"You better hope so," he replied.
Taylor followed them to the gaping hole they had recently fled from.
"Fire when ready," ordered Dupont.
Four RAT carriers took a knee and readied their weapons. The first fired without hesitation and saw it strike a corner of the turret and soar off into the ground before exploding. They saw bright light sparks ignite from the impact.
"What the hell do they put in those things?"
"God knows, Robinson," Taylor sighed.
The other gunners looked weary now and took their time.
"Come on, damn you, shoot," Dupont ordered.
The second fired and hit the top turret, causing an immense explosion that they had to look away from. But as they looked back, they could see it had put a dent in the armour and chipped away a little, but nothing of note. Then they noticed the turret pivoting their way.
"Oh, that's not good," Taylor grimaced.
"Don't aim for the turret. Shoot in front of it, down into the upper hull!" Jones hollered.
The gunners looked to Dupont for confirmation.
"Go on, do it!" he shouted as the barrel came in line to their position. The two of them fired almost simultaneously and landed the shots in front of the turret, almost in the exact same spot. The first ignited on the surface, and the second went right through the impact. An explosion ripped through the vehicle, as two hatches were blown open and smoke belched from them.
A cheer rang out from the troops on the ground, but not from those in the hospital. Dupont sighed in relief. He was as surprised they were still alive as Taylor was. But in the distance they could see more vehicles approaching, and Mechs still sweeping towards them. Hospital beds continued to be wheeled past them and walking wounded were being helped to the stairs.
"We have to get the wounded out of here," Taylor said.
"You keep talking about this ‘we’, Colonel, but you didn't come here to fight alongside us."
"No, Sir, but we're here now, and that’s just the way it is. So let's get them out to somewhere safe."
"And where would that be? Krys forces have all but surrounded us, and are taking this base one block at a time."
They looked down. The Mechs were encircling the hospital even as they spoke.
"I doubt you could get out now, even if you wanted to."
"Then have them fight. Every one of them capable of lifting and firing a rifle, have them do so."
Dupont thought about it for a moment, and he knew it was a desperate measure.
"They'll only die if we fail here anyway, so let them at least have a hand in deciding their own fate."
Dupont gritted his teeth and rubbed his chin, finally nodding in agreement. He looked over to one of his own soldiers.
"Do it."
He looked back to Taylor. "You should know that Washington has fallen, so to has New York, Baltimore, and many more. Obliterated."
"I was at Baltimore."
"Then I am sorry, Colonel."
Taylor didn't know so many had been destroyed, but it didn't surprise him at all after what he had seen and experienced.
"You're stuck here, you know that, right?"
Taylor nodded. "I've been stuck in many places in my life, General, and yet here I stand today, unstuck from all of them."
"That's right. The shit just seems to slide right off you," he replied, trying to smile.
They looked down to see the gunfire in the street below was already intensifying. The Mechs drove onwards past the burning wreck of the knocked out tank.
"Where do you want me, General?"
"Wherever you can do the most damage."
With that, he carried on towards the far eastern side of the building and took up position in a corner ward that had already been fully evacuated. Part of wall was missing, and that provided an excellent loophole for the few men he had to use. Taylor pulled out several magazines from his webbing. He lay down prone and put them in front of him as he looked out onto the base below.
"You taking up residency, Sir?"
"Looks that way, Robinson."
Jones lay down beside him and did the same. It was the first sign that he had heeded Taylor's words, and he nodded in gratitude for it.
"I need you, Charlie, and you know it. We stick together, see each other through, then we'll get her back."
Jones looked out of the hole and could see a number of Mechs advancing towards them without any attempt to use cover. They didn't need to, as nobody was putting up resistance.
"You better hope Dupont has some ammunition on tap because we're gonna need it."
"Yep," Taylor said casually.
He took aim with his rifle dead centre on the head of the first creature he set eyes on. He squeezed the trigger, and the well-aimed shot went clean through and dropped the Mech warrior instantly.
"That's how it's done," said Taylor.
The others took up positions either side him as if it were a shooting gallery and joined in. A shot rang out every two seconds from that hole as each of them took careful shots. By the time the first five Mechs had fallen, the rest were starting to take cover and respect the danger posed to them.
"You think we'll get out of this?" Jones whispered.
"Of course we will. We always do."
Jones wasn't sure if he were joking or had such unwavering confidence, but it amused him either way. It was the first smile Taylor had seen on Jones face since they got there.
"That doesn't look good," said Wood.
They looked back. The enemy numbers were growing, and armoured vehicles backed up by air support were behind them. Taylor quickly took aim at the first target he could and opened fire, and did not stop until every magazine laid out before him was empty. He got to one knee and felt around his webbing to find he had just a single magazine left. He looked down to Jones who had just found the same. As Mitch put the last of his ammunition into his rifle, he lay back down and took aim once more.
Mech bodies lay strewn about, although more still advanced, and many with shields now, too. He took in a breath and held it. He was about to squeeze the trigger when an explosion struck a group of Mechs in front of them. He looked away from his sight, and another four landed all around the first.
"Those aren't Krys shells. They're ours," said Jones.
Taylor stood up so he could look from what was left of the window. In the distance, he could see constant muzzles flashes and could just make out the silhouettes of French tanks approaching from the north and firing on the move.
"Holy shit," was all he could think to say.
"Where on Earth did they come from?"
"Guess the fight ain't quite over yet, Charlie."
They could hear cheering from the streets and watched as many of the enemy vehicles and armour turned to face them. As they did, another artillery barrage smashed the positions in front of them, and a wing of friendly fighters soared in towards the Mech craft.
"You see, Colonel; France is not finished yet."
Taylor looked around; Dupont stood in the archway behind them. He looked back to see the Mechs were already retreating towards the armour, and he knew they had gained a respite.
"Sir, I must appeal to you for help," said Jones.
He looked back to Taylor who nodded in agreement.
"My resources are pretty thin, but I will do what I can for you, Captain."
"My wife. She was here as I said, taken from here by Krys agents or collaborators, or whatever."
"Yes, and I am deeply sorry for that."
"I don't need sympathy, Sir. I need her back, and I'll do whatever I have to for that to happen."
"I don't know what I can do to help, Captain."
"You have resources. You can use them to find out where that ship went, and where she has been taken."