Warworld: The Lidless Eye by John F. Carr, Don Hawthorne Page B
Authors: John F. Carr, Don Hawthorne
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resembles northern Scotland or Churchill. Due to the thin atmosphere the only nearly comfortable area of Haven is a single deep rift valley in the equatorial area. The valley is locally called Shangri-La and was named after a similar place in a novel popular in the Twentieth Century.
“The indigenous plants and animals of Haven have biochemistries similar to those of Earth, but evolution has produced some unusual proteins. Needless to say, life native to Haven is extremely hardy, and proved quite dangerous to the early settlers, as indicated by names such as “shark’s fin,” “hangman bush,” “land gator,” “dragon” and “wireweed.” Efforts to reseed Haven with Earth plants and animals have been only partly successful.
“There has been little contact with the Empire since the Imperial Governor and all Imperial officials departed in 2623, approximately the same time the Seventy-seventh Marine Division, the Land Gators, shipped out for Friedland. There are no records of any Imperial contact for the past six years. Most of the moon’s satellite defenses have been destroyed; this was determined by scans of debris in the high orbit around the moon. It appears Haven has been attacked at least once, maybe more, by off-world raiders.
“There are little in the way of off-world defenses remaining. We have picked up evidence of human life on an observation satellite and one off the small moon Ayesha, which is tethered to Cat’s Eye and is the primary in-system refueling station. Castell City, the major city in the Shangri-La Valley, shows recent signs of battle damage and of serious population loss. We identified two major fortifications, Fort Kursk and Fort Fornova. Both date back to the CoDominium period and should be considered heavily fortified. According to Records: when the Imperials abandoned Haven, they put a former Imperial Marine officer, Brigadier-General Gary Cummings, in command of the Haven Volunteers, an under-staffed brigade composed of two regiments of local militia.”
Colonel Gary Cummings , Diettinger mulled. He remembered a dispatch after the Tabletop action that had some favorable reports on the Imperial resistance on that planet. The Colonel had been mentioned as one of the resistance leaders. I wonder if it’s the same man. If so, Cummings is familiar with our capabilities and tactics and he could be a dangerous opponent .
Survey ended her report, and Diettinger threw the switch that secured the wardroom from further communications.
“Breedmaster Caius,” Diettinger addressed the Soldier charged with the standards of racial and genetic purity among the detachment under his command. “How many female Soldiers aboard, including those EVA Commandos we took aboard back on Sauron?”
“One hundred and seventy-three.”
Diettinger considered the answer a moment, then continued. “Allsuch personnel are to be removed from active combat duty and other responsibilities as of the end of this meeting. Also to be removed from the duty roster are those Soldiers aboard, now serving in any capacity, with a Genetic Preference Rating of A-5 and above, as well as those personnel with Fertility Ratings of three or higher.”
The physical abilities of the elite EVA Commandos aboard would make that order cut sharply into available forces, but if Breedmaster Caius had an opinion, he kept it to himself. Diettinger’s order was acknowledged with a brief nod.
“Deathmaster Quilland.” Diettinger looked farther down the wardroom table, but not to the other end, not quite yet. He wanted the figure seated there to hear all the groundwork before the full plan was revealed. “As senior Staff Rank aboard, you, the Ground Force commanders, and the other Deathmaster Ranks are to review all planetary data as Survey ranks acquire it. In forty hours, present me with your recommendation of areas planetside that our available forces can secure and hold against counterattacks from such opposition as we might
“The indigenous plants and animals of Haven have biochemistries similar to those of Earth, but evolution has produced some unusual proteins. Needless to say, life native to Haven is extremely hardy, and proved quite dangerous to the early settlers, as indicated by names such as “shark’s fin,” “hangman bush,” “land gator,” “dragon” and “wireweed.” Efforts to reseed Haven with Earth plants and animals have been only partly successful.
“There has been little contact with the Empire since the Imperial Governor and all Imperial officials departed in 2623, approximately the same time the Seventy-seventh Marine Division, the Land Gators, shipped out for Friedland. There are no records of any Imperial contact for the past six years. Most of the moon’s satellite defenses have been destroyed; this was determined by scans of debris in the high orbit around the moon. It appears Haven has been attacked at least once, maybe more, by off-world raiders.
“There are little in the way of off-world defenses remaining. We have picked up evidence of human life on an observation satellite and one off the small moon Ayesha, which is tethered to Cat’s Eye and is the primary in-system refueling station. Castell City, the major city in the Shangri-La Valley, shows recent signs of battle damage and of serious population loss. We identified two major fortifications, Fort Kursk and Fort Fornova. Both date back to the CoDominium period and should be considered heavily fortified. According to Records: when the Imperials abandoned Haven, they put a former Imperial Marine officer, Brigadier-General Gary Cummings, in command of the Haven Volunteers, an under-staffed brigade composed of two regiments of local militia.”
Colonel Gary Cummings , Diettinger mulled. He remembered a dispatch after the Tabletop action that had some favorable reports on the Imperial resistance on that planet. The Colonel had been mentioned as one of the resistance leaders. I wonder if it’s the same man. If so, Cummings is familiar with our capabilities and tactics and he could be a dangerous opponent .
Survey ended her report, and Diettinger threw the switch that secured the wardroom from further communications.
“Breedmaster Caius,” Diettinger addressed the Soldier charged with the standards of racial and genetic purity among the detachment under his command. “How many female Soldiers aboard, including those EVA Commandos we took aboard back on Sauron?”
“One hundred and seventy-three.”
Diettinger considered the answer a moment, then continued. “Allsuch personnel are to be removed from active combat duty and other responsibilities as of the end of this meeting. Also to be removed from the duty roster are those Soldiers aboard, now serving in any capacity, with a Genetic Preference Rating of A-5 and above, as well as those personnel with Fertility Ratings of three or higher.”
The physical abilities of the elite EVA Commandos aboard would make that order cut sharply into available forces, but if Breedmaster Caius had an opinion, he kept it to himself. Diettinger’s order was acknowledged with a brief nod.
“Deathmaster Quilland.” Diettinger looked farther down the wardroom table, but not to the other end, not quite yet. He wanted the figure seated there to hear all the groundwork before the full plan was revealed. “As senior Staff Rank aboard, you, the Ground Force commanders, and the other Deathmaster Ranks are to review all planetary data as Survey ranks acquire it. In forty hours, present me with your recommendation of areas planetside that our available forces can secure and hold against counterattacks from such opposition as we might
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