Read Online Battle Earth by Nick S. Thomas - Free Book Online Page A

Taylor got to his feet and moved cautiously towards the daunting thing. He guessed they must have fired a couple of hundred rounds into the target. Despite not knowing how many were necessary to destroy the beast, it was becoming quickly apparent that they were facing a vastly superior enemy.
    Reaching the end of the corridor, Mitch peered around the corner, finding nothing but the bodies of two more civilians. He looked down at the lifeless armoured suit, most of their rounds had bounced right off the thick armour. The suit was in many ways crude and industrial, riveted and bolted together. He could see a handful of entry points where their bullets had penetrated, all in the thinner joint areas and the mirrored section. A blue liquid seeped from the holes in the suit, he had no idea whether it was blood or some fluid from the suit. Gunfire rang out from the other end of the floor from Wilson and his marines. The Major spun around to look at his men who were anxiously waiting for orders.
    “Whatever these things are our rifles can only penetrate their armour at the joints and at that mirrored section. When you face another, choose your targets carefully. Our grenade launchers will hopefully do more damage, but we can’t risk their use here, a breach in the structure of the building could be detrimental. Sergeant Silva, send runners out through the building, we are getting the hell off of this rock.”
    “Sir, what about the Prime Minister?”
    “I’ll take the men of Alpha here, less any runners you need. Set your watches for a fifteen minute countdown, anybody not at the boat by then gets left behind.”
    “Yes, Sir.”
    Taylor stormed back the way he’d come. Silva peeled off three of the marines as they went, the rest following after the Major. He’d not been without communication links since his blackout training years before. He continued onwards at the head of the marine unit. Based on the size of the vessel that breached the building and the size of the thing that attacked them, he speculated that there would likely be no more than ten intruders in the building.
    Minutes later the Major stormed into the hallway before the blast doors of the Prime Minister’s bunker. His command staff stood with their rifles ready to fire, they were highly-strung and ready to shoot. He walked straight past them and up to the camera beside the doors.
    “This is Major Taylor, get these doors open!”
    Seconds later the huge blast doors slid open and he went into the bunker. The occupants were in shock, having watched civilians being gunned down on camera.
    “Prime Minister Olsen. The colony has been compromised, we cannot defend it any longer with the few troops we have, I have orders to evacuate you immediately!”
    Olsen did not answer for a few seconds, still traumatised by the incident.
    “The Prime Minister will not leave his colony, this is our home!” Kelly shouted.
    “It’s not up for discussion, those are my orders. There’s space for anyone here who wants to join us. Sir, please come with us now.”
    Colonel Visser reached for his handgun, but Taylor lifted his rifle and took the officer in sight. His marines moved into the bunker beside him, outnumbering the guards in the room.
    “You cannot remove the Prime Minister without his permission!”
    “You do what you have to do, Colonel, but I’m working on orders from General White. The colony will be overrun in the next few minutes, if we do not go now we may never make it out!”
    “And what about the people of this colony?”
    “What we can do for them is get you out and to safety, Prime Minister. Your death will not help them in any way. Sir, come with us.”
    The Prime Minister staggered forwards, the walk of a man who had lost everything. Visser released his grip on the pistol on his belt and relaxed.
    “Colonel, Commander, you coming or not?”
    “Sorry, Major, but I have a sworn duty to protect this colony,” said Kelly.
    The Colonel nodded in