'This is Sergeant Jafar and he is one of ours,' Taylor said.
'But…'
'But nothing, Major.'
Gallo turned to study the alien. They could all see it was the closest he had ever come to one, but it was not what he was expecting at all. The short Italian officer had to look up to see the eyes of the towering Jafar.
'Are there many more like you, fighting for us?' he asked.
'There was one, but he was lost in Tau Ceti.'
'Enough, there'll be time for questions when the enemy isn't at the door.'
They turned back to the map.
'The marines will have their work cut out at those two towns. Rolling hills and many narrow mountain roads. Much of the terrain is barren and without cover.'
'Do you have any forces south of here?'
'Small numbers in Cosenza and extending into Sicily, but all have been ordered to setup defensive lines at their locations and await further support. The civilians from here down are being evacuated by air and sea, and above Naples they are being moved north.'
'That's gonna take time.'
'Yes, but not as long as you might think. The population of my country is a shadow of its former self. So many ghost towns.'
Taylor looked back to the map, which was being updated live with enemy positions throughout the Med and Africa as they came in.
'What are they doing in southern Italy? Doesn't look like they are in great numbers, and we don't have any sign of them receiving additional support as of yet. Much longer, and our fleets will ensure they are cut off completely.'
'Maybe this wasn't their intended target?' asked Jones. 'Seems all that could amassed in North Africa. Perhaps this was the closest they could get if their ship was severely damaged.'
Lieutenant Yorath was clearly receiving new information at his comms station, and Taylor waited impatiently to hear the news.
'Sir, first recon images from the 5th are in.'
'Anything useful?'
'I believe so, Sir, looks like some kind of crash site. They'll be on the table presently.'
Five images popped up, and it took a few seconds for them to realise what they were looking at until Jafar finally spoke.
'That is a heavy cruiser, and it looks badly damaged.'
'Then it is a crash site?' asked Jones.
'Yes.'
'What can we expect from a ship of that size?'
'A thousand crew and enough equipment for them all to fight on the ground. Support ships may also have remained with them.'
'All right, at least we have some idea on numbers. They must have sustained losses in the battle and probably more in that crash landing. But if their support vessels have joined them, we must assume they have their full one thousand strength or more.'
'Potentially many more,' replied Jafar.
He pointed to a wooded area where part had been flattened that only a key eye would have spotted.
'You think that's another crash site?'
'Or a good hiding place,' added Jones.
Jafar nodded, without giving a solid answer to either of them.
'Where are these two sites in relation to the 5th's current position?' asked Taylor.
'The map is being updated as we speak,' added Yorath.
Taylor looked over the map and could see the three elements of the 5th Marine were advancing on the heavy cruiser and had already passed the other potential landing site.
'They haven't seen it.'
'Idiots,' replied Jones.
'Yorath, mark the second potential crash site and warn them immediately!'
Before the Lieutenant could react, he received frantic new calls across the radio.
'Sir, 5th Marine is reporting enemy advances north of their position.'
'Christ, they're getting surrounded,' said Jones.
Taylor looked to the map again.
'Muro Lucano, that's where the second ship is. They must have moved south quickly.'
'Heavy woodland in that area. It would cover their movements well. No idea of telling how many of them are there.'
'Have they requested our assistance?' asked Taylor.
'No, Sir,' replied Yorath.
'Well, tough shit. They're getting it anyway.'
'What about our orders to defend this area?'
'We can do both, Jones. Captain Jackson, I want you to join Major Gallo's defensive lines, a platoon per position at each kilometre as Gallo setup. The rest of us are heading to Muro Lucano.'
He looked up to see Eddie Rains had just woken and was stretching as he came out of his billet.
'Rains!'
The Lieutenant jumped at the bellowing of his name.
'Are the copters ready to go?'
He paced up casually and confidently.
'Unloaded last night, Sir. We've been good to go since we hit this country.'
'Good, then fire 'em up. There are marines who need our help.'
Captain Ryan spoke up from where he had been standing by the ops table.
'What do you want us to do?'
'Right now, your priority should be to get your weapon systems online. With those active, you'll be able to provide some valuable air cover.'
'That could take a couple of days, easy.'
'It'll take what it'll take, and see to getting any weapons you can installed on the other two ships.'
'They're just civilian transports.'
'Not anymore. I'm not expecting miracles, but anything you can get on them to give them a fighting chance will help.'
'I'll do what I can.'
'That's all I ask.'
He turned back to Jones.
'Get the other three companies assembled, I want to be in the air in fifteen minutes!'
He acknowledged as his lifted him comms unit and began barking his orders. Taylor was already carrying everything he needed. When so close to the enemy, he only removed his armour when sleeping, and even then kept it close to hand. He looked back at the map to study the location.
'They went headlong into this. Harney wants to make his name.'
'He want's to be a great hero like you,' replied Gallo.
Taylor looked up into the eyes of the Major. He didn't like being called a hero. It was an honour he found hard to accept when he had lost so many friends.
'I may have made some kind of name, but it wasn't by carelessly throwing myself at the enemy. I have survived this long by using my head.'
Gallo clung to his every word, and Mitch could tell he was being treated as the officer’s personal hero and role model.
'What are my orders?'
'You are to carry on as you have been, only with the support of one of my companies. They'll provide valuable
