Excerpt

The diagram, which displayed arrows and directions of attack, had been drawn onto an actual cutaway picture of a food depot and its accompanying guard station barracks.  It had been part of a blueprint at one time.  How he’d acquired it was anyone’s guess.  It was probably lost somewhere years before by work crews constructing one of the depots, left behind once the project was complete and later discovered by miners.  Hicks’s adjutant had affixed the diagram to a large metal plate, and it included an overhead, as well as profile view of one of the facilities. These depots had been constructed in exactly the same way in factories back on Earth, then shipped in components to Rijel 12 to be assembled.  Therefore, the Nausties could use the same attack plan on every food depot on the planet.

“Zorgs are quick and small,” continued General Hicks. “We’ll use them as light infantry to draw fire from the guards while our heavy infantry moves up – protected by boulders and transport vehicles is what I’m planning on.  Now, these boulders I’m speaking of will be discreetly placed, and transports will be parked in a random fashion so as to create narrow kill zones.  Meanwhile, our heavy infantry will move from protective cover to protective cover while taking fire, slowly working their way toward the guard station.  Casualties will be high, but this is necessary while we get our infantry close enough to fire salvos of javelins and eliminate guard positions.”

Of course, the meticulous Slarts were not terribly impressed with the battle plan so far, but they nodded politely anyway as Hicks stopped, gave a big long humorous glance over at his handsome assistant, then looked back at his audience with an icy cold look on his face.  He spoke again. 

“But it’s only a feint.”  All the emotion drained from his face.  At that, he turned back to the diagram.  It was lying on the large stone conference table, so everyone could see what he was pointing to.  Hicks gestured with his hands as he described the rest.  “You see, gentlemen, by drawing fire from the guards posted in those kill slots, we’ll be able to burst through the floor of the station and come right up between their legs and right up their asses.” 

He grinned while he gestured in an underhand motion with his thumb.  Then he reached over the top of the diagram and pointed downward, saying “Our Sudonji will also drill through the ceiling of the tunnel.  Break in through the roof.  By the time those guards realize they’re being crushed like a grape, our infantry will be able to cut through the gate of the depot with acetylene torches and eliminate the entire garrison.”