Free Battle Earth II by Nick S. Thomas

by the debris across the street and had stopped to investigate. The Major would never have chosen to stay at the scene of the fight, but he’d not had any other choice.
    They listened as metal hatches opened, identifying it as an armoured vehicle. Taylor lifted his launcher to his shoulder. Footsteps grew nearer. They sounded like human steps, but the Major wondered if he was just being optimistic.
    “Major Taylor!”
    Mitch’s heart raced with relief and excitement at hearing the familiar voice of Captain Jones although he didn’t lower his weapon.
    “Major Taylor!”  Monty called.
    Silva turned back to Taylor with a broad grin. He could not believe their luck.
    “In here!” he shouted.
    Seconds later the group of soldiers appeared at the smashed windows. Jones looked shocked at the wreckage, and he could barely tell the two soldiers apart from the debris and fallen Mechs.
    “Major!”
    Jones rushed in through the opening where the shop front windows used to stand. He crashed over glass and a pool of Mech blood that squelched as he passed through. He looked down at Silva, glad to see another survivor.
    “We found your jeep, thought you were goners.”
    “Almost, Captain, much longer out here and we’d never have made it home.”
    Jones looked down at the splint on his leg and back up at his blood soaked face.
    “You look like hell.”
    “Better than those bastards.”
    He gestured to the body of a Mech. Jones’ eyes widened at the sight of one of the creatures out of its armour. At first he thought it was the body of a dead human.
    “Christ, so that’s what they look like! They don’t look so tough.”
    “Believe me, Captain, you don’t want to get to blows with them.”
    Jones nodded and smiled. He could see from the Major’s state that he spoke the truth. He reached forward and pulled Taylor up. Silva staggered to his feet but wobbled and fell against a shelving unit.
    “Give him a hand!” Jones ordered.
    Monty leapt in and took the Sergeant onto his shoulder.
    “Let’s get the hell out of this shithole, Captain.”
    They moved out of the shop across heaps of smashed glass and rubble.
    “Remind me if we get through this, to check Paris off as a city ever to visit.”
    The Captain chuckled.
    “With you there, Major.”
    They hobbled out into the street to be greeted by the other paras and Dubois. She was sticking half out of the driver’s hatch and gave the Major a mock salute. He returned the gesture.
    “Good to see you again, Sergeant. I wish it could have been under better circumstances than last time.”
    “At least we’ll be driving out of here, Sir.”
    Taylor nodded as Jones helped him around the vehicle and in through the rear door. He winced in pain as he lowered himself into a seat. There was barely a part of his body that didn’t hurt. Green hauled the thick door shut behind them.
    “Let’s get moving, Sergeant!” shouted Jones.
    The vehicle lurched forward and quickly gained some speed. They struck the debris from the building, shaking the vehicle around but easily overcoming it. Taylor looked at Jones with relief. He had accepted that they would die out there; yet again his companions had come through for him.
    “Don’t stop for anything, Dubois!” Jones ordered.
    He reached forward and tapped the power button to the display monitors attached to external cameras. They passed through one empty block after another until they were just a kilometre out from the defences. The armoured car took a bend and their jaws dropped as the sight before them. Ten Mechs stood in front of the bridge they needed to pass.
    “Monty, get on that gun!” screamed Jones.
    “What do we do, Sir?”
    “Go through them, Dubois!”
    Jones didn’t like the idea, but he knew that they’d likely not have any better luck if they diverted to another bridge.
    “Go!”
    The vehicle surged towards the bridge as Monty opened fire. The first few rounds landed short. The Mechs were lifting their weapons to