WORLD CONQUEST BY COMBINED ARMS
By Jack Herriman II
- "All units report in position and ready for the assault, General, " my aide
- reported.
- "Very well," I paused, feeling the high sense of expectation flowing
- through the command bunker. Everyone there was aware of the importance of this
- attack.
- "Order both rocket battalions to commence firing at 0430. Then pass the
- order for the first wave units to attack at 0500, followed by the second wave
- units at 0700."
- "At once, General," the aide hurried off to the radio room to do the
- encryption himself.
- I was filled with pride, as I scanned our order of battle. Two full
- battalions of rockets for shock effect. Quickly followed by two full mechanized
- infantry division, three squadrons of fighter planes, two paratrooper
- battalions, a special forces company, and an infantry division. The second
- attack wave consisted of two special forces companies and another infantry
- division. All in all, quite a force.
- Enough to handle the forces of East Flatusville, the target city, I
- thought. The latest reports had those defenses consisting of ten infantry
- divisions with one armored cavalry division as a backbone.
- Over two years of effort had gone into this attack. Two years of frantic
- industrial effort. Two years of planning and preparation. Two years of debates,
- arguments, and even out-in-out fights involved in getting approval for a new
- approach to warfare: Combined Arms...
- Finally, getting the President to approve of using many diverse units in
- conjunction with each other to exploit the weaknesses inherent in the single
- unit-type forces.
- "General, the attack is now commencing."
- Well, it comes down to this, I thought as I strode toward the maptable.
- "All rockets fired. Target impact expected in 8 minutes."
- I merely nodded my head. The time for talking was over. Now was the time to
- listen.
- "Observers report two enemy infantry divisions destroyed by rocket fire."
- The plotter joyously removed the two red markers from the maptable as he spoke.
- "First wave forces are all moving on objectives. Resistance is being
- encountered." This plotter was somewhat sober as he realized the objective
- couldn't be taken without some casualties.
- Now the individual units would be reporting in, and things would happen
- very quickly. I wasn't disappointed.
- "Sir, observer reports that our forces have the initiative over the enemy."
- A slight pause, then: "2nd mechanized reporting on three shot fired at enemy
- infantry units. First shot, a miss. Second shot, hit the city. Third shot,
- another miss."
- "2nd fighters report destroying an infantry division."
- "3rd fighters report infantry destroyed also."
- "1st mechanized reports taking a hit. Shot fire by enemy cavalry unit. They
- are still operational." "1st special forces attacked by enemy cavalry, but
- evasion tactics were successful." "2nd fighters reports an ineffectual attack by
- cavalry unit." "1st mechanized reports attacking three infantry divisions and
- destroying all three." "1st fighters destroyed another infantry unit."
- There was apparently a lull in the battle as the reports trickled off. And
- now they will counter-attack us, I said to myself.
- "2nd mechanized reports two hits taken. Still able to operate." "1st
- mechanized just took their second hit. They are still functioning." "1st
- fighters reports heavy enemy ground fire, then went silent. They are presumed
- shot down." "1st special forces have been destroyed." "1st infantry reports
- evading an attack by enemy infantry. Counter-attacking now... Enemy unit
- destroyed." "3rd fighters report heavy ground fire, successfully evaded right
- into another unit; no survivors..." "1st mechanized evaded enemy infantry
- attack." "2nd mechanized caught in the open by enemy infantry. The unit is
- destroyed."
-
- I waited, but no more came for an hour, as both side needed the time to
- re-group and reload. But wait, where were the paratroopers? For the first time
- in the last frantic hour, I spoke.
- "Check on the paratrooper battalions, they haven't reported in yet."
- "At once, General." The man scurried off.
- Quickly I reviewed the situation. Nine infantry divisions destroyed. One
- infantry division and one armored cavalry division left. One mechanized
- division, two fighter squadrons and one special forces company destroyed. Two
- paratrooper battalions missing.
- Not very good, but not very bad. Where ARE those paratroopers? They could
- carry the day for us!
- "Sir, observer reports six, repeat six enemy infantry divisions and one
- armored cavalry division remain defending the city."
- "SIX INFANTRY?!" I exploded. There should only be ONE. "Confirm that for me
- right now, and find me those paratroopers!"
- "Sir, both paratrooper battalions were inadvertently dropped into the wrong
- zones. Both units were decimated by the time they reached the ground."
- "Spotter confirms six infantry and one cavalry unit remaining to the
- enemy."
- "Order all units to withdraw immediately!" I shouted. Where did he get the
- other five infantry divisions from? With the paratroopers, there would have been
- a chance. But not now...
- "Sir, the second wave launched their attack ten minutes ago. 2nd infantry
- and 2nd special forces were trapped and annihilated in the outskirts of the
- city. 3rd special forces reached their rendezvous with 1st mechanized, 2nd
- fighter, and 1st infantry. Final reports are coming in now."
- I closed my eyes, expecting the worst.
- "1st mechanized destroyed one infantry, missed another, and also missed the
- cavalry unit." "2nd fighters destroyed another infantry unit." "Enemy cavalry
- destroys 2nd fighters...and 1st infantry...and 1st mechanized."
- "Sir, 3rd special forces have just gone off the air; they were our last
- unit..." he added unnecessarily.
- Well, I thought as a dead silence enveloped the bunker like a shroud, maybe
- someone else will fare better than I... Of course, they wouldn't be using
- combined arms.
- Then I slowly raised my pistol to my head; and all thought ceased......
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