Captain Wallace had beamed down with 31 Starfleet personnel, to help assist the Marines in the capture of the planet. They had been down only a few seconds when the Mulluran mortar shells came in. They weren't very accurate they fell short a few meters of their targets but it was enough to cause some to dive for cover.
"Colonel how many men do you have?" Wallace asked unflinching as another shell struck 10 meters behind him.
"Well, we've lost Captain Anderson and 5 others, we're down to 60." Tarik yield as another shell whistled over head and exploded.
The news of Anderson's apparent death had not yet reached Wallace. He acted as if Tarik had not said anything. "Ok, lets strengthen the North and south ends of the perimeter. These guys think two sided, if they attack. We'll let them think they have us pinned down. Let them think they have the situation under control." Wallace paused as he looked up in the air to see gray clouds above head and felt a few moist drops.
"All right, then what, Captain?" Tarik asked.
"We take the east side of the city." Wallace was still formatting a plan in his head.
"How do we do that Captain? That'll be costly house to house fighting."
"We weaken their morale, play with their heads," Wallace said walking over towards the command center. The rain started to pick up speed and the temperature began to drop a few degrees.
"What?" Tarik didn't quiet understand. Wallace was more then willing to explain it.
"Colonel, you ever study ancient earth warfare? More so mid 20th century." Tarik shook his head yes then spoke. "A little, not as much as some officers."
"During World War Two, the Germans and Soviets used propaganda to win the hearts and minds of those they were fighting and those they used to fight. During the Battle of Stalingrad the Soviets used their Sniper Division with devastating effect singling officers and Senior NCOs out.
This was also used heavily in the wars that followed making warfare as much about the mind as much as about tactical superiority." Wallace and Tarik were in the command post -- a sandbag bunker with a few computer terminals.
"You have any scout snipers assigned to your unit?" Wallace asked unslinging his rifle and putting it down.
"No. We were never assigned that," Tarik said disappointedly.
"Well, Anderson and I were snipers for 8 months during the Dominion War."
It then hit Tarik why on the moon in the early stages of the war, that Anderson had taken out the listening post so perfectly. "I take it that Anderson brought his TR-116 rifle and gilly suit." Captain Wallace put his hand on his hip and waited patiently for a reply.
"Yes, I think so. His stuff is over here?" Tarik walked over and picked up a huge suitcase and laid it out on one of the two bunks in the tent.
Richard open the case and pulled out an odd dirty looking type of rug that had stuff such as rocks and twigs attached to it. He set it to the side and picked up a rifle that was the TR-116. Wallace pulled the bolt back and checked to see it a round was chambered, it wasn't. Richard set the rifle down and pulled up four clips that had brass metal cartridges in them. Next thing he pulled out was a head set that had a single yellow eye piece.
"Captain, you aren't going to perform sniper duty are you?" Tarik asked closing the tent flap.
"Listen. You know anyone else who's performed sniper duty?"
"No," Tarik said turning his computer terminal on. He wasn't going to argue with the Captain. Tarik trusted Wallace's judgment after all he had prevented a complete massacre on New Canada. Defeated the Son'a and Jem'Hadar forces with very minor losses.
"Ok then let me show you were the enemy's main force is." Tarik said turning the computer so Wallace could see it. The screen had a map with red dots indicating troop positions in the city.
"The east side of the city has a trench system here. It runs along over 75% of the city. They have other units in key buildings on the flank. The western side of the city isn't as well defended. It has the same defense as earlier indicated. The Mullurans send out patrols towards are area. " Tarik then changed the view of the map.
"This appears to be their Headquarters -- the Quartermasters office."
"Alright Colonel, we need fresh intel and a few diversions. Take 5 of the replacements. Have them go on patrol and capture a few prisoners. Tonight will be a perfect night for that with the bad weather.
Show me where Anderson was hit." Wallace wanted to see how far he was from safety when he died.
"Right here sir." Tarik showed the area. "It's the department store area. "
"I'll enter the city from the west side. I'll move around the forest and enter the city through the sewer system. I'll take three days rations, and have about 56 rounds replicated for the rifle. I'll contact you when I need something. Don't contact me at all no mater what." Wallace walked over to the tent flap and opened it up. This is the perfect weather for hunting. I'll leave just about dark.
When I enter the sewer I'll contact you and you inform me of any vital areas the prisoners may of told you about."
Tarik turned the computer off, and walked over to the tent entrance. It was quiet for a few minutes. "Anything else Captain?"
"Nope just you and Major Boyle try and figure out what kind of a diversion you guys want." Wallace said as the rain increased and lighting followed by thunder erupted in the sky.
"Very well sir, you better rest the next couple of hours. It may be the last time for a week or so. " Tarik said as he motioned for Staff Sergeant Gallor a Bajoran Marine, to come to him. "Yes Colonel?"
"Get Captain Wallace a ten pound butt back and three days field rations, and about 100 rounds of TR116 ammunition."
Wallace took his web belt off and removed his tunic, and red shirt he pulled out a grayish color tunic and put it on. It was Anderson's field tunic. It better fit the area other then his red stripe on the cuffs and his red collar.