the royalists had an artillery fire base sited at the road junction where east-west route 23 from vietnam intersected the laotian north-south route 13 near khong sedone. in early june, the royalists began reinforcing the position with thai mercenary troops returning from a loan to military region 2. four battalions left the plain of jars on 12 and 13 june; after being re-equipped, they were stationed at the critical intersection. in late june, they were joined by a fifth thai battalion. in early july, a 4.2 inch mortar was added to the garrison. however, the royalist forces had secured no foothold on the bolovens plateau.