Free Battle Earth VII by Nick S. Thomas

all. He was pointing at the screen and miming a shout at the Colonel, but he was completely ignored.
    "I know why you tuned in here today. You hate the Krys and want to revel in their deaths. We all endured great hardships at their hands, and who wouldn't want a bit of payback? But did I fight this war, did you fight this war, so that we could earn peace or not? All I ever wanted throughout the wars was for it to be over, but it isn't over for me. I understand why this blood sport seems appealing, but I can tell you for certain, this is not the way."
    Weaver was running along the lines of reporters and tying to get their cameramen to stop, but the crews were too enthralled in the story to care what he had to say.
    "I saw what Karadag and Demiran did to those humans who survived their wars, and this is precisely the kind of thing they would be doing now had they won. Are we no better than that? These fights make a mockery of all those who fought, served, and died against the Krys, and I will have no further part in them. If it costs me my career, it's time to draw a line and say we are not animals. We are not barbarians. We are humans. This is Earth, and we will not stand for it!"
    The room was silenced once more. The crews were fascinated by the eye-opening speech, but he had no idea how the viewers were taking it. Weaver rushed up on the stage and tried to barge Taylor off the podium, but it had little effect with his strong stature and Reitech equipment he wore.
    "As a representative of the US Government, I want to confirm that any and all words of Colonel Taylor are not condoned by the United States. We have organised this fight because you, the people, wanted it. I am sorry to say that Colonel Taylor is clearly not feeling well and will return to service after..."
    Taylor's hand connected with his shoulder and launched him across the stage. He slid across the floor and crashed into the empty chair that had been placed for him. The press turned their attention back to Taylor but were utterly speechless.
    "No, I am not the word of the United States Government. I am the word of a United States Marine. Countless friends and colleagues of mine died for the peace we enjoy today. Let's not sully their name any further with this."
    Weaver got to his feet, and his face was red with anger, but Taylor had not noticed.
    "Fine, if you don't want to fight, I'll bring the fight to you," he muttered under his breath.
    He called in on his comms 'knock out the feed'. The live transmissions from the room immediately stopped, though in their fascination with what they were seeing the press had not noticed. Weaver leapt up to the Destroyer and whispered to him, "That there is Mitch Taylor, the man who killed your master. How would you like a chance for payback?"
    He could tell the creature understood him and simply nodded in agreement. Weaver stepped around the back of the creature to where his shackle bands were connected to a reinforced post. A keypad was all it would take for Weaver to release the Destroyer, and through his anger he didn't give it a second thought.
    Six digits were all it took to release a lethal alien soldier amongst the crowd. He no longer cared what damage it would do, only that it would go for Taylor. "You'll die or make great TV," he said as the bands retracted, and the creature was free. In their focus on Taylor, the crowd had not noticed Weaver's treacherous actions.
    The Destroyer rushed across the stage. The crowd gasped in shock and surprise, but it was too late. It kicked full force forwards at Taylor who only had enough time to turn and see it coming at him. He was thrown across the room and struck the wall the other side. His armour saved his body, but his head was bare and smashed against the wall. He crumpled down limply to the ground.
    Screams echoed around the room when the crowd realised it was not part of the show and tried to get to the doors. The Destroyer leapt from the stage and rushed for Taylor.