“Christ, they’re getting murdered out there,” Chandra said.
“Tiered fighting, there’ll be a lot more before it’s over. This is a war of attrition now.”
“Aren’t all wars?” she replied.
Chandra strode away, leaving Taylor watching the trucks of wounded pass by. It was a demoralising sight for the rest of the troops to have to witness. They could make out the blank and lifeless expressions of many of the casualties. Others screamed in agony as medics worked on them deeper inside the vehicles.
The troops of the 2 ^ nd Inter-Allied watched for two days as the wounded were ferried back from the front, and the artillery and bombardments drew nearer. They could tell the enemy was now just two kilometres away, and so they waited anxiously each day to see if they would have to fight. They could only hope the losses on the enemy side were as significant.
“Giving ground every hour doesn’t seem like the best move,” mused Campbell.
“It’s a solid tactic. It may seem like we are giving up ground and losing a lot for it, but you lose troops however you fight. Think about it, you set up one big wall, and if there is one breach in that wall, you are finished. Spread your forces in deeper layers, and each breach by the enemy is less significant. They get further and further away from their resources and can never bring everything to bear against one target.”
“And the troops at those front tiers? Are they expendable?”
“In a way, yes, but soldiers fight, and soldiers die. Sacrifices have to be made.”
“Not always wisely, though. It wasn’t so long ago you said Schulz had no care for the soldiers in his command, has that changed?”
“Probably not, he is a bastard, but that doesn’t make him wrong.”
Taylor could hear a few vehicles heading towards them from the east. They had gotten used to seeing trucks transporting troops forward and casualties back, but he stood up beside the trench to look out. He didn’t recognise the trucks. They weren’t military issue.
“What the hell is this?” he asked.
Three trucks rolled towards their position. They were similar in size and layout to a regular army truck but of distinctly civilian usage. Chandra walked up to him and watched out of curiosity as they drew up to a halt. They half expected to be asked directions for somewhere, but could not understand why. It was a peculiar thing to see such shiny civilian vehicles in their warzone. The driver of the first leaned out and shouted.
“Major Taylor here?”
“You’re speaking to him.”
The passenger door on the other side of the truck opened, and they heard someone jump out. Seconds later, the passenger strode into view, and they were relieved to see it was Doctor Reiter.
“Major, I am glad to see you are no longer behind bars.”
“Yeah, thanks for reminding me of it,” jested Taylor.
“I hear the brass have been keeping you busy?” asked Chandra.
“Most certainly, Major, but I am sorry to see that you are no longer reaping the benefits of my work. I was sad to hear of the removal of the equipment from your Company and protested most vehemently on the subject.”
“We’ve been fighting an uphill battle since. Your equipment gave us a fighting chance, but we’ve lost some good people these last weeks.”
“Then you’ll be glad to know that I am here to rectify that. I am returning all of the Reitech equipment which was issued you.”
“Shit, are you serious?” asked Taylor. “Has General Schulz authorised this?”
Reiter shook his head and smiled.
“The General may decide what equipment he issues from the factory, but what equipment I build for myself and my testing, is to do with as I please. Your people remain the best test bed for my creations.”
“We’re getting it all back? Everything we had from you?” asked Chandra in amazement.
Reiter nodded. Taylor turned back to the trenches.
“Form up, and collect your gear!” he yelled.
A cheer rang out down the line as the troops hopped out of their trenches with an enthusiasm none of them had seen in a long time, not since before Taylor’s arrest. Reiter gave a hand signal that was answered with a number of his assistants opening up the sides of the vehicles and hauling box loads of equipment to the edge of their trucks. The Company, who were desperate to get their hands on the gear, mobbed them.
“I can’t thank you enough. Your timing couldn’t be better.”
“Yes, I can see,” mused Reiter as he saw explosions erupt in the distance. “Now, last time we spoke you aired a concern about close quarter combat, and your lack of effective equipment at such ranges.”
“Yeah, when those Mechs get close, they tear our guys apart,” replied Chandra.
“Well, the return of your suits will go a long way to improving your strength and torso protection. However, I have a number of devices I believe will suit your needs. Follow me.”
The quirky scientist led the two officers to the last truck, signalling for two of his assistants to lower boxes from the side with the robotic lifter. He flicked the catches and threw open the lid.
“The shield technology, you got it working?” asked Chandra.
“The targeting issue, yes,” he replied
He lifted out a pair of protective glasses that appeared little more than shooting glasses, but with tiny power cells added.
“With this targeting device, you can aim and track your weapon independently, and in doing so, allow you to use it singlehandedly, providing you have the power of the exosuit to support the weight, of course. This will enable the use of the shield, as I predicted, to stand up to a number of pulse impacts.”
“Outstanding,” replied Taylor.
“Lastly, this little gem.”
Reiter pulled out an implement that was almost a metre long and resembled a Roman Gladius, more than anything else.
“You wanted the ability to fight in close combat when such occasions arise. This is essentially a cutting torch with its own power pack. It’ll charge off your suit when sheathed in the sheath designed for it.”
Reiter handed it to Taylor, who looked at the odd looking device with a puzzled expression.
“This will really work?” he asked doubtfully.
Reiter looked up to his assistants and gestured for them to lower the next piece; a chest plate from a Mech’s armour.
“I am calling this device the assegai, after the fearsome Zulu short fighting spear. When the device is drawn from the sheath, and grasped by the hand, it is active. If it is sheathed, or released from your grip, it immediately powers down.”
Reiter nodded for Taylor to pull the weapon from its sheath. It weighed almost ten kilos and was a clumsy object without the power of the exoskeleton suits. He drew the assegai from its sheath, and the tubular blade was glowing and emanating enough heat for his chin to feel rather warm. Reiter pointed for him to test the weapon on the plate of armour that had been lowered down beside the truck. He turned to Chandra and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“Go on, try it,” pressed Reiter.
Taylor took a few steps up to the armour and pushed the assegai forward with force. To his surprise, he met almost no resistance and was taken off balance as the blade drove through the armour and up to its hilt.
“Christ,” cried Taylor.
“I don’t doubt that the assegai will be most effective at such ranges, but better it be you than me that has to do as such,” claimed Reiter.
“You’ve done a damn fine job here. Does General Schulz know of this new gear?”
“I have told him that it is being tested…”
“Not by whom, I assume?”
Reiter smiled in response to the question she already knew the answer.
“Lastly.”
“Not more? How do you find the time for all of this?” she asked.
