FROM: Major General Jalanus, 15th Conscript Brigade TO: 1st Company, Emperors Volunteer Corps, VE CLASSIFICATION: HIGHLY CLASSIFIED %%%%%%%%%%%%%% BEGIN ENCRYPTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%% I am Major General Jalanus, Commander of the 15th Conscript Brigade, currently on operations on the planet Strak. I will keep this transmission as short and simple as is possible. Strak is a small planet in the Vectra system. Its only importance is that of its natural minerals and ores, which are in a plentiful supply. In order to evaluate these minerals, the VE sent a scientific research team, accompanied by the 15th Conscript Brigade. The Brigade was there to protect against potential attack by the Cleoggi - a primitive race inhabiting the planet. Needless to say, the Cleoggi did attack, and in far greater force and numbers than we expected. Although our men fought bravely, they were badly routed, and suffered casualties. The scientific research team was almost completely wiped out, save a few scientists. Our soldiers, now numbering about 900, are stationed in postition on a hilly area in the north of the planet. They have fortified themselves well, and can hold out against attack until they are evacuated. Unfortuently, the Vast Empire High Command has taken the decision to not evacuate them, but to reinforce them, and complete the mission to set up a scientific research station. Which is where you come in. In the three days of fighting, the 15th Brigade lost: 53% of its fighting men - appoximetly 950 troops. 88% of its officers - approximetly 51 officers. 34% of its rations - about 200 tonnes. 98% of scientific equipment. 74% of scientific personell. 60% of combat equipment. As you can see, the Brigade is now in quite poor shape. The VEN can only airlift enough rations in regularly to keep the men alive, and some small reinforcements. It is planned that they will take in about 10 officers and 150 men - the soldiers will help reinforce the position, whilst the  officers will lead 15th Brigade men in missions to complete the objective. The Emperors Volunteer Corps will supply these officers. A number of the finest volunteers from the Corps will be picked to lead groups of conscripts on the planet surface - they will be given battlefield commissions for this task. They will be under the direct control of myself, Major General Jalanus, but will be left to use their own initiative as much as possible. The short list of officers has been picked, although more may still be picked to follow them: Colonel TJ, VEA, 3rd Platoon (2nd Company) (Mixed) Lieutenant Colonel Cosmic, VEA, 1st Platoon (1st Company) (Stormtroopers) Captain Japer, VEA, 5th Platoon (3rd Company) (AT-AT) 2nd Lieutenant Arturus, VEN, 2nd Platoon (1st Company) (Stormtroopers) 2nd Lieutenant Swomz, VEN, 6th Platoon (3rd Company) (AT-ST) 2nd Lieutenant TK-112, VEA, 4th Platoon (2nd Company) (Troopers) 2nd Lieutenant Tycho, VEA, 7th Platoon (4th Company) (Troopers) Chain of Command: 1st Company: 1st Platoon, 2nd Platoon 2nd Company: 3rd Platoon, 4th Platoon 3rd Company: 5th Platoon, 6th Platoon 4th Company: 7th Platoon, 8th Platoon Arturus, TK-112, Swomz and Tycho, I hereby give you battlefield commissions, promoting you to the brevet ranks within the 15th Conscript Brigade. I remind you these ranks hold no substance outside of the brigade, anywhere within the VEA, VEN, VEDJ or VE. Please await your mission objectives. Major General Jalanus Commander, 15th Conscript Brigade %%%%%%%%%%%%%% END ENCRYPTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Greetings. I will cut straight to the chase. A section of our forces are stuck between a large area of unpassable moutains (to their south), and the planets only river, to the north. These forces moved into this position to form a forward base in which to direct future operations against the Strak forces in the area. However, they are under quite heavy attack from all sides, bar the north. The river to the north has only two crossings. Luckily, on the north bank of these crossings are substantial fortifications, so it is highly unlikely that the Strak will break through, as long as you hold on to them. But that in itself will not be easy. There are two Batallions in this area - yours, the 1st Batallion, and a Conscript Batallion, the 29th. They are largely made up of inexperienced, ill-equipped and under armed young men, who will almost certainly not hold out for long. Unluckily, they are defending the entire East Front, the area closest to the river crossing. Your Batallion, the 1st, holds the West Front and the South Front. There is forest to the West, meaning the Strak have not concentrated as many forces there, instead basing the majority in the mountains to the South. The 2nd and 4th Companies are defending the South, whilst the 1st and 3rd Companies is defending the West Front. Your orders are simple: in 4 hours, a pioneer batallion will arrive and set up the forward base. You must hold, securely, at least 3 spaces of land south of the river (1 hour = 1 turn). I have set up two Headquarter units: one for the Western Front, with the 1st and 3rd Companies (led by Lt. Colonel Cosmic), and one for the Southern Front, with the 2nd and 4th Companies, led by Colonel TJ. My intelligence officers and scouts have not yet compiled all suitable intelligence. Once they have, I will bring this intelligence to the Headquarters ASAP.
 
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Major General Jalanus
Commander-in-Chief, 15th Conscript Brigade

[RPG Character for the ICAM]