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much as this time last year. This enemy will not, and cannot be allowed to remain!”
    She stepped along the line as she took another deep breath and looked at the faces of the troops who could not believe that after all they had been through, more was being asked of them.
    “The enemy we face is powerful, deadly and not to be underestimated. If they remain in our Solar System, it is only for one reason, to carry out a second attempt to conquer Earth and our other colonies. I’ll be damned if I’ll let those alien bastards loom over us. We’re going to Mars and beyond to finish them for good!”
    Cheers rang out along the line. She knew she had stirred just enough energy among them to dig them out of the hole they all felt they were in. Many of those who stood there had been in the war from the opening week, and they all wondered how much more their luck would hold out.
    “We’re wheels up in one hour where we will meet the rest of the Battalion at L2. Grab your gear! We’ve got a war to fight!”
    She nodded to Captain Jones. He jumped forward and barked his orders.
    “Companies, you heard the Colonel. Fall out! Go, go, go!”
    The formation of troops scattered to prepare themselves to leave their homeworld once more. Jones turned to Chandra and had to concede she was right. He never wanted to believe that the enemy remained in their Solar System, but in the back of his mind, he had always feared it.
    “You knew all along, didn’t you?” he asked.
    “Honestly, I had no proof. But I knew the enemy fleet had to have some access point into the system. If their ships could travel at light speed, we’d have known about it. Whatever is out there, it is the answer to how they got to us, and it’s an access point which must be closed.”
    “Do we have any more intel regarding what’s up there?”
    “Major Taylor knows more than I, and he’ll fill us in when we reach L2, but I think it’s all a little sketchy. With our experience, we will be leading this operation, but we’ll have plenty of support.”
    “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

    * * *

    Taylor sat outside General White’s office. He could hear vigorous discussion taking place within but could not make out the topic. He was finally ushered through. Two officers passed him as he entered. Their faces were red with fury, and Mitch could make out the fatigue in the General’s eyes. He sighed as his head dropped into his hands. It was clear he hadn’t noticed the Major entering the room.
    “’Morning, Sir.”
    White’s head shot up, and he looked embarrassed for a moment before realising it was Mitch.
    “Thank God. I’ve got officers crawling out of the woodwork insisting they must lead this operation.”
    “Enthusiasm is a good thing, is it not, Sir?”
    “Up to a point, Mitch. You’ve made plenty of enemies, and all of them are most bitter that you’re heading up this operation.”
    “But I am not in charge, Sir.”
    “No, but you might as well be in their eyes.”
    The General tapped a button on his desk, a section slid open, and a drinks tray with a decanter of whiskey and several glasses arose from the opening. Taylor didn’t think lesser of White for taking a drink. He knew the stresses and work the General had fought through. He poured out a drink but didn’t offer Taylor one. They both knew that as a field officer on duty, he could not accept it.
      “At L2 you will rendezvous with Admiral Huber of the Liberty Battle Group. He will be in charge of the operation. Due to your experience, your Battalion will be there for the primary reason of commanding the marine forces aboard. Colonel Chandra will lead all infantry forces, with you as her second. Your Battalion will act as protection for the Admiral’s carrier, the Washington.”
    “Protection detail, Sir?”
    “The Washington is the Navy’s newest and most powerful ship, the first of its kind. It was laid down just a year before the war began. It began production as a new