16 August 2785
Colonel Mitchell looked at all his gather officers, "Okay folks, let's get this skull session started. We all know we took far heavier losses than we really should have. I have some idea's in my head, but I want to hear from you all first any idea's you might have rattling around in your heads. So let's hear them."
Capt Gettelfinger was the first to speak up "Sir, we need Hover APC's bad. They can keep up with or be faster than my own company on deep strikes or raids. I could have done so much more damage if I had those last go around."
Maj Heather Rivera of the Security Battalion spoke up next, "Sir, I agree with Capt Gettelfinger, we need hover APC's. Also I got big slow tanks running out my ears, but they cannot shift position fast enough to react to a fluid situation. Sure we can beat down any frontal attack, but I need some speedier tanks for those times when the SHTF. Plus I don't know crap about commanding Infantry, I was a mere Tank Company Commander when you slapped the Major title on me, maybe split them off so I don't make a mistake and cause needless losses."
Maj Janet Avalos of Mech Battalion spoke up, "Sir, I was a company short when you sent Charlie Company on that deep strike. I think we need to put out a call to any ex-SLDF to maybe join us up and activate our reserve stock of Mechs. Maybe split Charlie Company off as a deep strike/recon company and fold the new company into my Battalion."
Capt Milton Roberts (the senior Infantry commander) chimed in, "No disrespect to Maj Rivera, but we need to expand some. I would like to see us expand to a full Infantry Battalion. We can, if time/money allow create a Infantry training company, we could use them for rear area security if need be, when the full unit deploys or even security of our families when they arrive, while in training. Grow and train our own troops, we got the experience in this unit for that. But if given the choice, I would prefer not to see a company of Infantry split away from the Battalion to go on a deep strike. "
At the last statement, Capt Gettelfinger began to rise with anger on his face, but a hand held up by Capt Roberts made him pause. "Let me finish Gettel, Colonel, I would much rather have a dedicated company of Infantry set up for just those deep strike missions." With that, Capt Gettelfinger smiled and sat back down with a nod of respect to Capt Roberts.
Choi Pak (head Mech Tech in charge of all Techs/Astechs and support) finally voiced up. "Sir, I need more of everything. More Techs, Mechanics, Astechs, MASH transports, cargo vehicles, dedicated ammo carriers, the works. We are light on support assets. I am pretty sure we lost some folks that could have survived if we had more transports for the wounded. If I would have had to do field reloads of our units, there is no way I could have transported enough ammo quick enough."
Doctor Stephen Purday spoke up at that moment "If we expand any, I need more doctors, at least another MASH truck and ambulances. We were pressed to the breaking point trying to treat all the wounded we had last mission. If we had not had the Drop Ships medical facilities to help us, we would have lost a lot more than we did."
Colonel Mitchell held up a hand, "Folks we would be hard pressed to afford all these changes and additions. We made money last mission, but no where near enough."
Capt Doug Skeffington, Cavalry Orbital Asset commander added his thoughts. "Colonel, I have been thinking while all of you have been talking. Out of curiosity yesterday, I checked out the listings of Jumpships. There are a couple of Invader Jumpships on the market right now. We could sell our Tramps to say the AFFS, buy the 2 Invader Jumpships and not lose our current Dropship carry total and have money left over for the proposed expansion. Granted we lose overall cargo tonnages, but how often are we going to carry everything with us? The first mission, we had no place to "call home". Now we sort of do so we only need to carry what we need."
All of this went back and forth for several hours, finally Colonel Mitchell halted the conference "Okay people, I have pages and pages of notes to review, a bunch to mull over, so let's stop for now. I got a ton of thinking to do. Thank you all for your advise and idea's."