Taylor sat silently as the information from Red 1 was relayed to them on the briefing table. The bridge was quiet as they listened to the audio relay from Bradley until the moment contact was lost. For ten whole seconds after the feed went dead, no one said a word. Taylor looked up to the Admiral and pleaded.
“We have to go to their aid. We have to do something!”
Huber shook his head.
“We can’t just leave them there and sit on our asses!”
Huber liked the Major, but he didn’t like anyone raising his voice on his bridge, and telling him what he should and shouldn’t do.
“You will do exactly as is ordered and expected of you. You heard your Colonel. They have ample ability and strength to hold the colony.”
Taylor fell silent. He knew he could not challenge the Admiral’s decision. Huber turned to his XO.
“Double the range our scouts are going. I want to know if anything is heading our way.”
He turned back to Taylor and could see the sadness in his face.
“Follow me, Major.”
The two of them stepped inside the Admiral’s quarters where they could talk freely. Taylor remained silent. He expected a grilling for his performance, but it didn’t come.
“Please do not think I want to leave them out there, but remember this war is about more than one officer, more than one battalion, more than one army. This fleet is the only thing standing between the enemy and Earth. Would you risk it all far into enemy territory, when we still know so little? We created this fleet to protect Earth and our other colonies. When we can be certain that we have the ability and strength to move forward, we shall. But don’t let yourself believe that one victory means we are all powerful.”
Taylor accepted his words. He knew the Admiral was right, but it was a harsh reality to accept.
“I thought we were coming here to take the fight to the enemy, Sir.”
“And we have, but now we must consolidate and defend what we have taken. This is a major breakthrough for our civilisation. We have travelled light years from Earth, invaded alien territory, and seized one of their colonies. Let’s not forget how far we have gotten. It was not so long ago that Earth was on its knees.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Go now, calm yourself, and remember your Colonel is more than capable of taking care of herself.”
Taylor showed himself out and skulked miserably off the bridge. By the time he had reached the elevator, his sadness was gone, and it was replaced by anger and a pig-headed resolve. When the doors opened, he strode out with purpose. He rushed towards the berths where Inter-Allied were living. Silva was the first familiar face he found.
“Sergeant, gather the troops. We’re heading out.”
The Sergeant looked puzzled.
“Sir, aren’t we…”
“You heard me, Sergeant!”
Silva was never one to disobey his orders and quickly turned, rushing off to carry them out. Taylor lifted up his comms unit.
“Captain Ryan, prepare the Deveron for take-off.”
“Roger that,” came the reply.
He turned quickly to rush to his quarters to get his gear when he found himself confronted by Parker. She blocked his way and brought him to an abrupt halt. He could see from the look on her face that she had been listening in and did not approve.
“Don’t do it.”
“Don’t do what? Help our friends?”
“Don’t throw your life away again. Last time you were left to rot in prison because you disobeyed an order, and as a result a friend died, anyway. The Colonel is more than capable of looking after herself. The best thing you can do for her is to do as she asked, and protect the fleet.”
He wanted to disagree and knew he could quite easily ignore everything she said, but deep down she was right.
“Why do we have to leave so many friends behind?” he asked.
“Why do we have to fight this damn war in the first place? I know she means a lot to you, but she does to all of us. You know what she’d want you to do.”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“How can we just leave them there?”
“She may just surprise you yet. The Colonel is a hell of a woman.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“So what’s it gonna be?”
Taylor thought for a few seconds, and she could already see he’d come to accept the grim turn of events. He lifted up his comms unit once again.
“Captain Ryan, belay that order. Sergeant Silva, stand down.”
He looked back to Eli and was thankful she’d been there to stop him, but still in his heart, he knew it was the wrong thing to do. Eli lifted her hand and rested her palm on his cheek. She didn’t envy his position as second in command.
“I am sick of this fucking war,” he whispered.
“I know,” she replied even more quietly as she leant into his shoulder.
“It’ll be the death of us all.”
“Don’t talk like that. We’ve made it this far. What makes you think we can’t see this through?”
“Just how much more luck do you think we have? We’re put on the frontline every time. We can’t go on like this forever.”
“Well then I guess we better just win this war soon.”
He smiled in response. A little light humour was the only thing that would break him from the cycle.
Chandra leapt down from Chen’s position and rushed on to find Klimenko. In a war where they had little communications or visual displays, she had to see it all for herself. She could hear Suarez cursing under his breath at having to follow her, but she didn’t care.
As she reached the Russian lines, she could see a number of dead who had been set aside and several wounded being carried away. The battle was clearly already over. Along the defensive wall, the marines had propped up Reitech shields in a regimented fashion every metre, providing protection and firing positions that resembled the ramparts of an old castle.
Major Klimenko sat at a table with a box of ammunition on the ground beside him, reloading his magazines. Several of his marines were with him. He looked surprisingly calm as his troops helped the wounded and adjusted the defences around him. As she approached, he peered up and greeted her.
“A good start, Colonel.”
She leapt up onto the line of defences to peer over at the destruction below. The bodies of several dozen Mechs lay there. Some of the marines were passing through the enemy wounded, and she watched as one of the Russians fired two shots into one of the aliens that was still struggling.
Nothing seemed to shock her any longer, and she could see the rest of the troops had become just as polarised. She turned and jumped back down to address Klimenko.
“Any news on their strength?” he asked.
“Sorry, all I can say for sure is it’s big.”
He nodded in acceptance. “Any possibility of reinforcement?”
“Not likely. I’d think plenty of the enemy fleet have continued on to the gate.”
“Do we present enough of a threat to draw some of their attentions and give Huber a fighting chance?”
“Hell, yes. I’m sure they’re already well aware they’ll need more than a few hundred soldiers to take this colony back. We’ll make them pay a high price here.”
“And ourselves? What price will we pay?”
“Whatever we have to. Our fate is now tied to this planet. Nobody leaves.”
“I wasn’t intended on going anywhere,” he replied dryly.
“We’re in this for the long haul. I’ll arrange further supplies to be brought to you, presently.”
He nodded, and she turned to return to where she had come from. The CP was still as silent as when she had left. The five personnel inside all turned to her for news. She was hoping for answers from them, but they had little information to share.