Chapter 177

Mountains above Jaffa encampment

Overlooking a suspected avenue of attack from a ridgeline high above the valley floor, sat a lone forward observer team. The two man team was safely ensconced behind sandbags and natural rock terrain. Camouflage netting made the small outpost almost impossible to discern from any great distance. Despite that, the two man team checked and rechecked their positions concealment every six hours. When a deficiency was noted, natural vegetation was retrieved and integrated into the growing collage of foliage.

Since their arrival on Goronak, the two man team had stood watch over their sector. The mission they faced was one they had trained for. As forward observers, these two men would guide in needed artillery fire should the Jaffa attempt to scale the mountains. Resting higher in the mountains at various locations was an array of M777 field artillery pieces.

The recent order to remain in their cantonment areas had come as a surprise. The soldiers wondered why, if they had been deployed here to fight a war. An unwanted side effect of this order was a reduction in infantry patrols, and a severe limiting to the distance the few patrols out were allowed to cover. None would be allowed past what was now being referred to as the demilitarized zone.

"This sucks." The junior forward observer said blandly.

"Join the Army, travel the world, meet new and exciting people, and then shoot at them, or die of boredom on some rock." The senior soldier replied.

"Ever wish something would happen? I know its bad luck, but still." The junior asked.

"You might be getting your wish. Sector five, valley floor, I've got movement in a big way." Senior said crisply.

"Got it. Whoa! Atleast battalion strength." Junior replied.

The target of their attention slowly worked its way up the valley below and before the two men. This slithering mass could easily be mistaken for a snake at such distance, but was in fact something far more deadly. A Jaffa column of what appeared to be several thousand men was on the march. The path they were taking led to only one destination; an encampment of the 10th Mountain Division.

"Ok, I'm calling this in. The demarcation line runs through the middle of the valley. If they pass that we're going to have to bring the rain." Senior stated.

"Estimate enemy formation is atleast brigade strength." Junior added.

Senior jumped on his radio, already dialed in to the fire control network. Devoted strictly to the gun emplacements and forward observer positions, this radio channel was the control line for the combined NATO artillery forces.

"Archer two zero, this is Rough Rider four six." Senior said into the radio.

"Go for Archer two zero." The Division Artillery commander replied.

"Fire mission. From fire marker four, direction eighteen hundred, right six hundred, drop four hundred. Estimate brigade size element. At current rate of advance, enemy will pass demarcation line in one zero minutes." Senior explained into the radio.

"Rough rider four six, confirm last." Division Artillery requested somewhat surprised.

"Archer two zero, confirm brigade size element. Advancing towards demarcation line now." Senior replied.

Before another word could be exchanged over the radio net, a series of explosions erupted in the valley below. Seconds later the sight of four Al'kesh and six gliders came fully into view. Bolts of energy impacted the valley, obscuring everything in a cloud of thick dust.

"Archer two zero, Rough Rider four six. Cancel fire mission. Enemy ground unit currently being engaged by enemy air assets." Senior explained into the radio in a highly confused tone.

"Rough Rider four six, ground unit is being engaged by who?" The Artillery commander demanded.

Among the Tauri ranks, none were sure just what this meant. One moment they were preparing for a possible attack. Now they were bearing witness to the enemy slaughtering his own. Hunkered down in their fighting positions, the fighting men of the Tauri sat at the ready and tried to make sense of the slaughter below.