News from the field was good. The local garrison was currently hamstrung, and the destruction of much of their research subjects had shaken the local commanders enough to load up much of their material to ship into safe houses strewn across the planet to hide till reinforcements could arrive to oust the raiders. It was a good plan, except Pandora had gotten wind of it and operations were in motion to put a stop to it all.
The larger clusters of organized talent from the Freelancers would all be involved in the operations. The largest area on Fort Apache was used for the briefing. In the shadow of lumbering battlemech that were undergoing repairs in the Motor Pool Hanger over a two dozen men and women who would be participating in the operations were at ease waiting for the briefing to begin.
"
Freelancers.
Raiding operations have not been easy, but are starting to show signs of our success and the drawing of the end of the contract and operations on this dirtball.
All that stands between us and a dust off is one more successful operation."
The lights in the hanger dim, and an over head projector flickers to life. A three dimensional layout of the area of operations appears on the floor of the hanger room.
Small buildings mark the Yuma rail station, a curve hilled bluff seems to be in place over looking the station providing an excellent vantage point to lay down weapon fire on the fields around the station. Small clumps of trees were evident in the flickering holographic presentation of the area of operations.
"
I present to you Squad commander Stiletto of Pandora Covert forces."
A woman was urban fatigues with a short blond bob steps up to take your attention.
"
Operations while at times costly have been successful. Local garrison resistance has been hamstrung and are currently in disarray. The destruction of Mother, Rocketman, and Shotgun have all undermined their confidence to protect valuable assets from raiding. A decision has been made by them to localize their best assets to safeguard Yuma station.
A special train, the Yuma 7:10 express will pull into the station in two days to accept a special cargo of equipment and electronics. The plan is to take it to the coastal port, where conventional naval assets will take them to the four corners of the planet into hardened safe houses making continued operations impractical. The weight of the Concordats military might will be upon us before reasonable expectations will allow for the liberation of such assets.
The 7:10 Express is a bullet train, their fastest train. Once its off and moving it will be impossible to stop, without destroying the cargo. The only point to capture the train will be at Yuma station or Kyoto Port.
Defensive installations and a company of mechs, and a battalion of conventional makes any effort at Kyoto impractical.
Yuma station has been evaluated as the objective more likely to yield success."
Stilleto produces an odd pointer with a metal tipped on one end. Touching the pointer to the 3D map seems to trigger a reaction from the overhead projector.
Tapping a clearing by town four mechs shimmer into existence.
"
This is Spartacus. The Concordat's former Solaris Champion. On leave from the arena's to serve Caesar. An officer of their Praetorian Guard. His Hatchetman has been modified for the harshness of Solaris, and makes use of the Light Gauss Rifle. he is a deadly mechwarrior not to be ignored.
With him are the hunter-killer team of 'Sledgehammer'... and... a fourth mech, believed to be a Locust."
Tapping on the corner of the map little icon seem to shimmer onto the map.
Four heavy AMCs appear on the hilled bluff near town.
"
These Armored Missile Carriers may seem unimpressive.
You couldnt be more wrong. They are formidable killers, all armed with Hawkeye LRMS.", the pointer slides off the hill and taps a point around the town, where four stinger mechs shimmer into existence, "
Their spotters are their hunters. Should be come painted by them, you will discover rapidly, how deadly they are. You would be well advised not to ignore these units."
"
While the Freelancers are dealing with the obvious defenders on the field, Pandora operatives who have been infiltrating the station will be making their move to negate security and moving to take control of the train. The freelancers MUST prevent the train from leaving the station till we are in possession of the controlling functions. Once that objective is completed, the Freelancers must safeguard the Yuma express till it is clear of the station."
The Holographic project shimmers and fades, as the lights come back on.
"
Once operations are completed, we rally at Ross Airfield, and dust off.
You are advised, not to be late. Questions?"
