He staggered over to Silva. The Sergeant lay partially propped up against a chest of drawers, but he showed no signs of life. Taylor checked his pulse and sighed in relief at feeling the life still pulsing through the Sergeant. Taylor knelt down and picked up his weapon, hauling himself into a seated position on the table beside Silva.
Taylor knew he could do nothing but wait. He had no means of transport and couldn’t carry the Sergeant, nor leave him there. He rested back against the wall and propped up his splinted leg on the table top. Mitch laid the launcher to rest across his thighs and rested his head back. He wished for sleep, but the pain would not let him.
Chandra looked through the glass into the room where Sergeant Eleanor Parker was resting and recovering. She had not met the Sergeant before, but she was well aware of her importance to Taylor. The Major had been willing to disobey the orders of his commanders in order to save the Sergeant. She knew that relationships amongst troops were not allowed, but she also appreciated that it had led Taylor and his troops to their assistance.
She wondered if she would still be alive if it were not for Major Taylor. It humbled her to know that he had led to the saving of so many lives. This made her compelled to do what she could for Parker. Still using a crutch, she could do little to help Taylor himself, so this was the least she could do.
Parker’s head turned. Her hair was loose and spread across the pillow. Her blue-grey eyes were piercing. She appeared to recognise the Major, but they had never met before. She didn’t move another bone in her body, but her eyes invited Chandra in. The Major stepped through the doors into her room.
Eleanor lay in her regulation marine shirt and boxers. Across the room lay a clean and pressed battledress uniform and it was obviously newly issued. Beside it on the counter lay a battered set of armour and a well worn but impeccably clean rifle.
“The Major was able to find me a new uniform, but the rest had to be sourced from the field, Ma’am,” said Eli.
Chandra nodded, but she knew that meant they had come from dead or severely wounded marines.
“We have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, Sergeant.”
Eli studied her rank pips and name patch. It was clear that she knew of the Major. Chandra looked uneasy at addressing the Sergeant, and she could see it.
“Ma’am, you wouldn’t be here if Taylor was alright. You have your own people to take care of. What has happened to the Major?”
Chandra stubbornly nodded and sighed.
“I don’t have a lot of news right now. Taylor headed out with three of his marines on a scouting mission earlier today, but he has been out of contact and has yet to return.”
“Where is Captain Friday?”
“Still at the front line, I’m afraid.”
“Then the Major has been left out there?”
“Not quite. We have been ordered back home, but we have a little time to kill. Captain Jones is out there now.”
Parker smiled a little. She had gotten to know the Captain from their joint training missions and had always liked him.
“How many troops has the Captain taken with him?” asked Parker.
“Just a handful, it is already a breach of his orders.”
Parker’s eyes widened. “If Taylor has got into trouble, then do you really think a handful of troops will make a difference?”
Chandra gave the Sergeant a scornful look. She had never been spoken to in such a way by an NCO. She quickly calmed down as she gave further thought to the Sergeant’s words and her situation, but she was left speechless. Parker sat up wincing in pain and swivelled her legs over the side of the bed.
“Where do you think you’re going, Sergeant?”
“To find my Major, Ma’am.”
She dropped off the side of the bed and painfully stood up. She had clearly only just begun to walk again. Chandra could tell that she was a fighter, more so than most.
“I cannot let you do so, Sergeant.”
Parker stopped and righted herself, squaring up to the Major. She had no care for the authority of her rank.
“You are being sent home, Major. Then I am assuming the Inter-Allied Company has been disbanded? You have no authority here anymore.”
She moved to step past the Major and towards her weapon, but Chandra outstretched her hand and stopped her.
“Sergeant Parker, I have no desire to boss you around. Major Taylor cares greatly for you, but he would not want you to throw your life after his.”
She turned and stared into Chandra’s eyes.
“Then help me, Major. Help me get him back safe.”
Taylor hadn’t moved for at least thirty minutes. His head lay back against the wall, and his body was limp. If it were not for the artillery bombardments that rumbled the ground every few minutes, and the pain, he would gladly have fallen into a deep sleep. He was astonished to still be alive, but he wondered how the two of them could ever get out alive. The invaders were building up to a major offensive, and so their position would soon be overrun.
The sound of a vehicle caught his attention. He focused on it, trying to identify its origin. It was a light vehicle and wheeled. It didn’t fit with any of what he’d seen of the invaders, but after his experience of the flying troops that morning, he was not eager to jump to conclusions.
Despite the rumble of artillery in the background, the neighbourhood was quiet, and he could hear the vehicle coming from many blocks away. The silence of the room was broken by a few muffled words from Silva.
“Sergeant, keep it down.”
He was glad that Silva was regaining consciousness, but they could not afford to be identified by any enemy forces.
“Sir, what happened? Where are we?”
“Quiet, Sergeant.”
Taylor carefully lifted his launcher in readiness. He knew that he had no more ammunition other than what was already loaded in the weapon. They couldn’t survive another fight. Silva was coming to his senses and dragged his rifle up from the ground. Taylor wasn’t sure if Silva was fully aware of their situation, but he understood enough that they could be heading for another fight.
The vehicle ran quietly and not like anything they had heard from the Mechs. Taylor could feel every trickle of sweat drip down his face as they anxiously waited. It was almost in view when it came to a halt. The occupants had been alerted by the debris across the street and had stopped to investigate. The Major would never have chosen to stay at the scene of the fight, but he’d not had any other choice.
They listened as metal hatches opened, identifying it as an armoured vehicle. Taylor lifted his launcher to his shoulder. Footsteps grew nearer. They sounded like human steps, but the Major wondered if he was just being optimistic.
“Major Taylor!”
Mitch’s heart raced with relief and excitement at hearing the familiar voice of Captain Jones although he didn’t lower his weapon.
“Major Taylor!” Monty called.
Silva turned back to Taylor with a broad grin. He could not believe their luck.
“In here!” he shouted.
Seconds later the group of soldiers appeared at the smashed windows. Jones looked shocked at the wreckage, and he could barely tell the two soldiers apart from the debris and fallen Mechs.
“Major!”
Jones rushed in through the opening where the shop front windows used to stand. He crashed over glass and a pool of Mech blood that squelched as he passed through. He looked down at Silva, glad to see another
