barghest? Well, it's a mythical creature from northern England. It's kind of like a big, black ghost dog. They're supposed to be heralds of death.”
Selene smiled. “Ragnarok is going to crap themselves every time she shows up.”
Nora laughed. “I don't envy them at all.”
“ So who's taking over third squad?”
“ We haven't figured that out. Still hammering out the details,” Nora said. “The debate is whether to move someone in the squad up to command, or to shift someone else into the spot.”
“ Ryan is the obvious choice,” Selene said. “He's the only one of the originals without a command. Well, except Miko, but can we really count her?”
“ Technically she's in command of a unit.”
“ That's consists of herself,” Selene pointed out.
“ It still counts.”
Selene shrugged. “I just think that he shouldn't get passed over too many more times. He's definitely cut out for being a leader, and it's going to rankle if he gets passed over again. He already was passed over twice for people with less experience.”
“But you chose Logan,” Nora said. “And Karen was the right choice as well. Also, keep in mind that Barghest Company is going to need officers, and that might be a landing spot for him as well.”
“ We need to make sure that we don't drain ourselves too much,” Selene said. “We're still going to be doing a lot of fighting, and we need good leaders.”
“ Right. But we have plenty of good leaders to choose from, and this might help some of them spread their wings when they might not be able to in the main company. I-”
“ Nora?” the single other occupant of the command center called to her. It was Sean of Jackal Company, who was acting as the radio operator.
“ What's up?” she responded.
“ I'm getting a transmission from Ronin Company. They say that it's urgent, and that they need to speak to the highest ranking officer.”
“ That would be you,” Selene said.
“ Technically that would be Yusuf, or Jack. You might even qualify,” Nora pointed out.
“ Yusuf's on the walls right now, I have no clue where Jack is, and he's part of a new company anyhow, and you're a lot better at making nice than I am,” Selene said. “That makes you the highest ranking senior officer present.”
“ Great,” Nora said flatly. She wondered just what they were asking for now.
“ I'll put them up on speaker,” Sean said. He flipped a switch on the huge main set which boosted the range of personal radios.
Nora cleared her throat. “Ronin, this is Wolf 2. Ronin, this is Wolf 2.”
“Wolf 2, this is Sam from Ronin Company. Our position at Fort Odin is under attack by Ragnarok forces. We're requesting reinforcements.”
Nora looked over at Selene, who raised an eyebrow. Fort Odin and its sister Fort Baldr had been captured by Ronin's alliance. Originally built to guard Ragnarok's territory from Hydra attacks coming from the south, they were now a thorn in the side of the enemy company. Ragnarok wanted them back for sure, and Nora was honestly surprised that it had taken them this long to mount an attack.
To Ronin the forts were an important strategic position and a source of pride, but for Hydra they were something else entirely. Their presence would keep Ragnarok busy, giving the Hydra Alliance the time they needed to take Indianapolis. At least, that was the theory. Several of them had been dubious of Ronin's ability to keep Ragnarok at bay, and Nora was on the fence about it. But at least it would buy them some time.
“ Sam, how large is the force that's attacking you, and how are they armed?” Nora asked, trying to delay her answer for as long as possible.
“ They're coming in battalion strength, at least. Five to eight hundred. We barely have two hundred in the fort right now, and Ragnarok is heavily armed. They have armored vehicles with them, and artillery.”
“ Pulling out all the stops,” Selene muttered next to her.
Ragnarok had another trump card in