| From: | "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Yemen |
| Date: | Thu, 4 Dec 1997 01:02:48 +0000 |
+++++relay via tacstation "Wolf Den"
>>>>>[TO: Byrnes, E.
Amazing, what a war shakes loose.
Pass all this around, see what the guys think. Interesting, no?
I'm not surprised Darius decided to involve himself. Our beloved
Chairman, though? Weird.
+++++begin video
A civilian Global Express business jet is refuelling from the row of
flexible tanks, the airstairs opening: a burly man in a bush jacket and
chinos emerges, sees Lynch (for the view is distinctively his) and walks
that way. Over a dozen Stallion helicopters are visible in the distance,
terrain-following at high speed in a tight echelon formation, banking
into a turn. The pop and crackle of gunfire is clearly audible, and a
shriek of turbofans announces the passage overhead of two sleek, angular
forms, followed by two more - Ares Athena cavalry vehicles, fast and
deadly killers. Rusanov's either found massive wealth, or been heavily
reinforced.
"Darius Chester Jedburgh, here in Socotra. What the hell are you doing
here, you Company stooge?" Lynch asks amiably.
Jedburgh laughs. "Lynch, you sonofabitch, you think I like these Third
World hellholes? _I_ am a Company man. Any location that does not
possess air-conditioned bathrooms qualifies as "hardship conditions".
Both men seem to find that hilarious, as they walk towards the vehicle
park: expanded by more self-propelled artillery vehicles, some very
freshly painted in Rebels grey, some still in their primer undercoat.
Work crews are part-way along the line, applying various shades of grey
to the vehicles.
"So, Darius, what can we do for you?" Lynch holds open the flap of the
headquarters tent, and Jedburgh at once goes to the Norwegian flask of
coffee, tossing a manila envelope on the holomap in passing.
"Oh, very little, Jason, you know?" The CIA field agent grins, handing
Lynch coffee and producing a cigar from one of the bush jacket's many
pockets. He bites off the end, and says as he fumbles for matches "I'm
just here to observe Corporate Court reaction to the situation."
Lynch sounds puzzled as he lights a Marlboro of his own with a battered
old Zippo. "I thought I was reporting regularly to VD."
"Yeah, well, your Chairman of Oversight Intimidation told me to come out
and check it out. And to be sure to take a current HUMINT report from
Kuffiyah, and a full set of satellite shots plus interpretation, so I
can see if you're being honest. And I'm absolutely not to lose them or
leave them behind. Which is kind of a bitch, because I cannot find those
motherfuckers anywhere right now." The thick manila envelope sits in the
middle of the table, as if ignored by both men.
"Well, if we find it we'll let you know. Probably left it in McLean,
though." Lynch suggests.
"That's gotta be it. Well, looks like your maps match mine. Is Lilith
around? And Stephanie?"
+++++end video
He got a look at the Kaminari while talking to Steph. Good news for
Ares, that's a good MBT. She wasn't so complimentary about the Athena,
but she shares my dislike of thunderbuckets. And it's good to see Darius
again.
Anyway, this is the data he wasn't meant to leave us.
+++++include satellite photos.jpgs
+++++begin file: Yemen.TXT
SUMMARY
The tactical situation in northern Yemen is unfavourable to Akbar, and
his current course of activity is unlikely to improve it significantly.
A determined and well-coordinated attack, even by a smaller force,
should successfully dislodge his troops from Kuffiyeh and scatter them,
at which point the Yemeni government would be able to restore rule in
Kuffiyeh and mop up the remnants. However, few other courses offer a
short-term resolution.
HUMINT report
Akbar's control of the town of Kuffiyeh is less absolute than
previously. Three months ago he was uncontested ruler of the region,
residents careful to express their love of and worship for "Allah's new
Prophet". However, recent events have caused the townsfolk to become
less respectful, and in many cases hostile to Akbar.
One major problem concerns food. The town's population is almost doubled
by the presence of Akbar's force, and previously food had been brought
in bulk to supplement the normal sources and provide for the troops.
These supplies appear to have been cut, and there is a shortage of food
in the town. This does not approach famine level, but the troops are
appropriating the majority of the incoming food (typically intercepting
farm trucks). This has a knock-on effect, in that farmers are less
willing to bring produce to Kuffiyeh since it is stolen from them.
In addition, when you have commandeered a man's food, you may as well
commandeer his wife or daughter also: this pattern of behaviour has
caused fighting between townsfolk and Akbar's men, resolved in each case
by the execution of the townsfolk involved and the arrest of their
family: male relatives are beaten, female relatives imprisoned where
they are allegedly used as prostitutes by Akbar's men. It is notable the
extent to which Akbar has formalised rape as a benefit of service: "the
warrior's reward", as his mullahs term it. While extremely effective as
a recruitment tool during an expansionist phase, it is having serious
repercussions in the absence of an external enemy who can be brought to
battle, and is the single most destructive thing to what support Akbar
once enjoyed among the local population.
The townsfolk have also lost faith in Akbar's martial prowess. The
rumours of air attack caused a great deal of alarm, particularly Satan's
Cross (the nickname for the Hercules gunship conversions used to such
effect by the Rebels). Survivors from attacks on road convoys offer
colourful, dramatic accounts of a barely visible foe circling overhead
out of reach, pouring torrents of fire and death earthward, able to hunt
down individual men... it appears the gunship aircraft remains a valid
weapon for low-intensity warfare.
Akbar's response was that the SAM battery protecting the town provided
an impenetrable shield. Two nights ago it was destroyed in a daring air
raid: Akbar's loyalty officers claimed three enemy aircraft destroyed
and insisted that the town was still safe. The townsfolk, however, are
aware that casualties and damage occur during every air raid, not
because of direct attack (other than the strike against the battery,
there has been no air strike against the town) but from the volume of
small-arms and AA fire discharged: bullets, shells and missiles obeying
gravity to fall, sometimes into the town.
Similarly, it is widely known that Akbar no longer controls the
countryside, and that bands of his enemies roam freely, hunting Akbar's
forces and ambushing convoys. Although discussing this is an offence
punishable by death, it is still a popular topic: particularly the
rumours that grey-uniformed soldiers stalk the streets at night, hunting
Akbar's forces whenever they can be found in small groups and harassing
larger units.
It is certainly true that there is small-arms fire audible on almost all
nights: whether this is due to Rusanov's force, or to blue-on-blue
accidents, or to simple fear and panic, cannot be judged.
Desertion is becoming a growing problem, and several public executions
of would-be deserters have occurred. Most recently, the offenders are
left alive: branded, blinded, gelded and with hands and feet amputated
and tongue removed. Those that survive this treatment are discarded to
beg in the street. Even this has not stopped the trickle of men
discarding their arms and their uniforms to flee, though the general
hostility of the inhabitants has an inhibiting effect.
The prowling enemy (real or perceived) and the risk of desertion has led
Akbar to concentrate his forces around the Palace (as he chooses to term
his home in a defensive perimeter being enhanced by excavation and
construction of concrete fortifications. A number of disabled tanks have
been buried as strongpoints to command key approaches. There appears to
be almost no patrolling activity, and the dusk-to-dawn curfew is not
enforced: Akbar's troops withdraw into guarded buildings at nightfall
and do not emerge until the sun rises.
Akbar still has sufficient forces to hold Kuffiyeh, since the core of
his troops - generally isolated from the populace - are likely to remain
allied to him since it guarantees their access to food, goods and women
looted from the town. With little to no civilian armament, there is
small chance of a successful insurrection without massive casualties,
nd few options for Akbar's neutralisation exist other than a direct
assault. However, he and his troops are not well positioned to resist
such an attack.
+++++end file
It checks out, it fits, it seems true. What the hell is our Chairman
doing today? And how can we help him? Maybe if we make him look good
enough he'll get promoted away somewhere else.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <01:02:12/12-04-58>
