Page 78 of Resurgent

“Pressure.” Matt's answer comes immediately. “They're trying to force us to spread our forces thin. If we keep shifting troops to meet them to the East, we weaken the southern defenses.”

Sasha looks at me. “And if we don't?”

“They keep taking towns,” Matt says simply.

Before I can ask anything else, Major Calderon strides into the room and all conversation dies instantly.

“Good. You're all awake.”

Emily whispers, “Debatable,” and Ian coughs to cover a laugh.

Major Calderon sets a stack of maps on the desk.

“Today we're discussing defensive strategy during an advancing-front conflict.”

I glance at Matt—his entire demeanor changes in seconds, shoulders straightening as his attention locks onto Calderon.

The lecture begins with maps, supply lines, troop movements, terrain, and Clowess's recent advancement along the eastern coast. Everything Matt just said and so much more.

Major Calderon puts a map on the board and begins marking locations where Clowess has broken through Thandroanian defenses.

“Why did this unit fail?”

A hand goes up. “Insufficient manpower.”

“Partially.”

Another.

“Poor communication between Vanguard and Dragon units.”

“Correct, but incomplete.”

Major Calderon looks around.

“What else?”

Silence.

Then Matt raises his hand.

“The commander reinforced the breach instead of withdrawing the northern unit.”

“Why?”

“Because he believed the breach was the primary objective.”

“Show us,” Calderon says, extending his marker in wait.

Matt walks toward the map.

“It wasn't the primary objective.”

Calderon gives the faintest smile, the first I can remember seeing. “Explain.”

Matt points toward the map, “They weren't trying to take this position.” He moves his finger farther north, and several recruits lean forward, more attentive now than I’ve seen them all year. “They wanted us to think they were, because if Clowess takes this town, we always reinforce it. That draws troops away from the supply route here. Then they hit the route.”

He taps the map.