<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=158161.msg7271343#msg7271343">Quote from: orderNchaos on 24-11-2012, 11:38:25</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Ranna made notes in her mind regarding the plan.  She waited as Walter dismissed the group, to step up to the Table.  "Walter.  I have a few issues with the plan.  On the western approach our assualt will be precarious at best if we end up getting pinned down by those turrents.  You're counting on the fog, but one thing I've learned over the years is you never count on weather.  The turrents all have a clear field of fire between the barracks and the mech bays.  Even at high speed we'd still take at least a hit from each before we reach the mech bays.  The Sling needs to be the first one in.  That power core needs to go or the turrents will tear us apart.  Finally, the assault Lance coming up the south approach is going to tie up offensive capability we need inside the base.  Come in through the north approach and you avoid the obvious bottleneck and the long march up the throat of those turrents.  Besides you can support the Sling as it takes out the power core and take the brunt of the turrent fire away from us."  She looked at Walter to gauge his reaction to her assessment.  "I didn't want to say anything in front of the unit.  I didn't want them thinking that I was questioning your tactics or leadership."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Walter kept fiddling with the comms as he listened to Ranna, trying every single one of the Bastion's secure and emergency channels. As any good Warrior he had no problems multi-tasking or multi-listening for that matter. As commander he had to keep track of Bastion and two Lance-leaders as well as his own two lancemates. As Ranna finished up her thoughts he shut off the comm-unit and crawled halfway up through the cockpit hatch and brought out his pipe again. He stuffed it and lit it. It was a good way to stall for time, to figure out which words were right, what wisdoms fit in the picture.<br/><br/>"You know how to handle your Hatchetman, Ranna. I trust that you do. I also know from your file that you have a brilliant mind for these things. Far more experience than Graff. The only reason I held off on putting you as Lance-leader is that I know what to expect from 'Mechs like your Hatchetman or Lily's Axman. A long career full of beheaded enemies or a quick death in a fiery explosion. I know for a fact from Bastion's records that you can be a bit of a hothead. I can't afford to lose a Lance-leader in the middle of battle because she went in for a quick CQC-kill on a 'Mech only to not notice the Atlas with an AC20 around the corner."<br/><br/>He blew out a plume of smoke to pause for a moment and watched Ranna's reaction. He didn't let her answer but instead continued.<br/><br/>"That doesn't mean I don't trust your tactical abilities. I do as much as I trust that you can handle your hatchet or get your 'Mech up to the enemy without taking a hit. I hope you trust your lancemates to be able to dodge two turrets in Mechs that outrun us in speed times two. In the same way I want you to trust your commander to make the right call if there is no fog tomorrow. If we go in to the base to blow up the core we must run a fair stretch to reach the core, past two SAM's that I take for granted are manned. I also take for granted that as soon as they see us, the alarm will be raised. As soon as that alarm is raised, those MechWarriors in the barracks will be out in a bolt to man their 'Mechs. I'd rather have you raise the alarm by gunning those barracks to stop them from manning those 'Mechs than you running into them once we have destroyed that power core. If two lights and a medium supported by a Marauder can't handle two turrets, I'm going to cut your pays in half. Trust me on that at least."<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=158161.msg7271981#msg7271981">Quote from: Sara Nilsson on 24-11-2012, 18:40:39</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Reporting in Sir, nothing in the area we are still hidden as far as I could tell"<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>"Very good, Miyoko. Head back to the cockpit and get some sleep. You are covering Maho tomorrow, remember!"<br/><br/>He finished up the pipe and knocked the ashes over the edge of his Highlander's head as he crawled down below again, stopping to give Ranna a stern look before closing the hatch.<br/><br/>"I trust everyone i this company to do their job, Ranna. Be it MechWarrior or pencil-pusher. I would take a bullet for anyone of you, but I can't be everywhere at once. Keep your speed up and cover your lancemates and those two turrets will be easy pickings."<br/><br/>With that he closed the hatch and slumped into his seat. He sounded like a broken record with the trust, but it just came down to that. If you couldn't trust the 'Mech next to you to keep you alive you had no place in a company. And worrying about two turrets with all that speed and backup was a weakness Ranna never should have showed him. "I didn't want them thinking that I was questioning your tactics or leadership." That was the same as saying<em>I didn't want you to shoot me down in front of the others</em>.<br/><br/>Tomorrow was going to be a long day...