Battle Earth VII Page 17

  “We have a reason to fight. Not for entertainment or recruitment, or any of that shit. But a reason like we had back in the wars.”

  “But it’s not, is it? You can dress it up all you like, but then we had ironclad aliens coming at us. It was kill or be killed. But now the enemy is human.”

  “Or it looks human.”

  “When this starts, we’re gonna be fighting humans, and you know it. Both these Krys agents and others who are little more than misguided.”

  “What do you want from me?

  “To know what you want out of all this? Where are you going with it?”

  He had to think about it for a moment.

  “Wherever I have to for the survival of our people.”

  “But what does that mean for you? As soon as we won peace, you looked for another war. What are you fighting to achieve?”

  “To fight for everyone else, I guess.”

  “And what about us?”

  “We’ll just have to wait. Let’s not forget we signed up for this, both of us.”

  She couldn’t argue with that, but she wanted to. She sat down beside him, and it was at least a relief for both of them to enjoy a peaceful moment together. A few minutes later that peace was broken. Silva threw down a box of ammunition before them.

  “Load up,” he ordered.

  From any other NCO, Taylor would have taken it as an insult, but he nodded in gratitude. As he loaded his magazines, Rains strolled over, still looking uncomfortable and unimpressed.

  “See that bird?” he asked. “One of the finest flying machines the World has ever known, and you want me to leave her on the ground and take God knows what to war?”

  “That about covers it, yeah,” replied Taylor.

  As he said it, dust kicked up around them, and an aircraft descended. Rains looked around, and his shoulders slumped.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

  The craft was at least forty years old and had clearly been used for tourism, as the signs of the tour operator were still partially in tact along the fuselage.

  “Come on, Colonel,” pleaded Eddie. “I’ve flown you to hell and back, but all I ask is you don’t make me fly a coffin.”

  The craft came to a rough landing, but the undercarriage held firm. The pilot stepped out and strutted up to the Colonel to address him. Taylor was speechless as the man opened his mouth.

  “She doesn’t look like much, Colonel, but she’ll get you across the border and won’t attract any attention. She’s called Adrienne, and she’s been travelling northern Europe for decades.”

  “No shit,” Eddie added.

  “I know the owner, Sir. He says you can depend on her.”

  “To do what, give us a quick death?”

  “All right, Rains,” said Taylor, leaping up to the delivery pilot. “Thank you, we’ll take her.”

  The man left as quickly on foot as he had arrived by air, but it wasn’t the last he had heard of Rains.

  “Come on, Mitch, I’m all up for this, but in that heap of junk? It’s suicide!”

  “Yeah, well, we’ve been through worse and made it out.”

  “But…”

  “But nothing!” he yelled.

  Rains was silenced and surprised at his sharp response.

  “I know this sucks, but we’re on the clock here, and this is our only chance. I asked you twice if you wanted to leave, and I’ll only ask once more. We’re gonna have to go through a whole load of crazy before this is over, so this is the last time, are you with me?”

  He looked to Rains who turned and gave the ship another once over. He paced up to it. They were all silent, watching him run his hand down the bow of the ship. It was twice the size of one of their copters and obviously a clumsy beast.

  “It has a little charm, at least,” he replied.

  Taylor smiled. He knew the hard sell had been made.

  “Right then, load up. We’re moving out!”

  Chapter 11

  Taylor stood over Rains as he powered up Adrienne, and they began to lift off the ground. The ship shook a little, and her engine exhaust ports crackled in a way that made Eddie grit his teeth and wince.

  "Never thought I'd see the day where you wanted me to fly a coffin to war," he said.

  "She ain't so bad. She's got character, you have to admit."

  "Oh, yeah, character certainly, just no positive qualities. This is one old girl falling apart at the seams. She should be laid to rest at a junk yard, or maybe donated to a trailer park."

  Taylor smiled. Rains’ whining always entertained him. He turned and looked to the other copter crews that had come to his aid, now sitting as passengers the same as the rest of them. They carried carbines from their craft but had no armour to speak of.

  "Your job is to guard this bird wherever you go, got it?"

  They looked as suspicious of the ship as of Taylor, but nodded in acceptance.

  "Yes, Sir."

  Silva and Parker stepped up beside him. They were now clearly looking to him for answers.

  "We'll split what we have into three squads. I'll take first, Silva, second, Parker you get third. I'll leave it to you to organise."

  "Yes, Sir, but what about the mission?"

  "What about it, Silva?"

  "You got any idea how we're gonna find this Armand?" asked Parker.

  "I know someone who can help. Just waiting to hear back."

  "Bit of a long shot, don't you think?" asked Silva.

  "You should be used to it by now. We lived on long shots during the war."

  He shrugged. It was hard to disagree.

  "Sir, we're coming up on the border. What do you want me to do?" asked Rains.

  "Stay well away from the north and Belgium, cross near Saarbrucken, and remember, this is a civilian transport. Follow no military protocols, and give no implication of them either. That shouldn't be too hard for you."

  "No, Siree."

  "You think they'll just let us cross over?"

  "There have been open borders here for a few hundred years, Parker. Until war is declared, I see no reason for that to change."

  "Apart from France departing the UEN?" asked Silva.

  Taylor shrugged. He could only hope they'd make it through.

  Rains looked back at them.

  "What's our story for being here?"

  "University sightseeing."

  "War's breaking out, and you think that story will hold?"

  "That war hasn't broken out yet. As far as most people are concerned, this is just the usual strife in the World. Until it hits their doorsteps, they won't pay it much heed. If they do thermal identity checks as we pass by, I want it to look right we having this many aboard and little cargo."

  "Sir, we got a call coming in," replied Rains, "It's anonymous and secure."

  "Put it through to my pad."

  Taylor lifted up the device and accepted the call. A projection appeared before them of a UEN officer they all recognised, Lukas Becker. But gone were his Captain’s pips, replaced with a single one wrapped with a laurel.

  "Major?" asked Taylor, "Congratulations on the promotion."

  "And yours, Colonel, but shall we get down to business?"

  "Certainly."

  "You are the last person I expected to hear from at this time, and your recent stints in the World news have not endeared you to many hearts. And yet, out of the blue, I get a request from you that is most bizarre, and to fulfil would be a complete breach of my duty. Would you like to expand any further?

  "I wish I could explain it all in a way which would make some sense and you could believe, but honestly I can't. You know me Becker, and you know where my loyalties lie. What I am telling you, is the information I need from you is vital in maintaining the defence of Earth from future conflict."

  "And what of this conflict growing now?"

  "It's all linked. I know it's crazy, all of it, but you'll just have to trust me."

  Becker shook his head. Th
ey both knew it was asking a lot.

  "You want the location of a high ranking government official of my country, and I can only imagine that means you want to either kill or kidnap him, because it surely is not for a conversation."

  Taylor nodded in agreement. "It's not about loyalty to one’s country any more, Becker, but loyalty to Earth and the human race."

  "And if I do this for you, and my involvement is ever known, it will be the end of my career; the end of my life. I'll be behind bars till the day I die."

  "I promise you that if we do not succeed in getting hold of Armand, your life will be over soon enough, anyway."

  "You're expecting a lot of faith, based on little information or fact."

  "Yes, and that's all I can tell you at this point. You know I'd do anything to protect this world. You know me. I'd only come to you with such a big ask if there was no other way."

  "And if I say no?"

  "I can't force you to help, but if you don't, well... I guess we're fucked."

  Becker looked away as he thought about it. Taylor could see Parker watching anxiously to his side.

  "Come on, Major, you're our only hope," Silva pleaded.

  He finally looked up to address Taylor.

  "Colonel, a lot has been asked of me, by you and many countless others over the last few years, but nobody has ever asked me to betray my country. I'll give you the information you ask for because I trust you, but do not let me regret it, or God help me, I will claw my way out of whatever hell I am imprisoned and chase you to the end of the galaxy."

  Taylor smiled back. "Glad to see we understand one another. There'll come a time where we stand beside one another in combat again, Major. Sooner than you think, I suspect."

  "All right. Councillor Armand is currently at an isolated schloss in the mountains near Mittenwald."

  "Schloss?" asked Parker.

  "Like a castle or something?" Silva joined in.

  "Yes, that kind of thing," replied Becker, "I have heard of this facility in the past year. Nobody I ask about it seems to know exactly what goes on there. Clearance is required to go there. Clearance from above my grade."

  "What are you saying this place is?"

  "Honestly, Colonel, I do not know. It is simply called Schloss Mittenwald, despite being a number of kilometres from the town. I am not entirely sure what it used to be before this title. Little attempt has been made to hide its location, only what goes on inside."

  "Do you know anything about it at all?"

  "Sorry. Any contacts I ask about it have nothing more to add, but many are suspicious about what goes on there.”

  “Why?”

  “Ships regularly visit the Mittenwald, but nobody has any idea why, but…”

  “But what, Major?”

  “…I don’t know. I hear strange things about the place, rumours, and each time different. Nobody seems to know for certain, but I don’t like the sound of the place. I’d avoid it at all costs.”

  “Negative. If Armand is there, that’s where we’re heading. Thank you for this, Major. But I must now ask you forget it all. At some distant day in the future we may we meet and answer all of each other’s questions, but until that day, protect yourself. We never had this conversation. You do not support the ideals of Mitch Taylor, and you don’t go looking into this Mittenwald place, you hear me? I’ve lost enough friends over the years. You stay safe.”

  “I hope you are wrong about the Councillor. I pray that you are wrong, Colonel. But if you are correct, then good luck, and may we meet again in happier times.”

  The transmission ended, and Taylor dipped his head, feeling the heavy burden placed upon them all. He turned and looked to see that most of the marines had heard the conversation and were looking to him for answers.

  “So here we are, at the point of no return. We cross that border and we’re enemy combatants. It’s gonna be dangerous, no doubt. You know what we’re after, and you have some idea of how vital it is. Are you still with me?”

  “Sir, yes, Sir!” they screamed.

  It was all he needed to hear. He turned back to Rains who already knew what he was about to ask.

  “We’re passing over the border now. I have submitted our flight logs and declared our intentions.”

  “Think they’ll buy it?”

  “A few weeks ago, sure. Now, we can only hope.”

  Taylor looked out of the cockpit at the border, but there were no unique characteristics dividing the countries, much like crossing a state border back home. They all waited silently. Taylor half expected to be shot down, but as he held his breath, they passed over without any drama.

  “Welcome to Germany!” yelled Eddie.

  It was a small relief.

  “How close can you get us to this schloss?”

  “Area is a popular tourist destination, so I reckon with the flight path we put in, we can get within a few klicks before they start asking questions.”

  “Good, then set a path for a location that does not draw attention. You can divert to the schloss at the last possible moment, and bring us in low.”

  “That’s it? That’s the great plan?”

  “Can’t say we had months to plan this one, Eddie. We’re doing what we have to do to get the job done.”

  “Which means putting my ass in the firing line, as usual?”

  “Damn right, but you only have to get us there. It’s the rest of us who have to go down and get the job done.”

  “Hell, yeah, I just do the flying.”

  The rest of the journey seemed to take hours. They sweated it out, expecting to be shot out of the sky at any moment. In reality, it was a short journey, even in the old hulk barely managing to stay in the sky.

  “You know if it was anyone else, we’d say you were crazy?”

  “I wish I was, Eli,” he replied dryly.

  More than anything, he wished he had the support of the Inter-Allied troops that fought beside him during the war, but this day, he commanded just a single platoon.

  “You’ll be taking Corporal Riley with you as your second-in-command,” said Parker.

  Taylor looked over, and the Corporal nodded in acknowledgement. Taylor hadn’t seen him since soon after Demiran’s fall in North Africa. Riley’s skin was as dark as a human could be, and he stood a good head height over the Colonel. Taylor had known him since he was a fresh recruit and had never paused to share a word with the man. He bore a scar along the line of his chin and reaching up to his mouth, with burn marks still healing on his cheek. Gone was the rookie Taylor had known, replaced by a hardened veteran the likes of which Inter-Allied had become famed for.

  “We got much of a plan?” asked Silva.

  Taylor rubbed his forehead as he thought it over, but he couldn’t lie to them.

  “We’re going in with no intel, and no idea of what we face. I can’t say there’s much of a plan beyond get in there and seize Armand. Fire only if fired upon. I don’t want to kill a single human, but I will if I must. As you all must. Powers operate on this World the likes of which none of us fully understand. All that matters here is we get Armand, you get me?”

  They all nodded. The tone had changed now. They were bearing down on a kind of war none of them had ever wanted and had long forgotten they had ever trained for; war against humans.

  “ETA two minutes, Colonel! You sure you want to do this, now? Once we start this, God knows what kind of hell we’re gonna bring down on ourselves!”

  “That’s beyond our control now. I figure we got about thirty to forty minutes before any reinforcements come our way. It’ll be the last thing they expect, so we can only hope they aren’t prepared for it.”

  “And if they are ready and waiting?”

  “Let’s just hope they ain’t.”

  The last few moments passed quickly as they banked hard and headed for the Mittenwald schloss. Twenty seconds later a transmission came in. It was in English but with a strong German accent.

  “Unidentified tra
nsport, you are approaching controlled air space of the UEN armed forces. Please alter course immediately.”

  Rains turned, looking to Taylor for answers.

  “Tell him anything to buy time.”

  “This is the Adrienne. We’re experiencing some problems with flight controls and cannot alter course. We’ve got nothing but students on board and are looking for a safe place to out down if we can.”

  The line went quiet for a moment. They all waited for the response, which finally came.

  Adrienne, you are cleared to pass over Schloss Mittenwald at your current course and put down two klicks east of our position. Local emergency services will aid you on arrival.”

  “Uhhh, thanks Mittenwald, appreciate it.”

  Taylor smiled. He knew no other pilot could have sounded as confused and convincing as a civilian in distress, but Rains’ acting himself pulled it off perfectly.

  “Thirty seconds!”

  “On your feet!” cried Taylor.

  The marines jumped at his order, but they looked no less keen to do what needed to be done.

  “Remember this is like every other mission we ever did. We’ll get it done, and we’ll get out alive!”

  They felt the reverse thrusters kick in and splutter as they began to slow. A voice came over the comms again.

  “Adrienne, continue on your current course, or you will be fired upon.”

  They came to a hover, and Taylor pulled open the door.

  “Another day in the Corps!”

  Without another word, he leapt from the door into the open air. As he began to free-fall, the first thing that struck him was the beautiful scenery, vast cavernous valleys along the southern border of Germany and over into Austria. They were jumping into combat, and yet all around them seemed at peace. He looked up to see the others were close behind him, but as the last marine was at the door, a missile soared up from a hidden location below.

  The Adrienne took evasive action, but the missile clipped the side of the hull and exploded. Taylor watched in horror as the ship soared off into the distance with smoke pouring from her.

  “Rains get out of there!” he screamed down the comms.