“Do we need the ancient history, Ensign?” Burke said, interrupting again.
Turning to the Major, he replied, “Sir, we can’t expect any of our training in ship engineering to be of benefit in these tunnels. While form follows function to a degree, the designs are so different that you can’t expect anything down there. Essentially, we have a long, hard slog ahead of us, against an enemy that does know the tunnels intimately and has comparable manpower and firepower.”
“I don’t like pessimistic attitudes like that, Ensign.”
Cooper cared enough about his rank to restrain his anger, but couldn’t keep his voice from rising as he replied, “Sir, my platoon went in with twenty-eight and came out with four.”
“Then I hope that we are better prepared than you were. Thank you, Ensign.” He looked around the room, and said, “You all need to read the after-action reports of Alamo’s failure at this facility. Learn from their mistakes. Now, the battle plan. The Admiral and I have been working on this since we left Spitfire, and I can now tell you what we have decided.”
Brownworth glanced at Cooper, and he saw resignation in her eyes. Admiral Pierce was a fighter pilot; getting him involved in the tactics of this assault was unlikely to provide any special insight. The other officers looked forward with rapt attention as he turned on a hologram of Hades, the airlocks highlighted.
“We’re going to attack in two waves, gentlemen. Seventh Company has the honor of being the first to hit the asteroid, all three platoons at once, as well as one from the Ninth.” He tapped a button and four airlocks illuminated, making Cooper’s eyes light up. Doctrine called for an attack on airlocks as close together as possible, allowing the company to link up and sweep ahead. This plan was the reverse of that; the airlocks were evenly spread out across the asteroid.
“Each platoon has been assigned to one of these airlocks. Their goal is to move into the asteroid and secure key positions – life support, command, power. Once we control those systems, the battle will be over. We attack in four places to divide their manpower, enabling us to sweep in from multiple angles.”
He looked over at some of the disappointed platoon commanders, and said, “Don’t worry, the rest of you will have a chance for action. We have eight platoons, counting those on the auxiliaries; these will be sent in to reinforce successful offensives. I want to preserve flexibility, so you might end up being moved to support any of these beachheads. Questions?”
Cooper nodded, and said, “Sir, we know where command and control is located…”
“Thanks to your excellent covert assault, yes.”
“But not the other facilities.”
“We will work that out by studying the layout when we move in.”
His eyes widened, and he replied, “Sir, as I said before…”
“I’ve been doing this for a long time, Ensign. Give me a few minutes to look at the pattern, and I’ll be able to work out where the key facilities are. There’s always a logic to any human installation, even if the design philosophies are different.”
Seventh’s spare officer, Ensign Krueger, said, “Major, I think Ensign Cooper’s point was that these were designed by aliens, not humans.”
“Occupied now by humans, though. If they can work it out, so can we.”
“The assault, sir,” Brownworth said. “Isn’t there a serious danger that they could attack our pockets one at a time?” Cooper realized with growing concern that the company commanders were learning of the assault plan at the same time as the rest of the officers.
“They might concentrate their forces, yes, but if they do, that will only work in our favor. While they are attacking one, the rest can advance.”
“What about the platoon under attack?”
“We all know the risks when we sign the oath, Lieutenant-Major. That any of us might be called upon to sacrifice their lives at any point for the sake of the Confederation.”
“Not to throw them away, sir.”
“Lieutenant-Major, if you would rather the Ninth take the brunt of the assault, I will be happy to reverse the assignments. Or Lieutenant Minh of Ninth can take your place as commander of the Seventh, if you wish.”
“No, sir. I go with my men, no matter what.”
“Then I will consider this settled. We have images of the interior of the asteroid; study them, and see that your men examine them was well. Any other comments?”
Cooper replied, “Yes, sir. We should ensure the men have plenty of opportunities to practice combat in zero-gravity.”
“I’ll put that to the Admiral, but taking the spin from the ship is seriously disruptive to ship operations. A nice idea, but probably impractical in the circumstances. Is that all?”
Everyone in the room seemed to have come to the conclusion that there was no point bringing anything else to the Major, so they remained silent. After a few seconds he rose, saluted, and wordlessly walked out of the room.
“Meeting over, I guess,” Krueger replied.
Brownworth looked up at the hologram, shook her head, and said, “We’re just going to have to make this work. I’m sure the Major knows what he’s doing.” She wasn’t a good liar.
“Where are you going to be, ma’am?” Ensign Featherstone asked.
“With you; I’ll attach to First Platoon. Krueger, you’re with Second.”
“Don’t trust the mustang?” Featherstone said.
She locked onto him, her eyes an icy glare, and said, “I’m going with the platoon I think most requires my personal presence, Ensign. Take that as you will. Krueger is going with Second Platoon because I think they’re going to need the support. Cooper, let’s try and make some order out of this chaos. I want you to try and grab command and control. Where do you want to go in?”
Shaking his head, he replied, “It doesn’t matter to me, ma’am. They don’t have any airlocks close to their key facilities. Wherever we go, we’ve got a long march.” He looked up, and said, “What I need is another platoon to reinforce me.”
“I’ll see if I can get your reserves moved in immediately on the attack. No doubt the Major will protest that it will limit tactical flexibility, but I think you are right.”
“Something else,” Cooper said. “We can’t afford to secure territory as we advance with this plan. We don’t have the concentrated manpower. We’re going to have to operate like a raiding party until we find the critical areas we are looking for.”
Nodding, Brownworth said, “That’s my judgment as well. The shuttles will detach as soon as the platoons are unloaded, so you won’t have those to worry about. I’ll leave the details of your attack to each of you – though I’ll make the call for First Platoon, Featherstone – but you will keep together and move through the asteroid to your targets.”
“What do we do when we take them?” the hitherto silent Ensign Campbell asked.
“Secure a defensive perimeter and call out.”
“Communications are somewhat unreliable that deep into the asteroid,” Cooper said.
Krueger shook his head, and said, “This attack just looks better and better.”
“Then send a runner. Once you’ve done that, we’ll call for a second platoon to move in, and try and open up a connection between your unit and the nearest airlock. Hopefully, they’ll attack us.”
“Hopefully?” Featherstone asked, frowning.
“We’re going to have to win a war of attrition. They don’t have unlimited manpower any more than we do; every one of them you kill takes us closer to securing this asteroid.”
Campbell nodded, and replied, “Wouldn’t a better approach be analogous to that used by Alamo’s platoon on the first assault? Take a defensive perimeter supported by multiple airlocks, and try and hold onto it? When they attack, we can wipe them out.”
“Not a bad idea, but that’s not the battle plan. The Major has given us cle
ar instructions about how he wants us to proceed.”
“He’s wrong, ma’am,” Campbell replied, bluntly.
Sighing, she replied, “He is the commander of this attack force, Ensign. Higher authority has given him the task of making this work.”
“Is he coming ashore as well?” Krueger asked.
“Not to my knowledge, no,” she replied. She looked around, and said, “Push into that asteroid and don’t look back. Move quickly, watch for ambushes, and think aggressively. We haven’t got the people or the battle plan to adopt a defensive posture. Make sure that your Sergeants are fully briefed.”
“There is another possibility,” Cooper said. “Once we get deep into the asteroid, we could link up inside. Plenty of places where we could make a strong stand lower down.”
Nodding, Brownworth replied, “I like the idea, but if communications are that difficult, we might find it difficult to implement.”
“Besides, doesn’t that violate the spirit of our orders?” Featherstone said.
“The Major told us how to launch our initial assault,” Cooper replied. “He hasn’t given us any detailed directions for what happens next.” He pointed at the display, and said, “We could head for the fourth level. Lots of rooms and passages there, and we’re only a few hundred meters from an airlock.”
“That’s a long way for most of us,” Krueger said. “I guess it’ll confuse the hell out of the enemy, though. It certainly confuses me.”
“Here’s how it works, then,” Brownworth said. “Move in from your assault as discussed, and unleash as much hell as you can. If you find a key facility, hold it, and get word back here to the Trident. If you don’t, make your way up to the rendezvous point, and we’ll proceed from there based on what we’ve found.” She looked around, and said, “We’ll meet up again this time tomorrow to discuss assignments. Dismissed.” Pausing, she continued, “Cooper, please wait a moment.”
As the others left the room, he replied, “Yes, ma’am?”
“You know this ground better than any of us. I wanted to apologize for what the Major said.”
“We lost. That means we failed. I don’t know what we could have done differently, but perhaps there was something. I guess we’ll find out if we’re doing it better this time when we get there.”
“I’m going to say something I don’t normally say to platoon leaders moving into combat. Take care of yourself, and don’t let yourself get killed. If it looks like you haven’t got a chance, get the hell out of there and back to the Trident.”
“Ma’am, I’m…”
“The only officer with your battle experience against the Cabal.” She looked at the map, and said, “If we go to war, you will be needed, and badly. The rest of us are expendable. Haven’t you worked it out yet?”
“No, ma’am.”
She looked back at the holodisplay and said, “This whole operation. Doesn’t it feel to you as if it’s been thrown together on a shoestring? I understand that we’re here to secure our flank, but look at the troops we’ve been given.”
“I assumed that the standards had slipped,” he replied.
“That doesn’t mean that more experienced people aren’t available.” She shook her head, then continued, “I think our job is to die gloriously, Ensign. To give the politicians back home some heroes for the media mill.”
“You can’t think that…”
“Are we gods, Ensign, that our motives are so pure? Don’t think of it so starkly; think of it as a noble sacrifice for the good of the Confederation. We pledged to die if needed; perhaps they consider that this is needed.” With a sigh, she said, “I don’t. This operation has disaster written all over it. What I’m trying to tell you is that if it comes to it, I’m counting on you to try and save something from this mess.”
“You’ll be with the assault, ma’am,” he replied.
“And we both know that there is a better than even chance that I’m not coming back. Officer casualty rates tend to be the highest. If I could keep you out of this operation, I would.” She looked at the monitor again, and said, “Make sure your platoon is as ready as you can possibly make it, Ensign. Once we’re in those tunnels, I very much fear that it is every man for himself.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll do my part.”
“Dismissed, then,” she said, turning away from him to look at the displays as he walked out of the room, sighing. The commander of the operation had planned a suicide run, and his direct commander had given up any hope of living through it. He paused in the corridor, then picked up his communicator.
“Sergeant Beresford? Get the men together for a briefing in ten minutes.”
“We’re on sleep period, sir.”
“Then they shouldn’t be hard to find, should they?”
“No, sir. They’ll be ready.”
Taking a deep breath, he changed the frequency, flicking on the scrambler. They’d be jumping back into hendecaspace in a couple of hours; he didn’t have time to waste. “Ensign Cooper to Wyvern. I want to speak to Captain Marshall. Priority and private.”
He looked around. There had to be an empty briefing room somewhere; this ship was littered with them. Walking into a darkened office, he checked the door was locked behind him as Marshall’s voice rang through the room.
“Ensign, what’s going on? What’s the security for?”
“I think we’ve got a problem.”
Chapter 10
Carter Station had always had a reputation among spacefarers; there was a reason that Mariner had become the major jumping-off point for interstellar expeditions, and it didn’t have anything to do with macroeconomics. During the oppressive past of Callisto, the station had been used as a dumping ground for malcontents of all sorts, and while a veneer of respectability had been laid on it since the War, even turning over control to the Triplanetary Fleet had done little to change the nature of the place.
Logan walked down a small side corridor, well away from the main thoroughfares of commerce, constantly checking to see who was watching him. Half a dozen criminal gangs would be keeping an eye on him, that much was accepted; he was more interested in watching for people who didn’t seem to fit the place.
Examining the ruins of Diego’s had been a singularly pointless waste of a hundred-credit bribe; the local security force had done a surprisingly thorough job and come up with nothing, which told him two things. The first was that someone had seen to it that the explosion had received greater than usual attention, and the second that the arsonist had been an expert. It wasn’t one of the local syndicates – plenty of detectives would be happy to follow leads like that in order to make their name and get out of this place, no matter the risk from the syndicates.
The list of suspects dropped sharply the more he thought of it. The Republic had never shown much interest in Jupiter over the years, and while it would be tempting to blame the Cabal, as far as he knew the place had never been used against them. Besides, the soup bar had only ever been a dropping-off point, not important enough to merit special attention that might attract unwanted interest.
Long and bitter experience suggested that the United Nations was always a possibility, but all of their best people were out on their colony worlds, doing a dance with the growing rebellion. While Triplanetary Intelligence were very quietly providing some assistance to the rebels, great care had been taken to keep everything out of Sol System; he’d done some work through Spitfire during his time as its commander. Diego’s just didn’t fit the picture.
That left one real possibility, and he didn’t like it at all. Someone in the Confederation had decided to take it out. If Intelligence had been trying to cover its tracks for some reason, they might have torched the place, but they wouldn’t have left loyal operatives inside to die. There was something bigger going on, and while the pistol hidden in his pocket provided a certain measure of reassurance, inf
ormation would provide a lot more.
Without giving any cues, he abruptly turned to right, passing through a door that slid open for less than a second to admit him, into a darkened store front, long abandoned by the look of the place, dust and debris everywhere, and a low squeak from the shadows that suggested that he was not alone.
“What is the magic word?” an obviously-synthesized voice asked.
“Money, as ever. Cut out this crap, Lester, and get out here where I can see you.”
A short, pale figure stepped out of the shadows, looking up at him with nervous eyes, his fingers twitching as he walked towards him.
“Usually I prefer more notice before one of your visits.”
“This is a rush job. One question, and I suspect you already know the answer.”
He shook his head, and replied, “I don’t think that you would be willing to pay the price such a question would warrant. I know that I am not willing to pay the price of answering it.”
“That isn’t like you. Normally you are willing to be extremely helpful.”
“You think you are the first one to come around here asking questions, Logan? I cannot answer you, and I will not answer you. Not this time.”
“You’ve been paid off.”
He laughed, and said, “Loyalty is a very transient thing, Logan, and money a poor way of procuring it. Were I to admit that was the case, no doubt an ugly bidding war would ensure, one which would likely result in my corpse floating out there among the stars. Death is not something I am willing to seek so hastily.” Glancing at Logan’s side, he said, “Is this where you pull out your pistol and say some heroic words?”
“No,” Logan replied. “That gun is for your protection as much as mine. I have information for you, however.”
“Your account in that score is very much in credit, old friend.”
Battlecruiser Alamo: Take and Hold Page 9