“Are you certain?” Hanse Davion's voice was quiet with shock.
“The code words are there. Liao is going to hit Kathil.” Quintus Allard's voice was just as shocked.
“I know Max is crazy, but that crazy? What does he hope to gain by doing this?”
“It will cripple our fleet for decades if it succeeds. And the code says this is not Max's idea, but Romanos.”
“This makes no sense. BAOYING has been quite successful for them, all things considered, diverting any unit from that to Kathil is folly.”
“The Death Commando's and the 15th Dracon can get the job done, depending on what there.”
“What do we have in the area?”
“I'm not sure, but I think finding out is our next priority.”
* * * * *
“There's two Battalions of militia on planet, but they are understrength. We took the best units from them to help form several of the provisional garrison units.” Marshal Zibler spoke from memory, standing in front of the holotank he typed in a few commands and brought the area into focus.
“Everything we have in that region is tied up, and any sizable movement will take time to coordinate. Plus, with the Interdiction, getting a message to a unit in the region is going to take time. There's no guarantee that the unit getting the order to move would be able to, and if they did, no guarantee they'd get there on time to prevent the attack.”
“Any chance the militia could pull it off?” asked Hanse Davion, knowing the answer before he even asked.
“If you buy a lottery ticket, your odds would be better. When I was at Kettering we often-” Ziber stopped mid-sentence, turned back to the console and sat down, rapidly typing in commands. Hanse Davion kept silent for a moment, by now, he was used to Zibler's train of thought going well off track.
“Son of a-how did I miss this?” Zibler muttered and stood up.
“Sir, I can get 28 of the finest mechwarriors to Kathil in six weeks. That put them on the ground three weeks before Liao gets there.”
“Who? How?” asked Allard.
“Kettering sir. The Proving Ground has been inactive since the War began. Some of them have been sent out as replacements, but the rest of the unit is there. More importantly, they've two Merchant class jumpships with them.”
“How is that possible?” Allards voice was tinged with anger.
“I set up Kettering sir, and with six worlds to train on, moving back and forth between them was something I didn't want to leave to the regular supply boffins. Plus Kettering is classed as a training unit, not a line unit, and it's not in the regular chain of command. In fact, the chain of command is quite short.”
“Who signed off on that idea?” asked Hanse Davion.
“Your Champion Sire.” Hanse bit back whatever reply he had to the unexpected response.
“A Battalions not enough, even if its the Kettering.” said Allard, looking at the unit dispositions flashing on the screen. “No offense Marshall.”
“None taken,” replied Zibler, still pecking away at the keyboard.
“What about Delta Company?” the Marshal asked.
“Most of them are still on convalescent, but they'll go.”
“OK, whose in command then?” asked Hanse. “The militia commander is out. I've two disparate units heading towards a showdown with the best Liao has to offer. Who's at Kettering?”
“Colonel Jocelyn MacIntyre, recently from 1st Chisholm. She's a Kettering plankowner, but..”
“But what Marshal?”
“Sir, she transferred in right at the start of the 4th; while I'm confident in her abilities the problems she's going to run into, she's a new Colonel. We need some seniority there.”
“Is that you volunteering Thomas?” asked Hanse Davion with an archer brow. Zibler opened his mouth, then closed it. After a moment he spoke.
“I took an oath, Sire. I'll go wherever send me, but let's be honest, outside of New Avalon and some communiques I'm not that well known. Some Marshal from the AFFS shows up and starts issuing orders, they'll get followed. Something like this though, you need-”
“Firepower.” said Hanse. “And I have the perfect shell in mind.”
* * * * *
Thomas Zibler sat in the auditorium, lost in his own thoughts. On one hand, it felt odd to be sitting on this side of the lectern. On the other, he had to constantly remind himself not to twist around and look at the assemblage again. Youth and inexperience, tempered by fear, leavened by wounded warriors and a small elite that on paper, was not enough. Seeing the regiment again was bittersweet, very few of the original members were left. Colonel MacIntyre had managed to acquire some tact over the years, but his brief conversations with her made him wonder if they were leaning to much on the Proving Ground troops.
Andrew Redburn was all the faxes made him out to be and more. He was going to go far in the AFFS, even if the First Prince hadn't had a vested interest in his unit. Zibler liked him as soon as he met him, and they had some fine discussions over lunches and dinner, and a standing 100 C-Bill bet if/when Delta Company ever made it to the Proving Grounds.
The lights dimmed, and Morgan Hasek-Davion walked out to the lectern. He looked at his notes briefly, then stepped aside, took a breath, and began to speak.
“There are two ways to go about History,” he began. The capital H was obvious in his pronunciation. “You may read about it, the deeds and actions of our forebearers and our enemies, or you can make it. Here, this month ladies and gentlemen, we will be writing it. Battle and glory are not won on the Capellan or Combine borders alone. Worlds away from the front, such as Kathil, are often where history is made, and this time is no different. Kathil has been a target before, and it is a target again.
He indicated the center of the auditorium. “In this effort we have Captain Andrew Redburn and Delta Company of the Light Guards. They are experts in close in tactics, and as you all know, have fought the Combine numerous times, and won in a convincing manner. And that includes their firefighting abilities.” A small smile crept across his face, but disappeared as quickly. He pointed to the assembly of warriors on the right side of the auditorium. “These are the men and women of the Kettering Proving Ground, commanded by Colonel Jocelyn MacIntyre. Colonel MacIntyre is an original member of the KPG, and has fought more battles in the past ten years than a companies worth of warriors will fight in a lifetime. Everyone here knows their reputation, and you also know that their reputation has been earned, time and again. They are the best the AFFS has to offer because they have earned it. And we will need it.
“And we have you, the Third Battalion of the Kathil Miltia. As tested and proven as Delta Company and the KPG are, you are as untested and unproven. That is not your fault, and in the coming days I am going to ask you to give more than you thought possible.
“We know from impeccable sources that Liao has sent troops to Kathil. Their aim is not to conquer, but to destroy. To Pillage and burn what little we have managed to reclaim since the days of the 1st Succession Wars. We know there will be at least a regiments worth of mechs, including the Death Commando Battalion, on their way here. Their targets are the four geothermal generating stations. If they destroy these, the orbitals are useless. If they destroy these the ability for mankind to move between the stars will slide into oblivion. Our job is to stop them, no matter the cost. The upcoming battle is a crucible that well test us all, and we will not fail.
Morgan straightened his posture even more, placing his hands behind his back. Zibler knew what was coming, had talked about it with the Prince and Morgan, but he wasn't sure how it would go over.
“By order of the First Prince, you have all been relieved of your current assignments and positions.”
Zibler was surprised by the lack of movement and noise from the professional soldiery, but there was some muttering between the militia. On a closer look, he saw the narrowing of Colonel MacIntyres eyes and the color rising in her cheeks, but a few brief words from Sergeant-Major Hawker seemed to calm her down.
“By that same order, we are now a new regiment on the AFFS rolls. Officially, we are the First Kathil Lanciers, but we will be known as the Lions of Davion. We are a short regiment of mechs, in two oversized battalions. On paper, I am the Commanding Officer. In reality, Colonel MacIntyre will be fulfilling most of those duties. Papaerwork assignment is at her discretion.” Another brief smile. “Major Danielson of the Kettering is 1st Battalion Commander. He will have the remainder of the Kettering as his core, with half the militia.
“Major Redburn is 2nd Battalion Commander, with his Delta company and the other half of the militia.”
To his credit, Morgan waited for the muttering to die down before resuming.
“I know many of you resent this turn of events, and that you were not told about this earlier. There is a reason for that. Long ago, on Earth, a man called Cortes sailed to the New World. In a particularly dire situation such as this one, Cortes landed on the coast of Mexico, and to prove to his men that there would be no retreating from the upcoming fight, he burned his ships. You may take this announcement as my burning the ships. That is, there cannot be no retreat from where we are.
“We will use each others strengths to fill in our weaknesses. Delta Company here understands the weaknesses of various 'Mech designs, and how to exploit them. They have mastered the techniques of hitting without getting hit back. Three years ago they were very much like you former militia members, but through hard work, training, emphasizing the importance of working together, they have become a unit Combine mothers name when they wish to frighten bad children.”
Turning to the Kettering troops, Morgan continued.
“You men and women, without a doubt, are the finest troops in the AFFS. You know how our enemies fight, and often perform better than they do. It's this experience I am counting on you to share. We need to know how to get inside our enemies heads, how to beat them at their own game. To help share that knowledge we have Marshal Thomas Zibler. He is the founding commander of the Kettering Proving Ground, its success is a direct result of his efforts and abilities as a commander and teacher. In the next two weeks, the knowledge he and the rest of the Kettering troops have will be the firehouse we all try to drink from.
“Lastly, you militia members. Some will say you are the weakest link amongst us. I say they are wrong. You know this world, you know where the maps are wrong, the details we could never glean from the local sources without expending some serious resources. You have a love for this world, because it's yours. That love will be contagious, it will give us an edge and keep us going when all may seem lost. And when all will seem lost, it will be you who see's us through. You have the enthusiasm many of us veterans lack. Whereas we are cynical and resigned to our fate-” another smile, and some laughter from other veterans “The impossible is but an obstacle for you to overcome, because you have not tried to do it yet.”
Morgan stopped for a moment, then walked back to the lectern. Grasping the sides, he looked over the assembly. “We have, at a minimum, two weeks to train and prepare. The next fourteen days I will promise you three things: Three hot meals a day, your mail, and four hours of uninterrupted sleep.” A few nervous laughs went through the hall. “That is the most I can promise you from training.
“As your commander, I also promise you this: There will come a time when I will give you an assignment that could kill you. But I will never give you a suicidal order. I will never abandon you to the enemy. We will win because we must win. Liao's forces are coming here to claim victory for themselves. We are in a fight against wanton carnage and destruction for its own sake, on a level so great that it could suck mankind down into another Dark Age. We cannot allow it. We will not allow it. No matter the cost, the price we must pay in machines and men, we cannot allow this action to pass. This will not be a victory for just the Federated Commonwealth, but for all of Man. The Lions will be be one force, one power. And when we roar, the Chancellor himself will hear it, and quake on his Celestial Throne.”
Thanks for reading,
Dav
