There were many things that could go wrong. The plan could be far too ambitious. The enemy was going to outnumber them, perhaps overwhelmingly. The bosses could be especially difficult. Ragnarok could suddenly decided to attack from the north. It was quite the risk.
However, the risk might be necessary. Even with all the progress they were making, Hydra was still in a very precarious position. The silence from the north was scaring many of them. Things might be quiet now, but if Ragnarok decided to make the conflict go hot again they would be forced into a two front war. If the alliance could eliminate one front they would be in a much better position.
Taking the last two districts on the west side of the White River would give Hydra a strong position. The enemy would only be able to attack from two locations, which could be easily defended. Hydra would also have access to the river, which meant they could use their river craft for transport and fire support. And finally, once they had one side it would give them the much needed opportunity to rest and regroup.
They were hanging by a thread at this point, stretched to their limit. Their treasury was low. Their resource stocks were almost nonexistent, and every bit of ore coming into the city was immediately being turned into bullets or equipment. Troops were spread over several different fronts, vulnerable to a large attack. Hydra needed some way to improve their position, and this was it.
Now they needed to convince the others.
“Not that I'm against fighting, but this might not be the greatest idea,” Cody said. The rest of the military council looked at each other and discussed the plan.
“We can't afford to waste any time,” Zach insisted. “If we do we might not be able to make up the ground we lose. Ragnarok's planning something. They have to be. Why else would they suddenly stop fighting us?”
“We're still skirmishing with their forces up along the border,” David said. “But we haven't heard anything in Old Chicago, or from the companies up north. There was news that a huge Ragnarok column went north, but then they completely disappeared.”
“How the heck did they disappear?” Cody asked.
“They sent the Valkyries after anyone that tried to follow them and told the rest that they would come back and annihilate them if they tried it.”
“Ugly tactic,” Shayna commented.
“An effective one as well,” Bryce shrugged. “I'm pretty sure that we'd use it as well, given the chance.”
“Anyhow, they might be planning for something, but at the moment they're out of our hair. We can consider the front secure while their main forces are up north.”
“For now,” Gina said. “They'll be back.”
“And when they come back we need to be in a position to fight them,” Zach said. “That means we're going to have to take some risks whether we like it or not.”
“Point taken,” David said. “However, we need to make sure that the risk is worth it.”
“And that the risk is feasible,” Anna added. “It's no good trying if there's almost no hope of success.”
Zach stepped over to the holographic map table in the middle of the command center and zoomed in on part of the city.
“The Meridian district is definitely feasible,” he said. “Between Dragon and Rogue Battalions you have over six hundred troops with armor and artillery support. The district isn't huge either.”
“That still leaves the Decatur district,” Anna said. “Even with reinforcements from Sacred Sword we only have four hundred troops.”
“Right, but we also have air support. And that's going to be critical,” Zach said.
“What about AA fire?” Bryce asked. “I imagine that's going to be a problem.”
“Most of the AA guns are clustered around the airfield, here,” Zach said. He zoomed in on the area. Sure enough, they were thickly grouped around the airfield, but the rest of the district was relatively uncovered.
“That could still be a big problem,” Liz spoke up. “That many AA guns in an open area? That's suicide for an infantry attack.”
“Yes, but with Sacred Sword we'll also have assault guns. They can spearhead the attack and keep the enemy's attention focused on them. Plus, we have the exoskeletons.”
“I can't guarantee how well they're going to perform,” Nora said. “We haven't selected anyone, and I'm still learning how to use them.”
“Still, they're an excellent trump card to play,” Anna said. “This is a risk, but so is everything at this point. I'll support the attack, so long as we plan properly.”
“Eh, why not?” Cody asked.
“I'll agree to it as well,” Gina said. “With the condition, like Anna, that we plan this properly.”
“I'm for it,” David confirmed.
“Me as well,” Shayna agreed.
“Me too,” Bryce added.
Karen hesitated for a moment. “Can I say just one thing?”
“Shoot,” Zach told her.
“I don't think that four hundred troops is going to cut it, at least not in a straight battle,” she said. “We were only able to take Center City because we were facing primitives, That, and a whole lot of luck.”
“OK, so what's you're idea?” Zach asked.
“We need some way to even the odds,” she said. “I think we should try to launch a night attack to catch the enemy off guard.”
“Bold move,” David commented.
“That plays to Ghost Battalion's strengths, though,” Anna said. “We can use stealth to our advantage fare more easily in the dark.”
Zach nodded his agreement. “Alright, I think the night attack is a good idea as well. Is everyone satisfied by this?”
Everyone agreed.
“Then we should get the commanders who are taking part in each attack together,” David said. “We have some planning to do.”
And Nora herself had a decision to make.
“You wanted to talk?”
Nora looked up to see Miko and Selene walking up the steps to the top of the wall. She sat on the edge, looking toward the district to the south. The reckoning was coming soon.
“Yeah, I wanted to get your opinion on something,” Nora replied.
“OK, shoot then,” Selene said. She leaned up against the battlements. Miko joined her to one side.
“So, the offer that Zach gave me after you told him about my worries.”
Selene scowled. “I'm gonna break his arm.”
Nora laughed. “Please don't. He didn't tell me, anyhow. I deduced it myself.”
“Told you she would,” Miko said.
Selene gave her a playful shove. “OK, so what about it?”
“I'm not sure what to do,” she said. “At first I wasn't a huge fan of where I was at. It didn't seem like I was having as much fun as I used to, because I wasn't with with my friends. But now I guess I feel a bit different.”
“Maybe that's your answer?” Miko suggested. “The situation changed, so now you're more comfortable with where you're at.”
“Are you feeling a better connection to everyone in Barghest?” Selene asked.
“Yeah,” Nora said. “I think the last fight is what did it. I stopped worrying about how well they were trained or what they were doing and just went with the flow. I guess I was part of the experience instead of being an outsider critiquing it.”
“So that's made you feel better?” Selene said.
“Yeah.”
“So what's the issue? I think it's pretty clear. Stay with your platoon. The only reason I would give you to move on is because you're not having fun, and you seem to have moved past that.”
“It's not that simple right now,” Nora said.
“Why not?” Miko asked her. “It sounds like it's simple enough to me.”
“Well, it's not,” Nora said. “I'm going to be in charge of the mech suits, so that's going to be another thing on my mind. I was just getting comfortable being with Barghest as well, and now I have to move on.”
“Just remember what you learned,” Selene s
aid. “You just said it yourself. Stop worrying and go with the flow. Enjoy the process and see what comes next. And it works. That's how I enjoy myself.”
“Right. But I'm not going to be able to lead the platoon for much longer. I have responsibilities in Black Wolf, and then there's the new unit that's going to be created. I have to be a part of that. So do I just step aside now?”
“What do you think is the right choice?” Miko asked.
“I don't know,” Nora admitted. “I want to stay with Barghest for now, in some way. But I don't know if that's my heart or my head talking.”
“Just think about what you're saying for a second,” Selene said. “Your head or your heart? Remember, this is a game. Whatever you do, you need to make sure that you're having fun. There's no point being here if you're not doing that.”
“It goes back to what we said,” Miko said. “Have fun, enjoy the ride and let it take you where it will. It's not about power levels, or the best numbers or anything like that. If you're spending so much time worrying about those things that it becomes work, what's the point?”
“So you're saying I should stay?” Nora said.
“The question you should be asking yourself is what's going to make you happy? What are you going to enjoy the most? Because that's what this is really all about,” Miko said. “Take that away and this is nothing more than a gilded prison.”
“That's a rather profound statement, actually,” Nora said with a smile. “I think that a lot of people could stand to learn from that. Including me, apparently.”
“This game is about the world being alive,” Selene said. “It's about the struggle we have to go through with our friends and comrades to survive and to advance. Once it turns into a matter of numbers, power gaming and calculation it ceases to be alive.”
“And a world without any soul is a terrible place to be,” Nora added. “Thanks. It's a lot to think about.”
“So you've made your decision?” Miko asked.
Nora smiled. “I think I have.”
* * *
“Well, here it is, just like you requested,” Paige said. “Free time well spent for me, I might add. This was a blast to work on.”
“I'm glad to hear that,” Nora said. She looked up at the product of her work.
“Presenting the Hoplite armored exoskeleton,” Paige said. “It's equipped with a Miltiades pattern loadout.”
“Any reason for the name?” Nora asked her.
Paige shrugged. “Yusuf came up with it. We're named after a Greek god, so he figured that Hoplite would be a good name for the armor. After that, he decided to name the weapons loadouts after Greek generals.”
“Makes sense,” Nora said.
“It's fearsome, that's for sure,” Paige said.
Nora agreed as she surveyed the suit. The basic layout was the same, with a few changes. The most notable was the change of weaponry. The mounts had indeed been modular, and Paige had fitted them out to her specifications. The cannon in the right arm had been removed for study, since they didn't have the ability to manufacture more ammunition for it yet. In its place they had added a prototype minigun, built from the schematic. The other arm carried a 20mm autocannon. It lacked the stopping power of the original cannon, but it had the best power to ammunition capacity they could find. It would do its job.
The exoskeleton itself had received a new paint job. Originally pure black, the shell was now a puzzle of greys, white and black, well suited for an urban environment.
“Look good?” Paige asked.
Nora stopped as the right shoulder came into view. There, emblazoned in red and black was the snarling canine of Barghest Company.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, it does.”
CHAPTER 21
Let Loose
“This is going to be tough no matter how you slice it,” David said as they mulled over the maps and charts.
“No kidding,” Zach replied. “Our best bet is to infiltrate through the subway and then take the main gate. Once that's done you can push through to reinforce us.”
“Can the exoskeleton fit into the subway?” David asked.
“Yes,” Anna confirmed. “We tested that out. They fit. Barely, but they fit.”
“OK, so at least you guys can bring armored support with you,” David said.
“It's not going to be much,” Nora said. “I'm going to be the only suit.”
“Huh? What about the others?” David asked.
“We haven't even selected pilots for them,” Zach informed him. “There's not enough time to train them, and we don't want to waste them if we can help it.”
David looked back down at the map. “That's really going to cut down on your heavy support.”
“We can handle that fine,” Zach said. “It's more than we'd have anyhow. Plus, we'll still have recoilless rifles, and Spectre will be carrying heavy machine guns.”
David shrugged. “Hey, if you can do it then that's fine. So how are you going to work the assault?”
“Black Wolf and Barghest will assault the gate,” Anna detailed. “Meanwhile, Redd Foxx will push into the heart of the city to keep the pressure on the enemy. Once the gate is open your three companies will come back us up, and then we'll resume our drive toward the airfield. Raven will provide us with cover, and Spectre will act as a mobile reserve mounted in the transport choppers.”
“Have we suppressed the enemy AA?” Neil asked.
“Not around the airfield, but Bravehart has been taking potshots at the other ones scattered throughout the district,” Anna informed him. “As long as the choppers don't stray too close to the airfield they should be fine.”
“We'll keep that in mind,” Robbie said.
“Anyhow, as long as we're quick about it we should be fine,” Anna continued. “The response times from the garrison seem to be slower at night. I noticed that when we were scouting Eagle Creek. Even if the scouting teams were detected they didn't have much trouble getting away.”
“So if we can press through the confusion we can use that to our advantage,” Zach said.
“Still, we're going to be running up against tight timetables,” David said.
“Which is why we need to move quickly,” Anna said.
Zach looked over at her. “Well, then the rangers were the proper choice for this assignment.”
“What time is the other force going to attack the Meridian District?” Liz asked.
“They're going to attack on the evening of the same day,” Anna detailed. “Cody and Gina are hoping to crush the enemy within a few hours, which means the pressure will be on us. We might be able to call for reinforcements if they finish quickly enough, but it's more likely that they'll be to drained from their own attack.”
Zach nodded. Physical fatigue was a real obstacle in a virtual reality game with full immersion. Many times he had felt tired after logging off, even though he had spent hours just sitting.
“So we're pretty much on our own,” Neil said.
“Which is the way it should be. We can win this on our own,” David said. “We have some... No, you know what? We have the best troops in the alliance, and we know what we're doing. We just have to execute properly.”
“And there's the rub,” Liz said. “Night fighting is going to be confusing, no matter what.”
“I think that our tunnel fighting experience will help us a lot,” Nora brought up. “Plus, being able to actually use night vision goggles up here.”
“If only we had better equipment in the tunnels,” David said. “Of course, why would they give us the good goggles right now?”
“So there's ones that will work in total darkness?”
David shrugged. “The ones I've used in real life picked up infrared light, so yeah, you could see some. Then again, this is a game where we have holographic menus and cybernetic implants in our eyes and we still can't manufacture a simple tank.”
“Give it time,” Nora said.
“I half expect to see people r
iding around on horses while we have armored walkers,” David said.
“Wouldn't surprise me,” Zach agreed. “Anyhow. Karen and I will organize the assault on the gate. Barghest Company has done well in our last few missions, so I think the task of being in the first wave should go to them.”
“They're going to have Nora with them, right?” David asked.
Karen gave a smile. “Of course. She's one of ours, after all.”
Zach smiled too. “OK, once Barghest launches their attack Black Wolf will follow. Once we have the gate secure we'll signal Sacred Sword. After that it's just a matter of taking the rest of the district.”
“If only it were that simple,” Karen said.
Neil agreed with her. “If only.”
Nora gave him an amused look. “Heh, and you've only been around for that last capture. Some of the others might have been worse.”
“I dread to think what kind of boss they have cooked up for us this time,” Liz said. “Or maybe they'll go easy on us in this place.”
“That's really not the impression I got from those designers,” Zach said. He had worked on the game's communications systems during development, so he knew most of the staff.
“Then what would you class them as?” Liz asked.
“Them? They seemed to take sadistic glee in devising really difficult bosses,” Zach said. “As you can probably tell.”
“No kidding.”
“We've managed to overcome all of the bosses so far,” David said. “We'll overcome this one.”
“It's not the NPC enemies that I'm worried about,” Liz said.
“Still concerned with Ragnarok?” Nora asked.
“They have something up their sleeve,” Liz said.
“That I agree with,” Zach said. “There's nothing we can do about it right now anyhow.”
“Remember, they're in the same position we are,” Anna said. “While we might not know what they're doing, they don't know what we're doing. They don't know we have the rail line, they definitely don't know we have the exoskeletons, and they're probably not sure what we're up to.”
“We can worry about them once this operation is done,” David said. “Until then let's stay on task.”
Fang: A World at War Novel (World at War Online Book 3) Page 22
