Chapter 18
Captain Matt Williams sat in a modified MRAP with Lieutenant Garrow, Lieutenant Soto, and an ATAK system specialist on loan from one of the support units stationed on Ft. Moore. They silently watched the large screen in front of them. It showed a full color map downloaded from the last satellite feed before the elves destroyed most of earth’s satellites shortly before the first attack.
A series of colored shapes represented various units and resources available in the greater Fort Moore area. Most of the screen was taken up with the real time feed from mid sized recon drone’s thermal camera.
A large number of unknown heat signatures were gathering in the forests and swamp lands near the base, and the Savage Company CO had decided to call in the highly limited resources to help determine if they’d found the missing civilians or a massing enemy element.
So far, what they were seeing didn’t look good. Seemingly endless waves of level 1 slaves had been sent and then defeated. Then a number of higher level soldiers had been sent. Fortunately Matt had been able to buy some time, but it seemed the enemy commanders were responding by sending a large support element to wait for further orders in the trees outside of town.
If Savage Company didn’t figure something out to solve the issue soon, they ran the risk of being out maneuvered, then cut off from resupply. Or perhaps worse, having the base be overrun while they were away trying to maneuver.
As the drone finally reached the target surveillance area, Matt was finally able to get a clearer image of what was going on. A large number of humans, differentiated by their warmer core temps, were being herded by a smaller, but still not insignificant number of elves, who possessed much lower average body temperatures. Additionally, smaller groups of elves were making their way toward the location, likely the reinforcements Matt had feared, but in very manageable numbers.
While there weren’t as many Ice Elves as he’d feared, as long as there were civilians in the same area, Matt’s hands were somewhat tied. The SRG teams had not been designed to act as precision hostage rescue teams, but more as a ‘heavy’ line infantry group. Without the experience or training, he couldn’t risk sending a large number of men to clear the area, or there would be a large risk of causing serious collateral damage and potentially killing a lot of the people they were looking to save.
Matt realized he wasn’t sure what to do about the situation, and a quick discussion with the two Lieutenants didn’t provide any simple solutions. The request for a few more minutes of the drone’s time was rejected, since it was needed elsewhere to help the Air Force identify targets of opportunity.
Fortunately, just as he was growing desperate for options, First Sergeant Cabral, who’d been on recovery for reaching level 5, called in via a CTO or Communications Transmission Operator on base at QRF staging.
“Sir, how’s it going out there? Where do you need me?” The First Sergeant inquired.
A grin splitting his face, Matt replied. “Actually, First Sergeant, I have a bit of a special plan for you.”
Matt quickly relayed the information they had found, having the CTO replay the drone feed on a terminal nearby, and explained his thoughts.
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“I don’t think this is really the sort of mission that the SRG’s were designed for. This is much more a special operations kind of thing. While Savage Company as a whole might not be able to directly handle this, I think we can cherry pick a group large enough with the right training who can take care of this, assuming that the rest of the company can draw away a larger portion of the enemy force. What do you think?”
The First Sergeant was quiet for a time, obviously considering various angles of the proposed operation. Eventually he answered.
“I think you are correct, Sir. There's no good way to use Savage Company as a whole to accomplish a hostage rescue. The men just don’t have the kind of training they’d need on average to conduct a hostage rescue operation in that kind of terrain. And while I agree with you that we could likely pick the right people for a more traditional SOF type approach to the situation, I think I might have an even better Idea. Are you willing to hear me out?”
Matt replied in the affirmative, listening closely to the plan that First Sergeant Cabral outlined. The whole while, the grin on his face grew larger and more predatory in nature.
45 minutes later, Matt began issuing orders to change how the company was approaching clearing areas. Certain members of Savage Company and the supporting forces found themselves ordered back to base or swapped out and ordered to the Captains location.
Soon a group of tired men and woman stood in a semi circle around the Captain.
“Now hear this soldiers! Were going to change things up a little. Each of you will be assigned a given location and travel pattern. You will get with the other individuals assigned to your vehicle and link up on comms and time. Vehicles will be refitted with external speakers or bull horns will be issued when we run out of broadcast equipment. You will drive your assigned route broadcasting the following message: ‘Savage Company, US Army is providing a secure evacuation location at Columbus Airport. Any Civilians who are able are encouraged to proceed to that location. Transport will commence at 0500 hours military time. If you are unable to leave your shelter, make contact with the nearest army personnel. They will provide assistance.’ Are there any questions?” Matt ordered.
Nobody raised their hands or said anything, so Matt continued.
“You will repeat this process until 0230 hours. At that time, you will return to this location, and we will move out in force.. If any civilians approach you or your vehicle, treat the situation with caution and call this frequency to report the need for pickup. We are counting on you to follow orders on this, so be sure to make your commanders proud.” He finished.
Roughly 60 minutes later at 2300 hours the vast majority of personnel were leaving for their assigned patrol routes. As the traffic cleared out, Matt hurried towards his command vehicle.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Sir?” Lieutenant Soto asked.
“I’m the best equipped to break out if something goes wrong lieutenant. I can’t afford to have anyone else taking that risk with a lower chance of success. Besides, Cabral actually agrees with me on this one. Do you have the tracking chip ready?” Matt replied.
“It’s here. Just attach it like so. Remember, if something unexpected happens, break this tap here and we’ll send a heavily armed QRF vehicle to your last known location at the best possible speed.” Lieutenant Soto provided.
“I’ve got it, Lieutenant. I’ll be fine. And if I break that tab, you better get the hell out of dodge. Anything I can’t handle is going to steamroll the rest of the unit, even if you face it together. System levels seem to be a linear progression, and if I could handle a level 12 when I was a level 8, something double the level of our next best people is going to just obliterate anything you can put in the way.”
Though the last bit was added to be humorous, it was also very true. Matt hoped his XO would head the warning, but he wasn’t planning to break the battery connection tab on the tracer anyway unless there was absolutely no chance of winning what they had planned.