Battle Earth II

Chapter 5

Taylor glanced out of the side window as they passed over Ramstein. Line after line of abandoned buildings and roads were left to decay.

“A sad thing to see, isn’t it? Over fifty thousand air force personnel used to serve here, now little over two thousand,” said Reyes.

The Major turned back to the Captain with a grim look on his face.

“Perhaps if our governments hadn’t cut the military budgets so greatly, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“I hardly think they could have predicted an invasion by a highly advanced alien race.”

“If you want peace, prepare for war, Captain. The basic principles never change.”

Taylor sat back in his seat feeling utterly lost. Reyes knew that it was a lot to ask to have him pulled away from his comrades at such a time of need, but there was nothing more he could do to relieve that concern. The tail of the craft dipped as they came into land at a brisk rate. The two men walked down the ramp to find there was no one there to greet them.

The runways and landing strips were vast but had little more than a dozen craft in total insight. If it were not for them, and the two guards they could see at the facility ahead, it would look abandoned.

“Not the warmest welcome ever,” exclaimed Taylor.

“We’re here to work, Major, not be tourists.”

Reyes led the way towards the guards. He held his identification card. The two guards barely turned to look, instantly recognising the Captain. Ramstein had been a US Air Force base for hundreds of years, and he suspected that Reyes was more than a little familiar with it and those who served there. They strolled on down several empty corridors.

“What exactly are we going to see here, Captain?”

“The facility here is under the control of a scientist and developed called Reiter. He’s been working for us for years, but never given any major money to develop his ideas.”

“Why?”

“Because most of his ideas are related to combat roles, of which there has been little interest in for a long time.”

They reached an opening with vast security doors. Reyes scanned his card through the reader and then stood for retina recognition. Green lights flashed around the doorway as access was granted, and the huge blast doors separated.

“Welcome, Major!”

A man in his sixties in a white lab coat approached with open arms and a broad grin. He paced right up to the Major and hugged him as a greeting. Taylor turned to Reyes with a puzzled expression.

“You’re not in America anymore, Major.”

The man let him go and took a step back.

“I am Marcus Reiter, as I am sure the Captain here has already told you.”

“What is it you are working on here?” asked Taylor.

“Anything and everything that can give our troops an edge in combat.”

“Well it’s sorely needed, I can tell you.”

Reiter looked down at the Major’s battered and worn armour, and he nodded as he realised that the Major had come from the front lines.

“Here, come this way.”

He led them around a corner where the room opened up to a vast laboratory the size of a football pitch and with over a hundred personnel at work.

“As you can see, our budget has increased rather in this past week.”

“Has it done any good?” the Major asked sceptically.

Reiter stopped and turned back to him. He was at first offended by Taylor’s doubt and cynicism, but he could not blame the battle weary officer.

“We have been working all out to try and understand much of the alien technology, which is fascinating, I must add. What I can firmly say, is that the power of their weapons make developing useable personal body armour a major issue.”

“So what can you do for us?”

The scientist smiled.

“The fact is that man for man, or whatever they are, they are outgunning our troops.”

“I am well aware of that.”

“The rifles you are using are largely ineffective. The grenade launchers have a fairly short range, and you can’t carry a lot of ammunition. Therefore, what you need is more strength, more power.”

“Go on.”

Reiter nodded. He was glad that he had captured the Major’s curiosity. He led the two men to the centre of the room where they had a peculiar looking device resembling a human body in shape and proportions.

“The powered exoskeleton is not a new concept, Major. More than two hundred years ago they were being tested and put into limited usage, but cost and power were always a problem. Since then we have gained cheaper productions methods and better power packs, but there has been little interest in developing such devices.”

Taylor stepped in closer, studying the device carefully.

“This device allows a soldier to carry twice his bodyweight without even noticing it. It will allow for larger weapons, more ammunition and some better armour options. It’ll make you stronger, faster…”

The Major spun around with a gleam in his eye.

“And you have tried this? It is operational?”

“Yes, many times.”

He walked around the device, behind a small divider and beckoned for them to follow him. They stepped around to see the same suit made up onto a manikin with armour and weapons.

“I thought you said armour would be a problem?” asked Taylor.

“Largely, yes. The weight of armour that will protect you against the enemy weapons is quite honestly, substantial, to say the least. Front and back torso plates weigh upwards of fifty kilos alone, so that’ll be all you’ll get.”

Taylor stepped up to the manikin and tapped the armour. It was thick plate, more like vehicle armour than anything he’d seen on personal equipment.

“Your boosters you use for low altitude descents. We have attached far more powerful devices to this suit which will allow you to make vertical leaps of approximately five metres and horizontal up to ten or fifteen. They’ll also allow safe descents from a thousand metres.”

Taylor ignored his words. His attention was wholly placed on a large weapon hung up beside the manikin. It had a large box magazine slung underneath. The barrel was larger than any rifle although half the size of their launchers.

“Ah yes, I thought that might get your attention, Major. We have the enemy weapons and have begun to understand the propulsion of their energy pulses, but not how the round or energy itself is created. Using their propulsion method, we have been able to create a grenade launcher that uses caseless ammunition. This increases weapon capacity as well as vastly the amount of ammunition a soldier can carry.”

“And the range?”

“Greatly improved. The rounds can maintain a flat trajectory for two hundred metres.”

Taylor nodded, it sounded good.

“And if this all works, how quickly can you put it into production?”

“This equipment only got to its operational state as of the early hours of this morning. Further testing is required, and we need experienced combat veterans such as yourself to put it through its paces. After that…”

“How long?” shouted Taylor.

“We could be in full production within a few days, with an output of several thousand sets a day. If we can get foreign factories to compliment production, then much faster.”

“What about the cost, won’t all this stuff cost a fortune?” Reyes asked.

“Cost is not important, Captain. We are fighting for the survival of our planet. I only care that it can be done.”

Taylor turned to Reiter. “I want to test it, now!”

“Don’t you want to look over the project a little more first, Sir?”

“No, Reyes. All I care about is if it does the job, or not. Give me a half hour in it, and I’ll have your answer.”

Chandra slammed a new magazine into her rifle and leapt up against the sidewall of the balcony. Tracer fire and energy pulses were streaming across the bridge and the open plains either side of the structure. Smoke belched from two of Becker’s tanks, but they’d given as good as they’d got. She took aim at the nearest Mech. She could see that was using the corner of one of their burning tanks as cover. Bullets pinged off the creature’s armour, a few causing it to spasm, but none stopped it. She ducked back down behind cover as pulses smashed into the bank.

“God damn it, we need more firepower!”

Monty was kneeling beside her loading grenades into his launcher. He locked the weapon shut as he turned to the Major.

“This ammunition isn’t going to last forever, Major!”

He leapt up and fired several rounds at the same Mech. The second hit it and exploded on its chest. The creature shattered into hundreds of parts and scattered across the ground.

“Green! We need ammo!” shouted Chandra.

“Incoming!” shouted Blinker.

She turned to see a group of Mechs inbound using their flying packs. Several dropped amongst the troops in the trenches. Monty looked up to see two descending towards their building. He lifted his launcher and fired at one of them. The Mech burst into flames just ten metres above, showering them in hot metal and forcing them to duck for cover.

The floor shook as the surviving Mech landed hard between the group on the cafe terrace. Chandra looked up just in time to see the monster open fire, two of its pulses killing one of the men immediately. Monty hesitated, knowing they couldn’t risk high explosive rounds so close. The Major lifted her rifle and opened up with full automatic fire. She was quickly joined by the other riflemen and gunners.

The Mech twisted and lurched as it was hit by dozens of rounds, unable to bring its weapon to bear. It managed to turn to face them, giving Chandra the opportunity she needed. She stood up and walked towards it as she fired on full auto into its head. The mirror glass section dented and cracked until it was finally punctured.

The Mech collapsed onto its back. The soldiers sighed in relief, but Chandra walked right up to the creature and trained her rifle on the smashed face plate. She opened fire once again; firing a long burst which sent blue blood spewing up onto her rifle and hands and across the deck. She stared down at the lifeless wreck, wondering what the purpose of it all was. Why were they so intent on ending the human race?

Gunfire continued to rage in the street as Chandra snapped out of her daze and rushed to the side of the building. The airborne Mechs that had landed among them had been overwhelmed and were being finished off, but she could see a number of human dead along the lines. She turned back to Green.

“Get us that ammo!”

She looked over the ledge to see a group of Mechs rushing across the bridge. Becker’s tanks roared as they pounded the incoming enemy push. The troops in the trenches had overcome their airborne attackers and were turning their attention to the new threat. A barrage of fire struck the bridge until they could no longer see what they were shooting. Grenades and cannon rounds continued to plough into the smoke cloud engulfing the bridge.

Two Mechs rushed out from the dust and smoke but were quickly cut down by a volley of fire. Seconds later, the bridge let out an almighty creek as its foundations gave out. They couldn’t see the bridge collapsing, but they heard it plunge into the water below. The smoke puffed out into a plume rising into the sky.

The guns went quiet, and they could hear the enemy Mechs shuffling about at the other side of the bridge. The battle was far from over, but they had been given some respite. Chandra turned back to her platoon with a look of sheer relief. She peered down at the lifeless body of the Mech and then to the body of the soldier it had killed.

The man had died instantly, his body torn apart by the viciously powerful energy weapons of the enemy. She speculated for a moment about their casualties, but she knew it would be a figure she wouldn’t like. The Major had seen a number of dead and wounded along the trench lines. Dust filled her nostrils and lungs once again. The constant bombardments and battles meant that she could rarely taste or smell anything but brick dust and throat burning smoke.

“That will have bought us a little time. Blinker, check the hard line. Inform the Commander of the attack and our approximate losses. We need ammunition and re-enforcements.”

An explosion erupted in the sky above them, quickly followed by several others. The combined air forces of Europe continued to battle the enemy in the skies. They fought at such heights that the ground troops could rarely catch a glimpse of them. Every day they’d find wreckage of aircraft, more often than not it was from Earth forces. She stepped to the edge of the building and looked over at the devastation below.

“Captain Jones! Get the dead and wounded back to the aid station! Check your weapons. Get what ammunition you need, and be ready for the next assault!”

It was a grim reality that they could do little more than await the next onslaught. Chandra knew the only reason they had won the skirmish was because they had superior numbers. Soldier for soldier they were still at a huge disadvantage. She turned back to the fallen Mech and walked across to it.

“What do we do with it, Major?” asked Monty.

“Leave it where it fell as a reminder that they are not invincible. They aren’t scary monsters or an unbeatable enemy.”

She knelt down beside the weapon the Mech had dropped. It was almost two metres in length and made entirely of metal component parts. Despite it looking alien in construction, its external design was not so different to some of the heavy machine guns they used on vehicles. She wrapped her arms around it and tried to lift it. She got one end a few centimetres off the ground before realising it was too much for her.

“God damn that’s heavy. You two, give me a hand with this! Monty, you too!”

The four got a solid hold on the cannon and hauled it up to a standing position.

“Onto that wall over there!”

They hauled it onto the ledge of the thick wall overlooking the fallen bridge.

“You think we can get it working, Major?” asked Monty.

“It’s worth a shot. What do you think the recoil is like on one of these things?”

“Probably pretty minimal, considering its weight.”

He and the Major stared at it as the other two men stood back. She turned and looked back at the fallen Mech. They appeared to have two fingers and a thumb on each hand, a configuration which meant they were not so different to humans in their movement. She turned back to the gun.

“This must be the trigger.”

She placed her hand on the grip and found that her index and middle finger naturally came to rest on what felt like a large button. The grip itself was partially hidden inside the rear body of the weapon. The Mechs carried them with their offhand around the barrel like a heavy gunner would haul his weapon about.

“Major, I think…”

Light pulsed as the weapon fire and an energy surge blasted from their position, hitting a burning vehicle the other side of the bridge. The troops below went silent as they peered up to the bank. Several trained their weapons on the position, half expecting to find an enemy among them. Chandra looked at the weapon in amazement before realising what a shock she had caused.

She looked down over the balcony at the troops who quickly went back to work. They understood little about the enemy’s technology, but she’d take any advantage she could get. She turned to look at Monty who stood still surprised that they’d got the weapon working.

“You’ll man this weapon at the next assault, Private.”

“Ma’am, I’ve got no idea how to operate this weapon. Where’s the ammunition?”

“You’ve got as much knowledge as the rest of us. You just keep it firing until it won’t fire anymore.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Taylor stood before a vehicle off-road training course that included all sorts of obstacles intended for tanks. He wore Reiter’s powered suit. He didn’t stand a centimetre taller as it was so slimline. The most noticeable bulk was from the thick armour plates on his torso. He took a deep breath as Reyes watched on with a host of scientists and weapon developers.

The Major held in his hands the new launcher Reiter had designed. He’d lifted it in the lab and found it weighed twice what he’d been used to, but now he barely noticed the difference. The exoskeleton fitted all along his key skeletal structure, extending from his feet to his hands and up his spine. He could feel the device, but it didn’t seem as if he was carrying any weight or was encumbered in any way.

The Major stepped forward at a walking pace. He felt as if he was in a low gravity environment, as he knew he was carrying a hundred kilos but could barely feel it. He gradually increased his speed to a jog. The equipment fitted like a glove and didn’t shake or rattle. It operated with his body as if it were his own joints and muscles.

“Run, Major!” shouted Reiter.

He followed the advice and broke out into a full sprint. It shocked Mitch as he sprung into a rapid pace almost double what he had ever managed on a track wearing no gear at all. Up ahead was a five metre wall. He kept storming towards it, and hit the booster button on the cuff of the device. It sprung him into the air, easily clearing the obstacle and cushioning his landing with a combination of boost and suspended landing of the joints. He felt no serious discomfort in his wounded leg. Taylor took a sharp turn and charged back towards the group, sliding to a halt before them.

“I like it. This armour, you’re sure it’ll stop their weapons?”

“Absolutely, Major, but only up to two or three shots, and you’ll certainly know you’ve taken a hit.”

“Well, that’s an improvement.”

Their current armour did little to protect them against direct fire from the enemy pulse weapons, but it did at least save many from artillery and shrapnel. A voice boomed out from behind the group.

“Let’s get to the range, Major!”

Taylor instantly recognised the commanding roar of Eli. She stepped through the group to stand in front of him.

“What are you doing here, Sergeant?”

“Sergeant Parker was not fit for active duty, and so she was dispatched here to assist you,” said Reyes.

The Major smiled and couldn’t believe his luck. He could do little to hide his relief that she was safe.

“We’ve got a job to do, Sergeant. This equipment could substantially change our odds in combat. We need to know if it’s up to the task ASAP.”

“I’ve already been briefed, Sir.”

“Then let’s get to the range.”

“Major, we’ve set up a temporary weapons testing area for you here.”

He turned to see several Mech armours propped up like manikins at two hundred metres away. His heart pounded in shock. The sight of them on open ground had been a thing to fear for them all in the previous days.

“We’ve been able to salvage a few of their armours for testing.”

Taylor lowered his head in relief. For just a split second, he’d thought their enemy had reached them in Ramstein.

“When you’re ready, Major.”

He nodded and turned back to the Mech armours. He’d never had so much time to stare at them before. The sight of the enemy had always required immediate and decisive action, not careful targeting. He lifted the launcher to his shoulder and took aim. With the straight trajectory that Reiter had promised, he aimed it like a rifle, rather than the elevated indirect firing of the launchers they had become so accustomed to.

The Major squeezed the trigger, and a loud crack rang out as a pulse of energy ignited in the barrel of the weapon, sending a grenade hurtling down the range. The round flew faster than Taylor had seen a grenade fly and struck its target almost instantly. It exploded on impact with a relatively small charge.

“You see, Major, with a more accurate round, we can make the ammunition smaller for more targeted shooting. These should be able to replace the assault rifle in combat usage.”

He turned to Reiter quickly.

“And a round from this will take a Mech down?”

“Like a rifle round against a human? Not necessarily. It has the ability to pierce their armour and deliver severe damage, but we do not yet fully understand the aliens’ constitution.”

“What does that mean in the real world?” Parker asked.

“That if the first round doesn’t put them down, you shoot them again until they do,” snapped Taylor.

“Precisely, Major, let’s go and investigate the results of your shooting.”

Taylor released his grip on the weapon and let it rest on its sling at his side. The suit took up the weight, but it was an unsettling feeling not having the weight to reassure him that it was at his side. As they strolled towards the targets, Taylor took a deep breath of the fresh air. He had wondered what had felt so different since they had arrived and finally he realised. Gone was the sickening smell of a burning city, the taste of dust and sulphur, and the smell of electrical burning and red hot metal.

He breathed in slowly and heavily, enjoying the cool and clean air, as he knew it would be a luxury he would soon lose again. He looked over at Parker as they strode forward, glad to have her at his side.

“How is the Company?” he asked.

“Heading to defend the bridge where we saved your ass, last time I saw them.”

He smiled. The north had been one of the safest areas of the city up until now. Then he thought back to his near death experience, realising that it was probably no longer the case. They reached the battered Mech armour. A hole over five centimetres wide had been ripped into the chest plate, and it still smouldered. Taylor pulled out his knife and thrust it into the breach to see if it had cleared the armour. The blade met no resistance and ran up to the guard.

“You see, Major. Small projectiles with enough explosive to puncture. These are high velocity, low calibre armour penetrating rounds.”

He turned and looked down at the experimental equipment he was wearing. He thought about it for a moment, and then peered up at the many faces that were waiting for his comment.

“With this equipment a soldier will run faster and for longer, be better protected, and do more damage. It’ll double our combat effectiveness overnight.”

Reiter smiled. He knew the progress they had made was great, but he still loved hearing it. Taylor turned to Reyes.

“You can give the General my approval,” he turned to Reiter.

“Get this into production. I don’t care what you’ve got to do. Get it made, and get it to the front line.”

Chandra sat back in her chair, resting her aching leg. It was obvious to them all that the intensity of the fighting had increased in both the south and the west. The ground rumbled almost continually as artillery from both sides pounded those positions. Their area was mostly quiet, and the troops were getting what rest they could. She tilted her head back and peered up to the sky, but the silence was broken by the sound of a chair being dragged up beside her. Captain Friday roughly slammed the chair down and then sat in front of her.

“Any news from Taylor?” he asked.

“I assumed you’d be the first to know if we had.”

“You’re still in charge here, Ma’am.”

“Yes, but Major Taylor has made it quite clear that he will treat the rules as he pleases when it comes to his own.”

Friday smiled. Chandra was having a jab at Mitch, but in a friendly fashion.

“We don’t all share a bed with the Major.”

“You know a relationship such as that in the military can only end badly. In this war, it’ll only be harder.”

“So we give up on love because of the risk of losing it?”

Chandra sat up slightly into a less casual position.

“I didn’t peg you as the emotional and sentimental type, Captain.”

She watched as he took a deep breath and sighed with the fatigue of the situation. He’d never presented himself as anything but utterly professional, but it was clear he was feeling the pressure.

“Is that what Parker and the Major have, truly?” she asked.

Friday sat back and thought for a moment, not wanting to give any snap response. He knew she’d never have been the one to admit it, and it had never been her intention, but it had come to it. He stared out into the smoky sky, wishing he had someone like her. He finally nodded and looked down at the Major.

“Yes, neither of them has said it, but it’s there for all to see.”

“And it doesn’t bother you? That your Major is fraternising with an NCO in your own unit? That he forced you all to break the orders of a General for her?”

The Captain didn’t fire back a response. It was unusual for him to stay silent and unable to find his words. He was thinking would he have done the same as the Major did. Chandra could see the conflict in his eyes. For such a cool and calculating man, he had been deeply affected by his leader’s actions. It had seemed to endear his unit to Taylor more than ever. He turned and stared into her eyes, piercing right through her.

“You think we’ll make it through this war?”

He didn’t address her by rank. It was the first time the marine officer had ever addressed her as a friend, and the sentiment did not go unnoticed.

“I don’t think it really matters, Captain. We have no way of predicting it. All we can do is fight on and take some relief in the fact that every minute we hold them back, we increase the chances of the survival of our entire race.”

“That’s a cold way to look at our lives,” he whispered.

“Seems little point in doing it any other way. We either wallow in the misery around us, or we think of the good we are doing.”

The Captain wondered if she believed that.

“Incoming!”

The two officers leapt off their seats and to the ground, crawling to the wall for cover. Dozens of energy pulses smashed into the buildings around them, shaking their position. Living under artillery fire had become one constant in their life, but it was never any easier to experience. They never knew where the round would land or when their time would be up.

The barrages were a valuable tool in striking at the morale of their troops. Chandra only hoped that their efforts were doing the same for the enemy. They huddled together against the wall for over ten minutes as the entire position was pounded repeatedly. Both remained silent, staring at each other. They were just half a metre from one another, and they could each see the despair in one another’s faces.

Friday thought about the evening the two could have were they out of the war. Despite her tough character and steady resolve, her beauty was still undeniable. Underneath her dirty and bloody armour was the body of a well toned and beautiful Indian woman. She was clearly many generations removed from her home country, having nothing left of her accent, but she still clung onto her family’s heritage. As the prolonged barrage continued all around them, the Major spoke.

“Paris! The City of Romance!”

Friday laughed.

“I guess times change!”

The Captain smiled that she was thinking it as well.

A soldier ran towards them. He was hunched low as he ran through a hail of debris. The man rolled across the floor, hitting the wall hard between the two of them. It was Captain Jones.

“Nice of you to join us, Captain!” shouted Chandra.

“Major, we’ve got incoming forces in large numbers!”

“How large?”

“A major offensive!”

Chandra shook her head in disbelief, as if the bombardment was not enough, surely they couldn’t weather this much longer. Just as she thought it, the last energy pulses smashed into the ground below them. She first felt relief, and then the realisation that it was the pre-cursor to an assault. She jumped up from behind the wall to look out across the ravished wasteland their position had become. They had taken only light casualties, the trenches and hull down positions safeguarding most of their personnel and equipment.

Before she could open her mouth, the sound of tracks resounded in the distance, previously hidden by the earth shattering bombardment. She dipped her head in despair. The Major had anticipated the attack, but Jones’ confirmation of it didn’t make it any easier to stomach. She turned back to the two Captains with her. They both stared back in anticipation of her orders.

She could only think that they were all going to die there. When she didn’t respond to them, Jones couldn’t wait any longer.

“Major! What are your orders?”

She shot a glance into his eyes. Her face was distraught and her colour draining. She quickly snapped out of it, knowing she had to be decisive.

“Take up positions! We have to hold!”

She could see that both men could not believe they were being asked to hold, but they followed her without question. She watched as they rushed off to their defensive positions across the street. Chandra turned back to the bridge and to the alien weapon. Monty was resting on it as he looked out towards the sound of the enemy vehicles rolling towards their position.

The cannons of the tanks in the street below roared out. From her elevated position at the side of the street, the Major couldn’t see down the length of the bridge, but it was clear Becker was already able to engage them.

“Everyone in position! Fire at will!”

Green rushed up in carrying a box of ammunition and scurried to the wall. He had another soldier with him.

“Good timing, Lieutenant!”

The man nodded as he unloaded the ammunition and threw it out to the troops. He signalled for the other man to continue on up to the next floor of the building. The sound of the rumbling enemy vehicles was audible even over the volley of fire from their own tanks. The first energy pulses were rushing over the fallen bridge and pounding their positions.

Although the artillery barrage against them had stopped, she could still hear and feel the impacts of it continuing across the city, more frequent and intense than ever.

“This must be it, Major, the offensive everyone has been waiting for!” shouted Green.

Damn right, she thought as she stood up and propped her rifle into the wall. Shells were being traded evenly now across the bridge, but the dug in positions were ensuring a solid advantage for Becker. Two armoured vehicles appeared between the buildings the other side of the fallen bridge, but they instantly burst into flames as they were hit by multiple cannon shells.

Both the vehicles were smashed aside as one of the vast bridging vehicles struck them and burst through the wrecks, pushing them to the sides of the street.

“Take it out!” shouted Chandra.

She knew her words would go unheard by the crews, but it was mostly instinctive action. She turned to Monty and back at the bridging vehicle that reached the edge of the crossing. She grabbed hold of the alien weapon from the soldier and took aim at the vehicle. The first shot fired out and landed just shy of its tracks.

“Damn it!”

Chandra pulled the trigger once again, but nothing happened.

“I think they have a recharge rate, Major!” shouted Monty.

She shot a disdainful glance at the man. She knew he was right, but she was in a panic and didn’t appreciate the obvious comment. She heard a click from the weapon and so turned back and fired. The blast ripped into the structure of the tank, burning a hole through its hull, but it seemed to make little difference.

The tank came to a halt and immediately began to unfold and expand across the river that had kept them safe. She fired again as cannon shells continued to pound the vehicle, but it was too late. The thick metal ramp struck across to south side. Mechs rushed out from between the wreckage of the burning tanks and sprang towards them in their daunting armoured suits.

“Monty, take the gun!”

Chandra lifted her rifle and quickly took aim. The bridge erupted into a cloud of fire and smoke as rifle, cannon and grenade fire combined to ravage the oncoming charge. Pieces of Mech armour blasted out into the air and off the side of the bridge, but more burst through the dust behind them. An energy pulse ripped into one of Becker’s tanks and it burst into flames. The sound was deafening as the vehicle rocked and shards of the turret smashed into the wall beside the Major. She ducked down for cover before quickly leaping up to the battlements once more.

The Major looked down to the trenches below and could see a dozen Mechs within a few metres of their positions. One had managed to get into hand-to-hand combat and crushed one of the soldiers. This is over, thought Chandra.

She looked across the street at the devastation before her, dozens of their troops lay dead or dying, and half of the tanks were belching black smoke.

“Major, we have to get out of here!” shouted Green.

She froze there for just a moment, unable to look away from the vicious scene. Never could she have imagined she would see such dire days. She had read about such total war but had never been able to comprehend how it would feel. She turned to him.

“Get word to the Commander. We need to retreat east immediately!”

Green nodded. He was as much relieved as he was in shock that they once more had to take flight. She lifted her rifle from the wall and rushed to the stairs, and the others quickly followed suit. She shouted her command up the stairway to the rest before heading for the street. The road was barely recognisable any longer as it was covered in bricks, dust, bodies and blood. The guns of Becker’s tanks continued to bellow. She leapt onto the roof of his vehicle and huddled beside it, knocking on the lid.

The confident German appeared at the hatch, doing his best to hide the despair he was clearly feeling. Chandra could feel heat rush out from the hatch combined with the smell of sweat and sulphur. He looked out across the bridge. The first enemy rush had been halted, but it was clear they were preparing for a second push in greater numbers.

“Captain, we’re done here.”

Becker nodded, relieved to finally have the command.

“We’d sure appreciate a lift out of this hell hole.”

“You got it, Major.”

She leapt from the tank as a yellow signal flare blasted out from the vehicle, signalling the retreat to the Captain’s remaining crew. Chandra ran along the lines, shouting for the troops to climb aboard. The dead were scattered among the living; there were few wounded.

“Onto the vehicles! Move out!”

Gunfire continued in an irregular pattern as the troops laid down fire to keep the bridge clear. Only six of Becker’s tanks were still running, one with its turret torn off. They reversed back out of their hull down dugouts and onto the debris strewn road. The street erupted into a frenzy of movement as the remaining troops clambered onto the vehicles. It was a desperate retreat, and the only relief for the survivors.

It was clear to Chandra that the enemy had only been temporarily halted, and it wouldn’t be long before they swarmed across the river. She leapt up onto Becker’s vehicle as Lieutenant Green appeared. She offered out her hand and hauled him up beside the turret.

“Major, the Mech forces are engulfing the city, much longer and we’ll be cut off.”

“What are the Commander’s orders?”

“Retreat, all forces retreat east, and with all haste!”

She gasped as she looked back across the bridge. It’s over; the only city we held has fallen. Chandra tapped on the hatch, calling up Becker.

“Get us out of here, Captain!” she shouted.

The vehicle turned and lurched forward as two more men were hoisted aboard. She watched as the last few troops were helped up as the vehicles got underway. Through the smoke of the flare and debris from the battle, she could already make out the intimidating silhouettes of the invaders advancing across the river. Is there any hope?