it. It wasn't long before the Deveron arrived. The ramp lowered, and Taylor rushed forward to greet Ryan with excitement but was met by a grim sight.
Captain Ryan stepped out at the head of a line of stretcher-bearers. Five dead were carried out, and three walking wounded followed.
'Attention on deck!'
The call came from Jafar and was immediately responded to. It was the first time he had ever done as such, and Taylor was impressed with his perception on the situation. He was showing the respect to their fallen like one of his own. There were still some who didn't trust the alien, but he counted Jafar among his closest friends.
The wounded passed, and Taylor could see three of the dead were marines. Ryan approached and stopped before him with a salute. Taylor tried to find the words to say, but nothing seemed appropriate.
'You weren't wrong, Colonel. You always said the bastards would be back, and they are, and stronger than ever.'
'Any idea on the numbers we face?'
'Honestly, they just kept coming. It didn't matter how many we killed, how many ships we destroyed. They kept pouring through the Gateway and bearing down on us till there was nothing we could do but run. We barely made it out alive. Some weren't so lucky.'
Mitch hated having to ask it, but he needed the Deveron and her crew back in action.
'Are you aware of your orders?'
'To take you back out there to gather intel.'
It was a relief to not have to be the one to tell him.
'You got it. I am sorry there is no time to see to your casualties, but time is not on our side.'
'Got it, Sir, mount up when you're ready.'
Ryan's crew passed the casualties over to an MDF medical team, who had been awaiting their arrival, and quickly scrambled back aboard.
'Load up!' yelled Taylor.
A Marine Lieutenant waited at the ramp to the ship. Taylor could see the wound on his arm and the quick patch up that had been done. His armour was still scorched from the battle, but he didn't show any sign of it affecting his ability.
'Lieutenant Samson, Sir. I have been assigned as Marine detail to the Deveron.'
'Colonel Taylor, 2nd Inter-Allied.'
'I am well aware who you are, Sir. I can't think of a marine alive who wouldn't know your face.'
Taylor smiled back. Samson seemed completely calm and unfazed by the battle he had so recently faced. It was clear he was a marine with plenty of combat experience.
'Welcome aboard, Colonel.'
Taylor looked up at the hull of the Deveron one last time and stepped inside. It felt good to be back aboard, but the battle scars were more present than ever. Blue blood trailed down one of the corridors where the body of a Mech had been dragged away. Metal support beams were twisted and burnt. Crews were busy cutting and welding on multiple levels to repair the damage. Samson stepped through to escort the Colonel to the bridge.
'Looks like you had a hell of a fight to get out of there.'
'Just what we have come to expect of the Mechs, Sir. The surprise was seeing them again. All in all, we did well to get out of there with so few lost, but a minute longer, and I don't think any of us would have made it.'
Taylor shook his head.
'I've been telling our Commanders for the last year that this would happen. How can anyone have been so stupid to assume they would just leave us alone?'
'Well, looks like your wish has come true.'
'Mmm, can't say I wanted them to come, but we do have some unfinished business.'
'This is the Captain speaking. We lift off in sixty seconds.'
The two officers reached the bridge that felt like home to Taylor. Those who knew him and the fresher faces greeted him, but there was little enthusiasm in their faces. Taylor sat down at one of the workstations. He wouldn't lie about in anyone else's vessel, but the Deveron was an exception. A few seconds later, Ryan strode onto the deck. He was young for the Captain of such a vessel; and as aresult of the war that he would not have desired.
'Liftoff in five, four, three…'
The engines roared, and the Deveron quickly lifted from the docking bay. Within seconds, Wayans was putting full power down, and they soared out into space. After clearing the docking bays, they could see the extent of the evacuation. War ships, cargo liners, and civilian ships were all working together to take every human being from the Moon to safety. Taylor looked out at the defence grip around Earth. It was an impressive installation, but he still wasn't convinced it would be all that so many hoped for.
'When we fled, their fleet didn't seem to be following us with any haste. I guess we have a good few days yet before they reach us, maybe a week or more.'
'Why would they do that?' asked Taylor.
'Only reason I know of is if they have brought the Gezgen K'til.'
'The what?'
'The Planet Killer.'
Taylor suddenly leapt to his feet and turned to the face the alien.
'How is it this is the first we are hearing of it?'
'I have not seen it in seventy of your years. I never thought I would again. The last time I was just young. It was returning from a great victory.'
'Seventy years ago? How old are you?' Ryan asked.
'Eighty-three years. The Krycenaean can easily live to twice what a human does.'
'Not with a bullet in their head, they don't,' replied Samson.
Taylor nodded in agreement. But just as he smiled at the comment, he was reminded of the original topic.
'This Planet Killer. It may sound like a stupid question, but what is it?'
The bridge was silent as everyone's attention turned to Jafar. Not even the pilot Wayans could turn away.
'All I know is that when used it kills all life on a planet and renders that planet uninhabitable to even us for a long time.'
'How long?'
'A hundred years, two hundred maybe.'
Gasps echoed around the room. Taylor turned to Samson.
'Log everything we have just heard, and ensure it is sent directly to General White within the hour.'
'Aye, aye, Sir.'
The Lieutenant sat down at the nearest workstation and immediately got to work. He knew more was likely to be spoken in the next few minutes, and he could not afford to miss anything from his transmission. Taylor sat back down, trying to comprehend what that meant for all of them. Everyone waited for him to speak as they reflected on the same words.
'You told me they thought of Earth as a paradise, so why would they destroy it?'
'Either they don't think they can win, or someone is seriously pissed off,' replied Ryan.
Taylor nodded in agreement.
'The Gezgen K'til won't destroy Earth. It will just delay its occupation. I never thought I would see it brought here though. Demiran's family built the monster two hundred years ago.'
'Demiran? Your former boss and the one we captured?'
Jafar nodded.
'Well, that's just fucking great. He must be pissed.'
'Can this Gezgen, whatever it is, be stopped?'
' The Gezgen K'til is a massive ship. The same class as what you called Tartaros in the first war. I know it must get close to the planet to operate, as the last time it was used, a great battle had to be fought above the planet before it could be deployed.'
