Battle Earth VIII (Book 8) (7 page)

None of them had an answer.

"I want everyone in full gear. Be sure to carry a full complement of ammunition and grenades, including flashbangs, and carry a replacement load in the copter. Eddie, there are just six of us, so you're gonna have to be geared up and ready to use a rifle at a moment's notice. Not like you haven't managed before."

"Ahh yeah, I fly, I fight, I do everything, jack-of-all-trades, you know?" he replied with a grin.

"Make sure to load up smoke charges on the copter and have the door guns fitted and ready to be used if we need them."

"You expecting us to fight a whole war by ourselves?" asked Eddie.

"If need be. The rules of this encounter are no more than six personnel and one copter. That's it. Within that framework, I want every contingency we can manage."

"What about the nose guns? I can control the fixed positions while I fly, but not the chin at the same time."

"I can do that," Jones said.

"Well, right then," replied Eddie.

"Good, now remember, no matter what happens, nobody fire anything unless fired upon. We cannot risk this going to shit," said Taylor.

"We know who we're expecting to meet?" asked Silva.

"Negative, and neither have they been told who will be sent from our side."

"So what are we expecting here, for you to lay out the truth for them and what then?"

"In theory?" asked Taylor. "I lay out the facts, hand over Armand's head for them to further investigate, and they go away and make up their own minds."

"His head?" asked Silva.

"It's a long story."

"Well, okay then."

"That's about all there is to know. Lastly, if it all goes to shit, and we become scattered, it is each man for himself. We're on the border and close to friendly units. Make your way west, and be sure you have your ID cards with you to get back over our lines."

They were all content there was nothing else to ask or say, but no one was happy about the scenario. They were fighters, not negotiators or delivery boys.

"Okay, you know what you have to do. Gear up and get ready to move."

It was five minutes to the hour when Eddie was making his final flight checks around the craft, and the others drank a last coffee before embarking. The General's personal vehicle rode into view and came to a halt beside them. Dupont leapt out with a few of his staff. One carried a square sealed medical box that they knew would be the head they were to deliver. It felt both bizarre and barbaric to be delivering a head to the enemy, but Taylor accepted it was the job they had been given.

The box was handed to him. He took it and passed it on to Acosta to carry. The Private took the box with some suspicion and held it uncomfortably. Clearly, the idea of transporting a severed head made him as uncomfortable as the rest of them.

"You've got an escort up to our frontline, Taylor. You are to run landing lights and beacons from lift off until you land in Basel at the coordinates given."

"We'll be a target for every son of a bitch out there," replied Eddie.

"Those are the instructions, and I have been promised by General Schulz himself that if you comply with those guidelines, you will not be harmed."

"Well that's just fucking great," muttered Eddie.

The General didn't pick him up on it, as he knew he was asking a lot of them all.

"Sure we shouldn't have a scientist with us?" asked Taylor. "I mean I can say everything I know, but I am no expert."

"At this stage we cannot risk any of the researchers on the project. This may be intended as a peaceful gathering, but I want everyone there to be capable of handling themselves in the event of it turning ugly. Inside the box there are data cards outlining all of our findings so far, including all interviews made with Armand before his death. Along with your testimony, it is all the proof we have to make this work."

"Well, I guess there's nothing else to say on the matter."

"Other than good luck," replied Dupont, stretching out his hand to Taylor.

Time and context had changed the General in ways Taylor could never have thought possible. Never did he believe he would have accepted his hand in friendship, but he did. Not another word was spoken as they boarded the copter, and Eddie fired up the engines. Jones climbed into the co-pilot seat ready to control the chin turret if need be, but Taylor prayed he would not. As the door shut, Jones looked around to Taylor.

"I'd have thought we would have taken the Deveron for a mission of this nature."

They all remained silent, realising Jones had been out of the loop for so long, he hadn't heard the news.

"Deveron went down when all this sparked off."

"And Ryan?"

Taylor shook his head.

"Damn shame."

They all groaned in agreement and tried not to think about the fact they were now heading into a similar shit storm as to what had been the cause of Ryan and the Deveron meeting their end. Taylor never found out what happened to Ryan. He was hurt badly but still breathing the last he saw him at the crash site. He doubted he had made it through, but it was far from impossible.

"Listen up," said Taylor. "You heard what the General had to say. Normally, I'd say to hell with waiting for the enemy to fire first, but in this case, we must follow those orders. If there is even the remotest of chances we can pull this off, then we need every possible thing in our favour to make it work."

The all accepted, but it was going to be hard to be disciplined enough to do so. Years of fighting the Mechs had taught them to always fire first as they might not get a second chance. There was nothing more to be said now. They waited until Eddie finally broke the silence with some news.

"That's it. Our support’s gone, and we're heading over no man's land."

They expected to feel the impact of a missile or gunfire at any moment, but it never came. Five minutes later he spoke again.

"Here we go. Thirty seconds and we'll be on the ground."

Like a beached whale for anyone to pick at,
thought Taylor.

They put down on the roof of the tallest building in the town as arranged, so both parties could feel safe that they were at least not being watched from the ground. Though after their recent drone attack, Taylor didn't feel safe at all.

"Eddie, you stay at the controls unless I say otherwise. Keep scanning the skies for all craft and report anything suspicious."

"Got it."

"Rest of you, with me. Act casual, but be ready for anything."

He stepped up to the door and hit the open button. The ramp slid down to the rooftop, and he could see six human soldiers awaiting them. He stepped out first with Acosta close behind and lugging the box they had come to deliver. Their welcoming party stood before a ship much like they had arrived in, and a UEN Major stood at the head of the group. Taylor didn't recognize him, but as he stepped out, he was greeted by name.

"Welcome, Colonel Taylor."

"That's not a good sign," whispered Taylor.

"How'd you know who was coming?" he shouted.

"I did not, but I of course recognise you."

Taylor could not pinpoint the accent, but it was of eastern European origin.

Bullshit! If he'd not known I was coming, he would have been a little more
surprised.

"I am Major Saric and am personal attaché to General Schulz. He has informed me to listen to whatever you have to say, and collect any evidence you might have and take it to him personally."

"Would have been nice if he could have come here himself. This is a rather important issue which could affect the future of the human race."

"And yet they send you. Not a scientist, not an EA leader or representative or diplomat. They send you, Colonel, a combat officer."

 
"I guess they just trusted in my winning personality."

"So, down to business. Explain to me these wild rumours about aliens cloning humans and what evidence you have."

Taylor reached back, grabbed the box from Acosta, and launched it in place down before him. He kicked it so it slid three metres across the rooftop and stopped in front of the Major. He looked less than impressed with his etiquette.

“There are aliens among your ranks. They look like humans, but they are here to fuel this and keep us fighting. There is no need to carry on fighting, for we only make Earth weaker and more prone to invasion once again!”

Saric looked suspiciously at Taylor and then down to the box. He knelt over it and twisted the locks until the seal broke. He hinged back the lid. A mist arose as the frozen contents met with the warm afternoon air. As it cleared, Saric reached in and took out the head as if not phased by the barbaric gesture.

“You have your people check into this, and you will quickly find that head belongs to something not entirely human. The Krys are fucking with us here, and we’re playing right into their hands,” pleaded Taylor.

“Councillor Armand, we did wonder who you suspected.”

Taylor looked confused for a moment, as he tried to make sense of what Saric had said.

“You see, Colonel, we know Armand was a Krys clone. We know because he was one of us,” he said as he stood up and grinned wickedly.

It was just the trap Taylor had expected and prayed would not be the case. He lifted up his comms. “Rains fire her up, now!” The turbines were whirling within two seconds, but just as Taylor turned to move something struck the roof of the copter, and the power cut out immediately.

“What the fuck!” Rains shouted. Taylor looked up to the cockpit and could see Rains was panicking as he tried to no avail to make the system work.

Taylor looked back to Saric. Several other figures came up from the stairs behind him. His face turned to disgust on recognising the military police insignia on US Marine Corps uniforms.

"You are under arrest, Colonel Taylor!"

With that, he heard the roar of engines and two craft swooped in. Saric was reaching for his gun, and Taylor had heard enough.

"Run!" he screamed.

He got to a sprint towards the far edge of the rooftop, and the others had not hesitated to follow him. Gunshots rippled the floor at their feet, but they had reached the edge, and Rains had leapt out his copter and caught up. Taylor launched himself off the rooftop in what felt sickening; he had to trust in his equipment. He had no other choice.

As he hit the open air and dropped like a stone, his boosters started to kick in and he could see just how high they were.

"What the hell happened?"

"It was a trap, Eddie!" replied Taylor.

"Well, thanks, you just lost me another bird!"

"I'll be sure to note it in the report if we make it back!"

He knew the distance they had to descend was pushing the limits of their suits and would be all the juice they had if they did make it. He heard an engine roar overhead; a gunship was descending towards them.

"Oh, hell!"

He lifted his rifle and fired but couldn't get any accuracy with the turbulence.

"Into the building!"

"You what?" screamed Rains.

"Bank now!"

Taylor banked hard into the side of the building they had leapt from and fired a burst of shots at the reinforced glass they were heading for. It was just enough to weaken it a little as he put his arms up in front of himself for protection and hurtled through the glass, sliding ten metres into an office. There was no finesse to it, and he landed hard.

"Everyone here?" he asked.

He looked around to see only four of his comrades were in sight.

"Who's missing? Rains?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Silva?"

"Here."

"Acosta?"

"Here."

"Jones?"

No response came.