Authors: Nick S. Thomas
"Denied."
"Mitch?"
He stopped, turned to face her, and replied in a whisper.
"Look, what we choose to do in our own time is one thing, but we must stay professional in our jobs. You have a duty to your platoon. Be there for them like they are there for you."
"But..."
He lifted his hand and put his finger to her lips lightly to stop her.
"But nothing. I'll see you when it's all over. Report to your station, Sergeant."
She knew he was right, but it pained her to have to part from him once again.
"Aye, aye, Sir."
Taylor and Jafar arrived at the docking bay just in time to see the nuclear weapon being carried aboard. Rains stood with his arms crossed, watching with a smile. He looked immensely pleased with the new model craft he had so recently taken delivery of. It was a Stallion class, and despite the pristine body, he had already decorated it with a hand painted half naked lady.
"Woo hoo! Gonna blow some shit up today!" he yelled.
"Taylor smiled. Even in the face of apocalyptical destruction, the Lieutenant was his same cheery self.
"You know whatever pills you’re taking sure would be popular right about now," replied Taylor.
"Oh, come on, Colonel, we're living exciting times! We're about to witness the biggest mothership of all time; big enough to kill every living thing on a planet. We're gonna see it, and then we're gonna blow it to hell!"
"That's certainly the plan. Have you been brought up to speed on what we are doing here?"
"We got it. Fly you in to breach the ships coming our way. All we got to do is deliver you safely and pull you out at the end."
"That about sums it up."
"Easiest thing in the world," replied Eddie with a wide grin.
Taylor lifted his arm to speak into his comms module.
"2nd Inter-Allied. Emplane immediately. Lift off in five."
Jones appeared at his side, ushering their platoon aboard. Among them were some of the Brits that had been with them from the very beginning. Monty and Blinker strode past, greeting the Colonel.
"Shame Colonel Chandra isn't here to see us blow the bastards to hell, Sir," shouted Blinker.
Monty shook his head in shame.
"You remember her when you see the enemy again," replied Taylor.
"Sure will, Sir."
"Load up, Rains."
"You got it."
Taylor was the last aboard. The plan was set now, and all they could do was wait and hope the Purge fleet came as Jafar predicted. The alien was glued to his side throughout.
"Still confident about this plan?"
Jafar nodded.
"I served Demiran for many years. He is predictable. If he is using the Gezgen K'til, then he will do so in the exact manner it was used last and the times before that. No planet has stood against it and the Purge combined."
"Good to know," he replied sarcastically.
The ship lifted off within seconds of him sitting down behind Eddie and his co-pilot.
It gave the Colonel a sense of security to have Rains at the helm and keeping them safe. He had got them through hell many times before. He thought back on all the times they had survived against all odds.
I wonder how much longer our luck can hold out.
Jones could see the lost look in his eyes and quickly responded.
"Hey, it ain't all bad."
Taylor smiled cautiously.
"How'd you figure?"
"We're the Immortals, remember? Failure is not a possibility."
Taylor laughed.
"Whoever named us that can't have seen our casualty lists."
"Maybe it isn't important. It doesn't matter who lives and dies from the Immortals. Only that they struggle on, no matter what. Soldiers from around the World are spurred on by our victories. Their resolve holds because ours does."
"Mmm, but at hell of a cost. Isn't it time someone else took on the mantle?"
"We aren't the only ones fighting. I am sure plenty have had it just as bad."
Taylor nodded in agreement. He knew Jones to be correct, for he had seen the evidence with his own eyes. Thirty minutes later they were in position spread amongst the minefield before Bailey's fleet. The thirty ships she had were staggered into several lines of defence. To reach Earth via a direct path, the enemy would have to go right through them.
"You still sure they won't avoid us all together?" asked Jones.
"Positive. Demiran despises you and will accept nothing short of a full frontal attack. Anything that stands in his way must be crushed."
"Well, allright then. I sure hope you're right."
"He's not wrong," replied Rains.
"What is it?" asked Taylor.
"The Neptune has made visual contact."
"Put it on the display."
A projection came up front of them all. It wasas Jafar had described, hulking, heavily armoured vessels all matching. They had never seen such vessels before.
"Twelve of the bastards. Just as you said," said Jones.
"It's a good start," replied Taylor.
"Not sure that's how I'd describe it," Jones retorted.
"They're coming right for us. There's no doubt about it!" Eddie added.
"Strike two. It's going our way so far. How long till they reach the fleet?"
"They'll be in range in a few minutes," replied Eddie.
"Right, then it is a waiting game for us."
They did exactly that. The viewing screen was a projection from a camera aboard the Neptune. It was not long before the guns raged from both sides, but the enemy made no sign of slowing down. The hulking cruisers still soared towards the fleet, as if to smash through as Jafar had said.
"You were right," Jones said quietly.
"Yes, breach the defences and cause utter chaos. That is their job."
"And they're rolling right into our trap," Taylor said.
Two of the human ships were destroyed before their eyes. It brought a sober tone to them all, but only hardened their resolve to make the enemy pay dearly. As the Purge cruisers reached the fleet, another of the humans’ ships was ripped apart by heavy pulses that tore it into four sections. The Neptune gave a vicious broadside from its guns as a cruiser passed. The salvo smashed the hull of the enemy ship and tore metal from its armour but did little to slow it down.
"Still sure we can breach that?" asked Jones.
"Yes," replied Jafar.
Glad someone is so optimistic,
Mitch thought.
"Not long now till we kick their teeth in!" yelled Blinker.
Taylor smiled as the Private's brother shouted for him to be quiet. But in all honestly, he didn't mind it. They needed some rousing words and fighting spirit. He looked around to see that he was the only marine in their unit. Inter-Allied had become so closely knit since it all began that he had not given it a moment's thought.
"What are you thinking?" asked Jones.
"How I'm the only full blooded American here."
"You're the token yank," Jones replied with a smile.
Taylor could do nothing but laugh as he turned back to the viewing screen, checking the enemy’s progress. They had to make light of the situation. It was the best way to calm their nerves at the realisation of what they were about to attempt. The first enemy cruiser struck a mine at the opening to the field. The device tore a chuck from the hull, but it continued on all the same until its power failed and it floated off as one more wreck in space.
"Got to be close now!"
"Wait for it, Eddie," replied Taylor.
He watched as the fighter wings from the Neptune soared through the enemy fleet, creating a wave of confusion and firing everything they had at the weapon ports of the cruisers. Taylor lifted his Mappad and allocated a ship to each platoon that was waiting before hitting the submit button.
"That's it, we're in place and good to go. Punch it!" he shouted.
Eddie was quick to respond. The engines were already running at minimal power and within a second were roaring. They lifted off from a rock that they and several other craft had been using for concealment. With full power down, they were rushing towards the lead enemy vessel at an immense pace. Eddie only let off the power at the last second, giving it full reverse thrust. They hit the hull of the cruiser hard, rocking all aboard, but they knew the impact would not have been felt inside the massive armoured beast.
Jones and his team got to work immediately. They opened the hatches and set the charges. Taylor was still doubtful they'd get through the thick skinned hull, but he was glad to have made it there alive, as they all were. There was a dull thud as the magnetic shaped charges were thrown against the hull of the enemy ship.
"Fire in the hole!"
They turned away as the button was pressed, and a sharp but short explosion erupted. It sounded more like a shotgun going off. Taylor turned in amazement to see a clean hole in the hull. They had gone through the inch thick blast doors that protected the windows to a cabin at the outer skin of the cruiser, as Jafar had said.
"We're in business!" Jones called out.
"Go!"
Jones was the first through the breach, and Taylor followed him. They had their weapons at the ready and shields held out to take an impact, but the room was peaceful. It reminded Taylor of the quarters he had occupied while on the Deveron. Some kind of workstation lay in the middle of the room, and an archway led to what appeared to be a bedroom. The layout was not unfamiliar, only the decor. A rack of what appeared to be either relics or trophies lay on a wall as prized possessions. Aside from a few weapons, Taylor did not recognise any of the items. Several appeared to be rifles and close quarter weapons, not of Mech origin, but he had little time to study them.
"We won't have long. The hull breach alert will already have activated," Jafar said.
"Lead the way," replied Taylor.
He stayed close to his alien friend as they were led down a long corridor that obviously led deep into the underbelly of the ship.
"Jesus, no wonder our guns can barely touch these things. The depth of this armour is like nothing we have ever seen," said Jones.
They finally reached a set of secure blast doors.
"Get these open," ordered Taylor.
Before the troops could act upon the order, several lights flashed and the doors before them prized open. Four Mechs stood in front of them with their weapons held low and unprepared. The eight members of the platoon at the front opened fire with vicious effect. The creatures were dead before they had known what hit them.
"They really underestimated us, didn't they?"
"This is the last thing they could have expected from us, Colonel," replied Jafar, as he stepped through the dead. "We're not far now."
They reached a four-way junction and stopped for a moment.
"The bridge is just up ahead."
Taylor turned back to the platoon.
"One section each way, as we planned it. Go."
He leapt forward with Jafar and Jones. This made Jones' section the strongest, but they were also heading for the main entrance. The corridor had only small strengthening girders each side, providing little cover. They were glad of the shields, or they'd be badly exposed. Taylor caught a glimmer of movement up ahead and realised it was the shape of two enemy soldiers guarding the doorway. They were raising their weapons as they too realised the threat.
"Fire!" he shouted.
Taylor didn't know if any of the others had spotted the creatures or not, but he knew the command would tell them everything they needed to know. There were thirty metres of open corridor between them and the enemy, but they did not slow their advance.