Battle Earth VI by Nick S. Thomas Read Free Book Online

sarcastically.
    "Hey, you don't want a chance to give those alien bastards what for?"
    Eddie turned back to look at Jafar sitting beside the Colonel.
    "No offence," he added with a smile.
    Jafar didn't respond to either comment. It was as if he didn't see himself as anything but human anymore. Within thirty minutes, the two of them were sitting in the officers’ briefing room aboard the Washington. Key Naval and Marine officers sat around the vast conference table. Many empty places were filled with projection devices so that those on Earth could partake remotely.
    Taylor laid out everything they had experienced and all the information they had learned from Jafar. He simply nodded in agreement with each statement. Admiral Huber was orchestrating the meeting and was the first to speak.
    "This Planet Killer must obviously be stopped. That is not an option. We therefore have no choice but to engage the enemy in space. We cannot fight them on the land as before."
    There were grumbles in agreement. Nobody could see an alternative.
    "What strikes me here is that we still have a great many things to learn from you, Sergeant... Jafar. You would be far better stationed on the Washington, or even sent back to Earth to assist with our intelligence gathering and understanding of the enemy."
    Jafar shook his head.
    "We could order you to do as such."
    "And I would refuse. My brother and I allied ourselves to Colonel Taylor and gave our word to protect him. I cannot perform that duty anywhere else."
    "You're in the Marine Corps now," spat Vega.
    "Yes, with a responsibility to my fellow marines. I will not leave Inter-Allied or cease to serve the Colonel through any means but my death."
    Vega opened his mouth to continue, but Huber stopped him.
    "Captain, it seems to me that these are exceptional circumstances. The Sergeant has proven invaluable to us in the field and continues to provide vital intelligence from his current position. As a member of the fleet, he can carry out all that is required of him. Jafar has taken a leap of faith for us. Let us do the same for him."
    "Thank you, Admiral," replied Taylor.
    "Is that what you desire?" asked Huber.
    "Yes. I am a warrior. All I know is how to fight, and that is what I will do."
    "Okay, then tell us what we can expect from the fleet which is bearing down on us."
    Everyone in the room had their attention on Jafar. Many had never seen an alien with their own eyes before, and yet now they were fixated on one.
    "To Lord Demiran, the Gezgen K'til is everything. It is the unique feature of his family and their reputation. It is his symbol of power and control among the other Lords. It would also be impossible to replace. The Gezgen K'til will not be an easy target to strike. It will be preceded by a wave of far smaller ships. Skirmishers if you like. But these ships, they are a power unto themselves. If you want a shot at the Gezgen K'til, you must destroy them quickly, before the Planet Killer reaches Earth. If you do not, you will never withstand the onslaught of their combined power."
    "How many ships are we talking about?"
    "I grew up on stories of the Gezgen K'til. I have never seen it being used. From my knowledge, I would expect ten to twelve cruisers, of which I have encountered. They are collectively known as The Purge, and will carve their way through everything in their path to make way for the Gezgen K'til."
    "Then we should make an impassable wall with our fleet," stated Vega.
    "No, you will not stop them. Not like that. They will smash through anything. You cannot use a barrier defence. You need a tiered defence. Allow them through a weak frontline and funnel them into a gauntlet of mines and warships."
    "We are familiar with the strategy," replied Huber. "One that has been employed many time in our history."
    "For their size, their armour is thicker than anything you have ever seen. Reinforced prows to cut through other ships and reinforced hulls with their bridge at the core, much