“We’ve got to get out of here, no telling when they’ll send more troops.”
“Can you move?”
“No, how about you?”
Silva turned and tumbled in the over turned vehicle, crumpling hard onto the ground. He sighed in pain, feeling the many bruises and worse.
“We made it this far, Sir, so we aren’t stopping now.”
He dropped out of the vehicle and quickly surveyed the scene. The road was scattered with debris from the ruined Mechs. He could see the bodies of their fallen comrades, and it was evident that they were long gone. He looked up to the skies, and the heavy and relentless rain hammering down on him. It was a relief to feel the clean running water wash down his gritty and dust ingrained equipment. He looked back to the Major, and he could see that the roll bar of the vehicle was crushing his leg.
“You ready to push?”
“Anything that’ll get us out of here.”
The Sergeant took up a good lifting position.
“Ready? Three, two, one, lift!”
The Sergeant was a tough marine, more than most. He shrugged off his head injuries as if they were nothing more than an inconvenience. With all their might, they lifted the corner of the vehicle just a centimetre. It was enough to get clear. Taylor hauled his legs out. The heavy vehicle dropped with a muted landing onto the running water.
For a moment the Major lay flat out on the road, glad to be free of the wreck and enjoying the freshness of the storm. Despite the torrent of water, the street still smelt of burning metal and electrical systems. He sat up and tried to move his legs. Shock filled his face as he stared at the Sergeant. They both realised what he had discovered.
“My leg, I can barely move it.”
“At least it’s still attached. Get you back to base, and they’ll have you patched up in no time.”
The Sergeant reached into the smashed wreck of the jeep to salvage any weapons and ammunition he could.
“One launcher, one rifle, that’s it. Ammunition could be better, too.”
He looked back down to the stricken Major.
“We need to get a splint on that leg.”
“Agreed, but we should get off this street first. The enemy will surely be here to investigate before long.”
Silva slung the launcher onto his back and hauled the Major to his feet. He handed the rifle to Taylor and threw Mitch’s arm over his shoulder. The two looked down the street to the south, and the direction of friendly forces.
“There, the hardware store will do us just fine,” said Taylor.
Silva put on a brave face, but they were both aware of the danger they were in. They scrambled for over a block to the shop but were severely hindered by the injury. The Sergeant laid the Major to rest and pulled out a door breaker. It was a small pressured device that wedged between the door and its frame, expanding until the lock broke. He readied himself to tackle the alarm system, but nothing signalled the break in.
“Guess they didn’t set the alarm,” said Silva.
“Aliens invading your city, would you bother? Poor bastards were running for their lives.”
Mitch looked up and down the long street once more. It was still eerily silent and with no sign of forces from either side. He hobbled in through the door with the assistance of Silva and reached a small desk where he dropped down and sat.
“We’ll need some strong bars and tape.”
“On it.”
“Welcome all of you,” said Kelly. “As the military leader of the Lunar colony, I am calling you here as advisors and councillors. Over the last week we have made regular attacks against the invading forces, but we are yet to make any headway.”
“Commander, we are still alive and safe. I would say that’s a good start,” said Secretary Allard.
Kelly nodded. Survival was not enough for him, and he knew that it would ultimately end in defeat.
“Earth forces have been getting equipment to us, but the truth is we simply don’t have enough fighters. Right now we have little use for the tasks most of the colony worked. I propose that we introduce compulsory enlistment into the MDF of all able bodied men and women between sixteen and fifty.”
Several of the councillors gasped at the suggestion.
“Commander Kelly, you would have us become a colony devoted to war?” asked Vella, the Senator for Industry.”
Kelly shot a wicked glance at the woman.
“That choice has been taken from us, Senator. We are fighting for the very survival of the human race, so what are you doing to help?” he snapped back.
Vella was taken aback by the sharp recourse. She was clearly not used to having her authority and duty questioned.
“What would you give up, Senator? What would you give up to save the lives of our people? I didn’t take this job to fight wars and send men and women to their deaths. What will you do to ensure the colony’s survival?”
She remained silent, both shocked and embarrassed at the Commander’s statement.
“Commander, let’s keep this calm and civil,” said Allard.
“Calm and civil? Right, because that will help our position. We only need one thing right now, fighters. Men and women who can wield weapons, and have the stomach to do so. There are very few tasks left that our people are needed for. Don’t you think they’d want the chance to make a difference?”
“You want civilians to take up arms without training or experience?” asked Allard.
“It’s not about what I want, but what we need. Sacrifices must be made. We have experienced trainers who will get civilians up to par with weapons and equipment. All I need from you is the go ahead. I run and manage the defence, but this decision is yours.”
Kelly shot up from his chair and slowly paced around the make shift conference table. Many of soldiers had been intently listening to the conversation. They didn’t have enough space to hold the discussion in private. The Senators and officials could see the dirty and bloody soldiers lying about around them. Their placement was clearly intended to shame them into action, and it was working.
“And if doing this only results in more deaths?” asked Vella.
“We are at war, Senator. These monsters do not want our submission. They want our lives. We either lie down and die, or give them hell. I believe we have a responsibility to every man, woman and child who have made this place their home, to defend it to our last breath.”
“Is this what it has come to?” asked Allard. “The utter extermination of our people? Have you accepted that none of us will make it through?”
“Far from it. We are fighting to win. Earth continues to support us, despite the colossal losses they have witnessed. If they can hold on, what excuse do we have for giving up?”
He walked around the group, letting them think it over while he towered over them. He reached his place at the table and leaned on the back of the chair.
“The request has been made, and the points have been discussed. You must now decide.”
Allard sighed, it was a call which none of them could ever imagine they would have to make. In doing so, they knew they would be sending many of their own sons and daughters to fight against the fearsome invaders.
“Those in favour?” he shouted.
He raised his hand first, eager to support the Commander’s plan. Slowly and hesitantly many others followed suit.
“In lieu of the absence of our Prime Minister, and reverting to majority rule, this motion is passed.”
Kelly nodded his head in gratitude, but he refrained from a smile. Sending more people to fight and die was never something he would choose lightly. He could see the soldiers around the room were already whispering
