The Future begins now.

[Kenrath]

Viktor stood off to the side of the room in what good be best described formal diplomatic attire. Not really a Business suit but not a uniform either. While a guest of the First Order waiting to see where or not he would become a more permanent fixture Viktor had agreed to be a guest speaker at one of the Military Academies. This one was an intermediate school of sorts it looked to him. Viktor was pretty sure he was two to three times older than the students there. Heck in this particular class he got the impression the Professor was closer to his age than the expected experience of a Professor.

Speaking of Professor he was currently droning on about theory and blah blah blah. Viktor had zoned out until he heard his name being called. The topic of the lecture was the construction and fortification of city defenses. As the Professor stepped back Viktor made his way to the center of the room. He smoother out his coat before addressing the class.


"Good Afternoon as your Professor said my name is Viktor Alexander." "My last position was Governor of the One Sith world of Balmorra." "In times of war like these how you prepare for war is just as important as how you fight the war itself."

He scanned the class with a small smile seeing who was paying attention and who was simply waiting on the class to be over.

"Now before I begin are there any questions for me?" "I realize I am not your typical guest lecturer."


[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen's hand shoots straight up at the question of any questions. She had tons for the guest speaker.

[member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor scanned the students until he saw the hand of [member="Aspen Laval"] pop up. He smiled softly giving the girl a nod.

"Ah yes it seems we do have a question." "Please stand up, state your name and then ask your question."

Viktor was somewhat curious as to what the question would be. Would it be a personal question, a question about his background, or something completely off the wall. He stood his back straight his hands clasped behind his back as he waited to here the question or questions.

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen would grab her crutches and then stand "My name is Aspen, Aspen Laval. As for the question What kinds of resistance did you see in your career?' She asks still standing on her crutches

[member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor smiled.

"Miss Laval that depends on which part of my career you are referring to." "My time as a Businessman or as a Politician."

He paused flipping on a Holo projector and displaying the Planet of Balmorra. He addressed the class as a whole transioning to [member="Aspen Laval"] herself.

"Miss Laval here has actually asked a very good question that ties directly into today's topic." "In my late teens and early twenties I worked as a quality control technician in a weapons factory on my home planet of Balmorra."

He smiled.

"Balmorra is a dangerous place where going from home to work and vice versa could very easily turn deadly."

Viktor hit a button on the podium and an image from an old holo news feed showing news about a series of terrorist style attacks plaguing Balmorra.

"During my mid twenties Balmorra was hit by a terrorist cell targeting citizens." "They used black market military grade weapons and explosives." "Most were found to be mercenaries and hired thugs."

He paused before continuing on.

"After leading a Militia based counter attack and assuming the post of Governor Balmorra quickly found itself the focus of other Galactic Powers." "Specifically an attempted invasion at the hands of the Galactic Republic." "At the time I was off planet on a Diplomatic tour but it goes to show that one must be ready to face anything from pissed off farmers, to hired mercenaries, and all the way up to trained career Soldiers acting under the banner of a Galactic government."

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen stood there with a bright look in her eyes as the man spoke of his adventures. She thought of being a politician for years but now she was in a military school. This may be where she is meant to be or it may not. She had always dreamed of being nobility as well.

[member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor looked around for a moment to see if their would be any more hands pop up before he continued.

"There are two factors that can help you prepare." "The first is knowledge of the terrain and city defenses."

Viktor flipped to another image. This one of a hilltop city on Balmorra.

"For example I give you the original capital city of Balmorra." "One that despite multiple attempts is notorious for it's reputation for many failed attempts to assault and secure it."

He paused for a moment as he moved to a new image highlighting the only way in or out of the city.

"The first part being the limited access to the city." "With only one way to reach it ground troops are forced into a bottle neck." "Concentrated fire could easily decimate troops."

Viktor then flipped to a new image of carefully placed anti-air and anti-infantry turrets.

"Carefully placed defenses such as the anti-air made bombing runs ineffective."

Viktor paused.

"Ideas?" "If you were tasked with securing this city how would you attempt it?"

[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen once again raises her hand still standing on her crutches. She hoped to be called on. She knew if she turned out to sound like a know it all she would be made fun of which would drive her to cutting once more a place she didn't want to be.

[member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor looked around watching a few murmurs through out the room. A few had even offered up ideas. They were mostly ones that focused on a single aspect of the cities defenses but ignored others aspects ultimately ending in failure. Then Viktor saw the hand of [member="Aspen Laval"] go up once more. He nodded to her.

"Yes Miss Laval you have an idea." "How would you secure the city in the face of such heavy fortifications?"

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

As the man called on her she said. "Well I would find a man on the inside or send one in and have them disable said defenses which would allow my bombers to come in and make a run." She says thinking about every word.

[member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor smiled pausing briefly for a moment before he spoke.

"Elaborate please Miss Laval."


Viktor was actually impressed by the direction of her answer. At this point he was more curious as to whether or not she was guessing or actually had some aptitude at such things. Her answer was of course a legitimate option to take that type of city but a long con that takes months to plan and execute.


[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I would find a man who could shall we say be bought for the right price. And then I would pay him. Once the systems were down I would then bring in my bombers and troop transports right behind. But if I didn't I would probably bring in the bombers and get all of the attention focused on them and then bring in a special unit to shut down the defenses" She says smiling at him

[member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor shook his head clearly disappointed in the answer he received. His suspicious had been confirmed. He looked at the class for a moment.

"We find ourselves in a difficult position today ladies and gentlemen." "Miss Laval's idea while correct and one with merit is also a complete failure in it's execution."

He looked around the room his gaze stopping on the occasional person before addressing the class.

"Each person here is here for a reason." "Most intend to pursue a military career of some sort." "Some of the hard charging Alpha Kath Hounds in here high your sights set higher."

He smiled.

"Let us address the idea on the table for it's merits." "Flipping somebody on the inside is possible." "It is however something that takes considerable resources not to mention type to do." "The important part being the risk of an asset turning on you before the job is done." "Or the flip side a planted mole having his cover blown."

He paused for a moment judging the reactions of the class before he continued.

"Then you have what to do with the defenses once they have been disabled." "By destroying them you leave yourself open to counter attack." "One good instead turning those defenses against your enemy both during the original offensive and then during the counter offensive."


He smiled for a moment before he posed a question to the class.

"Ok so we have established that the goal is to take over the defenses." "However time and risk prevent using a turned assets." "How else do you think it could be done?" "Keeping the desire for the defenses to remain intact in mind."

[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen sits down trying to think

[member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor takes a step back from the podium moving around from behind it into the crowd of students.

"Come on now.............." "You have a battle to win." "The First Order is counting on you." "Soldiers are dying on the battle field." "You are a heart beat away from failure what do you do?"

He stands in the middle of the students looking up towards the front at the image of the city.

"Victory and defeat all depend on what you do next." "Every second you spend hesitating takes you minutes closer to defeat." "You have worked your whole lives to get to this moment."


[member="Aspen Laval"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I would send in a temporary electromagnetic pulse device. To shut the defenses down temporarily." She says standing back up

[member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor turned to look at [member="Aspen Laval"] as she spoke.

"How would you deliver the device?

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"As I said before I would use my bombers as a distraction and then sneak in a unit to place it."

[member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor shakes his head.

"Your bombers have now been shot down by anti-air fire and the EMP device never made it to the target." "You failed to remove the defense and the assault on the city failed." "Thousands of First Order troops died."

Viktor made his way back towards the front of the room turning to face the class. After a brief pause he spoke again.

"You use the terrain and focused defenses to your advantage." "A single Trooper can cross the terrain marked..............."

Viktor paused highlighting the mountainous terrain to the left and right of the main entrance point to the city.

"Then a single EMP rocket with an extended effective range removes the focused anti-infantry and anti-air turrets." "Thus allowing you to reach the city and thus secure your objective."

Viktor smiled directing his attention back to [member="Aspen Laval"] for a moment.

"Miss Laval here is half way there." "She has really good ideas and displays some very vital critical thinking skills." "Execution however is something that takes time to research and plan."


He paused once again addressing the entire class.

"The purpose of today is to show that it is not always who has more troops or whether you are the attacker or defender that ultimately decides the out come of a battle." "Strategy and tactics are just as important if not more so."