back there in the East is a bigger diversion, to draw forces into Ontario and Quebec so we can act here. Then we’re doing it again, or rather, you’re going to do it again. It won’t be easy for us to get south in sufficient numbers if the army and the police are able to block the roads south and concentrate their troops north of Winnipeg. So your job is to make them think the problem is in the city, a kind of native intifada. We need them to commit to the city before they see us moving south, and then we need to hold them and prevent their move north. It’s a kind of tar-baby strategy – a nice, little trap. But timing is everything. Here, look at the map.”
Stevenson unfolded the map he’d hidden so obviously when Alex entered. It covered much of the table and illustrated the city and its environs in considerable detail, with aerial photos of specific targets. It also showed military symbols, a familiar second language to Alex, denoting vital points such as electrical and water works, military establishments and units, police headquarters and substations. Two smaller, more detailed maps at one side of the table showed the inner city and the airport plus its infrastructure in greater detail.
“You can see,” Stevenson explained, “that we have two areas of concentration – the inner city with all its high-value targets, and the airport, because it’s the most likely place where the army would try to concentrate a large number of troops for a counterattack on the downtown. If they try to come by road from outside the province, well, too bad for them. We’ll trap them in skirmishes and by blowing up bridges and culverts all along the way.”
The tactical picture rapidly took shape in Alex’s mind and a stream of questions flowed from his quick intellect. “A rude question, colonel: hold till when? Until the cavalry arrives?”
“That’s two questions, but good ones. I could say, ‘Hold until relieved,’ like the British did at Arnhem – or so the movie has it. But we’re the Indians, remember? If the cavalry shows up, it’s not on our side.
“No, your job is to hold the city centre until the enemy is thoroughly committed to the fight in Winnipeg. When he realizes that Winnipeg isn’t the real target, he’ll be too late to cover our move south. Once I’m sure the white guys are stuck into it here and it’s too late for them to stop our bigger plan, I will pass the word to you that your job’s done, and then you’re to withdraw, taking your people north out of the city. It’s a big, bold plan, Alex. It’s been in the making for more than two years, and your operation is a critical part of the Central Committee’s grand strategy – which, I guess you know, means Molly Grace’s grand strategy. Come, sit down again and we’ll do the staff college thing, at least in outline for now.”
Despite the very different circumstances they were in now, Alex felt comfortable – like he was once again in uniform. And Alex and Sam were both soldiers, no matter that they’d taken off the Canadian Forces uniform. Colonel and captain, revered senior officer and trusted subordinate, played their parts automatically and effortlessly.
Stevenson opened his well-worn map folder and flipped through several pages. “Okay, Alex, here’s the staff college estimate of the situation, and so on. You read the concept of ops then we can talk about the details.” He dropped the thick document onto the table.
Alex sat up in his chair, reached for the brown canvas case, and stared at the document: Operation Middleton. The irony of the code name, the name of the British officer who had accepted Louis Riel’s surrender in 1885, registered immediately.
Alex ran his fingers through the table of contents: “Concept of Operations”; “Allocation to Tasks”; “Logistics”; “Command and Signals”; “Annexes.” There were also lists of code words and nicknames; descriptions of the ORBAT – the order of battle; target lists; and maps. Complete enough, at least on the surface. He started with the “Concept of Operations,” the heart of the document.
OPERATION MIDDLETON
Aim: To capture southern Manitoba and install a provisional First People’s government by no later than 30 September.
Phase I: Battle Group Riel, seven combat teams, three Special Forces sections, four combat engineer sections, and a headquarters and communications section capture Winnipeg’s inner city and establish control over the downtown core bordering on Portage Avenue, Memorial Boulevard, the River Assiniboine at the Osborne Bridge to the Forks, north to Alexander Avenue and the Disraeli Freeway south to Ellis Avenue and Balmoral. Battle Group Riel will hold the area until relieved by Battle Group Winnipegosis advancing from northern Manitoba. Most important target is the legislative buildings, to be fortified in two lines: outer perimeter on the grounds to the River Assiniboine, and inner strong point within the building.
In Phase II, Battle Group Métis assembles combat teams in outlying areas north and west of the city and moves on the airport to capture Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, destroy Canadian Forces aircraft, damage runways, and secure terminals. Security patrols would control the airport and deploy Blow Pipe anti-aircraft teams to defend against any air attacks or airborne attempts to reinforce the Canadian Forces in the area.
The whole “Western Territory” operation in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta is under the command of Colonel Stevenson, first from HQ at the old CPR station in Winnipeg, then after the assault from a hangar on the military base at the airport.
Rules of Engagement: All troops, police, or other armed force not identified as NPA units to be engaged with deadly force within assigned areas. Civilians held as captives to be treated according to the Laws of Armed Conflict on pain of severe penalty to commanders. Other civilians to be escorted to the perimeter and released unharmed.
Alex looked up from the paper. “Every combat unit in Western Canada will come down on us like a ton of bricks. Have any of your people any idea how complicated this mission is? Have they any basic training at all? Being a soldier requires more than being able to mouth the words.” He stopped, caught between his anxiety and his respect for Stevenson.
Stevenson wasn’t at all upset. “Yeah, that’s possible. Actually, with a bit of luck most of the army won’t be in Western Canada. But if the army wants to tie up units fighting for buildings in the city or the airport, well, so much the better for the grand strategy. Your guys don’t have to conduct open-field military operations, Alex, just irregular urban warfare.
“Of course it’s a challenge, holding this mostly amateur native army crowd together,” he continued, “and they’re not much else. But that’s your job. We always had it easy in the regular army, you know that. We commanded volunteers who wanted to be the best, who often set the standards for officers to live up to. If you couldn’t get an ‘outstanding’ rating leading those guys, you were a real screw-up.
“Most armies aren’t like that. They’re like this ragtag outfit. If their officers don’t lead from in front, and check everything, nobody steps up to do it. What’s worse, your subordinates are keen but they’ll get you killed if you don’t watch out. And if they do, your operation will fall apart. Think of it as defensive leading. It’s not easy, Alex. You have to be out in front but keep your bloody head down. And I don’t just mean when bullets are flying. For this operation, with these guys, you have to change your expectations, but not your style. These guys will follow you as best they can, but who knows really how they’re going to react once we turn the heat on. But that’s why I asked for you to command them, Alex.”
Alex nodded and returned to the document to skim through the plan again. Then he stood for a long while over the map. He’d always had a gift for being able to embed maps in his mind, to see the patterns on paper in 3D and as if moving through them in real time. “We come down here, there’s that tall building and we …”
Stevenson interrupted his concentration. “Okay, Alex, come meet my staff. After that, I want you to begin your recce of the area and the targets. Tonight you meet your sector commanders and we’ll begin the detailed review and rehearsal of the operations. That battle drill sequence – recce, planning, orders, and deployments – will increase in intensity and extend down the chain of command until we get a warning order from higher. I’m not sure on the timing, it’s pretty tight, but we’re at three days notice to move so we have a bit