SciCom.

“Broadsword to Damocles, Broadsword to Damocles. We are taking heavy fire from all directions.  We are unable to disgorge infantry to secure our perimeter.  We have one dead and many wounded throughout the column, request orbital bombardment of enemy position zero point five clicks to our front, over”.  The radio operator called into his satellite communicator as the APC rocked backwards and forwards from the many bullet strikes.

Three vehicles further up, the lead APC was a smouldering wreck from where it had run over a mine.  Amazingly, all but one of its crew and all of the troops in the back had made it to the safety of the other vehicles in the column.

“Damocles to Broadsword, Damocles to Broadsword” a female voice came back over the comm-link, “We are launching orbit-to-surface missiles now.  Brace for incoming, we are firing for effect, high yield warheads.  Hang in there guys, help is on the way.”

Moments later another voice broke over the airwaves,

“Strike Force from Flag.  This is Admiral Warren Worthing of the 3^rd Pan-European fleet to Broadsword.  Interface fighters from the UCTS Armageddon are on the way to your position.  Look for friendly wings approaching from seven o’clock high.  The fighters will hit the positions on your left flank, the orbital bombardment will clear your frontage.  Good luck.”

The admiral’s British accent had hardly faded to an echo when the roar of the interface fighters’ engines began to fill the sky.  Their missiles slammed into the ridge to the columns left flank, blasting it to glass and dust in an instant.

“Air Wing One to Broadsword, left flank secure.  We are returning to the Armageddon to refuel and re-arm.”

“Confirmed AW One.  Thank you for your assistance.  Much appreciated” The radio operator answered, what he said next was lost amongst the tremendous booming sound of the orbital bombardment slamming into the Sireack frontline les than a kilometre away.

“That’s it…” Brigadier Mercer’s voice drifted over the com link, “Disgorge all assault troops! Go, Go GO!”

The APCs of the column lowered their assault ramps and the men and women of the 3^rd Pan-European fleet’s ground assault force teemed out, their M404 rifles laying down interlocking suppressive fire as the APC’s 50 calibres and energy weapons lashed out their payloads.

The air was alive with rounds and flashing pulses of high energy beam weapons as the Terrans rapidly secured the position and radiated out, turning the tables on the Sireak who had scourged the colony world, killing all 6 thousand Terran colonists only a scant nine standard months before.

“Damocles to Broadsword, Damocles to Broadsword.  Second orbital bombardment launching in ten seconds at target point Indigo.  Prepare your infantry for assault, over”

The massive bombardment from the Europeans had already crushed the Sireaks’ hastily assembled defences, but Admiral Worthing was in no mood  to do things by half measures.  His nephew had been in the colony when the Sireak had come nine months before.

SciCom is a generic Science fiction tabletop war-game which handles small unit skirmishes as well as large unit assaults.  Players can call in off table fire-support, orbital bombardments and air-strikes to help win the day.