Free Battle Earth IV by Nick S. Thomas

bloodshed they had witnessed, but she did sigh at the thought of civilians being killed while trying to rebuild their lives.
    “This certainly looks like the place.”
    She scanned the area and quickly found two trails of blood where human casualties had been dragged away. The ground and building beside the scene had familiar scorch marks where energy pulses had smashed into the stonework.
    “Doesn’t make any sense,” said Taylor.
    “I don’t think they meant to leave these soldiers behind. They’re just trying to survive,” replied Chandra.
    “You make them sound almost human.”
    “How would you feel if your armies had left you to die like this?”
    She stopped herself as she remembered Taylor’s experience of just that. As the shock left his face, he finally nodded in agreement.
    “How do you want to play this?” he asked.
    “They must surely know we’re here, so we have no choice but to hit them hard and quickly.”
    She tapped her radio mic and was surprised to see it was working.
    “No jamming equipment?” she asked in surprise.
    “All units breach, go, go, go!”
    She leapt to her feet and rushed for the main entrance of the building with the others following closely. Experience of the enemy had taught them to stick close to concentrate their fire. Just as they got within a few metres of the entrance, the Perspex shattered as a pulse ripped through the doors. Chandra rolled and tumbled against a brick wall that surrounded the complex. Taylor smashed into the wall beside him as other pulses rushed overhead.
    “Not the best welcome we’ve ever had!” yelled Taylor.
    Gunfire rang out as the Company poured fire into the entrance of the building, bringing down much of the frontage. Taylor peered out from cover and quickly identified the Mechs inside.
    “I see three targets. Eleven and one o’clock.”
    “Looks like they’re dug in there pretty good,” replied Chandra.
    “We could call in a strike, flatten the complex? Not like there is any risk civilians.”
    “No, this country has been demolished enough already. The people need some hope that they can return to their old lives.”
    “Alright, no air support, at least we’re used to it now,” he replied.
    The two of them rose up and fired several controlled bursts into the atrium that was now fully visible from the street. They could make out movement as the Mechs disappeared from sight.
    “They’re falling back!” Monty called out.
    “Forward!” Chandra ordered.
    They leapt forward and were quick to utilise the opportunity to get inside. Their boots trampled over the mound of shattered Perspex as it crunched under foot. They reached the long welcome desk from where the Mechs had defended and hunkered down for cover. They expected a continuation of the fight, but the spacious atrium was almost silent as the troops settled down into position.
    “Not much of a defence. What the fuck is going on?” whispered Chandra.
    “Would you have stood against these odds?”
    “Green, report,” she asked.
    “We’ve entered the complex, no contact, over.”
    “Jones, report.”
    “Light resistance, one enemy down, and we’re pursuing another, over.”
    She shook her head. “This all just seems too easy.”
    Taylor nodded in agreement.
    “All units proceed with caution.”
    Taylor stepped up and led his platoon forward with Chandra just a few metres away. He quickly caught sight of a fine trail of blue blood running down a broad corridor further into the huge complex. The two platoons continued after the blood in two columns. The blood trail grew as they reached the entrance to a conference hall. Taylor turned and signalled for them to form up by the entrance. He peered around the doorway and could see the wounded creature laid out on a broad table with the other two trying to stop the bleeding.
    The injured creature writhed in pain but made no sound as the other two used what looked like heat torches to seal a wound. The scene made him freeze