and ran the smoldering tip along two, wide paths that cut right
across the schematic.
“These are the two main streets,” he continued. “They run straight through the
sector. We will call them “North Street” and “South Street” for ease. They
are the key to the sector. That is where the enemy will put all of their
stock. They will no doubt have all the surrounding buildings garrisoned and we
can assume that they will deploy any heavy armour they can spare here and here
(he pointed the locations out on the schematic with the smoldering cherry of
his cigarette). Their strategy will be to funnel us into these two paths and
tear us apart. Even if we had a hundred thousand soldiers, we would not be
able to get through in a full frontal firefight...”
“Why don’t we just bang dem salauds up from a ways away, hein ?”
the Cajun interjected.
“Nova Crimea is not a martial metropolis,” he replied, pausing to decipher the drunken
creole burbles. “There are civilians there – thousands of them.” The concern
in his voice seemed to render present company bemused and he noted their rapid
and askance looks at one another. Needless to say, civilian lives never
registered high in the list of priorities before an assignment, barring some clause
to that effect in the martial contract.
“The ESD wants us to keep collateral damage to a minimum,” Malachi intervened.
“They want their city back, not a pile of debris and dead bodies.”
“ Mo chagren ,” hummed the Cajun, throwing his head back wearily.
“Go on, Saul...”
“We will need to secure the elevated positions over both roads.” He drew lines
of smoke through the schematic. “We breach these buildings along the main
streets,” he indicated. “It will have to be done quickly and silently. We
must divide their ranks and find a way to destroy their armour before we advance…”
He suddenly paused, much to the confusion of his three listeners.
“So … what’s the plan?” asked Celyn.
“That, I have not yet worked out,” he said. “We will be outnumbered. We must
pick our openings carefully. I will inform you as soon as the strategy is
clear in my mind. For now, all I know is that we will need a lot of
explosives, and at least four sniper platoons.”
“No problem,” Malachi assured. “Duguay will take the sharpshooters. Celle can
put the demo team together.”
Celyn assented with a nod.
“You and I will lead the infiltration teams,” said Saul. “We shall split the
brigade up in two -- one battalion going north and the other going south with
three companies moving through the buildings. Assault squads will hold
positions in the adjacent streets. It will be a night operation. We can take
the buildings quietly and surprise them. Once we have secured both roads, the
sector will be ours before sunrise.” He blew a stream of smoke from his
cigarette and gazed pensively through the holographic schematic and out the
glass penthouse walls. “There is no better way to go about it,” he concluded.
“If everything goes according to plan, you can save a lot of your men’s lives, and keep damage to a minimum, which should make your employers happy.”
He wandered across the room, past Malachi and Duguay toward his own reflection
in the penthouse walls. When he came nearer, he could see the view of the
illuminated skyline through the reflections of the three silhouettes seated in
the room behind him and a wall of cigarette smoke.
“Then, that’s it,” said Malachi.
Saul removed the cigarette from his lips and exhaled.
“That is it.”
The jasmine woman let out a snort. “Always easier said than done.”
Malachi clapped his palms against his thighs. “Alright then,” he declared, rising
from his seat. “Now that that’s out the way…”
“ Les temps des
across the schematic.
“These are the two main streets,” he continued. “They run straight through the
sector. We will call them “North Street” and “South Street” for ease. They
are the key to the sector. That is where the enemy will put all of their
stock. They will no doubt have all the surrounding buildings garrisoned and we
can assume that they will deploy any heavy armour they can spare here and here
(he pointed the locations out on the schematic with the smoldering cherry of
his cigarette). Their strategy will be to funnel us into these two paths and
tear us apart. Even if we had a hundred thousand soldiers, we would not be
able to get through in a full frontal firefight...”
“Why don’t we just bang dem salauds up from a ways away, hein ?”
the Cajun interjected.
“Nova Crimea is not a martial metropolis,” he replied, pausing to decipher the drunken
creole burbles. “There are civilians there – thousands of them.” The concern
in his voice seemed to render present company bemused and he noted their rapid
and askance looks at one another. Needless to say, civilian lives never
registered high in the list of priorities before an assignment, barring some clause
to that effect in the martial contract.
“The ESD wants us to keep collateral damage to a minimum,” Malachi intervened.
“They want their city back, not a pile of debris and dead bodies.”
“ Mo chagren ,” hummed the Cajun, throwing his head back wearily.
“Go on, Saul...”
“We will need to secure the elevated positions over both roads.” He drew lines
of smoke through the schematic. “We breach these buildings along the main
streets,” he indicated. “It will have to be done quickly and silently. We
must divide their ranks and find a way to destroy their armour before we advance…”
He suddenly paused, much to the confusion of his three listeners.
“So … what’s the plan?” asked Celyn.
“That, I have not yet worked out,” he said. “We will be outnumbered. We must
pick our openings carefully. I will inform you as soon as the strategy is
clear in my mind. For now, all I know is that we will need a lot of
explosives, and at least four sniper platoons.”
“No problem,” Malachi assured. “Duguay will take the sharpshooters. Celle can
put the demo team together.”
Celyn assented with a nod.
“You and I will lead the infiltration teams,” said Saul. “We shall split the
brigade up in two -- one battalion going north and the other going south with
three companies moving through the buildings. Assault squads will hold
positions in the adjacent streets. It will be a night operation. We can take
the buildings quietly and surprise them. Once we have secured both roads, the
sector will be ours before sunrise.” He blew a stream of smoke from his
cigarette and gazed pensively through the holographic schematic and out the
glass penthouse walls. “There is no better way to go about it,” he concluded.
“If everything goes according to plan, you can save a lot of your men’s lives, and keep damage to a minimum, which should make your employers happy.”
He wandered across the room, past Malachi and Duguay toward his own reflection
in the penthouse walls. When he came nearer, he could see the view of the
illuminated skyline through the reflections of the three silhouettes seated in
the room behind him and a wall of cigarette smoke.
“Then, that’s it,” said Malachi.
Saul removed the cigarette from his lips and exhaled.
“That is it.”
The jasmine woman let out a snort. “Always easier said than done.”
Malachi clapped his palms against his thighs. “Alright then,” he declared, rising
from his seat. “Now that that’s out the way…”
“ Les temps des
Similar Books
