The Frontier Road
Following the entry of the United States into the Great War, the 21st Mobile Armor Division carved their way north through hundreds of miles of tundra and trees to the Alaskan front. One of their detachments, the 17th Mobile Armor Detachment, led by Warrant Officer Jethro Madison, began the march in June of 1940. The US sent this initial detachment through allied territory to the battle lines at the Russo-Canadian border, with the goal of creating a corridor into the primary population centers of Alaska, and an ultimate operational goal of capturing the Bering Tunnel which connects it to Russia. The 17th's intent was to connect with allies, the Canadian 3rd Colonial Infantry Division, who were devising their own operation to circle even further around enemy lines. Information regarding their offensive is limited for security reasons.
The 17th's primary mission upon reaching the front lines was the creation of a permanent path through allied and enemy territory to facilitate future missions in areas previously deemed inaccessible. However, due to the speed of the assault, the possibility of enemy contact seemed inevitable. Given this combination of circumstances, the hoard of X32 Rhea Light Battle Walkers within the 21st Mobile Armor Division came with a load-out unique to this mission. The majority of their these were kitted with a mismatched combination of arms, one for ranged combat when the time arose, and one for dealing with the forest that lay ahead. Teams of two often worked together, one clearing the trees with its buzzsaw equipped arm, and one dragging the felled trees off to the side with its mechanical claw. While more efficient when fully set up for logging operations, the possibility of a ambush was ever-present if the mission was leaked, which forced the operators to remain prepared for a combat situation at any time. Many of the officers afforded for this mission were often seen in the X53 Lynx Battle Walkers, but were not spared the task of tree clearing. These larger Walkers were vital for some of the old growth that had to be managed. They often split the Lynxes apart, one working alongside a squad of 4-6 Rheas, keeping them on task and providing some of the heavy lifting the Rheas couldn’t manage on their own.
Warrant Officer Jethro Madison manned the lone X74 Sheridan Heavy Battle Walker that had been afforded to this mission, likely because he was the only one who could both operate it effectively and repair with as much ease. This Sheridan, Dubbed “Syl's Skates”, was something of an odd sight for the men it worked alongside, eschewing the main cannons for a buzz saw and clawed hand as its full arm loadout. While still having its stock chest guns, the men still wondered what Jethro had planned for when actual fighting commenced. Walkers were still fresh to the battlefield, and most of the men saw their close ranged arm as a last resort for when the fighting inevitably began.
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