"Remotely driven armoured fighting vehicles, not ever seen them in my life time," he stated. "They were banned by most nations over a century ago."
"Yeah, well I guess the rules went out the window some time back," he replied.
"Begs the question what else they'll be willing to throw at us?"
As he said it, a missile trail soared towards them.
"You spoke to soon!" yelled Taylor. They both leapt from the wreck, and the missile struck the turret. The explosion was near deafening as debris flew over them. Taylor looked back up to see specs in the sky closing in on them like a flock of birds. The ground rippled around them as automatic fire rained down on them.
"Cover!"
Taylor rushed to his feet and sprinted for the trench, gunfire erupting all around them. A bullet ricocheted off his shoulder armour and clipped his cheek and chin, cutting it badly as he rolled into the trench beside his comrades. They were already returning fire. He reached for his rifle, which was just where it had been left when he was tossed out of the trench, and slammed in a new magazine as quickly as could be managed.
As he took aim, he could see what was coming at them now, six rotor mini drone copters with an array of weaponry. They appeared to have little armour but were small and fast enough to be far from easy to hit. He squeezed the trigger, and the first shot went between two of the rotors and found no target. He followed it with a three-shot burst, and when one of the shots hit the hull of the drone, it dropped out of the sky. He lifted up his arms to protect himself as it dropped and smashed over his arms and helmet, along with several others that had been hit. As he got back up, he could see the body of a fallen man beside him. He grabbed the man's shield and took it as his own for cover.
He looked up from the shelter of the shield and could see dozens of drones circling them like vultures. Their trench provided no cover at all from the aerial attackers.
"We need to move!"
"No shit, Captain!" he replied. He looked up over the trench. The whole line was under attack in a similar fashion, and out in the distance a new wave of armoured vehicles was approaching.
"Fall back, back to the town!" he yelled down the comms.
He was the first out the trench with his shield held high as it took impacts. He looked back for just a second to be certain the rest of his unit were following suit. As he turned back to watch where he was going, one of the drones swooped in low so that it was level with his head. He lowered his shield and quickened his pace. A few light impacts glanced off his shield, but then he felt a larger one as he smashed into the drone, and it was thrown underfoot.
He kept up the pace to get further into the buildings of the town that were rather more intact than the outer areas they had left. He could see an old bank up ahead with thick walls and rushed for the door that was halfway off its sliding mechanism. A dozen or more of the Regiment rushed through with Silva last through the door. Parker was nowhere to be seen, but he had to hope she had made it to safety.
Taylor looked up, relieved to see the floor above were fortunately still solid. He turned back to peer through one of the windows and caught sight of several drones hot on the trail of some of his unit. One was holding his shield back to cover them the best he could, but shots were landing all around their position. Taylor rushed back to the half open door, took quick aim, and fired a burst at the cluster of drones.
One burst into flames and smashed down into the ground. The others banked sharply and came for him, but now they were right where he wanted them. They could only approach head on in the narrow corridor of attack he had left them. He held his shield firmly before him and his rifle at its side, using his helmet targeting to remain safe.
The shield absorbed a few shots while he blasted the drones out of the sky. As the last one fell, it launched another missile that smashed into the centre of his shield. The impact launched him into the building more than ten metres where he hit a support beam with his back and then crumpled to the ground. Mitch blacked out for just a few seconds as he landed and then turned to see Silva reaching for him. He coughed and spluttered; his lungs were filled with dust that had gathered on the floors of the abandoned bank.
His mouth was drier than ever now and coated in a thick layer of dirt and soot, making his voice coarse and husky. His head pounded, and he wanted nothing more than to rip his helmet off. He could feel his brain throbbing, and his skull dripping in sweat that now lined the helmet.
"You got a thing for acrobatics, Colonel. Should have joined the air force," said Silva.
"That's a big help," Taylor groaned.
Silva helped him to his feet, and he looked up. The half open doorway was now just a gaping hole and with no door of any kind in sight. A small fire had started beside it where the interior had ignited, and several of their unit were trying to put it out. It had quietened down outside now with only infrequent gunfire.
"Those things were banned under the Graz Convention a long time ago," he stated.
"Yeah, well I guess no one told the Germans."
"I still don't understand why they're fighting us, Sir," said Acosta.
Taylor barely knew the Private who had come over with Silva but had never seen combat with any of them, being too young to have fought in the last war.
"They are probably thinking just the same about us," replied Taylor.
"Yeah, well it ain't them getting invaded, is it?"
Taylor knew he had been an aggressor in their land before this had happened, but he couldn't bring himself to try and explain it to the young Private who was eager and loyal, but far from smart. Silva leaned in close to the Colonel.
"Why is it we always end up slap bang in the middle of the action, no matter where it might be?" he whispered.
Taylor smiled in response. "Because that's our purpose in life."
They heard a rustle of steps and raised their weapons in readiness, but were met by Sergeant Parker who rushed in through the doorway. Her face was cut in several places from debris, but she looked happy to have found them all.
"Well that's new," she gasped.
"Indeed, but I doubt it'll be the first surprise we see from the UEN," replied Taylor. "You heard from Dupont yet if we're getting the support we need?"
"Yes, Sir, that and more. Two divisions are deploying to the area presently. We are to redeploy to Meaux immediately."
"Meaux? Christ, that'll take us out of this war."
"I spoke to the General personally, Sir. Sounds like they've made some progress in regard to the Krys agents and want you there."
"And so they order the whole Regiment back?"
"Come on, Colonel," added Silva. "We're two hundred strong, might as well be your personal bodyguards. Hell you need it."
He looked around to see the news sat well with all who heard it.
"These two divisions, they’re actually here?" he asked.
"Ten klicks out and with plenty of armour," replied Parker.
"And our ride out of here?"
"Already put down half a klick west and awaiting us."
"Then we wait till relieved. I ain't giving ground just to save a few minutes."
"The General was quite adamant that we were to redeploy immediately."
"Yeah, well he ain't here," replied Taylor dryly.
He tapped on his comms unit. "Everyone, stay put and keep a keen eye. And tell Captain Grey he's got time to brew up."
Several of the marines around him smiled.
"Acosta, gather up three of those drones as complete as you can find. I want to take 'em back for Reiter."
"He still working with us?" asked Silva.
"Bet your ass he is. We lost too many to these things, but it could have been a lot worse. I want to make sure next time we encounter them, they do not cause us so much trouble. Reiter will have a way."