tinted everything to the level that they all blended into the architecture. Mitch could see runners in the floor that were parallel. They ran the length of the corridor, but it was the first time he had noticed them. They appeared to be a kind of rail system for transport. He wanted answers but knew it was insignificant in that moment.
They passed several rooms with open doorways but didn’t have time to investigate. Up ahead, lay another bend in the corridor, and one Taylor hoped would lead them to the enemy’s flank. He took the turn as quickly as the last one, but stopped in horror. Jones and Jafar stumbled into his back. Before them were Mechs as far as they could see.
“Back!” screamed Taylor.
He fired off a quick few shots as the enemy raised their weapons and opened fire. It was clear they were as surprised to see the humans as much as Taylor and his lot were. Mitch just managed to get back around the corner as a brutal wave of enemy fire gushed down the corridor towards them. He slammed his back against the wall and took in a deep breath.
“Fuck!” he yelled.
He looked back around to see the enemy forces were moving steadily forwards to their position.
“Jones, send a runner to the Colonel. Tell her we’ve met heavy resistance and are staying put. We cannot assist her.”
Taylor leaned out around the corner and fired a burst into the first creature his rifle came to bare against. He quickly ducked back. Jones had already relayed the command and sent the message on.
“How many are there?” he asked.
Taylor shook his head.
“No idea, more than I can readily count.”
“We can’t hold here. They get to this corner and we’re goners.”
Taylor stopped and thought for just a moment. He looked back down the corridor over the heads of the troops. He could see the tops of entrance doorways to the rooms leading off from the corridor.
“We’ll fall back to those doorways. We can at least defend from there and retreat into the rooms if need be.”
“And if those rooms are dead ends?”
“I have no doubt they probably are,” replied Taylor glumly.
Jones accepted the grim forecast Taylor had given and turned to usher the troops back quickly while they still had time. The Major and Jafar fired several bursts around the corner and followed the others back. The Company scattered into four rooms with entrances fairly close to one another, giving some cover to fire from. Taylor continued into the same room as Jones. He reloaded and stopped just inside the doorway.
“You know we have absolutely no idea how many of those things are out there,” Jones said.
Taylor nodded in agreement.
“We could have just flown into the hornets’ next, for all we know,” he continued.
Taylor nodded in agreement once again as he looked out down the hallway, anxiously waiting to see the enemy.
“For Christ’s sake, Mitch, are we really that disposable that we can just be thrown into the abyss to see what happens?”
Taylor turned and gave all his attention to the Captain.
“After everything we have been through, we are just being tossed away as if we mean nothing?”
“Possibly, but some one had to carry out this mission. Would it be any fairer throwing raw recruits into this mess? Look, this battle has only just begun. They’re gonna have to try a damn sight harder to stop us here.”
“Last I looked, it was us on the run,” Jones answered.
Shots rang out from the troops on the other side of the corridor, and Taylor leaned out to see the first two Mechs entering the hallway tumble to the ground dead. Their comrades continued to push on past their bodies, as if they meant nothing. Taylor had always assumed the aliens simply had no care for their own, but Jafar and Tsengal had drawn all that into doubt.
“Give ‘em hell, boys!” Taylor roared.
He lifted his rifle and joined the fight.
“Come on you bastards!” he screamed.
Chandra peered over the cockpit of the craft she was hiding behind. Its hull was holding off all the enemy fire levelled at her. Parker and her platoon were huddled under the same cover and returning fire whenever they could. Just over a hundred of the Battalion had managed to get into the hangar with her, but many of the others were still held up on the ramp. She could see that no one wanted to move forward across the open ground between them and the enemy.
One of Jones’ troops came rushing across the open ground from where they had departed with Taylor, and she could already tell the news was not good. The messenger ducked and weaved through the fire with his shield held in both hands to provide a buffer. Two rounds struck the shield. The second knocked him off balance, and he tumbled in partially behind the cover near Chandra. She leaned over, hauling him across the floor as another pulse landed where his feet had been a second before.
“Thank you, Ma’am, message from the Major. We’ve hit heavy resistance, and the enemy is moving forward. He cannot support you.”
“God damn it!” But her voice could barely be heard over the furious battle raging around them. She peered up from the cover to quickly assess the situation and was met by blinding volleys of light as the Mechs fired relentlessly at their position. Few of the enemy looked for cover, and they confidently stood their ground.
We can’t stay here, she whispered to herself.
“What was that, Ma’am?”
She leaned in closer so he could hear.
“Get to Captain Jackson, and tell him we are moving forward in two minutes. Be ready to provide support!”
The man’s face was pale and his eyes wide with shock.
“You heard me! We’re going forward!”
He got to his feet and rushed back towards the ramp. She looked up to see the messenger get to Jackson a minute after leaving. The Captain looked up to find her and met her stare within a few seconds. He quizzed the news with a confused expression, but she responded with a nod. He lifted up his arm and gave a thumbs-up in acceptance.
The Colonel took a deep breath as she looked down at her watch, counting the seconds down. Fifteen seconds from time, she got to her feet and signalled all around her to rise. They could all see what was coming. Most were on their feet but still hunched down to get what cover they could.
“Now!” she shouted.
She held her rifle up high in the air and waved it towards the enemy. It was the only signal they needed. The hundred or more soldiers already in the hangar rose up and drove forwards with their shields held firmly out in front. Jackson rushed ahead, and his troops poured out from the corridor with the cover of the charge.
Chandra leapt out from cover to take her place amongst the troops as they advanced at a steady pace. She quickly targeted one of the enemy with her rifle held beside the shield, firing on the move. Pulses rushed at them, smashing their shield wall. Their pace was increasing, but they all knew they could only take so much punishment. The intensity of the enemy fire increased, and three of the shields were burnt through under the sustained battering. The rounds pierced the shields and smashed into the soldiers behind them. Chandra saw a few go down around her, but there was nothing she could do but go on.
They advanced forward in a single line because the hangar was so vast, but Jackson’s troops were quick to cover the distance, filling the gaps as the wounded were left behind. They were just fifty metres from the enemy now, and they kept up continuous fire on the enemy who stood their ground.
“Keep moving forward! Go!” Chandra shouted.
A pulse smashed into the corner of her shield as she said it, tearing off a piece that clipped the side of her helmet. Fortunately, it didn’t break the visor. Before she knew it, they were on top of the enemy. The speed of the Reitech suits was something that still surprised them all. She kept up her pace and rushed in a full sprint at the nearest creature.
