“Get the Admiral for me.”
Taylor had been called to the bridge. He knew it must be important. The Admiral was well aware he was partaking in hull breach drills and defence practices. He didn’t like being interrupted when he was running such drills, as they could mean life or death for many of them. He stepped onto the bridge with a scowl, but it was quickly wiped from his face with a few simple words from Huber.
“Colonel Chandra in on the link.”
He quickly stepped up to the briefing table where a projection displayed a video feed.
“Please carry on, Colonel,” Huber ordered.
“As I was saying, Sir, we have confirmed enemy incoming in unknown but large number.”
“Are they heading for you or us?” asked Taylor.
“Hard to say as their path runs towards you, but we’re right in the middle, so you can bet your arse they’re going to want this place back.”
“We should reinforce Red 1, Sir,” insisted Taylor to Huber.
Huber thought about it for a few seconds before directing his question to Chandra.
“What is your analysis of the situation, Colonel?”
“Sir, we have enough strength to effectively defend this colony against a sizeable attack. It is my belief that we should make all efforts to defend this place. If the enemy are heading for the gateway, then they are heading for Earth. The longer we can hold them back, the better prepared our colonies will be.”
“You think a few hours or days could make a difference to that?” he asked.
“In the past, I would have said no, but our production, recruitment and training is at an all time high. Every day Earth gains to develop its strength could be vital in determining the outcome of a second invasion.”
Taylor could see Huber already agreed with her. They had all witnessed the vast shipyards slaving away and putting new ships into space, in what seemed like a daily basis.
“I will not order you to stay on Red 1, Colonel, but I do believe staying there is the right decision. As you know, we cannot quickly assist you, and if the fleet comes under attack, we may well be unable to provide any extra help.”
“Understood, Sir.”
“Request for Inter-Allied to return to assist the Colonel, Sir,” Taylor asked.
I know it’s a long shot, but I had to ask.
“Denied, we need the best we have here on the the Washington, to protect us in the event of another breach.”
“We’ll be fine here, Mitch. I’ve got some of the very finest troops at my disposal. We bled for this land. I’m not willing to give it up without a fight.”
Taylor nodded in agreement. He was well used to the Colonel’s stubbornness.
“You look after yourself.”
“Always.”
“Good luck, Colonel,” Huber added.
“And to you, Sir.”
The projection stopped, and Taylor was once more struck by the realisation he was again divided from friends.
Time flew by on Red 1 as the troops hastened to prepare the defences. Enough hours had passed, and they now waited for the inevitable attack. Chandra sat in the CP with just five other personnel. All the other officers were stationed at their designated zones. Her platoon waited at the door for her.
All were silent as she waited for some news from the staff sat at their stations. She sat upright and sternly, with a straight back. Her rifle lay on the table next to her. They had no planetary defence batteries or fighters to engage the enemy. All they could do was wait for the enemy to come to them. Her comms operator, Corporal Bradley waited anxiously for information more than any of them.
“Ma’am, we have identified forty vessels so far.”
She nodded in response.
They had little idea of the enemy strength based on that information, other than it was more than a mere scouting party.
“Transmit all information to the fleet live while you still can.”
She could see the fear in the operator’s face. It was a gloomy outlook to be trapped in a siege.
“Don’t worry, this is only the beginning. They’re going to wish they’d never met the human race.”
She was trying her best to boost all their morale, but she wasn’t sure they believed her. She had the opportunity to smash an enemy army on their own soil, and yet she could not get the support she wanted or needed to do the job properly.
Why will they not commit the fleet?
She knew defending the gateway was important, but taking the fight to the enemy would have protected it also, or at least she believed so.
“They have passed within five kilometres, Ma’am.”
“And they have not fired?”
The man shook his head.
Why? They must know we now occupy this place, so why would they not shell the colony? What is so important about it?
Ever since she had arrived on the planet, she had felt there was more to learn there than they had seen or found so far. The waiting game was a dreadful experience for them all. Finally, the comms operator spoke again.
“Incoming craft landing on the surface.”
“Still not a single shot fired? No bombs dropped?”
“No, Ma’am.”
“Then our odds just improved. They want this colony badly enough to not risk its destruction. That’s the first bit of good news I’ve heard all day.”
He could see what she was saying, but it was little relief when the wolves were at their door.
“We’ve lost all communications. Hard lines only now, Ma’am.”
She had given strict orders that all breaches were to be reported on the hard lines or with runners. The Colonel knew they had a good chance of holding when their lines stayed firm. Any breach must be filled quickly, or they could be overrun. Bradley now sat in front of a board of lights indicating an incoming communication along the wired lines they had set up. It was an antiquated and painfully tedious way of working, but it was the best they could do.
An explosion erupted far from them, and they could just about hear it echo through the corridors. They waited with bated breath for news, and it wasn’t long before one of the incoming call lights was flashing. Bradley opened a channel, outputting on the speakers so they could all hear.
“We’ve got a breach in grid 6B. Enemy contact.”
Chandra looked down at the map they had hastily put together of the colony layout, and the positions she had designated for them all. It was Major Warren’s area. She wanted to rush out and help, but she knew she must wait for more news. Two other lights quickly flashed on the console, and Chandra could feel her pulse race as each of them lit up.
Within two minutes, they had five breaches in the colony’s perimeter, and all three Battalions were reporting enemy contact. She knew it was time to join the fight. They needed all the fighters they could get. She grasped her rifle from the table and rushed to the exit of the room. Stopping at the doorway, she turned back to Bradley and the others for just a moment.
“Have your weapons ready. We’re in for a hell of a fight.”
It wasn’t much relief to any of them, but at least they would be prepared. Suarez and Tsengal were waiting for her with the rest of the platoon. They looked raring to go and eager to draw enemy blood.
“Come on!” she yelled.
