"We encountered the Hill Martians just before midday, on the central plateau noted on the maps. We'd come across carriage tracks and the remains of two shattered stone balls, so I was quite confident we were close to the guns they'd had from the Oenotrians. I prepared a flare for discharge once we had encountered and spiked the pieces." That had been the plan, anyway. Remove the threat of ground-based guns, and the Aphid could swoop down on the wogs with cannon and Nordenfelts blazing away.
"Second platoon made the initial contact. Skirmishers charged them from short range out of the bushes, but nevertheless we managed to lay down a volley before contact. Several wogs went down, and the rest were turned away before they could bring sword and spear to bear."
"Second platoon. Where was the rest of your command?"
"The ship's contingent was to the right, covering Second's flank. It was they who spotted the first Oenotrian piece, up in the clear on the plateau."
"Did they close to disable it?"
"Unfortunately, sir ... no. There was confusion due to the density of foliage, and the ship's contingent had difficulty ascertaining the situation. They believed that the natives attacking Second Platoon were instead attempting to flank them." Aye, we were the ones who'd had an open flank shown us instead, and we hadn't even known it. "By the time they had discovered the situation, native reserves had been brought up to reinforce the gun."
"Then isolated elements of the fleeing perimeter force began to encounter the ship's contingent in the flank, while several natives on the hill discharged muskets. The sailors took minor casualties. They presented their own arms and returned fire."
"Third lieutenant. I do not believe you have fully answered my question. Where were yourself and First Platoon during the events you describe?"
"First Platoon ... under my direction, sir ... we had advanced to the western hill area, sir."
"What, in the name of fallen angels, third lieutenant, were you and First Platoon doing on the Western hillock while two thirds of your command encountered the enemy without your active and present guidance?"
"I ... the high ground, sir ..."
"There is no place in Her Majesty's service for an officer who cannot effectively interpret a map."
And there it was. What the rest of us had known about Miller for weeks. You could have dropped a cannonball through the silence that followed.
"Go on, third lieutenant."
"I observed an enemy unit within range and presenting muskets, sir. I deemed it of greatest urgency to deal with this threat, and so I formed First Platoon into line and returned fire."
"You allowed the enemy to divide your force."
"Considering the situation, I proceeded as I deemed it most expedient at the time, sir."
"So a single force of enemy muskets pinned down a third of the rifles under your command, while Second Platoon and my sailors continued to proceed unsupported and without benefit of an officer."
"Second Platoon and the ship's contingent did quite well, sir. They closed ranks, successfully flanked the disorganized skirmishers, and put themselves in such a position that the skirmishers prevented further musket-fire from the plateau."
"They fired into the skirmishers to good effect. The musketeers on the plateau, being of poor discipline, broke position to advance into their field of fire.
"They looked to be carrying the engagement, sir, until ... the musketeers that had engaged First Platoon drew knives and pivoted into Second Platoon's rear quarter."
"Were you able to take any advantage of their exposed flank to disrupt the encirclement?"
"No, sir. The presence of trees and of our men precluded effective fire."
"Second Platoon acted admirably in extricating itself, even to extraction of its wounded. The sailors were able to form a line to protect them."
"The natives took substantial casualties, sir."
"But not enough to render them an ineffective fighting force, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"While your own men were neutralized."
"First Platoon remained intact at that point, sir."
"I see. And did First Platoon attempt to exploit the open route to the guns?"
"Sir, not at that time. I believed it my first duty to attend to the balance of my command."
"A duty you finally chose no longer to neglect."
"I ... yes, sir."
"Was First Platoon able to act to any effect once it reached the survivors of the melee?"
"It was successful in preventing further loss while the wounded were carried out, sir."
"Did it further engage the enemy?"
"We took intermittent lob gun fire, sir. But they did not have our range.
"No, sir, considering the number and condition of forces left to me, I determined the objective unattainable. I quit the field."
