M8: Pre-Mission Planning [UNSC]

[MrKill]

This thread is only for members of the UNSC with the rank of staff sergeant or higher, you must also be a member of the 120th MEU

---

You're in a large briefing room on the UNSCS Athenian, the flagship of the 22nd Fleet. This room has enough chairs to sit just under one hundred and ten personnel, more than enough for the officers and senior/staff enlisted officers to acquire the knowledge given during the briefing.

The UNSC fleets arrived beyond the systems edge an hour ago and detected Covenant ships in orbit of the planet the Marines will be reinforcing. Unfortunately the local defense fleet has been destroyed. It will take half a day at sub-light engines to reach the planet - so you only have a couple hours to come up with a plan.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Athenian
Briefing Room

John sat down at his chair, forward facing to the rest of the battalion personnel that would arrive for the briefing. To his right would sit his executive officer while on the left would sit the various personnel from the MEUs command staff. The room had three individual holographic tables each displaying the same information on the region they would be deploying to in response to a request for help on the planet 'Frontier'. In a matter of hours the 120th MEU would be deploying to the planets surface.

Closer forces were possible but never dispatched, couldn't pull ships off the line. Instead the depleted 14th and 22nd Fleets were being sent in at half strength each; but total they combined for a single fleet of just over forty ships. The UNSC made it clear, as far as John was aware, that the losses the 14th and 22nd fleets were taking was unacceptable. The supplies of ships would be mostly Frigates now and even then the likely hood of the 22nd and 14th fleets being completely restocked was low.

The Covenant were pushing in on the UNSC and they were losing more ships than they were producing now... if John read the reports correctly.

Regardless of the status of the UNSC and its fleet John had his orders. The planet was a rich resource world, only a few regions on the surface actually had a population. The mining region of the planet had the most population, but produced enough resources they could build Frigates in orbit of they wanted. Instead the UNSC shipped those resources back to Reach and Earth for a more protected production. That choice proved to be the correct one because the Covenant had arrived.

John would allow members of his staff, as well as the various ONI agents that showed up today, to tell the blunt of the story. John was there to make sure his MEU knew what the game plan was and the overall strategy, not the information behind it. That's why he had intelligence officers to begin with.

The MEU Commander glanced down at his wrist watch. Ten minutes until the briefing started.

[rickrtickr]

Staff Sergeant Malcom Reynolds

(120th MEU) attached - 153rd ODST Company - fireteam leader

UNSCS Athenian - Briefing Room

    It had only been a week or so since his fireteam was transferred from the 187th ODST battalion to the 153rd in order to bolster the ranks after the 120th MEU's recent engagement. After getting his team moved into the new ODST group as the outsiders that they thought they were; even though the others seemed quite inviting to the new group. But then that is just how ODSTs were; hostile to all except their own, and the 153rd was no exception. The fireteam seemed to integrate just fine, and not a day or two after their official leave (given at the time of their transfer) had ended that they started up the usual griping and complaining about the conditions; which of course was the last bit of glue that was needed to stick the guys into the new ODST company.

Now however Malcom was on his way to the 120th's pre-mission briefing. Malcom didn't much care for the formality of planning; as he much preferred attacking (and killing whatever he was told to). Regardless he needed to be at this meeting, so that is where he was going to be; and as he arrived Malcom noticed two others already in the briefing room. A lieutenant colonel and the one who (if malcom knew anything about the military) had called the meeting: Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger. Malcom Raised his arm in a salute; and looked first to Col. Killinger "Sir, Staff Sergeant Malcom Reynolds Reporting as ordered." Then malcom turned to the Lieutenant Col. "Ma'am" and then lowered his arm. 'Well,' Malcom thought to himself, 'I guess that was the easy part.'

[Arusani]

Staff Sergeant Andreas Frost, (Attached to MEU) 153rd ODST company 3rd platoon NCO
UNSCS Athenian, Briefing Room
Time to get ready,

Frost had his gear on although he knew he didn't need to be. He just felt naked outside the armor especially after retuning form leave. His whole platoon had been moved to the 153rd. Although due to lack of ability they still lacked a commander for first squad. So he also commanded them on the ground. The platoon like the other replacement ODSTs had readily been accepted. Despite their lack of actual commanders. Frost wasn't as easily taken in as some higher ups still suspected he was having issues after the dead of his former LT. Although his platoon knew he was perfectly fine. He was grinning to himself as he approached the briefing room. It was time to meet the MEU's commander and introduce himself.

He entered the room to find another ODST NCO and two Marine officers. He peered at the ranks quickly but as he did he noticed the man standing at the center. It was the man he had seen at the beach during leave. Now Frost felt extremely awkward, but he had to ignore the feeling.

"Sir, Staff Sergeant Andreas Frost, Reporting to briefing as ordered." He said as he sprung to attention. His arm raised to a salute as he had been trained. The metal fingers resting gently on the corner of his eyebrow.

[Guardian Cat of Yappa's]

Captain Kelvin Duncan
(Attached to MEU)- 53rd Combat Engineer Company 
UNSCS Athenian-Briefing Room

    Duncan rolled his neck as he proceeded down the corridor. The Athenian had been his home now for three deployments. The layout of this particular ship was finally in his mind now. In turn, that made this trip to the briefing room relatively quick. In a way he was grateful for that, Protector had taken a slight toll on his mind. The death of 1st Lt. Hawkin, along with almost a 1/3 of the company, still lingered in the back of his mind as he followed an ODST into the briefing room.

    Duncan didn't pay much attention to his introduction. To be honest, he thought the man was kinda foolish for wearing his combat gear around the ship. Course, every marine has their own preference, even if it means looking like a fool. Duncan simply saluted as he stepped by the ODST, before standing on the side of the left holotable. He needed to find out as much information as he could about their A.O. before they deployed. 

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Athenian
Briefing Room

John returned the salute to his executive officer... and three more Marines - one already armored - that had followed behind her. John was sure his XO meant to be early but she beat the buzzer if that was her intention. If she had been just a minute later she would have been the last person to salute John.

"You may all take your seats," John said. There was enough chairs to go around. His eyes fell onto his new XO, a person he'd never met before. She got a ice nap during the trip into the system so she had been woken up roughly a day ago only to be greeted with Johns request. He needed some of her paperwork submitted before they deployed to the ground. "Any spot will do."

He lowered his voice and gestured to the seat next to him. "Welcome to the 120th, Lieutenant Colonel."

Before the Lieutenant Colonel could sit down, however, John produced a file for her to read from underneath his own - he preferred handling sensitive files on paper rather than electronic device if the situation allowed him to do so - and pushed it gently towards her seat. It was the operation details John had received, so she could read quickly over what intelligence they had gathered so far.

"We've got around eight minutes, give this file a quick glance before the briefing starts if you want to be ahead of everyone else." John said, tapping the folder he had pushed across before checking his wrist watch. It was pretty accurate, just over eight minutes until the briefing started. Obviously John would wait an extra half an hour to allow stranglers a chance to arrive. After that half hour mark, however, the doors closed. It was his responsibility to make sure at least each individual company commander was present in the room.

He had ordered platoon sergeants, platoon leaders, company XOs, company COs and the whole lot from the chain of command into the room. It wasn't a very complicated plan but he wanted those leaders to pass it onto their men so they knew what was going on. This way, with so many officers and senior enlisted present, there would be no confusion down the ranks - everyone would know the plan.

At the start of a 'pass the word' train someone at the front would say 'hello' but, unsurprisingly, the last person would have a completely different word. John hoped to avoid that today, it would hopefully save some lives.

[Cabel]

[Inner Colonies: Planet: XVB 2476 “Frontier“: 22nd Tactical Fleet: UNSCS Athenian: Briefing Room: Captain Mark Seamus “Spade“ Sorelson]

He’d been up for some time thawing as the term had been from the cryo-freezers and while he hadn’t been the biggest fan of going into what some nicknamed the Admiral’s Wife, it did have its advantages at least. The less food consumed during a trip in-transit, the less a ship had to have a supply tender collared to a docking ring. For a short time after having awakened from a frozen slumber and having coughed up that green-colored mucus protein mix Mark had mistaken the bulkheads of the Athenian with that of the Iowa until he remembered that the Iowa had been gutted in their last operation. One more ship had been lost, adding to the ever increasing mound of the dead and lost in this War against a genocidal coalition pressed into service by someone higher up in their ranks or at least he so assumed. Such thoughts had mostly been beyond his own pay-grade, but there were times even an old marine had time to ponder.

Having taken the time to ingest and digest a meal consisting of no less than a roast beef sub complete with provolone cheese, iceberg lettuce, pickles and black olives and a chilled bottle of beer on the side, he'd left the mess hall with his belly full and his mind on other matters. It hadn’t been his preferred meal of choice after thawing from the freezers, but prime steaks or salmon had been a rarity in the last decade of the current hostilities with the Covenant. While being completely traditional and expected in the military, rationing had become as normal to day-to-day life of civilians across what remained of the UNSC space as the morning newspaper had for centuries. It was the same with the Universal Draft taking place on every remaining known colony world and core world had been in full effect for nearly a decade and while there were critics of the Draft the majority of the human species had been in support of it even though the mere notion of its existence had been an omen the War had taken a turn for the worse. He’d read in one of the papers on Reach, more digital than actual printed paper as had been the trend for the last few centuries that some of the protestors against the Universal Draft and those protesting the United Nation’s Space Command Defense Forces’ role in defending the human species from the fallacy of galactic peace with the genocidal hordes had been arrested in mass by police forces in some of the cities on Earth. How things had changed, he thought. Here, they were fighting for the very survival of those protesting against their actions and some of their own, those certain groups were condemning them for it.

Having found himself outside the designated briefing room, Mark had to wonder how he’d been able to navigate through the massive Marathon II Cruiser while deep in thought. Straightening his uniform, the fatigues, he’d step inside the briefing room and took in how many officers were present along with their ranks at least. Approaching the front of the compartment, he’d spot his old friend John along with several other marine officers and ODSTs including one in full battle kit.

“Captain Sorelson, reporting,” Mark greeted, and snapped off a salute for the Battalion’s XO, Lieutenant Colonel Alisha Clarks and his old friend John. He hadn’t met the Colonel in person before now, but had at least enough clearance to have kept up with the changes to the Battalion’s command staff. “Ma’am, Sir,” He’d wait long enough for his salute to be answered before taking his seat, and wondered what kind of plan they’d devised.

Taking his seat near one of the bulkheads, he’d take hold of a copy of the orders and operational area. Some might have called him a mustang for climbing the rank ladder to become a commissioned officer, but he’d been the last of an old breed and had risen from the rank of Private. He’d been in the Corps for his entire adult life, short of seventeen years and he’d make damn sure to give the Corps back the resources it had invested in him plus interest and would make sure a hot-shot Grunt or slack-jawed Elite hadn’t used him for target practice. Taking the copy in hand, he’d take in the numbers, the field assets, along with other logistics and the plan in theory once they were on the ground. The M6B Officer's variant Chrome-plated Magnum he'd opted to wear more out of a sense of habit after so many years than out of protocol, sat firmly in a holster on his left thigh. The hard chrome finish belied the tried and proven nature of it, that the weapon had been able to hold its own even against more recent, younger models of the M6 series.

[MrKill]

[Time-skip: All members of the briefing party have been accounted for. Time for the briefing to start.]

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Athenian
Briefing Room

"Take your seats, devil dogs." John said, watching as most of them took their seats around their individual tables. John activated the microphone that had been clipped to his uniform. There was also another microphone in front of him that he turned on. The room remained quiet, however. There was no feedback from the microphones being activated.

"The planet on display was attacked roughly a week ago by a small scout fleet to what we suspect is a much larger force. Fortunately, the UNSC was able to enact radio scramble protocols and Covenant reinforcements haven't reached the planet yet; we assume their long range ability to broadcast for help has been restricted. Both a ground and naval engagement took place over the week."

"The local UNSC Army garrison successfully defended the region against Covenant attack, however the few UNSC ships in orbit were quickly destroyed. Intelligence reports that the surviving Covenant members of the scout force retreated to the UNSCs titanium mine. Our goal is to take that mine back, set up a FOB there, and deploy further into the region."

John paused for a moment and updated the holographic tables image. A new image of region snapped into view.

"The region we will be deploying to is rather small, roughly fifteen kilometers by fifteen kilometers, or two hundred and twenty five kilometers squared. However, much of this region is a strategical and tactical asset to the UNSC war machine. All three mines, especially the titanium mine, provide resources for the UNSC to continue. We will be deploying to the titanium mines."

"There are three stages to our deployment," John said. The map updated an icon "2/15", indicating second battalion, fifteenth marines. The icon split into three arrows that formed a line just outside the mines immediate area. "The first stage is for Echo and Foxtrot companies from the landing team to immediately secure an offensive line and protect incoming reinforcements from attack. The landing team will be deploying alongside our armor assets, as well as the 153rd ODSTs and 53rd Combat Engineers. In total four companies will be alone for roughly an hour as the next wave hits the atmosphere and arrives on location."

"Stage two will start when Echo, Foxtrot, Golf and Hotel companies are on the ground. Echo and Foxtrot will approach from the road on the left while Golf and Hotel approach from the road on the right. Meanwhile the 153rd ODSTs and 53rd Combat Engineers will approach from the north of the titanium mine. Be careful of your cross fire."

"Stage three will commence when the mine has been secured. The 53rd Combat Engineers will construct a FOB from orbital prefabricated buildings. This FOB will be the Marines base, we will not be sharing the airfield and naval bases, so this means we need to be self-sufficient. Construction yards, repair yards, fuel and 'munitions depots will need be created. On top of that, to secure the base, the UNSC will deploy numerous waves of concrete barriers. Unfortunately we don't have enough concrete barriers to completely secure an area so the 53rd combat engineers will have to use the HESCO bastions to do the rest of the job."

"Securing the titanium mine is only the first step, Marines. After that tactics turn to fluid decisions as situations change, but with an FOB and a place to operate from we'll be alright. This FOB was decided because it have valuable resources already present, such as fuel and large mining equipment and machinery. Excavators and transporters will play a major role in securing and fortifying the base quickly. Our tanks can deploy from here fairly easy and it's large enough that our reserves will also be deployed ground side."

John paused for a moment.

"Any questions?"

[Cabel]

[Inner Colonies: Planet: XVB 2476 “Frontier“: 22nd Tactical Fleet: UNSCS Athenian: Briefing Room: Captain Mark Seamus “Spade“ Sorelson]

“Sir, what kind of air support would we be able to expect during the beginning stages of the operation? I have a feeling the heavier stuff will be accompanying the tanks once those excavators and transporters can be secured, but I recall on Sanctuary we didn’t have much in the way of air support, and I’d be remiss if I’d want to have a repeat of that. I’m sure that’s on everyone’s minds here, or at least those that participated in that operation. With all due respect, Sir,” Mark asked.

“Once Echo Company’s groundside, we’ll rally our light armor. I’ll send out flankers to protect the company’s flanks, and also that of Foxtrot Company. I’ll pass the word along to my boys and girls to keep an eye out for friendlies of Golf, Hotel, the One-Five-Three and the Five-Three Combat Engineers. if the same respect is reciprocated. I‘m going to have to set up mortar pits, and a firebase or two at least along our interior since we‘re going to be on the ground for an hour. Don‘t worry, we‘ll hold,”

“What kind of hazards can we expect from these mines? I know those mines are rich in titanium, but I’d rather not have to and I know no one here would want to send a few of their marines back with an infected toe or a tentacle after tripping over a rock. Radiological, Electromagnetic in terms of waste or ore? I’d rather know what my boys are getting into while I’m joining them,”

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Athenian
Briefing Room

John waited patiently until Captain Sorelson had completed his sentences. His second sentence wasn't exactly a question, it seemed like the Captain took a jump from a question to a statement, back to a question. John was slightly confused as to why the Captain chose that moment to inform John what he'd be doing with his company when John was trying to field questions. All he could do was make a mental note of Sorelson's plans and do his best to answer the questions he asked.

"The air support we will receive is the air support the MEU already has. On the ground we'll have a few Vultures, some Pelican gunships and a squadron of SparrowHawks and Hornets. Once our FOB has an airstrip we'll see the deployment of some Navy longswords for bombing and CAS, but I don't expect an airstrip to be a realistic option while we're deployed - they're just too time consuming to create and we don't know how long we're going to be on this planet." John replied to the Captain's first question.

"As for the hazards of the mines... as long as we don't go into the Uranium mine without protective gear there won't be any radiation. The titanium and platinum, by nature, are electromagnetic but they're not radioactive. You'll have some troubles with electronics but the basic stuff should work. We're not deploying a warship into the mines, but your guns, HUD, flashlights and other equipment should be fine." John replied to the two questions.

"Any further questions?"

[RiddL]

First Lieutenant Alexei Krevchenkov
153rd ODST
Briefing room

Alexei stood so he could easily be distinguished among the crowd. He was fully armoured and he started talking, his Russian accent clouding some of his words.

"Are there any signs of insurrection activity in the immediate area sir? I don't want to save civilians only to get shot in the back. Also, I understand that we are helping the 53rd but what exactly are we doing?" He asked with a respectful nod of his head as he finished his questions.

He sat down again, placing his helmet down on his legs again as he made himself comfortable again.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Athenian
Briefing Room

John nodded quietly at First Lieutenant Krevchenkov's question while standing, before sitting down when he was finished. He wasn't going to like the response. While the 53rd Combat Engineers were Marines from the start, John needed them to be at maximum strength if they were going to get the FOB operational and secured within the time-frame John had in mind, something around four hours to set it up and get it operationally recognized as the Marines base on the planet.

"There is a small town, 'Woodshade', that has been reported with a mixture of questionable gang violence and insurrectionist activity but it's minimal at best, intelligence is positive rebels don't operate far outside of the town - but it is something to be concerned about. ONI suggests the cell is small, ten to fifteen people, who attempt to sabotage the mining supplies as it's highly likely the majority of them work on the mines themselves." John replied to the Lieutenants important question.

"Woodshade is a town for the low income, so there are civilians living there, but it is also the location of the regions only prison facility. Police records from twenty five forty four [2544] indicate the cell leader, one 'Jaramiah Backlas', was killed in a shoot out with police during that year." John added. "There is also a gang, similar in numbers, that operate from the town. Not much is known about this gang but it's not your typical street gang. The motives of this group is unknown and no deaths, murder or otherwise, have been associated with it. ONI thinks it's more of an unauthorized civilian militia, perhaps law abiding civilians with too many guns in their possession, who've only been reported twice for firing back at insurrectionists when they were a threat on the planet shortly before their disappearance after taking the UNSC Army's abandoned FOB."

"As for the 153rd's job... It's your job to make sure the 53rd has the lowest potential for casualties during the engagement. That means securing their flanks, their six and moving on point with them. Both the 53rd and 153rd are expected to engage the Covenant at the mine regardless, but if we lose too many Marines from the 53rd the base will not be constructed in time for it to be operational if Covenant reinforcements arrive. I say if because I think we all know, if that scout group finds one of those... artifacts... they'll send in a much larger force." John answered the Lieutenant's second question.

"Anyone else?"

[Guardian Cat of Yappa's]

Captain Kelvin Duncan
120th MEU, 53rd Combat Engineers, A Co
UNSCS Athenian Briefing room

Duncan sat at the edge of the left holotable, his eyes taking in the information that appeared as he checked over the available gear the 53rd had. He listened in to what Captain Sorelson had to say, since some of it had to do with airsupport, and the other had to do with the mines. The 53rd had taken heavy losses on Protector because of the lack of airsupport. Atleast someone besides Duncan cared about that fact, which allowed him to focus on questions he had.

A spilt second of silence existed, and then the Colonel spoke up. His voice delievered his answer to these questions to everyone in the room. Though Duncan's ears peaked at the mention of an airstrip, causing him to look back at something he had overlooked earlier on the holotable. He had taken a look at the navy base when the Colonel had mentioned it, and had noticed something, it looked as though the base had a drydock. Course Duncan, well looking over the navy base again, would have to hold his tongue as an ODST spoke up. Course they wouldn't be happy being deployed with the 53rd, dam elitist think that they're better and more important than any other military asset in the UNSC.

After the ODST, whose accent Duncan found slightly funny, he addressed the Colonel with his series of questions.

"Colonel, I have some. You mentioned we would most likely lack time to build an airstrip, and you mentioned the naval base earlier. Does the UNSC have any Wet Navy assets in the area that we could station any aircraft on? My other concern was where my engineers would construct this base? There isn't exactly alot of room for a full pre-fabricated base in a mining area, unless we spread out the structures among the area. In which case, I personally believe we'll need Sun Devils in the area to protect the area from aerial attacks."

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Athenian
Briefing Room

Mhmm, John thought. He never really planned on having the wet navy in his units plans. The Marines MEU didn't have enough aircraft to warrant using the navy completely. This wasn't a Marine Expeditionary Brigade anymore, it was merely a Marine Expeditionary Unit. Truth be told, John didn't have and real aircraft that needed the usage of the single Aircraft Carrier on the planet.

"The UNSC does have a single aircraft carrier on the planet, along with other surface warships, but they won't be fielding any of our own assets. The 120th MEU doesn't have anything that warrants the usage of the carriers deck since all of our assets are VTOL; only reason I wanted a airstrip - like I said - was for the Navy longswords, mostly for a quicker deployment for the air support roles. Fortunately the Wet Navy's F-99 Wombat's are pretty quick."

"As for the FOB, the surface is rather flat and should provide more than enough room to fabricate a FOB from." John said, updating the image to hover over the base. "We're not in range for an in depth look at the ground as of yet, but once we are the detailed topographic information will be uploaded to your tac-pads. The mining area only takes up a small portion of this flat land, mostly for vehicles and resources like excavated dirt and fuel. The entrance to the mine itself is like a cargo hold. The large pathways lead to an underground hold where the heavy machines are stored to protect them from the dust storms that occasionally hit the region. We're setting up a FOB on top of this position, so your Marines - Captain Duncan - will have plenty of room for a surface base."

[arkonoridan]

Lieutenant Henry Anvil.
120th MEU Command element- 4th Armored, "Hammer"
UNSCS Athenian-Briefing room

Henry had sat in the back of the room till now, fiddling with his pad as he coordinated with his crew chief on where he wanted the supplies he had ordered from reach stored, and quietly listening to the Colonel brief the Boots on their tasks. He memorized where the marine's would be dropped, and frowned at the mention of mines. 'That'd be a bad place to run into a wraith...' he thought to himself. Finally he raised his hand, "Sir, if your needing an airfield, the 4th could do it right quick. We don't need to worry about sending in digging equipment."

"Otherwise, I just need to know where to drop, and what our objective is. If any?"

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Athenian
Briefing Room

Two questions, two answers.

Of course, the first question would be answered first, and it was unfortunate John didn't have the direct answer to give to who asked it. They didn't make an effort to indicate their presence while asking, John could assume it was someone who really didn't give a shit one way or another. Regardless, John had to deliver the answer to the recognizable female voice. He just couldn't put a face or name to the voice... yet.

"Exact strength of the Covenant at the mine is unknown, though the Army suggests it'll be significantly lower than what the strength of the MEU is. The Covenant may classify it as a scout force, but we're not the Covenant; we're the Marines. Our scout force is less than two hundred... so it should be a quick and decisive battle if they aren't reinforced before we get there. If they are, we have UNSC Army scouts looking the area over so we'll be informed. If that is the case we'll deploy alongside the Marine Expeditionary Brigade the 120th MEU is a member of, that means the 120th through 123rd MEU's will deploy to the ground, with the 122nd joining us for our assault on the Mine."

"Now, as for the tanks... Lieutenant, I appreciate the suggestion, but you only have four tanks under your command - it would take you longer than it would for Captain Duncun's Marines to flatten the land. He simply has more tracked vehicles capable of clearing dirt; besides, your tanks will be needed more during the stage the FOB is being constructed. As for your objective, your tanks will deploy with Echo Company. You'll proceed to hold the line until the MEU is regrouped, then push forward with them to secure the mines for the FOB."

John was a bit frustrated, he had already said the armor assets of the MEU would deploy with the first landing team when he gave his initial briefing before answering questions. If the Lieutenant hadn't been paying attention or was focused on something else would be something John didn't want to find out. If he did, and didn't like the answer, may the Corps have mercy on what John would have done.

"Any other questions, Marines? If you ain't asking, you're not learning."

[arkonoridan]

Lieutenant Henry Anvil.
120th MEU Command element- 4th Armored, "Hammer"
UNSCS Athenian-Briefing room


Henry nodded as the Colonel reaffirmed his position. "No other questions here, Sir. Just wanted checking my information."

He made a mental note to actually take notes next time. It'd be useful when his platoon is actually on the field.

[arkonoridan]

Lieutenant Henry Anvil.
120th MEU Command element- 4th Armored, "Hammer"
UNSCS Athenian-Briefing room

Suddenly just thinking of something, Henry raises his hand again. "Sir, does intelligence tell us if any of the covenant forces might try for a counter attack? Do we have them all well and truly sealed off in that mine?"

Henry felt he had to ask, because all of the scout forces he had seen had at least been dropped with some light armor, like a spectre or some such. While no match for his tanks, if his men weren't expecting it, the bastards are fast enough to slip past a cordon of four tanks and wreck some havoc on unsuspecting infantrymen.

"From what I understand, the Army handed them their asses here on the ground, sir. Did they all run away in the same direction? If not, I'd like to request some Hogs, or at least a couple 'geese drop with the 4th, so I can set up a roving patrol as well."

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
UNSCS Athenian
Briefing Room

John nodded as the Lieutenant added another comment.

"Intel suggests the stragglers on the planet are in fact in the mine, but we've alerted the Army garrison to our plan and they'll provide some reinforcements if we should need it. We'll be deploying over two thousand Marines for this operation, getting counter attacked by a much depleted force is highly unlikely. Even the zealous 'Elites' aren't stupid enough to engage this large of a unit. Of course, plans change once we get ground side - which is where your tanks come in, if we do get counter attacked you'll be operationally free to counter that counter attack." John said.

"As for extra 'Hogs or 'Geese I'm going to have to say no for right now, they'll be needed else where. We'll have access to orbital satellites and the Athenian's sensors which will provide early warnings for a counter attack - if one is on the way. On top of the local satellites the Athenian will also be providing planetary topographic information to us for as long as she's in orbit, so we'll have detailed representation of the battle on our holographic tables in the HQ Elephant." John added.

"Anymore questions?"

[rickrtickr]

Staff Sergeant Malcom Reynolds
(120th MEU) attached - 153rd ODST Company - fireteam leader
UNSCS Athenian - Briefing Room

Malcom was listening to the questions and was pondering the implications of the dug in Covenant troops in the mine when a question came to mind.

"just a thought sir, with the Covenantdug in there will likely be scattered firefights in the mine. do we need to be worried about any of the structural components of the mine? or is there going to be an engineering team going in to reinforce the mine with us?"

then the second aspect of his question came into play.

"There will also likely be some troops that may have dug in even farther and managed to baricade themselves, will there be any need for a demolitions team in the mines?"