Chapter Forty-One (Ekret) (2/2)
”Tell them 'at ease', sir,” Zhukov whispered.
”At ease,” Ekret said and watched as all their postures relaxed at the same time.
Well disciplined does not mean combat effective, Ekret whispered to himself.
”I'm Lieutenant Colonel Hargeson, this is Major Allison, my Executive Office,” The Terran said, introducing each one in turn. The master of the lower grades was present also.
Ekret noted that they were all very formal in their posture, attentiveness, speech, and address.
Ekret was informed that the Maintenance units, apparently something called a Corps Support Command (COSCOM) was landing to assist with maintenance of the Terran's Heavy Metal. Ekret was startled that their maintenance unit was the size of three of his own divisions. They had ten times the number of beings in their maintenance unit that Ekret's entire armored host.
Partway through Hargeson stopped, paused the holodisplay which was showing Ekret the breakdown of the unit structure of V Corps, and looked at Ekret.
”Sir, if I may ask, which of your units is considered Heavy Metal?” The LTC asked, his body language seeming distressed to Ekret. Ekret answered, firm in the belief that his hover tanks were impressive.
”These units?” The LTC asked, bringing up the image of the heavy tank on the holodisplay.
Ekret admired it as it slowly rotated. Ninety millimeter bore heavy plasma cannon, three coaxial rapid fire plasma guns, two point defense, and six 40mm mortars with nearly a dozen shots for each in them. Each tank was 150 tons of layered armor, eight hover fans, two gravity engines. A crew of four: The Tank High Most, the gunner, the EW/EMCOM/COM, the driver, all trained to a high efficiency, most crews with hundreds of hours in their tanks. Rolling doom who any who dared face them.
”Yes, COSCOM High Most,” Ekret said, giving the equivalent of a sigh of pleasure at the sight of his craft.
The Terrans went perfectly still and silent and for a moment Ekret wondered if a predator had entered the room.
Is there a problem? Ekret asked through the implant.
It would be better if my biological counterpart explained it, Armored High Most, Zhukov answered carefully.
”If there is a problem, rub my muzzle in it, don't try to use it to comb the fur of my buttocks,” Ekret said, putting on his best commander voice.
”I feel perhaps I should let you do a comparison,” the LTC said, his voice grave. He made a motion, dividing the holotank in half, and made a tossing motion.
What appeared in the holotank was an absolute nightmare.
Over 2,800 tons, treads, graviton assistance, a main gun with a bore diameter of over 300mm that appeared to compress a nuclear blast into a directed energy 'slug' that would impact with the force between, at the discretion of the commander, of 11 kilotons all the way up to 22.5 megatons. It was capable of a shot every 5-11 seconds depending on the skill of the loader and how hot the chamber had gotten, compared to 15 seconds for his own guns. Worse, the main gun was capable of ”mission flexible munitions” which had a dizzying array. Its armor was thicker than all the armor on Ekret's tank combined and made up of war-steel laminate. The rest of the weapons were point defense, mortars, vertical launch rocket systems, anti-infantry weapons.
”May I?” Ekret asked, moving toward the holotank and raising one paw toward the drive train specifications box.
”Of course, Armor High Most,” The LTC said.
Ekret touched the box and watched the data spill out. It could move under counter-grav but was designed to move on the treads for a multitude of reasons, half of them psychological. It was capable of bursts of speed up to 180 kph and a sustained speed of 70 kph, which it was expected to do battle at. It could fire inside its own turning arc during a 90-degree turn. It carried the same crew as Ekret's tanks, with the exception of also carrying a maintenance/stores officer who ran something call the creation engine/nano-forge during battle.
It was a monster.
”How much do each of these cost?” Ekret asked, his mind boggling at what he was seeing.
”Roughly 255 million Terran Credits, mostly the resources shipment, creation of the parts, assembly. Not as expensive as, say, a Hercules Class War Titan, but still expensive,” The Major said.
Ekret closed his eyes and thought a moment. If that was what the Terran military was going to field to help defend this planet, his tanks, even the heaviest ones, would be more than litter in front of the treads. Just the corona from that massive cannon passage would shred his tank's armor.
Insanely, that main gun could even hurt other tanks, shoot into near orbit, and maybe even hit a target on orbital approach.
”High Most?” The LTC asked.
”A moment,” Ekret said. He thought quickly. They had not denigrated his men or his vehicles, just stated that there was a problem that was instantly obvious to Ekret the minute he saw one of their hyper-expensive massive war machines.
”What is equivelant to my armored vehicles?” Ekret asked, opening his eyes. ”Do no be afraid of ruffling my fur, my men's lives depend on facts, not feelings.”
The Terran's position shifted slightly and Ekret saw a couple of subtle nods, which the Terrans used to signify assent.
”Light attack craft. Primarily scouting and reconnaissance,” The LTC said.
Ekret thought about what he'd read and witnessed looking at V Corps (Old Metal)'s record. He held up his hand for patience and closed his eyes. He looked for and found ”Cav Scouts” in 3rd Armor and looked up their battle honors. Hundreds of them. He chose a battle at random and let it play out on fast forward in his mind. His implant heated with the amount of data and he shut down the link.
”Cavalry Scout is an honored and risky duty that often decides the order of battle,” Ekret said, drawing himself up in pride. ”My metal will be pleased to assist in such a manner.”
The gathered up Terrans all nodded and he could see the gleam of respect in their eyes.
Ekret knew why. He'd seen the casualties but he'd also seen how vitally important they were.
War is not a place for pride, if one believes they are willing to pay any cost for victory, Ekret thought to himself. I will not sacrifice my men for my own pride. The Precursor munitions will not be stopped by a commander's pride, only the application of metal.
He waved the tank specs away. ”Come, gentlebeings, let us plan.”
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3rd ARMOR DIVISION (HEAVY METAL) MEMO
Local Forces have agreed to act as light scout (Cav Scout) forces. Commander has a excellent ability to integrate new tactics into his skill set and does not react with pride when defeated in simulations. His ”Heavy Armor” units are equivalent to Light Scout Vehicles. Will be integrating his forces with 3rd Armor. 3rd COSCOM is currently refitting their units to acceptable specifications while retaining existing abilities so as to not erode crew skill levels.
-------NOTHING FOLLOWS----------
3rd COSCOM (OLD METAL) MEMO
Local vehicles are in need of computer upgrade, VI upgrade, weapon upgrade, ablative armor additions, and power train upgrade. Am consulting with local commanders on comparable and compateble tech levels. The vehicles may be soft metal but their crews are experience and willing.
-----NOTHING FOLLOWS----------
SYSTEM MOST HIGH ORDERS
Armored Most High Ekret, you are to ensure that Unified Military Forces are retaining command of all units and areas of operation. Unified Intelligence Council and Unified Corporate Council both believe that the Terrans are over-estimating and overstating the level of their technology and their military's abilities.
Do not these aliens displace you from your honored command of Heavy Armor in the name of the Unified Military Forces and the Kestimet Corporation.
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KESTIMET CORPORATION MEMO
Ekret, remember who holds your contract and who gives you your orders.
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108th MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
ALL UNITS ALL COMMANDERS
IMP PRESENCE DETECTED IN OORT CLOUD
ATTACK IMMENENT
ATTACK IMMINENT
ATTACK IMMINENT
--------NOTHING FOLLOWS--------