Post by Sojourner on Jan 1, 2005 16:52:27 GMT -5
"Alright, listen up people"
Lieutenant Jaghir Chrais addressed the hundred or so assembled soldiers before him. Noticing the frowns on many faces he raised his voice to make himself heard over the blustering wind.
"I'll be brief, this is a straightforward entrenchment job except for one detail. That is, we have only three days to do it."
A murmur arose from the assembled engineering platoon at this news. The Arcturan engineering regiments were widely considered to be the best in the sector but even they were used to having more time and better weather conditions than fate and beauracracy had granted in recent weeks. Three days to finish one of their heavy defensive redoubts was pushing one's luck.
"Settle down now," Chrais continued. "We've drawn up a roster and you'll be working shifts on this one. Elements from three company are providing the motors, but they're handing them over to us so the grunt work will be entirely our responsibility."
The Lieutenant nodded toward the half dozen jumpsuited civilians who were sheepishly hugging the edge of the rough corral of tents and assorted clutter.
"The state corporation will also be providing some machinery and expertise and will be handling our material requirements. We're looking to be using about eighty loads of plascrete and several hundred pre-forms so the halftracks will be in and out of this site pretty frequently. Fortunately the motor pool camp will be well out of our way."
Picking up a roll of technical paper and offering it to a nearby sergeant, he unrolled the schematic and gestured to the main defensive wall.
"Here we have your standard eight metre reinforced barrier wall, wide firing step and access ramps every twenty."
Waving a slender stick over the plans, he vaguely indicated the extent of the construction.
"We're operating in this area here, two hundred thirty metres long and joining up on each end to a fire support bunker. Those are being flown in whole by dropship so we won't have to worry about that apart from sticking the whole lot together."
Allowing the sergeant to see to the schematic, Chrais straightened and spoke brightly.
"Any questions?"
A corporal raised his hand. Unlike most of the platoon, Chrais couldn't remember his name.
"Yes?"
"Sir, if I may ask, what's the reasoning on the tight timescale here?"
Chrais paused for a moment. This man was clearly a new arrival; most of the platoon had appreciated the unspoken trend that one did not question ones superior on matters not directly related to the task at hand. He continued anyway.
"Obviously there's only a limited amount I can tell you, but in short, elements of the Massil thirty-eighth are moving in here A.S.A.P and it's vital that these works are ready for them when they get here. I assure you, our orders are very clear. The fortifications must be finished."
Stern nods all round showed Chrais that his tone had been noted.
"Alright then, you all know the procedure, so get your kit stowed then clear the way for the transporters. Your team sergeants have more specific task sheets for the next shift so make sure you've spoken to them by midday."
As the crowd dispersed, Lieutenant Chrais frowned inwardly and pondered on their tight situation. Three days was the most stringent deadline he'd ever had to work to, but finish the job they would.
Lieutenant Jaghir Chrais addressed the hundred or so assembled soldiers before him. Noticing the frowns on many faces he raised his voice to make himself heard over the blustering wind.
"I'll be brief, this is a straightforward entrenchment job except for one detail. That is, we have only three days to do it."
A murmur arose from the assembled engineering platoon at this news. The Arcturan engineering regiments were widely considered to be the best in the sector but even they were used to having more time and better weather conditions than fate and beauracracy had granted in recent weeks. Three days to finish one of their heavy defensive redoubts was pushing one's luck.
"Settle down now," Chrais continued. "We've drawn up a roster and you'll be working shifts on this one. Elements from three company are providing the motors, but they're handing them over to us so the grunt work will be entirely our responsibility."
The Lieutenant nodded toward the half dozen jumpsuited civilians who were sheepishly hugging the edge of the rough corral of tents and assorted clutter.
"The state corporation will also be providing some machinery and expertise and will be handling our material requirements. We're looking to be using about eighty loads of plascrete and several hundred pre-forms so the halftracks will be in and out of this site pretty frequently. Fortunately the motor pool camp will be well out of our way."
Picking up a roll of technical paper and offering it to a nearby sergeant, he unrolled the schematic and gestured to the main defensive wall.
"Here we have your standard eight metre reinforced barrier wall, wide firing step and access ramps every twenty."
Waving a slender stick over the plans, he vaguely indicated the extent of the construction.
"We're operating in this area here, two hundred thirty metres long and joining up on each end to a fire support bunker. Those are being flown in whole by dropship so we won't have to worry about that apart from sticking the whole lot together."
Allowing the sergeant to see to the schematic, Chrais straightened and spoke brightly.
"Any questions?"
A corporal raised his hand. Unlike most of the platoon, Chrais couldn't remember his name.
"Yes?"
"Sir, if I may ask, what's the reasoning on the tight timescale here?"
Chrais paused for a moment. This man was clearly a new arrival; most of the platoon had appreciated the unspoken trend that one did not question ones superior on matters not directly related to the task at hand. He continued anyway.
"Obviously there's only a limited amount I can tell you, but in short, elements of the Massil thirty-eighth are moving in here A.S.A.P and it's vital that these works are ready for them when they get here. I assure you, our orders are very clear. The fortifications must be finished."
Stern nods all round showed Chrais that his tone had been noted.
"Alright then, you all know the procedure, so get your kit stowed then clear the way for the transporters. Your team sergeants have more specific task sheets for the next shift so make sure you've spoken to them by midday."
As the crowd dispersed, Lieutenant Chrais frowned inwardly and pondered on their tight situation. Three days was the most stringent deadline he'd ever had to work to, but finish the job they would.
...
