A Russian general leaned forward and took it from there. “The opening phase of the assault is designated OXBOW. Fifteen long-range radiation projectors will commence area-obliteration of selected targets on Jevien, firing from one million miles standoff behind screens of destroyers and close-support tactical units. Five more will be held in reserve at ten million miles. The bombardment is intended to draw and engage the defensive forces while the spearheads move in to commence operations around the planet itself.”
A European Air Force chief continued, “Phase BANSHEE will begin with a high-level sweep of Jevienese near-space to clear it of all enemy hardware. This will be followed immediately by rapid deployment of a mixed-strike orbital system to neutralize major military installations and observed ground concentrations. A secondary force will concentrate on population centers and administrative focal points to dislocate the defenses by creating panic and disrupting communications. Simultaneously, lower-altitude intercept units and kilisats will contest Jevienese air space, with carrier-based tactical groups operating in selective ground-strike and counterfire roles. Our objective here is to gain complete control above the surface within twelve hours of the spearheads going in. The codeword CLAYMORE will be issued upon the successful completion of this phase.”
A Chinese general summed up the last part. “When CLAYMORE is declared, conditions will have been established to permit the seizure of bridgeheads on the surface. This phase is
designated DRAGON. The first descents will be made by remote-controlled decoy landers to enable surviving defensive installations to be identified and destroyed by a portion of the orbital bombardment groups held in reserve for that purpose. The remaining orbiting groups will redeploy to provide close-support fire for the landings, and the carrier groups assigned to ground suppression will commence launching aircraft. When descent corridors have been cleared, the ground forces will be landed initially at twelve strategic points. Details of those operations are currently being finalized with the respective bridgehead commanders. Strategic bombardment from high level will continue throughout to prevent the defenses from concentrating on the landing areas.”
“That concludes the overview,” Gearvey said. “Individual unit assignments, timetabling, and call signs will follow immediately. Remain on standby.”
“What do you think?” CaidwelI asked as the image cut out.
“I’m impressed,” Heller said. “It’d sure scare the hell out of me.”
“Horrifying,” Calazar pronounced numbly. “It is just as well that you did not go with the Shapieron. We would never have conceived anything like that.”
Danchekker did not seem Completely happy. “It still doesn’t contain the sense of urgency that we have to convey,” he said. “It doesn’t mention any specific dates.”
“I did that on purpose,” CaidweIl told him. “If we’re going to be credible, we’d have to allow Earth ships months to get out of the solar system. The best thing seemed to be to leave it uncertain. What other way is there?”
“I don’t know, but I still don’t like it,” Danchekker said.
Nobody spoke for a few seconds, then Morizal said, “Well, we’ve already got the Thuriens providing the transfer ports outside the solar system. We could take it a step further and have the Terran vessels fitted with Thurien-supplied h-grid boosters. That way we could get them out of the solar system in a day.”
“A whole fleet?” Heller said dubiously. “Could a whole fleet be fitted out that quickly?”
“Conceivably yes,” Morizal replied. “It’s quite a simple job. With unlimited assistance from Ganymean engineers, it would be feasible.”
“How does that sound?” Caidwell asked, looking at Danchekker.
“It sounds more like what we want,” Danchekker agreed, nodding.
“Suppose I change the last part to this,” VISAR offered. The image reappeared and showed General Gearvey again, just about to sum up.
“That concludes the overview,” he said. “There are no major revisions to the schedule to report. The h-beam boosters are currently being fitted by the Thuriens, and the first assault elements should commence moving out from Earth, on time, at eighteen hundred hours today. Current indications are that the full force will complete its assembly outside the enemy star system three days from now as planned. The force will then reenter h-space and be accelerated to reexit into normal space at a velocity that will move it to Jevlen in twenty-two hours. Therefore we should be going into action four days from now. Good luck to you all. Individual unit assignments, timetabling, and call signs will follow immediately. Remain on standby.” The image vanished.