“Hey, Sir, how’s it hangin’?” Rains asked.
“Good, Lieutenant, fine job on our drop and we appreciate the fast pickup.”
“I can take credit for the first, Sir, but the pickup was ordered in no uncertain terms.”
“Really?”
“You bet ya. Whatever they want you for, it’s big!”
“Any idea what that might be?”
“No, Sir. But the comms have been alive, whatever the news it’s mighty big and affects more than just the US of A.”
* * *
It was a long journey back to their base for the Major. He now knew that they were heading for big trouble, his imagination could not even begin to get close to the reality of it. A second after they had touched down, Taylor was on his feet and out the door. The landing zone was scattered with aircraft. Just as Rains had suggested, all units had been recalled. Most had already returned, the decks were almost empty. A single jeep was waiting for them with a Sergeant at the wheel.
“Guess we’re walking,” said Silva.
The driver stepped out from his vehicle and straight up to the officer, saluting quickly but not waiting to be greeted.
“Sir, I am Sergeant Gibbons. I have orders to take you immediately to an emergency assembly of all base officers.”
“What about my men?”
“Sir, they’ll have to figure it out. This order comes directly from General White.”
Taylor nodded. He was surprised at the sheer urgency of the situation, it was beginning to look as bad as he had imagined. Turning back to his men he could already see how pissed off they were at the thought of lugging their kit on foot back to their digs.
“Lieutenant Suarez, get the men back aboard the birds, drop our boys off on the battalion’s drill square.”
“Sir, that is strictly against base procedures.”
“Look around, Lieutenant, there’s no one around to give a shit. Get our boys back and put some food in their bellies, I’ll return when I can.”
He nodded over to the Sergeant who was waiting impatiently. He knew he could not be too stern with his officer, but also that the orders of a General gave him a lot of power. Taylor walked up to the jeep and placed his rifle in the back. He unclipped his armour and felt the immediate release and freedom of its encumbrance being removed.
The jeep was an open top vehicle with a roll cage, running a turbine engine which charged batteries that ran individual motors at each wheel. It was the standard utility of the Marine Corps, being light enough to be slung under their Eagle copters. Many were severely armoured, but not those used as run-arounds on the base or for special mission deployment.
Mitch climbed aboard the jeep and yawned as he sat down. It had been a hell of an early start and the heat was really getting to him. Without saying a word the Sergeant fired up the vehicle and sped off at an unusually fast velocity. The urgency at which Gibbons drove gave yet more indication to the severity of the situation. Taylor bounced ideas around his head about the cause of such drama. He could only think that a major Eastern power was causing trouble. They’d be the only ones capable of causing such concern.
The vehicle pulled up outside the briefing hall. Dozens of cars and jeeps were strewn about the parking lot, with the odd straggler arriving as they did. Taylor leapt from the vehicle and rushed to the door. He still wore his combat fatigues which were covered in dust and sweat patches. He’d never turn out anywhere on the base looking like that, but he had no choice.
Inside the hall he could see it was lined with all the senior officers on base at the time. There was no seating left, so he took up position at the back of the room. There were at least a hundred officers there. At the forefront was a table with three chairs laid out for the General and his staff. Moments later General White and two other senior officers entered the room. They wore their BDUs, meaning they had rushed to the briefing. The audience leapt to their feet as the base leaders sat before them.
“Thank you, Gentleman, be seated,” said General White.
The crowd quickly sat down remaining silent. Everyone present was very anxious to hear the news, and the General did not delay.
“Shortly before 0800 hours a distress signal was sent from an Ares colony ship. The message claimed that the base had come under attack by an unidentified enemy. Communication officers on the Moon were unable to regain contact with Ares or its vessels, and based on the contact, there are not expected to be any survivors.”
Whispers and comments began to arise across the room, becoming a drowning drone of conversation.
“Pipe down!” shouted White.
They all went silent again.
“Now, based on the information given, we have not been able to identify the attacking forces. The info did not correlate to any military forces that we are familiar with. The crew who sent the message suggested that the forces were not human. Now I don’t want anyone to jump to any conclusions. What is clear, is that an advanced enemy has viciously attacked a civilian colony. There are already ships on the way to investigate, but as you know, it’ll be months until they arrive.”
There was a hush, as no one knew how to take the news. The planet had become used to peace between major powers. A new threat as substantial as was being suggested came as a shock to them all.
“At the moment that is all we know. However, while we should not panic, we must take this threat seriously. Alert levels are being raised across the world and all military personnel are being ordered to base and brought up to combat readiness. For all we know this could be the work of terrorists, an eastern power or a private organisation. Until we know differently, stay calm and be ready. That’ll be all.”
The General left, but the information he had provided only wetted his audience’s appetite. The officers were eager for action, but were still trying to understand and interpret the meaning of what they had been told. Taylor was one of the first to leave. His driver and jeep were gone. He shook his head in surprise, but quickly took to a walking pace, there was nothing left to do but return to his unit.
Ten days later.
Taylor put his beret on and headed for the door. Stepping out onto the parade ground, Lieutenant Suarez had already gotten the company assembled as ordered. For days they had continued their regime of fitness and combat training. Not another word had been spoken to the Major regarding the urgent assembly with the other officers.
As Mitch walked towards his finely presented unit, a jeep rode into view. Before he could get out a word to the company he recognised the stars below the windshield of the vehicle. It was the General’s car. Suarez ordered the men to attention as the vehicle stopped beside them and the General leapt out in an enthusiastic manner. They’d never seen a General move so fast.
“Taylor, with me, now!”
The General had not even broken his stride. He led Mitch around the corner of the assembly building of the drill square, out of sight and hearing of all who were formed up.
“Sir, what can I do for you?” asked Taylor.
The General turned and took a good look around the area to be sure they were alone.
“This is privileged information, you hear?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“The vessels that were dispatched to the Ares colony have been receiving readings of something heading for us. Now we don’t know what it is, but it’s big. Some experts are saying it’s coincidental, but I don’t believe in that crap. Official word is that the Ares colony is experiencing communication faults and assistance is en route.”
“Sir, that is not at all what we were led to believe.”
“Agreed. Whatever is heading our way will be passing the Moon colony first. Now, it’s a big colony but has limited military deployment. No order has gone out for us yet, that means my hands are tied. However, that does not stop normal procedure. I am despatching your company to the Moon colony for a training exercise.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Let me be clear, officially this is a training mission. Unofficially, we just don’t know what to expect. Be sure to take a full armament of live ammunition and all the gear you’ll need. I pray that this is all just a misunderstanding, but let us make sure we are ready for anything!”
“Yes, Sir, I’ll get on it!”
“I have already cleared you for departure and the stores have been ordered to give all that you ask, they are aware that this is a live fire exercise. You report only to me directly on this, get going ASAP!”
The General nodded in gratitude, he was glad to have officers who he could rely on. He strode off leaving Taylor stood considering his situation. He understood the General would only ask it of him if there were serious danger to the colony. On the other hand he knew that a single company was a meagre force to defend anything.
Walking back to the drill square he stopped in front of his company, the men eagerly awaiting some news. The General’s vehicle was already coasting into the distance. He looked around, nobody but his unit in sight.
“Stand easy and come forward!”
The men looked surprised not to be dismissed as per regulations and norm. They huddled around in a circle around the Major. He turned, looking at all their faces.
“We are deploying immediately to the Moon colony. That much is no secret. However, officially we are on a live fire training exercise. Unofficially, I want every one of you on guard and ready to fight. The General has entrusted us with a mission and we will get it done. I want you formed up in one hour, full kit, including counter pressure suits, masks, the lot. Ammunition is on its way. That will be all. Get to it!”
The men initially looked a little dazed, but they quickly snapped out of it as the Sergeants began barking their orders to get the men moving. Suarez moved up to the Major with a puzzled expression on his face.
“What the hell’s going on? A few days ago it was high alert, now officially a training mission?”
“Top brass hasn’t got a clue what is going on and nobody is keen to give them answers. The General is concerned that we don’t sit idle if a threat exists.”
“Fine, but one company? If there is any major military threat, what could we even do?”
Taylor turned to him, more than irritated by his constant questions and petty nature.
“A damn sight more than scientists and civilians, that’s for sure. Now, kit up, we’ve got a job to do, Lieutenant!”
Suarez straightened himself realising how foolish he was being. Not only that, he was questioning the orders of his superiors. He saluted quickly before rushing off to gather his equipment. Taylor stood and watched as his company scattered to fulfil their tasks. He was not at all comfortable with their orders.
Through the minor combat and policing actions which the Major had participated, they had always done so with substantial intel. He had little idea what to expect on the Moon colony and that concerned him. Training for immediate deployment was a regular part of their training, so Taylor was glad to see that the entire company was formed up with its gear in thirty-five minutes. They were ready before their transport had even arrived.
The Major paced up and down the square, looking out at his company. They sat about with their equipment stacked in lines, impatiently waiting for the vehicles. Taylor turned to see Sergeant Eleanor Parker walking up to him. He stopped pacing in surprise. He’d always found it difficult to be her superior when they had slept together after more than one operation. Not only that, but she was supposed to be recovering from a broken arm sustained in training.
Parker was shorter and slighter than any marine in the company, but she carried herself tall and proud. Her brunette hair was tied back perfectly and out of sight, her uniform immaculate and with no sign of the arm brace she’d been wearing until the day before. Her blue-grey eyes were piercing, and it was quite clear what she wanted. She quickly saluted and jumped into her request.
“Sir, requesting permission to rejoin the unit for operational duty!”
“Sergeant, you are not cleared from medical leave for another seven days.”
“Sir, that’s Doctor’s recommendations, not orders. I am ready to get back to it. If you have a mission to do you’ll need me back.”
Taylor looked around the lines of marines. He knew that Parker wasn’t fully recovered yet, neither did he want to see any harm come to her. Despite this, he hated the idea of leaving a fellow marine behind. He also knew that she was a useful asset to her platoon.