Battle Earth III Read Online Free PDF Page B

not even his countrymen.
    “You sure you want this?”
    Taylor nodded.
    “And your marines?”
    “Damn straight, they’d have volunteered just as quickly.”
    “The Commander is right. Even if this mission is a success, there will be hell to pay for it. We are directly contradicting General Schulz’s orders. On top of that, the aliens aren’t going to be too impressed with us snatching up their prisoners from under their noses. There could be major retaliation, and that retaliation will be blamed on us.”
    Taylor shook his head in astonishment at how spineless their leaders were.
    “I don’t give a shit about Schulz. He’s not the one out there fighting and dying for this planet. Those creatures are coming for us whatever we do, so this will only reinforce the fact that we are still well in the fight.”
    Chandra nodded with agreement. She was finally convinced beyond all doubt that it was the right move. She knew her close friendship with Jones could cloud her judgement, and it would be the first target of any inquiry. She didn’t care any longer. British forces were amassing for an action, and the worst that Schulz could do would be to send her back home; where her own forces would be more than happy to gain such a combat-experienced officer.
    “This is your mission, but if there is anything I can do, you only have to ask,” stated Chandra.
    “I need the Reitech suits and gear. Beyond that, it’s best you stay out of it. Continue on with your posting to base security and rest up. I’m heading to find Rains and convince his crazy ass to give us a lift.”
    “Alright, we’ll be at the western perimeter defences from 1800 hours on. You can collect the gear from there.”
    * * *
     
    “What do you want, Major?” asked Eddie.
    Taylor smiled as he watched the pilot make adjustments with a long bar spanner beneath the fuselage of his prized custom Eagle.
    “Why would you think I’d be after anything?”
    Eddie looked at the Major with a suspicious and knowing grin.
    “Because you don’t hang out at an airfield. You’re only ever here when you have a mission or those few times after too many drinks.”
    Taylor coughed. He’d hoped Eddie had forgotten those drunken escapades.
    “It’s alright, Major. I’ll be the last one to shop you. So what can I do for you?”
    “You are aware that Captain Jones is MIA?”
    “Yeah, I heard that, damn shame.”
    “Well, we believe that he is alive, along with Private Walker who was with him, and a few other missing troops.”
    “They find refuge somewhere?”
    Taylor shook his head with a serious and taut face that made Eddie curious.
    “Not exactly.”
    The Lieutenant put down the tool and got up onto his feet. He stared into Taylor’s eyes as he tried to make some sense of the situation and the Major’s intentions.
    “Give it to me straight, Mitch. I’m a busy man these days.”
    “The enemy are taking prisoners. We don’t exactly know why, but we have good intel they are alive and where they are being held.”
    Eddie shook his head as he smiled.
    “Oh shit, you’re not serious?”
    “We have our orders.”
    “Bullshit! You’d only be coming here, personally, if you couldn’t get this green lit by the brass.”
    Taylor smiled back. “You’re a hard man to fool.”
    “So come on, you want me to fly you in and out on some crazy bitch mission to save POWs that you have been expressly forbidden from doing?”
    “That about sums it up, yeah.”
    Rains turned and sighed as he paced up and down for a moment.
    “Well, hell yeah, I’m your man. We’re needed more than ever, not like they can fire us.”
    He thrust out his greasy hand to shake, which Taylor gladly accepted.
    “Just one other thing, we’re going to need two of these birds.”
    “Not a problem. General White has sent over two of my squadron to run equipment back and forth. When do you need us?”
    “Tonight.”
    “I’ll have to fix some paperwork, but we’re in.”
    “Just to be