Blackwatch

[Ironwatsas]

The Consortium soldiers walked into the spartan briefing room, sitting at a round, central table. The room was little more spacious then any other on the ship, the numerous holo-displays and LCD screens casting an eerie blue glow across the room. Around the table sat a dozen other Consortium soldiers wearing various types of armor and bearing diffrent markings.

In the central display mounted on the table itself, stood a scaled down figure of a man wearing a cyclopean suit of combat armor. Speaking through the room's audio systems, the shadowy leader of the Consortium, known only as 'Ironwatsas', relayed his message.

"It is time to accellerate our plans in this region. I have arranged for a strike on a 'Samura' factory on the surface of the planet. You will be the spearhead." He spoke, emotionlessly.

The Leader of Blackwatch Delta squad, known only by the codename 'Shamshir', spoke up in response. "Might I ask what the strategic perogative is for something this big...?"

"Number of reasons. First off, this facility manufactures a lot of metal parts of all types for the Kusari Aerospace industry. As well, it houses a research lab which I want infiltrated." Watsas replied.

"This will prompt the Kusari Army to respond. Contingencies?"

"We anticipate the nearby garrison to respond tactically, and we expect to engage them. Therefore, I am sending you in with heavy duty firepower. ASCAs, Cyclops Mechs, Hornets, Guardian Bots, SPAAGs, the works. Whatever they send, I want wiped out. I want to test their capabilities..." Watsas stated.

"Understood. What is the plan?"

"We'll send in ASCA and Airwatch fighters to clear the area, then the dropships will drop in our troops to storm the facility, while the Guardians and Cyclops bots set up an ambush to take out the Kusari Responders. Once you capture the factory, dig in and we will deploy Stinger Mortars and Lasertowers from orbit. I highly doubt the KA have planned for this kind of attack. The local garrison will almost certianly be unable to dislodge you, and their re-inforcements will take a few hours to arrive. We will be long gone by then."

One of the other Consortium soldiers, by the look of his uniform, a member of one of the armor divisions, replied in a thick Rhineland accent. "This ist risky. A failure on zis part would set us back significantly in zis theatre?"

"I have contingencies. Remember that we learn from failure. Always. But it should not come to that, you 'all' know why you are here... why you were chosen..." Watsas replied.

To the Blackwatch troops, this statement was little news. But it's meaning said much about the Consortium. Most of these men were members of foriegn militaries, unfortunate enough to become the subject of the Consortium's capture policy. Forcibly taken from their homelands, they were enslaved, through propaganda, subjective memory replacement, cybernetic surgery, and rigorous conditioning. Not a thought about their previous lives mattered to them now... all that mattered was their mission, no matter what that might be.

That is what makes Blackwatch, and the Consortium so dangerous. If they don't have the best and brightest, they will find and take them. And every victory means that many of their defeated counterparts add to their forces.

"Ja. We are willink. When do we deploy?" He replied.

"One hundred twenty minuites. Lead elements are already securing an LZ for our heavier units. Rest, nourish yourselves, and gather your weapons." Watsas finished.

"End of Line." Was the last thing he said before his holographic image disappeared, switching to an interactive tactical map and mission data displays. The soldiers looked over these, though most could simply download the relevent data through their cybernetic implants at any time.

Shamshir stood up and began to leave the room. He was followed by the 2nd in command of Delta squad, codename 'Chons'. The two, neither hungry, made their way immedietly to the armory.

"You've studied KIA tactics and strategies. What do you think we're up against?" Shamshir asked.

"I'd think a garrison this small would mainly have infantry and light ground vehicles. The real problem is going to be Chimaeras and Kite drones. Their shields won't work efficiently in atmosphere, but they're still manuverable as ever. And the Kites aren't going to mess around either." Chons replied.

"I'd think Watsas would deploy a whole bunch of Scimitars to overwhelm and aircraft."

"Safe to assume, though we should bring some Anti Aircraft Rockets and March guns with us."

"Agreed." Shamshir replied.

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All that begins must end.