POV Smith
"Sir, are you sure this is a good idea?" Colonel Tullio asked softly.
"Mobilizing the whole regiment? No…" I replied with a hard eye as I watched them prepare their camps in the forward operating area.
I glanced around at the command staff I'd assembled for the occasion. Colonel Tullio of the 86th, Colonel Ponatoski of the 86th, Knightess Isser of the 33rd, knightess Dickem of the 7th, Knightess Beul of the 17th, and knightess Temur of the 1st. All wore the uniform of the 86th, the blue and white shirts and the green kilts of the regiment under the gray steel of the helmets and breastplates.
"This force isn't enough to crush the rebellion." Temur said dismissively. "A few thousand levied peasants against career soldiers?"
"We are very familiar with your pessimism Knightess. Stow it." Ponatoski growled. I nodded my approval and turned to look at the assembled leaders.
"It's true. If the secessionist muster all their regiments we'll struggle to be their match." I chuckled.
"That's why we've gathered our forces here, just across the border." Those privy to the plan shared my predatory smile.
"So what? We have a scratch brigade worth of troops, most of them conscripts risen and trained within the last month…" I turned to fully face the few knights of the 'allied' contingent.
"We'll fight a campaign that'll put Jackson's valley campaign to shame."
"Valley campaign?" Beul asked.
"Don't worry about the details." Ponatoski replied. "We'll whip the secessionists hard and garner a lot of glory, that's all that you need to concern yourself with."
"With seven battalions and two companies?" Temur snorted.
"Knightess Temur… if this continues I'll have you relieved of duty by the gods I swear…" Colonel Tullio muttered darkly.
"Yes, so let's break the plan down into its most basic components, the order of battle before we go further shall we?" A chorus of agreement spread around the group. I grabbed my notes from my pocket and started reading out the order of battle.
"The army will be split into three brigades, Colonel Tullio will command 1st brigade. It will consist of the 1st, 3rd, and 4th battalions of the 86th regiments."
"Yes sir." Tullio nodded her head.
"The 2nd brigade will be commanded by Colonel Ponatoski, you'll have the 2nd and 5th battalions of the 86th regiment."
"Of course sir." Ponatoski saluted.
"Knightess Isser, you'll command the 1st and 3rd battalions of the 33rd regiment."
"We will meet your expectations sir." She replied in the old salute, placing her fist to her breastplate.
I continued. "The allied company, consisting of elements of the 1st, 7th, and 17th. As well as the adventures will be under my direct command."
Temur seemed about to lodge a vehement protest when Dickem put a hand on her shoulder and dragged her away. So much the better…
"Currently the adventures are out clearing the routes the brigades will march. So I'll disseminate that information now." I grabbed a map and spread it on the ground and used my sword as a pointer.
"Currently we are here, rally point Alpha. Approximately three miles from the Barony of Lobau." I looked around at the gathered commanders to emphasis the importance of the briefing.
"The special ops fellas think we'll face three regiments in the opening phase. The 11th, 49th, and 66th. They are still mostly in their garrisons. Spread across their respective lords holdings. We want to render these regiments combat ineffective as quickly as possible, whether through combat or forcing a surrender."
"How should we treat prisoners?" Tullio asked.
"Disarm them and then parole. We don't have the manpower to watch prisoners. But treat them according to the regulations." I received a round of nods of understanding.
"While I'm thinking of the subject. Rules of engagement. No brigade will engage the enemy alone unless I have given direct orders to the contrary. Is that understood?" I looked at the three brigade commanders as they replied in the affirmative.
"Alright, then for this first phase the brigades will be operating independently of one another, you will be advancing along these roads and move to secure these objectives."
I detailed the 2nd brigade to screen the right flank of the advance. Protecting a pair of river crossings and cutting the line of retreat of the enemy so 1st and 3rd brigades could crush the enemy. It would be the fairest fight I'd intentionally orchestrate.
"How should we draw the enemy to the field? Wouldn't they wait for reinforcements from Golmor?" Isser asked.
"Our… special ops fellas… have confirmed reports that Golmor is currently in Heston with her mercenaries and the 22nd regiment."
"She will rally the other regiments and march to relieve her allies west of the Lobau." Ponatoski answered anxiously.
"If she marches immediately then she'll only have the 22nd, and 26th to support her, both of which are known to be small regiments. I'd be more surprised if she waited though… that would scare me more." I answered slowly.
"How would that scare you more sir?"
"It means she realized the danger, that the regiments east of the Lobau are as good as dead. And that she'll need to gather her forces to defeat us." I replied. Phase two depends on what Golmor does…
I had contingencies of course… David and I had war gamed it about twenty times now… but neither of us were Golmor. What route she picked, and when she chose it… that would dictate phase two and onward. The operational name, Mercury was a plan full of contingencies. But it's second phase, Venus… that was a solid plan on the assumption Mercury didn't fail… if it did I'd be forced to resort to operation Terra.
For both my brother and I sake, both militarily and politically… Terra would be a nightmare to come back from. Fuck David… Why do you gamble like this?