03-15-2017, 09:07 PM
To a casual observer, Jacques' involvement in the organized chaos that had overtaken Kyber Kafe seemed minimal. He would move between the various work stations where Legionnaires or their newly recruited university counter-parts would update him on their tasks, and would give input or direction. He trusted his subordinates, knowing that they could do their jobs without him.
Of course, much of the data stream that passed through their various work stations also passed through the HUD of his Landwarriors. Live feeds of the hectic combat in the Liberian jungle where Legionnaires were attached to Liberian platoons, in what had been the early stages of a unified training program between the newly aligned Liberian forces and the tattered remnants of the Sierra Leonean military, and the Legion itself, of course.
Updates from the lead elements of the Liberian forces as they occupied Placida Tamboia's newly built defensive line, and their immediate supply requests. Evacuation orders from settlements in the region, and the ever-present lack of transports for the task. Hundreds of Liberian civilians were still evacuating the region, despite the fact that Jacques' Legionnaire-attached Liberian military forces had already started days earlier.
Needless to say, the build up of the Nigerian led 'Expeditionary Force' hadn't gone unnoticed.
Legionnaires in F3LIN suits had been laying in wait, seeded throughout the jungles of north-eastern Liberia, and had begun hitting the Expeditionary Force's stretched supply lines and soft-skin vehicles, as well as actively jamming their communications through captured radios.
Colonel Commandant Sauvage had worked hard to find the perfect place to site the Legion's M777s, and those long-range guns, coupled with Liberian drones and FOFAC's (Forward Observer/Forward Air Controller) of the Liberian military, were able to subtly control the Expeditionary Force's advance straight towards the earthwork defenses the Liberian military had 'retreated' to.
The Liberian military's logistic and supply systems was painfully outdated; the software it relied on was entirely incompatible with what the Legion used, and decades of incompetence and neglect had only worsened the issue. Where dozens of supply trucks existed on paper, most had been found to be entirely serviceable or simply didn't exist.
Efforts had been made to appropriate the necessary vehicles both for ferrying troops and supplies to the FEBA (Forward Edge of Battle Area), but also to assist with the evacuation of civilians from the same area.
The sudden input of a new program to the system didn't go unnoticed. His gaze landed on the new-comer, one of the students that had been hanging back and watching things unfold. One of his men eyed the young man a moment, then glanced Jacques' way with an amused shrug and shuffled a bit farther from Cruz's side, letting the lad get to work, and instead turning his attention to trying to bring their field elements up to speed on the new capabilities.
Jacques soon found himself standing behind Cruz, studying the displays and relaying what information he had been personally tracking onto the displays. Markers indicating known and suspected Expeditionary Force movements, overlays of the fields of view from Liberian trackers and F3LIN equipped Legionnaires. Friendly troop positions, evacuation routes, reserve forces, projected fire-missions for the M777s.
What had originally seemed like a hastily assembled defense quickly began to resolve into a comprehensive strategy. The Expeditionary Force's advance into Liberia had started on a wide, bold front, and had quickly devolved into a narrow column that led straight into the defensive line, and more importantly a series of pre-sited grids for artillery fire missions.
The flanks of the Expeditionary Force were ringed by strategically located Liberian and Sierra Leonean platoons, waiting to pounce on the soft-skin rear elements, and their rear had already been entirely cut off by F3LIN equipped Legionnaire sections. It was only a matter of time before the trap was fully sprung.
"Mademoiselle Tamboia? You can begin work on the next project. We will need suitable arrangements to house the Expeditionary Force after it surrenders."
There was no doubt in his mind on the result of the pending operation; the Malian and Cote d'Ivoire forces would capitulate quickly enough, once they realized their situation. The Nigerian forces were better equipped and supplied, but decades of corruption and desertification had sapped the morale of their troops. Likely, a few of their officers would fall victim of 'Enemy Action' before they began surrendering.
The young Italian woman seemed momentarily confused, then realized that Jacques had already forwarded the information; establishment of three POW camps to house the various national elements of the Expeditionary Force.
"Mademoiselle Rao? Has President Fasano's government agreed to our request?"
His gaze shifted to the Political Sciences major who was working with the Legion's representative to the Benin government.
She looked up from the display she was working through, and her conversation with Karthika Narang, the Legion's diplomat in Benin. "Oh! Yes, they're just putting it to the final vote in Parliament now, but it's a foregone conclusion at this point. They'll be able to provide military police to guard the camps, and are willing to help with medical and humanitarian aid as well."
He nodded, modestly relieved by the news. He had been confident that the Benin government would agree to function as a neutral third-party. It had been a delicate effort to get Karthika Narang in place before the Expeditionary Force launched its attack, but he could never have allowed her to begin the negotiations until after that attack had begun, else risk tipping off that he had already known of Nigeria's plan.
He returned his attention to Cruz's work, and the real-time map overlay especially. "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy. Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, the father of modern warfare, in a sense. He was the first military commander to truly understand and embrace the defensive capacities of modern weaponry. Understood the importance of fluid plans of engagement. The means to allow room to maneuver and interpret orders for lower ranks. He gave his grand intent, not iron-clad orders, and so his field commanders could make best use of their troops to achieve that objective."
"A brilliant man, not to be confused with his idiot nephew, Helmuth von Moltke the Younger. He believed in strict rules for military organization and in detailed orders with no room for deviation. He believed in discipline and blind obedience, denying his commanders any chance to improvise or adapt the plan to the changing battle space."
It was a clear example of what was playing out on the real-time display. The Expeditionary Force had clear, direct orders and intent. The Legion-led defensive was fluid and ever changing. Even with the Nigerian cyber attack on the Legion's C2 systems, the forces in the field had been able to adapt and carry on with their objectives, with a clear picture of the over-all intent and a level of trust in their comrades and fellow field commanders to see it done.
"This is an impressive program. Is it proprietary? I suspect my Quartermaster would be very interested in it, if it's for sale."
The Quartermaster was a traditionally named military position. The person in charge of supplies and logistics.
Of course, much of the data stream that passed through their various work stations also passed through the HUD of his Landwarriors. Live feeds of the hectic combat in the Liberian jungle where Legionnaires were attached to Liberian platoons, in what had been the early stages of a unified training program between the newly aligned Liberian forces and the tattered remnants of the Sierra Leonean military, and the Legion itself, of course.
Updates from the lead elements of the Liberian forces as they occupied Placida Tamboia's newly built defensive line, and their immediate supply requests. Evacuation orders from settlements in the region, and the ever-present lack of transports for the task. Hundreds of Liberian civilians were still evacuating the region, despite the fact that Jacques' Legionnaire-attached Liberian military forces had already started days earlier.
Needless to say, the build up of the Nigerian led 'Expeditionary Force' hadn't gone unnoticed.
Legionnaires in F3LIN suits had been laying in wait, seeded throughout the jungles of north-eastern Liberia, and had begun hitting the Expeditionary Force's stretched supply lines and soft-skin vehicles, as well as actively jamming their communications through captured radios.
Colonel Commandant Sauvage had worked hard to find the perfect place to site the Legion's M777s, and those long-range guns, coupled with Liberian drones and FOFAC's (Forward Observer/Forward Air Controller) of the Liberian military, were able to subtly control the Expeditionary Force's advance straight towards the earthwork defenses the Liberian military had 'retreated' to.
The Liberian military's logistic and supply systems was painfully outdated; the software it relied on was entirely incompatible with what the Legion used, and decades of incompetence and neglect had only worsened the issue. Where dozens of supply trucks existed on paper, most had been found to be entirely serviceable or simply didn't exist.
Efforts had been made to appropriate the necessary vehicles both for ferrying troops and supplies to the FEBA (Forward Edge of Battle Area), but also to assist with the evacuation of civilians from the same area.
The sudden input of a new program to the system didn't go unnoticed. His gaze landed on the new-comer, one of the students that had been hanging back and watching things unfold. One of his men eyed the young man a moment, then glanced Jacques' way with an amused shrug and shuffled a bit farther from Cruz's side, letting the lad get to work, and instead turning his attention to trying to bring their field elements up to speed on the new capabilities.
Jacques soon found himself standing behind Cruz, studying the displays and relaying what information he had been personally tracking onto the displays. Markers indicating known and suspected Expeditionary Force movements, overlays of the fields of view from Liberian trackers and F3LIN equipped Legionnaires. Friendly troop positions, evacuation routes, reserve forces, projected fire-missions for the M777s.
What had originally seemed like a hastily assembled defense quickly began to resolve into a comprehensive strategy. The Expeditionary Force's advance into Liberia had started on a wide, bold front, and had quickly devolved into a narrow column that led straight into the defensive line, and more importantly a series of pre-sited grids for artillery fire missions.
The flanks of the Expeditionary Force were ringed by strategically located Liberian and Sierra Leonean platoons, waiting to pounce on the soft-skin rear elements, and their rear had already been entirely cut off by F3LIN equipped Legionnaire sections. It was only a matter of time before the trap was fully sprung.
"Mademoiselle Tamboia? You can begin work on the next project. We will need suitable arrangements to house the Expeditionary Force after it surrenders."
There was no doubt in his mind on the result of the pending operation; the Malian and Cote d'Ivoire forces would capitulate quickly enough, once they realized their situation. The Nigerian forces were better equipped and supplied, but decades of corruption and desertification had sapped the morale of their troops. Likely, a few of their officers would fall victim of 'Enemy Action' before they began surrendering.
The young Italian woman seemed momentarily confused, then realized that Jacques had already forwarded the information; establishment of three POW camps to house the various national elements of the Expeditionary Force.
"Mademoiselle Rao? Has President Fasano's government agreed to our request?"
His gaze shifted to the Political Sciences major who was working with the Legion's representative to the Benin government.
She looked up from the display she was working through, and her conversation with Karthika Narang, the Legion's diplomat in Benin. "Oh! Yes, they're just putting it to the final vote in Parliament now, but it's a foregone conclusion at this point. They'll be able to provide military police to guard the camps, and are willing to help with medical and humanitarian aid as well."
He nodded, modestly relieved by the news. He had been confident that the Benin government would agree to function as a neutral third-party. It had been a delicate effort to get Karthika Narang in place before the Expeditionary Force launched its attack, but he could never have allowed her to begin the negotiations until after that attack had begun, else risk tipping off that he had already known of Nigeria's plan.
He returned his attention to Cruz's work, and the real-time map overlay especially. "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy. Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, the father of modern warfare, in a sense. He was the first military commander to truly understand and embrace the defensive capacities of modern weaponry. Understood the importance of fluid plans of engagement. The means to allow room to maneuver and interpret orders for lower ranks. He gave his grand intent, not iron-clad orders, and so his field commanders could make best use of their troops to achieve that objective."
"A brilliant man, not to be confused with his idiot nephew, Helmuth von Moltke the Younger. He believed in strict rules for military organization and in detailed orders with no room for deviation. He believed in discipline and blind obedience, denying his commanders any chance to improvise or adapt the plan to the changing battle space."
It was a clear example of what was playing out on the real-time display. The Expeditionary Force had clear, direct orders and intent. The Legion-led defensive was fluid and ever changing. Even with the Nigerian cyber attack on the Legion's C2 systems, the forces in the field had been able to adapt and carry on with their objectives, with a clear picture of the over-all intent and a level of trust in their comrades and fellow field commanders to see it done.
"This is an impressive program. Is it proprietary? I suspect my Quartermaster would be very interested in it, if it's for sale."
The Quartermaster was a traditionally named military position. The person in charge of supplies and logistics.