I knew as soon as the kid walked into the room that a cock-up of colossal proportions had taken place. This was definitely not Triarii Kelly O'Rourke standing in front of me.

"I had no idea that they took simulations so seriouly...sir..." His voice faded as he noticed my scowl. "I mean, uh, sir, Triarii Marcus Mus reporting for duty, Sir!"

O'Rourke's file was in front of me, and I studied it again while the greenboy fidgeted nervously. The girl wasn't critical to the mission by any means, but in-planet, every able-bodied soldier was an asset, and everyone else was a liability. The boy quivering in front of me didn't seem very able-bodied.

"Son, I don't know who you are and I don't really care. You're sure as hell not Kelly O'Rourke, unless you've had one of those operations, and that's all I'm concerned with. Am I to take it you believe this to be a simulation?"

"Sir, yes sir!" The boy was flustered, but he remembered protocol. A small (very small) point in his favor.

"Triarii, this is no simulation. Chances are, you will be dead within forty-eight hours. As of now, you are assigned to the 9th Century of the 3421st Strike Legion. You will be briefed at 1900 hours tonight, and at 0600 tomorrow, you will be in combat." His eyes got really wide then, and I wondered if he was going to get sick. That would annoy me.

"But, sir, I'm not authorized..."

"You are now, Triarii. Somehow, somebody at personnel - probably one of those peace-freak conscientious objector types - sent you here instead of Triarii O'Rourke. I don't have any extra men here, and this mission cannot be delayed. Are you familiar with the weapon systems of a Vespasian class ground tank?"

"Sir, the Vespasian class ground tank was designated by Doctor...."

"Have you fired the damn weapons, son?"

"Sir, no, sir!" I didn't have time for this anymore. I was getting a headache, and I still had serious preparations to make.

"Principes Detrunco! Report!" There was a flurry of motion outside the door, and one of the gunners appeared.

"Sir, Principes Discerpo Detrunco reporting for duty sir!"

"Principes, there's been a snafu. This greenboy is going to be the gunner for the Vespasian. I want you to give him a crash course on all vehicle weapon systems, unit organization , planet-side operations, and if you have time, Renegade and Commonwealth strategy and tactics."

'Sir, yes, sir! Triarii, follow me." The two of them exited my office, and I was left to consider weightier matters.

"Sit down, Triarii."

"Yes, sir."

"This is the briefing manual for planet-side operations. There's an overview of most TOG weapon systems and vehicle types, as well as intelligence info on Renegade and Commonwealth systems. Read it, and when you're done, I'll answer any questions you have."

"Yes, sir." Triarii Marcus Mus opened the book and began to read.

Sitrep: Shamack Caralis

All centurions are hereby ordered to use their units to the secure area denoted by map coordinates YBD023 - YBD125. Once secure, this area will be used as a forward staging area for assault on Shamack. Weapons are free, you may engage on sight. Terminate all Renegade and Commonwealth units with extreme prejudice. To assist in your attack, you will be allocated additional fire support missions from the 2nd Century Second Artillery Cohort to be used at your centurion's discretion.

3rd and 4th Centuries of Fifth Transport Division are currently in orbit. Sufficient numbers of all eighteen ground tank classes are present to ensure that centurions are able to select vehicles which they feel will best suit the needs of the mission. Additionally, the 42nd Marine Corps stand ready to provide Infantry for use by the 3241st Strike Legion.

Commonwealth resistance is expected to be heavy, and Renegade units have been spotted locally. Artillery support, including Thor satellites and possibly Naval Support units, have also been detected. Expect heavy return fire.

This engagement is expected to last no more than fifteen minutes. There will be no reinforcements.

Vehicles Available

All standard TOG planet-side vehicles for Expansion Operations are available. This breaks down to five light vehicle classes, seven medium vehicles, and six heavy vehicles. The Renegade and Commonwealth forces may field up to five light vehicle classes, six medium vehicles and seven heavy vehicles.

Intelligence indicates that enemy vehicles have superior Shielding and Armor, versus comparable TOG vehicles; however, their resources are limited, making their vehicles more expensive to deploy.

Renegade and Commonwealth unit organization is still identical to TOG standards; to wit, nine vehicles are assigned to each centurion, with each vehicle carrying a driver, gunner, and commander. As with TOG, enemy centurions replace the commander in one of their vehicles during active combat.

Recent field reports show an increase in the deployment of so-called "Trojan Horse" vehicles by the opposition. These vehicles are capable of carrying a complement of three full infantry units. Trojan Horse units are considered to be target-rich environments until they can deploy their complement of infantry.

Weapons Systems

Renegade and Commonwealth military forces are still relying on stolen TOG technology to arm themselves. Expect no surprises. As with TOG vehicles, all of their units will be armed with Target Painting Lasers and Smoke Charges.

Reports indicate that their Painting Lasers are identical to TOG Painting Lasers; that is, they are capable of firing in a 360 degree arc, to a range of twenty hex units. As with TOG units opposition infantry units are being equipped with Painting Lasers.

TVLG and SMLM missiles have been used by enemy vehicles in combat. An abundance of TOG-style Gauss Cannons (25mm - 200mm range), Mass Driver Cannons, and Laser Beams have also been detected. Some units have also been spotted with Anti-Personnel Lasers.

All gunners a. required to have line-of-sight (LOS) targets with direct fire weapons before expending ammunition. Weapons systems with guidance and tacking capabilities (for example, TVLG or SMLM missiles) may be fired without LOS. Gunners are reminded that range and terrain will naturally affect the likelihood of a successful attack. In addition, targets which have been laser painted are considered a priority, since their shield systems will be disabled, and attacks can be made directly against their armor.

Gunners with an abundance of targets may, at their discretion, engage one unit with their vehicle's direct fire weapons, and an additional unit with their vehicle's missiles. It is expected that this tactic will be used sparingly.

Ground Movement Capabilities

In accordance with TOG military specifications, all tactical maps will be presented in "hex unit" fashion. Thus, vehicles will be depicted as facing one of six possible directions.

All vehicles, both friendly and hostile, are capable of operating in Normal Flight mode (NF), Tree Top Flight mode (TTF), and Low Altitude Flight mode (LAF). All grav vehicles in NF mode operate at one meter above the terrain surface. Vehicles operating in the latter two modes will be able to avoid certain terrain hazards, but will be easier to target.

All TOG units are reminded to observe caution when travelling at high speeds! Repeated field testing has established safe levels of speed for travel through various types of terrain. Do not ignore these limits. Exceeding these limits can result in the loss of vehicle control.

Bear in mind that restrictive terrain will naturally slow down a grav vehicle, as will an upward changes in elevation.

Suggested Tactic - Ground Units

All vehicle commanders are ordered to exercise caution when grounding "hull down" in a crater. While this does afford extra protection to a vehicle's hull, maintaining such a position for any length of time makes the vehicle an obvious target for artillery fire.

Intelligence confirms that, like TOG vehicles, most Renegade and Commonwealth vehicles are equipped with digging cannons that will create suitable craters to ground in "hull down."

Deployment of Infantry

In similar operations, infantry have played an important role in maximizing enemy casualties. In addition to personal weapons, infantry units may be equipped with long-range mortars, or TVLG missiles. Either of these munition can cause significant damage to a wounded vehicle. Additionally, for the past six months, all TOG infantry have been equipped with Painting Lasers. Reports indicate that enemy infantry may be similarly equipped. As with vehicle Painting Lasers, infantry Painting Lasers are connected with all friendly targeting computers.

Artillery Support

Currently available artillery support consists of the following rounds:

Hypervelocity Airburst Flechette Explosive - Improved (HAFE-1). These highly explosive rounds scatter thousands of tiny, high-speed fragments. These fragments are too small to be affected by shields and will damage a vehicle's armor directly. They are also highly effective against personnel.

Artillery Dispersed Mines (ADM). ADM rounds do no damage directly, but instead saturate the target area with highly explosive mines. A unfriendly units passing through the affected area will suffer damage.

Anti-mine Artillery (AMA). These rounds create a strong gravidic detonation that permanently disables all ADM deployed mines in the target area.

Hell Rounds. These rounds release sufficient gravidic energy to cause an uncontrolled fusion reaction. Damage to target area is extreme. All adjacent areas will also be affected by gravidic disturbances that will force all grav vehicles to cut drives and ground, regardless of current velocity. No instances of personnel surviving a direct hit from a Hell round have been recorded.

Guided by Laser Artillery Delivered (GLAD). These rounds may only be used against a target that is currently painted. GLAD rounds always strike either the turret or stern of the target vehicle. Damage profile is similar to that of a 150mm HEAP round. GLAD rounds rarely miss.

All artillery units are also capable of firing smoke rounds, and rounds capable of creating a crater (suitable for hull down grounding) in the target hex.

Orbital Fire Support

In addition to Artillery, centurions are reminded of the importance of Orbital Fire Support, specifically, Thor satellites and Naval Fire. Thor Satellites are presently in orbit around the staging area. Some of these are known to be under Commonwealth control. Many of them have been placed by the TOG. Thor satellites are each capable of releasing three depleted-uranium javelins. These javelins strike either the turret or stern of the target vehicle, and are capable of fully penetrating armor of all known friendly and enemy vehicle types.

Centurions are reminded that Thor support missions take time to arrive, and that Thor satellites are by no means 100% accurate in their attacks.

Naval fire support targets a map hex-sized area, and all six surrounding areas. Shields will offset damage, but most naval units designed for fire support have powerful lasers, capable of overwhelming standard ground unit shields.

Duration of Operation

The combat-intensive portion of this mission is not expected to exceed fifteen minutes in duration.

Marcus Mus looked up from the text. Most of the information within had been covered in his training, but he was grateful for the refresher. He had mixed emotions at the prospect of seeing combat early. Surely, it would earn him prestige amongst his fellows, and could potentially further his career. It could also bring his career to a very abrupt end.

"Attention!" The young Triarii came to his feet and saluted smartly. In thirty minutes, it would be 1900 hours - his first briefing. Deciding that nervousness was conduct unbecoming an officer, Marcus followed the Principes out of the room.

The conclusion of this article will appear next issue, and will focus on the technical aspect of the game, as well as some turn-by-turn reports. A detailed rulebook is available for $5. More information on Centurion is available from Fantasy Workshop, PO Box 167506, Irving, TX 75016- 7506.

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