08-03-2016, 10:30 PM
Although it wouldn't be realized for some hours yet, with that last shot fired the entire conflict in Sierra Leone had changed. Wallace-Johnson was dead, the head cut off the snake of the radicalized Mende forces. In his wake, Major Freeman, military commander of the forces at Lungi international airport, would find himself field-promoted to General and commander of the Sierra Leonean military. Under Jacques' direct command, at least until a new and functional government could be instated.
With the death of Wallace-Johnson, the battle against the Temne had lost much of its 'moral high ground.' No longer was it a fight between two factions with a history of hate and blood, but between foreigners and 'freedom fighters.' It would likely fuel General Katlego's cause, if he were given the chance. Something the Legion would not do.
With the Interim-President's death, the few remaining politicians that backed him had lost all control they had over the government, and any protection they had from the anger of the people, and from the nation's laws. They would be rounded up and imprisoned in short order. It would be a total 'clean sweep' of the country's political core. And from that void something new could, hopefully, take root and flourish.
With Wallace-Johnson's death, the Legion had in truth effected a total coup d'etate of a legitimate state. It was, technically, a crime to have executed Wallace-Johnson rather then arrest him for trial. A trial that would have been a waste of time, and money, and would have seen an evil man sitting in a nice prison cell for, at best, the rest of his life. Would have seen politicians and lawyers make millions, the death of countless trees in paperwork and red tape. A total farce, a waste of time, and a spoiling of resources and intent.
Jacques accepted what Healing Jared could offer. The experience was...hard to describe. A bone-shattering chill tore through the core of his being, sap'd much of what strength Jacques had left to him, leaving him exhausted and sore all over. Most of the cuts and swelling across his face had diminished, leaving small scabs and tender bruises. Cracked ribs and damage vertebrae mended. The stump of his right arm was the most serious wound, and the hardest to mend, resulting in Jared resorting to the age-tested technique of cauterizing it. Another, far less pleasant experience then the rest had been.
The Legionnaire with the trauma kit fixed fresh bandages over the stump, and a plasma transfusion was set up to help him regain some strength. He was transferred to a chair from where he sat on the floor, while two Legionnaires took the men that had been in the room with him, after Jared had released them from their invisible bindings. Neither man fought back, terrified as they were from whatever had transpired when Jared had entered the room, and the seemingly miraculous recovery of Jacques.
He sat in silence for many long minutes during the process, asides from a short, pained cry at the cauterizing of his stump. It was a struggle to remain conscious throughout, exhausted as he was, but there was work left to be done and his roll in it was yet to be fulfilled.
After some time, he finally let out a slow, measured breath and straightened in his seat. A glance at his severed hand, which still lay on the table nearby; a disturbing sight, one that was difficult for the mind to comprehend at first. The knowledge that it was his hand that he was looking at, with the spacial confusion of where it sat in comparison to his arm. It held him transfixed for a moment, before he finally banished the uneasy thoughts and forced himself, at least for the moment, to accept the loss and move on.
"Cannot see through cameras. Noted. Important, that. Going to need to get you a new helmet then. Can't have that pretty face of yours getting damaged."
A faint smile, then he signaled for the team medic to unhook the IV. "We had best get a move on, lads. Sounds like the fighting here is all done. Glad to see your new toys work. Can never be too sure with that Chinese stuff, right?"
Old stereotypes died hard, but the Chinese military industrial sector was among some of the best in the world. Especially considering they were but one of four nations left that really had one. Helping Jacques back into his Mk2 FELIN armour, the old and heavy kevlar full body armour that had seen Legion Premiere through the many years in Africa since the dissolution of the mother land, France, was an awkward task when those helping wore some of the most advanced powered armour suits in Africa.
In the wake of the Legion assault on the Parliament, allied soldiers of Major Freeman's command, those that had secured the coastguard vessels which had taken the Legion to Zhou Ah Sung's ship off the coast, finally arrived to secure the area and what prisoners that had been taken in the battle. Dozens of Wallace-Johnson's soldiers and staff had thrown down their weapons after the initial assault, and many of the politicians that had sided with him had been captured as well.
Jacques was not so foolishly proud as to try and walk under his own power, and relied heavily on the supporting grip of one of his Legionnaires as he made his way to the courtyard. Commandant Tuff had managed to spool up an escort for Jacques, mostly in the form of city police and a handful of Legionnaires, which waited to take him to his next destination.
Reunited with his Landwarriors, there was a moment of relief as Jacques was once more connected to the Legion's command network. The news was, initially, heartening. The M777 battery had been captured with minimal damage, and no Legionnaires injured in the process. The guns would fill a painfully large gap in the Legion's military capability. Even sixty years old, the Howitzers were some of the best field guns in Africa, used by many nations in the region. The seizure of ammunition with them was especially beneficial.
As was the fact that they were boldly emblazoned with Nigerian markings and manifests. Ample proof that Nigeria was supporting General Katlego. Evidence that the General's forces were receiving foreign support, despite their very public denouncement of the Mende for being so open to outside influence, would seriously undermine Katelgo's support.
But then came word of the fate of the relief convoy, hardly a half hour from the military base at the airport. And word of the force advancing on the Embassy district. "Alright men. Our work isn't done yet."
He turned and spotted Jay and his team emerging from the building. He only recognized them because of the friend-or-foe markers that came up on his Landwarrior's HUD, with the names and status of each of the power armoured Legionnaires.
"Legionnaire Carpenter. Excellent timing. Miss Grey may be in need of your assistance. A knight in shining armour, perhaps?"
He sounded as exhausted as he looked, but even with one handless arm cradled to his chest, he managed some semblance of humour. "Command of this detail falls to you, Carpenter. Legionnaire Vanders will be your 2 I/C (second in command). Split the detail into two platoons, and make haste to our regional HQ. Questions?"
He glanced from Vanders to Carpenter.
They had proven themselves quite capable over the past few months, and their records from operations before Sierra Leone had been top-notch. In light of the Legion's steady losses since Jeddah, it was time, perhaps, for some promotions.
Edited by Jacques, Aug 5 2016, 05:50 PM.
With the death of Wallace-Johnson, the battle against the Temne had lost much of its 'moral high ground.' No longer was it a fight between two factions with a history of hate and blood, but between foreigners and 'freedom fighters.' It would likely fuel General Katlego's cause, if he were given the chance. Something the Legion would not do.
With the Interim-President's death, the few remaining politicians that backed him had lost all control they had over the government, and any protection they had from the anger of the people, and from the nation's laws. They would be rounded up and imprisoned in short order. It would be a total 'clean sweep' of the country's political core. And from that void something new could, hopefully, take root and flourish.
With Wallace-Johnson's death, the Legion had in truth effected a total coup d'etate of a legitimate state. It was, technically, a crime to have executed Wallace-Johnson rather then arrest him for trial. A trial that would have been a waste of time, and money, and would have seen an evil man sitting in a nice prison cell for, at best, the rest of his life. Would have seen politicians and lawyers make millions, the death of countless trees in paperwork and red tape. A total farce, a waste of time, and a spoiling of resources and intent.
Jacques accepted what Healing Jared could offer. The experience was...hard to describe. A bone-shattering chill tore through the core of his being, sap'd much of what strength Jacques had left to him, leaving him exhausted and sore all over. Most of the cuts and swelling across his face had diminished, leaving small scabs and tender bruises. Cracked ribs and damage vertebrae mended. The stump of his right arm was the most serious wound, and the hardest to mend, resulting in Jared resorting to the age-tested technique of cauterizing it. Another, far less pleasant experience then the rest had been.
The Legionnaire with the trauma kit fixed fresh bandages over the stump, and a plasma transfusion was set up to help him regain some strength. He was transferred to a chair from where he sat on the floor, while two Legionnaires took the men that had been in the room with him, after Jared had released them from their invisible bindings. Neither man fought back, terrified as they were from whatever had transpired when Jared had entered the room, and the seemingly miraculous recovery of Jacques.
He sat in silence for many long minutes during the process, asides from a short, pained cry at the cauterizing of his stump. It was a struggle to remain conscious throughout, exhausted as he was, but there was work left to be done and his roll in it was yet to be fulfilled.
After some time, he finally let out a slow, measured breath and straightened in his seat. A glance at his severed hand, which still lay on the table nearby; a disturbing sight, one that was difficult for the mind to comprehend at first. The knowledge that it was his hand that he was looking at, with the spacial confusion of where it sat in comparison to his arm. It held him transfixed for a moment, before he finally banished the uneasy thoughts and forced himself, at least for the moment, to accept the loss and move on.
"Cannot see through cameras. Noted. Important, that. Going to need to get you a new helmet then. Can't have that pretty face of yours getting damaged."
A faint smile, then he signaled for the team medic to unhook the IV. "We had best get a move on, lads. Sounds like the fighting here is all done. Glad to see your new toys work. Can never be too sure with that Chinese stuff, right?"
Old stereotypes died hard, but the Chinese military industrial sector was among some of the best in the world. Especially considering they were but one of four nations left that really had one. Helping Jacques back into his Mk2 FELIN armour, the old and heavy kevlar full body armour that had seen Legion Premiere through the many years in Africa since the dissolution of the mother land, France, was an awkward task when those helping wore some of the most advanced powered armour suits in Africa.
In the wake of the Legion assault on the Parliament, allied soldiers of Major Freeman's command, those that had secured the coastguard vessels which had taken the Legion to Zhou Ah Sung's ship off the coast, finally arrived to secure the area and what prisoners that had been taken in the battle. Dozens of Wallace-Johnson's soldiers and staff had thrown down their weapons after the initial assault, and many of the politicians that had sided with him had been captured as well.
Jacques was not so foolishly proud as to try and walk under his own power, and relied heavily on the supporting grip of one of his Legionnaires as he made his way to the courtyard. Commandant Tuff had managed to spool up an escort for Jacques, mostly in the form of city police and a handful of Legionnaires, which waited to take him to his next destination.
Reunited with his Landwarriors, there was a moment of relief as Jacques was once more connected to the Legion's command network. The news was, initially, heartening. The M777 battery had been captured with minimal damage, and no Legionnaires injured in the process. The guns would fill a painfully large gap in the Legion's military capability. Even sixty years old, the Howitzers were some of the best field guns in Africa, used by many nations in the region. The seizure of ammunition with them was especially beneficial.
As was the fact that they were boldly emblazoned with Nigerian markings and manifests. Ample proof that Nigeria was supporting General Katlego. Evidence that the General's forces were receiving foreign support, despite their very public denouncement of the Mende for being so open to outside influence, would seriously undermine Katelgo's support.
But then came word of the fate of the relief convoy, hardly a half hour from the military base at the airport. And word of the force advancing on the Embassy district. "Alright men. Our work isn't done yet."
He turned and spotted Jay and his team emerging from the building. He only recognized them because of the friend-or-foe markers that came up on his Landwarrior's HUD, with the names and status of each of the power armoured Legionnaires.
"Legionnaire Carpenter. Excellent timing. Miss Grey may be in need of your assistance. A knight in shining armour, perhaps?"
He sounded as exhausted as he looked, but even with one handless arm cradled to his chest, he managed some semblance of humour. "Command of this detail falls to you, Carpenter. Legionnaire Vanders will be your 2 I/C (second in command). Split the detail into two platoons, and make haste to our regional HQ. Questions?"
He glanced from Vanders to Carpenter.
They had proven themselves quite capable over the past few months, and their records from operations before Sierra Leone had been top-notch. In light of the Legion's steady losses since Jeddah, it was time, perhaps, for some promotions.
Edited by Jacques, Aug 5 2016, 05:50 PM.