“Sir?”
“The EUA are rallying around Paris and making a stand there. They’re calling in all the help they can get. We are working on a new strategy for a ground attack. However, seeing as you’re already there, I want you to rally with British para battalion under Major Chandra.”
“Chandra? What happened to the senior officers there?”
“Dead, as are most of the battalion as I understand it. You are to join them under her command.”
“Sir, I have a marine in critical condition here in need of urgent attention.”
“I am aware of the situation, Major. I have already dispatched transports from our UK bases to get her to the facilities she needs and to get you to Paris. They’ll arrive within the hour.”
“Sir, I fully apologise for breaching orders.”
“Understood, Major. We all do what we have to do. The attack on Tartaros was brutal, but we gave as good as we got, it has to have hit them where it hurts. You have your orders, good luck and give them hell.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Taylor pulled off the headset with a wide grin on his face. He was glad to be wrong about the General. White had given him hope and a chance to be exactly where he needed to be. The Captain tried to speak to him but the words fell on deaf ears as he dashed off the bridge. He leapt down the ladders to the deck where his marines were waiting. There morale was as much affected by his mood as anything else. He could already see the fire in their eyes grow as he approached them with his shoulders held high once more.
“D Company! Gather round!”
The troops eagerly assembled to hear the news. Combat deployment was a given, it was no longer to be feared. More than anything, they wanted payback against the brutal enemy that had mauled them so heavily just hours before.
“Today we struck at the enemy on their own turf for the first time! We never expected to hold ground. Yes, we hit heavier resistance than expected, but we did it. The brass is already planning their next attack. Right now our biggest concern is that our allies in Europe are taking a beating!”
“Was it worth it, Sir?” asked Price.
Taylor looked up at the faces of his marines, still shocked at the losses of their friends.
“As marines we chose to put ourselves in harm’s way. In Europe the alien bastards are gunning down civilians and the EUA forces are doing everything they can do to fight back. We fight and die so civilians don’t have to. There are people’s families being murdered every minute.”
“What are we going to do about it, Sir?” asked Silva.
“Paris is has become the stronghold of France. General White has ordered us to head there and lend a hand. We are to rendezvous with the 2 ^ nd Parachute Battalion and do what we can.”
“What is their status?” asked Friday.
“From what I hear they have had it a lot worse than us. We are to combine with them under the command of Major Chandra, who I suspect will be a Colonel by the time we arrive.”
Sighs rang out across the marines at the idea of anyone having a worse time of it than their experiences.
“That’ll be all, gentleman. Wheels up in under an hour, be ready!”
It was late at night when Taylor’s company set foot in the public park where they had been deployed. Pop-up tents had already been erected ready for them to rest out the night. In the distance they could hear the rumble of tanks and the construction of defences as fresh troops continued to toil away.
There was no sign of the British parachute battalion, though he imagined that after the mauling they’d received they were catching up on some much needed rest. The camp guards showed them to their tents and they gratefully lay to rest for the night.
Taylor woke naturally as the sun beat down on his tent. The light and heat were enough to awake him from even the deepest sleep. Having no further equipment and clothing he went out of his tent with stubble on his face and the previous day’s blood and grime. He was surprised to see that the British troops were already formed up for inspection as his marines were scrambling out of bed. Their discipline never ceased to amaze him.
“Stand easy!”
Taylor recognised the voice of Charlie Jones as he strode along the line of his troops. The Major ambled over to the Captain, still feeling the weariness of the previous day. The Captain turned to face the Major with a grin.
“I see the yanks have finally decided to join us!”
Taylor smiled as he shook hands with the Captain. Jones’ face was rough with cuts and bruising. They looked at their distressed and dirty uniforms, realising that they must look as bad as each other.
“Glad to see you made it, Captain, I hear you had a rough time of it.”
“And yet here we are, still on our feet!”
He looked back to his men and shouted for them to fall out. He beckoned for the Major to follow him a few steps out of the hearing of his troops.
“Mitch. I put on a brave face for them, but it’s been frightful. I was made acting company commander in Brest, my company can now only amass one platoon, which is what I have had to amalgamate them into.”
“Christ, how about the rest of the battalion?”
“It’s now at company strength. How many marines did you bring with you?”
“I have one hundred and one, all that is still fit for duty in my company.”
“Glad to have you with us, but we could do with a hell of a lot more.”
“Agreed.”
Major Chandra approached with a smile. They had always had a good working relationship with Taylor’s unit.
“Major, glad to have you here. However, there is no time for pleasantries. The enemy’s an hour or two from our perimeter. I am merging your company with ours. Henceforth we shall be known as the 2 ^ nd Inter-Allied Battalion. Full gear and ready to march in ten.”
Taylor nodded and gave a quick salute before running back to his marines who were still rising from their beds.
“Everyone up! Fall in! Full gear!”
He rushed back into his tent and pulled on his body armour that was still covered in dust and debris. Starting the day in filthy clothing and without a wash was never something the Major would wish on anybody, but needs must. He stepped out from his tent to find the platoon assembling.
“Where’s Baker?” he asked.
Suarez looked at him with a gaunt expression, conveying everything in his eyes.
“He was killed shortly after we thought we had lost you, Sir,” answered Friday.
In his frenzy to save Parker, Mitch had failed to investigate the survivors to see who was left. As he looked down the lines of his company he began to notice the many gaps. Dozens of men that he’d known, each by name, most for several years.
“Very well.”
He looked out to the troops who went silent and waited. He didn’t call them to attention not seeing the necessity for formality. He looked to Captain Friday.
“Are we ready for action, Captain?”
“Sir, we could use some ammo, otherwise we’re good to go.”
“It’s already in hand!” shouted Chandra.
Mitch turned to see the woman striding towards them.
“Major.”
“It’s Colonel today, I have been given a field promotion in order to take official command of our battalion, even if it is at less than half strength. Your report on urgent weapon requirements made quite an impact Major. The EUA has already been distributed its stocks. We can’t spare any weapons for you, but we can give you ammo for what you have.”
“Much appreciated, Colonel.”
“When you are assembled, you will find the ammunition stores near our camp.”
