WCGW Chpt 93

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==Chapter 93 - What Could Go Wrong==
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7 April 3042
Inner End (Federated Commonwealth)
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It was early evening local time. Leftenant Colonel David Mitchell had met with his immediate Command Group and gone over First Prince Hanse Davion's offer. There had been no objections nor suggestions, but a bunch of "your the boss, whatever you decide is fine with us" answers. He broke us the quick meeting so that everyone could return to the massive number of tasks that needed to be accomplished. He went directly to the dining facility since he already knew that was where First Prince Hanse Davion and Quintus Allard were waiting for him.
"Highness. Mr Allard." He said in greeting as he took a seat at the corner table with them.
"I expect you had a meeting about my offer and the attack. First, how did they take my offer?" First Prince Hanse Davion said
"As long as your offer does not prevent us from completing our original mission set, we will do it. I am going to want that in writing Highness, no disrespect meant." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell replied
"None taken, son. Looking out for your people, it is an honorable trait that is lacking in most. You have my word; our adventure will not impede your treasure hunting. I am just asking that you work my offer into your treasure hunting and if you do locate a suitable system, you let me know as soon as you can." First Prince Hanse Davion said
"On that, you do know that your secret communication device can be located when used right?" Leftenant Colonel Mitchell asked and immediately regretted it when both faces clouded slightly.
"Explain that please" Quintus Allard said
"I don't know exactly what your using, but it has a long range. Travels at roughly 50LY per day by our calculations. When the message is sent, it can be detected by the ship's sensors, the same sensors can detect an arriving message. Shows up as a tiny jump signature and emergence wave. Small enough that it is doubtful anyone would detect it unless they are super close to a Jumpship or possibly a Dropship when they use it." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell replied
"Son, I like you, I really do, but you ever repeat anything about some sort of communication device outside of me or Hanse here and you will have an accident. Understand?" Quintus Allard said, his voice had token on a very unfriendly tone as he spoke.
"Crystal clear. I just thought you should know. Maybe pass on a warning to the end users to be careful where they activate it, could get them killed. And while not totally related, we are going to need a new Liaison Officer. Agent Hammel is just not cut out for what goes on out there. She thinks pirates and slavers should be treated like normal criminals or POWs. I might have to make some tough decision out there and she is going to disagree big time and that is going to be an issue." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell replied
Quintus Allard sighed "I was afraid of that. She is an excellent investigator and agent. But she has never done any wet work, always stayed on the investigative side. Do you have anyone else in mind?"
"No sir. I guess someone from the Liaison office. I know at least they will be AFFS or AFFC military. Better able to handle what might happen." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell replied
"I will see that they assign you an experienced officer as Liaison. She will return to her investigative duties with no black mark. I can always tell Justin that she completed her special task with aces if he asks." Now, help me understand this damned list. Some I can figure out on my own, but some of these are head scratchers." Quintus Allard said pulling out the equipment list he had been given.
Leftenant Colonel Mitchell looked at his own chicken scratches written on the sheets of paper.
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Equipment and Personnel Needed on Return (FUSION IF POSS)
Battlemechs - Easy to repair and maintain maybe company
Tanks - Hover, quick strike ability - Heavy, Manticore maybe company of each
Hover APC - Large, some combat ability, at least enough to carry a company
VTOL - recon, fast response, some combat ability maybe platoon
Battlemech Recovery Heavy - 8
Engineering Vehicle - 3
Carbine Construction Mechs - 4
Kiso Construction Mechs - 2
Geologist - 1
Medical Teams!!! - 5
Research Assist - 2 - High security level!!!!!!
2nd Star Lord (??)
Mammoth Dropship !!!!!! (1?)
More Mules (?)
Seeker Dropships (?)
Sell Monarchs
Merchant Jumpships (Sell?)
Laser weapons for Infantry, rechargeable plus
Everything as energy heavy as possible, lower supply needs
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After looking the list over Leftenant Colonel Mitchell started explaining "We have limited cargo space, so I need to cut down our logistical needs as much as possible. I do not expect to fight an extended campaign, but I have to plan for the event happening. So, I need to cut down on fuel use, ammo needs. We will still have our normal rifles with ammo, but our primary will now be Laser based. We can recharge the power packs off any fusion plant. That list has changed after meeting a few of the new officers and getting their input.
I need to boost my engineering ability. Digging is time consuming. At the same time, a track vehicle cannot go everywhere, hence the Construction Mechs. Well, I have Mech pilots now, so now I need Battlemechs. Major Woodall suggested to Sergeant Major Pullman the Wolfhound, he has an inquiry in for some from Defiance, no answer yet. A dozen of them, I think. I have a Union Dropship now, so I can carry a company combat ready. I also have a huge personnel tail, so 4 Seeker Dropships would be perfect, the model that carries a Mech Lance each. When we are back up to strength, I will be keeping a dozen of the Strikers, they can ride a Mule down, along with most of the heavy equipment. Three Seeker to carry support etc but one Seeker will be combat loaded. We are keeping the Thunderbolt and both Thugs plus the Merlins. But I also want 9 Phoenix Hawks, the new version the Lyrans just started building.
My armor folks told me about a Hover Tank that they got to play with during the War of 3039, Drillson with an ER Large laser. I want 12 of them. Two Company of Manticore. We are keeping 12 LTV-4 Hover Tanks, even though they are fuel users as backup. Sergeant Davis needs some backup, so I want some help for him, but they have to be totally trustworthy. We are playing where no one else has in a long time, I need folks to help determine what is safe, what is dangerous, for soil, water, vegetation. Geology I have learned is a big item, so I need some good folks there.
I stretched my medical team to the breaking point. Not again, I want plenty of doctors and medical staff. We are keeping 3 of the MASH Sherpa, 4 of the Sherpa Field Kitchens, 12 of the Sherpa Fuel trucks and 24 of the Sherpa Cargo trucks, 4 Sherpa HQ. I am also keeping 36 of the Turhans. The Battlemech Recovery Vehicle, well that is obvious. We are keeping 4 of the Wayland Mobile bases plus a fair portion of the misc weapons and spare parts. The Lion, well I was going to keep it, but if it is not ready and repaired by the time everything is ready to go, I will sell it to you.
The Monarchs Passenger Liners are a luxury I can no longer justify, so I need to sell them, but at a good price. I am going to keep the Union CV, I can crew it now, plus it makes for a decent Jumpship defense ship. Oh, and I want 12 Corsairs, seems I have a bunch of pilots that love that plane. Commodore Noble wants more Samurai, but I told him I cannot promise that, so Corsairs it is then. If I can find another GOOD, let me stress good, Star Lord, I might be able to sell both Merchant Jumpships, we will be keeping our Invader Jumsphip though. VTOLs well no one really has an opinion, but I do not have the fastest Battlemechs, so I think they will make good scouts. So, I throw myself on your mercy on that item. Any questions?" Leftenant Colonel Mitchell explained
"Actually, I have a ton, but they can wait until a later date. Hanse has already kept me away longer than either of should have been gone. And the sooner we are back on New Avalon, the faster we can start turning over stones working this list for you. Oh, by the way, there was a bunch of AWOL notices submitted to MIIO here, something about the local militia's entire Aerospace maintenance department vanished. Know anything about that?" Quintus Allard said
"They were instrumental in our surviving the last mission. I did not expect to be gone that long." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell replied
"I think I can handle that one, they were a special tasking of such importance that I ordered them to go on short notice. Son, you and your people have done an outstanding job finding and bringing all this back. Get a fair number together and the AFFC will take it all off your hands." First Prince Hanse Davion said with a sly smile
"Thank you, Highness, I have been too busy to think about the trouble they might be in. I think I can come up with a fair price pretty soon." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell replied
"We are boosting at dawn; I would prefer nothing be sent over HPG. I expect you already know that attracts attention. I will arrange with the MI3 folks for you to have access to communications." Quintus Allard said
"Oh yeah, who the hell attacked us?" Leftenant Colonel Mitchell asked
"Probably the same folks that did the first time. Problem is we cannot prove it." Quintus Allard said
"We have the prisoners, make them talk." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell replied
"They are dead son. Cyanide hidden in a false tooth. Suicide." Quintus Allard said
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