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Strategos (A Great Captain Roberts Tale!!) - Part 2
Chapter 16 - But there's always more to do.[]
Mission Briefing and Introductions[]
"Our next mission…
…is Grankum." Fleet Captain David Foster had the commanders of what was rapidly becoming Formally "Task Force Desmond": Wilhemina 'Billie' Siegel, Amanda Roberts, himself, and their senior staffs.
"Officially, we know that the Grankum system was once part of the short-lived 'Trader's Domain' province authority after the collapse of Outworlds authority in the Twenty Eighth century. At the last point where Alliance records research and Watch sources could reliably trace, the planet was technically run from Wynn's Roost. Captain Roberts has some additional data, Captain?"
"I see we have a few new faces." Amanda said, standing up as David sat down. "Alright, for the new guys, a series of smaller 'service bases' and fueling docks had been put together in the past by Outworlds Nationalists, some of them were also under Star League control. The dock here on Michtal was an SLDF fueling station, for example. The one I'm about to brief you on, was not put there by the Star League…at least, not by the SLDF. We think it might be Star League Intelligence Corps since there's an HPG address, and it isn't the one in the backdated registry from the Ministry of Communications. The signal prefixes aren't even similar, but it IS similar to the prefixes at the one in the Joan's Post system-the same one we're using as a relay to Quatre Belle now."
On the table, a holomap lit. "The Grankum system has one Goldilocks planet in the inner orbits, and a near-habitable moon orbiting the second gas giant. There are two major disks of debris-asteroid belts of significant size." She folded her hands, "Last registered population was over a million people-but that was a few centuries ago… Back when Michtal had a population in excess of half a million-there are eighteen thousand of those left, so I'm not real hopeful, especially given the lack of info or traffic and the fact the system dropped out of view sometime in the Clans' Golden Century era… but we know somebody is there."
One of the 'new guys', a Ghost Bear Elemental, cleared his throat, "How do you know?"
"Local HPG was used less than thirty days ago." Amanda said. "Signal to Grankum-this was about two days before we hit their fleet and took it from them. We are working from the assumption it was a standard contact on a schedule."
"That would mean…"
"That means they either know, or suspect, we've taken the Michtal system and are preparing to move forward," Amanda stated. "At least, that is the assumption we're going to make, because despite everything else, these ****** have been able to hide for centuries out here-so someone, in their chain of command, must be competent."
“Competence? From these bandits?” Valeria Kerensky asked with a quirked eyebrow. Her tone suggested she wasn’t entirely serious. Perhaps she was fishing for a reaction from the other “new guys”.
"It does happen," Hank Roshak commented. "Even among bandits, Valeria Kerensky. Some of the bandits along the periphery of the Lyrans have become so competent they almost approach a challenge."
Valeria demurred with a smile and maybe half a nod, turning her gaze back to Amanda.
"We have new assets to field this time. Star Commander Valeria Kerensky, and Star Commander Hank Roshak have brought a Star of BattleMechs each, Star Commander Pol of the Ghost Bears has a full Elemental Star as well," Fleet Captain Foster observed. "Along with sufficient standard JumpShips and DropShips to move them. Which is good, because if it gets into another ground fight, the additional striking power will be needed… If you would sit, Captain Roberts?", asked Foster as he turns to Amanda
Amanda took her seat. "The plan is the same," David continued. "Phase one, is a recon by the Evanescent and the Illusive, to determine the most efficient way to secure the jump points and locate enemy forces capable of interception. Phase two, will be planning and executing seizure of key military infrastructure, communications, and engaging enemy forces. Marine Commanders will work up your worst case scenarios, as will ship and aerospace commanders, and begin considering contingencies ahead of time. These operations are heavy on initiative at the sharp end of command level, the objective is to take the system if possible, or call in for backup and exist as a lingering threat to the enemy until heavier forces can arrive."
He waited a moment for that to sink in, before adding, "Glory, fills bodybags. OURS. Your emphasis should be solely on practicality, reducing risks to the task force, and retaining strength through follow-on phases. The term 'Calculated Risk' should weigh heavily in your considerations and your thinking. We still have the whole Fallry and Bannerhoft campaigns to get through after Grankum, so start squeezing heavily on your studies of 'economy of force' and consider the long term. A small defeat in the field is preferable to a strategic blunder."
"Excuse me, Fleet Captain, but did not Captain Roberts capture an entire city with less force than it normally takes to defend a village?" Pol asked with a frown.
"I'm his problem child." Amanda stated. "Every force has one, I'm it. You get to be the guys who look good on the medals podium, while I get to be the one who has two Watch Minders making sure I don't do something outright stupid because I'm crazy."
"Captain Roberts has certain skills that lend themselves to…Asymmetric Operations, Star Commander Pol of the Ghost Bears." David said more diplomatically. "She is also the senior Outworlds Alliance officer in the Joint Task-force, subordinate to me, but do not think that makes her subordinate to you."
Roshak snorted, "Director."
Valeria Kerensky grinned evilly and interjected, “Captain by courtesy, Hank Roshak.”
"Mister Seron?" David commented, with barely a glance at the MechWarrior.
"I am a Watch officer in the Task force, and acting Marine commander. I have, to date, more experience conducting boarding operations under fire than any of you-and I know this, because I have reviewed each of your ppCodexes]]. Station Chief Lori Crow is the Senior Intelligence Officer for Evanescent, and Outworlds Intelligence has an officer on the Illusive-a non-cover position, that fills a similar role. We will each be preparing study material for this operation, it would be wise if you read and absorb that information before it becomes vital information."
"This series of operations really does rely on intelser?" Roshak marveled.
"Well when outnumbered hundreds to one, it is usually a good idea to know where and when to strike to reduce that numerical problem," Seron stated. "We began this with no information on the enemy at all. When Captain Roberts started this, she was alone with nothing but a ship she could not crew, and a head full of vital information…and that has led directly to where we are right now: a Joint Task Force on the spear tip of the largest coordinated Clan operation since the Blakists, and proportionally the largest effort at territorial recovery since the fall of the Star League itself."
"What are we looking at for backup?" Amanda asked.
"The Clan is currently mustering vessels not in the mothball list, and repairing the SLS Lynnwood and OWS Erinyes to carry out follow up support. They are readying for Bannerhoft, but will be in the region at less than two week's transit by the time we jump off for Grankum," David stated.
"Less than a month? Nice!!" The girl looked briefly like a girl as she said it, instead of the brooding thing she'd been all meeting. "Less than a month… outstanding," she continued in a more serious tone.
"Mister Samuel?" David gestured.
"For you new people, I'm Chief Engineering Officer on the Evanescent, and acting technical officer for the Task Force-that means I am the guy you call when you want to try to make a Mark Seven radar and Lidar invisible without reskinning it in expensive Cappie imports, or when you need something like a beach-ball sized surveillance rig that can last a few weeks for surface warfare support, or if you need someone to survey a base or fortification for either repair or dismantling." He hesitated, "That means I'm your guy for special tools or to apply technical solutions where tactics aren't working. Despite what Director Roberts might say, I don't work miracles, but usually my work works... at least once."
"Mister Samuel is a man each of you guest commanders needs to know." David said. "Your Technicians, at minimum, will need to work with him. We have thirty days before we jump off for Grankum, in those thirty days, it is expected that each of you will engage in preparation and collective training with the other elements of the task force. We are not going in blind, this is not to become a debacle. Quartermaster?"
Larry Nichols stood. "I'm Larry Nichols, I'm the G-4 for the Task Force, if you need supplies and we have them, I'm your man. It goes through me, if we can GET them, I'm the man you ask. I also handle paymaster duty for the non-Clan personnel and those permanent party to the Privateer service. As your Clans do not engage in hard currency, I'll be the accountant forwarding your chits to your home Clans for your work credit, and managing your ration allotments. When I'm not doing that, I'm Captain Roberts' Executive Officer. I will refer any of you who feels this is an unacceptable situation up the chain of command. Are we clear?"
"To verify, Mister Nichols… no trials?" Roshak asked.
"No trials, we use weapons on the enemy. If you want to have boxing matches, Mister Seron is the current Taskforce Champion for kickboxing and Muay Thai," Nichols stated. "This isn't likely what you're used to in the Occupation Zones. we are in a war-zone right now and will be going into a hot one in thirty days… So this operation is under Fleet discipline. Submit your get-list, anything I can't find, I'll pass up the chain. Anything I can't get, talk to Sam, he might find a way to mock something up."
Making sense for the situation[]
"...made it more complicated…
… than it needs to be-are these Snow Ravens or Sea Foxes?"
"You are concerned by...?"
"An Executive Officer doing Merchant work, treating the Technician like an Officer..."
Pol brooded for a moment as the two bloodnamed griped, then: "It makes sense," he finally said. "There is no room for lots of caste divisions in this kind of operation. They must by necessity fill multiple roles in an environment where external support is always 'just a few weeks away' and never quite 'when it would work best', or 'where it is convenient'."
Kerensky looked at the Ghost Bear officer like he'd grown a second head. "What?"
"It makes sense for the situation." Pol clarified. "This whole situation-our being here, even, is because of that supposedly-insane young woman, who started this because proper Warrior Caste were not doing this," he outlined. "When we were supporting our Khans, did you enter the barracks?"
Roshak looked ill and nodded. "Aff."
"So did I," Pol stated. "This is not merely a 'joint operation', it is a Crusade, a true one, a fight to the death against corruption and evil. Half measures are unseemly, yet they lack resources… and it is a fight that must be fought. If Khan Kabrinski had not offered me the chance to 'accompany and observe' I would be AWOL and volunteering for this."
"But your bloodright-"
"I will never hold a bloodname," Pol stated. "I am…insufficient. Only the best can win the Tseng bloodname, and I am, while not the worst. A man who will never be better than my peers, a thing proven when I failed before. I have no sponsor."
"You still command a Star from your Khan's Keshik." Kerensky observed.
"I am a good infantry leader, I am simply not a good duelist." Pol smiled coldly.
"We have time." Roshak observed. "I am going to spend some of that time, following the Task Force Commander's advice."
"Same," Kerensky mused. "And explaining to my warriors what the conditions are within this operation."
"They left it among us who gets overall command of the Trinary." Roshak noted.
"Hmm… yes, they did. And I note they didn’t leave us enough time to sort it out before imposing ‘Fleet Discipline’." Kerensky replied.
"Up for a card game then?" Roshak asked innocently.
“Oh hell no, Hank Roshak… Your reputation at cards is well known, even outside the Jade Falcons.” Valeria responded.
"Ah, glory at last." Roshak smirked. "Seriously, we do need to establish who is acting commander of the 'mechs, at least."
“I see no reason for that. We can do FAR more damage as two independent Novas, each carrying one of Pol’s Points.”
"As the man whose Elementals are currently being discussed, I have to agree-while two stars is better coverage, one command chain will make it easier to deal with our allies OUTSIDE of combat.”
Roshak mused, then: "I nominate him," he said, gesturing at Pol. "He is like my gene-mother, he thinks too much."
“Bargained well and done!” Kerensky said before Pol could object.
"Me and my big mouth…" Pol muttered. "Okay, prepare your needs lists, I will go talk to the Quartermaster."
“Better him than us.” Kerensky said to Roshak in a low voice.
Talk of Flightless Birds and Hats[]
The Michtal…
..fueling dock was a swarm of controlled chaos between the recently arrived 'relief and occupation' force, and the actual ships and personnel of the Task Force itself.
Cargo DropShips were unloading to the dock, refugee lifts were transferring victims to the hospital DropShips, and supplies were being moved and routed.
"What is up, Big Man?" a female Aeropilot phenotype with graying hair and EI (Enhance Imaging) tattoos marking her as a Protomech warrior asked.
Pol paused, "I need to find the G-4…"
"You mean Mister Nichols, right?" she asked.
"Aff… Your speech-"
"Trina, Point commander for Evanescent's Protomechs, and yeah, I have started degrading my speech. Lift three, will take you up the grav-wheel to the G-4 department, but Mister Nichols is on dock seven. I'm heading that way, I can show you."
"Thank you," he looked puzzled at her. "Only a point commander?"
She shrugged, "Fifty tons of bay, five ProtoMechs on the ship, so yeah. The rest of the Protomech arm is on the Illusive under Stephen, who is a better tactician than I am, so it works out. I get along better with the Outworlders."
"Ah, 'round peg into round hole' then." Pol mused.
"That's me, the roundest hole." she grinned at her dirty joke. "You got suckered into being the bossman for the Grand Council's observers then, quiaff?"
"Aff…"
She led him to a tram that was emptying. "Well, they got someone decent then." she said. "At least, decent looking."
"Why are you seeking, Mister Nichols?" Pol inquired.
"Because Sammy found some problems in our spares," she confided. "Also because he owes me five Escudos from last Tuesday's poker game. I'm going to take it out in lunch… And because I want to check on my investments and he has the balance sheets."
"Investments?"
"Protomech pilot!" she said. "No prospects for rising inside the Clan, but I can make rank and respect with the Privateers. With that, comes things like retirement funds and being able to spend money in Outworlder civilian shops, which have the Ginchiest clothes and food."
"So your real rank is…?"
“Supervisor,” she replied, tapping the horizontal green bar on her collar. "Right under Mister Seron for ground forces and marine duty, and yes, I have taken a Protomech on zero gee walkabout. EMU's are almost like flying."
"Almost?"
"Clumsier," she allowed. "Our Rocs have modifications to the feet that Mister Sam came up with so we can engage in magnetized deck-walking. It's fun, and I swear the magnets he used are powerful enough that one of my guys played 'spider' on a fortified warehouse during the fight on Michtal, though Deenie would deny it."
The tram pulled to a stop, and they stepped out into slightly heavier gravity from being closer to the rim of the station's grav decking.
In the distance, nearly 50 meters away, he could see the diminutive shape of Amanda Roberts speaking with the dignified, middle-aged Larry Nichols.
"The hat?"
"She loves that hat." Trina confirmed. "It's authorized wear, but only 'authorized' not mandatory…I'm thinking of getting one like it, but maybe with a Zufloz feather for when I'm not in my Roc scaring the hell out of bandits before I kill them."
"A…Zufloz?"
"Flightless bird, big poofy feathers, really stands out…also tastes pretty good cooked over an open fire. They grow to about 250 kilos, and make up about a quarter of the meat rations because the meat keeps without tasting like dirt."
Acquisition of Parts[]
"Section Leader Nichols…
…I am here about a need for supplies." Pol announced after Director Roberts had gone on her way. "You captured a number of them on the planet…"
"Right, for the 'mechs," Nichols said. "You have a list?"
"I do. I do not know which can be altered to work with our technology, however," Pol explained.
"Let's hit my office, I'll take a look at the database the Ravens gave us for reverse-compatible components from SLDF part numbers to Clan stocking, and we'll kick Samuel and his crazies a copy to see if they can modify anything to work."
"His 'crazies'?" Pol said with a worried look.
"Well, them not being…what you call 'scientist caste' they're crazy engineers instead of mad scientists. I swear, my grandmama was Folk, but when he gets spilling into Belta I barely understand him."
"Belta?"
"Mister Sam's a Sol-Belter on a long walkabout. He doesn't think anyone would recognize the accent, but he talks too much when he's drunk," Larry said. "If anyone can square it away, it's him."
"From holy Terra?" Pol was surprised, "from the Republic?"
"More like the Metis, at least, that's best guess… Okay… let's see what your colleagues think they'll run out of… Half the fun of this job is figuring out what people forget they need to make the stuff they know they need to work the way they need it to." Larry fed the data chit into a reader, "You got stuck with senior officer duty… Have you returned the 'favor' yet?"
"Pardon??"
"Staff assignments," Larry looked up. "It's one of those little vengeful joys when someone sticks you with the admin job-you can 'delegate' tasks, and if I don't miss my guess, since they agreed on you you can make it stick. It's a good move anyway."
"Excuse me?"
"Infantry officers have to handle more details in less time than almost anyone outside of the full time Navy," Larry said calmly. "That means needing to have a better than average grasp of your people, and what they can actually do… and what they can't. All right, looks like we're good on actuators-that-will-fit, miracle of miracles. The ammunition is available, and we'll have to swap salvage for the plating." Larry printed off a one-use chit, "Here you go, dock nine in forty hours, this is your claim-chit for the supplies, you show this to the foreman there, and they'll have the pallets ready for your people to move."