the bombardment was over.

They looked around, checking that everyone was still in one piece. Chandra turned to Yorath who had a broad grin about his face.

“Is it always this rough round here?” he asked.

“You were in Nantes, were you not Lieutenant?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Then you already know the answer.”

His smile vanished as the memories of the brutal battle came back to him once more. Chandra found Yorath’s light tone to be rather unsettling in their present situation, but she knew that it was his way of coping with the carnage and losses.

“We’re in for a rough afternoon,” said Jones.

“Just had it, didn’t we?” asked Yorath.

“Drones and then artillery, it’s the preliminary stages to an assault.”

The Major staggered to her feet, still a little disorientated. Clambering out of the trench she looked on at the devastation. One of Becker’s tanks was belching smoke and was utterly destroyed. Two others had received lesser damage. One of the hatches prized open and the Captain climbed out. He looked on at the damage to the vehicles as if he had been personally offended. His crews were already climbing out to get to work on what repairs they could.

Several of the buildings had been smashed by the enemy fire. One was almost completely destroyed, and others had walls and roofs missing. The road was filled with vast craters.

“They missed the bridge,” said Yorath.

“Deliberately, I should think. They’ll be rolling over it before long,” said Jones.

“We could blow it.”

“They’d only replace it,” said Chandra. “And we may yet need it. There may be hostiles to the north, but they aren’t the only threat.”

She turned back to the two officers as Friday and Suarez approached to investigate the new arrivals. It was more troops than she’d had at her disposal since the fighting had begun.

“Listen up, we have some organising to do. I’ll command the paras as Platoon Alpha. Captain Friday, your marines will be Bravo. Jones, Suarez and Yorath, I want you to divide the Royal Welsh and the rest of the stragglers between you in Charlie, Delta and Echo.”

The officers nodded in agreement. They were glad to be getting back to some kind of structure and with respectable numbers. She looked around at the battle scarred district. The Major spotted a bank on one corner that overlooked the bridge with balcony sections above.

“I’ll take up position above the bank there. It’s probably one of the strongest buildings here. I doubt we have a lot of time, so get to it, Gentlemen.”

She shouted to the paras to join her as she strode towards the bank. The doors were ajar from where an artillery shell handed landed beside them and blown the frame apart. As she suspected, the building was extremely robust with better foundations and supports than most.

“Take up positions anywhere you can that overlooks the bridge!”

The bank was five storeys high with mostly offices higher up. She went two floors up and out onto a large balcony set up as an open air cafe. It gave a great position above the bridge, and the thick walls provided a relatively safe defence. As she walked towards the far wall, she grabbed a chair and placed it down next to the outer wall. She sat down with a grunt, for her leg was still far from fully healed.

Chandra could hear her platoon setting up around her and on the floors above and below. The road between them and the opposing buildings spanned fifty metres or more. The tanks and trenches formed a solid line of defences from edge to edge. She was happy with their position, but they were spread thin. She let her head rest back and her muscles relax. Chandra would gladly have fallen into a much needed sleep, but she would not have such luck.

The sound of tracks roared in the distance along with a hive of activity that was getting nearer. She shot up, and pain surged through her leg, causing her to wince. From her position, she couldn’t see down the long length of the road, only just past the bridge. She tapped her intercom but realised it was being jammed once again. Chandra turned and stepped to the edge, shouting down at Jones who was getting his recently formed platoon into a trench.

“Give me an update, Captain!”

“We’ve got incoming!”

“In what strength?”

“At least a half dozen tanks and plenty more on the way!”

“Everyone into position! Fire in your own time!”

The Captain nodded and jumped into the trench after his troops. Lieutenant Yorath was in the other trench on the opposite side of the street, with Friday’s marines between them. Lieutenant Suarez was positioned in the brick building opposite the Major’s bank. The armoured crews scrambled to get inside and batten down the hatches. She turned back to her platoon.

“Fire when ready!”