Chapter 5
“Damn fine work out there!” shouted Phillips as they lumbered out of the aircraft.
The crowd of nearby troops clapped as they disembarked, but they wondered why. They had done nothing more than their jobs, same as everyone else. General Schulz was also awaiting them, but Dupont was nowhere to be seen. The General strode forward with a broad smile across his face and reached out to shake hands with Chandra and Taylor soon after.
“Glad to see I chose the right soldiers for the job,” he exclaimed.
Taylor smirked at the General trying to claim credit for the mission, but he let it slide. One thing he had learnt during the war was that it didn’t pay to piss off those in charge. Then he turned to see Parker and Jones and was reminded of why his disobedience to Command had all been worth it.
“Please form up your Company, Major,” ordered Schulz.
Chandra looked confused for a moment but turned and bellowed the command. They were all fatigued and wanted nothing more than to sit down in the warm with some hot drinks. She could see the crowd was freezing from awaiting their arrival.
Silly bastard, she thought of Schulz. Making us all suffer, just for his gratification.
She took up her position at the forefront of the Company, alongside Taylor and Jones. They were all that remained of the command staff. They watched in amazement as the General stepped up onto a small podium, and a smile stretched across his face at the attention he was garnering. The crowd had already been silenced by the loud shouts of the officers as they formed up. Silva’s booming voice had carried across the whole landing zone and drowned out all others. Schulz placed his hands behind his back and stood tall as he finally unleashed his carefully selected speech.
“I want to thank Major Chandra and the 2 ^nd Inter-Allied Company for their continuing efforts in this struggle. Not one among them owes anything to this land, or to my own homelands. And yet, they have given everything to keep them safe. Now they continue to help in every way they can to allow this continent to recover!”
He took a deep breath and an extended pause to allow his words to filter through before continuing. Taylor could see him wallowing in his own self-importance, but it was nothing new.
At least he doesn’t want my ass behind bars anymore, thought Taylor.
“No one can doubt the commitment and sacrifices that these fine soldiers have given in duty to the people of this planet. In recognition of their services, President Moreau will be unveiling a monument in their honour. Major Chandra, it is my pleasure to request the presence of your company for this ceremony at 1000 hours tomorrow.”
Chandra stared at the General in shock. It appeared as if Schulz was expecting to see some gratitude from her, but she couldn’t help but feel that it was a pointless publicity stunt they were being drawn into when there was real work to be done. She strained to smile in response.
“Thank you, Sir,” she replied.
Schulz looked put out by her short and passive response, but he would not let it ruin his moment of glory.
“I am sure you are all eager to get some rest. Well done to all of you. Thank you all for your continued service!”
He began to clap and was soon joined by all who were present. Taylor could not help but feel sorry for all the personnel around them who had been drawn into Schulz’s plan. They deserved credit as much as the Inter-Allied did. Chandra saluted before turning and dismissing the troops. Schulz saluted them as they left, in a gesture that was so blatantly staged. Taylor stepped up to Chandra’s side as they finally plodded on.
“Will we never be rid of him?” he asked.
“Not likely. He’s always miles from the action.”
Taylor nodded in agreement.
“Schulz aside, that was good work today, to complete a mission without losing a single soldier. I was wondering if we’d ever see the day.”
The Company stood formed up beside a podium and what was some kind of monument still under wraps. Chandra paced up and down the line as they awaited the arrival of the French President and the other officials who were to honour them that day.
Opposite them stood a hundred strong youth marching band in gleaming dress uniforms. She looked back at her own troops and could see they had done their very best to look presentable, but there was no hiding their well worn and fatigued combat uniforms. She could see rips in fabric; cuts and scrapes on faces where shrapnel had left many scarred.
She smiled at the stark contrast of her battle-hardened unit to the gleaming presentation that had been set up for then. She preferred them that way. They presented themselves as they were; the few who were tough enough and lucky enough to have survived the war.
The Drum Major lifted his baton, and the band’s silence was broken as the brass and drums rang out around them. Chandra turned to see a motorcade approaching with French armoured vehicles at the forefront. Every vehicle proudly flew the French tricolor in a colourful entrance. She turned and looked in astonishment at the absurdity of the event.
Within a fifty metre radius was nothing but an impeccable parade display, but it was just one pocket of perfection amongst the ruins of the city that lay all around them. Beyond that lay massive cranes stretching up into the skyline. Only two buildings over five storeys high had survived the brutal struggle for the city, and they could see for kilometres.
Taylor caught sight of Chandra turning as she marvelled at the sights around them. They both knew they had been there before, but it was hard to recognise much of the city any longer. Chandra drew the Company to attention as the vehicles drew near, and they watched as the cheery President waved from his car.
On one hand, Taylor felt sorry for the French leader for having lost so much of his country, but on the other hand, he looked at the man’s impeccable clothing and well fed stomach and scowled at how little he had put into the war. Chandra could see the look of disgust on his face and strolled over to whisper beside him.
“Major, I know you’re not one for authority, but let’s not fuck this up, you hear?”
“He’s gonna stand there and talk about our shared struggle to free these lands. What did he ever do?” snapped Taylor.
“We all have our part in this, not all of it is holding a rifle and fighting on the frontline,” she replied.
He nodded in agreement and could feel some of the anger seep away.
“I’m just sick of it all, those bastards, Schulz and Dupont. They toss us about as assets, and then want to take all the glory.”
“Hey, this here is for us, don’t you forget that. The President has a responsibility to the people of this country, and he is clearly fulfilling that. Cut the man some slack, you have no idea what his part was in this war.”
Chandra saluted as the car drew to a halt and watched as President Moreau leapt out and up towards the podium. The two Majors stared in astonishment for a moment. They had never met the French President, but they knew from news feeds that he was a much older man than the one who was about to address them. Commander Phillips approached them in full number one dress.
“Sir, that, that isn’t the President,” stated Chandra.
“It is now, Major. President Moreau passed away a week ago from a heart attack. The government decided in the interest of the people that his son should take over to allow the population to have someone they can relate to.”
“That ain’t very democratic,” replied Taylor from the sideline.
Chandra turned and smiled to see that Mitch had crept closer to listen in.
“No, but what else were they to do? Not like they could start an e-vote and have it done by the weekend. Communications in this country are still an utter shambles.”
“What’s he like, this new President?”
“Driven. He’s a high roller and vicious to boot. He’s got balls and has no problem walking over people to get
