91 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 5 (2/2)
”Sit Cadets,” Reverdin ordered, ”We are all busy so let's get this over with quickly.” He sat and nodded to the LG.
”I am a career Military Officer, like some of you will be one day, I am not a politician, nor am I beholden to Fortescue group,” He began with his gravellike and slow speech.
”That being out in the open, I am four years from retirement, and there are two things I do not wish to happen,” he paused for effect, ”We will not be relegated, and I will follow the directives coming from the Fortescue CEO in the best interest of all present. If we can achieve both of these outcomes, I will be satisfied. Is that clear?” He asked.
The Cadets responded with clear ”yes sirs” in unison. Daedo and Vannier saw no reason to object, the statement was clear.
”I would like to hear the proposal from the Daedalus group,” the FG stated.
”It's just Daedalus,” Daedo replied, and a look of irritation crossed the FG's face. He did not like being corrected by a cadet. Especially one from M1. The reaction was predictable, but Daedo's personality could not let a mistake like that go unresolved.
Vannier cleared her throat and stood, she pulled up a screen with information about competitor mechs and Daedalus predicted metrics from their design.
”We have been working extremely hard on a new mech design based on our patented technology and recent learnings,” she began.
”As you can see,” She said indicating the ranking chart, ”Our conservative prediction places the new Mech design towards the upper echelon of the tier in all four metrics with the exclusion of weaponry.”
”You can't win without good weapons,” Commander Reverdin stated the bleeding obvious.
”This meeting could not wait, our weapons program has just begun,” Daedo stated. ”The worst case scenario is we use the best currently available from the open market or the Academy. This would place us last in the grading, but the Mech itself is only second to KAIST.”
”You expect me to believe a group of M1s have designed a Mech better than the Academy's and better than Renault Academy for that matter?” Romulus asked.
”No,” Vannier stated calmly, ”There is no need for belief. There are facts that you can examine and validate yourself.”
Vannier looked at Daedo who gave her a slight nod. ”This Mech has a mobility and armour advantage. It will be utilised for the Vanguard, Liberos and long-range operations. There will be no scout Mechs the team will use recon drones for this purpose.”
”One Mech design?” Commander Mallet said, ”I guess that is what we get with such time constraints.”
”If these figures are validated I see no reason to use more than one type of Mech,” Krecke stated and received a nod from Commander Reverdin.
”I agree,” he said, ”What are the loadouts? What weapons are you working on?”
”There is a prototype PPC and Railgun underdevelopment, neither are close, it may be halfway through the term before they become available,” Daedo said.
”This will put pressure on the team,” Commander Reverdin replied, ”Can you bring up the data on the currently available weapons and contrast against the competitor study?”
Vannier nodded, it only took her moments to bring up the data in a table and graph, ”The loadouts are unknown for our team and the competitor, this data shows all weapons available for the loadouts. We have an auto-cannon, assault cannon and missile launcher.”
The main difference between the auto-cannon and the assault cannon were the rate of fire and damage per hit. They had similar damage per second when accuracy was equalised. The auto-cannon was capable of better burst damage, but the assault cannon was more accurate when the mech was in motion. The choice came down to strategy and tactics due to the disadvantaged and advantages balancing out.
”I see,” the FG stated, ”Assuming your mech lives up to expectations we are still last with weapons. So in order to guarantee survival we need to improve this area.”
”We will survive with no new weapons,” Daedo stated. ”The mobility and armour of the mech are only slightly behind KAIST, and this is our first iteration, we will be able to improve this design given data and time. What matters most is how the first team utilises the mech's advantages through strategy and tactical awareness.”
”Which brings us to the contentious item on the agenda,” Vannier took over seamlessly using the segue Daedo provided.
”We have formulated a selection method which will bring the best results based on available equipment and skill sets of potential first-team members,” Vannier continued. ”We have decided to place Krecke as team leader, and she will select members based on synergy from practice and upcoming opposition. She will also participate as tactician in each match,” Vannier stated.
”This is ridiculous!” Romulus exclaimed, ”No disrespect but she shouldn't be on the team.” The participants of the meeting allowed Romulus the floor, it was not unexpected for Vannier and Daedo.
”The team should be selected with the best cadets and then, once the team is established the best tactician chosen,” Romulus stated. ”This is how we have always done it, and it provides the strongest team.”
”I disagree,” Daedo said succinctly.
”The way you have always done it is a terrible argument, especially when the team has been such a long way from success,” Vannier stated. ”And what data do you have to back up your claim that that method results in the strongest team?”
”Our game theory analysis shows that a tactician who is five percent more proficient improves the team's performance by fifteen percent,” Vannier stated.
”It is the most important position on the team,” She concluded.
”Can we see this analysis?” Commander Reverdin asked.
”I don't doubt it,” Commander Mallet who was used to seeing the work from the M1TS0 squad on a weekly basis.
Vannier flicked the analysis to all attendees. It was a math project completed by Daedo and Myrmidon earlier in the term.
”You can read that later,” Vannier said ordering her seniors in both age and rank. ”The Gauntlet and Martial combat teams will be headed by Romulus, if he achieves forty-five percent of points each weekend, he will not be replaced.”
”You're benching and benchmarking me?” Romulus asked.
”It's our analysis that there will be better results if your solo skills are put to use in the secondary events,” Vannier stated.
Romulus was horrified he looked to his Commander and the FG. He received no support, they all remained quiet.
On the contrary, the LG added, ”This is a good plan. The more I hear, the more I like it.”
”Our predictive analysis shows that if the Middle and Upper school perform to the upper limit of expectations, with no further equipment upgrades, the result will not only guarantee survival, in the second half of the season there is an opportunity to improve and challenge for promotion at the final event,” Vannier stated.
Krecke was examining the game theory document and the equipment, she had barely looked up, let alone spoken. ”Wow,” she said. ”With these numbers, I have to agree.”
”That's good,” Daedo said, ”because after we have done our job, it rests on your shoulders.”
There were excitement and positivity around the meeting table for the first time in ages. The only despondent person was Romulus, but he had no argument and no support.
”Last item,” Vannier said.
”There's more?” The LG asked. Surprised.
”The end of term tournament, we would like to request a change,” Vannier said.
The mood in the room immediately became sceptical. The two commanders and the LG leaned forward.
”What changes are you proposing?” The LG asked.
”On the last day of term, we want the middle academy to play off the first team against M1TS0. This way we can focus on our work without having to compete in all the group matches for M3. We want to compete against the best of M3,” She said.
”And what happens if you win?” Commander Mallet asked.
”Why would that be a problem?” Vannier riposted.
”It would be destructive to the Morale of the first team, and if you planned to replace them, it might not be the strongest combined team,” Commander Mallet observed. ”Not to mention the last match you played against a strong M3 squad you forfeited.”
”Rest assured commander we will fight to the death, and if they cannot beat us with the same equipment, they don't deserve to represent the Academy. We are only M1 cadets after all,” Daedo replied.
Krecke laughed her ass off.