Jaycee Woods

Prompt: As part of psyops before the wall can be built, The Butcher is planning on having his slave labor force dig fake mine fields. There will be false mine field warning signs and evidence that can be witnessed of people digging holes for mines but no actual mines will be buried. The concept is to create the illusion of mine fields so that the rebel leader Cleaver does not attempt a mass attack that would flank the encircled Butcher’s smaller force. Thoughts?

Copilot: It’s a clever tactic, playing on psychological warfare to create the illusion of greater danger. The false minefields could buy The Butcher valuable time, causing hesitation and fear among Cleaver’s forces. The key will be making the deception convincing—realistic signs, strategically placed decoys, and visible digging activity. It’s risky but could be a game-changer.

Prompt: The Butcher plans to use the defensive concepts from the Battle of Wizna to establish his initial defensive positions until he is reenforced. As he estimates being outnumbered ten or twenty to one, he thinks that an example that stood against 40 to 1 would be a good model.

Copilot: Wizna is a legendary example of courage under impossible odds, with Captain Raginis and his men holding out against overwhelming forces. The defensive tactics used—fortified positions, strategic placement of soldiers, and maximizing the terrain—are all lessons The Butcher can apply. It’s a bold choice that underscores his strategic acumen and the desperation of his situation. What other historical battles are inspiring your story’s tactical decisions?

Prompt: Stalingrad and Mogadishu as examples to be avoided.

Copilot: Stalingrad and Mogadishu highlight the brutal costs of urban warfare and overconfidence. Stalingrad’s devastating house-to-house combat and Mogadishu’s chaotic urban battle underscore the dangers of underestimating the enemy and mismanaging urban conflict. By avoiding these mistakes, The Butcher can focus on tactical ingenuity and strategic planning, rather than brute force.

How do these historical lessons shape his interactions with his commanders and troops?

Prompt: He goes for an old school siege. Cut off supplies and reinforcements while raiding strategically to deplete stores. Also using a trapped civilian population to create mouths to feed, headaches, and a drive to maintain a defensive posture for the rebels which prevents the rebels from exploiting their numeric advantage.

Copilot: This approach leverages psychological pressure and resource depletion, classic siege tactics. By using strategic raids and cutting off supplies, The Butcher forces the rebels into a defensive position, compounding the challenges of supporting a trapped civilian population. It’s a calculated method to weaken the enemy’s resolve and stretch their resources to the breaking point. This will undoubtedly create a tense and desperate atmosphere in your story.

What other tactical decisions or dilemmas are you exploring in this siege scenario?

Prompt: Divide the city using the river as a natural barrier. First reduce the western part of the city so the rebels withdrawal into the east across the river. This cuts off rebel supply, reinforcements, and escape on the river and lake side. This allows lower Union forces defending from the west while forces can be concentrated in the east and south.

Copilot: That strategy leverages the natural barrier of the river effectively. By focusing on reducing the western part of the city first, you can force the rebels to retreat and concentrate in the east, making them easier to contain. Cutting off their supply and reinforcements adds to the pressure, pushing them into a defensive posture. This approach ensures that Union forces can be optimized and focused where they’re most needed, minimizing the risk and maximizing the impact.

Prompt: Squids is a nickname for what military force?

Copilot: “Squids” is a nickname often used to refer to sailors in the United States Navy. It’s a bit of playful slang that’s been around for quite some time.

Prompt: So, it would make sense for The Butcher to reserve demolition charges to trade to the squids for them setting charges on the river bridges between west and east Cleveland?

Copilot: Absolutely, using demolition charges as leverage to get the Navy (“Squids”) to help set charges on key river bridges makes strategic sense. This collaboration can create a formidable blockade, disrupting the rebels’ movements and making it harder for them to launch counter-attacks or escape.

Prompt: In terms of living off the land, where what supplies for demolition charges might be scavenged from Cleveland? Dynamite from construction sites? Ammonium nitrate from agriculture suppliers? Possibly precursor chemicals from Cleveland’s chemical plants? Trying to show The Buther being more creative than the rebel leader Cleaver by seizing supplies the rebels ignored and failed to protect.

Copilot: You’re on the right track with sourcing materials for demolition charges. Here are some places The Butcher could scavenge supplies from:

1. Construction Sites: Dynamite or other blasting materials might be found here. Construction sites often have supplies for controlled demolitions.
2. Agricultural Suppliers: Ammonium nitrate, which is used in fertilizers, can be repurposed for explosives.
3. Chemical Plants: Precursor chemicals for making improvised explosives could be sourced here.
4. Mining Operations: If there are any nearby, they might have explosives used for mining operations.
5. Quarries: Like mining operations, quarries often use explosives for breaking rock.

By creatively scavenging these overlooked supplies, The Butcher demonstrates his ingenuity and strategic foresight, contrasting sharply with Cleaver’s approach.

Prompt: What regulatory government body might be tracking such supplies in private hands? Federal, state, local? Thinking about an intel source to identify locations.

Copilot: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the primary federal agency responsible for tracking and regulating explosives. They maintain records from manufacturers to purchasers and can trace explosives to aid law enforcement. State and local agencies might also have oversight, but ATF would be the main body involved in tracking explosives at a national level.

Would you like to explore how The Butcher might interact with or evade ATF regulations?

Prompt: I think it will be one of The Butcher’s soldiers who had ATF contacts and would obtain via back channels instead of slow official channels.

Copilot: That’s a smart move. Having a soldier with ATF contacts who can procure necessary materials through back channels adds a layer of intrigue and realism. It highlights the resourcefulness of The Butcher’s forces and their ability to navigate complex networks for survival. This approach underscores the gritty, under-the-radar tactics that would be necessary in such a high-stakes situation.