Battle Earth IX Read Online Free Page A

coming in. If you can't confirm we are friendlies, that's your problem. We've just fought through hell to get back here, and I won't wait another minute to get down on the ground. If you want to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and our allies, you pull the trigger. Otherwise, stand down and get the General on the line."
    The comms went silent as they passed over the air space of Quantico, and they could see a few of the gun towers tracking their position. They were waiting for them to open fire at any moment when finally General White appeared on the screen before them.
    "Taylor? That you?"
    "Yes, Sir."
    "What the hell are you doing, and where the hell have you been? Get your ass on the ground now!"
    Taylor smiled. "Just what we've been trying to do, General."
    "Well do it quicker."
    The transmission ended, and finally a voice came over the comms once again and said sternly, "You are cleared to land at sector 19F."
    "And you couldn't have just waited for that?" the pilot asked Taylor, "We could have had our butts blown out the sky there."
    "And we would have been left hanging a few hours if we waited in line for them to go through proper channels."
    They were soon on the ground, and as Taylor's boots hit the surface, his name was being called. A Lieutenant strode up and saluted him.
    "Sir, General White requests your presence immediately."
    "Yeah, thought he might."
    Taylor looked around at their surroundings. They were on home soil, but he didn't recognise it. He'd not been to Quantico in as long as he could remember.
    "Sir, I must insist on haste, as was made clear to me by the General."
    He looked back to King and Jones; both were waiting for his command.
    "You can be guaranteed we'll be heading for the eye of the fucking storm before long, so get whatever food, rest, and supplies you can."
    "So eloquently put," Jones replied.
    The Lieutenant didn't say another word as he drove Taylor to a command and control facility. He was shown through without a single check into a command centre that was packed out with projection displays and several dozen personnel. General White stood at the head of a large table with his command staff surrounding him. He looked up and shook his head when he saw Taylor approaching.
    "Colonel, what the hell happened up there? I don't know whether to arrest you or give you a goddamn medal."
    "Then do neither, Sir."
    White shook his head once again and took in a deep breath.
    "You're a son of a bitch, Mitch, but don't ever forget you are our son of a bitch."
    He relaxed a little as he leaned against the table and looked at the 3d relief map projected before them. It showed enemy craft in real time, and he could see air force fighter wings en route to engage.
    "Nobody has heard from you since you took off to disable the Earth Defence Grid. The results of which are mostly clear, but I have been authorised to conduct a debriefing for the President. Make it quick," said White.
    Taylor looked around, and all eyes were now on him.
    "It was a trap. There was no way we could disable all those weapons. All we could do was destroy them. Which we did, and is precisely what Erdogan wanted."
    "How do you know that?"
    "Because he came to me, as a hologram or whatever. He's mocking us, and he has a right to. He led us exactly where he wanted to, and look where we are now."
    "So that's it?"
    "That's all that's important."
    White nodded. He clearly hadn't expected any better news.
    "So it is Erdogan this time?"
    "Afraid so. But he's the one, the one that holds it all together. We finish him, and it’s over for good."
    "I think we have more imminent concerns right now."
    Taylor looked shocked.
    "We're losing ground fast. We are getting reports of enemy forces throughout the United States and EA nations. It's a mess, Mitch. Honestly, I don't know if we can make it through this one."
    Taylor was taken aback and looked around expecting some of the other officers to call him up on his defeatist