“Captain Kahn, bring your company forward and take Hill 109.” It had been a long time since Holm had commanded a force this small, and he was focusing on every detail. These men and women were here, arguably committing treason because he asked them to, and he took the added responsibility to heart. “I want to get our heavy ordnance up there.”
“Yes, sir.” Kahn’s response was sharp and instantaneous. There was hardly a man or woman in this force with less than five years experience, and it showed. “We’re on the way, sir.”
The powered Marines had been slicing through the Alliance forces like a knife through butter so far, but the federals were trying to bring some of their heavy weaponry into play. If they could get armored vehicles and artillery into the battle, they could give the Marines one hell of a fight. Holm wasn’t about to let them pull it off, not if there was anything he could do about it.
The Marines had landed in the middle of the island, splitting the federal forces. Garret threw up a defensive line in the south and drove north, pushing toward the coastline opposite the Rock. It was a vulnerable position, but Holm had his reasons. Marek and Jax had their forces ready to cross back to Carlisle and link up with him, but the federal artillery emplaced on the coast opposite the Rock made the passage impossible…at least until Holms’ forces took out the gun batteries. And the hill was part of his plan to do just that.
“General Holm…Captain Kahn here.” Kahn sounded a little harried. “We have occupied Hill 109, sir. The enemy appears to be regrouping for a counterattack.”
Holm was walking toward the hill when he got Kahn’s message. “Very good, captain. Casualty report?”
“Moderate losses, sir. It looks like six dead and eight wounded. They had heavy weapons positioned all along the crest.” Kahn paused for a second then added, “I’ll have a final report for you in a couple minutes.”
“Very well, captain. Carry on.” Holm made a face, though his helmet hid it from anyone’s view. They were doing pretty well, but his troops were suffering greater losses than he’d expected. The Feds, even though they were unarmored, had good weapons. Their SAWs, in particular, were quite effective at penetrating the Marines’ armor. But that wasn’t it, and Holm knew it. His troops were pushing too hard, charging up the center instead of taking the time for a flanking maneuver. It hadn’t occurred to him earlier, but it was his presence in such close proximity. They were trying to excel for him, even more than they normally did…and they were getting themselves killed doing it.
“Monty, put me on the master comlink.” It was time to put a stop to this.
“Yes, general.” Holm’s AI took two seconds, maybe three to establish the link. “You are addressing the entire expeditionary force, general.”
“Attention all personnel. This is General Holm.” He paused, realizing he wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to say. He didn’t want to scold them for their élan; he just wanted them to exert more caution. “As always, you are acquitting yourselves with distinction. I have never been prouder of troops under my command.” He was thinking as he spoke – how do I put this? “However, I want all of you to proceed with greater caution. We cannot expect reinforcements on this campaign…and after we are done here we face an uncertain future. We may be compelled to fight again immediately. It is your duty, each and every one of you, to avoid unnecessary risks. Stay alive, people. I need you all. Holm out.”
He cut the line. Hopefully they’d take what he said to heart. He didn’t need any more of his Marines charging into the teeth of a heavy weapons emplacement trying to impress him. He carried enough guilt already.
“Captain Norton, we’ve occupied Hill 109, but it looks like the enemy is going to counterattack.” Holm was reviewing his mental checklist of available forces as he spoke. “I want you to send someone forward with all your SAW teams. I want that hill fortified, and I want it done immediately.”
“Yes, sir.” Norton’s reply was so sharp and fast she actually interrupted Holm, who had paused for an instant but wasn’t finished yet. “I will lead them forward myself.”
“No, captain.” He didn’t get angry with Norton. She was a good officer, but young. He’d given her a field promotion from lieutenant just before they’d landed and put her in command of the 1 st battalion’s heavy weapons company. He could let a little over-eagerness slide. “I want you to bring up the rest of the heavies – the mortars and rocket launchers. Hill 109 has a field of fire to the northern beaches, and we’re going to start pounding those federal batteries.” He paused again, but this time Norton was silent. “But first we need to hold the place, so get those SAWs up there now.”
“Yes, sir. I’m on it now.”
“Very good, captain. Holm out.” He looked up toward the hill, a commanding position that dominated the entire area. The lower slope was gentle, normally grassy, but now a torn up, muddy mess. The crest was rockier, with a few jagged outcroppings extending out, creating small cliffs. It was a hard position for regular troops to haul up heavy ordnance, but his armored Marines could carry the stuff up there on their backs.
“Captain Kahn, Holm here.” He still hadn’t gotten that casualty report yet. With an officer like Mike Kahn, that meant things were hot. “How’s it going up there?”
“The federals are hitting us in force, sir.” Kahn sounded a little harried, but still in control. “They’re having a lot of trouble getting up the rocky band below the crest. We’ve inflicted heavy losses. Most of my people are in cover. We’re in pretty good shape so far.”
“Norton’s sending you the battalion SAW teams.” Holm knew damned well things were harder pressed than Kahn’s report suggested. For one, he could see on his own display that at least six more of Kahn’s troopers were offline. That didn’t mean they were all dead, but their suits weren’t transmitting their vitals anymore, and that wasn’t a good thing. “Feed them in wherever you need them. They should give you plenty of extra firepower to hold the hill.”
“Yes, sir. That will be a big help.” He paused then added, “I can see the first couple teams now. They’re just making their way up the lower slope.”
“Keep me in the loop.” Holm took a deep breath. “And captain…hold that hill. No matter what.”
“Yes, sir. You can count on us.” Kahn managed to sound convincing.
“Holm out.” He looked around for a few seconds, and then he started walking toward Hill 109. His mind wandered back to a dozen times he’d scolded Cain about moving too far forward…but he kept on walking.
Jax stood on the front of the barge, looking out at the beach. What a mess, he thought. The federal artillery batteries were twisted wreckage, mangled chunks of blasted steel littering the rocky coastline.
Everyone expected it would be another day or two at least before Holm’s people could get to the beach, but the general had seized the highest point on the northern end of the island and loaded it with mortars and heavy weapons. The Marines opened fire on the federal artillery positions, and their precision fire was like nothing the Alliance regulars had ever seen. Mortar rounds tore into the guns, tearing them apart, and heavy auto-cannons raked the area, gunning down the federal crews.
The Feds launched two counterattacks against the hill, but they were beaten back both times. A few hours after the last assault, the beaches were clear, the federal artillery completely silenced.
Jax and Marek had their people ready and waiting, and within thirty minutes, the first wave was moving toward the Carlisle coast. Now that Holm had secured the beaches, allowing Jax’s people and the rebel army to cross the narrow strait, he’d diverted most of his forces back south to face a large federal counterattack. The remaining enemy forces on the northern half of the island were now the responsibility of Jax and Marek.