A Battle Unseen

[Dredd]

[Legionaria, Army Headquarters Presidential Palace, April 5637] Backdated

The headquarter were abuzz with activity and rushed reports, aides and secretaries sprinted about carrying armfuls of papers and orders to be transmitted, Lazar walking past them with hushed tones and salutes paid them no mind as his L-11 opened the doors to the operations room. Dragovich and the general staff immediately stood and saluted as Lazar nodded and sat down.

Dragovich cleared his throat and began, "As I was saying comrades, the situation is off to a bad start. Hutori lead coalition airpower is battering us all over the nation, Jildrath especially. They've been strategically targeting any and all command centers and fortifications, our communications are temporarily in a havoc as we adjust to new frequencies and modes of transmit."

Lazar smoking his cigarette scowled, "So what exactly are you doing to rectify this scenario comrade?"

Dragovich gulping continued, "The general staff have proposed a number of new measures to help our operational stability. Firstly the air war will eventually be lost from our planes, and as they're focusing our radar centers and other measures we have some alternatives, if we cannot win we can do our best to negate the damage and redirect enemy fire to irrelevant targets." Dragovich began pointing out dozens of dots on the map, "These locations we propose for fake airfields and military centers built up to standard from an air view, but populated with inflated or wooden models to confuse the enemy, and whatever is real we'll canvas and hide best we can with camouflage. Despite the enemy hurting our radar and advanced AA we can still fire on their lower aircraft providing close air support, we believe switching to mostly acoustics and visual spotters connected to an AA network of communique can circumvent this, if we build manpads and portable AA we can also maneuver against the enemy spotting us and relocate into preplanned multi layered anti aircraft defensive circles. Using these means, even means considered antiquated can be effective, we can certainly produce a number of 23-30mm AA guns which can hone in on the low flyers."

Lazar nodded seeming pleased, "Good, what else?"

Dragovich continued, "With enemy air power and recon unhindered, we can focus all our troop movements under cover of bad weather; fog, rain, or heavy cloud. All other maneuvers can be conducted at night as well and use wooded routes of transit. Once the enemy has advanced, any settlements they ignore or fail to completely capture can be contacted to begin partisan attacks in their rear, targeting enemy logistics and other vital networks, rerouting aircraft that otherwise would be hitting us on the front to be diverted to defending themselves, we have a large stockpile of UAVS to recon these locations. Every casualty we can inflict can then be put into the propaganda machine, every plane felled a victory, claim the enemy is getting desperate, turn a disadvantage into a morale victory. Finally, placing many of these locations in civilian areas with heavy populations and in conjunction with civilian spotters and aid, we can force them to either batter our innocents and cause anger or misdirect strikes."

Dragovich then switched the screen to an attack named Operation Holy Strike,

"Elements of Hutorian and Davostager paratroops have landed in the vicinity of Keita in conjunction with Luthorian marines, they are as we speak working to encircle and clear the city. Our best bet before this happens is to launch a massive armored attack before the enemy can mobilize their own, and rush infantry formations into the city. We have proposed commitment of the 2nd, 7th, and 21st Tank divisions along with the 1st Legionary Infantry Shock Army. In total, 160,000 infantry and 350 tanks, along with a few hundred rocket systems, artillery, and armored vehicles. If we succeed to close this we'd kill or capture tens of thousands, then re-route the attack along the coast. We are preparing minor counter offensives in other landing zones and have reserves on standby for ad hoc actions."

Lazar seeming satisfied spoke, "Very good, see to it all the plans are put into action, I want hourly reports on Holy Fury, and begin scorched earth on anything we can't hold, the enemy wont see a single house or road that isn't blasted. Be ready to fire our Sladite and Sarin reserves near the fronts there on any staging areas, predicted paradrop zones, and any force concentrations away from our own lines if it seems holy fury isn't going to succed. Understood?"

The generals all saluted shouting "For the Legion, Hail Sladek, Hail Lazar!"