1672.IX.22 Meeting of the Board of the General Staff

Sub Rosa

Meeting of the Board of the General Staff
Conference Room 45a, Panopticon Citadel, Merensk

22.IX.1672

Attendees

Present:

• Frainan-Streïakeï Aodh bi Uaneill, Commander Central Banner Group
• Frainan Uihmanzis Ermanaric Parsamyan, Director of Logistics
• Frainan Uihmanzis Ardashir Mooshian, Director of Manpower
• Frainan Uihmanzis Abdollah Abbasi, Director of Planning
• Frainan Uihmanzis Rudolf Maisuradze, Director of Operations
• Frainan Uihmanzis Herlot bi Merensk, Director of Military Intelligence
• Frainan Uihmanzis Vüqar Rugahi, Political Director

Attending:

• Waldemar Tarjeisson, Civil Executive Representative
• Garvin Hendriksson, Director of ESB Benacian Directorate
• Golsapbir Cătălina Funar, Facilities & Inspectorate Office (Secretary)

Apologies:

• Office of the Commander-in-Chief
• Office of the Chief of the General Staff
• Commander Eastern Banner Group
• Commander Northern Banner Group
• Commander Southern Banner Group
• Commander Western Banner Group
• Land Forces Command, Black Legions (Commander Central Banner Group to represent)
• Quartermaster General's Office (Director of Logistics to represent)

Agenda

1. Agenda had been circulated in advance of the meeting and all present agreed as to the validity and accuracy of its contents.
2. The purpose of the meeting of the Board was to discuss the situation with regards to Inner Benacia.

Presiding Officer

1. In the absence of the Chief of the General Staff it was voted unanimously that the Commander Central Banner Group should serve as Presiding Officer.

Litkov Expedition

1. The Board congratulated Waldemar Tarjeisson, distinguished brother of the late Kaiser Dominus of famous memory, on the occasion of his returning to the standards after a period of civic service in support of public education in the Klymhigh area. Aqa Tarjeisson replied that he had certainly not expected to be recalled to active service in his eighty-sixth year but that he was willing to serve the Benacian cause in whatever way the Commander-in-Chief considered appropriate. The Board expressed their approbation at these remarks.
2. Aqa Tarjeisson respectfully submitted to the Board his first impressions concerning the Black Lach incursions into the territories of the Unified Governorates. He remarked upon the improved cohesion, motivation, and effectiveness of these bandits. He especially remarked upon their access to fire support missions from a third party whom delicacy obliges us to leave unnamed at this stage, suggestive of embedded forward observers, again from the aforementioned unnamed third party.
3. Aqa Tarjeisson concluded by presenting his appraisal that the disruption of the Black Lach by a sickle-cut into their Inner Benacian communications zone by at least one but preferably two legions, supported by tactical aviation and the strategic bomber force, would be sufficient to end their present offensive into the Litkov Salient.
4. The Director of Logistics offered his sincere regrets that the deployment to secure Gloomburg had resulted in a depletion of available fuel cell reserves for gravimetric vehicles. As such this would restrict the ability of "Lance" manoeuvre divisions to support any legionary cohorts deployed on operations.
5. The Director of Planning observed that it was contrary to practice to deploy the legions without the support of gravimetric vehicles - and that this had been the case ever since the 1652 debacle.
6. The Director of Operations noted that it would be problematic to send sufficient quantities of Horjins and armoured personnel carriers "up-country" without good roads along which to run supply routes and without fuel depots established at regular intervals.
7. The Director of Logistics interjected that, until the Rothaven Project was completed, fuel itself was a precious commodity.
8. Aqa Tarjeisson sought reassurance that he was not expected to walk to Litkov.
9. Commander Central Banner Group noted that the Board was not entirely unsympathetic to Aqa Tarjeisson's advanced years.
10. Aqa Tarjeisson noted his appreciation for that expression of sympathy and then enquired as to what forces could be made available to him.
11. Discussion ensued.
12. The Director of Logistics stated that it would not be possible for him to release trucks presently assigned to supporting the Rothaven Project.
13. The Director of Operations expressed his regret that, without gravimetric vehicles, without fuel, and without transportation, it would not be possible to release a cohort, much less a legion, for the Litkov Expedition.
14. Further discussion ensued.
15. DECISION: To Aqa Tarjeisson's Litkov Expedition the Board of the General Staff graciously makes available:
    • 1 R-1 Whirdlebird for communication duties;
    • 16 T-2 Saeqeh and 4 T-3 Akintos for close air support;
    • 2,400 Inspectorate Troops;
    • 2,400 M1508 Martini-Rossi 11.56 mm Rifles;
    • 2,400 Cudgels
    • 60 M1525 9mm Pistols;
    • 22 M1486 Webb-Lee 11.6 mm Revolvers;
    • 20 Polybolos 12.7 mm Heavy Machine Guns;
    • As many Florian Cocktails as Aqa Tarjeisson may require;
    • A letter of credit for 72,000,000 in Natopian currency, made out on ESB headed paper and notarised by the ESB Director of Benacian Operations, with which to make such purchases as may be necessary for the benefit of the Expedition.
16. Aqa Tarjeisson would have expressed his gratitude for the generosity of the support offered, had he not felt faint at that stage.

Red Lach

1. DECISION: After representations from the Political Director it was agreed that the policy towards the Red Lach, shall no longer be one of erradication but rather one of conciliation, in line with the preferences expressed by the Commander-in-Chief during the award of the Crimson Banner to Ahmst Mairstranin Bardaisan Porphyry.

Black Lach

1. The policy of shooting Black Lach on sight remains unchanged and a bulletin is to be issued by the Director of Operations to remind all active duty personnel of this requirement.

Any Other Business

1. With no other business, the Board of the General Staff adjourned for lunch.