Having been dismissed by the captain, the newly promoted non-comms and the freshly promoted commissioned officer made their way out to the training grounds. The men and women out there were mostly milling about, chatting with one another in nervous, hushed voices. Some of those with military or hunting experience were teaching the uninitiated how to handle the various firearms. Dag kept his eyes on the townspeople as he leaned against the Headquarters building, looking for people that he knew well and that would do well with his division.
Alex had started a speech of some kind, telling people how they were going to be dividing them up or some such and that Torrace would being seeing to outfitting them; Dag was not really paying attention. There were a few people he had in mind for the scouting unit already, and he knew that he only wanted a small force. Dag was so lost in his own thoughts that he barely even noticed Deputy Logan walking up beside him.
“What’s going on, Mr. Dagenham?” he asked.
Dag turned his head and sized up the middle-aged deputy for a moment. He shrugged and said, “Nothing much, just a counter-offensive.”
Logan’s eyes widened for a moment. “Ballsy,” he said. “Stupid, but ballsy.”
Dag laughed. “I’m supposed to be putting together a scouting and sniping team to move ahead of this army,” he said as he gestured toward the townsfolk.
“Is that a good idea?” Logan asked. “These aren’t exactly soldiers.”
“No worse than the alternative,” Dag responded.
“And that is?”
“A couple of Dominion armored units with infantry support rolling through the Crest,” he replied.
“The prisoners told you something,” he surmised.
“Yes. Speaking of, who’s guarding them?” Dag asked.
“Paulson’s got the duty,” he replied. “Dr. Dirks is keeping an eye on the ones tied up in the infirmary.” Logan looked out to the crowd now being organized by Torrace. “Who do you have your eye on for sniper detail?” he asked.
“Pendleton Morrow is a right little scrapper,” he responded. “Quiet as hell in the woods and a decent shot. I’ve crossed paths with him while hunting more than a few times. He’ll do all right.”
Logan nodded. “If you don’t mind a recommendation, you may want to speak to Kayleigh Ambrose,” he said, pointing to a young looking girl, her youth accentuated by her hair being pulled up into a pair of red pigtails.
“Her parents own the charcuterie,” Dag scoffed. “She’s never hunted a day in her life. Based on what I observed a few moments ago, she’s never even held a gun before.”
“Then give her a crossbow,” Logan said with a grin. “I caught her and some of her friends shooting in the alleys, betting and getting boisterous and the like. She made shots I wouldn’t think possible.”
“Doesn’t mean she’s going to be able to kill,” Dag responded.
“Had you killed anyone before last night?” Logan demanded.
Dag eyed him for a second, shrugged and said, “Not the sort of thing you admit to a cop.”
The constable looked appalled for a moment before Dag laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. “Had you going for a minute, didn’t I?” he asked.
“That wasn’t funny,” Logan muttered.
“It was from where I’m standing,” Dag responded. “Alright then, Kayleigh and Pendleton. Just need one more then.”
“Have anyone else in mind?” the constable wondered.
“Yeah,” Dag said and stared at Logan for a moment.
“Me?”
“You’re a good shot and I’ve run into you at the butcher’s often enough to know that you’re a decent hunter to boot,” he said. “You’ve lived in this town your whole life and you know this area like the back of your hand. I remember you finding that lost girl out in the middle of the northern woods near the gorge after everyone else had given up hope. You’re just the man we need.”
“I have my duties here,” he protested.
“You and Constable Paulson are the closest thing we have to soldiers around here,” Dag pointed out. “You’re trained on weapons and you’ve seen a little action already. You’re not going to be able to just stay in the town and walk your beat.”
Logan nodded noncommittally.
“There isn’t going to be a town left for you to patrol if the best of us aren’t thrown into this fight,” Dag pointed out.
“Alright, I’m in,” he said after a long moment.
“Good,” Dag responded. “Go grab your best hunting rifle, plenty of ammo, a bedroll and your fatigues. I’ll get the others and we’ll meet in the town center before heading out.”
“We’re leaving now?” he asked.
“No time like the present,” Dag said before walking off toward Pendleton Morrow.
Morrow was an easy recruit to the company and he had already brought all the gear he needed. A hunting rifle with a powerful scope was strapped around his shoulder and he had a six-shot revolver on his hip. Barely able to contain a grin, he also took out a piece of bound up leather in his belt and rolled it out, revealing dozens of throwing and hunting knives to Dag.
“My pride and joy,” he said with a grin.
“Now, you just need a spear,” Dag said.
“I got one. Should I go get it?” he asked.
“Not for this mission,” Dag replied and clapped him on the shoulder. “Assembly’s in town center in one hour.
Kayleigh Ambrose ended up being a tougher sell.
“I was going to sign up for the quartermaster’s,” she said. “I’m not much of a fighter.”
“Are you much of a seer?” Dag responded.
“What?”
“How do your eyes work? Good eyesight?” he asked.
“Yes…” she said, not really seeing what Dag was getting at.
“Can you walk in the woods?” was Dag’s follow-up question.
“Of course,” she said.
“Then leave the food and supplies to the blinder and the more crippled,” he responded. “You’re a healthy young lady with what I’m told is exceptional aim with a crossbow. Your assignment should be matched to your skills.”
“I don’t want to be a sniper,” she protested. “Please don’t ask me again.”
Dag was getting annoyed, but he took a breath and tried to think what Alex would have done in the same situation. He was always better at talking people into things. The thought that this was a military operation suddenly occurred to him.
“Maybe it would be best if you pretend like I’m not asking,” he said.
“Excuse me?” Kayleigh demanded.
“I’m a sergeant-major in the militia, third in command of this theater,” he said. “You’re a militia volunteer and you are being ordered to report to the scouting detail. Refuse to obey that order and I’ll have Constable Logan find some room in the cells for you.”
Kayleigh looked like she had been slapped in the face. “Yes, sir,” she said quietly after regaining her composure.
Dag had maybe been a bit harsher than he had meant to. “Go get any gear you need from your home or Torrace and meet us in the town square in an hour,” he said softly.
She nodded and started to walk away.
“Hey,” Dag called to her and she turned back to face him. “We’re going to be okay,” he said.
Kayleigh did not respond, but just turned around and walked away. Dag sighed. He was going to have to do some work with her to gain her confidence in him and in herself. “Nothing like on the job training,” he muttered to himself before going to find his brother and advise him of his team’s status.
15
An hour later, while the rest of the army was still getting organized under Alex, Dag had his small group assembled in the town center and got ready to march. The main corps of their little army was going to muster at Hammer Rock, a large formation near enough to the gorge to be a good staging ground to launch the attack, but far enough away that they were not likely to run into any Dominion sentries or picket lines.
The scouting team was to avoid engaging the enemy at all costs, as Captain Beaurigar’s plan depended entirely on a surprise assault to make up for their lack of numbers.
Dag sized up his three man team. All were outfitted in hunting camouflage and armed well. Smiling slightly, Dag handed a camouflaged hat to Kayleigh. “Your hair sticks out a bit,” he said. Smiling nervously, she accepted the hat and placed it over her red pigtails. “Alright, let’s get going,” Dag said as he began to lead them out of town.
Dag planned to take them out on the main road for a few miles, following it as it curved through the woods and rocks on its way to the gorge. They would then leave it when the road curved sharply to the right to avoid a large, densely wooded area where the enemy picket lines were if the captured Dommies could be believed. As the road curved back around to the left, finishing its semi-circle around the woods, it was supposedly mined by the enemy and defended by the majority of their forces.
They passed Hammer Rock and walked another ten minutes until the road began its swing around the woods. With a beckoning hand motion, Dag indicated that they were kneeling down low and creeping into the woods. He led them a hundred feet in, the thick foliage overhead already blocking out most of the light, to where there was a fallen tree with a trunk at least six feet in diameter. Dag indicated that they were to stop with a held up hand and he took out his sniper rifle. Using the scope, he slowly panned through the woods from right to left, looking for any sign of the enemy. There was none.
“Alright,” he whispered. “We’ve got a lot of recon to do and little time, so we’re going to have to split up. This isn’t a large force and they aren’t expecting any resistance, so their sentry line probably has enough gaps for us to get through unseen. Logan, I need you to head down the right flank of the woods, keeping close to the road. Verify if the enemy has concentrated their defense there as we have been told. Pendleton, I want you to see if you can determine how wide and long the sentry line is. How many men do they have committed to it? No killing unless you’re sighted and given no other choice. If they see us or if any sentries who are supposed to report in do not, we have lost all element of surprise for our attack tonight.”
“Understood,” Pendleton said.
“If anything goes wrong, get out and get back to Hammer Rock,” he added. “Captain Beaurigar must know if we’ve lost the element of surprise.”
“Yes… sir,” Logan said, adding the last with respect.
“What about me?” Kayleigh asked.
“You’re coming with me,” Dag answered. “Step where I step and stay right behind me, understood?”
“Yes, sir,” she whispered.
All four set off, moving quickly and quietly through the woods. The three men knew the woods well and could move through it without making a sound if they wished. All three knew it took only the slightest noise to frighten off game when you were hunting, and the stakes were much higher now. Kayleigh had never been on a hunt before in her life, but she was small, light and quiet. Her feet landed exactly where Dag’s did and she kept herself low and compact just as he did. When he suddenly stopped and gently flattened himself against a huge redwood tree, she did the same.
Kayleigh looked up to Dag who mouthed, “Sentry. Listen.”
Over the sounds of birds and insects, Kayleigh could hear some muffled chatter. She could not make out the words, but there was definitely two men. There was a repeated clicking sound like someone trying to light a cigarette lighter and then what definitely sounded like a curse. Motioning for her to follow, Dag got down on all fours and began crawling slowly away, remaining as quiet as possible. Kayleigh tried to follow, but lost her balance at one point and fell into a bush. The breaking of branches sounded like a gunshot in the woods and Kayleigh nearly let out a gasp of dismay. Moving quickly, Dag grabbed hold of her and half-forced, half-dragged her into a small thicket of bushes. The bushes were dense and Kayleigh could see nothing. Fear started to take over, but she felt Dag’s arms wrap around her and a gentle hand was placed over mouth.
“Shh,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
There was something comforting about the feel of Dag’s muscular arms around her, his warm frame embracing her and keeping her safe. It allowed Kayleigh to calm down considerably, even knowing that there were men who would kill her if given the opportunity just a few feet away. They were close enough for Kayleigh to hear them conversing in their haughty, high-inflected Dominion accents.
“I don’t see a thing,” one of them muttered.
“It was probably another rabbit,” the other replied. “Thick as rats in this bloody country.” After a moment’s pause, he added, “I should probably get back to my post. Wouldn’t want the Miravallians to waltz a battalion in between us and Dierdorf, would we?” The sentry started moving off toward the east, headed back to his sentry post.
The first laughed. “C’mon, Schmitz, let’s have another smoke before you head back,” he suggested. “There’s no army anywhere out here.”
“Yeah, alright, Freder,” Schmitz said. “They’re coming out of your ration though.”
They both lit their cigarettes and inhaled. “I do wish we could have gone on the foraging mission,” Freder said. “Maybe could’ve gotten some decent food last night. Maybe some decent company too.”
“From one of these hill rats?” Schmitz asked dubiously. “Toothless, sagging and blubbery. Be my guest.”
Kayleigh felt rage boiling up in her and for the first time in her life that she could remember, she actually wanted to kill someone. If not for the calming presence of Dag, she may very well have sat up and put an arrow through that bastard’s throat. She could sense from the new tenseness and rigidity in Dag’s muscles that he was just as angry as she was. He knew that the mission came first though. That was why he was in charge, she realized.
“I do wish the main columns would get here soon so we can start making our way to civilization,” Freder observed as he started moving away from their hiding place.
“I’m not sure anywhere in this backwater could be called civilization,” Schmitz said good-naturedly and they shared a laugh as they continued to move away.
Once they had moved further away, Dag at last released Kayleigh and motioned for her to crawl through the small hole in the thicket which they had entered. Once they were both out, he led them away from the two sentries, striking mostly east, headed in the direction of what Dag assumed was Schmitz’s vacated post. They crested a small hill, crawling on their bellies, using low-lying limbs full of leaves to conceal their position. Once on the other side of the hill, which was high enough to offer cover, Dag led them straight north, following the line of the base of the hill.
They encountered no other sentries as they moved forward quickly, able to once again stand and walk briskly. Every so often, Dag would pause and survey the area with his sniper scope, but he saw nothing. Dag had hunted in these woods from time to time, although he preferred to do his stalking in the woods to the south of town. After a few hours of heading north, with the night being not that far off, he knew they were getting close to the gorge. In the distance, when all was quiet, he could even hear the roar of the river deep in the canyon. The trees thickened again, and Kayleigh caught sight of something in the distant twilight. She grabbed Dag’s shoulder and pointed when he looked at her inquisitively. It was a humongous bonfire.
They had found the main Dominion camp and Dag immediately led them off to their left, heading west by northwest, Kayleigh following close behind. They ran into no more sentries and this surprised Dag. Apparently, the Dommies were counting on the woods being impenetrable to a large force and had placed only a few sentries in the woods. If they were expecting an attack at all, they must have been anticipating one from the road. Twenty minutes later, he had confirmed his suspicion.
Dag had led them to the top of a large flat rock formation that was essentially a hundred foot tall rectangular brick of stone. It was surrounded by several small conical
and rounded formations and looked completely unassailable to the average person. Rounding some of the rocks and climbing over others, Dag had led them to a large boulder that abutted the flat rock. There was a small seam in the rock, barely wide enough for a person to stand in. He and Alex had found this when they were exploring and playing one day and ascended to the top of the rock. It gave a commanding and beautiful view of the river, the bridge and the gorge, but more importantly to them, also the lands surrounding the gorge and the road that led to Harren Falls.
Pressed flat against the rock in the dwindling light, Dag could see the entirety of the enemy position. They had established a bridgehead, but had not moved their force particularly far from the gorge. That made sense, Dag supposed, as their only intent was to hold the bridge until the rest of the force got there and they were not expecting any sort of attack. Even if they were attacked, they could make an orderly retreat over the bridge and wait for their reinforcements to arrive.
The enemy camp was set up with a dozen tents or so on either side of the road as it turned east from the bridge, preparing to skirt around the forest. A decent number of men were standing near several roaring bonfires, trying to keep warm or cooking something in the coals or on long sticks held into the fire. They had fortified their position somewhat. A few trees had been felled and turned into a rough palisade around the main body of the camp. Further toward the woods, the enemy had dug several pits and had used the earth to fill sandbags and create three defensive positions. Each had an arrowhead shape, and was pointed in a different direction: one to the south and the woods, one toward the eastern corner of the woods and the road, and one set behind the palisade, unmanned, and clearly designed as a fallback position to guard a retreat across the gorge. The two manned positions had about a half-dozen men each, hardly enough to turn back an onslaught.
Farther away on the road, the main force and defense of the Dominion company was concentrated. A three foot high column of earth had been erected, relocated from a trench dug directly behind it, and stretched across the road. The earthen wall had been reinforced with felled trees and had been topped with machine gun nests. The road beyond looked pitted, which probably confirmed what the prisoners had said about the Dominion mining it. At least sixty men seemed to be in position on the road, although most appeared to be sitting down in the trenches.
Partisan (The Invasion of Miraval Book 1) Page 7
