TBntG-3 Chpt 46

=The Bull and the Genie=
==Chapter 46 - Book III - The Clan Invasion==
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==Twilight of the Dragon: 1==
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===Unlikely allies amongst mad Dragons===
UMCS VictoriousLuthien system, Draconis Combine
The first class of battleships laid down by the UMC might very well be the last, Mary thought as she walked into the command room. Big, stretching their technology, though not as large as the McKennas, the class was too big for anything but a major conflict, and too important to risk losing.
 
That was why the Victorious had been modified into a heavy command ship. No less than five hundred staff and command officers, a holotank, twelve portable HPG units, with nearly a quarter of the ship's planned armament replaced by com systems and defensive weapons—although given the escort, those wouldn't be used unless something went very, very badly wrong. 
 
"Any further movement from the Kuritans?"
 
"No." The screen of recon drones they'd launched in system had several remote HPGs, actually small automated dropships, with them, so they had real-time observation. "The stunt they pulled earlier on Oshika, we figure they may have as many as six thousand left for that—and if our images are right…" pictures of blast pits and hastily dug launch ramps, "maybe 5-6,000 suicide sleds, with booster packs." 
 
"Well. I expect we're going to disappoint them." Mary said. "Get me Star Colonel Frederick." 
"Yes, Ma'am." A few moments later, the screen showed Frederick seeming to loom over the other officers on the Clan McKenna's flag bridge. "Star Colonel," Mary said. "I believe it is time to bring this to an end. Do you concur?"
 
<<"Aff. Your plan is wise. But do you think the dezgra will carry out their role?">>
 
"They know that if they keep their sleds on the ground, they'll lose them. Their only hope is a better-timed launch than they had on Oshika. Since we're splitting our forces…" Mary shrugged. 
 
<<"We will appear vulnerable. As you say, they do not have much of a choice. And the orbital shipyards?">>
 
"They may have slave laborers on it, but our leaders are in accordance. After we take them and remove their crews, they are to be destroyed." 
 
It would be quite some time, if ever, before the successors to the Combine would be trusted with warships. 
 
<<"Then let us finish this," Frederick said. <<"Putting down a mad dog should not be delayed.">>
 
"Aff." Mary nodded, and Frederick's bark of surprised laughter filled the air after his image faded. "You heard the man. Let's move in." 
 
The fruit of years of war, Task Force Luthien numbered just over 100 warships, 25 of them capital ships. The fleet train's Star Lords and Monolith's had been equipped with LF batteries, jumping in, dropping their troop ships, and withdrawing. No helpless ships would be left here, and the two invasion corps would be protected by the main body of the fleet. 
 
"They'll launch soon," Mary said. "They can't risk splitting their forces."
 
"Us or the Clanners?" Admiral Santos asked. 
 
"We're the larger force…" Mary frowned. "Depends if they're looking for kills or damage. I—"
 
"Flares from the world, General?" 
 
Mary nodded. The sleds were launching from the stations and the planet, and one recon drone showed a dozen sleds being attached to what looked like a framework with a single union drive unit on it. 
 
"Finally figured out you need a little more than an hour's fuel and life support."
 
"Yes and they're coming for both of us."
 
"Sloppy," Mary said. "Two thousand for the Clans, four thousand for us." 
 
"Not counting their other attack, if they have it."
 
"Oh, they will." 
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Space combat was slow until it was fast. Mary had a meal, did some paperwork, napped, and a day later, came back. The malignant red clouds were growing closer. 
 
"It'll be—"
 
<{JUMP INGRESS. REPEAT, JUMP INGRESS.}> 
From behind her fleet and the Clan's fleet were two other flotillas. Every last ship in the Black Dragon's Arsenal, and they launched their own sleds and gunships. 
 
And this time, they were timed correctly. Both groups would hit at the same time.
 
Well…
 
"Admiral, if you would?"
 
"Understood. Execute Zama." 
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===Ambush===
The Kuritan forces were boosting towards the Clan and UMC units, hoping to catch them between the new force and the planet based force. 
But behind them, in a flash, dozens of Jumpships appeared, most of them older models. And blasting free of their collars came combat dropships. Modernized Achilles and other high speed assault dropships appeared. The enemy had boosted quickly, but most of them were slower than the oncoming forces, and now they were the ones sandwiched between the two enemy units, even as both the Clan and UMC main bodies boosted for them, making it more difficult for the approaching units launched from Luthien to bring their full numbers to bear. The forces that had just jumped in could have tried to stay away, to ensure that both groups would converge at the same time, but that would bring them into direct combat with the dropships and fighters that had been launched behind them. They chose to keep driving for the fleet. 
 
The battle was not bloodless. But after three days, it was decisive.
 
"All enemy ships and fighters confirmed destroyed. Here are the casualties, Ma'am." The staff officer handed Mary the list. 
 
Twelve dropships lost, the Fiddle Crossing lost with all hands, two cruisers heavily damaged…
 
"Two thousand," Mary said. "Clans?"
 
"About seven hundred. That self-sealing system of theirs is pretty good."
 
"Mmmm…" Mary nodded. "Admiral, do you believe that the Combine has any forces left capable of contesting space supremacy?"
 
"No, General." Admiral answered
"Then let's get ready to end this." 
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===Planning for the ugly battle ahead===
There were minefields and capital ship missile launchers, both orbital and ground-mounted, but the problem with fixed defenses was that they were fixed. UMC and Snow Raven gunnery crews conferred, and the skies over Luthien blazed as every unmanned facility and every pure military facility was blotted from existence. The Yards would be left until later, once it was confirmed that they had neither weapons nor subcraft. 
 
A demand for unconditional surrender was issued. 
 
And ignored. 
 
Ships approached the world, more ships above them in high orbit, and when bases opened fire on them, a torrent of conventional capital ship missiles responded. If the ground bases didn't respond, then the ships in low orbit were able to leisurely scan the surface, opening fire as they pleased. Rural bases, naval installations, DEW installations all were hammered. EMP warheads were detonated over the various continents, shorting out non-hardened equipment. 
 
Mary worried about that, but the fact was, only a complete hypocrite would assume that no civilians would die, and the Black Dragons didn't distinguish between civilian and military systems. 
 
After five days, Mary risked, along with the Clans, bringing several cruisers and battleships into orbit. 
 
There was scattered fire. Suicide sleds rose up into the sky in doomed final attacks, but the UMC had been forged in the conflicts against the Clans and the BDS, as had the Clan forces and the only thing those doomed attacks did was create meteors, streaking across the dark skies of Luthien as they died. 
 
"It doesn't look like much food is being brought into the cities, but nobody's demonstrating against the leaders." The intelligence officer said. Frederick and the Khans were watching as well. Mary had nobody jogging her elbow, for which she was thankful. 
 
"They won't, until they're damned certain the leaders can't shoot them," she said. "I want to start hitting railroad junctions and switching points just outside the cities. Making a unit walk ten miles is as good as a hundred, since they'll be out in the open, and the Engineering Corps is going to have to rebuild them."
 
<<"What about chemical and biological weapons?">> Frederick asked. <<"We are shielded against chemical, but the dezgra have made it plain they intend to leave us nothing, so if they feel they cannot win…">>
 
"According to Comstar, their biological weapon's facility suffered a critical existence failure." Mary shook her head. "We have confirmation, but you're right, until we are completely certain, typical CBERN measures—a month's quarantine for anyone leaving and regular checks."
 
"I'm worried about the Dragon's Talons." General Kirkpatrick said. Fifth Division's CO gestured at the map. "We believe that they have anywhere between 700 and 1,000 regiment sized units."
 
"Pure infantry. Most of them don't even have ground transport." Another officer said. One of the young firebrands, Mary noted. 
 
<<"But it does not matter so long as they have their nuclear grenades, quiaff?" Frederick asked. <<"They are not placed to contest us in open field engagements but in cities and suburbs. Granted, we have destroyed most of the facilities used to make them, but it would be unwise to assume that none exist.">>
 
"Which is why we're going with Operation CROWDPLEASER," Mary said. There were some grumbles. 
 
I can see why but…
 
"Yes, we are using chemical weapons. But they are less than lethal chemical weapons. And the UMC and Star League Council has approved their use." And they don't dissolve your eyeballs. "Along with other equipment. Most of these units are made up of political prisoners, children, you name it. They're not soldiers. Half of them are there because it's that or die, the other half are there because they actually believe that faith in the dragon makes you bulletproof." Mary looked. "I'm not going to tell you this is going to save them, but I'd prefer to be able to say we at least tried. They're not experienced, and the moment they're hit with the chem attack, not to mention our other party favors… Thank you, Star Colonel Frederick—" Frederick nodded "— they will break, and once they break, we can try to compel a surrender." Mary took a deep breath. "But understand. We know that right now they Dragon's Voice, at least what transmitters we can't blow up, has been telling the population everything from we literally murder Combine children to gain the right to attack, to the Dragon commands that they commit suicide rather than surrender." She sighed. "For that reason, remember that all units will have psychological assistance provided, and I expect you to use it. I would like to say we're only gonna kill the ones who deserve it but…"
 
<<"If Wishes were Horses, we would all Ride to Fair.">>
 
Mary blinked at Frederick's comment. 
 
He chuckled. <<"There is a much longer and poetic way of saying it from the Remembrance, but I fear we all have duties to attend to.">>
 
"Gentlemen, Ladies, UMC officers and Clan officers," Mary said. "This is going to be hard. It would be easier to bombard them from orbit until nothing was left, which is what I expect what the BDS would do. But we are civilized. So we will go down there, as much as possible we will spare the civilians and when this over? The Black Dragons will just be an ugly footnote in history. Unless there are glitches, first wave will land in three days."
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