BattleTech: Flashpoint by Loren L. Coleman

Author:Loren L. Coleman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2011-04-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CMM Staging Grounds

Radcliffe, Kathil

Capellan March, Federated Commonwealth

22 November 3062

David studied the rough sketch of Muran’s eastern sea board that Tara Michaels had drawn on the large dry-erase board. ‘Mech-shaped magnets studded the colorful drawing, showing estimated positions for elements of the Eighth RCT and the matching spread of militia forces. A Spider magnet denoted light lances, Enforcers for medium, Caesars for heavy, and Victors for assault-weight lances. Most of the Katzbalger ‘Mechs were clustered around or were pushing down from District City, protecting the capital as if it possessed some strategic advantage other than political legitimacy. The militia continued to occupy Radcliffe and several nearby cities, though their hold on some were obviously beginning to slip.

“What about the township of Kelso?” he asked, circling an area on the board and smudging red marker onto his fingers in the process.

Tara leafed through a pile of maps, freshly printed that morning with more accurate data than she had slapped onto the board. Locating Kelso, she studied it and shook her head. “We could roll through there fairly easily. The Eighth has only two lances of green MechWarriors on station, supported by a company of armor. No aerospace support.” She continued to scan the map. “But there’s no advantage to controlling that area. Kelso is a dead end community.”

David slapped his palms against the sides of his legs in frustration. “Then why is the Eighth there?”

Tara pulled free the map she was studying and held it out to David. “It’s across the Howell River from Woodland,” she said, as if that explained it.

A quick glance at the map refreshed David’s memory. “The Second NAIS Cadre. Right.” In the past few days, the training cadre had moved elements in close to the edge of the spreading battle between the Eighth RCT and militia forces. They had yet to commit to support for either side, and their close proximity made everyone a bit nervous.

Especially General Sampreis, who was working hard to snare the Second into the militia. The unit was only a training cadre, but it was one of the most elite in the NAIS, and that meant neither side could leave it out of their calculations. Every day increased the worries that the Second might opt to side with the Katzbalger. At that point, the CMM would have little to no chance of holding out until the Capellan Dragoons got here.

But that was a problem for the old man, he decided, pushing the worry aside. Right now his task was to break the steady war of attrition the Eighth was waging against the militia. He exhaled noisily, feeling the pressure. Most of the militia was counting the hours until the Dragoons arrived in two weeks, but if he didn’t come up with some kind of plan to cripple the RCT’s offensive capabilities, there wouldn’t be anything left to greet them. He had to meet with General Sampreis in thirty minutes and present his recommendations, and right now he had nothing to offer. Time was running out.

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