Zhang led Chyou, Hap, and Anastasia to a large prefabricated building that had been fortified with cubic meter bags that were filled with earth and rocks that were put in metal cages or boxes. The fortifications were stacked almost three boxes high around the building. One of the cages was missing its front and the bag had spilled out onto the ground, next to it was another cage with the tail end of an LRM exposed. Above the bags several plywood sheets covered portions of the building that had apparently been damaged.
"Shouldn't your engineers remove that" Anastasia said motioning to the LRM.
"We were told it was likely fine as long as it was undisturbed. However, none of us tarry long outside the command building." Chyou said as Zhang briskly passed through the main door. Chyou caught the door and motioned for them to enter.
Inside the building they were confronted by a pair of guards standing in the HQ's antechamber. Zhang passed by the guards and waited near the main hallway as Chyou stopped and showed her ID card. She explained who Hap and Anastasia were to the guards as Zhang looked impatiently and crossed his arms. The guards sensed Zhang's impatience and seemed to go slower. One of them produced a clipboard and passed it to Chyou as he slowly explained what he needed her to do.
Chyou nodded as he spoke and she quickly filled out and passed to Hap. "You'll need to sign there, and Anastasia will sign in the box beneath."
Hap looked over the form. It seemed like a standard AFFS secure-area sign in the roster. It looked nearly identical from formatting even to the small block print at the bottom that listed the forms number and dates. The text was in Chinese and Russian, so it was impossible for Hap to read it, but the setup made it easy enough to understand. He signed and passed the clipboard to Anastasia.
"Oh, this looks like an AFFS Form 4843." Anastasia said as she signed.
"In order to move further from the Capellan Confederation, we have found the need to move closer to the Federated Commonwealth." Chyou said. "This is reflected in many changes in our military."
"Enough, lets go." Zhang said.
Zhang led Chyou, Hap, and Anastasia into the center of the Ops center where a middle aged Asian man was standing behind a holoprojector waiting for the 'mechwarriors. He was tall and lean and looked stern. He wore a Cappellan military uniform, but the patches had been replaced with St. Ives patches and badges. He had a gold bar with two thick green hash marks pinned to both collars and underneath one of his chest pockets hung a piece of fabric with two downward facing red triangles with a circle in the middle and black sword centered on the arrows and circle.. Hap and Anastasia immediately recognized the epaulet as a Mechwarrior Sergeant Major rank. Beside him was a shorter barrel chested man dressed similar but on his collar was a gold bar with three silver triangles, and he had a Major's epaulet.
Zhang respectfully approached the Major and spoke to him with something that resembled respect. The man only watched Zhang warily as he spoke. When Zhang was done the Major said a few curt sentences and then pointed to the holoprojector.
Zhang worked the device so that it showed a display of the Cappellan fortress. It looked similar to the holos that the MIIO team had shown Hap and Anastasia. It had the fortress sitting atop a steep incline and nestled between high cliffs. Turrets and other defensive structures and features were also marked on the holographic terrain model. The Major said a few curt things to Chyou, but they didn't seem as harsh as they way he spoke to Zhang. She bowed and nodded and turned to Hap and Anastasia. "I will be interpreting for you."
The Major gestured to himself then to the Sergeant Major as he spoke in Chinese. "This is Sergeant Major Pock and Major Nguyen. Major Nguyen is the field commander for this operation." Chyou said.
Hap nodded, "I'm Captain Harold Calahad, and this is my assistant Lance Leader Lieutenant Capetian-Calahad. We're AFFCs officers assigned as Liaison officers to the Mercenary Company McFinnigan and Sons. We're here to support your operations.
The Major gave Hap and Anastasia a cold and disappointed look, as he spoke Chyou nodded. When he was done Chyou turned to them. "The Major is disappointed with the loss of the combat vehicle during the convoy operations. Though it should be noted, this convoy suffered significantly less losses than most."
Zhang looked up from the holoprojector, "That's not what was said. My leadership is disappointed with how you have conducted yourselves before the real military operations have begun. They note that you have already allowed precious men and material to be destroyed through your negligence and carelessness."
The major said something to Zhang that immediately silenced him. Hap glanced sideways to see Chyou suppress a smile.
Before Hap could answer Anastasia bowed slightly, "Forgive us sir, we have faced an odious and ignominious adversary that prefers to use cowardly and disgraceful tactics like roadside bombs. I believe this is the same adversary that holds up in this fortress and refuses to give you a fair and honorable fight."
The Sergeant Major gave Anastasia a shrewd look as the Major responded. Hap could see Chyou deflate slightly as she nodded. "Tomorrow you will have an opportunity to redeem yourself as you will perform a frontal assault on the fortress you see before you. Your mission is to draw out the defenders, engage them, and fix them in the open until our superior assault lance can outflank and destroy them."
"Sir, where will your forces be flanking from?" Hap asked.
Zhang pressed a few buttons and a lance consisting of a King Crab, a Stalker, a Vindicator and an Urbanmech appeared at a point along a path at the rear of the fortress.
The Major spoke as Chyou interpreted, "This assault lance will move up along the rear path and will destroy the fortress before they assist you in defeating the enemies you will be engaging."
Anastasia sighed in the way that Hap was feeling. "Perhaps it would be better if-" Chyou gave her a very subtle shake of the head and it became obvious there would be no altering the plan, "Perhaps it would please the Colonel to tell us the disposition of the defenders we are to engage and fix?"
Zhang pressed a few buttons and a Spider and a Cicada appeared near the fortress's gates. Chyou marched around the holoprojector as she spoke in a tone that sounded like boiling water. At the same time the Major and Sergeant Major both spoke sternly to Zhang. Zhang reluctantly retyped in the commands and the holoprojector showed a Warhammer, a Marauder and an Urbanmech.
"We are uncertain of exactly how the Garrison will respond." Chyou said, "They retain a lance of Heavy 'mechs and have an additional reserve of light and Medium 'mechs, and tanks and infantry. The siege makes them rely heavily on platforms with energy weapons. They have shown themselves hesitant to fully engage their forces. Our experience leads us to believe this is how they will respond to your lance, at least at first. They may commit additional forces at least until our lance initiates its attack."
This wasn't exactly what MIIO had told them, but at least it looked like it could be an honest estimate from Soldiers on the ground, "Once we engage them, and get them 'fixed', how long till you'll be in position to outflank them." Hap asked.
Chyou nodded and interpreted Hap's words, as Chyou spoke Hap could see the Major and Sergeant Major nodding. They answered the question, and Chyou responded, "Once we have positioned our lance you we will signal you to begin your attack. We believe it will take ten minutes to neutralize the base's other defenders and then move into position to defeat these units."
Anastasia and Hap exchanged looks, the "ten minutes" were likely going to be twenty or thirty. "Ten minutes is a long time to keep a Marauder and a Warhammer busy with a light lance." Hap said.
"Is it possible to get artillery or air support?" Anastasia asked.
"Provide it yourself." Zhang snorted.
Anastasia nodded as Chyou explained the question to her leadership. The Major pointed to gun emplacements in the fortress and to multiple air defense towers on the mountains and hills near the fortress.
"The fortresses defenders have destroyed the artillery pieces we were allotted for this operation, and the fortress has a formidable, automated air defense system. Artillery is unavailable and air support will not be provided.
Anastasia nodded as she studied the holo. The placement of the defenses were identical to the map that Hap and Anastasia had seen the previous day, even down to the air defense's power generator nestled under a rocky overhang.
"Do you know if these generators are the sole source for the Air Defense System?"
"We suspect so-" Chyou began saying
"Those generators have proven impossible to destroy. The rock overhangs have prevented our best indirect gunners from destroying it, and there are automated defenses along the tower that have prevented our ground forces. However, if you wish to waste your energies and lives attempting it, be my guest. It's likely a good way to keep your adversary 'busy'." Zhang said angrily.
"Noted. Thank you. When are we conducting this operation?" Hap asked.
"You will need to have your 'mechs in position before dawn. The sun rises over the rear of the fortress and we hope to use it to blind our enemies as we advance." Zhang said. "You will muster your forces in this ravine" As he spoke a McFinnigan and sons icon appeared in a ravine. "You will proceed to assault the fortress on our orders." The ravine appeared to be difficult to observe from the fortress.
"Oh good, you're not having us charge up a hill to attack a fortified base in broad daylight."
"You might be surprised to learn how similar that is to the plan Zhang originally proposed." Chyou said quietly.
"That doesn't surprise me." Hap said as he felt Anastasia gently brush his arm above the elbow then pinched him. The Major and the Sergeant Major gave Hap a questioning look.
"Can we get a paper topo map of the fortress with its defenses?" Anastasia asked.
Chyou started to interpret and the Major snapped his fingers and pointed to one of the young soldiers manning a terminal in the Ops Center. The young man quickly sprung to his feet and ran out of the ops center. He returned shortly with the topo map.
"Does the enemy patrol around the fortress?" Anastasia asked
"Yes." Zhang said as he gave her a hard look, "But we do not have the specifics of the enemies patrol."
"You're sieging an enemy that conducts patrols, but you don't have data on how often or his routes? I understand now why they are easily slipping through your siege."
Chyou looked worried as Zhang stood up. "How dare you question me.-"
The Major barked at Zhang and Zhang sat back down and quickly said something to the Major. The Major gave him a curious look, then said something that sounded like an order. Zhang looked angry as he responded, "You will have the information for the enemies patrols before you leave for this mission tomorrow."
"Thank you." Anastasia said brightly.
The Sergeant Major spoke quietly to the Major, and then the Major spoke to Chyou. "Our leadership has other matters to attend to. The commander suggests that you prepare tomorrow's operation."
"Yes, and you should control your wild animal, before someone puts it down." Zhang added
Hap looked squarely at Zhang, "I was trying to think of a polite way to tell your Commander the same thing."
Chyou gasped as the Major laughed, "I like you AFFC Captain Calahad. I like you a lot." He glanced at his officers to make sure they were seeing he wasn't angry. "I hope our adversary under-estimates you and your lance. Notwithstanding, I need you to draw out their garrison and keep yourselves alive until my lance and I can come and deal with this 'odious enemy' personally."
"Yes, Sir."
"You are dismissed. If you have any other questions or require any additional assistance please speak with Lieutenant Mun. Lieutenant Zhang, you will not interact with the Mercenaries without my express permission."
Chyou led them out of the Ops center and back toward their 'mechs. As they walked Hap asked, "When we first heard about this mission we thought we'd be the ones sneaking through the Fortress's backdoor while your much more heavily armed and armored lance 'drew out the garrison'. What happened?"
"Zhang strongly recommended that we use the mercenaries, you, to draw out the garrison." Chyou said. "Our commander was unwilling, but Zhang's was persistent and convinced many of the other officers and men that the most prudent course was to preserve our combat forces by employing your forces at greater risk.
"Perhaps we could have convinced Major Nguyenthat his original plan was wiser." Anastasia said, "Casually risking the lives and equipment of mercenaries is certain to make it difficult to hire more in the future. It's a short sided tactical choice with strategic repercussions for the Compact."
"Perhaps." Chyou said carefully. "However, I could not allow you to question him in front of his subordinates, he had already lost some face from having to condescend to Zhang's near mutiny. Besides we are children of the Confederation, little else is expected of us." Chyou said quietly.
"What is Zhang's problem with us?"
Chyou walked quietly for a moment. "I don't believe it is with you personally. I once thought he was a great believer in the Compact, a fanatic soldier full of fervor, but now I have seen that he was an unremarkable mechwarrior who saw an opportunity to rise in the ranks by throwing his lot in with the Compact. He sees mercenaries as a threat to someone like him. Your skills are sought after and command a high price, his skills were only accepted because there was little other choice. Taking to the field with you risks a comparison that would greatly injure his pride."
"You still believe in the Compact?"
Chyou nodded slowly, "I do, but it is hard when we conduct ourselves like the ones we fight."
"We'll be fine Chyou." Anastasia said, "I have a plan."
They were now standing near the mercenary's 'mechs. Chyou looked at the four 'mechs. "I fear your 'mechs may not be sufficient to the task, no matter how cunning your plan."
"You have a plan?" Hap said.
Anastasia nodded, "We'll need to call Roweyna, but if she'll authorize the company's Stuka we could…
Did we not make it clear that there were automated defense turrets?
"Yes but they are powered by that single generator unit, I am confident we can neutralize those systems."
"We have tried every conceivable method to destroy that generator. It's impossible."
"I have something you don't." Anastasia said
"May I inquire what that is?"
Hap cleared his throat, "Chyou, if we destroy the generator and bring in our air support, how quickly before your Commander will try to reprioritize it?"
"I would anticipate Zhang would demand it be reprioritized instantly, and Zhang would badger our Commander to insist he take control of it."
"Then it might be best if you don't know what we're planning." Hap said. "I'd hate to put you in a bad place with your leadership."
Chyou nodded, "It might be best that I were ignorant. I certainly wish you luck, and I pray that you don't unduly risk the life of your pilots. If the Compact falters, or I lose my faith in it, I may be looking for a Mercenary company to join."
"You know we'll put in a good word for you." Hap said.
Before Chyou could respond Mags jogged up, "Hey, Hefe, the Compact guys wanted some of our rations to make, 'Army Stew'. Not sure what it is, but they told us we'd love it, and there'd be enough for everyone. Brant said you gotta authorize it."
"What's Army stew, Chyou?"
Chyou's normally placid expression changed to one of excitement and she smiled as she explained, "Budae Jjigae. This is a legendary dish of allies that traces a storied lineage back to Terra. Once there was a great army of the West that came to aid a smaller army in the East. As the war continued they would mix rations. The army of the west gave their canned and salted meats and cheeses, and the army of the east provided kimchi, noodles, rice, and locally grown vegetables. It was a fusion much like the armies that invented it. I assure you it is a wonderful dish."
"They want our salted pork and processed cheese? I say give it to them." Anastasia said.
Chyou grabbed Anastasia's arm and shook her, "Trust me my friend, you will find this is a very delicious dish."
"Chyou, I'll don't mind sharing what we have, but lets just forget about our previous conversation."
Chyou looked at Hap with a near religious fervor, "The promise of Budae Jjigae has driven all else from my mind. All I can remember is our mutual disgust of Zhang, and a promise of a mercenary career to fall back on if the Compact fails me.
"Fair enough." Hap Said, "We can't let Zhang ruin a good meal. Mags, tell Brant I'm authorizing the ration sharing. Anastasia and I got to call Roweyna and then we'll talk tomorrow's operation."
"Aye, aye Hefe."