Gettysburg: A Tale of the Second War for Pennsylvanian Independence Read Online Free PDF

for it here.
    “We’re short on bodies as usual,” she continued. Ever the
tactician, she was aware his silence gave her the advantage to press forward.
“We need everyone we can get on the front line today.”
    “Then the entire company is going in?” asked Gray, called
Smoker.
    “Not quite,” she answered. “Lieutenant Lutz and Charlie
Squad will remain in reserve in the woods south of the town, behind Delta’s
tree line position, to preserve our flexibility. Once we probe the warehouses,
we’ll have a better sense of their numbers. Then we’ll decide if and where to
commit your squad.”
    The lithe lieutenant said, “Yes, ma’am. But I have a
question. Why send Smoker with Trick to take the post? Wouldn’t Echo’s big guns
be more useful supporting the attack on the warehouses?”
    The question was reasonable. Echo’s two chain guns fired four
hundred rounds per minute, sustained. Each took two men to operate, one to aim
and fire the weapon, the other to feed them ammunition.
    “I want them to think we’re coming up the same slot we
cleared yesterday,” the captain answered. “Transport thinks we’re a bunch of
untrained rabble, even though it should know better by now. The stupid maneuver
of a frontal assault across open ground should play right into their
preconceptions about us. If we unroll the chains on their front door—”
    “Diversion,” said Hatch, “while we infiltrate the warehouses
from the south.”
    The QB clicked her teeth, telling them all he’d gotten the
correct answer. “Besides, we need to stay light. We have to take the first
building and secure the second while Delta moves up and makes a landing zone
for our converted airbuses to land and load.” Itching to move, the QB slung her
rifle to rest on her shoulder. “Any other questions?” Her tone made it clear
they’d better be necessary.
    There were none.
    “All right, then. Trick, you and Smoker take that post by
oh-nine-hundred. Let’s go.”
    As the others moved out, Hatch lingered.
    “Mary, you sure about this? You said it yourself: we have no
idea what’s really there. Want to call Neville for backup?”
    She looked directly at him. Just for a moment, he saw the
woman he’d known so intimately, if briefly. A woman who could melt your heart
in the right light. Someone who had no business being called captain on soft
evenings.
    “I intend to, Sean. Right after Trick and Smoker take that guard
post. By the time Neville arrives with reinforcements, we’ll have secured that
okcy. The good colonel can cover our retreat.”
    “And if there’s a company or more of porters in that town?”
he asked softly.
    Her eyes flattened, taking on that computer-like, steely
gaze she got when staring down the problem at hand. “Then it’s going to be one
long, hot day,” she said.

    “You did what?”
    The colonel’s voice grated in her head over the secure
Internet channel.
    “We’ve established a position on the left and are preparing
to assault the facility,” the QB sent back. “Sending you a packet now with the
tactical situation.”
    The good news for her was, their Internet link could only be
secured confidently for another thirty seconds. TRACE had built an algorithm
into its Internet protocol to auto-countdown conversations carried on the
Internet during a tactical situation. Every ten seconds, the detached feminine voice,
known as Marlene for some unknown reason, helpfully reminded the parties their
time was limited.
    “ Twenty ,” Marlene said. Which meant the colonel could
only dress down the QB for another twenty seconds.
    “Goddamn it, Captain, you should’ve informed me before
moving on the town.”
    “Security protocol, sir, essential messages only. Transport
might’ve hacked this line already.”
    “ Ten .”
    “You should’ve—”
    “We need your other two companies and the converted cargo ships
here as noted in Figure One’s timeline.”
    “Captain, if this goes sideways—”
    “