by Mark Rounds
As soon as Jeffy left the stage, there was a mad rush to the assignment posting. From the groans and shouts of joy, it was obvious that they were responding the same way troops have responded to new assignments from the time of the Grecian hoplite. As soon as everyone knew what was in store for them, the party began to heat up in earnest.
Taol tried to stay sober, as befitted the commanding officer, but even his recollection of the evening's festivities was blurred. There was a video of certain senior NCO's and their young Commanding Officer getting showered with beer that somehow showed up on the net. At another point, troops were running duels using blanks and laser scoring equipment.
As the party began to wind down, Taol noticed several couples wandering off toward the more secluded portions of the training area. Unfortunately, since he was the Commander, Taol spent the rest of the evening unaccompanied, except for Jeffy.
"Why all the fuss, Jeffy?" asked Taol through a beery haze. "Why did we go to such an effort? This is probably going to waste half a day of good training time tomorrow."
"Well I'll tell ya Colonel, training troops for combat is more than just imparting skills," He said as he squinted in a vain attempt to bring the world into focus. "We hafta make 'em feel like soldiers. A drunken toot or two during training is part of the experience, if ya know what I mean?"
Then Jeffy became all business again, losing any trace of muzziness.
"But that's not all," he said more seriously. "A bunch of individuals becomes a team due to shared experiences. To be really effective, these experiences have to be split between the difficult, physically demanding training that makes them proud of what they are, and the good times that will help make them friends. Blending the two is the mark of good training. I wish I had three or four months with these troopers. The training would be more complete, and they would be a tighter team."
"But then again," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "No one said it would be easy."
#
“Taol!” said Jarl in at stage whisper, wake up!”
Taol had consumed rather more beer than he had intended and so was slower coming to conscious than he would have liked.
“Wha?” said Taol sleepily.
“Not so loud,” said Jarl. “I was talking to one of the techs who was working on life support. He said there was a tunnel where we could get over to the Kransi’s practice area. For the right price, we could sneak over there, see what they have in the way of weapons, and maybe sabotage them!”
“Jarl,” said Harm who was in the next bunk, “Use your brain for a moment. Don’t you think that the Refs are monitoring our everymove?”
“But the guy says the fix is in!” said Jarl, “Come on guys, are you chicken?”
“Jarl,” said Taol, now, reegrettfully fully awake. “What’s the price?”
“That’s more like it,” said Jarl. “He said he would show me the tunnel for a hundred credits. That’s a steal.”
“So, what’s really going to happen,” said Harm, “is that you will transfer the hundred credits and then he’ll lead you to a closet somewhere, lock you in, and report you in an unauthorized zone. He will laugh all the way to the bank.”
“How come you know so much?” said Jarl defensively.
“This is for real money,” said Taol wearily, “We get caught, then send us down and we lose. If we get caught by the Krasni, they will break our bones and then we lose. All our deposit goes away. This is for real, not a prank to play on plebes. It’s only a game for the spectators. Think about it.”
Jarl spent the rest of the night thinking about what was really going on. In the morning, a more subdued Jarl faced the training schedule.
Chapter IX
"Colonel Sokolov! Does our man have anything new to report?" shouted Monty.
"Nyet, Warlord," answered Vicktor. "Their morale is high, and they haven't lost many troopers yet."
"That means they aren't training hard enough. Point for our side," gloated Monty.
"One more reference to cricket and I'll let you strangle him Yosep,” mumbled Sokolov in Russian.
#
Next morning, reveille didn't come until a merciful 0900. And while Sergeant McIntyre wasn't subdued in his approach, the recruits did have more time to get everything done. They were also served a hot breakfast and hit the training field at a merciful 1000. There, Sergeant Major Jefferson was waiting to speak to them.
"Good morning troopers," said Jeffy smiling. "You have earned that title, and no one can take it away. The next phase of training will be specialized according to your new assignment. If the assignment is not exactly what you had in mind, don't worry. Combat always adjusts Tables of Organization. Besides, as our unit grows, opportunities for cross training and transfer will happen sooner than you think. So do your job to the best of your ability and you will get the chance to see how the other half lives."
"It is now time to recognize our officers and any promotions that have made themselves apparent during training. Will the first row please step forward."
The new troopers had been pre-seated to put all the new officers and NCO's in the front rank. Harm, Jarl, and Taol received their old rank back. In addition, Ortiz was made an Ensign. Stoltz, Haloran, Mishoda, and a couple of others were made squad leaders. Finally, about fifteen troopers were made team leaders or vehicle commanders. There was some good natured back slapping and clowning around for a few minutes. Then the new troopers were split off to begin vehicle familiarization.
Tierney had a couple of infantry carrying halftracks, both anti-tank tracks, a couple of armored cars, and a half dozen motorcycles ready for training. Soon the air was filled with the sound of racing engines.
Taol thought that would have to smell exhaust fumes from ancient internal combustion engines but the economics of a habitat made that undesirable. The air recycling equipment could handle fires and explosions because there was some reflex time between these events to circulate the air. Internal combustion engines used air and particularly oxygen at a constant and rather high rate of consumption and the need was pretty constant. This means that the habitat's atmosphere has no time to recover. To remedy that situation, small fusion power units only a few cubic centimeters in size were mounted in each vehicle. A small computer mounted in the engine housing simulated the power curve of an internal combustion engine. Since the sounds of the battle were also recorded, speakers were mounted unobtrusively near the exhausts. These speakers were controlled by the same computer that simulated the power curve. This computer reproduced the sound the vehicle engine would actually make.
All the troops designated Armored Infantry and all the headquarters staff were sent to study the Sdk 251 halftrack. It was a trim, open topped vehicle with enough armor on the sides and rear to stop most small arms fire. It was large enough to carry ten troopers plus a crew of two and their gear. The TO&E reduced the number of troopers in the squads to eight so that more ammunition and other gear could be carried. Extra armor was welded on the front to help deflect heavy machine gun fire. One MG-34 was mounted immediately behind the cab. Another was mounted on the back left corner to provide covering fire during retreat.
Sergeant Tierney conducted the class and gave the impression of great reluctance in releasing his precious vehicles for the new troopers to play with.
"This halftrack is not a tank," said Tierney giving everyone the evil eye. "Heavy machine guns can penetrate the flanks at moderate ranges and the front at short ranges. It can give moderate protection from infantry fire and shell fragments. It can keep up with any other vehicle we have except for the motorcycle. Speed is its best weapon, so use it wisely. If hills or depressions offer cover, use your speed to get there before the enemy.
"Unload your infantry as soon as you can. They can't fight cooped up in a steel box and a loaded infantry carrier is a prime target on the battlefield.
"Finally, always turn right when practical to defend or in reaction to an ambush. This tactic will allow you to employ
both machine guns and still cover troopers exiting to deploy. Now let's practice loading."
So, they practiced loading and unloading under fire. First the new troopers walked through it a couple of times. Then they tried it against Jeffy's automatic bunkers. Using the MG-34's to suppress the bunkers, they found that they could get out unmolested and begin returning fire.
Smoke grenades also proved helpful, provided they were tossed far enough forward so as not to obscure the machine guns field of fire.
The new troopers also got a look at the Sdk 250 command vehicle. It was just a truncated 251. It had room for only four or five troopers and only one MG-34. McIntyre had ripped out the benches that were there for troopers to sit on and installed extra communication gear and stowage for extra ammunition. It was not expected to go into combat but rather supply communications and ammunition back up. He left an MG-34 in the front mount just in case.
That night the troops played grenade toss, but this time there was a difference. Instead of coercing participation, they tossed for beers. Any trooper who hit the ring got a beer. Taol voiced a concern to Jeffy.
"I am not sure this is a good idea Sar Major," said Taol. "I don't need any hangovers to interfere with tomorrow's training.
"It's Ok, Colonel," he said reassuringly. "As beer consumption goes up, accuracy falls off. If any trooper gets more than three beers in the hour we play this game, I'll be surprised."
As it turned out Stoltz got four and Jarl, Haloran, and Mishoda got two each.
#
For the next three days, the troopers practiced basic operations with their vehicles. Everyone took a turn or two driving to see who would make good drivers. First, they maneuvered at slow speed. Then they made the same moves at high speed.
Everyone probably had the most fun practicing on the motorcycles. These two wheeled vehicles originally had a good power-to-weight ratio, but with the addition of the side car, weapons, and another occupant, they got logy and out of balance. The trick in rolling terrain was to get as much speed as possible going downhill so it didn't lose too much going up the next hill. But the speed was deceptive. Down in the gullies, where any debris usually collected, was also where the speed was the highest. Any little bump or stick could cause the unwary to dump a cycle.
The troopers learned the hard way that it was easier for a rider to get off a tumbling machine than it was for the occupant of the side car. That individual usually had to ride it out. After a couple of serious accidents, it was decided to start putting sand bags in the side car instead of a human. The sand bags couldn't help by leaning into a turn like a human passenger could, but they didn't bleed either. Still, they lost two troopers on the cycles. The troopers weren't beat up too bad but they were not in any condition to continue training or go into combat.
Since there weren’t enough halftracks, armored cars, or cycles to go around, they spent a lot of time practicing infantry tactics. The troopers in the light infantry who were not practicing with the motorcycles would defend a hill top and the rest would try to dislodge them. Then they would rotate the defenders out to the attacking team, a section at a time to give everyone a breather and try again.
As commander, Taol trained a little with each unit. This helped him develop an appreciation for the strengths and weaknesses of the forces under his command. The next three days were spent learning combined operations. As the number of vehicles increased so did the tempo of training. There were some fundamental differences in the vehicles as far as speed and fire power.
The cycles were the fastest thing they had, but they couldn't carry a whole lot. Infantry on the cycles would be limited to MP-38 submachine guns, mines, and panzer fausts. Even so, their speed advantage over just about anything else the Krasni had meant that they might have as long as two or three minutes unmolested to set up defenses. This could mean the game, so the light infantry was going to run at top speed to reach the objective and set up. It was hoped they could last until support reached them.
But how would the rest of the forces deploy? The GE habitat was just long enough that the speed differences in the Legion’s vehicles would break the force into six or seven groups of vehicles, all arriving unsupported.
The command tracks were the next fastest vehicles, but with only one MG-34 and a bunch of radio equipment they didn't add much fighting power. Risking them early, might destroy unit cohesiveness later in the battle.
The halftracks bearing the 75mm anti-tank gun would arrive next. Its main gun was excellent against armor, but of little use against deployed and concealed infantry. Precisely what the Krasni would have arriving first. It was also very vulnerable. Its armor was good only against small arms fire. Anything heavier than a machine gun could severely damage it.
The infantry carrying halftracks would come next, but unloading infantry under fire with only the limited support of the light infantry would cause unacceptable casualties. Unloading far enough back to be safe, would waste several critical minutes forming up and moving into position.
The Pzk 222 armored cars had a rapid firing 20mm cannon and an MG-34. This combination was devastating against unsupported infantry, but it was the slowest of the lot.
The plan the staff eventually worked out was to organize the Legion’s forces into two task groups and a command group. Each task group had one 75mm anti-tank gun, two 222 armored cars and two infantry carrying halftracks. Each task group arrived together and took one side of the hill. The armored cars could suppress any enemy infantry and give their own infantry a chance to deploy. The 75's could direct fire against any approaching armor.
The command group consisted of a couple of command tracks, a couple of full size tracks carrying ammo and supplies and Stoltz's Reaction Force. This was the only reserve.
As the day approached, stress began to show in little ways. There was some squabbling in the ranks. Some romantically entwined couples broke off their relationships and others started. A few fights broke out, but Jeffy assured the command staff this was normal. He also told Taol privately that drawing attention to the incidents would do more harm than good. So, he just bit his nails and waited like everyone else.
#
"Warlord, our man has called in," said Colonel Sokolov.
"Good," replied Monty. "Things are getting close. What does he say about the quality of the troops?"
"They are shaping up very well, unfortunately,” said Sokolov. “Their morale is very high, all things considered."
"And their equipment? Surely, scrap merchant leavings can't be rehabilitated to the point of real effectiveness? Not if they have to train with it as well?"
"Sergeant Major Jefferson seems to have recruited some very able technicians. They will have ample equipment."
"Something will have to be done. Colonel, instruct our man to create some sort of diversion that will affect their morale. If possible, have it take out some of their equipment as well."
"Excellency," reminded Sokolov. "That technically violates the rules."
"Since when did winners ever follow the rules?" barked Monty. "This farce has gone on far too long!"
Chapter X
Two nights before game time, the feces hit the atmospheric circulation device. A trooper named Worthy rolled one of the infantry halftracks. As soon as the dust had settled, Jeffy was there, taking charge.
"Anybody hurt?" he said in a voice that could probably be heard in a vacuum.
There was a ragged chorus of no's from the troopers in back. Jeffy had a regulation in force to the effect that anyone not wearing seat belts would be sent home. Apparently, they believed him.
"All right then, WHO WAS DRIVING THIS CRATE?" He said loud enough to peel the paint off the halftrack.
"I was," said a very pale, shaking trooper.
"What's your name trooper?" said Jeffy.
Worthy, Sar Major."
"You know you shouldn't have been catting around like that on a side hill don't you?" said Jeffy with the air of a teacher who had caught a
student smoking in the bathroom.
"I've done it couple of times before and all it did was lift one track off the ground. The guys said I couldn't do it again."
"You mean you did that on purpose?!" said an incredulous Jeffy. "You just lost your berth as a driver Worthy. You are in the infantry now. Tortelli, you have just been moved up from gunner to driver."
Worthy looked shocked. "You can't do this to me Sar Major, I was a squadron commander back at the academy. I can't be just a grunt!"
"I can and I will," countered Jeffy. "You can be a grunt or you can leave on the next shuttle down. Your choice."
Worthy stood there for a second and then began to draw his pistol.
"You can't do this to me," he yelled. "I won't let you!"
The next sound they heard was a burst from an MG-34. Duewekscu had crawled into the gunner's seat of a nearby halftrack. Worthy never knew what hit him. He took at least six rounds in the chest and abdomen.
As the shot rang out, computer controlled pressor beams locked on to every trooper on the Legion’s side of the practice area and forced everyone brutally to the ground. Moving vehicles, including Jeffy’s wheel chair, also lost power.
"COMBAT HAS NOT COMMENCED. CEASE FIRE, CEASE FIRE," blared overhead speakers.
Taol felt a rush of wind but couldn't hear anything. Even though it was out of his field of view, he knew it had to be a grav sled. Only Referees and the Regens had them. Taol and the others heard some shuffling and a couple of stifled groans. Then they felt the rush of air again.
