It was Stephen’s time to sigh. “There will be more than enough dead to risk her soul soon enough. I do not believe either of us wish to rush the coming of that day.”
Boris thought about it some more. Were the casualties he would take worth it for those in government? Probably not. But for those killed around those in the government offices should Bethany Anne strike? Then yes, he and his people were Russians. They sometime understood better than westerners the concept of a necessary sacrifice.
“I thank you for your counsel, Stephen. Now I have a battle to fight. Later.”
“Just make sure you are around for the later, Boris. If you get more attackers than you have currently estimated, use the Black Eagles and damn the consequences. The people have some responsibility. They elected the government, after all.”
With a grimace Boris answered, “Clear,” before cutting the line.
He stood there a moment, thinking. What worried him most was this was obviously a raid. One with a powerful and risky support element. But with their forces roughly equal in number to his, they weren’t planning on capturing the town and its sites.
Given the political considerations, he had to defend the town, even though it now stood empty with its population evacuated to the cave system. He had been particularly worried about how they’d managed to fit a pair of 150mm mortars on a truck like that. It was a rough workaround, and accuracy wouldn’t be great from the report he’d received on how they were fitted to the vehicle.
That was beside the point.
If attackers turned the mortar fire on the town, Boris would be screwed. He’d have to call Bethany Anne down when the government decided to move in, considering the town ‘indefensible’ with the forces he had available. He could see their concerns. Hell, it was even somewhat justified.
A further concern to him was the Government hadn’t warned him. Without ADAM, this attack would have been a complete surprise. He had to maul the attacking forces so badly they would not consider trying again.
Although if another attack snuck past the government, he’d use that as justification for asking if Barnabas might be free for a few days?
Cleaning out a few incompetent people in government might sort out their problem with detecting large forces moving to attack towns. Boris knew that Bethany Anne would have to agree with that plan. Unfortunately, he did not think that she would approve, at least yet.
One of the radio techs passed on a message “Sir, they seem to be making a push to take the town. An assault force estimated to be about three hundred is forming up to spearhead the attack. Should I divert some of the reserves?”
Boris thought about it for a minute. Then he asked, “Any mortar fire on the town?”
“No, sir.”
“If there is no mortar fire on the town within the next five minutes the attackers are definitely using the harassment as a distraction. Keep reserves in their positions unless mortars start falling on the town within five minutes.”
“Yes, sir.”
It was half an hour before anything other than small unit combat chatter came over the radio. Boris had just seated himself with his earpiece in place when the next major attack report came in. “Mortars are punching a hole in our lines. Sector 12 North. Troops are vacating the path of their walk, but a force is preparing to move in right behind the mortar fire. A large one. I don’t think we’ll be able to hold without reinforcements. Estimate four hundred soldiers and a large, repeat, large, supporting force of Weres leapfrogging, using fire and maneuver tactics.”
Roughly half the soldiers would be laying down single shot covering fire while the other half moved forward. It was a common tactic, but that didn’t make it any less effective. The volume of fire would mean his defenders would have to keep their heads down until the enemy was close enough, potentially, for a bayonet charge. The Weres only added to that danger. Boris swore. Was this their primary attack or not? He simply had no idea at this point. They could be using two distractions, convincing him to put his reserves into combat. An additional report came through “Tiger spotted, repeat Tiger spotted.”
That tore it. The tiger would only be present if that were the main attack. “Send the first and second companies of reserves. Hold back the third. “The companies were made up of eighty infantrymen and forty Weres.
Another report came in “Janna is moving in on the tiger assault group. “Boris let out a deep breath. At least he wouldn’t have to send Gyada and Alecta to take out that tiger. That allowed him to keep them in reserve.
Boris kept glancing at the cameras covering both sections that were under attack. North 12 and West 5. Something felt wrong about the situation. In 5 West, the attack was petering off — it was obviously a diversion. The caves were a difficult target, however. It seemed serious, mortars were still falling in patterns of eight then a pause. Obviously, the mortar carriers were moving every few shots.
That made sense, as he had patrols out there that were zeroing in on the edges of the attack. If one of those patrols saw whatever mortar carrier was out there, it would make a high-value target. He wouldn’t like it, but if they radioed him they had it in sight, he’d designated it an ‘all costs’ target. The sacrifice of a thirty-man patrol would probably save more than double that number of lives on the defensive line.
Still, he’d be pushing harder. But then there was a tiger on the line, why would they place one of their most lethal assets on a diversion? He sent out an order for Gyada and Alecta to armor up now and link up with the third company of reserves. Maybe the caves made less sense to him as a target due to his knowledge of the caves nature. They’d be a complete FUBAR to attack, but for all he knew, they thought the alien tech was closer to the surface than it actually was.
The attack went on, drawing troops on the perimeter towards the fight at North 12 like a magnet. Boris knew combat, and he was aware that any order he gave to stop the flow of his forces would only compromise his own authority. There was no chance it would be followed. The best he could hope from giving it was just slowing the shift of forces.
Instead, he started ordering patrols back to thicken his lines. Troops that had been out for those patrols were more likely to hold the same position away from the action, due to sheer weariness. It wasn’t the best solution since they wouldn’t be as fresh as troops placed defensively from the start.
It was, however, the best one he had.
After three hours, with an extra two-hundred and fifty or so troops from various patrols bolstering his lines, the attacks on the town started again. Still no mortars, so he ignored them. Then he heard a radio message, “They’re coming right over us. They came out of nowhere. South three is being overrun. Repeat South three… “then static. Boris swore and rose from his seat. The attack at North 12 was a diversion.
“All available reserves to the hangar. Town and caves are a diversion. Repeat all available reserves to the hangar. External patrols shift towards sector south three at all speed, but do not engage until enemy is leaving.” He paused as he saw a mortar explode one of the cameras covering south three. “Unless you make contact with those damned mortar carriers. Those are all costs targets.”
He ripped off the headquarters comms and grabbed his specially-designed equipment, throwing it to one of the techs as he started to change. The nervous tech cautiously placed the comm in his Pricolici form’s ear. Once the tech stepped back, Boris ran to the door, grabbing his modified shotgun on the way past. This time it was loaded with silver backed, sharp point hardened slugs. They go through soldier’s armor like a hot knife through butter, and the silver would fall off behind any Were they went through causing them no end of pain and trouble.