(1) sikjuwwejsHn: wij'v got armrd aend ejrbowrn duvisHns dropnG dawn frum Oregon. A, a, aend b wil mijt dHem nijr Chico tuw brejc up aend dijfijt in dijtejl. bijcuz uv dHejr taectics, wij mej get sum rijcon and fowrwrd fowrmejsHns in awr ejriju,
(2) get jr 120s aend 155s on dHu owpn fijlds luwcnG nowrtH aend down't get tanGgld in dHu tawns.
(3) baetljuwnut 5.1 wil howld dHu hajwejs tuw
Vallejo aend Livermore. staet 2 iz in dHu Diablo RaendZ az covr fajr. 5.2,
5.3, aend 5.8 nowrtH uv dHu Deltu, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, aend 5.7 sawtH. spesific
oprrejtinG ejrijus folow:
Verity knew it wasn't going to be a line but a constant maneuverring from Chico to northern limits of her artillery, in order to isolate ISA vehicles so that the tac units could swoop in from the foothills for the kill.
Verity was walking the line back and forth, smiling at her soldiers, giving them the okay. They were exhausted, but most were too frightenned to sleep. A few had given in and slept the sleep of children. Her children. Housewives and college students. Brumann had decided to redeploy in the middle of the night. Verity's battleunit had shifted most its artillery from the east to the north of the city. They had spent the darkness manhandling the 55s and 120s in the rain, digging new pits and trenches in the mud. The FOs had slipped out at dawn.
Verity's mood did not improve when the storm passed on later that morning. She decided she had done enough cheerleading, and she could best serve them by getting some rest. She would need a clear head.
Good evening.
What's up?
We took out a recon about 1330. The forward observers report a patrol or point coming down the county road.
You didn't wake me? You are dispensable, Verity reminded herself.
Her executive officer shook his head. You looked so comfortable. It seemed a pity to spoil it. Verity thought she heard a you bitch at the end of that.
Are the seekers out?
Just now. We didn't want to risk sending them out too early. Temperamental little beasties.
The seekers were small bipedal robots that, in theory, could sneak up within few meters of the enemy without being seen, with a live audiovisual feed back to the operators. It was only a matter of time before they were armed, and then politicians would have an army of mindless slaves to do their bidding.
Verity climbed up the levee to stand next to her exec. They were looking north into the coming dark. She had a tripwire line of infantry two kilometres out, with the antitank guns behind them. Rest of the guns and battleunit were spread out on either side and behind her.
The patrol had stopped just in range of the antitank guns. Send the seekers on either side; look for flankers. A walnut grove hid them from Verity. Not that she really wanted to see them anyway. How quickly did you kill the recon?
I'm sure they know we're here. Somewhere. The ATs have a good thermal lock.
What are they waiting for? Surely they don't think the night will hide them. Either they're lost and scared-
-or
waiting for the main column.
Commander Kendricks.
Verity step-slid down her headquarters. That was when the dark turned white. She heard the distant thump of tac infantry gunships and rockets.
Beta Tac. They are on the main column about fifteen kilometres north of here.
Do they know our operating area? Confirm it.
Confirmed.
Tell the ATs to open fire. Verity looked down at her watch.
We're losing infrared signatures.
Are they moving?
No. Just fading.
Smokescreens. She checked her watch. Batteries 3A1, 3A2, and 3C2 open fire. Verity hoped she had waited long enough for the infantry to bail out but not to get under cover. Secure all batteries.
Secured.
Send in 3E-no, wait. Where are those seekers? Send them in.
Verity
stood behind the operators, watching the monitors. The seeker stopped on
the edge of the walnut grove, watching the drifting smoke lit from within.
It revealed two tanks, one burning, one abandonned, and three IFVs, one
undamaged. Bodies were scatterred on the road. It was hard to tell if they
were alive by the flickerring light. Two soldiers came out of the shadows.
They seemed to be dragging survivors off the road.
Get me the ATs. Have you got thermal lock again? There's one IFV left. Can you take it one shot? Good. Go. She saw the brief flash of impact and some debris flew out the open doors. It looked like the two men crapped in their pants.
Send them medics under flares.
There's probably another squad there.
I know. Given a chance, I think they'll just run. By the time they
leg it back north, this'll be over. Send some infantry along to cover.