“You heard me. End their miserable lives.”
She was surprised to hear him say the words after taking on two of their kind as friends. She lifted her comms unit and spoke into it.
“Captain Jackson, you have a green light.”
Taylor turned just in time to see a large door open within the chamber and thirty of the Captain’s Company enter, guns blazing. They executed the creatures where they lay. Taylor watched for several minutes until the room was silent.
“Is this what it has come to? Must it end with the complete destruction of one of our races?”
She nodded yes. “Afraid so.”
Taylor turned and strode away. He had seen enough. He wasn’t sure the Colonel was wrong, but it made him sick to see it done, either way. Another two days passed without event until on the third, a message came over the intercom for Taylor to make his way to the bridge. It was early in the morning, and the Major still thought about the mass execution he had witnessed. He found the Colonel on the bridge, waiting to address him personally.
“Admiral Huber has asked that Inter-Allied return to the fleet in defence of the Washington.”
“What of this planet?”
“General White left me in charge here, and that is exactly where I will remain. You will return to the Washington with the Battalion while I remain in command of all ground forces here.”
“You’ll have what, less than three thousand troops?”
“This planet means something to our enemy, perhaps much more than we realise. I want to know what it is, and I will not give it back to them without a fight.”
“Then let us stay. Let us fight this together.”
“I am sorry, Major, but we all have our orders. The protection of the Washington is paramount, and I would trust no other to carry out such a task. You will return to the fleet immediately.”
“Will you at least take some of our own in support?”
She conceded to his advice.
“Suarez and his platoon will remain as a personal detail to myself. I would keep Tsengal, if I could. He may yet provide insight into what we have found here.”
“He is under your command, Colonel, not mine.”
“Then it is agreed. Get moving Major.”
She strode off the bridge to leave the ship and allow them to prepare for departure.
Suarez? You hate the bastard, and yet you’re keeping him at your side? He thought.
Taylor didn’t like it one bit, but he had no choice but to go along with the commands. Ever since the execution of the prisoners, his relationship with the Colonel had been modified. He knew she had done the only thing she could. He also knew she had in fact saved them from invasive research, which they would not wish on any soldier. He wanted to tell her he had her back, but the time and words did not come.
“Put out the word, Captain, Inter-Allied is to report here for departure in one hour.”
Captain Ryan didn’t look happy about the orders either, but there was nothing either of them could do. The hour passed quickly, and a few minutes before final preparations, the Colonel reappeared to say her goodbye. Taylor was glad to see her once more before they left. He hated leaving things in a bad way with one of his closest friends. He saluted her as she approached.
“The enemy are amassing. I’d say we have about a day before anything kicks off,” she said.
“And you really think this is a good time for us to be leaving?”
“The Washington must be protected, and they’ll be coming for the gateway. I still think this planet has a lot to tell us that we have not yet seen. Orders are to hold it, and that order was given to me. We all have our duties.”
“You know if the fleet gets into trouble, it can bug out through the gate. What are you going to do?”
She smiled in response.
“I’ll give them hell. I’ll make them remember why they don’t mess with the human race. Our leaders need to know what they face. They need to understand what it at stake, and they must be willing to do what is necessary.”
She looked down at her watch.
“Time for you to go. You look after the fleet, you hear? There will come a time when it is needed, probably more than you know. The day we can destroy the enemy before they reach our colonies, that is a great day.”
Taylor knew there was nothing more he could say to change the situation. They were leaving for the fleet and leaving so few behind. He could see in her eyes that she was fearless. She didn’t want to die. She only wanted the best for them all.
“Tsengal, you have kept to your word and been a valuable asset to me and the unit. I would ask you now protect the Colonel, as you have done me.”
“I will.”
Taylor noticed Suarez stood behind the Colonel. He had a triumphant and sleazy grin on his face that unsettled Taylor. Mitch disliked the fact the man served under him. He didn’t trust the Lieutenant among his friends, but he had no choice. The Colonel’s word was final. He saluted her and turned to make his way aboard the Deveron. He turned back just at the doorway.
“You look after yourself, Colonel.”
She smiled in return as he made his way aboard. When he reached the bridge, he could see she had already left to continue her investigation into the enemy world. She had been fixated on their technology since the moment they stepped foot there. But he’d never cared for any of it.
“When you’re ready, Captain.”
Leaving the enemy world was a welcome thing to Taylor, but he knew home was still far from sight. As they ascended from the planet, he could see half a dozen other ships heading the same way.
“Huber must be pretty concerned about the risk of attack.”
He was fishing for information, but it was clear Ryan didn’t have it.
“Wouldn’t you be, Sir? The Navy’s most powerful ship moored up in enemy territory, and light years from home. I am surprised the Colonel has not left Red 1 and come with us.”
“She is making a statement.”
“How so, Sir?”
“Throughout the war, we spent most of our time running, giving ground. This mission proved we could go forward and take land. She isn’t going to give it up without a fight.”
Ryan went silent. They both knew it was a dangerous game she was playing, but it was not for them to say. Taylor speculated she must have well under three thousand troops with her. The doors of the bridge slid open, and Captain Jones walked quickly through with purpose.
“We’re leaving?”
“On the Admiral’s orders,” replied Taylor.
“And she stayed, didn’t she?”
Taylor nodded. “We all have our duties.”
“We must petition the Admiral to move at least some of our forces from the gateway to protect what we have already taken.”
“Damn right, we’ll do everything we can.”
It was another day before Huber’s fleet came into sight. The space gateway they were guarding like gatekeepers dwarfed the two vast carriers. It was a sight to behold and marvel at, but Taylor could only wish he were back home on solid ground. The Deveron docked once again with the Washington to deliver its payload of marines. Taylor headed right for the bridge.
He remembered the carrier well and was already familiar with navigating it. As he passed through corridors he had fought in just weeks before, he could still see much of the superficial damage. He stepped aboard the bridge alone and was greeted by the Admiral.
“I see she still shows the scars of battle.”
“We’re back to full operating condition, but those scars are a bitter reminder of what could have been. I wouldn’t want any of my crew to forget what threats we face.”
