Battle Earth VII (14 page)

* * *

It was another short journey to Brussels, but the day had felt like one of the longest since the war. As Taylor wearily stepped inside the lavish room that had been selected for him, all he wanted to do was sleep. But first, he mustered up the energy to put a call through to Eli.

“What the hell is going on there? Are you okay? You said you were in Paris, but I just saw you on the news at that prison where the shootings happened.”

“I’m fine.”

“Fine? Turn on the news, Mitch, and look at what that shooting means to people. They’re going psychotic over it.”

“Not as a result of anything I have done. I was asked to go and help there, and that’s what I’m still doing.”

“Well, you better figure out pretty quick which side you’re on.”

“Side?”

“Have you not seen the news today?”

Been a little busy,
he thought.

“The World is dividing into those who want the aliens executed and those who don’t. They’re at each other’s throats. Riots have broken out in Washington and New York between the rival groups and in other cities around the World.”

“I’m a marine, not a politician.”

“Hardly,” she replied. “You’re out there on your own, making your own decisions. Out there you aren’t a marine, you’re a celebrity; one which both sides will be eager to recruit.”

He shook his head, “How did it all go to shit so quickly?”

“The day aliens invaded,” she replied.

“That’s a big help,” he said with a smile.

“Nothing good can come of this, Mitch. Get yourself out of it and home ASAP. We don’t have anywhere near the number of Krys held over here. It’s not such a problem. Get your ass out of it.”

“Do my best.”

“I love you,” she replied.

He could hear the worry in voice, and he was starting to realise how serious the events were in determining their future. She cut off the transmission before he had time to reply. Within five minutes, his armour was off, and he was in a deep sleep, the best he’d had in a long time. The recent events weighed heavily on many minds, but he was simply content to never have to do the circus displays his job had become ever again.

* * *

A loud knock at the door awoke him from his sleep. He staggered over to open it and found Jafar standing there.

Does the alien ever sleep?

“Any news?”

“A conference has been called at the UEN.”

“Great, another opportunity for politicians to bore each other to death.”

“I don’t think so.”

Taylor was surprised and invited Jafar in, as he paced over and turned the news on. Every news channel seemed to be a live feed of the conference that was already heating up. The Italian President was almost screaming across the room at his peers at such a volume and strong accent, Taylor could barely make out his words. Fortunately, he finished up, and the French President was invited to talk, President Jacques.

“France cannot risk enemy combatants on her lands ever again, and must take any move necessary to remove that threat. As the representative of my people, I feel it my duty to call for the immediate execution of all enemy combatants held within EU lands, and a strong recommendation that the rest of the World see merit in doing so with all haste.”

Grunts of approval and anger echoed around the room.

Taylor watched the conference for two hours. It seemed little more than a screaming debate between two groups who would never be swayed from their standpoints.

Finally, the Spanish Prime Minister arose and looked around the room, carefully studying the faces of all the representatives there. He clearly had something major to say, and all were silenced as they waited to hear it.

“The people of Spain will no longer tolerate the existence of murdering invaders on Earth. At 0900 hours tomorrow, Spanish time, two divisions of our armies will cross over into North Africa on orders to exterminate the enemy held there.”

Heckles came from the crowd, but he only lifted his hand and waited to speak.

“The UEN has proven impotent to act on this matter for four years, and we can no longer stand by and let this threat remain so close to our homes. Our forces will carry out these orders, and have strict orders to not be stopped by any force on Earth. Should any human stand in our way, we will have no choice but to do what we have to. We will protect our country and this World at any cost!”

“Oh, shit,” Taylor said quietly.

“Your people are turning on each other?” asked Jafar.

The German Prime Minster, Ms Muller, leapt to her feet to address the issue.

“Our forces currently serve at those bases and have a duty to protect those within the prisons, as much as those outside them.”

“Then have them redeployed, for nothing will stop out forces from doing their duty!” shouted the Spaniard.

Taylor could see they had reached deadlock as he continued.

“Any further discussion on this matter is wasting breath. No human is safe while an alien remains alive on this planet! Tomorrow, the men and women of the Spanish Army will do their duty to protect human lands across the World, and God spare any human who may stand in their way!”

He got up and stormed out of the room. Several other leaders followed suit, including President Jacques.

“Oh, we have some trouble on our hands now.”

“Will they really kill each other over this?”

“We’ve a long history of doing so, why should now be any different? Even so, this all seems to be happening a lot quicker than I’d expect. A few months ago, the protests were an annoyance to local governments, now we’re heading for war. It’s as if we’re being moved around like pieces on a board. Somebody wants this war, and there seems little we can do to stop it.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Me? What the hell can I do? I’m not a President, Prime Minister. I supposedly have a Battalion, but have not seen them in a year. It’s just you and me, and everywhere we go a fight starts.”

He looked at his watch. Spiteri’s trial was going to begin shortly, but there seemed little point, as he was going to face the full sentence for his crimes. He pulled on his uniform that had been cleaned by the hotel staff overnight and headed out the door to be met by armed escorts. It made him uncomfortable. He’d been escorted like this before, and it was right to a prison cell.

“Lead the way,” he ordered.

The court was right opposite the hotel with a pedestrianized area between them. On entering, he was met by a guard who expected him to give up his firearm. He knew he had no choice. Jafar tried to follow him through the foyer but was quickly stopped.

“Authorised personnel only,” said a guard.

Taylor nodded in response. He could fully understand their position, considering the topic at hand. He was led into the courthouse to join the audience. Just five minutes later, Spiteri stood before them all. Taylor had only ever seen a few court cases in his life, and they never moved this quickly and with such single focus.

Spiteri looked utterly unashamed of his actions and stood tall in his dress uniform. Taylor still wasn’t sure from which nation he came, but his query was soon answered as the judge introduced him as Maltese. Mitch had been one of the key witnesses at the scene, and one of the few who had no agenda towards the Colonel. He’d expected to be called up before the court quickly, but instead was surprised to see a recording of Armand recounting the tale and him agreeing with it.

“Is that enough to condemn the man?” he muttered to himself.

In three hours, they’d heard all there was to hear, including first-hand accounts from protestors who had been wounded at the scene. On the one hand, Taylor knew the man was guilty, but he couldn’t help but feel sorry for him as he wondered how it could have been handled differently. He was also beginning to wonder why he was even required to be there, seeing as they had all the evidence they needed.

“The court is adjourned until sentencing at 0900 hours tomorrow.”

Thank God for that. Another minute of hearing the condemnation of
Spiteri would be enough to put me to sleep.

He got back to his room at the hotel and found a message waiting for him. It simply said, ‘Contact General White immediately’.

Great.

He put the call through, and once again the General was ready and waiting to accept it.

“Colonel Taylor, was I not absolutely clear that you were to stay put in Paris, keep your head down, and wait for everything to blow over?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Was I not absolutely clear that you had to stay out of the news?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Then please explain to me why you not only went to North Africa, but ended up in a fight with protestors, and a key witness in an UEN tribunal of a senior officer?”

“Sir, I was only trying to do what’s best for everyone.”

“What’s best!” he screamed, “You are an officer in the United States Marine Corps, and therefore you belong to me!”

“Maybe I used to be, Sir, but I’m not the combat officer I signed up to be. I’m a puppet being flown around the World for entertainment.”

“You’re whatever the Corps wants you to be, Taylor. Now, I’ve let a lot slide because of the great things you’ve done for us all, but this has to stop. You’re running around like a cowboy out there raising all kinds of hell. I’m told you are needed in court tomorrow for the sentencing of Lieutenant Colonel Spiteri. After that, you are to return immediately and report here, where you will be dealt with accordingly!”

“Yes, Sir.”

The General shook his head, “What happened to you, Taylor? In war, you were one of the greatest assets the World had, and now you’re nothing but a troublemaker. I don’t want to hear your name on any channel, whether it’s civilian or military, for some time. Do not screw up again!”

The transmission stopped, and Taylor was left feeling nothing but pissed off. He turned to see Jafar had watched the whole thing from the other side of the room.

“What does he want of you?”

“Who knows? All I know is life was a lot simpler when we were at war.”

“But you said you didn’t like war.”

“Maybe I was wrong. Anyway, we’re stuck here till tomorrow now. I hate to say it, but let’s keep our heads down. Wherever we go, we seem to attract trouble. We can’t find trouble if we stay here. I’ll order up room service, and we’ll have a few drinks.”

Taylor spent the rest of the afternoon flicking through channels on the TV, the thing most guaranteed to bore Jafar to death. At 2000 he ordered up food and was surprised to see it arrive within ten minutes. A staff member pushed a trolley through into their room. It was the best thing he’d seen all day, and the only thing he’d been looking forward to. As the man lifted off the covers from their meal, the lights went out.

“Ah, hell.”

It was a complete blackout.

“Don’t worry, Monsieur, the secondary power will start shortly.”

Nothing happened. As Taylor’s eyes adjusted to the dark, he stepped out into the corridor. The whole building was out. He went back to the room and hit the switch for the window shutters to open, but the power outage meant they wouldn’t move. He pulled the manual cord override, and they slid aside.

The city before them was still lit up as before.

“I don’t understand it,” said the concierge.

“You’ve not had this kind of power outage before?”

“Oh, yes, but the whole block, not just this hotel, and it recovers within fifteen seconds.”

Taylor strode back to the wardrobe and pulled on his Reitech suit.

“What do you think is happening?” Jafar asked, who seemed surprised at his response.

“I’m not sure, but I don’t like it.”

He could see Jafar had no concept of the scenario they might be facing, but he was automatically suspicious. He heard footsteps in the corridor and quickly grabbed his pistol, heading to the door to look out. The shadow of a man with a gun was approaching. Taylor leaned out just far enough not to be noticed by the figure until he was right on him.