Newly promoted Major Piotr Novakowski flipped a series of switches and grinned with genuine pleasure as a glowing Heads Up Display filled goggles. The main feed showed the six lane highway that led directly to the St Katherinesburg's EarthWerks plant. Using his eyes he was able to flick through several other feeds - sites high in the mountain the plant was dug directly into, a feed from the sprawling, chaotic Minetown and even an eye in the sky fed from a drone above the adjacent open cut Stoya Mine.
It was truly a sophisticated system - heavily upgraded and advanced by the Word of Blake, since their arrival.
A former EarthWerks security officer before he joined the Protectorate Militia Novakowski was uniquely suited to operating the security system. Or breaking it
The officer slipped off the glasses as slipped them back into their protective case.
"Everything looks good Lieutenant, that will do me," he said, nodding at his subordinate.
The Major's early morning inspection had been a surprise, but his dedication was well known among the static defence troops and no one had grumbled as he went through every system
Little did they know his inspection had been triggered by an even earlier coded message ordering him into action. Or that he had introduced two seperate viruses into the security operation system during his shakedown.
Patting the lieutenant on the shoulder, Novakowski turned to leave the control room when a sudden voice blared over the PA.
"Major Novakowski, please report to briefing room three. Major Novakowski to briefing room three."
Had the lieutenant or control room technicians been faxing the Major they works have seen his jaw clench and his eyes widen dramatically at the summons.
Moving quickly he pulled on his jacket and opened the control room door - to walk straight into a pair of Word of Blake infantrymen in armour.
They were 1st Division regulars - not Protectorate Militia and both had wicked looking, snub nosed SMGs slug casually.
"Major, we were sent to escort you - Precentor Logan is here and wants to see you. Right now."
It was a thousand meters of rocky broken ground from the bunker's lip to the beginning of the treeline. Protectorate Militia Lieutenant Stanislav squinted through the IR scanner and frowned in puzzlement. "Bravo 3-3, are you sure you've got no contact? My ultrasonic detector is going off the charts - there has to be something moving around out there," he bawled into his helmet mic.
"Bravo Six, this is 3-3. Just some deer and stuff, over."
The platoon commander sat back from the scanner and sighed. What the he'll was going on?
Suddenly, there was a flurry of movement in the trench next to him and a soldier dropped down next to him.
"Sir! Sir! Runner from 3-3," one of his headquarters troops barked.
The runner had pushed his helmet visor up, exposing a sweat drenched you face scarred by some sort of childhood disease.
"Sir! Bravo 3-3 reports major enemy contact to our front. We have infiltrators and what looks like heavy weapons teams flanking us," the runner blurred out.
Stanislav hurled his IR scanners to the ground. "What?! I just spoke to Hauber a second ago and he said it was nothing!"
The young private shoot his head. "Nossir! We are totally jammed up ahead - can't get a message in or out."
The realisation that he'd been speaking to the enemy - or a machine - hit the lieutenant about a second before the first shell dropped directly on his bunker.
This plan is way to complex - typical amateur partisans - but with a bit of luck it might actually work.
The Cavalliere will push down the main road, supported by what is optimistically called a motorised infantry brigade of rebels - really a company of tanks and about a battalion of infantry riding everything from captured APCs to civilian trucks.
We make lots of noise and slog our way through static defences and whatever the Militia throws at us.
The good news is that we have an inside man - a traitor has introduced a dead switch which will turn off the main mine field and ring of turrets. Sure, we'll still face a hell of a lot of infantry in bunkers and even some manned turrets and static guns, but for the most part the way is clear.
Meanwhile, the rebels supposedly elite Spetsnaz regiment has infiltrated the company town to the south east. They'll move in and sow some havoc and then with support from a leg infantry brigade (again... the name is much grander than it's real size) will assault through the town to hold a blocking position just outside the EarthWerks site while we directly hit it.
The rebels are also throwing as much artillery as they can - on both the main attack and the one through the town. I saw saw seriously large guns on the way in
The best part is the Comms - our mole in the hole has ceased communication for the Militia and even set up false broadcast
A lot is riding on that guy having down his or her job - I sure as hell do t want to be stuck in a mine filled when we discover we got double crossed...
Felix Cavalli
Knight six: We are clear from that initial minefield, rolling into the second ring now. Still mopping up casualties from those damn towers. Over
Knight 1-2: Six, dropping off our BA. They're clearing house inside that damn chokepoint - still plenty of Wobbie PBI.
Six: Roger that. All knight elements, keep pushing forward. Leave the infantry for the Rebs. Out
Redleg: knight lead, this is Redleg - standy. Firing NOW!
Six: Redleg, Six. Drop 400! Say again drop 400.
Redleg: Rodger, drop 400. Bingo!
Six: Red, Six. Fire for effect! Let 'me burn! Six, out.
Cossack Major: all unit, all units. This is Cossack - setting is Cobra, say again - Cobra. Assume Comms are compromised and Proceed with code words from now. Out.
Cossack: Ben Bella, this is Cossack. What's your status? Over
Ben Bella: Cossack, this is Ben Bella. We are WHITE NIGHT, say again WHITE NIGHT. We are taking major major casualties pushing through here - snipers and heavy weapons teams and these bastards are making us pay for every building. We are-
STATIC AND DISTANT CRUMP OF EXPLOSIONS
Ben Bella: Cossack! Dammit Cossack, this is Ben Bella. Come the hell in, over.
Cossack: Ben Bella, this is Cossack. Go. Over.
Ben Bella: we are stuffed, man! They're waiting for us - it's a trap! The minefields are back on. Half my troops are stuck out there in the mines, THEY JUST GOT CUT APART! The rest of us are stuck here getting chewed up! It's bloody murder! We are getting-
Cossack: Pull yourself together, dammit. Hold position. Code is STALINGRAD! Do you hear me? STALINGRAD. Over.
Ben Bella: hold?! Hold with what? I have maybe a company of viables left? The leg infantry has already broken and I'm supposed to hold?
Knight Six: Mauler 1-1, are you sure? Over
Mauler: Boss, I'm more sure than anything. Those are 1st Division suckers coming out of that bunker. Yasmin stuck around just long enough to get vision before they took off her arm. Feeding you the tape. Over.
Knight six: roger. Lad, your code is SAXON. Say again - SAXON. You'll have help in a couple mikes. But don't do anything heroic. Out.
Knight Six: All unit, this is Six. I want all Alphas to execute HUSSAR, say again, HUSSAR. Mauler and his boys are stuck out there in the shit and need help.
Darkness 1-1: Boss, this is Darkness. We just ran straight into a minefield. The minefield is alive again and I can see multiple turrets targeting Mauler. Looks like the rebel armour just walked straight into the mines too. Over.
Knight: ok, sit tight, Black. We'll peel you out. Code is um, STALINGRAD - but don't get too comfortable. Six out.
Knight Six: Falcon, this is Six. We have guys who desperately need your help. How far out are your birds? Over
Falcon: six, this is Falcon lead. We are in bound - five mikes. Feed me the coordinates. Over.
Knight: you understand the situation? Feeding you coordinates
Falcon: roger! Mauler is stuck but ordered to advance and has all fire priority. Darkness is digging in awaiting support. Over.
Wolf Six: I see 1st Division regulars! These guys aren't Militia!
Cossack: report!
Wolf: Codes CORNUCOPIA an' HEPHAESTUS. The above ground warehouse and smelter areas are ours. Objectives sure but forces are not advancing Knight Force has our back but we can't find the underground Movement liaison and we are rapidly getting pushed back.
Cossack Keep looking, have to evacuate our people.
Wolf: Sure, sure, I'll keep looking. Bloody ****** hell!
Cossack: Problems?
Wolf Half my troops are dead in the ****** mines! The mines were supposed to be off!
Redleg: That's a negative Wolfhound, Redleg is moving to a new position. We can't comply with your request. Your code is SIDEWINDER. Out.
Wolfhound: Thanks, Redleg. This the revolution? Screw the revolution. Have a nice friggin war! Out!
Cossack Minor: All Marshall elements, Wolfhound is deserting the fight. Any elements that make it through the minefield are to be eliminated. Out.
Ironborn: Any units, this is Ironborn! My boys are burning out here! Anyone? Can anyone hear me? All units this is -