“My fourth and final platoon and the heavy weapons section will form our central reserve. The heavy weapons section will be on call for the entire force, and Major Isvarian has assured me of sufficient counter-grav to give us good mobility. I hope to detach the section, or even individual weapon teams, on a purely temporary basis, returning them to the reserve as quickly as possible, but we’ll have to play that by ear once something breaks. Fourth Platoon, however, will be maintained intact and concentrated for as long as possible to deal with penetrations. Again, Major Isvarian tells me the NPA can provide us with transport both to reach trouble spots and to return Marines to the reserve as quickly as possible once a problem has been dealt with.”

He paused once more, cocking his head as if to consider everything he’d just said, then nodded.

“Under the best possible conditions, Captain, we’re going to be spread very thin. On the other hand, our communications should be infinitely superior to the enemy’s, as will our sensor capability and individual firepower. Major Isvarian and I have considered the known capabilities of the natives’ new rifles, and we believe our people should be able to deal with any single group of enemies relatively quickly, even if outnumbered by a very heavy margin. Our greatest fear is numerous, small, simultaneous incursions which would over-extend our forces and slip at least some attackers past us unengaged. That possibility is especially serious in the relatively built up areas of the Delta. Our sight-lines are going to be a lot shorter than in the open field, and so are our engagement ranges and firing lanes. That’s why I want those scouts so badly, and it’s also the reason we’re deliberately spreading our people out so much—to give us shorter response time to any given threat.”

“I understand, Major,” Honor said, privately impressed by the difference between what she was hearing now and Papadapolous’s original airy, off-handed disparagement of his task’s difficulties.

“In that case, Ma’am,” the Marine said, punching commands into his terminal, “let me show you the specific initial deployment grid Major Isvarian and I have come up with.” A very large-scale holo of the enclaves and the Delta immediately around them glowed to life above the conference table. “As you can see, Captain, we’ll place our first scouting element here, along the line of the Sand River tributary channel. Then we’ll put another element here, and another here. After that…”

Honor sat back and watched the holo blossom with light codes as Papadapolous, with occasional support from Isvarian, detailed their plan. She was a Navy officer, not a Marine, but it looked impressive to her. More importantly, Isvarian seemed completely satisfied with it, and she contented herself with a knowing expression and tried to nod in all the right places. Yet even as she listened something nagged at her. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it until Papadapolous finished and turned to her expectantly while the big holo glowed behind him.