Liberation : The Plan

Captain Devore walked in on as Commander Loris was clearing her throat in preparation of her briefing.

"The H'Cter Colony is a a fairly new colony numbering close to three thousand persons in population. The regional head of the colony was Catius of Trolean. He, however, was killed, along with his son and his soon to be bride during a wedding ceremony." She paused a moment, nearly choking on her words. "This ceremony took place here, in the town's square." The image zoomed in, highlighting the square. "The insertion wave the continued north towards the governor's mansion, and finally to the local garrison, the most heavily defended of the buildings in the colony."

Robbie Gleason rose his hand. "Ma'am, if I may. Wouldn't you want your governor's mansion to be one of the most highly defended buildings in the colony ?"

In most respects, Lieutenant, we are a peaceful race and civilians do not carry around weapons. We have fewer then three killings a year in one colony alone. However, we do keep a strong military force in times of war. If something were to happen to the colony, the colony's inhabitants would make their way to the garrison for protection."

"Then why weren't there any troops in the colony's garrison ?" Robbie rebutted.

*Good question, Lieutenant.* Devore thought as he sat down at the end of the table. He wanted to see how the operation was going take place.

"Captain Goerl's platoon were the troops that were supposed to occupy the garrison. They were to arrive only three days after this event." A sigh was heard across the room from a few of the Nuan troops. "However, I must get to my point." The image shifted from the towns square over towards the garrison. The garrison then enlarged to take up the full projection by the projector. "The garrison is made of what you call 'ferrocrete'. It is reinforced concrete with a solid half foot of durasteel inside of it. Their is an enclosed walk way on the roof with two weapons emplacements at the southern corners of the base. Between these two emplacements is the main gate. The doors are made of reinforced durasteel."

"Sounds like we're gonna have a hell of a time getting in." Erindor J'Lan whispered to Richard Sharpe.

"I've seen worse." Sharpe commented.

"To our advantage, there is always a hidden escape exit located somewhere in the garrison, required by the Nuan armed forces. This entrance\exit's location is only known by the garrison chief. I requested that the chief send me the location of the entrance and I received it about an hour ago." Loris tapped a few more commands into the console, and a red line came into view. "The emergency exit is located on the opposite side of the rock cliff, which exits into a small cave. If you're careful, you should be able to make your way into the base from here." She then nodded to Major Phanan.

Jon stood up, and walked over to where Loris was standing. "Thank you Commander." Jon then began entering a few command codes into the panel and a few different positions lit up. "Here's the game plan. Captain Goerl with five members of her squad along with Second Lieutenant's Truman and Gleason will make their way in through the escape exit into the main part of the base. From their, you will seek out and capture Rear Admiral Thomas Beard."

A few slight gasps between the Marines were heard. "Second Lieutenant Jack Truman narrowed down some of the possibilities where Beard could be hiding and do to some of the circumstances with evidence found at a few previous Barien operations by the same group, we must assume that Beard is in-charge of this group of Bariens."

"Myself and Private Rikel of the Nuan squad will take up sniping positions at sniper points Alpha and Bravo highlighted on the map. We'll take out anyone moving to weapons emplacements, or trying to escape the garrison." Jon then turned his attention to the two newest Marines in his group. "Sharpe and J'Lan, I'm going to need you two to create a distraction in front of the base to stir them up. I've talked with Captain Devore and he's going to allow us to use the Runabout Ohio for our mission. Gunnery Sergeant, I want you to affix two mortar units to the roof of the Ohio along with one artillery launcher. Be sure to cause a ruckus enough for them to send out people to stop it. From there, we'll take out anyone coming through the door."

"Sir, should I also have the Ohio configured to carry a rapid fire antipersonnel phaser cannon to the roof as well ?" Sharpe looked over to Jon.

"If you can get it on a retractable turret, then yes, by all means. I'm going to see if Lieutenant Savage will be able to spare some of her security personnel to aid in help covering the Ohio. Any questions ?"

Jon paused to look around the room. Seeing none, he continued. "All right. We leave tomorrow at oh zero hundred hours. I want everyone asleep by nineteen hundred, and up by twenty-three hundred hours. Be in the main shuttlebay by twenty-three thirty hours. Dismissed."

Everyone rose and cleared the room, heading off in their own directions.

"Commander Loris, Major Phanan. Would you mind holding off for just a moment ?" Devore said stopping the two of them from leaving.

"Yes sir." Phanan said puzzled.

The door shut behind Sergeant Sharpe as he head for the armoury.

"Major, Commander have a seat." They did. "You have a great plan. Mind if I make some suggestions."

"Of course Captain." Commander Loris said. Major Phanan just smiled politely. He wondered how a starship Captain could know anything about surface based operations.

"Major. If the Lynx is down there you will have quite a time trying to even get close of to the governor's mansion. I recommend that you take Rashad along to infiltrate the Lynx and disable her."

The sound of 'Rashad' didn't thrill Phanan too much. He didn't trust her, and with all that she was responsible for the forthrightness of the attack on the Captain Devore, Phanan didn't... no couldn't understand why he was trusting towards her.

"With all due respect sir, she is not a Marine What makes you think that she can even get within a hundred metres of the Lynx."

"I know Major. I know that you have a problem with her, but it is paramount that we take out Beard. That is OUR orders. So assign a small detail to get her close enough, but once she is in, then just watch her back."

"Captain !"

"Major ! That is an order. She will be assigned to your rescue detail and enough is said."

"Yes sir."

"Now I figured that you will need some 'air support'." Devore continued.

"Air support ?" Loris interjected.

"Yes Commander. I am surprised that you have never heard of that. It is a 19th and 20th century earth tactic whereby we establish air superiority. Once that is done, the ground troops can get additional support from the air." Devore said. Phanan just nodded.

"I see. But there is no evidence of aircraft."

"Then we will maintain that. The Leviathan will enter a low orbit and bombard the outskirts of the colony." Immediately a look of horror came of Loris' face. "Don't worry ! We will not endanger you or your troops nor will we hit any structure. It is strictly to 'soften' the defensive network they might have."

"Makes sense."

"Good. So when does your operation start ?"

"We will meet in the Shuttlebay at 06:00," Phanan said.

"That will give me time to put the Leviathan* into position."

"The Ohio will take off at 06:30."

"Fine. Then it looks like we have a lot of planning to do. You had better get started. Talk to Commander Toran. He may know a thing or two about tactics as a matter of fact, he is the best shuttle pilot we have. Why don't you get him to pilot for you ?" Devore said as he headed out.

"Yes sir." Phanan said wondering why was the Captain adding these people to his team. Next thing he knew, Devore would want the counsellor and Brayden on it as well.

As if he read his mind, Devore came back in. "Do you understand why I want them on your team ?"

"No sir."

"Commander Loris, would you mind excusing us ? By the way, I think that you have an admirer"

"Of course." Loris said with a smile. She blushed as she left. Loris didn't have to even guess, but young McCaffee had left a rose at her door. Something small but sweet.

"Jon. Remember what our mission is. It is to take out Beard, the H'Cter colony is an aide to insure our treaty, but Rashad is a computer hacker as well. You get her close enough she will be able to disable the Lynx and we can get in there and destroy her. In addition, Toran is the best shuttle pilot we have. Your insertion is going to be a trick in itself. So we need the best ! You and your team are the best Marines !. Rashad is the best computer operator we have, as is Toran the shuttle pilot. Understand where I am going ?"

"Yes sir. I guess your right. It is just that I am used to working in small teams and...."

"...and by me adding troops to your small team, it gets to be a massive Charlie Fox-trot !"

"20th century term for cluster f......"

[Captain to the Bridge !]

"Well I think we covered our bases. Get everything together and inform your team. I want this to be quick and painless."

"As do I."

"Good." Devore tapped his combadge. "On my way."