“Our first target is in the town of Troyes, a little over a hundred clicks from here. A short journey now we’ve got wings. Initial intelligence shows local militia forces encountered a small number of enemy combatants while trying to enter the centre of the town.”
“Any idea how many?” asked Taylor.
“Reports are sketchy, but several creatures have been spotted near the University of Technology. A number of militia and local soldiers have been wounded, but the enemy appears to make so sign of moving.”
She lifted out her Mappad and tapped a button that projected a holographic map in front of them.
“We’ll be putting down in this square just one hundred metres from the university. This is not a covert operation. We have superior numbers and firepower. We hit them hard and fast.”
“Seems pretty simple,” said Silva.
“I want you and Green’s platoons to head for the southern entrance. Yorath and Jones, the east side. Taylor and I will take the north side. The only aim of this mission is to eradicate the enemy presence in the shortest time possible, but don’t take any unnecessary risks, and no heroics. Remember, the war is over, and this is just clean up work.”
“Excuse me, Ma’am, but if the war’s over, why are we still fighting?” asked Yorath.
She sighed in response and knew it wasn’t an easy thing to answer.
“These are merely skirmishes. There may come a time when we go to war once again, but not today. We don’t know if these enemy forces have been left to hinder our operations and rebuilding, or if it was a result of their rapid withdrawal. Either way, remember, those things are dangerous. Keep your platoons tight, and ensure you have superiority of numbers and firepower in any engagement. Any more questions?”
They each studied the map carefully before Green finally spoke up.
“Is this to be our lives for the foreseeable future? Cleaning up the country we have already fought and bled over since this began?”
“Sure is, but it beats hiding in a trench under day long barrages,” she replied.
He could not help but agree.
“Alright, good luck to you all, let’s move.”
Taylor paced alongside Chandra to Rains’ copter.
“You surprised as I am that Schulz would be okay with us doing this?” he asked quietly.
“The General has been trying to mend fences ever since you got out of the brig. I suggest you at least appear to be doing the same. The further we get from war conditions, the less you’ll get away with.”
“And Dupont?”
She sighed at the mere mention of his name.
“He’ll always be the same arsehole he always has been. Fortunately, he isn’t in command.”
“Not of the joint armies no, but let’s not forget that we aren’t in Germany anymore.”
She nodded in agreement and made a mental note to watch out for the French General. He’d been dying to get some payback for some time, and she’d be damned if she would let him.
“This mission, is that all the information we have?” asked Taylor.
“Afraid so. Communication links are still poor, and there isn’t the time to investigate further. The civilian population is flooding back into France while it is still littered with dangers. We were not picked because of our investigative abilities. We’re a rapid strike force who does not hesitate to jump into combat.”
“Well, hell, now you put it like that, I feel all warm and fuzzy inside,” he laughed.
She smiled as she could see the genuine relief on the Major’s face, now they’d returned to the soldiering they had become so accustomed to.
“How long do you think this will go on?” he asked.
“Oh, I figure we’ll have the area cleared within an hour.”
“No, I meant this. This taskforce, clearing France of any present dangers.”
“With us on the job, not long at all. Why? I thought you wanted to get back in action?”
“Only in place of the shit work we have been doing.”
“Lost your stomach for war?” she asked.
“Haven’t we all? I didn’t think any of us were still here because we enjoyed it.”
They went silent as they watched the ground zoom past through the glass of the fuselage. Chandra studied his face, trying to understand where his head was at.
“And if you could be anywhere doing anything, right now, what would it be?” she asked.
“Ah, hell I don’t know. I don’t know what I want anymore.”
She could see he genuinely meant it. They all lived in a world of uncertainty, where the possibility of death was a fear each day.
“Do you really want to keep serving?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You must have served far more years than you ever signed up to. The current war has come to an end, and no one would think lesser of you for wanting to give it all up and go on home.”
“And the next war?”
She sighed. “The world fooled itself this last century. Thinking there could ever be an end to war when it is in our nature. There will always be another battle to fight, but there’ll be new soldiers to do it.”
He sat back and thought about it for a moment. It was the first time he had given some genuine thought to handing in his papers since joining the Corps.
Has it really gotten that bad? He asked himself. He nodded to himself as he answered his own question and continued on.
“Na, I couldn’t leave you all now. How could I go home without my friends? This is my family.”
“Alright, then, you’re stuck with us.”
Chandra was contented that Taylor’s heart was still in it. She sighed in relief at the thought. She couldn’t bear to lose another close friend and ally. The rest of the short journey went by in almost silence as they soared south in the lightning fast copters. Before they had even had time to settle down and rest, Eddie was calling out over the intercom.
“Troyes is up ahead. We’ll be landing in two.”
Chandra leapt to her feet and took hold of the grab handle above.
“Remember, this is no stand up fight. We’re on the hunt. Stay alert, and watch out for traps, bombs and potential ambush zones!” she shouted.
The front thrusters kicked in hard as Eddie brought them in for an abrupt and death defying landing. Taylor could just see out through the cockpit as they narrowly brushed the edge of a tree line and suddenly felt as if the whole craft was cushioned. Chandra rocked to one side but held on firm to the grab handle as the rapid decrease in speed jolted them all forward.
The undercarriage touched down lightly, and Chandra immediately punched the door release.
“Lets go!” she ordered.
They had seen no sign of the enemy, but they all knew how vulnerable they were in a bird on the ground; especially after the roar of their engines would have notified all to their presence. Taylor leapt first from the door, so much so that he missed the ramp and hit the ground running.
His eyes took a moment to adjust to the gleaming light bouncing off the thin sheet of snow that covered the park. He reached an old stone wall and knelt down beside it to survey their surroundings. Silence overcame the area as all crouched and awaited their orders.
Chandra half expected to land in a hot LZ and to have to hit the ground shooting. Despite the relief of the silence, it also made her nervous. She got to her feet and rushed to the wall where Taylor was waiting.
“I don’t like this.”
“Why? Feels like we’re right back to our training scenarios. These are the kind of actions are we trained for. We never expected to be slogging it out in trenches.”
“Maybe that’s it, what we have become accustomed to. Either way, Mechs fight in open combat, this feels off.”
“Aliens invaded our fucking planet. It all feels off.”
She smiled in response and was glad of his cool headedness.
“Back when this was a total war, we accepted casualties as a daily part of life. Those days are over, you hear
