Battle Earth IV by Nick S. Thomas

unwelcoming abyss.
    “We go down in twos the second we hear that breach, got it?”
    They nodded as Parker forced her way to the front. He already knew he could not dissuade her from being the first in.
    “We’re in position and ready on your signal,” he called down the radio.
    “All sections ready, we breach in five, four, three...” replied Chandra.
    A small explosion erupted outside the building, and Taylor took it as his cue to jump with Parker at his side. They immediately activated their boosters that lit up the pitch-black shaft as they quickly descended. Taylor ripped open the door, and they could see flashes of light all around; the fight had already begun.
    He lifted his rifle and identified one creature as the light reflected from its metallic armour, but Eli had already opened fire. He joined in as the creature was hit with a dozen rounds and killed before it had time to hit the ground. A few more shots rang out until finally all went silent.
    “All clear!” yelled Chandra.
    Flashlights from friendlies flashed around the room as they all checked for survivors.
    Chandra paced up to the fallen creature where Taylor stood.
    “What are we doing with the bodies?” he asked.
    “Not our problem. We were selected to do the fighting. Clean up work is someone else’s job now.”
    “This was too easy. They can’t have been planted here for any resistance, so they must have been left behind.”
    “Unless by planting them, they intended to continue to cause us the kind of trouble which it is doing. Civilians are scared to go home, soldiers are still busy fighting a war which should be over, and clean up crews are hindered by safety concerns.”
    “Can’t the bastards accept defeat?”
    “Would you?”
    “Hard to say, but I’ve never wanted to invade someone else’s land and execute them.”
    A signal came over the radio from Jones.
    “Major, the building is secure. All enemy threats have been dealt with.”
    “Good work, Jones, rendezvous at the boats. Our job here is done.”

Chapter 5
     

    “Damn fine work out there!” shouted Phillips as they lumbered out of the aircraft.
    The crowd of nearby troops clapped as they disembarked, but they wondered why. They had done nothing more than their jobs, same as everyone else. General Schulz was also awaiting them, but Dupont was nowhere to be seen. The General strode forward with a broad smile across his face and reached out to shake hands with Chandra and Taylor soon after.
    “Glad to see I chose the right soldiers for the job,” he exclaimed.
    Taylor smirked at the General trying to claim credit for the mission, but he let it slide. One thing he had learnt during the war was that it didn’t pay to piss off those in charge. Then he turned to see Parker and Jones and was reminded of why his disobedience to Command had all been worth it.
    “Please form up your Company, Major,” ordered Schulz.
    Chandra looked confused for a moment but turned and bellowed the command. They were all fatigued and wanted nothing more than to sit down in the warm with some hot drinks. She could see the crowd was freezing from awaiting their arrival.
    Silly bastard, she thought of Schulz. Making us all suffer, just for his gratification.
    She took up her position at the forefront of the Company, alongside Taylor and Jones. They were all that remained of the command staff. They watched in amazement as the General stepped up onto a small podium, and a smile stretched across his face at the attention he was garnering. The crowd had already been silenced by the loud shouts of the officers as they formed up. Silva’s booming voice had carried across the whole landing zone and drowned out all others. Schulz placed his hands behind his back and stood tall as he finally unleashed his carefully selected speech.
    “I want to thank Major Chandra and the 2 nd Inter-Allied Company for their continuing efforts in this struggle. Not one among them owes anything to this land, or to my own