"But we failed here, didn't we? Even if we do get out, it was all for nothing," said Herrera.
"The Colonel took a fair gamble which had to be taken. There are no certainties in war."
The Corporal turned to Jones who was still slowly enjoying his solitary beer and making it last.
"What do you think, Captain?"
"Jones suddenly looked up at him. His mind had been elsewhere."
"Think of what?"
"This war, how we weren't able to stop it."
"I think it's bad news, but there is absolutely no benefit in crying over what we cannot change."
"I don't believe that," said Herrera. "I've never seen the Colonel meet a challenge he couldn't overcome."
"That's a lot of faith to be putting in one man. More of a burden than I'd want to shoulder."
"But he always comes through for us, and so do you."
Jones didn't know what to say.
"And this is why the UEN wants the Colonel out of this war so badly. He's a massive boon for whoever has him. He inspires men and women to victories they never dreamed of accomplishing," said Silva.
Rains laughed. "Oh, come on, he's not a god. How about all the times I've saved your asses?"
"Agreed, we've all done a lot of good," said Silva. "But it is Taylor who’s kept us together. He is an asset the Regiment cannot afford to lose, that the EA cannot afford to lose, and that we cannot afford to lose. The United States already has, and look how hard it's trying to get him back, and they ain't even in this war."
"Yet," stated Jones, "there’s only so long anyone can stay out of this."
"You really think they'll come in on it?" asked Herrera.
"Definitely, once they know which way the wind is blowing."
"You're not suggested they'd just pick the winning side?"
Rains laughed again. "Oh, come on, man."
Jones nodded in agreement as well.
"Then I guess we just gotta give the right impression," said Herrera.
The UEN has used Mechs in their armies, and that's the first point in our favour. Another few decisions like that, and the work is done for us."
"And what then, we just blow the shit out of each other till one side is still standing?" asked Acosta.
"That's about the sum of it," replied Jones. "And then that Erdogan, or whatever his name is, will come at the survivors with all he's got. That's what I would do."
Six hours later Taylor awoke to an eerily quiet room. He got up to look at his watch and was amazed to see he'd been out for so long. It was dark outside, but the streetlights were still on. He looked over to the door to see Rains sat on guard and alert. Acosta was across the room, his rifle laying across his legs as he sat on a tabletop.
Mitch got up, and despite his body feeling stiff, he felt fresh and good. He stepped over to Rains, pulled up a chair, and sat opposite him.
"You let me sleep a long time."
"You needed it."
"I'm sorry I got you into this again. Seems half the time you get involved with us anymore, you end up with a rifle in hand."
"Was getting pretty attached to that bird too. Called her Agathe."
Taylor laughed. "Agathe? Not exactly smooth."
"Hey, named her after a lovely French girl I met a few weeks back."
Taylor held up his hands. "I take it back, and I hope that Agathe lasts a little better."
"So if we get back to our lines..."
"When, not if," Taylor interrupted.
"All right, when. What will you do then?"
"Go back to the frontline I guess. Wherever we're ordered to go."
"It'll be a waste."
Taylor waited for him to elaborate.
"Inter-Allied is something special. You can achieve things no other unit could hope to. You should be saved for more important tasks."
"What, like Special Forces, what do you think we are?"
"Look at what you have achieved. Just stop and look back at all the things you have done in the last what, six years. You are no ordinary marine, and this is no ordinary unit. Inter-Allied is something special. It always was."
"Well, thanks, but you better include yourself in that. You are one of us now, ‘cos you sure ain't French Air Force."
"Hell, no!"
The night passed without incident and at 0600 hours in the early morning, as things were just beginning to warm up, Jones stepped out of the front door to take in the fresh morning air. Taylor moved to join him.
"So what now?"
"We need to blend in. Head back north to the main road, disguise ourselves among the troops there, and make our way to the frontline."
"Risky business."
Taylor nodded in agreement. Now he was recovered, and able to reflect on the day before, his mind wandered to the scene when Jones had saved them and taken out the gunship.
"Yesterday, when you saved our asses," stated Taylor.
"What of it?"
"Well, a few things. One, it was batshit crazy what you did."
"Which bit?" asked Jones, seeming to pass it off as nothing unusual.
"All of it. For one thing, you didn't hesitate to shoot those MPs. Humans who aren't even in this war, Americans."
"I didn't enjoy it, if that's what you're asking."
"No, no. That's not what I meant."
Taylor went silent, trying to find a way not to offend his friend, but Jones continued on for him anyway.
"Those MPs stood in the way of your freedom, our freedom. We gave everything for this world to remain free, what are two lives to add to the toll?"
"Well I agree...in principle. I was just surprised to see you take them down like that, without concern or anything."
"I had concern, but for us. We cannot stop to care or consider the dangers to those who oppose us and put our lives in danger. Those days are long gone. They ended the first day the Krys set foot on Earth. It's a harsher world now than it has been in hundreds of years. I tried to pretend it wasn't and turned my back on it all. But it is a fighter’s world. Those who fight to survive and win have a chance, and those who do not, don't."
Taylor agreed but was surprised to hear the grim analysis of their world from Jones. For a man who had been so compassionate over the years, he now seemed to be utterly black and white.
"You know whether it was right or wrong, there'll be a price to pay for it one day?"
"Maybe, if we ever make it through any of this. Let's worry about winning this war before we worry about a few red caps getting hurt. We bled enough in these wars. About time they had a few licks themselves."
Taylor smiled. He had hated the MPs his entire life, and it always amused him to hear someone else ripping into them.
"And how about that gunship?" asked Taylor. "That was hard-core."
"I learnt it from you."
Taylor thought back and remembered doing something similar, but in space."
"All right, I'll give you that one."
Taylor looked back into the bar. They were all ready and waiting.
"Let's do this."
They headed on down the abandoned streets as if they were taking a walk in the park. Anything else would be suspicious so far back from the frontline. Finally, they came across the lamppost that had been demolished by the limo. It was the marker point for them reaching the main road. Up ahead they could see a line of trucks passing by.
"I don't like this," said Silva.
But they carried on walking as if there were no danger at all. As they stepped out to cross the road, a six-wheeled armoured vehicle rolled to a halt beside them. They froze.
Oh shit, Taylor thought.
To their surprise the driver's hatch opened, and the driver appeared before them and beckoned for them to jump on. He was shouting something Taylor didn't understand, though it sounded like German to him. Taylor couldn't believe their luck and knew they had to clamber on or risk appearing suspicious.