Hesperus, 8th of may, 2145 - RNTS Fair Lady
There was a lot of buzz about the coming operation known only as "Clean Sweep", not many troopers were privy to the knowledge of what was they were about to do. As soon as they came out of hyper jump the only thing they were sure of was that it involved Hesperus. The enemy have been pushing relentlessly into Federal and Republic space. Ground forces along with their defending fleets have been embattled and beleaguered waiting for reinforcements. The Fair Lady sounded its alarm and an announcement over the P.A. gave them their orders – “All hands report to muster!”
Troopers, Marines, Armor crews, Pilots, Gun crews, and other personnel knew what that meant – imminent combat deployment. Everyone was preparing for an engagement with the enemy. The ODIN division commander came on the P.A. and on the screens in their muster stations for a quick briefing hours before the actual deployment on Hesperus.
“Troopers of the 101st ODIN Division, you are to take part in one of the largest military deployments in human history known as Operation “Clean Sweep”. The operation is as straightforward as its name suggests – we are to sweep strategically important locations while securing our core territories. Hesperus is one of these strategically important locations as its rich natural resources such as precious minerals and its large pockets of subterranean natural gasses are necessary to build and maintain our fleets and industries.
Hesperus, despite being heavily cleared of vegetation in developed areas is still 64% jungle and swamp with only 22% being actual developed areas; mountainous and great lake regions take the final 14 percent. The water in some regions of the swamps can reach up to your waist, the atmosphere is breathable with acceptable O2 ratings – however the water is not drinkable with foreign contaminants from several different minerals that can be detrimental to bodily health. I am sure you have all been briefed about the flora and fauna of Hesperus – some might’ve used this as a great clue to prepare for the Hesperus drop in advance.
ODIN divisions such as the 101st, 82nd, 1st, 6th, and 9th are to deploy behind enemy lines to take strategic and tactical locations on Hesperus. This action will force the enemy to relieve the pressure from the front lines by forcing them to deal with ODIN units in multiple locations. ODIN will also be given the task of studying and observing enemy operations while sabotaging their every advance – to know the enemy is to beat the enemy.
Marines in the meantime will land on key areas of defense to relieve the beleaguered garrison; they will then establish a forward deployment zone for the rest of the campaign to secure Hesperus. From the army’s armored divisions, infantry divisions, and artillery divisions will assist in pushing back the enemy from the front. The Fleet will assist in any way they can through strategic bombing, close air support, and medevac retrieval.
To conclude this briefing, I will give you a bit of history on our division before you deploy.
You are one of many divisions that have existed for two hundred years and you are also one of the first to have been converted into an ODIN division. On this day two hundred years ago, your division took part in the effort to end a war on Terra in a region known as Europe.
They were Airborne; just like many of you. I will not sugar coat their efforts and say they achieved great victory. They suffered; they bled and they lost a lot of good men. But they fought hard and did not buckle under the enemy pressure – they believed in the bonds that they formed. The soldier beside you is your lifeline; believe in them for they will trust you with their very lives. Remember your training, for it will keep you alive.
The motto of our division has remained unchanged for two hundred years, ”Rendezvous With Destiny”. I believe that today, regardless of what the outcome may be that our motto is true. I will not wish you farewell, instead I will give you an order – come back alive or take as many of the enemy down to hell with you. I am proud to have been in command of such a fine division of soldiers.”
ODIN troopers of the 101st were then given their deployment objectives, the 506th regiment were given orders to take a hill ridge with three distinct peaks that served as a supposed enemy head quarters as well as a forward operating base that the enemy has been using as a staging ground from which to launch attacks. The Regiment was comprised of five companies, each company was comprised of three platoons, each platoon consisted of two squads of five or more men depending on the company role.
- ABLE COMPANY
- BAKER COMPANY
- CHARLIE COMPANY
- DOG COMPANY
- EASY COMPANY
Charlie, Dog, and Easy company will be tasked with assaulting the hill as they are ODIN trooper companies; Able and Baker are combat support companies that will be dropping in with mortars, engineering utilities, and field medical services. At least one platoon in a combat support company is a regular infantry platoon for security. This arrangement ensures maximum survivability and punch for an ODIN regiment.
After the Regiment captures the hill, it will have to be defended until the main push arrives, the hills have been dubbed by defending forces as the ’gun belt’ for the amount of fire coming around the hill structure making it look like a belt around a waist. Officially it was designated as Hill-765 after its highest central peak.
Easy Company’s first platoon had been reinforced with new faces, some were clearly veterans of the first war, some were new faces all together but one thing stood out, they weren’t all Republican. The 101st was also subject to the joint forces agreement, not every unit had this strictly enforced, but they were supposed to be open to new recruits regardless of their nationality. They had four hours before their deployment – four hours to prep and it was a chance for everyone involved to perhaps interact and get to know each other or calm their nerves as their fleet approached Hesperus’ occupying hostile blockade.
The Fair Lady’s crew was busy carrying ammunition to the guns that would be used to fend off the invaders. This point of every deployment is always considered to be the most nerve racking. The troops awaiting their drop-off planetside pondered whether or not they would even leave the Fair Lady in one piece.
