Battle Earth VI Read Online Free PDF Page B

The last time I was just young. It was returning from a great victory."
    "Seventy years ago? How old are you?" Ryan asked.
    "Eighty-three years. The Krycenaean can easily live to twice what a human does."
    "Not with a bullet in their head, they don't," replied Samson.
    Taylor nodded in agreement. But just as he smiled at the comment, he was reminded of the original topic.
    "This Planet Killer. It may sound like a stupid question, but what is it?"
    The bridge was silent as everyone's attention turned to Jafar. Not even the pilot Wayans could turn away.
    "All I know is that when used it kills all life on a planet and renders that planet uninhabitable to even us for a long time."
    "How long?"
    "A hundred years, two hundred maybe."
    Gasps echoed around the room. Taylor turned to Samson.
    "Log everything we have just heard, and ensure it is sent directly to General White within the hour."
    "Aye, aye, Sir."
    The Lieutenant sat down at the nearest workstation and immediately got to work. He knew more was likely to be spoken in the next few minutes, and he could not afford to miss anything from his transmission. Taylor sat back down, trying to comprehend what that meant for all of them. Everyone waited for him to speak as they reflected on the same words.
    "You told me they thought of Earth as a paradise, so why would they destroy it?"
    "Either they don't think they can win, or someone is seriously pissed off," replied Ryan.
    Taylor nodded in agreement.
    "The Gezgen K'til won't destroy Earth. It will just delay its occupation. I never thought I would see it brought here though. Demiran's family built the monster two hundred years ago."
    "Demiran? Your former boss and the one we captured?"
    Jafar nodded.
    "Well, that's just fucking great. He must be pissed."
    "Can this Gezgen, whatever it is, be stopped?"
    " The Gezgen K'til is a massive ship. The same class as what you called Tartaros in the first war. I know it must get close to the planet to operate, as the last time it was used, a great battle had to be fought above the planet before it could be deployed."
    "So this was used against another race?" asked Ryan.
    "That doesn't matter, right now. Let's concern ourselves with our own world," replied Taylor. "So what you’re saying is this. If that thing can get to the atmosphere of Earth, our planet is gone for our lifetimes!"
    Jafar nodded.
    "Christ. We need confirmation of this. Samson. Include all the information you have heard, but make it clear that the presence of this Planet Killer is still just a theory."
    The bridge fell silent again as they considered the possibility of losing Earth, and more urgently that they were heading straight for the Planet Killer.
    "You've all had a long day. My marines will take on any watches they can. Everyone not on duty get some rest. We've got a hell of a time ahead of us."

    * * *

    Two days passed without any contact when Taylor was awoken in the middle of the night Earth time. He pulled on his Reitech gear and rushed to the bridge to find the crew standing frozen and staring at the display screen.
    "There's your visual confirmation, Colonel," Ryan said.
    Taylor turned to Jafar to ask if it was what he had suspected. Before he could say a word, the alien nodded to pre-empt him. Taylor looked back at the screen. He could not tell it and Tartaros apart, but he trusted his friend. They looked out at the hundreds of support ships escorting the behemoth.
    "Doesn't make any sense," Taylor murmured.
    "What?" Ryan asked.
    "The strength of their forces. Why didn't they send all this through to begin with? With all of this, and what they sent in the first war, we would have been crushed in the beginning. Before we had time to learn from their technology and stop them."
    Nobody answered until Taylor turned to Jafar for answers.
    "Well?"
    "The Krycenaean people are not as one, under one rule. Powerful leaders rule factions and planets. Each wants his own glory and power. They rarely stand beside