Free Portal Wars 1: Gehenna Dawn by Jay Allan Page B

sluggish, it was even more valid.
    His whole force was in position now, pouring
fire into the enemy rear. The Machines were shifting forces, trying
to put together a line to face the new threat. Samuel’s people were
starting to take losses too, but they were light. The enemy was
disordered and their efforts to reorganize under the heavy fire
were slow and clumsy.
    “Pour it on, boys.” Samuels was firing on
full auto now as he shouted into his com. “Drive them off the
hill.”

Chapter 7
     
    From the Journal of Jake Taylor:
     
    The Machines aren’t actual robots.
Not exactly. They are built, yes, but the technology is
bio-mechanical. Imagine a reinforced supermetal skeleton, covered
with a combination of mechanical and organic materials. Machines
that learn, machines that heal. Relentless warriors that feel no
fatigue, no pity, no mercy.
    But the Machines are pawns in this
war, even as my brothers and I are. They are the servants of the
Tegeri, our real enemy. The Tegeri build the Machines and command
them; they send them into battle against us. We don’t know much
about these shadowy puppet-masters, but we know what we need to
know. They are our enemies.
    But what of the Machines themselves?
Are they evil? Or are they merely slaves with no choice, no
self-determination? Do they deserve our hatred? Or our pity? Do
they feel true emotions? Are they able to wish for something else,
something better than a lifetime of war and death on a hellish
world?
    And how different are we, my
fellow-soldiers and I? What choice do we have? We are sustained by
our cause, protecting humanity from a ravaging alien horde. However
many of us die, however callously we are used by the government, we
know that we are protecting those we left behind. If we didn’t have
that, I doubt we could go on. I know I couldn’t. Thinking of Beth,
my family, safer because I am here fighting…it is all that sustains
me.
    But do the Machines also believe
they are fighting for a cause? Do they see us as aggressors,
invaders…streaming from the Portals onto the worlds they have
protected for centuries? Are they as self-righteous in their
purpose as we are in ours?
    I wonder sometimes if the Machines
can crave a life elsewhere, if they ever long for peace…or if they
know nothing but the hell of war. And if they know nothing else, if
they cannot understand love and family and happiness…do I pity or
envy them?
     
    “Keep laying down that fire. Don’t give those
bastards a chance to regroup.” Taylor had his visor magnification
on maximum, watching the engineers move toward the heavy metal
hatch of the enemy base. The Machines had fallen back, abandoning
their network of trenches in front of the entry, but now they were
trying to organize a counter-attack. Taylor’s strikeforce had taken
the enemy position...now they had only one job. Cover the engineers
while they breeched the fortified hatch.
    It had been a hard fight. Samuels’ people had
cleared the opposite hillside, outflanking and maneuvering the
enemy out of their position. It had been masterfully done, and
Taylor had been particularly impressed by Bear’s execution. Taylor
had expected a lot from him, but he’d gotten even more. Samuels had
accomplished a virtual miracle with his pack of newbs.
    The battle to seize the ground outside the
base had been a different story. Taylor’s men had paid for every
bloody step. They’d had two attacks repulsed and, for a while, he
thought they were going to come up short. Twice he’d called for
fire support. But the narrow valley was a dangerous place for a
Dragonfire gunship, and central command had refused both requests,
instructing Taylor to continue his assault with the resources he
had. He was used to the high command putting materiel over men, but
he was surprised this time…he had thought this mission was
important enough to override the usual bullshit protocol.
    It was. Taylor didn’t know it, but he’d twice
been authorized Dragonfire