NationStates Jolt Archive

NOTE: This is the second part of an on-going conflict between the Federation and the Evil Overlord. The first part may be seen here: http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=339979

Bayn Dirhan ar Lin, Strategos for the Federation Armed Forces, stared at the Head of the Council in shock. He was momentarily at a loss for words. He leaned heavily on the desk before him and visibly gathered his wits.

"You cannot be serious," he finally managed. "What idiot thought up this lunacy?"

Vrin Dirhan an Sel, First among Equals in the Council of Syndics, leaned back in his chair and kept his smile to himself. He had served the Federation since he'd graduated from the prestigious Federation Lyceum more than thirty years ago, and there was little he did not know about keeping the military firmly under the control of the Council. "You are displeased? It is largely based on your recommendations."

"I recommended increasing the military budget and continued focus on our traditional strengths: information and electronic warfare." Bayn shook his head and calmed himself with another visible effort. "I most certainly did not recommend this!"

"You got what you wanted. The Council authorized increasing the size of the Armed Forces by 22%, and overall military spending is up another 14% beyond that."

The Strategos sank back into his chair. "That's as may be. It will take three years to get the Armed Forces up to a level comparable to the Overlord's. This plan you are abusing my mind with will result in full-scale war with the Dominion in less time than that."

Vrin arched an eyebrow. "Intelligence analysis indicates a 10% chance of catastrophic failure, which would result in war with the Overlord. Given the nature of the threat, the Council feels those are acceptable odds."

Holding himself absolutely still as his mind raced, Bayn finally said. "Unless my ears have deceived me, you said the chances of catastrophic failure are 10%. What are the odds of total success?"

"It is all listed in the Council sub-committee report on your desk." Vrin smiled slightly. "10% chance of total success. 30% chance of succeeding enough to make a military difference. 30% chance of having no effect at all. 20% chance of failing indetectably. 10% chance of catastrophic failure."

"Are you actually willing to risk the existence of the Federation on a less than 50% chance of success?" Bayn demanded.

Vrin waved a hand dismissively. "Our analysis is that the Overlord is unlikely to engage in total war over this issue. The worst-case scenario you envisage was completely dismissed by the Office of Foreign Intelligence. The Council feels that any military actions resulting from Operation Mosquito would be limited- similar to the recent dispute over the Redoubt oil fields."

"My lord, it is my job to imagine worst-case scenarios." The Strategos leaned forward and locked eyes with Vrin. "I am an expert in spotting pitfalls before the Council falls into them. The analyses you quote are little more than educated guesswork, and the risks are so extreme that relying on guesswork is rash to the point of insanity."

Vrin stood and nodded. "It is also your duty to carry out the wishes of the Council. My coming here to tell you in person was a courtesy, not an opportunity to hear your objections. Operation Mosquito begins in three days. You will issue the appropriate orders, and give this operation your full support." He turned to go. "I will expect your report on your actions in support of this operation within the week, through the usual channels. I can see myself out."

The Federation Marine Pathfinders were nearly invisible in the darkness. Their mottled gray and black armor successfully blended their slender figures into the shadows under the lush forest cover in the northwestern mountains of This Oughta Do-more than twenty miles across the border from Revalen. This near-invisibility was vital, since This Oughta Do was firmly under the thumb of the Evil Overlord, and the Marines were not supposed to be there.

Monitor Solin Derbas was nervous and trying not to show it. That put him several levels of comfort above the rest of his maniple, who were scared spitless and didn't care if it showed. There was reason for fear. If the omnipresent Dominion sensors weren't deceived by the Marines' subtle electronic countermeasures, the entire maniple of elite Pathfinders were well and truly screwed.

"Voydil, get up on point", Derbas ordered quietly. He spoke quietly in lieu of whispering. A whisper carried a long way at night which might alert enemy patrols or trip some of the many sensors in the area. Armat an Voydil's head jerked as if she'd been slapped in the face, but she rose from her crouch and carefully crept forward to take up a position at the head of the maniple. She swept the area in front of her with a hand-held ESM sensor, cringing inwardly as the processing unit she carried in lieu of a backpack showed several EM point-sources within 100 yards on her visor display.

Signaling behind her with her left hand, Voydil prepared to subvert the enemy sensors with the counter-measures electronics she carried. She laid out several tiny transceiversin a semi-circle before her. One by one, she matched each transceiver to a separate enemy detector. After ten minutes of delicately matching signals, she held her breath and activated the system.

Her visor display immediately flashed red, causing Voydil's blood pressure ot momentarily soar, but the display quickly winked back to green. Nearly fainting from tension and relief over such a short time, she sat down and breathed deeply for a moment before signalling for Derbas to join her.

Derbas checked the readouts on Voydil's physical state as he stepped carefully up to her side. She was wound up tight with tension, but so were the rest of the Pathfinders. He clapped a hand to her shoulder and looked her in the eye. She nodded wearily and shrugged out of her heavy pack. Three Marines crept forward and drew several electronic tools out of the attached toolkit. Under Voydil's direction, they carefully located and blue-boxed each of the enemy sensors.

When the last sensor was under their control, Voydil swept the area with her hand-held again. She relaxed visibly as the detector remained clear. Derbas clapped her on the shoulder again and signaled for the Pathfinders to gather around. The maniple's Seniors were all on the inside of the group, facing the Monitor.

"We've bollixed all the enemy sensors from Alpha Point to here", he said quietly. "That gives us a narrow corridor about a quarter-mile wide and twenty miles long. We'll pull back to Charlie Point and settle in. From then on, we are the security element for Operation Mosquito."

He looked around at the assembled Pathfinders. "Single file, no noise, no lights. Questions?"

Senior Carion bar Sadno nodded. "How long are we gonna be stuck here?"

"Until we get the indigs equipped and trained to take over the security detail at Charlie. Anything else?"