second, he wasn’t used to talking to someone of such high rank, but then he pressed on.
“Colonel Summers, sir. I’ve just lost contact with Lieutenant Colonel Cain. His elements had just linked up with 3 rd Company before we were subjected to a high powered, wide area jamming field.”
“Same thing just happened to us Captain. We’re trying to localize them now. We’re also seeing what might be troop movements but it is hard to tell. We don’t have great coverage right now, they enemy is interdicting our coverage with some sort of fog.” Summers sounded troubled. She could see what looked like troops moving, but that wasn’t enough to launch a strike so close to friendly positions in a degraded ISR environment. On top of that, the first wave of reinforcements couldn’t be launched because she had no idea what they would be sent into. “Just hold on down there Captain, we’ll figure this out.”
“Yes sir, we’ll hold.”
“I know you will Captain. Summers out.” The connection ended.
Danford thought over his options for a moment, then called up Sergeant Gilson again. He was beginning to realize just how valuable she was. She was invaluable at motivating his people while also keeping them from getting something vital blown off.
“Gilson, how many sensor drones and LOS comm drones remain?” The Line-Of-Sight comm drones were relatively simple affairs, capable of maintaining a laser link with their launcher or other designated point all through their flight path so long as they didn’t travel beyond the horizon or other obstacle. As they flew, they scanned in a pre-programmed pattern to look for friendly LOS comm units on suits of armor or other friendly assets. In a jammed environment, standard procedure was for these units to be searching the sky for just such drones. While they couldn’t reestablish communications, a burst transmission could be passed between the units and several snapshots of the two side’s tactical maps could also be exchanged.
“Sir, the company has twelve sensor drones and just about our full load of LOS comm drones, eighteen exactly sir.” Gilson’s reply was quick and sharp.
“I want to launch four of the sensor drones in a high launch profile, full evasion sequence. Then launch twelve of the LOS comm drones over our formation towards Lt Colonel Cain’s position. I need to know what’s going on.”
“Yes sir, I’ll have the launch ready in thirty seconds.” Gilson had obviously predicted just such an order. It took at least fifteen seconds to unpack a drone and another five to get it ready for launch. Assuming the marine with the drones was standing at the ready when the order came in. Programming the launch sequence and order would take about thirty seconds more.
“Let me know just before you launch. Your discretion on the launch profile for the comm drones.” Danford looked back at the tactical plot. His AI had the projected jamming field radius on his display as a light grey overtone. Through his suit speakers he could hear sounds of fighting, but that was to be expected. He really had no idea what was going on.
Suddenly, his visor auto-darkened. Danford’s head still snapped in the rough direction of Colonel Cain and most of the rest of the battalion on pure reflex. His visor cleared even before his head was fully turned. He knew what he was going to see but it was still like getting hit in the chest by a truck. Just on the edge of the horizon was a mushroom cloud forming in the clear morning sky.
“Captain,” His AI had already processed the data and knew Danford would want some information. “the detonation appears consistent with the previous PRC nuclear strike. The only difference is that this time the yield was closer to six kt.”
“Captain Danford, Gilson here sir. We’re ready to launch on your signal.” Gilson still sounded solid, but he could hear the increased stress level and concern. They were the only people outside the jamming
“Colonel Summers, sir. I’ve just lost contact with Lieutenant Colonel Cain. His elements had just linked up with 3 rd Company before we were subjected to a high powered, wide area jamming field.”
“Same thing just happened to us Captain. We’re trying to localize them now. We’re also seeing what might be troop movements but it is hard to tell. We don’t have great coverage right now, they enemy is interdicting our coverage with some sort of fog.” Summers sounded troubled. She could see what looked like troops moving, but that wasn’t enough to launch a strike so close to friendly positions in a degraded ISR environment. On top of that, the first wave of reinforcements couldn’t be launched because she had no idea what they would be sent into. “Just hold on down there Captain, we’ll figure this out.”
“Yes sir, we’ll hold.”
“I know you will Captain. Summers out.” The connection ended.
Danford thought over his options for a moment, then called up Sergeant Gilson again. He was beginning to realize just how valuable she was. She was invaluable at motivating his people while also keeping them from getting something vital blown off.
“Gilson, how many sensor drones and LOS comm drones remain?” The Line-Of-Sight comm drones were relatively simple affairs, capable of maintaining a laser link with their launcher or other designated point all through their flight path so long as they didn’t travel beyond the horizon or other obstacle. As they flew, they scanned in a pre-programmed pattern to look for friendly LOS comm units on suits of armor or other friendly assets. In a jammed environment, standard procedure was for these units to be searching the sky for just such drones. While they couldn’t reestablish communications, a burst transmission could be passed between the units and several snapshots of the two side’s tactical maps could also be exchanged.
“Sir, the company has twelve sensor drones and just about our full load of LOS comm drones, eighteen exactly sir.” Gilson’s reply was quick and sharp.
“I want to launch four of the sensor drones in a high launch profile, full evasion sequence. Then launch twelve of the LOS comm drones over our formation towards Lt Colonel Cain’s position. I need to know what’s going on.”
“Yes sir, I’ll have the launch ready in thirty seconds.” Gilson had obviously predicted just such an order. It took at least fifteen seconds to unpack a drone and another five to get it ready for launch. Assuming the marine with the drones was standing at the ready when the order came in. Programming the launch sequence and order would take about thirty seconds more.
“Let me know just before you launch. Your discretion on the launch profile for the comm drones.” Danford looked back at the tactical plot. His AI had the projected jamming field radius on his display as a light grey overtone. Through his suit speakers he could hear sounds of fighting, but that was to be expected. He really had no idea what was going on.
Suddenly, his visor auto-darkened. Danford’s head still snapped in the rough direction of Colonel Cain and most of the rest of the battalion on pure reflex. His visor cleared even before his head was fully turned. He knew what he was going to see but it was still like getting hit in the chest by a truck. Just on the edge of the horizon was a mushroom cloud forming in the clear morning sky.
“Captain,” His AI had already processed the data and knew Danford would want some information. “the detonation appears consistent with the previous PRC nuclear strike. The only difference is that this time the yield was closer to six kt.”
“Captain Danford, Gilson here sir. We’re ready to launch on your signal.” Gilson still sounded solid, but he could hear the increased stress level and concern. They were the only people outside the jamming
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