In the Command Trailer, where the officers were overseeing the exercise, the operators at the consoles exchanged glances and grimaces. The balance of the exercise had been thrown fully out the window when the OpFor gained Satellite support and military-grade GEARs, and the Roughriders didn't have the same. A glance back toward the 'overseers' of the op and General Houseman. The Lion had a face like thunder as he watched the progress of the battle, observing the uneven distribution of forces. [i]Someone[/i] had interfered with his order of battle, and he had a good idea who, as he looked back to the table the duo who'd come to observe and oversee the operation were sat.
"I think you've proved your point, [i]sirs[/i]," he said, the last words dripping with undisguised contempt. "The Roughriders can't hold their own, unsurprisingly, when the opposing force have access to capabilities that were not part of the original scenario when they themselves aren't resupplied or supported. [I]What a shock[/i]".
The larger and older of the two, a badger with rows of elaborate decorations on his immaculate uniform shifted his bulk and frowned irritably at Houseman before he spoke. "Are you implying, General, that we have somehow altered the parameters of your mission-"
"I'm not 'implying' anything, I'm outright accusing you. I know what the scenario was, and I specified the ORBAT for both sides and the parameters for the mission. Someone has changed them".
As he spoke, the screens in the trailer lit up with Olivers' message, and the Operators on the screens called for attention as the pair of higher-ups shifted in their seats. 
"Just think," said Houseman, his voice dropping a tone, and his eyes steely. "What might happen if we were to go into the files and see who's made changes. I wonder if the JAG office would be interested in seeing how the official records have been defrauded? After all, this is an officially authorised program".
The pair exchanged glances, before the Badgers' formerly disinterested look changed to a dark one.
[I]"Fine,[/i]" he spat venomously, eyeing the scrolling message on the screen and the tactical disposition of the Roughriders. "You have your unit, general, but don't expect things to be easy from here. We'll be watching you. And we'll be in touch."
Both men rose from their seats and left without a glance back, slamming the door as they exited the trailer, leaving Houseman and the two sysops alone. 
"Sir?" asked the one seated at the left with an uncertain tone in her voice. Houseman laid a hand on the Coati's shoulder, before speaking into his own headset.
"All units, this is Houseman. The exercise is complete; stand down. Repeat, ENDEX. All units safe your weapons and return to the field HQ for debriefing. I think we have a lot to talk about. Well done, everyone, Houseman out".

On the field, Blade received the message, and felt a sense of relief - the exercise had turned from an operation the Roughriders had tactically planned and prepped for, into a one-sided slog set against them, and something about that didn't sit right with him. He had a sneaking suspicion that would be part of what Houseman would want to speak to him about.
Nonetheless, his men and women had done exceedingly well in the circumstances, and had followed all of his orders well - for the most part, at least - and despite the odds stacked against them, they had come close to victory.
"Okay team," he called out on the squadron-wide channel. "Y'all heard th' man. Safe weapons and stand down - the exercise is over. Form up on me, and let's head to the field HQ for debrief. Well done, everyone." 
Spinning the [i]Harlock[/i] on the spot, he headed for the low rise at the edge of the exercise area where the command truck was parked up. As he did, all the exercise programs dropped out of action, and the the targets all changed to friendlies, their IFF systems reasserting themselves. The Landren Army unit that had done their job simulating the hostiles began to leave the field as well, heading back for their own debrief, the soldiers and drivers waving to the GEARs as they passed by, a gesture he returned with the [I]Harlocks'[/i] metalshod hands.