For the next three weeks, everything started to fall into place, the Platoons were gelling and the officers were proving their metal. Captain Cross was showing the true officer beneath the fiery blonde that stormed the beaches in her interview. Jemimah had delegated the paperwork and other administrative tasks to the Captain, and she had ripped into the task with an enormous amount of determination. This left Jemimah with the time and opportunity to continue the reorganisation and training of the regiment in preparation for the planned assault on Kenwood House. The advance teams were already out and gathering as much Intel as they could to allow accurate planning and organisation of supplies and perishable goods. An army marched on it's stomach, and when you had soldiers that were as finely tuned and trained as the commando regiment, food was vital.
It was starting to get cold, and the first snows of the season were expected within weeks, this was the optimal time to plan and execute a mission of this magnitude and nature. Jemimah was called into a briefing session with General Turner and his command team. The room was full of smoke and voices as the Colonel entered, she could see that there were at least another six colonels and twice as many lesser ranked officers in the large map room. She could see that the table held a 3D map of the area and Kenwood House took pride of place in the centre.
"Colonel Shillington-Smythe, good to see you." Turner said loudly. It was the signal to all others to stop talking and almost stare at her. "Welcome, how goes the regimental re-organisation?"
"Excellent, thank you Sir. I have a good core group of people, and the troopers are the best in the business." She replied confidently. He walked over and took her to one side.
"I have to say that I was surprised when you took Captain Penelope Cross, she was a hair away from being removed from service." He explained.
"Yes, she didn't make the best of first impressions, but Mr. Atsuoko was confident she could be saved and made into a fine officer." She replied.
"Yes Hideo is an excellent judge of character. Is he still passing round that diesel fuel he calls rice wine?"
"Yes Sir," she said with a wince.
"Ah, I see you made the same mistake I did. Never trust your senior NCO to have you best interests at heart when there is booze or money involved." They both laughed at the shared memories of Mr. Atsuoko's wine and bridge nights, there was no wine and no bridge, but it was the most fun anyone could have with their clothes on. They finally looked up and saw that the rest of the people in the room were waiting on them.
"Yes, well, time to get moving. Jemimah, I am sure that you have met or seen almost everyone here. The only real new face is Major Tom Hoddle. He is my newest Intel officer, he was recommended by His Majesty himself. Tom, Colonel Jemimah Shillington-Smythe."
"Very pleased to meet you Ma'am, I have heard many great things about you and your previous command. I hope I can assist you in this endeavour as well as you need."
"Thank you, Major." She replied simply. He was the most beautiful man that Jemimah had ever seen in her life. He wasn't overly tall, but he was tall enough, his eyes were a light blue with specks of gold scattered through his irises. Clearly a man that took great pride in his appearance and fitness. He had the sexy V shape that spoke of a fit and capable man. His brown hair close cropped and showing the odd grey, which Jemimah had to admit was very fetching and dashing in a way. His hands were well looked after, but had the hardness of a man that wouldn't shirk hard work. In different circumstances she would have gone to water under his gaze. But this was a war planning meeting and there was no place for girlish behaviour.
"There has been a number of changes to the garrison at Kenwood House." He began. "The Guard has been bolstered by the arrival of two new platoons and our spies tell us, that these are very well trained and disciplined men. The outer perimetre has three new gun emplacements and they change the guard every two hours. From what we can see from the outside, there is very little change to the interior of the house and the General in charge has made little effort to hide his changes on the whole." Hoddle was very detailed and he didn't miss a beat, any questions were dealt with quickly and with intelligent answers. By the time the meeting was completed, there was no doubt that there would need to be a concerted effort to take out the perimetre defenses before any assault could access the interior of the garrison.
The meeting progressed as most meetings do, and after nearly three hours, General Turner called a halt to proceedings. It was clear that it was starting to go in circles, and there was no point or need to go over everything for a third time. Everyone had been given the chance to make their points and offer suggested changes. But now it was going over everything just for the sake of it, and not for genuine reasons.
"I think that we have covered everything we need to, don't you Colonel?" He asked Jemimah.
"Yes Sir, I think that we are just circling the point and looking for holes."
"Agreed, I am happy with what we have, so I am going to set a tentative date of the 5th, that gives us another two weeks to smooth out the rough edges and get everything in place. I need not remind you all that this is of the highest clearance and nothing we have discussed will leave this room before the final briefing. I will co-ordinate with Air Marshall Du Lac and set up the decoy strike for the 5th." He looked around and saw that there were no dissenting opinions. "Thank you ladies and gentlemen." Everyone began to file out of the room, Jemimah didn't move, she was looking over the map intently. A hand dropped on her shoulder and she started a little.
"Colonel, are you ok?" She looked up to see Major Hoddle standing there.
"Yes, sorry Major, I was just looking over the area and considering the detail of the regiments approaches. This is a seriously complex mission and to top it all off, my father is the General in question." Hoddle nodded, without the slightest look of surprise, it was clear that he knew her familial link and seemed to be relaxed about it.
"Unfortunately, we don't get to pick our families. Just remember your connection to the General has been completely vetted at the highest levels and you are considered the best commander for this mission, I personally went over your record and all data pertaining to your service and history. Believe me if there was anything worth finding, I would have found it and you wouldn't be here." He assured her.
"I am not really sure if I should be relieved or offended." She replied, only half joking.
"It's the way things work at this level, you were are one step away from full command rank, they don't particularly like unvetted personnel being in the mix." He smiled at her and she thought she would swoon. Then she chided herself for being so childish, she was a Colonel in the Army, not a school girl caught in the throws of a crush.
"Yes, well if you will excuse me Major, I have an operation to plan and command." She replied and spun on her heals, not giving him a chance to salute her. She was already starting to feel the distraction he was causing, and that was the last thing that she needed.
"Well, what do you think?" Arthur asked.
"If there is a chance that this can come off, she is probably the best placed to make it happen." Geraint replied, both men were discussing the mission to take down the Kenwood Regiment. It was considered one of the most vicious and heartless Regiments in the Royalist forces.
"How do you think she will handle attacking her father's regiment?"
"You spoke to her, Arthur, what was your take?" He turned it back on his friend.
"I thought she was scared to death, but I believe that she will not let her command down, to exclusion of all else." The young King replied. "That, my friend, is what worries me." He wandered over and poured two glasses of scotch, his mind firmly on the mission that was about to take place.
"I think we should tell her the whole story and let her know we have special teams embedded in her Regiment." Geraint continued. "If she doesn't know what's happening, the whole mission could be a bust and we will end up with nothing."
"Do you have concerns about your teams ability to achieve their goals?" Arthur asked.
"None what so ever. But you have to remember we are trying to get Ironstone out of there in one piece, if the attack is bogged down, for what ever reason, he could be killed or injured." He took a small sip of the amber liquid, enjoying the burn as it slid down his throat. "If Shillington-Smythe is fully aware of the primary target, we can be sure that she will not make any decisions that will cause any unnecessary issues for my teams." He stopped and looked at the ceiling in thought for a moment before continuing. "The Colonel is a highly talented soldier and leader, she has proved it time and time again, we have to show her the confidence we have in her. If she discovers the real goal of the mission on her own, it could cause her an enormous mount of concern."
"Are you sure that she needs to know this, it is vital we get Ironstone out of there in one piece, if we don't, this all could end in a flash, and we will not have to worry about the Empire any longer." Arthur explained seriously.
"Arthur, I would not be bringing this up if I didn't feel that she was capable of achieving both mission goals and returning Ironstone in one piece." Geraint countered.
"I know, I am just very concerned with what our people are telling us about his work and it's possible capability." Arthur had read the Intel report from the operatives in Kenwood House with equal amounts of fascination and terror. The thought of an explosive that could wipe out everything in a thirty kilometre radius was beyond terrifying, it was the type of thing that could end all life. In the hands of a mad man such as his Uncle, well, that was the deciding factor, Ironstone had to be removed, and as a last desperate measure, killed.
"Alright Geraint, you have convinced me." He reached for the phone on his desk and waited for his aide to answer. "Charles, get Colonel Shillington-Smythe here as soon as is possible. No excuses." He ordered, listened and nodded before hanging up. "I pray that your confidence in this very young Colonel is well placed." Both men nodded, Geraint praying like mad in his head, keeping the façade of a confident and cool Officer on the outside.