The Backbone of Surprise by C.S. Ferguson & Greg Ferguson

Author:C.S. Ferguson & Greg Ferguson [Ferguson, C.S. & Ferguson, Greg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Theogony Books
Published: 2023-04-17T16:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 14

“Everybody online,” Alpha said as he entered the Scorpion ready room. “We’ve got an assignment. A real assignment, not another treasure hunt or training op or goodwill visit. A real live combat assignment. We’re going to war.”

The normally well-disciplined group of cyberjacks burst into cheers and laughter, some clapped, others stomped their feet. Hexer—Gadsden—was perhaps the most animated among them. He jumped up and down, pumping his arms into the air and yelling. Alpha let them have their fun for a minute before regaining their attention and getting them calmed down.

“I’m glad you’re excited,” he said when they finally took their seats again.

“Who wouldn’t be?” Hexer asked. “What warrior doesn’t want a war? None of these warriors, that’s for damn sure.”

“Good,” Alpha said. “Because you’re about to get one. This will be the first combat deployment of the first dedicated combat unit of this organization. The honor of first blood goes to the Scorpions, so make it good.

“Analysis of signal chatter suggests that the UW Rangers are launching a raid on one of our larger and more valuable stations, Denham’s Folly. Rather than evacuating the station, the general has decided to defend it. Our intel also suggests that the Rangers have badly underestimated the size and scope of the operation and so are likely to field a small and less capable force. All indications are that they are using their standard combat deployment roster with no additional vehicular or orbital artillery support beyond the usual. That means they should easily be overwhelmed, and that’s what we’re here for.

“Our mission will be to locate and identify any enemy combatants, namely UW Ranger units or any person or thing working in support of the UW Ranger units, and engage them with concentrated superior firepower. The mission will be a decisive victory if we manage total annihilation of the Ranger force and suffer no casualties of our own. It will be a tactical victory if we suffer casualties, and a decisive defeat if any Ranger unit enters the Denham’s Folly compound or escapes. The UW cannot learn about the Scorpions or anything about this compound. Let me say that one more time just in case any of you missed it. The UW cannot learn about the Scorpions or obtain any information about the Denham’s Folly compound. We shoot first, we shoot straight, and we don’t stop shooting until they stop twitching.

“We’ll make planetfall on Denham’s Folly in the early morning. We’re projected to be there two days before the Rangers arrive. We will move immediately to recon likely landing zones, which will dictate possible avenues of approach to the station itself. Then we’ll establish defensive positions with interlocking fields of fire that give us the best coverage of those avenues of approach.”

Hexer snorted derisively and shook his head.

“Is there a problem, Hexer?” Alpha asked.

“Defensive positions?” Hexer said, his tone mocking.

“Yes. Defensive positions. Maybe you missed the part where the Rangers are raiding Denham’s Folly, and we’re there to defend it.

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