Deployments; November 14th

"Sir, this is perhaps the largest expansion we've conducted, are you sure we are ready to deal with Black Horse?" Ivanov asked as we walked up the stairs towards the war room.

"Ivanov… I'm currently in command of an army that rivals that of most first world countries prior to the apocalypse, only a few were larger, and those militaries don't exist anymore. My only rivals at this point from a military perspective are my fellow system users."

"Be as it may sir…"

"We've put off dealing with those despicable raiders long enough, Ivanov." I gripped.

"No. I agree with that sir… it's these new… allied units i'm wary of…" he said as we stopped at the top of the stairwell.

"What of them?" I asked, turning to face Ivanov. As far as I was concerned they were the same as everyone else, just spoke a different native tongue, a lot of them spoke russian.

"Why have them be the spear? We have plenty of forces now, there is no need for them." Ivanov countered.

"Ivanov. I think we both know we need as many soldiers as possible. Our forces have long been stretched too thin, now we have the opportunity to shore it up you have a problem with it?" I asked.

"They aren't true Soviets sir."

I paused and tilted my head slightly. Blankly staring at the colonel. "Really? Do they follow my orders? Do they go around making a larger problem of themselves than anyone else? No? Then it doesn't matter. All of you I've summoned are the same to me."

I opened the door and started walking down the hall, nodding to the soldiers that greeted me. I walked into the war room, a chorus of greeting from old and new officers alike greeted me. Generals Erik and Joseph sat near the far end of the table, their divisions were preparing for a parade through the city. The former Colonels now Major Generals Tanya and Natasha were talking with one of the new division commanders, Major General Rustem.

I nodded in greeting and took my customary seat at the end of the table. "Good morning everyone, I hope you all got some sleep last night, today will be heavy on the meetings."

I looked around the table… only four of my division commanders were absent. General Luka was off coordinating his division's efforts to probe Stockton and Sacramento. General Geroge and 3rd division were clearing out the city of San Diego. General Zerfirov of the naval infantry was currently busy reconstituting and reorganizing his division, preparing for a consolidation of his division in San Francisco. General Kireyez was currently overseeing the transfer of his VDV division out to Oklahoma city, some large hordes were amassing in the city, some reports mentioned sightings of some as of yet unidentified mutation among them.

That meant everyone else was here, Erik, who's 1st division was back in Los Angeles for rest and recuperation, and George's 2nd division was still sparring with Black Horse around Bakersfield. That just left the new divisions and their commanders.

Four new motor rifle divisions and the allied divisions, a pair of tank divisions, one German and one Polish. Major General Marka commanding the 5th Motor rifle Division Twilight, Major General Grekov in command of the 6th Motor rifle division Valkyrie, Major General Roman of the 7th Motor rifle division Liberty, and Major General Rustem of 8th Motor rifle division Spades. The four sat with slight apprehension as the meeting started, I turned my gaze to the other two new generals in the war room.

Major General Regina, 1st Tank division Piron of the Ludowe Wojsko Polskie, or the Polish People's army… the Polish Army… beside her was Major General Saskia, commanding 2nd tank division Gotterdammerung of the VolksArmee, or people's army. The two women sat quietly, shuffling through the documents before them.

"Colonel Ivanov, brief us on the deployments of our current forces." I instructed the colonel. Everyone turned their attention to Ivanov as he stood and started gesturing to pieces on the map spread across the center of the table.

"Of course Colonel General." Ivanov replied, taking a breath.

"Our forces were stretched thin, 1st division is being placed in reserve here in Los Angeles, focused around Fob Fyodor, Los Alamitos, and LAX. 2nd Division is being engaged throughout the southern end of the central valley and Bakerfeild, 3rd division is clearing San Diego, and 4th division is probing north towards Sacramento… the naval infantry division is being consolidated in San Francisco, with a single regiment remaining detached in Ensenada. The VDV is currently amidst redeploying itself to Oklahoma city." Ivanov beautifully recapped the situation for everyone in the room.

"Currently awaiting orders are the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th motor rifle divisions as well as 1st and 2nd tank divisions." Ivanov looked over to me.

"Thank you Ivanov, now… for the main billet. I want three volunteers." I said while looking slowly around the table. The generals looked slowly at each other. Well… most of them did.

"Comrade General, I and my division await your orders." All eyes turned to Saskia. I smiled slightly, i'd hoped her or Regina would volunteer.

"Sir, Liberty only awaits your orders." Roman quickly filled the silence.

"Piron volunteers comrade General." Regina spoke up. I repressed a bit of a chuckle as the other three generals glared at the two women.

"Good, in that case… I'll hand out the other taskings. 8th division, you'll relieve the garrisons in the central valley, clear resistance, bring it into heel. Be lenient if they surrender, do not show mercy if they resist…" Rustem nodded. His forces would be reliving elements of 2nd division so they could focus on Bakersfield.

"5th division… clear the coastal region between here and San Francisco." Marka and his division would go clear most of the bypassed cities during Erik's push north, his tough nut will be clearing Monterrey, though that should be far easier than its neighboring city to the north.

That just left 6th division. "Grekov, you're task is to push down interstate 15 till San Diego, then continue down the coast till you make contact with the naval infantry in Ensenada, once there you will relieve them."

"This is all very good sir, but what are our orders?" Roman asked as he glanced at his fellow volunteers.

Leaning forward I smiled. "The three of you will be joining me for a little operation."

"We have another operation in the works?" Ivanov asked, glancing up at me.

"Operation Stallion. Natasha, the three divisions accompanying me will receive top priority until the operation is completed… Tanya, pull the independent artillery battalions, they will be part of Stallion." the two nodded, writing a few notes.

"Alright, Generals Saskia, Roman, and Regina… stay for our operational brief, everyone else. Dismissed!" I felt that similar grim determination settled over me. It was time to return to Barstow and Fort Irwin… this time. My visit would be far less friendly.

"Oh, Ivanov… go tell Thomas that he's to start 24/7 air ops until further notice."