First Mechanised Brigade Administrative Headquarters, Tule Mode Spaceport, An Ting, Galedon Military District, Draconis Combine, Week 2b, Dec 3021 Large drops of cold rain and small flakes of snow pelted the office windows in a steady staccato that, under different circumstances, Richard Bedford would have found calming on weekend afternoon. Here on An Ting, however, the cold, wet weather, driven by a stiff wind out of the northwest, announced the beginning of the winter rain and snow. The rain turned the fields and pastures throughout the region into a sea of mud and large shallow pools of water. Off road movement for everything but hovercraft had become a trial of endurance and frustration as any ground pressure exerted on the surface immediately sunk into the morass. While Mechs could negotiate the mud, they were slowed and found quick manoeuvring difficult, their weight often causing them to sink a metre or more in the oozing muck.
For two weeks the skies had poured rain down on the plateau north of the Argun River Valley that held Cerant and Tule Mod spaceport. The Argun River flowed down from the coastal mountains to the northwest, through the forested foothills, then gaining breadth and depth as it drained into the plains that covered the southern half of the continent of Hotei. The closest point to the river was some forty kilometers to the south where the plateau dropped suddenly into the river basin with its tributaries, marshes and wetlands. The main road and rail line to the south crossed the river on a multi-span bridge that was more than 200 meters long at that point. Other major crossings existed further downstream another sixty kilometers to the east or more than two hundred kilometers to the northwest in the Mintaka Pass that led to the coast another one hundred and thirty kilometers west.
A soft knock on the office door interrupted Richard Bedford’s mental review of Hotei’s geography.
“Come,” he raised his voice just enough to be heard over the sound of the rain.
The door opened and sergeant Nicole Burns entered the office. Her normally impeccable work dress uniform had been replaced by combat fatigues and she wore and automatic pistol holstered under her right arm.
“Leftenant-Colonel Ligny and Major Bedford have arrived, sir.”
“Send them in, Sergeant, please.”
Rising from his desk the Brigade commander moved to meet his senior Tech commander and his elder brother, who also commanded the Brigade’s headquarters battlegroup.
“John, Tom, you both look frozen. Come in and take a seat,” he motioned each man a chair as they entered the room.
Both officers returned Reichard Bedford’s greeting and took the offered seats.
“Thanks, Richard. The cold I can take it’s the dampness that gets to me,” said John Ligny.
“Congratulation on the success of the raid at Igulada. I’ve heard Tom Burgh and his commandos are inbound and will land in a few days.”
“Yes, thanks, John, they’ll ground day after tomorrow. The raid came off quite well although
Legal advised us not to make a habit of such ‘inclinations’.
“I wanted to have a quick word with you both before the main meeting this afternoon.”
Looking at his brother who commanded the brigade headquarters combat elements Richard Bedford asked, “How is your battlegroup, Tom? Do you have everything you need?”
“The battlegroup is fine, Rich. After Gamma’s HQ drew eight of our spare Mechs for its RHQ we had twelve left. They’re a bit of a mismatch, five
Blackjacks, five
Hunchbacks, a
Wolverine and a
Rifleman but they’ll work out. Not that we have much choice.”
Leaning back in his chair with a computer stylus in his hand, Richard probed further.
“And the five pilots that came over from the
Uruk’hai? How are they settling in?”
“We placed all five of the
Dispossessed Mech jocks we have on loan from Candella’s outfight in the same company.” Replied Tomas. “They all have good experience and have worked together in the past. They’re more than happy to be sitting in a cockpit instead of toting rifles with the
Uruks. I placed their senior officer, a Captain Charles O’Hara, in charge of the company as a show of confidence and the group responded well to the gesture. They’re not quite as formal as we are where military protocols are concerned but they’re minding their P’s and Q’s.”
“Fine, Tom. Let’s keep putting the compamy through its paces as much as we can, weather permitting.”
Turning to John Ligny, Richard Bedford asked, “How is the little project we have for Major Burgh and his commandos coming along, John?”
“Quite well, Colonel. We’ve located a suitable base in the abandoned town of Tiburon, about one hundred and twenty kilometers east of Cerant. It was bombed out back in 2839 and never resettled but it had a small landing field and domestic factory complex so there are suitable structures for concealing some conventional aircraft and creating a suitable depot of spares, ammunitions and other supplies.
“The Karnovs have been moving supplies and the base team there for the past week and the four Planetlifters will begin moving the light tanks tomorrow morning. We held back six Hunters, a Goblin and a Scorpion SRM variant. Exactly two hundred and eighty tons of armour to back up the commandos. We would have preferred light Mechs but we seem to be fresh out of those.”
Looking at the map of the northern part of Hotei on the wall to his left, “Will the base be ready in time?”
“Should be ready within a week or so, sir. We’ll move the equipment in small lifts, with aircraft departing singly and in pairs, at odd intervals and in different directions. The intent is to throw off any curious eyes who are watching Tule Mod. Sometimes the aircraft will return the same way they went out, some will return later but eventually they’ll not return at all and will have relocated to Tiburon before the new year.”
Turning his chair to face the window Bedford regarded the rain and snow falling outside.
“This weather is not helping much. If we don’t get a freeze up soon, a good part of the Brigade will be road bound.”
“Forecast is for colder arctic air to move south late next week so the ground should firm up,” offered John Ligny. “Besides, if the Dracos do come, they’ll be as hampered by the mud as we are.”
“I’ve noted the Davion engineer regiment is making good progress on the fortification here at the spaceport. The rain hasn’t slowed them much and it looks like they’ll have the turret towers and main defences completed in less than a week. They’ve already marked off the minefields, real and dummy, with barbed wire pyramids and the revetments for main trench lines are well advanced with ferrocrete and armour. We’ll have a solid base area if we need to fall back.”
Shaking his head slowly Richard Bedford regarded the two men sitting across from him. “Alright, gentlemen, we have about fifteen minutes before we meet with the regimental commanders so get something hot in you beforehand.
*****
Within the space of a few seconds after the digital clock on the wall of the headquarters main meeting room rolled over to
1400 the door opened and in strode Colonel Richard Bedford followed closely by Lieutenant-Colonel John Ligny, Major Thomas Bedford and Sergeant Nicole Burns. As the party entered the room the Brigade’s senior regimental and aerospace officers came to their feet.
“At ease, ladies and gentlemen,” Bedford said as he waved the group back to their seats. “Apologies for calling you together in such foul weather but I wanted to run through the Brigade’s status one more time before the holiday standdown. “We have a fairly short agenda so let’s get to it.”
Looking over at Sergeant Burns Bedford saw she gave a nod that she was plugged into the computer network and ready to provide the meeting administrative support.
The main screen in the room came alive with the meeting agenda. “Alright. Let’s get a couple of housekeeping items out of the way.
“One. Any final additions to the new year’s list of promotions needs to be submitted before the standdown. Make sure it is complete and accurate.
“Two. Each battalion will have one combat team at stage three alert each day throughout the three-day holiday period. Those combat teams will also be responsible for patrols and sentry duty in their respective bivouac areas. Full combat kit to be at hand in case of any trouble.
“Anyone have anything to add on administration?” Looking at the assembled officers there were no responses. “Good, on with business.
“Logistics,” Bedford looked at Lieutenant-Colonel John Ligny. “Everything in order, John? Winter kit issued to everyone?”
“Yes, sir,” came the quick reply. “Fuel additives, winter lubricants for weapons and ammunition, insulation sleeves for capacitors and batteries, micro stoves for tents. We have about fifteen percent spares above normal consumption levels.”
Bedford nodded at the response.
“Number One Group? Tell me, Monsieur Valois, that your pilots are ready?”
“That they are, Colonel,” Valois’ mild French accent could not be hidden. “
Jean Ligny also advises that we will receive additional light and medium fighter by the new year. We can hold them as spares or reinforce a few flights. As you like.”
“Thank you, Philippe,” Bedford replied. “We have reinforced companies in the ground forces, why not reinforced aerospace fighter squadrons? I’ll leave that decision to you and Major Woodville to work out.
“
Oui, mon Colonel,
d’accord.”
“Master Gunner Montagu?” It was the turn of John Montagu of the 1st Horse Artillery. “How goes things with your ‘God’s of War’?
“All three companies are complete and ready for action, sir. We’ve dispersed the batteries around the spaceport for now but we can move as soon as you give the word.”
Richard Bedford grew more serious as he regarded the artilleryman. “I’m sorry about the anti-aircraft tanks, John. I had hoped to have at least a lance here by the new year but it looks like it will be February before the first
Partisans arrive.”
“We’ll make out fine, Colonel. Philippe’s fighters can protect my guns better than any ground battery.”
Valois was quick to agree, “You can count on the Group,
Jean. We will keep the Combine fighters away from your guns.”
“Alpha Regiment?” All eyes now looked to John Talbot. “Your house in order,
Leftenent-Colonel Talbot?”
“Aye, Colonel,” John Talbot’s eyes flashed as his face broke into one of his mischievous smiles. “My girls and boys are complaining about the weather and just about everything else so I know they’re ready. The RHQ battlegroup is a bit under strength but we’ll manage.”
A nod from Bedford. “Gamma? Is your RHQ ready? How about the Thirteenth Dragoons? You and your speed demons are the eyes and ears for the entire Brigade. Are they ready for the hunt?”
John Beaufort, not being quite as easy going as his colleague in Alpha regiment, still smiled as he replied, “The Thirteenth Light Dragoons are complete.
Leftenant-Colonel Colonel Stafford his pulled the battalion together extremely well and they’re eager for action. Like Alpha, my RHQ battlegroup is short a couple of lances but we can field a short company of Mechs augmented by a tank troop. We’re ready.”
“Good to hear, John,” Richard Bedford furrowed his brows as he considered his next words. “If the Kuritas do attack, I’m going to move the Light Dragoons over to Alpha for the coming fight. This no reflection on you, Gamma or the Thirteenth but this will be their first fight and I want a strong combat formation to meet any attack. You’ll take the Fourth Dragoons and Eighth Hussars out as the screen. You’ll be supported by a similar force of light tanks and Mechs from the 10th Deneb.
“Once you locate the Kurita formations, I’ll want you to strike hard at their soft targets, harassing them all the way as you fall back on the main forces. Once we know where their main punch will fall, we’ll concentrate your regiment and make use of their speed and manoeuverability.”
Addressing the entire group Bedford explained the outline of his plan.
“I’ll keep Brigade battlegroup and the Second Dragoons as a reserve. If the Combine tries to flank us, we’ll step in until Gamma can come and assist, then pull back into reserve again. If they press Alpha hard, we can reinforce the main line. John Montagu’s guns will stay concentrated and hit assigned targets with everything he has on a priority basis. We won’t dilute the power of the artillery by spreading out the fire missions. I want Alpha’s and Gamma’s battalions to be ready to deploy into demi-battalions if needed. Your units are over strength and we made need the tactical flexibility.
“The
Uruks here on An Ting will be able to field two Mech, two tank, an infantry battalion and their artillery by January. Their remaining units will defend Cerant and the spaceport with a composite battalion alongside two Davion jump infantry battalions and our admin troops. The 10th Deneb Light Cavalry, in addition to their two reconnaissance battalions, will be deploying two medium Mech battalions, two light and three medium tank battalions supported by two more jump infantry battalions in two combat formations backed by their own artillery. Two more jump infantry battalions will be in reserve.
“That’s everything. The Davion troops will field just sixteen battalions, we’ll deploy seven plus John Montagu’s guns and the Brigade HQ. The
Uruks will have six more. I suppose we’ll have the fortification’s guns as well if it comes to that. I don’t need to remind anyone that this is just a few battalions more than a standard DCMS combat command. If the Dracos come in strength we’ll need the combined force of fighters and assault dropships to thin out the enemy forces to even the odds a bit.
“The Combine has struck at Matsuida in strength, I suspect we are next. Marshal Sanders has orders to hold An Ting until relieved or ordered to pull out so that is what we will do. Regardless, we’ll likely be in for the toughest fight the Brigade has ever faced.”
In a deliberate attempt to lighten the mood Bedford added, “This is all in the future. For now, we have the holiday festival and a new year to celebrate. I for one expect it to be our best year yet. If they come, I am certain we’ll ‘hit them for six’, right off the planet”
The smile on his face was genuine but did not hide the concern in his eyes.
“Any questions?” Richard Bedford met the eyes of each of his senior officers in turn as they shook their heads in the negative.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you. You may return to your commands. Dismissed.”
*****
