The Plains of Pluto
Copyright© 2025 by Lumpy
Chapter 19
Eastern Germania
Ky frowned as he read over the latest reports from the observation balloons. While he had been pleased that for the past two weeks, they finally had good weather for the balloons to operate continuously, the news they were getting back was not what Ky would have wanted.
It hadn’t stood out at first, because they were being slow and cautious about it, but it seemed clear now that the enemy was reducing the size of their force all along their line. While that might be a cause for celebration, suggesting they were losing men faster than they could replace them or being forced to reinforce faltering sections of the line from this one, Ky’s instincts told him that wasn’t the reason. There was a deliberate pattern in the way the enemy was pulling men from their line and it suggested they were being driven by something other than desperation.
“You’re seeing this too, right?” Ky subvocalized.
“Yes, commander. The troop movements are not a repositioning along this section of the front, most likely a change in strategy.”
“To what?”
“There is not enough data currently available to simulate what their desired offensive strategy might be.”
“Then guess. Use the other intel we got and run calculations on possible options, even if they are inside the margin of error. Include negative data into the calculations. Let’s look at what they’re not doing.”
As the AI began its calculations, Ky continued to study the maps. The balloon reconnaissance had proven its worth, clearly showing the ebb and flow of the enemy movements.
Of all the things the enemy had yet to copy from them, Ky was surprised they were not flying balloons of their own yet.
Ky’s thoughts were derailed as Sophus began displaying the results of its findings, running various scenarios across his vision. While Sophus was right, they didn’t have the data to prove any of these true, Ky thought some of the data suggested more than what it showed on the face of it. He was fairly certain his gut feeling was right, but seeing as what wasn’t there was not the forte of an artificial intelligence, Ky wanted a second opinion on it before he decided to take action.
“Find General Bomilcar and bring him here,” Ky ordered the guard stationed outside his tent.
As he waited, Ky went over the data again, and then a third time. Sophus wouldn’t commit to agreeing, but everything he saw kept giving him the same conclusion.
A few minutes later, the tent flap pushed open and Bomilcar entered. “You sent for me?”
Ky nodded, gesturing for Bomilcar to join him at the map table.
“I need your assessment of these latest reports,” Ky said, handing them to the general. “The enemy has thinned their forces in these sectors. What do you make of it?”
Bomilcar flipped through the pages and a few hand-drawn maps. “It would say they’re redeploying. Maybe moving these men to another position on the front.”
“Do you think they’re contemplating a strategy change?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. They are still making regular attacks along our line, which suggests they’re still committed to this front.”
“I’m not so sure. I think they’re willing to kill their people in order to make it look like they’re committed, without any real goal to actually break through. The scale of the attacks has been much smaller recently and they usually only last a wave or two before they give up.”
“They do seem to involve fewer men than before,” Bomilcar admitted.
“I can’t help but think they’re diversions. They’re meant to keep our attention fixed here while they prepare for something more significant elsewhere.”
“With respect, Consul, couldn’t this simply be the result of battlefield attrition? They’ve suffered some very heavy losses in the past few months. Perhaps they’re struggling to maintain their previous force levels.”
“I’ve considered that, but I’m not so sure.”
“Indeed, so if they are redistributing, where do you think they’re going to focus their men? I know we’ve had increased activity to the north with multiple attempted river crossings.”
“It’s possible,” Ky said, although he couldn’t keep the doubt out of his voice.
“If they are planning something, I’m not sure we’ll know until they launch their attack. We haven’t gotten much from the few prisoner interrogations we’ve had so far. The information has been ... inconsistent. It’s difficult to separate fact from misinformation.”
“Which might be because the only prisoners we’ve managed to interrogate are men who were pressed into service. We haven’t been able to communicate effectively with any actual Easterners yet. As for the northern incursions, while concerning, they lack the coordination and force that would indicate preparations for a major offensive. These attacks involve forces of only a few thousand men at most. They’re not serious attempts to break through our lines. They’re diversions, meant to keep us occupied and guessing.”
“So if not there, then where?”
“Have you read Modius’s reports from Greece?” Ky asked in an apparent non-sequitur.
“I have,” Bomilcar said, a little confused, clearly wondering where Ky was going with this. “They detail sporadic skirmishes, but nothing that suggests a major threat. The region has been relatively quiet.”
“That’s exactly what concerns me. This silence, combined with the timing of these increased attacks along our position and to the north, it doesn’t feel coincidental.”
“With respect, Consul, you may be reading too much into this. I still think the most likely explanation is that the enemy is simply conserving their strength.”
“If conservation was their goal, they wouldn’t waste men on these probing attacks. Why continue to sacrifice troops unless they’re trying to fix our attention in place?”
“They haven’t shown a lot of care for their men’s lives so far.”
“Or it’s to keep us from reinforcing other sections. There’s also something else that’s been nagging at me. When was the last time we encountered any Egyptian or Greek forces among their troops?”
“For the Greeks, not for several weeks, at least. I’m not sure we’ve ever seen an Egyptian among them.”
“Because they’re being held in reserve. The enemy is gathering their forces for something significant. No, the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that Greece is their new target.”
“That sounds a lot like speculation.”
“It is, but it’s the logical move. Greece provides access to the Middle Sea, and if they can secure it, our line will have to bend all the way around to Italia, extending us even further and allowing them to attack Germania from the east and the south.”
“Even if you’re right, we can’t afford to weaken our position here based on suspicion alone.”
“It’s a risk, I agree, but if I’m right, we can’t afford to be caught out, or this whole front will crumble and we’ll have to give up most of Eastern Germania. No, I’m convinced. I’m ordering a partial redeployment. We’ll thin our defensive line here and move those troops south into Greece.”
“Consul, I can’t agree with this. If you’re wrong, we’ll have compromised our strongest defensive position for nothing. The enemy could be trying to bait exactly this kind of response.”
“The general’s concerns have merit,” Sophus interjected in Ky’s mind. “Historical data suggests defensive positions are typically more costly to retake than to maintain.”
“I understand the risk,” Ky said aloud, addressing both Bomilcar and Sophus. “But sometimes the greater danger lies in being too cautious.”
“At least let me send scouts further south before we commit to this. Maybe make a few probing attacks in that direction. We could get confirmation of enemy movement within days.”
“Days we don’t have. The enemy has been methodical in their preparation. When they strike, it will be swift and with overwhelming force. No, I’m committed to this. In fact, I’ll lead the redeployment personally. I also want us to do most of our redeployment under the cover of night. I don’t want them to know we’re shifting our forces.”
“You’re going to Greece?” Bomilcar’s eyebrows rose.
“Yes. You will stay here and maintain our defense. Keep enough men to hold the trenches, and hopefully make the enemy think our entire force is still here. We’ll replicate their game.”
“And if they launch a major offensive here while you’re gone?”
“They won’t. They’ve committed too many resources elsewhere, but you should still stay vigilant. I think it’s very likely they’ll continue their probing attacks to keep us occupied.”
“How many men will you take?”
“Three legions, including the Ninth. I know you don’t like this, but I am very certain that this is the right course of action. It’s the only thing that fits the facts we’re seeing.”
Bomilcar was clearly still not pleased, but he only nodded and said, “I’ll maintain our position here as ordered.”
“Good. You’re our most capable commander, Bomilcar. That’s why I need you here. If I’m wrong about Greece, you’ll have our fallback position.”
“And if you’re right?”
“Then we’ll still have a chance to win this thing.”
Devnum
Hywel could only stare at the brass contraption Hortensius’s assistant had set on the workbench in front of him. It was a strange thing, a slender brass tube mounted on a stand with a small platform beneath the long neck-like thing, as if it was peering down at the platform.
“What did you call it again?”
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