[color=Olive]"The sad truth of the situation is that we're going to be painted as 'the villains' no matter what approach we take,"[/color] the Colonel followed up on Ramrod's question and the comments that came with it. [color=Olive]"The NPDRE has complete control over the local media outlets, so they can spin our actions whatever way they like. However, when it comes to keeping our name clean with any potential future employers and with the MRB, we do have one trick up our sleeve: our [url=https://www.sarna.net/wiki/BattleROM]BattleROM[/url] recorders."[/color]

BattleROMs were the equivalent of a 'Mech's "Black Box," the stored raw data of all its internal and external sensors. Primarily used for verifying the accuracy of after-action reports, the video and audio footage, software data logs, and Neurohelmet feedback stored in a BattleROM could help commanders reconstruct the events of a chaotic battle, from determining an enemy 'Mech's weapons loadout down to a Mechwarrior's preferred control setup. MRB tribunals had used BattleROM footage on numerous occasions to convict or exonerate mercenaries accused of war crimes, and a commander's level of willingness to turn over said footage was often a clear indicator of their innocence or guilt.

[color=Olive]"I want your gun-cameras rolling from the word go on this one,"[/color] he insisted, [color=Olive]"especially once the ECM bubble goes up and you're cut off from the Mobile HQ. That way, if the NPDRE accuses us of anything dirty, we can show potential allies the ground truth. And if you [i]do[/i] decide to fight dirty yourselves, I'll be the first to know about it."[/color]

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw technician Wyatt mouthing something to get his attention, though he didn't quite make out what she was saying. For a moment, a spark of annoyance drew a sneer, and he thought to reprimand her for speaking out of turn.

[color=Olive][i]Bloody know-it-all,[/i][/color] he grumbled inwardly. [color=Olive][i]Can't get in a word edgewise without this smartass kid interrupting...[/i][/color]

That annoyance faded, though, as the gesture started to remind him of Captain Roth, how Sally would subtly nudge him one way or another during his briefings, to bring up something he had forgotten, without costing him face in front of the Knights. Inwardly, he remembered one of his many, [i]many[/i] arguments with Sally, about Ms. Wyatt:

[color=Violet][i]You're not on Mallory's World anymore,[/i][/color] Captain Roth had scolded him, [color=Violet][i]and she doesn't work for Yorinaga Kurita. She works for [i]you[/i]. The Combine isn't your enemy anymore, so stop treating everyone from there like they're going to draw a sword the second your turn your back.[/i][/color]

Gaius chided himself. [color=Olive][i]Stupid old man, clinging to stupid old grudges. Right.[/i][/color]

Straightening up, he changed the subject.

[color=Olive]"The weather,"[/color] he began, with a spark of inspiration he couldn't quite trace, [color=Olive]"Is another factor that's going to be working in our favor. We'll have a decent amount of cloud cover, meaning any flying assets looking for us will have to fly low in order to see us...low enough to be in range for our weapons to be able to fire on them. Giggles, I want you make sure you keep your LRMs in reserve for just such an occasion."[/color]

He gestured to Lyons to turn the projector back on, and brought the red dot of his laser pointer over a row of hexes just to the west of the target area.

[color=Olive]"On our way back, local weather forecasts are predicting a major thunderstorm coming in from the west,"[/color] he elaborated. [color=Olive]"Strong winds, heavy rain, nothing particularly dangerous for 'Mechs or tanks, but it will reduce visibility to near zero at times. If the situation gets too hairy, divert your course into the storm and try to lose the enemy in it. As long as the convoy drives carefully, it's possible for them to give the Espian Guards the slip even if they get separated from the [i]Raven[/i]. A longshot, but possible."[/color]