Federation Strategy

Some thoughts on potential Federation strategy:

The following is a look forward into the Amtrak universe based on the events in the books and a reasonably predicted evolution of characters, strategies and technologies.
1) Snow-Raven / Talisman will be presumably in her mid-20’s before she can access the full range of Talisman’s powers. In the mean time it is reasonable to assume that the Federation will attempt to eliminate her, Cadillac and Clearwater. This will undoubtedly be difficult to do as Clearwater will presumably have moved closer to the levels of power used by Mr Snow at the Storm Bringer level.

2) The Federation will continue to use multiple wagon-train attacks on large troublesome clans as used at the end of Book 5, when 5 trains were used to eliminate the M’Calls – The Lady from Louisiana, Iwo-Jima, True Grit, King of Pecos, and the Overland Raider. That’s a total potential of 5000 fighting personnel and 50 aircraft, presumably all Mark Two Skyhawks. Now the Plainfolks most powerful summoner – Mr Snow – is gone and several others were killed at the Battle of the Trading Post there is an enormous strategic advantage the Federation can exploit, 2-4 train attacks on large clans should yield relatively easy victories. This tactic would be combined with the introduction of night operations as seen at the end of Book Six and pre-attack high-altitude bombing with guided weapons/napalm.

3) Attack the new Plainfolk Council at their annual meeting, I think this is for Sioux falls though this may be wrong. The carnage of the Battle of the Trading Post showed the Federation the potential for massive gains to be made in the war, with primary gains being the gathering of clans most vital elements – their wordsmiths, summoners, seers, most valuable trades people and best warriors. A realistic option would be a massive aerial strike by Amexico. As shown in Book Four Skyriders can act as airborne command posts and the potential may be there for in-flight aerial refuelling extending the total combat range of the Mark Two. Another option is above in point two, one massive strike by an overwhelming number of wagon-trains against the Council, a single cohesive strike deep into Plainfolk territory with the rest of the wagon train fleet in reserve at the edge of Federation territory, possibly conducting their own operations against smaller clans, but still available to provide air support on the way back for the strike force.

4) New types of aircraft. An unspecified type of aircraft was used in Book Three to monitor Amexico operations in Ne-Issan, so the potential exists for different variants. These could include: airborne refuelling tankers, The Skyhawk mark Three with longer range, greater weapons load, possibly a two seater fighter with a pilot and a bombardier, and helicopters or tilt-rotor gunships and troop transports – derivatives of the AH-64Apache, the V-22 Osprey and the Blackhawk helicopter.

5) The Special Treatment List. At the end of Book 5 the President General explained to Karlstrom that Steve and Roz "were the most outstanding examples to date." So the Federation could potentially have its own summoners in development or in reserve in an effort to neutralise Talisman. Add in the factor of Lucas Brickman - the 'dark star whose task it is to destroy the federation from within.' Sooner or later he will be exposed and most likely an attempt to kill him will be made. This would most likely result in a spectacular battle within the Earth-Shield. There is also the possibility that the Federation could clone Lucas and have their own tame 'dark star' once they realise the real article is out of control.

6) The Federation needs some sort of aircraft carrier. A small carrier with a large strike force of Mark Two Skyhawks could mount round the clock bombing operations against the Southern Mutes in the Gulf States and Florida, and along the Eastern Seaboard. It could be also be used for a strategic attack on the naval forces of Ne-Issan, attempting to sink any and all wheel-boats, and making air and land strikes against the leaders of particular domains, thereby destabilizing the region and weakening the trading link with mutes resulting in less weapons used against Federation forces. Ground forces could be sent in using hovercraft, small inflatable boats, and via the proposed troop carrying aircraft

7) The air wings on the wagon trains need to be increased. By adding extra power cars surely a wagon train could take aboard an extra flight wing (10 planes, 2 cars) thereby doubling the potential strike force, and enabling the train to split and conduct flight and ground operations from multiple staging points, i.e. half the train with 10 aircraft strikes from one point, the other half and aircraft from another position, thereby splitting Mute forces and tricking them into believing they are being attacked by more than one train.

8) Karlstrom will attempt a coup, or the PG will attempt to eliminate Karlstrom. Karlstrom has shown the lengths he is willing to got too by wiping out an entire branch of the Family at the end of Book Six, it is doubtful this was authorised by the PG. Either way it seems inevitable there will be a showdown between these two, this may be over the raising of Lucas (Karlstrom opposes this). Could the PG have another covert unit that Karlstrom is unaware off, a second Amexico?

9) Forward positioning air assets at outer boundary way stations and divisional bases so they can conduct long-range aerial strikes on a year round basis.

10) The Prophecy is in motion and the Family must be concerned, does anyone doubt they have an ultimate weapon on standby for a final showdown with talisman or an evacuation plan to remote enclave - South America maybe.