Outreach
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
April 5th 3051
Ragnar was nervous as he climbed into the massive 100-ton 'Mech. This wasn't a simulator; this was the real deal. The lasers were powered down, and the munitions were fake, designed to simulate damage through the Wolf's Dragoons' computers. But this was still a real 'Mech. Jaime Wolf had warned that piloting it into a rock or falling wrong could still be fatal.
Seems a bit crazy for a training exercise, but I know they want to impress upon us the seriousness of it all.
The 100-ton 'Mech he was now piloting was the Dire Wolf, and they had trained on it for some time in the simulators. They were allowed to pick their own weapon configuration, but he figured the base model must be a good all-around choice. Since he didn't yet know what he was facing, it seemed a safe bet. That meant he had an awe-inspiring arsenal: four ER large lasers, four medium pulse lasers, a rack of LRM-10s, and two Ultra AC/5s.
With 'Mechs like these, it's no wonder the KungsArmé couldn't stop the invaders.
He saw Cassandra's own Dire Wolf roughly 500 meters away and opened a comm channel.
"Good luck Zandra."
"Same to you!"
Ragnar knew there was a prize on the line – one he almost certainly would not win. The Wolf's Dragoons were awarding a Dire Wolf to each of the two MechWarriors with the highest scores. He would love to have one, but he was up against Kai, Victor, and Hohiro.
Galen and Shin will probably best my score too, but I'm not going to give up!
He moved his 'Mech forward, its gait smoother than even the light 'Mechs he had trained on in the FRR. His computer identified targets in range. They were lined up, each about 300 meters apart. First up was a Hoplite.
Ragnar was confident he could defeat this 'Mech. The real danger lay in the ones behind it – a heavy 'Mech, a Thunderbolt, and, further back, a 100-ton Marauder II.
At maximum range, he let loose with three ER large lasers. One missed the lighter 'Mech, but the other two struck true. His computer terminal flared with damage reports on the enemy's arm and right torso.
Feeling more confident, Ragnar advanced and fired his LRMs, holding the trigger down on his autocannons. Most of the LRMs missed as the enemy 'Mech twisted away and increased speed, but the autocannons struck the center mass, stripping away more armor. Ragnar triggered his lasers again and was once more rewarded with two out of three hits.
I can do this.
The Hoplite's return salvo consisted of just a few missiles, which inflicted only minor damage on the Dire Wolf. As the two 'Mechs closed the distance, the Hoplite's autocannon roared to life, dealing more significant damage than the missiles. But his 'Mech could handle it.
The enemy 'Mech registered as losing an arm, though, of course, no arm actually flew away. The Hoplite nearly fell over from the sudden imbalance, but the skilled pilot kept it standing and fired the autocannon again, chipping away armor from the Dire Wolf's legs. Ragnar's twin autocannons chewed up the Hoplite's torso, and when his medium pulse lasers struck, they finished the job. The Hoplite was then registered as a 'kill.'
One down, two to go.
The Thunderbolt was a heavier opponent, which meant more armor and more weapons. His own weapons cycled on first, and this time he triggered all four of his ER large lasers, hoping to gain an early advantage. The rush of heat in the 'Mech was stifling, and for several painful moments, he felt the suffocating, scorching air before the cooling liquid in his vest lowered the temperature. He was rewarded when all four lasers hit, though they were spread out across various parts of the Thunderbolt.
Nearing, the enemy advanced another 100 meters before letting his own ER large laser strike out, stripping away more armor from the Dire Wolf's leg. The LRMs thundered into the right torso, and two hit his cockpit. Ragnar was jostled about by the Wolf's Dragoons' computer systems.
There was still plenty of armor on the head, but even fake explosives so near his physical body made him recoil backward, and the connection with the neurohelmet caused his 'Mech to do the same. Now teetering, he willed his 'Mech to stay upright. It was close for a moment, but he managed it. The Thunderbolt continued to advance as Ragnar reoriented himself. The stifling heat had decreased since he missed the window to fire his weapons during the few seconds of delay spent keeping his 'Mech upright.
This time, he triggered only three of his lasers, both autocannons, and his LRMs. The enemy Thunderbolt's sensor readings flared as all but a few of the LRMs struck home. Internals had been pierced, and the enemy 'Mech would soon start to run hot.
The enemy's accuracy was good, and the ER large laser burned through the armor of the Dire Wolf's leg and froze. He cursed but realized he could still move it; it would just be limping. As the Thunderbolt worked its way around to Ragnar's side, he had to slowly shuffle and turn to keep his opponent in his weapon's firing arc.
With the range now close, he triggered his medium pulse lasers, and two missed, while the other two sent molten bits of armor down the 'Mech's flank. The enemy was pulling past and still circling, having fired their own lasers, which melted armor across his left torso. Two SRMs snaked out and chewed up the armor on his arm.
I can't let him get behind me.
Rotating his torso fully and still shuffling, he triggered nearly everything. Heat roared in his cockpit, and he slammed the override shutdown button. His 'Mech moved sluggishly, and his sensor array showed significant damage, but the effect had been worth it. Pulse lasers and large lasers sent burning beams of optical energy tearing through the enemy 'Mech. The LRMs and autocannons finished the job, and the 'Mech was registered as a kill.
The last foe advanced, a deadly Marauder II. Covered in sweat he tentatively fired two ER large lasers, only one hit. He needed his 'Mech to cool down! The response came with two ER PPCs ripping huge chunks out of his center torso and left arm.
The Marauder seemed content to snipe with its ER PPCs, and Ragnar felt he had the advantage at range, so he chose to stay there. Unfortunately for him, the enemy proved quite capable of firing at those long distances, while Ragnar struggled with sensor damage to connect. His autocannon veered wildly, but he did manage to strike with two of his large lasers. The damage to the enemy 'Mech was building up, but after another exchange, the last vestiges of his leg gave way, and his 'Mech collapsed heavily onto its side.
Instead of trying to stand up, he triggered two of the large lasers in the side that wasn't down and kept firing. The Marauder moved out of the arc, and Ragnar wrestled with the controls. Trying to stand up with a 'dead' 'Mech leg was technically possible, just very difficult. Using the arms of his 'Mech to distribute weight, he managed to lever it up, only for the ER PPCs to strip off nearly two tons of armor, making his Dire Wolf fall again. This time, it landed on its back, which meant he could still fire his weapons!
Fire he did, but it was not enough. He had mauled the Marauder II significantly before he was put down, but in the end, he had failed to take down all three 'Mechs. It wasn't the result he had wanted, and he looked over to see that Cassandra had also failed to finish the third.
Afterward, Jaime Wolf went over the scores. The assessment was based on the total damage done, minus the damage done to your own 'Mech. A 'dead' 'Mech didn't necessarily subtract 100 points but was dependent on how much armor and weapon systems remained. To no one's surprise, Kai came out on top with a score of 268. His 'Mech had thrashed all three of his opponents. Victor came in at 260, Hohiro at 256, Galen at 203, Ragnar at 198, Shin at 194, and Cassandra at 190. Sun-Tzu had left with the rest of the Liao contingent and had not participated.
"I wish to congratulate all of you. If this were a true Trial of Position, all of you would have passed and become Clan Warriors. It is my hope that you have built bonds, become more skilled, and learned how to think like the Clans do. When you fight them, take the best of your training here, your own personal intellect, and the training you received before coming to Outreach, and meld them together. You are the future of the Inner Sphere."
Ragnar felt himself surge with pride. Hohiro looked disappointed not to have been awarded the 'Mech, but he bowed to Jaime Wolf nonetheless, and then to Victor and Kai as the victors. He and Shin left, and then Kai asked Jaime a startling question.
"The OmniMech is mine to do with as I please?"
Jaime nodded. "Yes, you can customize it in any way that we are capable of. We will also supply ten tons of Clan ammunition for each weapon system you request to be installed and will be able to purchase more from Outreach as production ramps up in the future."
Kai shook his head. "That is good to know, but not the purpose of my question. I wish to gift this 'Mech to my wife."
Ragnar gasped as Kai continued.
"The upgrades being made to my Caesar are going to allow a fighting style that better takes advantage of my talents. Thanks to the new Triple Strength Myomer upgrade and the hatchet being equipped, I believe I can do serious damage. In simulator training, I can reliably destroy the head of an enemy 'Mech in swift fashion. With the Clans rarely using physical attacks, this could allow me to take down multiple 'Mechs in quick succession."
Jaime looked surprised, but then nodded. "It is yours to do with as you will. It will also prove a comfort to know your wife will have the most secure and survivable BattleMech in your formation. I am sure you will do great things, Kai Allard-Liao."
Ragnar thought longingly of Princess Katherine. He knew she was far out of his league, and the Fox probably had someone lined up for her, but how he wished he and she could be like Kai and Wendy.
***
Kirkeøy Continent, Wotan
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
April 8th 3051
"I don't like it," Leftenant General Andrew Reburn told Leftenant General Alicia Mason, "we still haven't seen any sign of potential counterattack."
Andrew was the commander of the 1st Kathil Uhlans, while Alicia was the commanding officer of the Chahar Periphery March Militia. Much of her infantry had stayed behind on Goat Path, along with a couple 'Mech lances. Their new CO, Princess Katherine Steiner, had decided Goat Path was not likely to be attacked and so could afford a lighter garrison.
"I don't know about that decision. Morgan was clear that ComStar couldn't find out about the takeover of the ComStar facility."
"They have to eventually, right? Either that, or they're in more desperate straits than we thought – either works for me," she said with a shrug.
The plan was to bait an attack by the Falcons. They revealed some of their armor and infantry, along with a single battalion of the 1st Kathil Uhlans. The subterfuge had several steps, including units being put on DropShips that were mostly empty, then removing them discreetly later. They even had fake personal messages that would be sent on Blackjack via ComStar. In reality, those empty DropShips were there to be used by the 4th Davion Guards.
The greater part of five battalions of 'Mechs, over a regiment of armor, and the artillery were hidden in the mountains that bordered the valley where the 'Mech repair facilities of Wotan were held. They had plenty of food, fuel, and water, but they were also rather bored, as it wasn't as if they could train or even march around in their 'Mechs. All they had to do was wait and worry until the inevitable counterattack came.
The battle to retake Wotan had been a nasty and quick affair. The Clan MechWarriors were brave, but not very inventive. The overwhelming firepower of over 300 'Mechs, backed by more than 400 armored vehicles with artillery and infantry support, made swift work of the second-line units. The 'Mechs were better than their own, but the margin was much closer than against their OmniMechs. Supposedly, the skill differential between their frontline and garrison units was also a factor, but he hadn't found anything wrong with their individual skill.
He did find problems with their complete lack of strategy. When outnumbered so greatly, they should have looked for a defensible position to narrow the front, or employed hit-and-run tactics to stretch out the enemy formation. Their 'Mechs were fast and could only really be caught by lighter units. Either Andrew's 'Mechs couldn't catch up, or his light and some of the faster mediums would be drawn away from the heavier 'Mechs. Then they could turn and crush those pursuing 'Mechs, disappearing before the hammer arrived.
They didn't do any of that. They charged forward with bravery, accurate shooting, and without any semblance of a plan for victory. As a military strategist himself, he was appalled at the waste. Victory wasn't without its casualties, but considering it was the Clans, they got off very lightly. They even managed to liberate a surprising amount of salvage.
The Clans seemed uncertain about what to do with the captured vehicles and 'Mechs of the Wotan TMM. They had stripped the weapons out of them but otherwise left them intact. Given how swiftly the defenders had surrendered during the early parts of the war, there were over a hundred combat vehicles still intact, minus their weapons. But many of those weapons were still on-world as well!
There was limited Clan technology in terms of brand new 'Mechs, but there was a Summoner missing an entire leg that seemed to have been scheduled for repairs, though the techs hadn't had a chance to complete them. They also secured a single DropShip, a Union-C. It was like a Union but could fit three more 'Mechs, though it couldn't carry any Aerospace assets. He wasn't a fan, but a DropShip was a DropShip.
"That's my issue – if the Falcons aren't coming here, where are they?"
Alicia's face grew pensive. "Damn, you made a good point. We might have caught them while they were preparing for a major assault on Tamar."
Andrew shook his head. He and Alicia had time to talk while they were hiding out. He knew her husband and son were on Tamar.
"I don't think it would be Tamar; that's more Wolf territory. I was thinking more along the lines of Sudeten. Blaire Atholl, Colmar, and Dompaire were all hit by frontline units, and they're all within one jump of it."
She looked mollified by his words, but then frowned again. "Surely, Morgan would be able to hold the planet, right? He has the Kell Hounds, Grey Death Legion, 10th Lyran Guards, and more, doesn't he?"
Andrew nodded. As Morgan's frequent second-in-command, he was very familiar with the defenses of Sudeten.
"Keep in mind the 10th Lyran Guards and the Kell Hounds are pretty much shadows of their former power. The Grey Death Legion is in fighting trim, and we have the entirety of the 24th Lyran Guards RCT there now too. The Davion Heavy Guards moved out with their surviving 'Mechs but left behind the rest of their RCT, and the 20th Arcturan Guards also have their RCT, sans their 'Mechs."
Alicia whistled. "That's a lot of combat vehicles, and the Davion Heavy Guards got the good stuff, not the Vedette crap like a third of mine are."
Andrew nodded. "Sorry, PMM don't get the fun toys like Behemoths and Demolishers."
"Funny story," she said with a rueful grin, "I used to have a lance of Demolishers, but I let the princess 'borrow' them. I never did get a chance to re-collect them."
"I'm sure she put them to good use. Blackjack… the rumor mill regarding that world has been insane. It has helped a lot though. I only hope our new Hauptmann-General can live up to the hype."
They both nodded and sat in companionable silence for a time.
***
Baker 3 System
Tamar March, Jade Falcon OZ
April 7th 3051
Star Colonel Aiden Pryde craved an actual proper fight, and it seemed that his Clan's difficulties had finally paved the way for him to get it. Normally, as a PGC in the Nega Garrison Cluster, his only battles would be against bandit caste scum. Coming into the Inner Sphere, he had been given a world to defend, but it had never been attacked.
From what the chatter picks up, we would have been destroyed.
The Inner Sphere did not seem to share the same views on battle and bidding as the Clans. They preferred to use overwhelming force and didn't even seem to bother trying to retake worlds unless they could vastly outnumber their prey. Unlike most of his Clan, he did not fault them for their actions; it was simply how they conducted war. Being angry at someone for what they were was like being angry at the sun on a too-warm day: useless and counterproductive. Things simply were.
Due to the manpower and 'Mech shortage, his Nega Garrison Cluster was granted the rare opportunity to be used proactively, rather than being left to rot on a world. They were joining the 4th Falcon Talon Cluster, the 4th Falcon Velites, and the 8th Falcon Regulars Cluster of the Peregrine Galaxy. Additionally, they would be joining the elite Falcon Guards of the Jade Falcon Galaxy.
Our Khan wishes to leave nothing to chance.
Right now, they were waiting for action in orbit within the Baker 3 system. The plan was to immediately jump into another system, one currently under counterattack by the Spheroids. The overwhelming force they intended to strike with would soon turn the tide, flipping the numbers in their favor.
Aiden Pryde was a trueborn, but his past was tainted by controversy. In his first Trial of Position, he had failed to secure a position as a warrior due to his audacious plan to climb the ranks. In the end, it was Marthe Pryde who had shot his 'Mech in the back, securing her promotion after he had turned the Trial of Position into a free-for-all.
Through a series of events, he ended up posing as a freeborn and underwent his second Trial of Position. After serving for a time and earning some prestige by turning around an attack from the Wolves, he revealed his trueborn status and fought for the chance to earn a Bloodname. He was put on trial, found guilty, and then won a Trial of Refusal with 3 to 1 odds. Despite his name technically being cleared, he was never moved to a frontline unit.
"Worried that the trashborn are going to bid us away from this operation when it finally kicks off?" Horse, his longtime friend and freeborn MechWarrior, asked.
"Neg, our Khan's orders were clear. No bidding, no Hegira, no mercy. We will accept a surrender, as these warriors have proven their skill and we may make valuable bondsmen out of them, but we will not allow them to escape."
Horse snorted. "We'll see."
Aiden shook his head. "You will not help our cause if you keep using that kind of language."
Horse waved off his concern, and Aiden knew that when they were around other trueborn, he would shape up. He should not be worried, but he was. This opportunity was likely a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and he did not want to miss it.
***
Denizli System
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
April 7th 3051
I received word via the black boxes from the MI6 team on Baker 3 that numerous JumpShips and a WarShip had just appeared in the system. The 'Rabid Foxes' were absurdly skilled at what they did. Many believed they were just the militant arm of MIIO, but no, they also excelled at espionage, surveillance, electronic monitoring – the whole nine yards. As soon as the jump signature had been detected by the enemy garrison on Baker 3, they were already aware and sending out their message.
This must be the force they intend to use to retake the planets. I don't want to tangle with their frontline units at this point; it's time to get out of dodge.
We jumped back to Waldorff, and I sent out orders for the 39th Avalon Hussars RCT to jump to Butler. I had intelligence assets on Denizli, Alyina, and Baker 3, all with black boxes. Redburn had a black box as well, as did the 9th FedCom RCT survivors on Twycross, who were still laying low. While the map of information wasn't perfect, I should be able to tell soon where they were looking to reconquer and with what kind of units. Whether they were frontline or garrison units would also give me a sense of how much my efforts were distracting the Falcons.
Each world we liberated had a small, dedicated infantry company placed there, along with a couple of light 'Mechs. Their only purpose was to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the invaders – bomb-making tools, explosive ordnance, landmines in emptied barracks… the works. We'd also learned that ComStar had started taking charge of the educational apparatus on these worlds, attempting to indoctrinate people with their Blakist nonsense.
A reckoning with ComStar will be coming soon. I know Secretary Allard prefers caution here, but the faster we deal with these traitors, the sooner we can take over the HPG network and stop relying on the black boxes.
Four days later I learned I had miscalculated.
"Shit! Shit! FUCK!"
Aiko, Gregory, and Ainsworth were quite startled.
"What's wrong?" Ainsworth was at my side instantly.
"I screwed up. Maybe they somehow baited me, I don't know. Hauptmann General Bragg launched an attack on Butler. Their DropShips were still enroute when multiple JumpShips appeared in the same system and disgorged their own DropShips. Her RCT is going to get hammered by what looks like four, maybe five Clusters. That's on top of what looks like a full PGC on the surface, based on her report."
I wanted to scream. Just a little over a month in, and I might have already lost an entire RCT. How many damned units were the Jade Falcons going to throw at hunting my little incursion? On the plus side, that meant they certainly couldn't be massing to strike elsewhere, right?
"Are we going after them?" Gregory asked.
I paused. Should we? Could we? My mind raced as I pulled up the planetary data. Butler had three main landmasses, one of which was nearly completely uninhabited. Wherever Bragg went, the enemy DropShips would be able to follow, but the densely forested area could be used to evade them.
The armored components would struggle dearly there.
There didn't seem to be any great options. Outside of the Shipyards, there wasn't much of value on Butler. The population was less than 20% of Blackjack's, but even so, I didn't want to force a fight in an urban area. Still… I only had a few days left to recharge the KF drive of my JumpShips. My 1st Royal FedCom Guard and the 39th Avalon Hussars might be able to do it.
The 4th Davion Guards should already be loaded up and can jump from Blackjack to where I am now. In about 10 days, they should be able to put their RCT on the ground. The message from Butler had taken approximately 14 hours to reach me. If the Hussars could remain relatively intact by the time I got there, we could draw out the fight and wait for the cavalry to arrive.
This might be a sunk-cost fallacy in action, but I can't afford to lose an entire RCT with so little to gain. My task force will be mauled even if we succeed, but if we do succeed, it will be a crippling blow. This could change the entire front of the war.
"Yes. Yes, we are."
I immediately sent instructions to Bragg to do whatever they could to avoid a direct fight. Keep as many of their forces alive as possible, land where they could easily disappear. Since the black box would send the signal omnidirectionally, I included orders for the 4th Davion Guards to jump to Waldorff and then to Butler. My own JumpShips would jump into Butler at the closest proximity point the crew could manage. We would move out in three days.
Ainsworth frowned. "The level of risk here is unacceptable. A risky jump, then jumping into a fight with potentially five frontline Clusters?"
I shook my head. "Frontline Clusters would be unlikely. They're almost certainly their garrison units. I'm not saying it won't be a tough fight, but this unit is dangerous, and we're basically unscathed after the last three battles."
Aiko also attempted to convince me as well, but Gregory did not.
"You both have a role to play in protecting the princess, and I respect that. But this is the AFFC. We're not going to leave a peer unit to be destroyed when we can make a fight of it. We smash them here, and the Jade Falcons will be in a world of hurt."
I nodded. The alternative was to retreat to Blackjack and continue a back-and-forth game, but knowing now that they had this tactic up their sleeve would paralyze our ability to attack worlds with confidence. We needed to thin the herd and eliminate their ability to recontest worlds or pull this again.
My unit had been well trained and was elite. I had two Aerospace wings under my command, a number of Clan 'Mechs, and several dangerous assault 'Mechs. I knew my regiment punched above its weight class, not to mention the vast amount of artillery at my disposal. I had dedicated AA units, and my infantry were second to none in the Inner Sphere, thanks to Hauptmann Rogers and the Elemental suits.
I can do this.
Three days later, I learned that I wouldn't be fighting Clan Jade Falcon garrison units. Instead, I was facing Clan Diamond Shark and more than likely one of their frontline Galaxies. Having jumped into a pirate point and needing to wait at least seven days, I was committed. My DropShips were heading down, and I was now getting close to real-time communication with Hauptmann General Bragg. This wasn't Blackjack. I didn't have prepared ground. I was outnumbered against a technologically superior foe.
Strangely, despite the mortal danger I was in and the unpleasantness of a 2G burn, I felt alive. My mind was rapidly reviewing and discarding stratagem after stratagem. What can I do to even the odds? How can I use my DropShips effectively? Should I go fully guerrilla? Should I bait a batchall? How was I going to eradicate my enemies?
***
Outreach Orbit
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
April 15th 3051
Hohiro Kurita, son of Theodore Kurita and heir to become the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine, was disquieted by the departure from Outreach. The Wolf's Dragoons had proven to be honorable, a stark contrast to what his grandfather had spoken of them. The Dragoons did not follow the way of the samurai, but they did have honor. They had helped prepare the Inner Sphere to face the great enemy.
His time with the other leaders had been a mixed experience. Prince Ragnar was an earnest future leader, and he would be pleased to be good neighbors with the FRR. The less said about Sun-Tzu, the better. He had grown to respect Victor, despite the young man's foolishness regarding Omi. The one who had truly impressed him, however, was Princess Katherine. The ISF and his father's warnings about her had been accurate – she was dangerous.
He and his father strategized as they rode the DropShip to their awaiting JumpShips. A complete command circuit directly to Luthien had been established.
"The reason our worlds fall is that the enemy has intelligence on what forces await them. ComStar supplies it to them, and they can bring the necessary force to bear. The way to defeat such a foe is to put him off balance. We know Princess Katherine is doing this to the Jade Falcons; we should do the same to the Smoke Jaguars."
His father nodded. "Yes, we have found some success with raiding, but I have already sent orders to the Ryuken on Pesht to begin planning a proper counterattack along the edge of their invasion corridor. I want you to join them with the 2nd Genyosha."
Hohiro kept the surprise from his face and only asked, "Would that not leave Luthien vulnerable?"
"So long as our agent remains undiscovered within ComStar, we will know if the Clans seek to strike at our heart. We still have the First Sword of Light, the Otomo, the 2nd Legion of Vega, and the 1st Genyosha. I was also sent a detailed list of suggestions on how to defend important worlds like Luthien, which we are putting into effect."
Hohiro tilted his head slightly.
His father explained, "Katherine Steiner-Davion is an interesting young woman. A suggestion to embrace the spirit of the kamikaze if our back is to the wall. Fleets of small conventional aircraft and those with the honor to give their lives for the Combine have already been prepared."
"Without proper armor they will be shot down easily."
"Yes, which is why they will strike once engagement has already occurred. It is a desperate ploy, one I will use only as a last resort. Loaded with inferno gel and additional explosives, they would cause significant damage to even heavy 'Mechs and annihilate Elementals struck by such a craft."
Hohiro bowed his head. "I am honored to be entrusted with the 2nd Genyosha."
"You should know that I am also pulling nearly all the regiments from the Davion border, as quickly as transport allows. Additionally, three regiments from House Marik will be arriving within the next five months on their own transports."
Hohiro looked grim. "Much can change in five months."
"Indeed, but I mean to see the Smoke Jaguars in disarray and Luthien still standing when the Free Worlds League arrives. It would be a blight upon our honor if we fell before our allies could even reach us ."