Battle Earth VII (24 page)

"Thank you, Gentlemen," he added, just to rub salt into the wound.

He stepped through into Dupont's office and found the General shaking his head.

"You really do have a problem with authority, Colonel."

"Yes, Sir," he replied, smiling.

"But as much as I dislike your manner, I will happily admit you are a great soldier."

"Marine..."

"Whatever."

The door opened, and Phillips stepped through. He hadn't seen the Commander in years and quickly outstretched his hand in friendship.

"Come to join the fight, Sir?"

"Good to see you're still alive, Mitch, but I'm here purely as a correspondent. I can have no part in any potential conflict, not while the United Kingdom remains neutral."

"Neutral? What, are you kidding me?"

"Sorry, Colonel, but that's not my decision. Our government has declared neutral status and has condemned the activities of the UEN. Our Prime Minister has not gone as far as departing from the UEN, but he might as well have."

"Politics aren't my thing, Sir. I'm a fighting man."

"We both know that's bollocks. You repeatedly stick your nose in where it isn't wanted and stir up trouble."

Taylor shrugged. He couldn't disagree.

"Gentlemen, may we get on to business," said Dupont.

He walked around his desk and took a seat, gesturing for them to join him.

"I've got you here for a closed meeting because both of you are from nations who have so far had no involvement with the recent conflict, and therefore I cannot allow you into briefings or any other such matters. Everything that happens here is strictly between us. I am doing this because I think both of you can make a difference here, and we need allies."

"I'm a long way off the reservation, General, so spit it out."

"This discussion is off the record, and I will deny any involvement with it, or that you were ever even here, should you spill anything that is said. At 1800 hours today, the European Alliance will declare war on the UEN unless certain demands are met."

Taylor knew it was coming but not so soon. The statement took him aback.

"I think it's pretty clear what those demands will be, and that the UEN will not accept them. Gentlemen, be under no illusions, before the day is through, we will be at war."

"Surely this can be avoided?" pleaded Phillips.

"I wish to God it could be, but forces beyond my understanding appear to be forcing us in this direction, one which now cannot be avoided. Colonel, you tried to tell me you believed the Krys had placed human agents among us, do you still believe that to be the case?"

"Yes, Sir, I know it to be true."

"A relief in one regard, that it was an external force which led us to this and not our own humanity, but also a terrifying fact. I did not believe you because it sounded crazy. It still sounds crazy. Do you have any proof whatsoever that this is the case? And if so, how do we tell who is working for alien interests and who is not?"

"I wish I had those answers for you, General, but I don't, but I know a man who does."

"Then get him here immediately. Who is this man?"

"Councillor Armand."

The General was silenced.

"Can't be!"

"He had one of my marines killed, the only one who knew about these Krys agents, the only evidence I had. He tried to kill me soon after."

"Councillor Armand? He has a lot of sway in the UEN. You're telling me he is the one behind all this? The one who has brought us to a state of war?"

"Just one of the many players, I believe."

"Come on, Gentlemen, this is absurd," stated Phillips.

"As absurd as an alien invasion on Earth?" asked Taylor. "I wish it were not true. But Tsengal saw this with his own eyes. He identified Armand as an enemy agent, and saw maybe millions more humans on Red 1 who are just like Armand. His last order from Colonel Chandra was to return to me with this info that she knew could end us all. She died getting the information to us, and so did Tsengal and many others. I know it to be true."

Dupont scratched his head as he tried to make sense of the situation.

"Even if this is true, and I am almost at a point at which I believe it, how can we prove it? If they have agents among us, we need to know how to find them."

"The only person in the World I know for certain is one of them is Councillor Armand. I propose a mission to retrieve him."

"Careful, Colonel, you are stepping dangerously close to an act of war. Your country isn't even in this, and neither is mine. We shouldn't even be part of this kind of talk."

"You can leave anytime you like," Dupont replied.

They both looked to the Commander and hoped for his support, but he was deeply conflicted.

"We didn't fight all these years just to be beaten now, did we?" Taylor asked. "If we lay down now and let these agents succeed, we might as well have not bothered at all and let our World fall."

"Then let's take this information to our superiors..."

"What information? At the moment, all there is to go on is what I know to be true. The only other man who witnessed Tsengal's revelations is now gone. The video records destroyed. Who will take my word, one marine? Who would take that word and make world -changing decisions based upon them? I don't know if you looked around recently, but I'm not exactly popular. I don't even have the trust of the Alliance yet."

"Maybe not. Getting President Mertens out has gone a long way, though."

Great, they risked their lives, and we lost friends to earn a pass to getting that trust?

"Commander, I need Inter-Allied back together. I need you to get me those troops. As a force we are unstoppable."

"That's what worries me. You'll raise all kinds of hell. But this isn't the war, Colonel. Human lands are not overrun with Mechs," Phillips replied.

"No, it isn't, but be under no illusions, we are at war. Whether you like it or not, your country is going to be drawn into this war. Better we get a head start than fight an uphill battle, don't you think?"

"I am sorry, Colonel. I might agree with some of your ideas, but I cannot interfere in a conflict we have no part in."

He got up and moved to the door but turned back last minute.

"I cannot support your actions. I cannot order the reinstatement of the British elements of 2nd Inter-Allied."

Taylor dipped his head and sighed.

"However, I will inform Captain Grey that you have been asking after him. He has a training exercise coming up. I'll be sure to see he is prepared for all eventualities and made aware of your intentions."

Taylor looked up and smiled.

"Thank you."

"I cannot order him to help you nor deploy to you, but I will cover for him if he chooses to come to your aid."

He nodded in appreciation, as he knew that was a long step over the line for the Commander.

"Good day, Gentlemen, and good luck. You'll need it."

With that, he left the room. Taylor looked back to Dupont and couldn't believe for a moment that they were now in a room working with one another. Two men who had grown to detest the sight of one another, and yet now worked as one."

"Colonel, I won't lie to you. I cannot take this information I have to the Alliance without some solid proof. Neither can I authorise you to enter UEN territory on any grounds. War will be declared in less than five hours. When that happens, you will stand little chance of getting your hands on the Councillor. If he truly is a Krys agent, it could change everything."

"What would you have me do?"

"I will not command you to do anything. I cannot, and neither can I authorise any mission within UEN territory while we are at peace. However, if an American officer were to do so of his own volition, whether you succeed or fail, there would be no repercussions, except against yourself, of course."

"America may not be in this war yet, but we will be, and when we do join, I want a fighting chance."

"Colonel, your marines may use the facilities of this base; food, ammunition, and anything else you need, beyond that you are on your own. When and if you step over the border into UEN territory, you will remain on your own. We cannot provide assistance, and we cannot come for you should you or any of your troops be captured."

"What are they gonna do, put us in a cell? In the wars, we fought behind enemy lines where to be captured meant certain death. This'll be a walk in the park compared to that."

"Then I pray you can bring Armand back to us. Once war is declared, he will be considered an enemy of the state, and we can pursue interrogation to the full extent of our law."

"I'll bring the bastard back here, or die trying. I'll need a ship; something civilian that isn't going to attract attention. Something with British identity would be ideal."

"You'll have it."

"I need it now."

"One hour, and I'll have something for you."

He nodded in appreciation.

"You know I was wrong about you, Colonel. Your insubordination and lack of respect for authority led me to detest you, but now I understand it. You are a man born to fight, born to win wars. You are in your element at this very point, and there is not a man I would trust more to take on such a task."

"Thank you, General, and you're still a son of a bitch, but at least you're on the right side."

He left the room. As he walked out of the building, he snatched his rifle from the MP who was waiting with it. Taylor's private comms was ringing in his ear. He lifted his Mappad and answered the call. He realised it was coming in from HQ, but his finger had already touched the button to accept the call. General White's face was projected before him, and he continued walking back to his comrades. White looked confused and angry at the same time.

"Taylor? The Deveron emergency beacon has been activated from a location within Belgium, and I'm getting some intel that she was shot down. The ship is unreachable. Last time we spoke, you were aboard the ship and in Brussels. Explain to me what the hell is going on out there."

"It's a little difficult to explain, Sir."

"Difficult? Looks like half the World is going to shit, and you're out there acting like a cowboy, and getting caught up in just about everything you could be. It wouldn't be such a leap to make to assume you were at the centre and cause of all this!"

"I think that's a bit of a bit assumption to make, General."

"Well, it's all I can do when I can barely reach you, and you’re a fucking hurricane of shit!"

It wasn't a pleasant comment, and he didn't know how to respond.

"Where are you now?"

"Sorry, Sir, but I can't say."

"Can't say? Who the hell do you think..."

"Sir, you'll just have to trust me on this one."

"Enough of this bullshit, Taylor. You're finished. I don't give a goddamn where you are, but you're gonna find the first civilian transport you can and get yourself Stateside before the day is through. You will report directly to me, so we can get some idea of what the hell’s going on. You've really screwed the pooch on this one, Mitch. Don't expect to be holding onto your command when you get back."

"What command, Sir? I lost that a long time ago when you made me the poster boy for the Corps and had me shuffled around the country pandering to crowds and killing for sport."

White seemed taken aback by his retort and stunned for a moment.

"You just get your ass back here."

"Negative, Sir. I've got a job to do and a responsibility to all those I fought for during the war."

"Don't screw your career any further, Mitch. You're already walking a fine line here."

"Career? Look at the news, Sir. We're way past this. Trouble is on our doorstep, and you’re pissing about over some insubordination charges? I'm gonna do exactly what I have to do and need to do, and no less."