'We Must Now Plan The Capture And Deactivation Of The Berserker Installation Codename ODIN'S SEAT. This Is The First Berserker Construct Encountered That Is Not A Spaceship. Consequently It Will Doubtless Reveal Far More Intelligence Of The Enemy Than We Have At Present. Therefore It Is My Intention To Capture ODIN'S SEAT So That It May Be Investigated Thoroughly.'
- ADMIRAL BURWASHER, SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ALLIED GRAND FLEET.
TO All Officers, Marine Assault Division
TO Admiral AB Burwasher, SCJAC, ESS ALLIGATOR
TO Admiral H Stipes, Fleet Rodger Young,ASS NO PLAN SURVIVES
TO Admiral Rice-Burroughs, MSN, CinC Battle Group Midgard MSS INTREPID
TO Admiral BR Chevron, Fleet Audie Murphy, ASS HAS HE LUCK
CC All Grand Fleet Officers
FROM Major General Sherrod E Skinner Marine Assault Division Commander
DATE 3198.121
Marines! This is the biggest Starship Marine Operation there has ever been. I am proud to be in command of a bunch of badlife as BAD as you! I am sure you will all act in the Finest Traditions of all our Marine Corps, the proud history which make us the spacegoing military's fighting elite. We fight for all of Humanity. Let's KICK 'ODIN' in the SEAT of his goddam PANTS and KNOCK him clean off this PLANET!
OPERATION FENRIR:TIMING
T-Hour is local dawn at ODIN'S SEAT on 3198.123.The Mission will be completed within 48 hours, allowing departure of the Grand Fleet before 3198.126.
MISSION OBJECTIVE
To capture, as intact as is feasible, the enemy's ODIN'S SEAT Main Control Complex, (MCC) while suffering the lowest possible casualties, and within a maximum time of 48 hours.
MISSION SUMMARY
The enemy will be bombarded by Navy Pacifiers to reduce his firepower. He will be distracted by feint attacks and probes. The most dangerous of the SDIs close to the Marine Landing will be neutralised by nuclear weapons. His sensors on our main attack front will be damaged by an airburst nuclear weapon. A Main Base will be established outside his weapon ranges. From there Marine Forces of the First Wave (2 Brigades) will be shuttled to Debarkation Zones and will launch a two-prong attack on the SDIs surrounding the MCC. When the area around the MCC is secure, the Second Wave (2 Brigades) will be shuttled in and will attack underground to capture the MCC and disable the remainder of the Odin's Seat defences, static and mobile. The MAD will then ensure the entire planet is secure and free of active berserkers before handover and withdrawal.
MISSION BACKGROUND
The berserkers have built a large and heavily defended base (codenamed ODIN'S SEAT) on this planet for unknown purposes. Much of it is deep underground. There is a double ring of weapon emplacements (Surface Defence Installations, SDIs) guarding it. There are likely to be berserker mobiles (clanker repair units, and berserker combat machines of various sorts) in and around the base. The Grand Fleet has space supremacy and no berserker flying machines are anticipated. The planet has a gravity of 1.1, atmosphere negligible (N, SO2, CO2 @ 0.0001 BAR) no appreciable hydrosphere and a surface of regolith, low hills and craters. Temperatures are very low, daytime max. minus 25 Celsius. Day is 25 hours long.
GENERAL ORDERS
1. The key objective is the capture, AS INTACT AS POSSIBLE, of the Main Control Complex. All Marines are to bypass enemy concentrations, unless they threaten our lines of communication, and move rapidly to achieve this objective.
2. Liaison with Navy pilots (both Pacifier and Shuttle) is of more than usual importance on this mission and great attention will be paid to it by all of you. The success of the mission will depend to a large extent on the skill and bravery of these pilots.
SCJAC ORDER: Allocation of tasks to navy pilots is according to the following priorities:
PRIORITY ONE
Piloting MAD shuttles into combat and casevac. The most skilled at fast nap-of-earth flying are to be given this role. Regular Logs pilots are unlikely to have sufficient skill.
PRIORITY TWO
OPERATION MAGIC = Close combat support to MAD.
PRIORITY THREE
Any other task.
SCJAC COMMENT
OPERATIONS SMOKE & MIRROR should not conflict with the allocation of pilots to MAD shuttle flights and OPERATION MAGIC. Once OPERATIONS SMOKE & MIRROR have neutralized SDIs Oscar 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16 the PIPE will not be within range of DEW fire, so that NOE flying will not be necessary.
3. This is a multinational force and we must co-operate to succeed. While I have no objection to friendly rivalry as a spur to success, I will not tolerate petty squabbling or any failure to act in support of other elements of the Division. You are to treat all units as your comrades in a deadly struggle, which is what they are.
4. Remember that the berserkers speak human languages; they are merciless, genocidal enemies and no negotiation of any kind is to take place with them.
5. The plan is bound to be changed in action and I rely upon the huge wealth of experience at my command to allow you to respond flexibly and successfully to all the challenges we will face.
See attached graphic. Name: OPERATION FENRIR :
Explanation.
I have called the Top of the Map NORTH. The sun rises in the East.
Surface Defence Installations are numbered Oscar (Outer Defence) 1 to 15 and India (Inner Defence) 1 to 9.
The area shaded blue, although by no means guaranteed safe, is mostly beyond the predicted range of enemy Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) 40km and POINT DEFENCE (PD) 20km. I have called this 'The Pipe' and I will expect most shuttle and ground traffic to use this route, flying fast and nap-of earth, both in and out of the ground combat zone.
The Main Axis of attack, shaded thick orange, is the route of the attack by 1AB (left) and 1B (right) and the route INTENDED FOR the Second Wave.
Secondary Attacks, which may be necessary to suppress enemy fire or counter-attacks, are indicated in thin orange and are authorised when necessary to prevent delay in the achievement of the Mission Objective.
SUMMARY OF ORDERS BY BRIGADE
1 Brigade and 1 Armoured Brigade: FIRST WAVE. Your task is to capture the area around the Main Control Centre and its exterior so as to allow the Second Wave to enter it and capture it.
2 Brigade and 3 Brigade: SECOND WAVE. Your task is to enter the Main Control Complex, surface and underground, and capture it as intact as possible. You will move up as far as practicable in support of First Wave without disrupting their Logs.
4 Brigade Your task is to protect the Main Base from counter-attack by the enemy; and to provide a Mobile Reserve.
Cigar Unit (commanded from 720 HQ). Your task is to create a diversion commencing with Operation SMOKE by simulating preparations for an attack from the north and if possible staging small attacks in that sector and continue until ordered otherwise.
Order of Battle for Marine Assault Division, Operation Fenrir
SPECIFIC POINTS FOR ADMIRAL BURWASHER
A) ESTABLISHMENT OF CAMPS ON FLYPAPER IV FOR THE TREATMENT AND EVACUATION OF CASUALTIES, AND AS SUPPLY DUMPS.
Notes on LOGISTIC SUPPORT ELEMENT
Oversight of the Logistics (including shuttle movement, supply of ammo and victuals, and casevac) will be handled by Captain Gator, Earther Navy, in direct liaison with me. This officer will not have command of all Logs elements, but will co-ordinate and produce a high-level logs plan for this complex operation.
Priority:
IN: Ammunition. Reinforcements. Victuals.
OUT: Casevac. Rescued prisoners. Captured enemy kit.
Supply Dumps at MAIN BASE and at DZ#1 and DZ#2. See attached graphic.
Medical facilities at MAIN BASE.
B) MAD REQUIREMENTS AND LIAISON FOR PACIFIER SUPPORT.
Following the preliminary bombardment including the main nuclear strike, use Code Word 'SHAZAM' to call Pacifier support under Operation MAGIC. Naval Pacifier Liaison Officer has been appointed to manage conflicting priorities.
Main Initial Targets: Indias 6, 7 and 8. Any Enemy Mobile activity on or near 'The Pipe'.
C) PLANNED SCHEDULE FOR ATTACK ON THE 25 BERSERKER SITES OPERATION MIRROR.
PHASE 1. Support of deception OPERATION SMOKE. Insertion of Special Forces and Maskirovka Units based on HQ Coy 720 Regt (Colonel Cohiba) into area NW of MCC - 'CIGAR BASE' to distract enemy and encourage enemy sorties. (T minus 4 hours.)
PHASE 2. GROUND-ZERO NUCLEAR STRIKE. Pacifiers will neutralize SDIs Oscar 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16. If the strike is successful, the PIPE will not be within range of DEW fire, so that NOE flying will not be necessary. (T minus 0.2 hours.)
PHASE 3. Establishment of MAIN BASE. First vessels land at local dawn (T hour) First Marines landed: 4B, (Brig. Philby) to create secure perimeter, and tasked to defend the Base from enemy mobiles.
PHASE 4. 1AB (Brig. Lyons) and 1B (Brig. Fonda) on shuttles ready to GO at Main Camp. (ready by T +2)
PHASE 5. Combat Robot Unit made up of robots of Earther Regiments and other equipment as decided by Col. Wakenshaw landed at DZ#2 by shuttle. No humans remain in that zone. Demonstrate deception to attract enemy Mobile attack and focussing of enemy sensors. (in position by T+1)
PHASE 6. Detonation of airburst nuclear weapon dierctly above India-7 at T+2. Follow-up Pacifier support to knock out remaining enemy DEWs and PDs on India-6, India-7, India-8. Contingency plans for nuclear weapon strikes at India-1, India-2, India-3, India-4 and India-5.
PHASE 7. First Wave Main Attack begins. Forces move up immediately after airburst nuke at T+2. Forces to mass at Debarkation Zones (DZ) and attack without delay. Simultaneous two-prong attack. 1AB attack from DZ#1 on axis to India-6. 1B attack from DZ#2 on axis to India-8. Units to move at maximum speed by shuttle hitch-hiking or use of GCV and GF armour depending on enemy action. The shuttle fleet 'taxi-rank' is to move as close as possible to the MCC to debark Marines, without coming under excessive enemy fire, and as enemy Point Defences are destroyed this will become closer; (see graphic: direction of black arrow.)
PHASE 8. First Wave Objective: to secure the area around the exterior of the Main Control Complex (MCC) to allow Second Wave to enter it. Secondary attacks may be launched where necessary to prevent delay to the achievement of the First Wave Objective. A Mobile Reserve will be based at Main Base and may be called upon by any Officer. Second Wave is meanwhile to move up as far forward as possible without coming under direct enemy fire, andnwithout disrupting First Wave Logs traffic, unless ordered to act immediately in support of First Wave. CODEWORD: UTGARDLOKI: Phase 8 Complete, exterior of MCC is secure. Estimated time: T+6.
PHASE 9. Second Wave Main Attack begins on codeword. Second Wave Objective: capture the Main Control Complex and all associated underground structures in the most intact state possible. Science Team to enter and advise or take action on disablement of all SDI sites, capture of Berserker Brains and other matters. If excessive enemy resistance is encountered, elements of the First Wave (1AB and 1B) and 4B may be re-equipped and committed in support. If in doubt, grenades and supercharges will be used to terminate all berserkers until all appreciable resistance ceases, when a Codeword will be issued. CODEWORD: RAGNAROK. Estimated time: T+8.
PHASE 10. Mopping Up. Ensuring all berserker resistance on Flypaper IV ceases. Estimated time to handover to Martian team and withdrawal to Fleet: T+24. Maximum available time: T+48.
D) MEANS OF GAINING ENTRY TO BERSERKER SITES.
MAD has no special equipment for this other than Marine Supercharges and Demolition Charges. Perhaps the GV-Projectile weapons may be useful. If these do not suffice we will have to call down conventional or nuclear strike on or near the target to 'open' it.
E) MEANS OF DISABLING SDI SITES IF REQUIRED AFTER CAPTURE.
I think it probable that the Berserkers have networked control of the SDIs and may have communicating tunnels for the movement of clankers and other enemy mobiles. I expect there to be a means of disabling the entire SDI network by capturing or disabling the Main Control Centre. I will expect the Science Team from ASS Malvinas to take a lead here.
F) CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR MAD EVACUATION IF OP FENRIR FAILS.
Depending on the nature of the failure. If the attack proceeds to plan but casualties prove excessive, I will order an orderly retreat to Main Base for evacuation. CODEWORD: VALHALLA.
If a major enemy counter-attack or use of an unexpected tactic or weapon causes severe disorder in MAD, I will order a 'sauve qui peut' to all Units to move as directly as possible to Main Base and points east, and call a nuclear strike on the apparent cause of our disorder, and probably also on Oscar-9 and Oscars 14,15, 16 to cover the retreat. CODEWORD: WOLFSBANE.
SUMMARY OF CODEWORDS
SHAZAM Call for Pac close-support [any officer]
UTGARDLOKI Exterior of MCC secure [Brig. Lyons MAD2IC]
RAGNAROK Appreciable berserker resistance has ceased [Maj-Gen Skinner MADCOM]
VALHALLA Orderly Evacuation [MADCOM]
WOLFSBANE Emergency Evacuation [MADCOM]
Authenticated - Sherrod E. Skinner