“Your blatant disregard for authority and reckless behaviour has already cost you your command and the lives of more than a few of the soldiers you had a responsibility to.”
Taylor strode up to the bars quickly with a furious expression on his face. He had tried to remain calm during his imprisonment, but the French General made him sick.
“What the hell would you know about responsibility? You saw your country fall and sent armies to the slaughter!”
Dupont smiled with a wicked grin. It amused him that Taylor was behind bars. He could see the hatred that burned inside Taylor. Both men knew that Mitch wanted to tear the General apart. He turned and paced away from the door. He knew there was no way to air his frustration. He finally stopped and turned near his bed.
“At least tell me the status of my Company, and of Captain Jones.”
“They are not your Company, Major. They are our Company, under the Joint European Command. The fact you could not get that into your head is the very reason you stand in that cell today.”
“Please, General, just tell me how my people are.”
“As a result of your actions, they have been removed from the Reiter programme, and they’re out there doing their job.”
“You mean they’re getting fucked because of this.”
“They are paid to do their job, which is to follow orders.”
“What have you come here for, beyond torturing me with useless bullshit information?”
Taylor couldn’t take it any longer. He’d longed to have someone to talk to, but Dupont was the last person he had in mind. He wondered if he’d ever get out of his cell, of if he’d be left to the mercy of the enemy like Jones was.
“General Schulz requested that you be officially informed of your status.”
“What status? You’re leaving me here to rot when there is a war to fight!”
Dupont smiled, turned and walked away from the Major. It infuriated Taylor that he still knew nothing more about his comrades. Dupont isn’t a real soldier. He’d understand if he was, thought Taylor. He suddenly became overwhelmed by the thought of being left to the enemy. The gaunt body of Jones, and the empty look in his eyes, were burnt into Taylor’s mind. He leapt to his feet and thrashed himself against the bars.
“Don’t leave me down here, General! You need me!” he yelled.
He could just see the back of the General and the guards as they continued to walk away, as if they had not even heard him. He smashed his hands against the cell bars in a desperate attempt get their attention, but it made little difference.
“Fuck!” he screamed.
Taylor knew that Dupont and Schulz were bastards, but he never imagined they would be so evil. Schulz is going to ruin the Company. God help them if any harm comes to Chandra and the others. He paced back to his bed and slumped down onto the hard and uncomfortable mattress. He felt utterly lost. Being locked up was bad enough, but knowing his friends were being led by such murderous bastards was too much to bear. This can’t go on forever, I have to get out!
“Have you seen these co-ordinates, Captain?” asked Silva.
Friday looked up with a grim expression. He knew exactly the meaning of the Sergeant’s query.
“We have our orders, Sergeant.”
Silva took several quick steps to come up beside the Captain and out of earshot of the platoon who were checking and readying their equipment.
“A scouting party three clicks east for an engineering company to get to work, and two clicks back. We might as well walk towards their guns.”
“Dupont wants us to start gaining ground and moving our positions forward. They will work under the cover of the main lines while we are there to give a heads up in case of any trouble.”
“Sir, a few dozen of us with this old kit in no man’s land. Tell me that isn’t suicidal. Tell me this isn’t a death sentence to punish us.”
Friday knew that the Sergeant was right, but he also knew there was little to be done about it.
“What am I to do? We follow the chain of command.”
“Major Taylor didn’t,” snapped Silva.
“And look where it got him.”
Friday sighed. He hated his current position.
“Look, I am not saying what the Major did was wrong. I would have done the same in a heartbeat, but if we want to get him back, we need to pave the road for his return. Schulz is not beyond punishing all of us for a single deed.”
Silva spat on the ground beside him. He was utterly disgusted by their leaders.
“Why the fuck are we fighting for such assholes?”
Friday continued to check his weapon over and answer the question as the Sergeant became angrier. His heavy breathing over the Captain finally forced Friday to look up and answer.
“We aren’t fighting for them, Sergeant. We are fighting for ourselves, and for each other and every poor bastard on this world who can’t fight for themselves. The masses wouldn’t stand a chance. So we have to deal with obnoxious Generals. How is that any different to any other period in our history? There are some damn fine officers in this army and some damn bad ones.”
“Army, thought we were marines, Sir?”
“We are whatever we need to be. We live in the most uncertain times that anyone has ever known. We can keep fighting against each other, or we can move forward to take the fight to the invaders. The time will come when the brass will remember how much they need Taylor.”
Silva nodded as he took in what the Captain was saying. He had let his anger over the Major’s detainment cloud his judgement and deter him from the tasks at hand. Friday could see in Silva’s face that the Sergeant was beginning to come to his senses.
“You have been the best NCO I have had the pleasure of serving with, Sergeant. Your cool headedness and efficiency has kept us alive through the worst of it. Stay the course. Do exactly as you have been doing, and we’ll be fine, as will the Major.”
“Yes, Sir,” he replied.
Friday could see some relief in the Sergeant’s face. His shoulders relaxed slightly, and he had calmed substantially. Friday was just as frustrated at the Major’s imprisonment as any of them. They had been best of friends from just a few months after enlistment. A German soldier rushed up and stopped to speak with the Captain.
“Sir, the engineers are ready to move forward, ready when you are.”
Friday turned to Silva.
“Be sure the platoon is ready to leave, Sergeant. We go in five.”
“Ma’am, is it correct that Captain Friday has been sent out over the top?” asked Yorath.
She nodded with a sullen and begrudging expression.
“Did his platoon get the Reitech gear issued?”
Chandra shook her head.
“What? They were sent out there with fuck all? No armour, no decent gear. Who the hell gave that order?”
She continued to look out into the ruined wastelands that stood between their lines and the enemy.
“This is yet more punishment isn’t it? Schulz can’t get over Major Taylor’s rescue mission?”
“I thought that much was clear weeks ago, Lieutenant,” she replied.
“Fuck sake. When is he going to start thinking like a soldier and not like a selfish bastard?”
She smiled. It amused her that the young officer was surprised at the General’s response.
“How could it ever have been any different, just because Taylor did the right thing? There are consequences to every action. Taylor knew that, as did we all. I will happily pay any price Schulz can levy at us, in knowing that we left no one behind.”
“If only I could get my hands on that bastard! Taylor should be running this army. We’d be half way across
