Walter had a brief moment of relief as the comms stuttered to life but sighed as it was only Erich. He couldn't help smiling a little though. Alroy and Erich was still treating him like a youngblood after all these years, but it was a good checklist to go by, so he didn't mind. As Erich concluded he opened the channel and sent him a transmission.<br/><br/>"You know me Erich, wouldn't be the first time we stand back to back. I just hope the new kids understand there is no shame hiding behind the Brick."<br/><br/>Never plan for the unexpected, just be ready when it happen. Or as Old Guts'n'Bones said it<em>If the mission gives you lemons, stab the fucker in the eyes and steal his sugar!</em>There was one thing he wouldn't emulate about the old man though. He always had one last plan if all else failed. There is no real shame in failure if you come back to fight another day. A sudden tick in his left eye hinted towards something being wrong. Not real wrong, that was what his right eye was for. He slammed the button on the cockpit blinds and looked out. Ranna and Miyoko was sparring right in front of his own 'Mech and he could see the Locust rocking. He sighed loudly and flicked the switch to the loudspeakers.<br/><br/>"What the heck is this, a circus? Miyoko, I need you up early tomorrow! Go to bed, that's an order. Yamina, you better send whoever is in there with you back their way! If they sleep their over the night there is no separating you tomorrow! Graff, I'm bolting you up early tomorrow too along with Erich, so get you ass over to your Marauder."<br/><br/>He shut the channel and closed the blinds. Sometimes he wondered if he was running a mercenary unit or a daycare...<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>0330 hours, Day 1</strong><br/><br/>Walter had gathered Graff and Erich around the dying fire and stuck a coffee pot in the still hot coals. There were some last details to be shared before the mission. In about half an hour he would leave with Miyoko and Maho to advance to their positions. He had gone up 0300 and woken them up, setting them to work with checking all their systems and load up what ammo was left. He had instructed Maho how to stick the clip harness on the hull so that she would drop the explosives in the reactor instead of blowing it up while wearing it. After that he got to gathering up his Lance-leaders around a pot of black as the night coffee. He just about chugged a cup of the beverage before lighting a pipe and giving the two of them a solemn look. He kept his voice down so that only they would hear.<br/><br/>"I haven't had contact with Bastion since yesterday morning. We might have to call the mission off. Even so I am figuring we make it to our insertion points and if we haven't heard from Bastion by then I'm calling retreat. If I have heard from them, I'll call the attack and you are a-go. Graff, I want you to mind what you do in there, don't take too many risks. You are the leader, if you go down there will be a moment of hesitation from your Lance that could end in utter failure. There is nothing wrong in soaking a few hits for your team, but mind your status and remember that the gun on your back is perfect for pounding the turrets. A good shot on the turret-ring will jam its rotation until it can be fixed by the crew. Let Hiro and Yamina loose, they have quick 'Mechs and are only really in danger if they don't have cover or are at a great distance. Once they are about 300 meters close or closer they'll run circles around those turrets. Erich, I'm not giving you anything, you know bloody well what to do with your Lance. Once I give the go, shut everything but the emergency and Lance-channels."<br/><br/>He stood up, not waiting for the leaders to ask any questions. Time was up and he had to take the girls for a trek across the mountains and plains.<br/><br/>"<em>The op starts approximately at 0600. Good luck and make sure there are repair bills on the table, no wreckage salvage other than theirs.</em>"<br/><br/>He grinned and walked over to Maho and Miyoko, giving each a stern look before he flashed a smile.<br/><br/>"Very well, saddle up and mind the cohesion, the fog will be thick. We're going for a little hike."