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

endless expansion of grey structures. There were few windows on the buildings, for without a substantial atmosphere they were always at risk of being struck by space debris. The few small windows that existed were so thick that they distorted any view.
    “God, why would you come here by choice?” asked Silva.
    “Not our problem, Sergeant.”
    The fifteen-minute wait for their shuttles was an anticlimactic start to their arrival. For all the mystery of the danger they had been discussing, they half expected to be walking into a battle. It seemed that life went on as usual about the colony. Aside from the stations built on two of the LaGrange Points, the Moon had been the first and only real colony set up outside of Earth. Mars would likely soon follow, as well as many other moons of the Solar System, but not for a few decades.

    * * *

    Travelling across the Moon city was at least a stress free and easy experience. Most people utilised the solar powered tram network to navigate and commute the area. There was no traffic, no congestion. Having no roads kept things simple and with so little air traffic they had very basic operating procedures for transport.
    It was just a ten-minute ride to reach the Civic Centre of the city and the government’s own parking facility. No one wore compression suits or oxygen tanks on the colony, unless travelling out of the structures or craft for a specific purpose. They relied on living within atmospherically controlled buildings. Vehicles docked only with sealed dual entry gates and few people ever went outside their artificial environment.
    To the marines it was a foreign sight, no crashing seas, mud-ridden fields or craggy mountains. It was not their natural habitat and the more they looked around the less they wanted to be there. Knowing that exposure to the elements could quickly kill a man and that their personal oxygen tanks would only allow survival for half a day or less made it an inhospitable place.
    “That’s it, Major, not much to look at!” shouted Rains.
    Taylor looked through the cockpit screen at the Civic Centre. It was merely a larger version of the ugly buildings that surround it. The shuttles were a bulky and cumbersome transport compared to the fast attack copters that Rains was used to. He didn’t like them anymore than Taylor liked the colony.
    Minutes later their shuttles docked with the building and Taylor stepped out with his company at his back. Everyone they passed looked at them open mouthed. To see a fully armed and armoured marine was unknown to them outside of the news. Just fifty metres into the building they were met by a sharp-suited man who was certainly an aide to someone important.
    “Major Taylor!”
    “What can I do for you?”
    “Sir, I am James Dallah, the Prime minister has asked me to attach myself to your unit during your stay.”
    “Good, then you can put out a message for me.”
    Taylor tried to continue his stride through the building but the arrogant Dallah put his hand out and stopped the Major. Taylor looked up in disgust at the arrogant little man, but he knew he could not risk a political incident at this stage. Had it been back on base he’d have struck the man down where he stood.
    “Dallah was it? Don’t ever touch me again. Get the Commander of UEN forces to a meeting with me, and make it happen within the hour!”
    James looked up at the Major who was an imposing figure, and at the endless stream of fully equipped marines behind him. He nodded, but before he could answer the loudspeaker running through the building rang out.
    “Major Taylor, please report to the Prime Minister’s Office immediately. Major Taylor to the Prime Minister’s Office.”
    “Guess word travels fast,” said Suarez.
    “I will lead you to him, please follow me, Major,” said Dallah.
    Taylor turned to his men.
    “Captain Friday, take up positions throughout the facility, make sure we have men on every floor and at all entrances. Price and