Friday, November 15, 2019

The Shrewd King 17.5: Getting coordinated


Tim patched together a texting conference between himself, Wade, Chernovsky, Tomanica, Janelle with several people on Benicio’s end. Gimp was still "in the field" and not available.

They used “blind man” encryption, one of the simplest form of encryption. The first letter of the string was either the letter “U” or “K”. A person skilled at touch-typing sent the message, but their right index finger was on either “U” or “K” rather than “J” and their left index fingers were on “R” or “G” rather than “F”.

The message looks like jibberish. For example “Hello Timmy” becomes “uy3oo9 58jj6”

The receiving end decodes the text by having a person skilled at touch typing putting their right index finger on “M” or “H” respectively and reproducing the typed message.

BENICIO
YOU GUYS WERE INVADED

Capiche
Yes. They came from the east. Half continued west to other targets. Invaders destroyed. Hunting down stragglers.

BENICIO
FOUR OF THEIR COMBAT GROUPS INVADED THE AMISH

Capiche

You have intel?

BENICIO
WE CAPTURED A HIGH VALUE PRISONER AND HAVE BEEN EXTRACTING INFORMATION

Capiche
How many fighters in four combat groups?

BENICIO
TWO SQUADS OF TEN IN THE BUSES. TWO FIGHTERS IN EACH IN THE TRUCKS. CALL IT A HUNDRED FIGHTERS.

Capiche
Ouch.

It is military dogma that defensive forces that have had time to dig in requires a three-to-one force advantage favor of the offense if they are to have a reasonable chance of success in dislodging them.

Capiche would need three-hundred fighters to push the hostiles out of Amish Lands and had only fifty. They also had limited ability to logistically support those troops outside of Capiche.

Capiche
We have a problem.

BENICIO
YES. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Capiche
Give us a few minutes to talk it over.

Five minutes later

Capiche

Our munitions experts wants to know if you have any parking ramps or buildings with underground parking.

BENICIO
LET ME CHECK

A minute later

BENICIO
WE HAVE FAIRHAVEN SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WITH UNDERGROUND PARKING.

Capiche

How big?

BENICIO
a minute later...ONE HUNDRED UNITS ABOUT ONE-FIFTY PARKING PLACES AND STORAGE CRIBS.

Capiche
How are they arranged

BENICIO
FOUR BUILDINGS EIGHTY BY TWO FIFTY FEET. BUILDINGS ARRANGED IN A U. PARKING UNDERNEATH BUILDINGS AND CONNECTED

Capiche

Where located?

BENICIO
HALF MILE WEST OF I-96

Capiche
Perfect for a honey-pot trap.

Capiche
Do you have contact with the forces in Amix land?

BENICIO
YES

Capiche
Can you order them to a honey-pot?

BENICIO
YES WHAT SHOULD WE SAY IS BAIT? THEY WILL SMELL A TRAP IF WE DONT TELL THEM RESON FOR NEW ORDERS

Capiche
Food?

BENICIO
THEY HAVE FOOD IN AMISH LAND. NEED BETTER BAIT

Capiche

Weapons or ammo? The prisoners were only carrying one magazine and the trucks with SAWs (Squad Automatic Weapon, i.e. light machineguns) only had 200 rounds.

BENICIO
MAYBE. DONT KNOW IF WE CAN MAKE FAKE WEAPONS TO SUCK IN FIGHTERS. THEY WILL INVESTIGATE BEFORE SWARMING INTO TRAP

Capiche
Fuel?

BENICIO
MAYBE. DONT HAVE MUCH TO SPARE AS BAIT

Capiche
Barrels filled with water and topped with a bit of gas or diesel?

BENICIO
CAN DO.
BENICIO
WE GET THEM INTO THE TRAP HOW DO WE KILL THEM

Capiche
Let me ask my experts.
 
A minute later


Capiche
Do you have any explosives?

BENICIO
HAVE TEN POUNDS OF TANNERITE. WONT BE ENOUGH

Capiche
We have people who can make that enough.

...a minute later…

Capiche
Will need lots of wire, 12V batteries and air-bags from vehicles.

Sending people. They will explain.

Next

3 comments:

  1. I can't wait for this. Having worked with explosives way back in the day, I figure this will be interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is going to be interesting in a LOT of ways!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't see how 10 lbs of tannerite would be enough, even in a relatively enclosed space like an underground parking garage. I watched a video on YouTube where 10 lbs of tannerite destroyed an upright piano. But that is a lot different than enough explosive power to blow up 100-200 people And multiple vehicles in an underground structure.

    And I thought the amount of explosive in an airbag was roughly equivalent to a shotgun shell. I admit that I am not at all knowledgeable in this area, so maybe the experts know some things I don't know.

    ReplyDelete

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