Taylor still stared out into the depths of space. Up ahead, they could see the glimmer of stars and planets. The nearest appearing as a similar size as the Moon viewed from Earth. He had expected to step into a whole new and different world when they passed through the gateway. It was an anti-climax he was actually glad to have experienced. Huber turned around to address them.
“We’re heading for that planet to cause merry hell. There may also be much to learn on the enemy’s own soil. You can bet that we’ll need troops on the ground. Have your people ready.”
“Always, Sir,” replied Chandra.
The days and weeks of travelling were making them all feel utterly exhausted. Space travel had been limited before to the extent that few ever passed beyond the Earth’s Moon and the LaGrange stations. Taylor sighed as he yawned.
“We should both get some sleep,” Chandra said. “We aren’t needed here for a good few hours, and we’ll certainly need our strength when we arrive at our destination.”
Taylor agreed with her. He wasn’t going to fight about it. They strolled off the bridge together.
“I know you didn’t want to tread this path, Mitch. But you should know I would never have chosen it if I thought there was a better way.”
“I appreciate that. It just seems that whatever happens, we are always thrown in the shit. Isn’t it about time we were laid up to rest, and others took on the work?”
“We aren’t the only unit on this mission. The fleet is packed with soldiers and marines.”
“Mmm,” Taylor muttered, thinking about the most recent troops to join them. They had both been ducking Suarez since he had returned. “You know this Grey-Suarez situation needs to be resolved?”
Chandra sighed at the very thought of it.
“Follow me. Let’s get this over and done with.”
She carried on to the elevator, lifting her Mappad to check the unit schedules. She quickly learnt that Grey and his Company were carrying out hull breach drills. She hit the button in the elevator and stood silently. They rapidly descended to the Lieutenant’s level. When the doors opened, she stormed out at a quick pace with Taylor in tow. As they took a bend, they could see Grey up ahead. He stopped his unit and called them to attention.
“Lieutenant Grey! In recognition of your fine services during the assault on the space gateway, for your continued fine service, and under several recommendations, I am hereby giving you a field promotion to Captain. Your papers will be put in order on our return home, and your pips will be delivered to your quarters with the hour.”
The British former Staff Sergeant was flabbergasted.
“Well, what have you to say for yourself?” prompted Taylor.
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
“Carry on, Captain.”
She turned and strode quickly back to the elevator, leaving Grey still motionless and shocked by his abrupt promotion. When the doors of the elevator closed, Taylor finally spoke up.
“That wasn’t exactly…by the book.”
“What in this war is?” she replied.
“Oh, I hear you. It’s a band-aid fix to the Suarez issue. The fact you promoted one of your NCOs over him will probably just piss him off further.”
“Probably, but I’d rather have him pissed off than hounding me. I can promote whom I bloody well choose, and I just as rather Suarez had stayed at home. How you ever tolerated him, I will never know.”
“You can’t choose every officer in your command.”
“More’s the pity. I am sick of dealing with morons, cowards and idiots.”
Taylor was taken aback by her sudden outburst, but he didn’t want to pursue it any further. He had gotten himself into enough trouble in the past as it was.
“How about getting that rest?” he asked.
He could see the weary look in her eyes. They both knew a battle was coming, and neither of them wanted to go into it already fatigued. Taylor barely remembered much from this point on. He stumbled into his quarters and had just enough time to strip off his exoskeleton suit before dropping into bed with his uniform still on.
Fourteen hours later, he awakened and looked in shock at his watch. It was more sleep than he’d gotten in years, and it was an odd sensation to arise naturally. But within just a few minutes of sitting up, a warning alert blared out from the speaker in the corner of the room. A voice was calling him to the bridge.
“This is finally it.”
The Major hauled on his equipment and rushed to Admiral Huber’s side. He entered the bridge to find Chandra already there, and she didn’t have the recently awoken look he sported.
“Did we wake you, Major?” she asked with a smile.
He looked out to the display screen to see a zoomed in picture of the planet they approached. It was a reddish-orange and appeared dry and rocky. The surface looked jagged and bombarded with space debris, but amongst it all, he could make out the uniformed structures of buildings created by intelligent beings.
“Have your alien friends join us. They may be of help,” ordered Huber.
They all stood and marvelled at the display, trying to imagine how it would look and feel to stand on an alien world. They didn’t have the technology to scan for much in the way of useful information at such a distance, but they could still peer at it through their ship’s telescopes.
Jafar and Tsengal stepped in, and it was clear they had been standing guard outside. They stood and stared for a moment, the same as the rest present.
“What can you tell us about this planet?” asked Huber.
“It is Krycenaean, but not a world we have ever seen.”
Huber turned in surprise. The prospect of not recognising a planet inhabited by your people was truly an unknown concept to the humans, but he could see in their faces, they did not lie. He stayed silent and let them continue to investigate what they could see. Finally Tsengal spoke.
“Neither of us have ever travelled to this world, but it certainly is not an important colony.”
“Not important in terms of life or resources, or what?” asked Chandra.
“I could not say. Only that we have never encountered it.”
Taylor looked to Chandra with the same curious expression Huber displayed. They all wondered if the planet was of little importance to the alien race, or of great importance and kept a secret.
“Whatever it is, we’re heading right for it. If we are going make any progress in this star system, we need to gain some ground.”
“I’m just not sure what is worth fighting for down there,” replied Taylor, looking at the barren landscape.
Huge caverns divided rocky outcrops on a dry scarred surface. As much as they were all curious to set foot on it, the planet looked far from hospitable.
“Would a planet such as that have any kind of defences? What about troops?” asked Huber.
Jafar shrugged his shoulders.
“Never having been there, I do not know.”
“Then I guess we’re going in blind.”
They caught glimpses of movement from the planet and watched as entrances opened on the surface. Small craft poured out towards them.
“I guess we have our answer. Launch fighters! Alert Admiral Uxbridge that we have made contact with the enemy!”
He turned back to Chandra.
“Have your unit ready to go. I don’t think we’ll have too much trouble with this lot, and I don’t want any delay in reaching the surface. Be ready to embark at a moment’s notice.”
Taylor’s eyebrows raised at the dismissive nature of the forces opposing them, and he only hoped Huber’s confidence was founded in fact. Chandra grabbed his arm and led him from the bridge.
“Stay near a comms unit in case we have need of you!” Huber shouted as they left.
The two of them rushed to the armouries. Jafar and Tsengal were close behind.
“Make sure to load re-supply crates aboard all ships and copters. I’ll be damned if we’re going to an alien planet without enough ammunition,” Chandra shouted.
