Battle Earth IX Read Free

pilot stuttered.
    "Simple answer!" Jones said.
    "In theory, if all breaches were sealed, I guess we could float. But with the damage we took before and during impact, I can't imagine we're too airtight."
    "So what are you saying?"
    "That we're taking on water," Taylor replied.
    "How long do we have?" asked Jones.
    The pilot shrugged.
    "I suggest we make a move fast. At the bottom of the ocean bed ain't how I saw myself ending," stated Spears.
    Rains stepped out from the back of the line and appeared remarkably unscathed by the fighting or crash landing. Taylor looked at him astonished.
    "Where the hell have you been?"
    "Keeping my head from being blown off. I rather like it where it is."
    Taylor couldn't disagree. He looked around to see a motley group, many of which who were at each other's throats just an hour before, but now all looked to him for answers.
    "All right, right now we're as deep into this heap of junk as we can be. We need to stick together and get the hell off this thing before it drags us to hell. I need a volunteer who is best suited to guiding us to the surface."
    Nobody responded, and he wasn't surprised. It was a lot of responsibility to place on one soul. He looked around for the best person for the job until he finally stopped at Sergeant Lang. He was firmly stuck to Jones' side and eager to be led rather than have to face it all head on.
    "Sergeant, you must know the ship better than most. You got point. Lead us out of here."
    Lang looked horrified, but Taylor wasn't going to take no for an answer.
    "The Nassau has fallen, Sergeant. The only task that remains is your duty to protect her crew. Will you do that?"
    He reluctantly nodded in agreement.
    "Yes...yes, Sir."
    "All right, we take the wounded with us. I'll be up front with the Sergeant here. Jones you bring up the rear, and let's get moving."
    A dozen casualties who were still breathing were hauled onto their feet. Taylor knew they would slow the pace substantially, but he could not bring himself to do otherwise. He grabbed a few magazines from one of their own dead at the door and stuffed them into his pouches before slamming one into the rifle. Lang stood next to him and looked down past the line of dead Mechs leading to the bridge. He was in a daze. Parker and Silver moved up to join them.
    "Lang, you're leading us, but you stay two paces behind me the whole way, you hear? We can't afford to lose our guide, you got that?"
    Taylor could see the relief in Lang's eyes at the realisation he wasn't going to have to go first. He looked back to see the line was now ready to move. Jafar carried one of the wounded on his shoulder with ease while still holding his rifle at the ready. He turned back to Lang.
    "You ready?"
    A scream echoed from several corridors away, sending a shiver down the Sergeant's back, but he nodded in agreement.
    "Okay, let's move out, quick as we can."
    He stepped out first.
    "You're gonna have to speak up, Sergeant. Guide me."
    "Uhhh..."
    "Don't think. You know this ship. Walk it like you would any other day of the week."
    "Keep going till we reach a flight of stairs directly ahead."
    "That's it," he muttered, picking up the pace. Another scream rang out which was much closer now, and they realised they were heading right for the source of it. The stairs were in sight, but as they reached them, a Mech tumbled down and landed at the base. Taylor lifted his rifle to fire at the creature that was flailing to get up. But before he could pull the trigger, a grenade tumbled down the stairs and ignited on the creature. He raised his shield just in time as the blast sent shrapnel flying towards them. He looked up. The metal grid stairs were partly collapsed and now blocked.
    "For Christ’s sake, can nothing go our way?" he said to himself.
    "It's okay. Follow me," replied Lang.
    He rushed out to Taylor's left and got up pace down another corridor.
    "Back!" he screamed.
    Taylor rushed on after him, but he would not slow down. The