He stood on the bridge of the Deveron with Jones and alongside Captain Ryan. The Deveron was the smallest ship in the group that had assembled to sally out against the recovering enemy forces. They kept close to the carrier and within the defensive perimeter of the frigates assigned to protect her.
“Feels good to stick it to them, doesn’t it?” Taylor asked Ryan.
“Hell yes, Sir. About time, too.”
“Let’s not count our blessings just yet, gentlemen,” Jones added.
“You can be one cynical bastard, you know that?”
Charlie looked to Mitch in surprise but could see it was a mere jest, though not a very funny one. They both remembered the dark times of misery he’d suffered through. His present state was of utter joy by comparison. He leaned in close to Taylor so that only the three of them could hear.
“What really are your intentions? Will you really stop here like Huber has ordered?”
“The Admiral was clear that we were to proceed to the planet if it is within our power.”
“And if it is not? Will you go anyway?”
Taylor was torn between saving Chandra and the forces on Red 1, and risking the lives of just as many aboard the ships he had been given by the Admiral. He shrugged his shoulders.
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Sixty seconds until the Trafalgar has a firing solution.”
They all went quiet and watched the display screen of the enemy fleet ahead. They had formed up to face the human fleet but maintained their position.
“Why aren’t they going anywhere?” asked Ryan.
Jafar, who was stood quietly in the background, spoke up.
“Because they have been ordered to stay there and await reinforcement.”
“So they’ll just wait there to die?”
“No, they’ll fight to win.”
“Then we’ll end them,” replied Taylor.
An intercom channel opened on the tannoy above them.
“The is Admiral Uxbridge. All crews fire when ready. I want no survivors.”
A few seconds later, the Trafalgar lit up like a firework display as its guns opened up in a fierce opening salvo. The Deveron was still a way out of range, but they continued on course with the carrier. Fighters rushed out from the Trafalgar’s bays. It was an odd sensation to watch the enemy ships hold their ground against such a relentless attack, as if they awaited their death.
“How can they not run? What purpose does it serve to stay and die?” Ryan asked.
“It serves their masters’ orders,” replied Jafar.
“See, you think you have problems with authority?” Jones laughed.
The Washington’s guns destroyed two of the enemy’s larger ships in its opening fire. The ships were the size of the human frigates, and both displayed damage from their earlier engagement. There were just five smaller vessels and one of the frigate size left, as they descended upon them at speed.
“We have a solution, Sir,” said the gunnery officer.
“Fire,” replied Ryan in a sombre and monotone voice.
It was a bloody slaughter and far from the brave sally out they had expected. The fighters rushed in against the last enemy craft, like crows encircling the dead and dying of a battlefield. Even Taylor found no joy in the senseless slaughter. The Trafalgar’s guns continued relentlessly until the last enemy ship was blasted into a thousand pieces. Just as the guns went silent, so did the bridge of the Deveron. They all stared morbidly at the smashed hulks of the enemy ships. In the overwhelming assault, the humans had not lost a single vessel.
“This is what they fight for, this is what is a victory to them? They want to kill us all and feel nothing for it?” asked Ryan.
He turned back to Jafar for answers.
“How can your people be so cold? How can they want such devastation?”
“Former people.”
“But you were one of them, you fought for their goals?”
“That’s enough!” yelled Taylor.
“No,” replied Jafar.
Taylor looked up in surprise. It was the only time the alien had defied him, and it was in the most unusual of circumstances. Taylor thought he had to defend his newly found friends, but they didn’t need it.
“I am not proud of my time in their armies. I will not defend their actions.”
Ryan relaxed as he could see there was no fight in Jafar.
“Sir, we have an incoming transmission from the Trafalgar?”
Ryan cleared his throat before replying.
“Put it on screen.”
A video feed of Admiral Uxbridge was displayed aboard the Trafalgar.
“To the fleet, well done. The enemy is vanquished, and we are without injury. A perfect victory.”
Taylor took his opportunity, leaping forward to address Uxbridge.
“Admiral, we have succeeded in our endeavours here. We have the opportunity to continue on to Red 1, as Admiral Huber recommended should we meet with success.”
Uxbridge took in a deep breath as he thought it over. It was clear he had not intended to do as such.
“We will continue onwards, Major, until we can scan the area of the planet and assess the situation.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“Recall all fighters. We continue on without delay. Uxbridge out.”
Taylor sighed in relief.
There is hope yet.
“Colonel! We can’t hold much longer!” Warren called out to her.
She looked up over the defences to see that despite the fact the Mechs were being cut down in vast numbers, they continued to advance. In places their dead were now two or three deep, but they would not stop.
“How can we fight such relentless enemies?” she whispered.
“We have to fall back, or we’ll be overrun!”
She looked around to see dozens of Warren’s troops lying dead behind the defences, and she knew the casualties would be as bad or worse further down the lines. They held the ground nearest the surface. She knew the docking bay lay just two floors down, and that it was the last place they could go where there was still a way out. They’re backs would soon be against the wall.
“Alright, sound the retreat. Fall back to the docking bay entrance!”
She jumped off the wall and rushed to the CP to pass the word herself. Jafar was closely at her side, but Suarez was nowhere to be found. His platoon lay scattered along the defensive line and had quickly fallen under the command of Major Warren. She rushed through into the CP to find the five personnel frantically dealing with communications from all sectors.
“Pack it up. Our lines are falling, and we’re falling back!”
Corporal Bradley turned in horror at her orders.
“What about our comms?”
“Grab what you can, and get a rifle in hand!”
They leapt into action, grabbing everything they could carry as she ushered them onwards.
“Come on! Go!”
They rushed out of the room to find troops flooding past them in a frenzied rush to retreat. Many fought on at their backs to cover their retreat. Chandra dreaded to think how many hundreds or thousands lay dead at their frontlines, but she feared more the realisation that they may be burying themselves into a hole they would never get out of.
Taylor had been waiting anxiously to see Red 1. Never before had he been so eager to see an enemy world. He knew they were just a couple of hours out now and prayed for good news. He and Jones had not left the bridge
