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he was growing to know as well as Jones.
    “I may have blatantly disregarded our orders, but look where it got us. I saved a valuable Sergeant in my Company and have in turn, provided more than our fair share of service in these foreign lands. I have stood beside you, Major, as we both have Jones. He needs our help, and we need him back in this unit.”
    She thought about his words for just a few seconds before answering in a soft and friendly tone.
    “Then I wish you every luck, and I only pray that if I am ever in trouble, I have you fighting my corner.”
    “You’ve got it.”
    He outstretched his hand and shook with Chandra.
    * * *
     
    Major Taylor stood and watched as his twenty-nine marines formed up before him. Every one of them wore the Reitech suits and related gear. Eddie was stood behind him in his usual ragged kit. He presented an anti-establishment image while being one of the finest officers Taylor had ever known. It was a fact that continued to amuse the Major.
    “The General still not got you into regulation attire, I see?”
    “No, Siree. He can tell me where and when to fly, and I’ll follow it to the letter, but some things you just cannot accept.”
    “How on earth do you do it? I have never understood how you continue to get away with it.”
    “When you’re the best damn pilot on the eastern seaboard, you get a little leeway.”
    He smiled as he stepped forward to address the troops. He was the only officer among them. He would not risk anymore of their command staff for what he knew was a reckless and dangerous mission. Sergeants Silva and Parker stood among them as the highest ranks.
    Not one of them yet knew what the night had in store for them. He could see the questions they wanted to ask in their eyes. Formed up with the best hardware available and two modified copters, they all knew it was more than a regular patrol. They stood at attention as they eagerly awaited news of their duty.
    The surrounding area was silent now. Only a few dimmed lights provided any view of the area. Rains’ landing area had been kept isolated from the main base in order to give the crews priority for their main task. Their main duty was the transport of key components and personnel related to the Reitech technology. Nobody bothered them as few had the authority to do so. In the distance, they could see and hear vehicles and troops always on the move.
    Gunfire continued to ring out every once in a while. The fighting died down at night, but it never fully stopped. Finally, the Major spoke to break the silence and feed the marines’ appetite for information.
    “Remember Amiens. Remember Captain Jones and Private Walker. Aside from myself, Sergeants Parker and Silva, you were all there. You witnessed the loss of our comrades, our brothers. New intelligence suggests they are alive, along with up to a dozen other POWs.”
    Gasps rang out across the two lines of troops.
    “Sir, POWs?” asked Parker.
    “I can speculate as to why they are keeping prisoners, but that’s all it would be. All we know for sure is that prisoners have been taken in small numbers, and that Jones and Walker are likely to be among them.”
    “How have you found them, Sir?”
    “Heat signatures. The enemy body temperature is either far lower than a human, or their armoured suits hide it.”
    “So where we heading, Sir?” asked Silva.
    “To the city of Metz.”
    Several of the marines gasped. A few weeks ago it would have meant little to them. They neither knew where it was nor cared. But now they knew the terrain and the enemy’s location, and it was a grim fact to swallow.
    “Sir, that’s way beyond the enemy’s front line, and we know Saarbrucken is crawling with the bastards.”
    “That’s why we’ve got Eddie here. Lieutenant Rains, along with Lieutenant Kato, will be flying us in. I know this is a lot to ask,” he stopped and sighed. “We pulled off Poitiers, so you can’t tell me we can’t make this work.”
    “What