They took to a jogging pace and headed for Warren’s position. It was the site of the first breach and was therefore the priority. It took just a couple of minutes to reach the back of the Battalion. The small colony allowed them to pack in tight and concentrate their fire. The gunfire they could hear was controlled and steady. Chandra pushed her way through the lines, until finally she reached the front where Warren was overseeing the action.
The defences had been built tall, and she could not see over the barricades what the lines of commandos were firing at. They all seemed remarkably calm, and there were no casualties in sight. The three-dozen rifles firing were evidently holding back whatever was coming at them down the broad hallway.
“Give me an update, Major!” she shouted over the echoing shots.
“Enemy advance has been halted here. We have sustained no casualties.”
“Damn good work.”
“They’re being funnelled in through the breach in so few enough numbers that they aren’t making any headway at present.”
Chandra was glad to hear it and continued on up to the barricade to see for herself. She leapt up onto the make shift rampart to immediately see two Mechs being cut down by crossfire. The creatures were only able to get through in small numbers and were little trouble for the commandos, and yet they kept coming.
“Crazy bastards keep running onto our guns!” called one of the troops next to her.
She thought back to the lives Jafar and Tsengal had described. It was a hard and bitter existence for their race. She wondered if the first wave were just testing the defences, or even just expending their opponent’s ammunition. She didn’t share her thoughts. She wanted them to enjoy any little victory they could. The Colonel turned and jumped back down, striding to Warren’s position.
“Keep it up, Major.”
She strolled on more confidently than she had arrived. They had all expected to be hit with overwhelming force, and yet they were holding steady. The more she thought about it, the more it unsettled her until she decided to turn to Tsengal for answers.
“Why do they attack in such small number? This is too easy.”
“This is just the beginning,” he replied.
“Why not amass their forces for an assault?”
“My former leaders would not care for lives lost. The order to attack would have been given and must be followed.”
“And you lived like that?”
“Until we met Major Taylor, there was no other way to live.”
They got to the end of Warren’s troops to find a seamless transition to Chen’s soldiers. She was glad to see there was no break in the line. As she arrived, the guns went silent. She could see the first wave was finished. The Chinese troops had just four wounded and stood triumphantly before several dozen of the enemy. The soldiers were taking the hiatus to reload and ready themselves for a second wave. Chandra was about to congratulate Chen when they heard a ruckus from over the defences.
“Drones!” she heard one cry.
A surge of gunfire opened up, and she jumped to the line to see for herself. The hover drones they had gotten used to seeing in France were pouring in like ants. Their weapons fired the second they came into view, and there seemed no end to their number. She lifted her rifle and quickly joined in the fight.
Gunfire poured in from above their heads, and she looked up to see several platoons of Chen’s troops on a platform above them. Tsengal and four of her platoon leapt up to join in the fight, but they were all that could fit in the space left. Pulses from the drones smashed into their positions, but much of the defensive line was made from alien metal and stopped the worst of it.
The drones were being smashed as quickly as they poured into the hall, but still they kept coming. Several of the troops fired grenades into the mass, sending debris sprawling out across the ground and pelting the walls. Chandra’s magazine ran dry, so she ducked back down behind the cover to load in a fresh one. Back on her feet, she could see the drones had made a couple of metres progress, despite the floor being littered with the wreckage of those that came before them. Pulses continued to smash their position and rush overhead. Clearly, the fire from the humans overwhelmed them.
Seeing the relentless push of the drones was a frightful sight. Even the aliens themselves could eventually be broken and forced into retreat, but the drones kept going until the bitter end. She remembered studying the use of them in human history, and how they fell out of favour due to the inhuman nature of them. Hearts and minds is what she always remembered.
The last of the drones were finally reduced to a line of twisted and burnt metal, and the hall was silent again. There were no cries of celebration. Destroying machines seemed to have little effect on their morale, but it was at least a relief to have stopped the first attack.
Taylor sat silently as the information from Red 1 was relayed to them on the briefing table. The bridge was quiet as they listened to the audio relay from Bradley until the moment contact was lost. For ten whole seconds after the feed went dead, no one said a word. Taylor looked up to the Admiral and pleaded.
“We have to go to their aid. We have to do something!”
Huber shook his head.
“We can’t just leave them there and sit on our asses!”
Huber liked the Major, but he didn’t like anyone raising his voice on his bridge, and telling him what he should and shouldn’t do.
“You will do exactly as is ordered and expected of you. You heard your Colonel. They have ample ability and strength to hold the colony.”
Taylor fell silent. He knew he could not challenge the Admiral’s decision. Huber turned to his XO.
“Double the range our scouts are going. I want to know if anything is heading our way.”
He turned back to Taylor and could see the sadness in his face.
“Follow me, Major.”
The two of them stepped inside the Admiral’s quarters where they could talk freely. Taylor remained silent. He expected a grilling for his performance, but it didn’t come.
“Please do not think I want to leave them out there, but remember this war is about more than one officer, more than one battalion, more than one army. This fleet is the only thing standing between the enemy and Earth. Would you risk it all far into enemy territory, when we still know so little? We created this fleet to protect Earth and our other colonies. When we can be certain that we have the ability and strength to move forward, we shall. But don’t let yourself believe that one victory means we are all powerful.”
Taylor accepted his words. He knew the Admiral was right, but it was a harsh reality to accept.
“I thought we were coming here to take the fight to the enemy, Sir.”
“And we have, but now we must consolidate and defend what we have taken. This is a major breakthrough for our civilisation. We have travelled light years from Earth, invaded alien territory, and seized one of their colonies. Let’s not forget how far we have gotten. It was not so long ago that Earth was on its knees.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Go now, calm yourself, and remember your Colonel is more than capable of taking care of herself.”
Taylor showed himself out and skulked miserably off the bridge. By the time he had reached the elevator, his sadness was gone, and it was replaced by anger and a pig-headed resolve. When the doors opened, he strode out with purpose. He rushed towards the berths where Inter-Allied were living. Silva was the first familiar face he found.
“Sergeant, gather the troops. We’re heading out.”
The Sergeant looked puzzled.
“Sir, aren’t we…”
“You heard me, Sergeant!”
Silva was never one to disobey his orders and quickly turned, rushing off to carry them out. Taylor lifted up his comms unit.
“Captain Ryan, prepare the Deveron for take-off.”
“Roger that,” came the reply.
He turned quickly to rush to his quarters to get his gear when he found himself confronted by Parker. She
