Jones went frantically from one body to another to check none were Coco, and eventually looked back at Taylor in relief.
"Come on, we need to move fast."
Taylor led them out into the corridor where staff ran back and forth still doing their jobs as if it were just another day. They passed the burnt out wrecked room as if it were not there. As one nurse rushed past, Taylor grabbed her arm and stopped her dead in her tracks. She opened her mouth to complain, but on seeing his rank and grizzled state, held her tongue.
"We're looking for a Sergeant Coco Dubois."
"I'll, I'll have to check the records."
Taylor released his grip and allowed her to lead the way.
She stepped up to a console on the wall and tapped a few buttons before turning back to them.
"I'm sorry, but she's been checked out."
"By who?" Jones demanded.
Taylor half expected it to be Dubois herself, ever persistent to join the fight.
If only that were the case, he thought, as the nurse continued.
"It says she was checked out just a few moments ago under the supervision of Major Martin."
"Martin?" Jones queried.
Taylor thought on it for a moment and began shaking his head.
"If it's the same Martin, he's one of them, a clone!"
Jones face turned to horror, and he rushed through the ward with the others chasing him. He was heading for the nearest outlook over the frontage of the building; Taylor only two paces behind him. They rushed into a busy ward, stopping when they reached a window looking out onto the road. They spotted Coco immediately. She was walking on her own feet and being pushed along by a couple of humans dressed as French officers. Mechs surrounded them as they approached a small transport craft that had put down between several armoured vehicles.
"They're taking her, no!" he screamed at the top of his voice.
Jones reversed his rifle and smashed the window out with it. He put his foot on the edge to climb out, but Taylor got a hold and pulled him back. Jones turned and shoved Taylor back and tried again. Taylor was just as quick and hauled him inside once again. But as he was pushed back as before, he was backed against a wall and found Jones' rifle forced against his chin.
"Don't you stop me!" he cried.
Taylor kept a firm grip on Jones and would not let him move.
"You can save her. We can save her, but not now. We've lost this battle, but not the war. I will not let you die needlessly!"
Jones looked back to the window, and he could see the ship lift off and soar into the distance. He lowered his rifle.
"I've lost her," he said soulfully.
His shoulders were hunched, and he had the look of a defeated man.
"No," replied Taylor, "She's alive, and so are we. We'll find a way. Whatever we have to do, we'll do it. We'll get her back."
Chapter 8
Jones sat on the floor, looking helpless. The others fired from positions at the window ledges onto the Mechs below.
"Jones, come on!" Taylor ordered.
Patients were being wheeled out by orderlies, and occasional pulses raced through the room. They kept their heads down. Taylor ducked down to put a fresh magazine in, but as he jumped back to his position, he could see the turret of the tank turn and begin elevating towards them. He quickly looked back to the others.
"Run!" he shouted.
He rushed towards Jones and grabbed him, dragging him towards the archway leading to the corridor. A few seconds later, the room flashed with a blinding light, and they were thrown forwards. Taylor plummeted right through an interior wall that did little to slow him down. As the dust began to settle, he got to his feet. All of them had made it, but the room they had been in was devastated. The floor had collapsed onto people below, and part of the ceiling was also missing. They could see right out to the enemy positions and soon rushed to cover.
"What are we gonna do?" asked Robinson.
Taylor paused to think for a moment; there seemed to be no easy answer. He looked down at Jones, who still seemed oblivious to the danger around them. He looked up and asked.
"Why did they take her?"
Taylor hadn't had any time to think about it, but now his head was filled with sinister thoughts he’d rather not have there.
"A whole hospital full of patients, a base full of soldiers, why her, Mitch?" Jones continued.
"I doubt it is any coincidence," replied Taylor.
"How do you mean, Sir?" Lewis asked.
"You all know this Erdogan guy, whatever he is, wants to bring me down. It's not just about me. It's about us. It's about what our unit stands for, and what we're famed for. He wants to make us suffer for his own amusement and for all to see."
"A whole world war, and he wants a piece of us that badly?" Wood asked.
"It's not as crazy as it sounds," Jones joined in, "It's starting to make a little sense."
"I wouldn't be surprised if she was taken to try and draw us into some trap. Maybe they expected to find us here? But they can't know we're here yet. I bet you a tonne of credits, they were hoping this would draw us out," said Taylor.
Jones shook his head. "I dunno, but I don't like it. Obviously, the fact they have taken her, but the whole thing stinks."
"Yes it does, but we've come back from worse," replied Taylor, "Right now, there is nothing we can do for Dubois but survive and keep up the fight, so that is what I need you all to do. A distracted man is a dead man, got it?"
Jones nodded, although it was clear he wouldn't be able to isolate the thoughts which plagued him, and Taylor knew he wouldn't be able to either.
"Someone's gotta take out that tank," said Robinson.
"You volunteering?" Taylor asked.
"With what?"
"Yeah, exactly."
"They could hear the pounding of footsteps coming up the fire escape stairs at the end of the hallway just a few metres beside them. They turned and readied their weapons, as now they weren't even sure which humans were on their side. Dupont rushed out onto the floor and stopped on seeing the Colonel.
"Taylor? What in the hell are you doing back here?"
"Good to see you, too, Sir. We came for Captain Jones' wife."
"Well, what are you still doing here?" he asked, pacing up to Taylor.
"Well, she's gone," he replied.
The General turned to Jones. "My condolences, Captain."
"No, Sir, she's not dead. She was just taken by the enemy. Spirited away on one of their craft. They sent clones in here to take her away."
Dupont was perplexed by the idea, but he was a lot more open minded about such things after everything he had experienced.
"So she was taken alive?"
Jones nodded. Dupont shook his head. "Then my condolences still, for I would not wish capture on anyone, anymore than I would death. This is a cruel and horrifying enemy."
"Which is why it is imperative we get her back as soon as we can," replied Taylor.
Another shell hit the building further along, and they felt the floor tremble beneath them.
"We gotta do something about that tank," said Taylor.
"We?" asked Dupont. He carried on past them with several French soldiers, carrying what had been come to know as RAT launchers - Reitech Anti-tank Launchers.
"Can't touch that damn thing from the front, and we can't get around it with Mechs crawling all over the place."
"You think it'll be weak on top, like our armour?"