The Advisor
By
UCSBdad
Disclaimer: I've been advised I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: Shortly after Battle Group Castle.
That was the last aircraft lost by the RAF.
Once Colonel Gibson had assembled and collated the intelligence already collected by Saint George and added his own, he was able to plan his campaign. He briefed Castle and the assembled staffs.
"As I indicated when I first got here, General Castle, we do have problems with an air campaign here. None of the enemy states has any large military installations that we could attack, and they have little in the way of war industries. Those industries in JCL and Free Land that supported their hijackers were severely damaged by your own attacks. However, we do have a plan of campaign for you."
Gibson pointed to a map behind him. He tapped it and a number of green rectangles appeared.
"We have located some small weapons and ammunition production facilities, indicated by the green rectangles. We haven't found many of them but we feel that's because they don't have many of them."
He tapped the map again. This time blue circles appeared.
"We have also found some storage areas for their heavy weapons and ammunition. Again, they have very few of those and we're positive we're found most, if not all, of them."
Once more, he tapped the map. This time red diamonds appeared.
"We've also found some of their full time troops, all of which are in company strength or smaller. As far as we can tell, the bulk of their forces are part time militia and are still in their home areas. If they come together to train, we'll be able to attack them. If they remain scattered, they won't be able to train."
He tapped the map and this time a large number of yellow squares appeared.
"I the enemy has any trains, aircraft or any other heavy transport facilities, we haven't found them. They do have a lot of small trucks which will probably mostly be used for supply. We're positive that when they attack, their infantry will be walking to battle, not riding. The yellow squares indicate bridges, culverts, ferries and fords that they'll have to cross to attack Berberia."
"Once they do attack, we can attack their forces as they move south."
"Any questions, sir?"
Castle had none and neither did anyone else. Gibson was ordered to begin his air campaign.
The pilots dubbed the campaign the Sleeper Campaign and likened it to a particularly sloppily planned training exercise. They always remained well above the range of the few small surface to air missile systems their enemies had and were never in any real danger. They were able to approach their targets as many times as they liked before releasing their ordnance, which normally would never be done. Once an enemy with really effective weapons saw you coming, they be ready for you if you were dumb enough to come back. That did not apply here.
They did do their jobs, however. They wrecked most of the four nations' war industries, destroyed their few heavy weapons and associated ammunition, and rained havoc on their few full time troops.
To combat the boredom, the pilots began playing games of a sort.
"Ramrod Five Four this is Ramrod Five Seven. I have a large truck towing an artillery piece on my infrared. Engage?"
"Five Seven, we'll all have a go. The dumb bastards still haven't learned that we can see better in the dark than they can in daylight. But, we'll make it interesting."
"Interesting how?"
"First one to hit the actual artillery piece and destroy it, gets free drinks at the O Club next down time. I'll go first since I'm senior."
Ramrod Five Four lined up his shot as carefully as he could, but only hit the end of the barrel of the gun. The gun was probably out of action, but not destroyed. And, the truck now sped up as fast as it could go.
"I think you buy the first round, Five Four." Someone said.
"He should buy the first two because he's spooked the truck driver and he's tear assing for home. We'll never hit him now."
"Oh, ye of little faith." Said Ramrod Five Five. Watch and learn, rookies."
Regrettably, Ramrod Five Five's missile malfunctioned and exploded a good three hundred yards from the fleeing truck.
Ramrod Five Six lined up his shot and hit the gun right on the gun's breech. The barrel went spinning away, the wheels shot off to the sides and the gun's trail flew upwards and slammed into the back of the truck, causing it to go off the road and flip over. They saw three men stagger from the truck and limp away.
"I hear they have some old and expensive brandy in the O Club." Ramrod Five Six said.
"You mean you won't be drinking the cheapest beer they have?"
"When you're paying? Perish the thought."
Four months had passed since the start of the bombing campaign and their enemies seemed no closer to invading Berberia and Samland than they were at the start. However, an X-boat from the UK did arrive with information for General Castle.
The lieutenant in command of the X-boat handed a data cube to Castle.
"That gives you all of the details, sir, but Sir James Pilkington told me to give you a briefing on the basics. You're getting a division sized force her, sir. They're about a week behind me. You're getting Kampfgruppe von Tarlenheim, the Tercio Corazon Negro, and Brigade Group Castle."
Rick was happy to hear that his friend Colonel Javier Esposito and his unit would be joining him, and he knew von Tarlenheim had an excellent unit. Then the last unit mentioned hit him.
"Wait a minute. Brigade Group Castle? As in my unit?"
The lieutenant smiled.
"Sir James thought you'd be surprised, sir. He's managed to expand your somewhat oversized battalion to a two battalion unit with the necessary combat, combat support and combat service units found in a brigade. However, he's added an armored rifle battalion from Hepburn's Regiment to bring your brigade to full strength. There are a few other company sized units coming as well, sir."
"Oh, and Sir James asked me to warn you that Hepburn's Regiment is from Atholl and never, ever let anyone pronounce Atholl as…"
"Asshole." Castle finished for him. "I'll do my best, but I suspect we'll have a few fist fights over that. Anything else, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir. They're adding another squadron of Rooks and one of Fireflies to your aerospace wing. Sir James thinks that when they do attack you, giving our enemies a good, hard beating right off the bat might encourage them to stop. And you're getting some more missile boats. Um, wet navy, sir. And they're sending weapons for the Berbers. The specifics are in the data cube."
Castle dismissed the lieutenant and called his staff together to review the data cube's information.
Six days later a convoy arrived with the reinforcements for Castle. Castle had them land in Berberia and flew to General Izem's headquarters to both coordinate with the Berber commander and greet his new troops.
"General Castle, I am so pleased to see you and so pleased that my friends in the United Kingdoms have sent us so many wonderful weapons. Alas, unless the enemy is very tardy in his attack, I won't have them trained in time, but an entire battalion of tanks. Marvelous. And artillery. I'll have three battalions of 105mm guns now. And so many other weapons."
Izem laughed.
"Please do not worry yourself, General Castle. I have no ambitions to conquer Ambrosia and make myself Emperor of an entire continent. However, I have a most interesting proposition from Sir James Pilkington. I may see you out among the stars someday. But, that's just between the two of us for now. Sir James asked me to be discrete."
Castle and his staff spent some time reviewing the newly equipped Berbers. General Izem had even managed to find some Berbers who had experience in tanks who drove three of their new tanks back and forth while Izem laughed and waved at them.
Castle next went to Brigade Group Castle and its new Commander, Colonel Roy MacIntosh.
"Good to see you, Roy, and good to see they managed to regrow you a new left leg and new left arm."
"Good to see you as well, sir. It's nice commanding the unit, but I know it's just until you're ready to take command again."
"I know you'll do well, Roy. Now, I'd like to see my brigade."
Castle toured the brigade, meeting many old friends and making new ones. He even met the commander of the battalion from Atholl, a Lieutenant Colonel Hepburn, a distant cousin of the Colonel Hepburn who'd founded the regiment many years ago.
He then went to see Colonel Esposito.
"Javi, and Lanie!' He said. "How have you been?"
Kate threw her arms around Colonel Esposito's wife, who was now Surgeon-Colonel Lanie Esposito and they began bringing each other up to date on the families.
"Rick is going to send me back to Saint George, I'm afraid. Tomorrow is my due date. I've fought leaving as hard as I could, but I'll have to go back tomorrow."
"I know. Javi's told me I'm going with you with a full medical suite. I told him…Well, we had a discussion, but I am going with you."
Javi began explaining to Rick what had been happening with the Tercio Corazon Negro.
"We have a permanent contract with the UK now, thanks to you, I'm sure."
"No, Javi, thanks to how good you are, and your unit."
"Anyway, we've gotten bigger. We have a full aviation battalion now, so we're an airmobile unit, and look to your right."
Castle turned and looked.
"You have tanks? Um, aren't they a little small?"
"They call them "baby leopards" since they're based on the Prussians Leopard main battle tank, but much smaller, obviously. The Prussians use them for reconnaissance. They weigh twenty- two tons and have a 50mm main gun and a coaxial machine gun. They're fast and have a lot of comm gear and recon electronics. We just use them as tanks, though. As an airmobile unit we can't really use main battle tanks."
"We have plenty, Javi, if you need any armored support."
After a brief discussion, Castle went off to see Colonel Hans von Tarlenheim.
"So good to see you, sir." Von Tarlenheim said loudly as he saluted Rick.
"Good to see you again, Hans. How have you been?"
"Just lovely, sir. Just lovely. Oh, my unit hasn't changed much since last we met on Tark, but I have a complete air cavalry squadron now."
"You don't need to call me sir, Hans. After all, you were commanding a brigade when all I had was a company."
"But as I predicted, you've come a long way, old boy. I think the UK has you in mind for bigger and better things. Mark my words."
"That'll be later, if ever. Now, tell me what you've been told about our situation here."
They arrived back at Saint George later that day. No sooner had Castle poured himself a stiff drink than Kate came running to him.
"Babe, it's time for us to go to the hospital."
Being a highly trained soldier, capable to handling any emergency, Rick knew exactly what to do.
"Sergeant Major Saava! It's time."
Saava walked in.
"Yes, sir. And ma'am. I sent Corporal Tavan for your vehicle and Corporal Nanda has Mrs. Castle's go bag. I'll call the hospital and alert the medical team and I'll advise your headquarters over a secure channel that you'll be busy for a while. Anything else, sir?"
"No. I don't think so." Rick turned to Kate. "Is there anything?"
"We're fine, Babe. Now we should head for the car. I can hear it outside."
They arrived at the hospital to find Lanie ready with an entire team. Kate was prepped and taken into the surgery. Rick was gowned and followed her. Outside, he could hear a number of Tarkai chanting a prayer for the delivery of a fine, strong son.
Anytime anyone did anything, Castle asked so many questions that Lanie had to threaten to kick him out until after the birth.
The birth went relatively smoothly and as the little one came out and saw the world for the first time, Lanie announced.
"You have a son. And…he's perfect."
TBC