Taylor looked through the cockpit screen at the Civic Centre. It was merely a larger version of the ugly buildings that surround it. The shuttles were a bulky and cumbersome transport compared to the fast attack copters that Rains was used to. He didn’t like them anymore than Taylor liked the colony.
Minutes later their shuttles docked with the building and Taylor stepped out with his company at his back. Everyone they passed looked at them open mouthed. To see a fully armed and armoured marine was unknown to them outside of the news. Just fifty metres into the building they were met by a sharp-suited man who was certainly an aide to someone important.
“Major Taylor!”
“What can I do for you?”
“Sir, I am James Dallah, the Prime minister has asked me to attach myself to your unit during your stay.”
“Good, then you can put out a message for me.”
Taylor tried to continue his stride through the building but the arrogant Dallah put his hand out and stopped the Major. Taylor looked up in disgust at the arrogant little man, but he knew he could not risk a political incident at this stage. Had it been back on base he’d have struck the man down where he stood.
“Dallah was it? Don’t ever touch me again. Get the Commander of UEN forces to a meeting with me, and make it happen within the hour!”
James looked up at the Major who was an imposing figure, and at the endless stream of fully equipped marines behind him. He nodded, but before he could answer the loudspeaker running through the building rang out.
“Major Taylor, please report to the Prime Minister’s Office immediately. Major Taylor to the Prime Minister’s Office.”
“Guess word travels fast,” said Suarez.
“I will lead you to him, please follow me, Major,” said Dallah.
Taylor turned to his men.
“Captain Friday, take up positions throughout the facility, make sure we have men on every floor and at all entrances. Price and Kwori with me.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The Major followed the snivelling ministerial aide through the corridors of the building as his marines scattered throughout. The Captain was a quiet man, but eminently capable in any situation and had Taylor’s full confidence. Dallah led the Major and his men into an elevator and up several floors to what were clearly the most elaborate facilities of the building, which was not saying much.
Taylor was continually amazed at how Spartan the Moon colony was. As a marine he was used to roughing it, but his officer’s quarters could only be described as luxurious compared to what he was seeing now. Dallah opened the doors to the secretary’s office that led to the Prime Minister’s office. Two policemen were posted outside and armed with handguns, a lax security compared to what their Earth officials would expect.
Taylor nodded to his two marines, signalling for them to take up positions outside beside the policemen. The guards looked uneasily at the armoured marines. It was their colony policy to not have military personnel in state buildings, let alone with the kind of hardware they were carrying. The Major could see that the officers were desperate to interrupt and stop him entering with a rifle slung across his chest, but they were under orders not to.
Dallah pulled open the doors. The Prime Minister was stood looking out of a thick porthole across the colony. Two men were sitting at his desk, both wearing military uniform. Taylor went through into the office in full battle attire. The Prime Minister turned to greet him, but surprisingly was not at all shocked by his hardware. He nodded to Dallah to shut the door and leave.
“Major Taylor, this is Commander Kelly of the Moon Defence Force, and Colonel Visser of the UEN. I have called you here because we have just received some troubling news, but it would appear you were better informed than any of us,” said Prime Minister Olsen.
“Information has been withheld from us, Major, and that is unacceptable,” said Visser.
“Gentleman, you can complain all you like, but I am a soldier, not a politician. My only concern is the safety of the colony and its people, so let’s cut to the chase.”
“You think you can come in here and treat is like dirt?” shouted Kelly.
“Calm down the lot of you,” said Olsen.
“Major, we’ve just been informed by the UEN President that a large object, which appears to be a space vessel, is on a direct path to us and Earth. Also that they have lost contact with the fleet sent to investigate what they called an ‘incident’ on Mars. What can you tell us?”
“Clearly you now know as much as I do. I suggest you call all soldiers and territorials to arms, we may well have a fight on our hands.”
“A fight? With who and why?”
“I honestly don’t know, Colonel. Whoever is on the way has already attacked a civilian colony and has made no attempt at communication. We can only assume that they will continue with hostile actions.”
A light began to flash on the Prime Minister’s intercom. He quickly tapped the open channel button for hands free.
“What is it?” he snapped.
“Sir, I have a General White on the line for you.”
“Put him through!”
“Prime Minister, I am Major Taylor’s commanding officer and will be your contact from now on.”
“Go on, General.”
“What we suspect to be a vast ship heading your way is a concern, but no longer our first concern. It appears that a smaller vessel has split away and is heading for you at a far greater speed.”
“What are you saying, General? Give it to us straight.”
“Information is still sketchy, but it would appear the main vessel is coming for Earth and this smaller ship to your colony. As a military man, I’d have to say that it is typical of an attack vector.”
“We are talking about a mass scale attack, by who?”
“We simply don’t know. We have not seen anything like the size of these ships before. Nor are we aware of any technology which would allow vessels to travel that fast, not even our fastest craft.”
“I am lost for words, General.”
“Then let me tell you the only thing you can do. Break open your weapons, ensure every man and woman who is capable is armed and ready. We don’t know what to expect, but we do know it’s hostile and bearing on us quickly!”
“Even with your Major’s men we could not muster a thousand soldiers, surely not enough for any kind of defence. What about evacuation to Earth?”
“Negative, with the size of your population and time we have, you wouldn’t be able to get out more than ten percent of the colony. Based on our last estimates, you’ve got about six hours.”
“Christ, how could it come to this?” Kelly asked.
“Thank you, General, I’ll assemble our forces immediately.”
“Good luck, Prime Minister.”
The line switched off and Olsen looked at the others with utter shock about his face.
“Sir, we have to start now,” said Taylor.
“Yes, yes I understand. Form all troops immediately, I’ll leave the details to you men.”
“Commander, Colonel. You surely have a lot of work ahead of you, with your permission I should see to my own men and get them ready.”
“Get to it, Major,” said Kelly.
Taylor rushed out of the room, nodding to his two marines on the way out to follow him. He didn’t even break stride to say a word to them. The Major was shaking his head in dismay. It was obvious that this sort of threat existed days ago and the authorities did nothing. In that time they could have deployed several divisions to the Moon or evacuated the entire colony to the safety of Earth. He tapped his intercom.
“Taylor to Deveron, come in, over.”
“This is Deveron, over.”
“I need a direct line to General White, can you organise that for me?”
“Sir, he is already waiting to speak with you.”
“Put him through.”
The Major continued to stride through the vast Civic building as he was put through to the General.
“Major Taylor, you’re about to be hit by a shit storm, we both know that. We also know that if you are faced with any serious force you’ll never hold out.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Your orders are simple, your number one priority is Prime Minister Olsen. He knows a tremendous amount about Earth’s governments, its workings, strengths and security. He is a major asset to any enemy. You are to protect him at all costs. If possible, in situ, if that proves impossible, evacuate immediately. If there is any risk of him falling into enemy hands, you put two in the chest and one in the head. Do I make myself clear?”
“Absolutely, Sir, and the rest of the civilians?”
“You have your orders, Major. Protect the Prime Minister, bug out if need be. The most valuable assets to us are the Prime Minister’s life and the men at your command!”
The Major looked around to be certain that no one other than his marines could hear as he was horrified at what he was hearing.
“Sir, you want us to leave the civilians and UEN forces to die?”
“Taylor, get this into your head. Big shit is going down, potentially world changing. Tough times call for tough measures, you do what you have to do, more importantly, what you’re ordered to!”
“Affirmative!”
“Okay, keep me in the loop, over and out.”
Taylor reached Captain Friday and Lieutenant Suarez who had set up a command post in one of the quiet offices of the ugly and utilitarian building. He pulled back a chair and slumped into it with a sigh.
“What is it, Sir?” asked Suarez.
Taylor looked up at his officers, five of his command staff were present.
“Shut the door.”
Captain Friday did as ordered, in his usual silent and efficient manner.
“We aren’t here to safeguard the population. Our orders solely revolve around Prime Minister Olsen. His protection is our only concern. If we cannot protect him here, we are to pull out evac him to Earth immediately.”
“And just leave everyone behind?”
“Fact is, Suarez, if it gets to that point, there won’t be much we do can for them.”
The room went silent. None of them could believe that they were being asked to leave civilians behind in the case of disaster.
“I know it sucks, but it’s our job. Now, I want the Deveron docked on the roof of this building. Officially it’ll be there to act as a static gun defence, which will at least in part be true. It will also be ready for an immediate bug out should we need it. We’ve got a few hours, get the men on rotation and make sure everyone gets at least a couple of hours kip. With any luck there’ll be no fighting at all, but let’s be prepared for the worst.”
* * *
Hours had passed with little rest for any involved. Major Taylor stood beside the Prime Minister as they watched the hulking vessel approach. The communications officers continued to put out signals in multiple languages, as well as light and sound communication. They had received no response. Mitch tightened his grip around his gun, he had a bad feeling about what they were about to face.
The Prime Minister and all other key command staff were in the emergency command and control centre that was built below the surface of the Civic Centre. It was intended to be a centre for use during environmental disasters or internal threats to the safety of officials. All watched open mouthed at the monitors as the huge vessel soared towards them.
The vessel was the size of a city. You would be hard pressed to explain its actual shape with so many protruding structures that appeared to be fins and aerials. The finish of the vessel was harsh and industrial, as if it was bare ironwork in a factory. It was an ugly ship in every way, but no less imposing. It was elongated with vast engines at its rear and an aggressive and ugly prow resembling a hammerhead shark.
“They’re three miles out, Sir.”
“I don’t want anyone showing any aggressive action at all, let’s not provoke a war,” said Olsen.
They watched in amazement as a huge door opened on the mouth of the vessel, though it was small in scale to the ship. The space glimmered as camouflaged ships poured out in their dozens.
“Look at that, the way they blend into space,” said Kelly.