General Orbay surveyed the faces of his staff and his senior detachment commanders. The situation in Wilno had not chanced during his swift flight from Vilnius, things were as tense as when the first news of Marshal Letowska's actions had reached him, while he was in conference with Lithuanian officals and military officers.
Still, while the situation was sobering, the League of Nations troops were in a reasonable position, they were well dug in across the area and in Vaskes in particular. Unit commanders across the Wilno area had on their own inititive, as soon as they were notified of what was going on, had ordered their troops on alert and increased their level of field fortifications, even before Orbay's order to do so had reached them.
The Field headquarters, 2nd Field Hospital, troop barracks, various fire-bases, field logistics depots and the confiscated weapons depot were well defended and well fortified to resist any assault the Wilno National Self-Defense Battalion could reasonable level at them on short notice. Although the weapons depot was really the least of his concerns as much of the stock of Wilno armaments contained in it, had already been quietly shipped to the League of Nations task force depot in Vilnius for safe keeping.
The Civil Watch Corps had been similiarly as vigilent in it's own defensive preparations, and had also like his League of Nations troops kept a low public profile, at least for the time being. Nobody, Wilno or League of Nations soldiery seemed too crazy about the idea of starting anything, but is was only a matter of time before somebody did something stupid and both sides would wind up shooting at each other. That prospect deeply alarmed Orbay, he expected his troops to win any such armed clashes, but ultimately it would me the end of the ceasefire task force's mission and with it the precarious peace in Wilno.
"Gentlemen, we are definitely at a crisis point. Opinions?" Orbay remarked quietly to his assembled officers.
General Hansen was the first to speak.
"We need to deal with this Self-Defense battalion, as quickly as possible. I recommend we concentrate the 4th and 5th Recon Battalions here in Vaskes, along with the bulk of our artillery and disarm these Wilno troops at gunpoint if necessary. Such a show of force should prevent anyone from getting any inappropriate ideas of resistance."
Orbay considered that, one German, one Turkish and one Bulgarian infantry battalions was already in Vaskes, along with some field artillery and one of the Turkish Armoured car companies at the moment. Perhaps it would be wise to call in the second armoured car company as well. The Civil Watch Corps, with the assistance of the newly arrived Dutch and Bulgarian cavalry units and the Canadian Mounted Police and Italian and Atlantean Military Police had things fairly well in hand in the countryside. Further the other German and Bulgarian infantry units had things very well in hand on the ground in their respective sectors of occupation, as did the Belgian mounted and light infantry units in their sector. Yes it might be very useful to pull in all units not really needed for occupation and patrol duties to Vaskes, to make a point to Marshal Letowska.
"General Orbay, what of the Wilno Army? I think it very unwise to leave them out of the equation." Orbay turned in his chair to look at the commander of the Belgian contingent. He had a point, Orbay reflected, he turned to his intelligence chief.
"What do we know of the Wilno Army's intentions?"
"A little, General. Not nearly as much as I would like, but at least enough to make some educated guesses. The removal of Lieutenant-General Waclaw from governmental office, and the resignation of General-Secretary Kirszenstein seems to have excited them quite a bit, according to our liason staffs, and reports from our C.W.C. supplied spies. There is considerable talk in the camps, much of it very angry and very negative in regards to Marshal Letowska. We're not entirely sure they will support any aggressive move, if he orders them to mobilize. We are certain however, that they will defend themselves, if they think they are going to be attacked in their camps."
"You expect that we will still have to keep them under observation, especially if we make any overt move against this self-defense battalion and by extention, Marshal Letowska's government, then."
"Very much so, General. The Amantas and Adomas Line camps are still fairly fortified, even if they have been stripped of armaments, and we are positive, that the Wilno troops in each position have some arms and ammunition hidden and ready to hand if they need it." The intelligence officer paused to let his words sink in with his audience. "The Wilno Armies of the Northeast and the South are still capable of offering some resistance should they choose to do so."
"Estimates?" Orbay asked.
"Given the arms caches discovered and confidscated in the past, and the sudden appearance of this new self-defense battalion... which by the way, our Civil Watch friends confirm has a high proportion of former and uncaptured Civil and Letowska Guards amoung its membership. The Battalion commander, is one of the former Letowska Guards divisional generals in point of fact." The intelligence officer stopped a moment and got his train of thought back on track.
"It is our best estimate, that the Armies of the Northeast and the South, would be able to mobilize the equivalent of an active battalion per division in an emergency."
"Approximately, three or possibly four battalions for the Army of the Northeast, and two to three for the Army of the South, then?" Orbay remarked thoughtfully.
"Very likely, General."
Orbay considered the situation, with a quick gaze at the map to refresh his memory and appreciation of the situation. The German contigent under General Erik Hansen, was tasked with the occupation and security of the western and central area of Wilno, having at its disposal the I and II Battalions/39th German Infantry Regiment and elements of the II Battalion/17th Field Artillery Regiment. The Belgians and Dutch with the southern area of Wilno, under Lt.General Raoul Daufrense de le Chevalere. He had the 2nd Royal Dutch cavalry regiment and the 5th Ardeense Jager Regiments. The Bulgarians under Colonel Krstev, secured the eastern part of Wilno with the 97th and 99th Infantry Battalions, plus the recently arrived Royal Bulgarian cavalry and motorized battalions. While his own Turkish infantry regiment occupied the northern part of Wilno, with two battalions.
Major Robert Mackenzie, and his RCMPcontingent, and the supporting Belgian, Italian and Atlantean military police units covered the whole Wilno area with a net work of detachments and the support of the battalions and independent companies of the Civil Watch Corps.
General de Brigade Yvanne Louis Gerard, had at his disposal all of the remaining mobile units of the League of Nations taskforce, originally tasked with patrol work, that had become increasingly redundent as the Civil Watch Corps had become both more efficent and reliable. The 4th and 6th Turkish Armoured Car companies, the 2nd Jager ter paard regiment, and the 4th and 5th German Reconnaissance Battalions. Yes, Orbay thought it would definitely be a good idea to consolidate Gerard's ad hoc mobile brigade in Vaskes, just in case, by and large the other contingents had matters in hand in their respective areas, the capital of Wilno was now the main trouble spot.
This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "Agent148" (Jul 22nd 2008, 5:10pm)