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.Over the sound of the gunfire and explosions they could just make out the piercing sound of a siren coming from their original location.“That’s it, Captain, signal for full retreat!”Having their communications jammed meant that they had reverted to using audio signals as commands.The Air Force had launched audio beacons into the breaches just moments before to signal the retreat.Taylor knew it would be a tough battle, but nothing like the onslaught he was seeing.“That’s it! Fall back!”The marines looked in surprise at hearing their leader’s voice once more.Seconds later they got to their feet and rushed with every energy to escape the bloodthirsty scene.Taylor took a few paces back into the entrance of the corridor and watched as the survivors of the company rushed past him.He turned to look back at the defences just the second as an energy pulse smashed into Parker’s flank slamming her to the ground.Her armour was smouldering from the heat and she was lifeless.“Eli!” he shouted.Taylor rushed back into the open ground to her body.“Major! Come on!” shouted Friday.The Captain’s words were utterly ignored as Taylor reached his fallen Sergeant and the only woman he’d truly loved.He threw his rifle around to his back and hauled her onto his shoulder.He had no idea if she was even alive but he would not risk leaving her even if there was no chance of her being saved.Light pulses smashed into the wall behind the Major as Captain Friday returned fire with his rifle, doing his best to cover him.The shock of seeing Eleanor hit had sent such adrenaline pulsing through Mitch’s body that he had found a second wind.He stormed across the floor and into the corridor.The entire company ran with all the energy they could muster.They reached the room where they had originally breached and found the Air Force pilots had smashed new holes in the hull allowing them to land at their level.They clambered aboard gratefully.Taylor laid Parker down in the seat next to him.He was oblivious to anything as he checked to see if she was breathing.Captain Friday was the last aboard and barked at the pilot to get in the air the second he had a foot in the door.The pilot lifted off and immediately spun the craft around speeding off westerly.Captain Friday watched as many of the other ships desperately tried to escape, many were destroyed in the process.Pulling out his datapad, Taylor quickly checked a few details before running up to the cockpit.“Glad you made it, Major!” shouted the pilot.“Lieutenant, you have new orders, I want you to take us to these co-ordinates!”He thrust the datapad forward for the pilot to see, but the man looked confused and uneasy.“Sir, I have orders to evac you immediately back to base.”“I have a Sergeant in there who is dying, there’s a British destroyer north of here that you can reach in half the time!”“Sir, I have my orders.”Taylor snatched his pistol from its holster and placed it up against the pilot’s head.He froze in shock.“Lieutenant, this is not optional!”Captain Friday stepped up also in shock.“Sir, what are you doing?”“Stay out of this, Friday!”The Captain knew better than to interfere with Mitch.His superior had also become his friend over the years.No matter how crazy an idea was, he’d learnt to trust Taylor under any circumstances.“Lieutenant, get us there, now!”“Alright, alright!”It was a relatively short journey to the British destroyer HMS Battleaxe.Everyone aboard knew that Taylor was directly contravening the orders of their command, but not one of them had the heart to stop him.The other craft carrying his company were quick to follow suit, having every confidence in their leader even without knowing his intentions.The surviving marines of D Company dropped onto the deck of the carrier.Their pilots refused to land with them, returning as ordered to base.Of the one hundred and nine of the company who had got off the enemy island, they carried only eight wounded.They had left seventy-one marines dead in the hellish alien hulk.‘Leave no man behind’ was an ideal they could no longer afford to adhere to.The British Navy and Marine crew were shocked to see their American counterparts, but eager to assist.Some rushed to help the few wounded, though most stood in shock at the distressed state in which the soldiers were.Taylor carried Parker immediately to the medical bay as Captain Friday reported to the ship’s Captain who came out to greet them [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]