Free Battle Earth: 11 by Nick S. Thomas Page B

with others through some strange means. Taylor still wondered what his role within their society was, but it didn't matter in that moment.
    "Then we are agreed. We will fight together, until total victory."
    Taylor smiled and held out his hand. The alien took it as if highly familiar with the human gesture.
    "Welcome to the cause," Taylor added gleefully.

Chapter 5
     

    "Everyone ready?" Kelly asked.
    He got a series of acknowledgements, and then looked to Becker and the last of his tank crews; they were assembled at a bank of remote access computers in the back of a box truck.
    "Think this will work?" Becker asked.
    "Those bastards are pretty simple. They target the biggest most powerful target and destroy it before moving down the line. We show them enough force, and they'll buy it.
    "Five tanks?"
    "It's a bigger threat than the rest of us pose, right now."
    "On my mark, five, four, three, two, one, go, go, go!"
    The hidden bunker door in the hangar bay slid open and creaked, pulling foliage back with it. It was the first and last time it would ever do so since they arrived. The five main battle tanks rolled forward out through the opening and split off into two detachments. They headed in opposing directions to flank around the base and towards the enemy's original landing point. As they finally disappeared from view, Kelly gave the second order.
    "Move out!"
    The sounds of the megaphone on the vehicle echoed around the hangar bay for all to hear; their radios were jammed just as they always were by their alien enemy. Fifty vehicles, mostly soft skinned, rushed forward for the opening.
    "You know this is a crazy plan, right?"
    "Of course it is, Becker. The fact we are still alive to do it is crazy, so what do you expect?" he responded.
    Kelly watched from his screen as they made their way out onto a narrow track that led through the thick undergrowth and had complete cover due to the forest canopy. They had two armoured trucks out ahead of them to lead the convoy, and they were the third in line. He was content that they were on track and went over and stood over Becker's shoulder, watching the Captain control one of the tanks as if it were a video game.
    "No gunner, no loader, no driver," he complained.
    "Just do the best you can do," Kelly murmured.
    The five of them were the only remaining tank crew at Becker's disposal, and therefore each had to control a vehicle.
    "We can only go on as long as those magazines load. Once they're out or jammed, we're fucked."
    "Don't worry about that. You just cause as much trouble as you possibly can. The aim is to stop them coming after us for as long as possible."
    "And if they ignore out armour altogether, and just come right for us?"
    "Well, we'll cross that bridge, if we come to it."
    "That is reassuring."
    "I thought so."
    They carried on in silence, and Kelly watched Becker's screen. The tank crashed through undergrowth. Becker had a semi circular display that gave him great visibility in front and to the side of the vehicle. It almost made him feel as if in his commander's seat, but at the same time, thankful not to be. As the vehicle forced its way through one large piece of foliage, they were suddenly met with the view of an enemy aircraft on the ground. An opening had been created from the shell bursts destroying so many trees in the battle for the bunker. A number of Mechs were unloading from what appeared to be a small transport.
    "Hello," said Becker in an unnerving voice.
    He clicked a trigger on the joystick in his right hand. The screen lit up, and the gun barrel flashed. The shell hit the aircraft dead on. It pierced right through the flank and ignited, blowing the vehicle apart.
    "Woohoo!" Becker shouted.
    The Mech survivors scattered as he took aim a second time. The main gun had reloaded in just three seconds. He fired once again, and the high explosive shell struck two Mechs and blew them apart with no effort at all. Next he panned the gun over to another Mech