Planning Session

Morning alarms go off, and the leading officers and a select amount of sgts conferred in the meeting room, minus Cpt Kingsley and her officers.

The 32 of us began surrounding the discussion table, 1 Maj, 3 Cpts, 20 Lts, and 8 up-n-coming Sgts. Who knows, maybe one of them will get a promotion, heh.

"Well... Lets get started. We are going to retake the forward base. Any opening comments, questions, concerns?" I opened.

"Without the Duke Tanks, the base is probably still going to be just as hard to take as any other attempt." Cpt Dhufle stated.

"Yes, but there is the chance that they still haven't received adequate reinforcements. Not to mention, we do and good ones." Cpt Wif brought up.

"In that case, I would recommend sending a few squads from my company to scout ahead of the main offensive force." Cpt Johnson said.

"Getting a little ahead of yourself, Cpt. These are opening comments." Cpt Wif teased.

"Calm down, Cpt Wif, he's new and has a point. Unless someone else has anything to add, I say we move on." I state. No one spoke up. "Alrighty, any strategies we should consider?"

"Well, if I may, reading over Cpt Johnson's report, the base seems to have had a surplus of fuel for those tanks in storage, thus not leaving much room for food and the like. Unless they moved those out, the enemy may just give up the base if we just lay siege to it." Sgt Dunners remarked. "You know, like barrage artillery."

"Moving the artillery will take too long, and we only have 5 for defense. Asking for more will just take longer, and we don't have enough tanks to make up the difference." Lt Wessu said.

"Well, we can siege in other ways, but all this plan will fall through if they moved out the fuel for food. We should really take up Cpt Johnson's recommendation for more up to date info. A lot can happen in a week." Lt Syne said.

"How many tanks do we have?" Cpt Johnson asked.

"Like 8? I'm sure some survived. Its been a while since I've visited provisions." Act Lt Beach answered.

"Lt, we lost all our tanks to the Dukes. We only have the 5 medium Lucas Tanks that came with the recruits." Lt Yeek corrected. "If we decide to use them, they'd have to be driven by the greenhorns too, since the tanks are a newer model, and if we want to take the base at its weakest, we don't have time to train new personnel. Call me merciful, but I don't think we should trust the g-men with the tanks in their first battle."

"Merciful? They'd be safer in the tanks, not out of them!" Act Lt Beach contradicted.

"*Sigh*, Lt, medium tanks can be easily destroyed by a few rockets and they are considered prime targets to shoot at when defending. Why do you think so many of us died to the Dukes?" Lt Yeek retorted. "You're from comms, so stop talking, will you?"

"Now, now, don't say that. We're new too." Act Lt Less chuckled.

A lot of officers had died so we just put some "experienced" individuals in their positions until further notice.

"Well, no matter what, we are going to use those tanks. Most of those 'know-it-all' greens really want to prove themselves, and we need to actually see them perform. That being said, we'll still assign an escort that'll learn how to use the tanks on our way to the base." I said.

"I think we should go along with the siege idea. Give the infantry launchers and bring along one artillery in case it takes a while. The tanks can cover for the time it takes if need be. Cpt Johnson can head the scouting effort with a select amount of men, and should they have replaced the fuel for food or some other supply that would render our plan moot, we should start coming up with a backup plan." Cpt Wif concluded. "Ya know, if all goes well, the enemy will just be intimidated into surrendering once the artillery shows."

"All those in favor?" I asked.

"Aye!" Said the lot of us.

"A suggestion for both plan A and B. Since me and my men would have to enter the base stealthily to confirm their storage inventory, we can rig their munitions dump to explode on our way out." Cpt Johnson suggested. "Not only would it demoralize them for a siege, it can severely weaken their defensive if plan A is moot."

"Yeah, and then afterwards, y'all can spread out and cover their rear to stop any retreating!" Sgt Klen remarked. "Although, maybe that would only work with more men."

"He can still send his leftover soldiers to set a rendezvous with him there, it shouldn't be too much of a problem unless they're discovered prematurely." Sgt Ubas said.

"Huh, in that case, we should prioritize their communications as our first target. I either suggest the tanks or Recon's leftovers to take up the mission." Lt Binsir said. "We can't have reinforcements showing up behind the rendezvous after all."

"Okay, Comp, load up the map of base F534, R563, and the area between and zoom in on base F534." I ordered.

"Yes sir!" Said Comp!. A 3D map appeared on the table and zoomed in on the forward base.

"So, communications should still be here." Cpt Wif pointed with a stick and a red dot glowed.

"Storage is also around here." Cpt Johnson pointed for another red dot.

"Yeah, the Recon leftovers can take out comms on the way to rendezvous, which I believe should be... here." Lt Ageis pointed to a particularly vegetative hill not too far from the two locations for a green dot. It wasn't too suspicious at least. "The rest of Recon can then spread out along this such a line." He drew a curved green line with his stick.

"That seems fine." Cpt Wif mumbled. "Be sure to double check the surroundings before fully committing to the formation once you're there. Now, for our attack plan, we should station the tanks here, here, and here." He pointed to 3 well spread out areas. "Infantry can find adequate cover between these areas. Transports will have to drop them off around 20 yards behind the line to make sure they aren't blow up all together. Can we use the transports as cover?"

"No, we still haven't been resupplied on motorized vehicles. We just got lucky with the tanks." I answered. "We really shouldn't get on Cpt Kingsley's nerves."

"That's fine. The tanks will split into teams of 2, the leftover going to the middle. The artillery will then position 250 yards from there should the battle take that long." Cpt Wif continued. "Barrage rounds will need to be distributed, and should the enemy attempt a charge, we just need to keep them away from the tanks to ensure repulsion. Any of you research the capabilities of Lucas Tanks?"

"Yes, sir! They are the same size and armor class to deem them medium tanks, but they have more complicated controls to outmaneuver enemies and for better aiming. They are also outfitted with 2 main, separately controlled turrets stacked on each other, though they can only be fired simultaneously." Lt Xesab reported.

"Okay, then for plan B, we'll use the middle tank to use charge rounds to blow open the main entrance and one tank to the left to blow open the wall to their storage if the munition explosion doesn't. With the tanks covering the rear and flanks, infantry can then perform a charge into the base. Recon company can then enter through the rear if there are no retreats or after taking care of em, and hopefully we can capture their commanding officers and get them to surrender instead of clearing the base room for room."

"That should be about it. All in favor?" I conclude.

"Aye!" They responded.

"Then send notifications to the rest of the officers and prepare for battle. Well head out tomorrow after a good nights rest. Let's see, it noon already, so do catchup during lunch. Cpt Wif, you deal with Cpt Kingsley. Have everything ready before dinner or you won't have any!" I ordered. "Dismissed!"

We saluted and headed out for lunch.

*

"Um, Cpt? Do you think I can head the leftover unit for the comms mission?" Lt Ageis asked.

"Huh? I mean, sure, but why?" I responded.

"I just feel that... after the last mission, I'm not exactly stealth material, ya know? Nearly blew the whole deal!" He explained. "I know I can handle the comms, no problem, just, no stealth, 'kay?"

"Not with that attitude. But I see your issue. I'll let you take charge of disabling comms if you promise to work on your stealth, deal?" I resolved.

"Thank you sir!" Lt Ageis said.