Chapter 89

Pentagon, two months earlier

Following a presidential directive to perform a sweeping force structure review of past, current, and theorized future conflicts in the Milky Way and Pegasus galaxies the need for retooling of the current way of doing things come to light. In the past ground combat had been performed by small SG teams and worked well a majority of the time. Careful review of SG mission reports brought to light several instances where much larger forces would have tipped the balance in favor of the Tauri. Oddly it had been found that in most cases hostile armed forces encountered utilized belligerent and undisciplined tactics and formations unlike those found in the United States Army and Marines. The force structure review went so far as to put forth their recommendation that an Armored Cavalry Regiment sized unit be formed for the mission or tasked for the mission of ground combat on the soil of other planets.

After careful review of the recommendations made and presidential authorization things began to take shape quickly. Instead of forming a new classified unit for the role an existing unit would be tailored to suit the full needs of the role. The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was selected for the purpose. The 3rd ACR Brave Rifles were a unit steeped in history, tracing their lineage to before the American Civil War and serving in every conflict the nation had been involved in since 1845.

The modern ACR is a highly flexible self contained fighting unit. Equipped with armor, mechanized infantry, artillery, aviation elements, electronic warfare, and air defense elements the ACR functions more like a pocket sized division, but with only 5,700 soldiers it lacks the logistics tail that slows down much larger units. It would also prove far easier relocating a single regiment to Fort Carson, Colorado instead of a much larger Armored Division.

The new mission called for a rethink in the equipment 3rd ACR traditionally used. The traditional M-1 Abrams main battle tanks were out, as they were unable to fit through a stargate. In their place would be the M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System, the eight wheeled armored fighting vehicle mounting the 105mm gun that made its combat debut in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Supporting the Stryker's would be the revived M-8 Buford Armored Gun System, a smaller statured yet 120mm main gun equipped younger cousin of the M-1, along with the M-3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle. Traditional M109A2 mobile field artillery systems would be replaced by the smaller and lighter M270 multiple launch rocket system. On the aviation side of the house it was decided to augment the already in use AH-64 Apaches with an upgraded scout helicopter. Replacing the aging OH-58 Kiowa Warrior would be the never put into production RAH-66 Comanche which bore the distinction of being the first helicopter designed with stealth at its core.

In order to not draw attention to the equipment that would be put into the hands of 3rd ACR it was decided by Home World Command that construction capacity found aboard Arkos Station would be tasked to construct several complete regimental sets. These sets would be placed on cargo vessels to preposition equipment in both galaxies should the need arise, so in time of crisis the troops would only need pass through the stargate to mate up with forward positioned gear. Onboard these prepositioning sh.i.p.s would also be found thirty days worth of stocks for any war fighting effort encountered minus fuel, as all vehicles would be converted to make use of a newly developed bio-fuel in lieu of traditional petroleum distillates.

With an eye to the future and conflicts it was hoped would never happen the US Army prepared for whatever the fates would bring to their doorsteps.

Genii Home World

Exiting hyperspace the Hammond quickly began a sensor sweep of the planet below. While the powerful sensors scanned the surface of the planet for anomalies electronic transmissions were intercepted for later analysis and dialing history from the world's stargate was stored for review. Although hostilities between the Tauri and the Genii had ended after the exile of Genii leadership to a far corner of the Pegasus galaxy regular recon missions were performed by vessels of the Pegasus Group. It was hoped that the Genii would finally become a peaceful and helpful partner in the affairs of Pegasus moving forward. Ultra powerful lens aboard the Hammond peered down on the planet below, gathering images of landscape for comparison to earlier images in an effort to ascertain troop movements, crop yields, and expansion of facilities known and unknown. While snapping photos of the area around the stargate masses of men and equipment came into the camera's field of view.

"Looks like the gate is active Colonel" said the sensor operator.

"Our key logging program will tell us the dialing history of the gate, so nothing to worry about" replied Sam.

"Sensors are also showing several hundred men around the gate and entering it" replied the operator.

"Put that on screen" ordered Sam.

In seconds the holographic display screen appeared before the bridge crew. Live images of the scene below played out before them. The sharply magnified image showed armed men entering the gate in cl.u.s.ters. From the vantage point of the Hammonds bridge crew it was clear this was some type of military exercise based on the never differing sizes of the groups that entered the gate with weapons in hand.

"I really don't like the looks of this. Put all this together with the intel we've already collected in a subspace message to Atlantis. I would rather be safe than sorry" ordered Hammonds commanding officer.

With the intel passed along Hammond remained in orbit until the last man passed into the gate. Sam hoped in her heart of hearts that this wasn't the prelude to a resumption of hostilities the Genii had no chance of winning.