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First Hours are Always the Hardest
Operation Overlord 2, Part 14
by The philisophical Kensai |
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Tchien 'seng Castle Brian, 20 December 3058 0139 hours local/1739 GMT [H +00:39]
Precentor Xi Lara Ingalls-Smith watched the ceiling of her stateroom. ~Not much supplies left; can’t possibly last much longer than another week. I have done everything I could.~ She grimaced as she shifted in her bunk. ~There’s nothing remaining that can be done either. Not now, and possibly not ever with out relief.~ A pounding at the door broke her from her thoughts. "What is it?"
"Precentor, come quickly! I think help is coming!"
Lara leapt out of bed and straight into her boots. Yanking them on and slipping on her battledress blouse, she pulled open the door and ran to the command room, her aide in pursuit. "Status!” she snapped as she looked at the master plotboard.
"Thirty minutes ago, Blake troops came under fire in Beijing, Hilton Head, London, Moscow, Geneva and Imperial City. The forces involved in all but Hilton Head and London are mostly former ComGuard forces. The troops in Hilton Head and Imperial City aren't; ID isn't established yet. We're still trying to get to Known Merc files up- as reliable as they might be."
Lara nodded as her intel officer continued. "40 minutes ago, local space activity increased as approximately 19 jumpships appeared in system; one an old Aegis class Warship along with several of our orders ships. Approximately one minute after that, fighters were launched from about ten dropships previously in-system and they attacked the SDS platforms to clear them from the ship's trajectories. Destruction of SDS's occurred rather quickly, reasons unknown. As the platforms went down, several of the dropships that launched fighters began a burn for what is now known as a combat drop pattern. It appears that a battalion of what appear to be battlemech units have been dropped some thirty miles from here; along with combat shuttles of unknown ownership. The shuttles appear to be armed and correspond to the prototypes from one of our contractors for the Explorers. When it was known that the 'ships were in a drop, I sent for you."
"Ok. What else do we got?" she asked as her aide was pulled aside by the commo tech. Lara strode to the castle's status board. "Have the Blakist troops tried anything yet?"
"No ma'am, they appear as confused as we are- they won't be for long, though," the intel specialist said as he punched up a secondary screen and pointed. "Whoever they are, they are going to run headlong into the siege troops." They watched the symbols on the Threat Board; identifying two distinct groups-one approximately a full battalion of equipment and a second smaller one, of approximately a company in size. The company element, almost twenty minutes after initial landing, started advancing straight toward her Castle and the backs of her besiegers.
Her aide and the commo tech came to her with a headset. "Precentor, I think you had better listen to this..." her aide said as she put on the proffered set.
"...REPEAT: TO ALL COMBATANTS ON TERRA: THIS IS MAJOR EVA HOPKINS, COMMANDER OF ALPHA SECTION, TCHIEN 'SENG RELIEF MISSION, OPERATION OVERLORD. WE ARE HERE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PRECENTOR MARTIAL ANASTASIUS FOCHT AND PRIMUS SHARILAR MORII OF COMSTAR. OUR PRESCENCE HERE IS TO RELIEVE THE SIEGE OF THE CASTLE BRIAN AT TCHIEN 'SENG AND THE SECONDARY MISSION OF REMOVING OR CAPTURING WORD OF BLAKE FORCES ACCUSED OF VIOLATING THE ARTICLES OF WAR, THE ARIES CONVENTIONS OF 2412 AND THE GENEVA CONVENTION OF 1949 REGUARDING THE TREATMENT OF NON-COMBATANTS.
ANY RESISTANCE BY WORD OF BLAKE FORCES WILL BE MET WITH DEADLY FORCE. ALL FORCES INVOLVED IN OPERATION OVERLORD ARE INSTUCTED TO OBEY THE AFORMENTIONED ARTICLES WITH REGUARD TO SURRENDERING TROOPS; ALL THOSE THAT CHOOSE TO REJECT REQUESTS FOR SURRENDER SHALL BE DEALT WITH UTILIZING EXTREME PREJUDICE.....
....REPEAT: TO ALL COM-"
Lara took off the headset and stared at the screens. Operation Overlord, talk about rumors coming true she mused as the commo tech changed channels and rehanded her the set. "Ma'am, this was just picked up on our secure channel; it's directed at you, I believe. It repeats itself about every thirty seconds…"
"TO COMMANDER TCHIEN 'SENG CASTLE BRIAN: PLEASE RESPOND. THIS IS MAJOR EVA HOPKINS, PHOENIX LANCER SCOUTS, OVERLORD ADVANCE PARTY. THIS IS A SECURE CHANNEL. . . . . . . . . . .REPEAT: . . . .TO COMMANDER TCHIEN 'SENG CASTLE BRIAN: PLEASE RESPOND. THIS IS MAJOR EVA HOPKINS, PHOENIX LANCER SCOUTS, OVERLORD ADVANCE PARTY. THIS IS A SECURE CHANNEL.
Lara pressed the headset transmit button. "Major Hopkins, this is Precentor Ingalls-Smith. Please authenticate...", she glanced at a clipboard her aide held up; " ZULU-CHARLIE; I repeat ZULU-CHARLIE." She let go of the button. "Let's see if she is for real." A pause in the repeating transmission appeared and about ten seconds later replied.
"TO COMMANDER TCHIEN 'SENG CASTLE BRIAN: I AUTHENTICATE ECHO-FIVE."
"Damn," she breathed and transmitted. "Damn, Major! Are we ever glad to see help arrive! I hope you people are a large force; the Blakes have at least 5 level II formations out there- that’s roughly a battalion of mixed equipment. Can you handle that?"
"PRECENTOR, I WOULDN'T WORRY - I'VE BROUGHT A FEW FRIENDS YOU STOPPED FROM VISITING HERE WHEN YOU WERE AT TUKAYYID. THEY JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO BE THE FIRST FROM THE HOMEWOLDS TO COME HERE."
"Major, did you say you have Clan troops?"
The major chuckled. "YES, WE DO. THEY BECAME BONDSMEN A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD TROOPS. THEY UNDERSTAND THE TREATIES AND DO THEY EVER ENJOY ENFORCING THEM!"; more chuckles. "IT'S SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN FOR THEM, I GUESS. ANYWAY, HOW HEAVY IS THE MECH FORCES SIEGING YOU AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE ON THE AREA DISPOSITIONS? "
Lara looked at a list held out by the intel specialist. Quickly scanning the list, she began reading off the compositions as they knew a few days previous.
Task Force Alpha, 15 miles SW of Tchien 'seng Castle Brian; 0552 hours local/2152 hours GMT [H+02:52]
"LeMond!", Major Eva Hopkins yelled as she dove next to the burning wreckage of a Po tank. Ducking behind the wreck she poked her autoshotgun around its edge. Loosing off several blasts, she yelled for LeMond again; this time invoking a few choice words about his parentage.
A combat armored figure sprinted over and slid in next to her. "Sorry, Major. That Zhukov Lance was a surprise to us, too. There was only Po's here ten minutes ago; the Zhuk's were near the castle's last sally-port at last- "
"SORRY? I'll have you know that I've had that Charger for several years! And I just got it back from refit too!" She fired a few more shots at the Blake troops, nodding in satisfaction as one lost a portion of his skull to her slug. She cheered as a Locust from her company raced up and sprayed the area with laser fire, which forced the defenders to retreat. "Now, what are we facing so I can figure out how to stomp 'em?"
LeMond reached up to his helmet and flicked a switch. A small beam of light shot out from a port and shone on the ground, depicting a map. "We are here," he said, pointing out locations. "They have another Zhukov here with a platoon of rifles; a King Crab back here that Captain Parker's Alpha Platoon stumbled into- they surprised each other; only cost Parker a Galleon II. Then there's about a company or so of mixed rifle and SRM around us. This coupled with two Grand Crusaders and a Tempest that refuse’s to croak, have got us stalled. The rest of the III troops are mixing it up with Janna Falcon's sibs and their Omni’s on the south approach. From what I can tell, She and Major Forge's toads are having a blast; and I owe her 500 bills." He finished with a shrug. “By the way- Hauptman Kavanagh is worried about you. He about had a conniption when your Charger ate it.”
Eva looked at him as the rest of her battleline blew through the area defenders. She got up as a HUMMV pulled up. "Get on your comm and relay that I’m fine- pissed but fine," she replied as she got in the truck. “Why do you owe her 500?”
LeMond looked at her sheepishly. "She and Forge have gotten further than us by six."
"I see," Eva smiled at that. "Well I guess we'll have to catch up then." Motioning to her driver, Eva called out to LeMond as the hummer pulled away. "No more surprises, hear?"
LeMond waved in acknowledgement and sprinted back to his combat cycle. Kicking the engine to life, he took off to catch up to the rest of his combat scouts.
Dropship Evictus Drop Zone Delta 50 miles W of Hilton Head, North America; 2155 hours local/0255 GMT
[H+7]
Trebor maneuvered his Battlemaster out of the Overlord and moved toward the rest of his Command Company. “Mike, you on?” he called over the radio.”
“Yessir; Update for you- Eva and Olly’s troops have contacted the Castle Brian and are close to linking; General Barton has secured drop zones in England and France with 20% casualties; Col. Burns and the Jackals are on the ground and are more or less in control of Salinas and the surrounding area. Captain Galloway reported in as we landed that the Irregulars are down and moving to positions- ETA 15 minutes. Truestar’s ops company has reappeared in New York and is helping Task Force Beta in subduing the Blakies. The Marines are beginning their run in now that we have some secure places to land.”
“Good” Trebor gave a small grin as he looked at the info on his command screen. “Send the word that the Phoenix has landed and expects to be at TZ Delta inside of an hour.” He turned his mech to face the Lancers that were near him as he switched to a clear channel. “Ok people- it’s time to go and do our jobs. By the numbers!”
As he spoke, the lead elements of the cavalry battalion moved out toward Hilton Head. Leading was Col. Perez and her former ComGuard troops. This was a personal mission for her- she had visited the island just before Tukkayyid and was saddened by what she saw as they advanced. The Word had severely punished those around the complex for aiding the Primus’ escape from Terra. Watching the countryside as her force advanced, she wondered what would be found.
WoB Defensive positions, 6 miles west of Hilton Head; 0041hrs/0541GMT [H+9:46]
Precentor XI Naughton scanned the area to the west of his positions. “I know they’re coming; I can hear ‘em…” he mused as the sounds of gunfire carried on the light easterly breeze. Picking up his NV binocs, he looked at the crest of the road some 4 miles away. Not seeing any movement, he laid them down and went to the Maultier that served as his command track. “Anything from our pickets, Adept Collins?”
The young woman looked up. “No sir; the last report from the forward picket had stated no contact.” She moved to a clipboard on the opposite side of the vehicle. “That was as of a half-hour ago.”
Naughton nodded. “Very well. Thank you Collins; keep monitoring the channels- it wont’ stay quiet for long.”
Collins nodded. “Yessir”. As the Precentor walked away she mused, ~if you only knew…~ She continued to watch him and those near the command track as her hand strayed to a hidden switch that would fry the electronics when thrown. Glancing at her watch, Collins noted the time. ~Any moment now…~
* * *
Lancer Advance Elements, 10 miles west of Hilton Head; 0052hrs/0552 GMT
Perez crept her tank along the trail paralleling the road. Coming to a break in the screening trees, she set her NV goggles down and motioned to her gunner. “Tim- can you get a good LOS to that road block?”
Tim looked through his sights. “Yep; a little tight but no problem. “
“Good.” Perez smiled as she switched channels on her comm.
Some nine miles away, the artillery company of the Lancers sat, waiting to advance when the FDC radio squawked <…-Golf Six, over>
The FDC tech reached up and and tripped the trans button. . The members of the fire control team looked up from their boards as the radio sounded again
came the call. Instantly the FDC crew scrambled in to action as a second man sent the alert to the waiting gun tracks. As the guns came alive moving to position, the crew took down the data sent by Col. Perez, one noting the anger in her voice as she spit out the last of the coordanates.
Outside the guns swung into positon and their crews spang into action as a well-oiled machine. The lead gun was up and on line as the information from the FDC was relayed to the line. Seven seconds later, the lead crew had the gun on the target and the round primed and ready. At a signal from the FDC, the loader rammed home the round and the gunner gave an evil grin as the lanyard was pulled. “Take that you religeous bastards!”
Perez heard the shot as the radio called . In the distance, she could she the Blakists look up as the radio called again . The shot struck three seconds later, landing in the middle of the blockade and smashing a portion of the defenders. “YES!!” She hooted as several Blakist troops were killed in the blast. Triggering the comm again, she called back,
WoB Defensive positions, 6 miles west of Hilton Head; 0055hrs/0555GMT [H+10]
Collins flipped a switch as the first shell landed and drew her Zaftar machine pistol. The comtruck door burst open as Naughton ran in. “Collins! Radio the main body an-”
A burst from her sub-gun stitched its way across his face. “I don’t think so, WoBblie” she muttered as she pulled her FRMC beret from a pouch on her webbing. “It’s the beginning of the end for ya’s”. She then made her way out the door and ran for the front of the lines. As she charged out into the burgeoning chaos, Collins’ machine pistol barked several more times; her fire killing more officers and a few soldiers as the artillery screamed in. Her actions added to the chaos erupting in the Blakist lines and she grinned at the sight.
Lancer Positions, 0056/0556 GMT
Tim was looking through his sight in the cold dawn air during the opening shots when his sharp eyes picked out the bereted head of Collins running for the head of the lines, exchanging fire with various Blakist troops. “Gawd Damn….” He breathed and snapped out of wonderment. “Colonel! There’s one of them Recon Marines out there- I saw her Beret as she was running”
“Where?” Perez asked as she focused her night binoculars at the carnage. “Never Mind! Shit,” she cursed as she grabbed the comm mike again. “” Perez quickly slammed on her crew helmet and dropped into her hatch. “Drake, move out! We’ve got to get her quick and under cover- the bomblets are coming soon.”
WoB Lines 3 minutes later…
Collins took cover in the wreckage of a Blakist jeep. In pain from multiple wounds, it was all she could do to stay awake and shoot back. As her weapon clicked empty, she grimaced as she shifted to grab her revolver. ‘I guess this is the end’, Collins thought to herself as she popped a Blake troop that got bold. ‘Shoulda waited…’ She passed out.
Screaming in was Perez and the rest of her battalion, firing at any thing that moved or looked remotely threatening. Pulling to a stop next to the wrecked jeep, a hatch opened on the tank and Perez hopped out along with the loader. Going to the wreck, they lifted the unconscious form of Collins and put her on the back deck of the tank. Tapping in to the tank com system from the external junction box, Perez ordered Drake to get them out of there and to the medics in the main body. The rest of headquarters company kept the Blakes from them as they sped off into the night
Lancer Main Body, 2 miles from Hilton Head 0301hrs/0801 GMT H+13
The mobile mash unit was a madhouse. Seriously wounded soldiers were occupying most of the available beds as the lightly wounded helped the beleaguered medics. Several MP’s were there to keep the various Blakist wounded from getting ideas.
Collins lay in a bed near the door, awake and aware of her injuries. ‘Wow’ she thought. ‘I would have guessed that I would actually make it to Terra’, she shifted and groaned from the bit of pain in her side, ‘to only nearly eat it.’ She decided to sit up at this point, seeing the latest influx of wounded come in. “Ow!” she hissed as pain shot through her nerves when she swung her legs over the side of her bed.
“Keep your seat, Marine.” A strong and accented voice called to her.
Collins looked up and saw Overste Lee and an older gentleman in what appeared to be a Star League era mechwarrior uniform. “Sir!”
The older gentleman spoke. “I understand you were responsible for the jamming of their communications.”
Collins nodded. “Yes sir. I managed to get it accomplished as the first shells landed. The Blakists never knew what hit them.”
“Very good job, Marine. I have discussed this briefly with your commander and we agree you should get the first of these; It might be a bit premature and a bit much… but your actions definitely are worthy of something…”
Collins eyes widened as the Overste pulled a small box out of a cargo pocket. Opening it, he removed a medal on a blue-white ribbon. Suspended from the ribbon was a silver and gold Cameron Star with a pearl center. Collins stared at it as the older officer pulled it out of its box and affixed it to her hospital tunic. Standing, he and the Overste took a step back and Saluted. It took a moment or two, but Collins snapped out of her wonderment and returned the salute.
Dropping their arms, the two officers did a perfect about face and both left the Mash tent. “Trebor,” Lee said in a low voice. “I still think it was a bit much….”
Nodding, Trebor responded. “I know… but think of the morale boost this gives your men; one of their own is the first to be honored with that medal. It also does something for the other non-Star League troops among us as the word spreads- it shows that they matter as much. It might seem political in that way but she did earn a medal for what she did; considering she never expected to come out alive”
“All too true…” |
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