The Shadow Legions: Crimson Worlds VII by Jay Allan

Author:Jay Allan [Allan, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: System 7 Publishing
Published: 2014-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

“Colonel Storm’s forces are being pushed back through Sentinel Forest, sir.” Captain Claren had been Cain’s aide throughout the Sigma 4 campaign. He had a good sense of what details the C in C wanted, and he usually managed to report them before Cain asked. “They’re giving ground, but slowly.”

Cain nodded. “Thank you, captain.” He leaned back and sighed softly. He was going to have to reinforce Storm. The forest was massive, and he was counting on it holding up the enemy advance. If they got through the Sentinel, they’d be out on the open plains, less than 50 klicks from Astria. The terrain in the Sentinel was rugged for a major axis of advance, and he hadn’t expected this big a push there. The enemy had surprised him, and he cursed himself for his blindness.

He looked down at the large ’pad on the table, checking Storm’s unit statuses. He shook his head slowly as he read. Storm had been feeding his reserves in slowly, and he still had a reaction force uncommitted. Cain sighed softly. Storm had used his unarmored training battalion to support his powered infantry forces while he kept stronger units in reserve. Ill equipped for the front lines, the fresh troops fought bravely. They did manage to disrupt the advancing enemy formations, but at an enormous cost. The shattered force was hastily retreating, leaving at least half their number on the field.

Erik sighed again, feeling a pang for those half-Marines, men and women so poorly prepared for what they’d been compelled to do. There was a scowl on his face, but it wasn’t anger with Storm for making the decision he did. It was acknowledgement that he would have done the same thing. Cain knew there had been a time when he couldn’t treat human lives as variables in some mathematical equation, but he didn’t remember it. He had 18,000 Marines and support soldiers and almost a million civilians…all his responsibility. If he had to send 400 men and women to certain death to save the rest he would. War had flags and banners and stories of great valor, but in the end, a lot of it came down to math.

“Hector, get me Colonel Storm.”

Claren leaned forward and ran his hand across his ’pad. “On your line, sir.”

“General Cain.” Storm sounded tired, but overall in pretty good shape, considering what he was dealing with. “What can I do for you, sir?”

“You’re planning a counter-attack, aren’t you?” Cain could see it in the units Storm was holding back. “I know I gave you a free hand, but you should check in on something like this.” He paused for a second. “I might even be able to help.”

“Sir…I have been doing the prep, but I was going to ask permission before launching the attack.”

“Relax, Eliot, I’m not upset with you.” Cain’s mind was racing, trying to decide what forces he could pour into Storm’s counter-attack. He considered sending a couple companies of McDaniels’ Obliterators, but he rejected that idea immediately.

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