Fires of Coventry by Rick Shelley

Author:Rick Shelley [Shelley, Rick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-936535-44-6
Publisher: Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.
Published: 1996-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

15

There were only finite amounts of ammunition available to the units of the Second Regiment, and no one knew when the fleet would be able to get more supplies down. Every officer and noncom had to start worrying about his men running out, and balance that possibility against the more immediate chance that the Federation soldiers they faced would overrun their positions if they cut back too drastically on their shooting.

In Hawthorne, Captain McAuliffe conferred with the leaders of Alpha and Delta. The three companies started to shrink their perimeter, pulling in, looking for more defensible positions.

“This is still no good, Spencer,” McAuliffe said after he had finished coordinating with the other commanders. “It’s ground the Feddies chose, and that’s bad enough. There’s no telling how many more surprises they’ve got waiting for us.”

“I’ve been thinking about that, sir,” Spencer replied. “But they’re making it hard for us to spring loose, even if we knew which way to go.”

“We’re going to try to break east, then south,” McAuliffe said. “Alpha will try to poke a hole in the Feddie lines. We’ll move in behind them, and Delta will bring up the rear.”

“That’s dicey as hell, sir. We’ve got wounded to carry, quite a few.”

“I know, David, but it can’t be helped. We’ll move our casualties the best we can. The fleet is in and out overhead. They’ve got at least eight enemy frigates to deal with before they can turn their attention back to us. We’ve got to do for ourselves for a while. I’m going to use Kepner’s platoon to provide a little distraction for the move.”

“That’s part of their job description, isn’t it? You going to tell Tory or should I?”

“I’ll handle it. You get your lads ready. When it starts, we’ll be on the go in a hurry. Up and down a couple of times to get in position, then straight out … if this works.”

“Aye, sir. We’ll be ready.”

“About five minutes. We’ll give the I&R lads a chance to go to ground. When the rest of us move, they’ll stay in place, hidden, then move again once we pull the Feddies past their position. When Kepner’s platoon get to where they can distract the Feddies, Alpha will try to punch a hole in their front.”

Hide? Where the blazes are they going to hide here? David asked himself.

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