Battle Beyond Earth: Retaliation Read online

“If they did as we ordered, then they will already have responded to this message. If not, it is out of our hands. Get us there, now!”

  None of them wanted to imagine the horrors that had encompassed to what was for so many of them their homeworld, and yet none wanted to go there alone. But nobody argued any longer. They had accepted what had to be done.

  “Make the jump,” Song said quietly.

  Light flashed before them, and a few seconds later they emerged near Earth. It was partially obscured by something dark moving ahead of them, with several other objects of debris blocking their view. A siren sounded in warning.

  “Take emergency manoeuvres now!” Song ordered.

  But it was too late. They crashed into what they could barely identify as the burnt out hulk of a ship. One of the many casualties of a battle they were only just entering. They watched the pilot duck and weave through a field of debris, and finally the view ahead of them was clear. The wrecks of almost thirty ships lay between them and the planet, a mix of Human, Krys, and the enemy vessels. Some looked like those they had already encountered, others were larger.

  “Where is the fleet?” Nichols asked.

  “You’re looking at it,” said Taylor.

  They could see the planetary defence ring was wrecked and inoperable, and it was starting to dawn on them all that Earth remained defenceless in space.

  “And the enemy?”

  They all knew the answer to the Captain’s question. Whatever had made it there was now on the surface, and it was a terrifying prospect.

  “Get me a direct line to President Isaacs. Use my authentication code,” said Taylor.

  “Is he on Earth right now?”

  “Last I heard he was, Jones. It’s about time we knew what the fuck is going on. We need to hit these sons of bitches, but we need to know where.”

  “You think you’ll reach him in the midst of this?”

  “Yes, if there is one person he should take a call from, it’s me.”

  “You think he thinks that highly of you?”

  “No, I think he knows I am the one to dig him out of the shit.”

  “Colonel, I have the President for you,” said Osborne to everyone’s surprise.

  “Put him on screen.”

  The President was projected before them for everyone to see.

  “Colonel Taylor, perhaps we should do this more privately.

  “No, Sir, this crew deserves to hear whatever you are going to tell me, so save us all some time and spit it out.”

  Song couldn’t believe the way he spoke to the President, although he didn’t seem to draw issue with it.

  “Okay, Colonel. I am at a secure location, and along with my staff, who are in the room with me here and continuing to coordinate the efforts on the ground.”

  “What sort of numbers are we talking about?”

  “From what we have seen so far, it is tens of thousands of enemy combatants on the down there.”

  “And the defence platform? Why didn’t it stop them?”

  “They jumped right on top of us. One enemy ship jumped into the defence grid, and it was disabled immediately. Others landed in the atmosphere, and the rest took out the modest fleet we had here. They’re crazy. It’s like they have no navigation controls at all.”

  “That’s right. Best we can tell they are just hurling themselves into space and hoping for the best.”

  “And they just happened to find Earth?”

  “Gamble enough and you eventually get lucky. What can we do to help?”

  “How many ships and troops do you have?”

  “Just one, and a couple of hundred Marines at best.”

  The President shook his head. “Then I am not sure how much you can do.”

  “Don’t underestimate us. Where is worst hit?”

  “At present, Reno.”

  “Reno? Who the fuck would want to go there? It’s nothing more than a washed up dust shit hole.”

  The President looked surprised, but Jones leaned in to explain.

  “Reno is one of the most affluent cities on Earth. A communications centre, much like New York or London used to be in your day.”

  “Well, well, I guess some things do change.”

  “Reno is overrun, Colonel. Swarming with thousands of enemy combatants.”

  “How many thousands?”

  He shrugged. “Could be ten thousand, could be a hundred. We are getting mixed reports. All I can tell you is things are bad on the ground over there, and there isn’t much we can do about it.”

  “All right, we’ll get on it. Have you sent for more aid?”

  “Yes, but you are the first to arrive.”

  Taylor wasn’t confident anyone else would be coming. The extent of the attacks was becoming apparent. It wasn’t enough of an invasion force to defeat them, but certainly capable of causing chaos and the loss of many lives.

  “You know, fighting on Earth is something I have done all too much of. I’ll go to Reno, and I’ll put an end to the enemy presence there, but you have to give me free rein to do whatever is necessary to get the job done.”

  “You have it, Colonel. Good luck.”

  The transmission ended, but nobody said word until Taylor finally broke the peace. He thought back to the last time he had been in Reno. Hundreds of years ago, it felt like just a handful to him. It was a dusty abandoned old city of vice that they had used for exercises. He turned to face Jones and was reminded of the opposition they faced in that friendly exercise, none other than Jones’ descendant himself, Charlie Jones. Somehow it felt like he was finally going home.

  “Set a course for Reno, and inform Lieutenant Hartley that I want a platoon of Marines and two service crews ready to board the remains of the defence grid.”

  Song gestured towards Nichols to carry out the orders.

  “What do you have in mind?” she asked Taylor.

  “Got to be plenty of weaponry still active on that grid. It could be just the sort of advantage we need to even up the odds on the ground.”

  “But the grid was intended to defend against fleets, not to bombard the ground. That is precisely what it wasn’t intended for.”

  “And yet we both know it is quite capable of it. In the event of an overwhelming enemy presence on Earth, the grid is able to fire on Earth herself.”

  Song didn’t want to admit it, but it was clear she was aware of that fact.

  “That’s right. I’ve been round long enough to know how these things work. You just don’t admit them to the general public. People aren’t ready to hear that kind of shit, not until it is needed. Do you think you can get it operational?”

  “Hard to know until our people are aboard, but if it is possible, we will find a way.”

  “Then do it.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To get ready. We are joining this fight on the ground. Contact all civilian vessels in the area and get them to help in the evacuation effort.”

  “You want people to abandon their homes?”

  “Leave them, Captain, or die inside. By the time this fight is through, there won’t be much of a home left for them.”

  He strode off the bridge with Jones who was still in disbelief.

  “Thousand, tens of thousands? What the hell are we supposed to do about those kind of numbers?”

  But Taylor seemed calm.

  “I am not going to lie to you, Jones. I don’t have all the answers. The Guam can provide support from the air. If we can get the grid up and running, that can help, too. I am sure there are National Guard forces engaging the enemy. We shouldn’t have to do all the work ourselves.”

  “Good, because there is only so much we can handle. We have four platoons at our disposal, and a number of dead and wounded amongst them, too.”

  They reached the assembly area beside the docking bay. All of their active personnel were loading up with ammunition and equipment. They froze and went silent as Taylor approached.

  “Maybe some o
f you haven’t heard yet, but the enemy has reached Earth. Earth! The fleet has been destroyed. Whatever else we have out there is engaged or unable to come to the aid our homeworld. Ground forces have engaged the enemy at a number of locations. The President himself has requested that we go to assist at Reno. We’re going in hot. We don’t know the enemy or friendly strength. All we know is that they are there, and we are willing and able to help. So load up, and get ready to hit these fuckers. I fought too hard for too long to see Earth in danger once again. Are you with me?”

  A roar of excitement echoed around the room. As it died down, footsteps approached. Andrews was striding towards him. She was in full combat order. He legs replaced with alloy bones and joints and supported by the exoskeleton of her armour. She walked as easily as any other, and bore her skeletal replacement legs with no shame at all. There was no attempt to cover them, and so she looked like part machine. She stopped before him and saluted.

  “Private Andrews reporting for duty, Sir.”

  He couldn’t believe her strength and commitment.

  “Have you been cleared by the doctors for active duty?”

  “Hell, no.”

  He smiled. “Fall in, Private.”

  He saw Hartley approaching.

  "All okay, Lieutenant?"

  He sighed.

  "All apart from the fact that you are taking all our boats. You want us to retake that defence grid platform, and all we got is that shuttle. No armour, no guns," he said and pointed to a small craft likely intended for nothing more than shuttling civilians and VIPs during peacetime.

  "We need 'em more than you do. Far as we know, you will see no resistance getting aboard that platform. The same can't be said for Reno."

  "Just don't lose any more, or we won't be going anywhere."

  Taylor laughed.

  "Do what I can."

  Taylor turned back around to see everyone on deck was eager to get into action, and he knew why. Fighting the enemy out on the edge of space was a very different reality to when the battle was brought to the home front. It was a feeling Taylor knew all too well.

  "Load up!" he barked.

  Once more they climbed aboard one of the Stormers and were greeted by Alita making her final pre-flight checks.

  "Here we go again," she said light heartedly.

  "Any sign of remaining enemy presence in orbit?" Taylor asked, jumping straight to the point.

  "Nothing. Looks like they blew through here in no time at all. They knew what their target was."

  "Yep, this is gonna cost us big-time."

  "We have just been cleared for take-off."

  "Then batten down the hatches and get us on our way."

  He took his seat beside her as the doors shut and the engines fired to life. The doors opened, and once again they could see Earth, still obscured by the debris of so many fallen ships from both sides.

  "We can only hope the defences on the surface are up to the task. You'd be a fool to rely on just a perimeter defence."

  "Or you just don't know any better. You keep forgetting, we haven't had to deal with a war like this. Not in our lifetimes, nor our fathers or grandfathers. This is all still new to us. The very idea of Earth being threatened by anything just seemed a fantasy long lost to the history books."

  "Jones always told me that history always repeats itself. How has that information been lost through the ages?"

  "Same way a pilot loses their edge when they don't fly, and a sportsman loses their fitness when they no longer compete. When the need isn't there, it isn't maintained."

  She’s right. It was much the same in my day when the Krys first arrived.

  "If I could have left this world with one piece of advice, it would have been that you must always be ready for war. No matter how strong you think you are, how solid an alliance is, or how long you have enjoyed peace. I thought that would have been very obvious after all we went through back in the Krys wars. Do people learn nothing from history?"

  She shook her head and smiled.

  "We're only human."

  That was the only relief he had. To know that their humanity had been retained, warts and all. They soared forward into space, and time passed quickly as they raced towards the atmosphere. Alita answered an incoming transmission from the Guam. Song was waiting to brief them.

  "Colonel, the enemy is currently located in the west of the city of Reno. Most of the evacuation efforts are centred around the north and east. National Guard is flying civilians out from the rooftops in the centre, but the enemy is already five hundred metres from their location. The troops on the ground are being overwhelmed by their numbers. The Major in charge, Davis, tells me they may have to abandon the centre before long, but that will leave up to twenty thousand civilians stranded."

  "Stranded! You mean left for dead?"

  "That is my understanding, yes."

  "Then I guess we have a target to aim for. Be ready to give fire support."

  "On a civilian city?"

  Taylor frowned.

  "It's a warzone down there. We have to fight and contain the enemy where we can."

  "And the civilians?"

  "We'll do what we can. Taylor out."

  He reached forward and ended the transmission.

  "Get me that Major."

  "He is already on the line waiting for you," Alita replied, reaching forward and opening a transmission.

  Explosions rang out in the background as the Major hunkered down. He looked about the same age as Taylor. He was black, with a shaved head and a deep fresh cut running from his eyebrow up over his skull. His helmet was nowhere to be seen.

  "About time we got some help, what is your ETA?" he asked before looking closely at the screen and recognising Taylor.

  "Colonel Taylor?"

  "That's right."

  "We sure could do with your help. We're swamped right about now. We've evaced thousands of civis, but our job is far from over."

  "What is the enemy strength?"

  "As far as we can tell about twenty thousand."

  Alita's jaw dropped.

  "What? That's nothing like what we have seen till now," she gasped.

  "We have orders to pull out as soon as the enemy got within half a klick of our position."

  "How long until that happens?"

  "About half an hour ago," he said wearily.

  "How much more time do you need to get the civilians out of there?"

  "Ideally, an hour, maybe two. But any time you can buy us can make a difference."

  "Hold on in there, Major. We'll be with you shortly. Taylor out."

  "They city has fallen, hasn't it?"

  "Looks that way, Alita. Open a channel to our teams."

  She reached forward and did as he asked, nodding to signal that he was live.

  "This is Taylor. We're going in hot. Civilians in the centre are at risk of being overrun from the west. We are going to come down right on their positions. Create a perimeter and hold out as long as we can. Keep it tight and hold your ground. Good luck."

  They watched with anticipation as they broke through the atmosphere.

  "I guess this isn't how you imagined your return to Earth would be?"

  "Actually, it's exactly how I expected it. War has been my life for as long as I can remember. The day I see blue skies and a peaceful path ahead of me is the day I start to worry."

  "Why?"

  "Because it probably means I am dead, and walking Elysium."

  "I thought you didn't believe in all that?"

  "Not until the day I can see it with my own eyes, which is why I would worry," he replied with a smirk.

  They were closing in on the city quickly as they descended rapidly towards the surface. Trails of light and smoke flashed across the city. A dozen of the larger skyscrapers were bellowing with smoke as one collapsed. Dust and debris scattered out across several blocks, and the massive structure vanished within the chaos of the battle.

  "My god," said Alit
a.

  They could see battles raging across the entire western side of the city, a front stretching five kilometres. Though they knew much of it would not be a battle at all, but civilians being gunned down like caged animals.

  "How are we meant to deal with all this?"

  "Let's start by getting those civilians out, having a go at whittling down their numbers, and go from there. Once we are on the ground, I want you and the other Stormers to assist Major Davis in getting people out. While you are at it, have Song initiate ground bombardment of any enemy one klick to our west and beyond."

  "One klick? That's far too close."

  "And any further back and we may be swamped. Just do it."

  They swooped in low and weaved in between the skyrise buildings of one of the high streets. It was a lavish city indeed. Filled with expensive fashion stores, the likes of which Taylor would never think to step foot in, let alone hope to afford even if he wanted to. He could see a single National Guard squad laying down fire from behind a number of abandoned cars, but they were coming under a wave of fire. Two were killed as they flew past, and the others ducked down for cover.

  Alita brought them to a hover just forward of the soldiers' position, less than fifty metres above the ground. He rushed to the door. It slid open as he smashed his hand on the button. He looked back to Alita. She wanted nothing more than to go with him, but she would not ignore his orders. He wanted to say something to her. As he looked into her eyes, he knew she could tell, and he didn't need to say a word.

  "Come on, boys, let's show these bastards why you don't mess with Earth!"

  He turned back with a smile and leapt out of the door.

  Chapter 7

  There was a crunch beneath Taylor's feet as he landed on the rooftop of a yellow cab. It collapsed slightly under his weight, jamming to a stop as it met with the seats inside. He fired up his shield and quickly targeted the first of the Amitad warriors with his rifle. He fired a burst, and it dropped dead on top of a dead civilian. Two dozen of the feral looking creatures came rushing towards them.

  A hail of gunfire rained down on them as those descending from the craft laid down fire. Within seconds he heard the familiar and deafening sound of Babacan's Hydra spit into life and throw hundreds of rounds down the street. The enemy soldiers and cars around them were peppered with bullets. Eight fell in the first volley. But just as before, they did not seek cover nor try to hide from the onslaught. They just kept coming.