The wall-sized displays in Drop Command are alive with activity, rows of consoles manned as another Levantine troop conducts a drop against one of the northern rebel factions on Cerberus. As you enter the large room you scan the displays, realizing just how much easier it is to make sense of them than it was a few weeks ago. Terran forces are already on the ground, and at least one platoon has made enemy contact. With close fighter support and the reserve platoon loading into their drop ship for a quick surface move, it looks like everything is going well.
Your attention quickly shifts, however, to one of the smaller, round tactical tables. You take your seat across from First Lieutenant Magar, Karim lumbering up and taking the seat on your right. The other platoon leaders, Lieutenants Sanvicente and Taiwo, arrive moments later. They exchange quiet comments, mostly about casualties in their platoons, but otherwise there is little chatter as Magar prepares the brief.
Karim suddenly calls you all to attention, and Commander Celi appears on your left.
"Relax," she says, luminous eyes surveying the five of you. "Good to see you all here and in one piece. I'm glad we've all had a few days to recover, because tomorrow we're heading back to the dirt. First Lieutenant, proceed."
Magar manipulates his controls and brings up a map on the table. It's the town of Free Lhasa, you realize. Magar describes how the ships with the medicine are arriving in eighteen hours, and that as soon as the medicine is transferred to drop ships the roll out to the civilian population is going to start. There have been increasing reports of MacMillan's Disease throughout Free Lhasa, so the medical mission will start there. The supplies hopefully include enough curative doses to deal with those already infected, but getting the vaccine to those still healthy is imperative. The civilian authority is cooperating, but intelligence reports that there are definitely rebel forces in the town as well.
"My recommendation," Magar concludes, "is that we deploy the troop in a sweep of the town center first, to catch the rebels off guard and clear out resistance. If we can establish a bridgehead in strength, the Fleet personnel can take care of issuing the meds."
"I'd be worried about rebels hiding within the civilian population," Lieutenant Sanvicente counters. "If we send Fleet pukes in with medikits they might get slaughtered. Perhaps the troopers should carry the medicine."
"You say the civilian leadership is cooperating, though," says Lieutenant Taiwo. "Maybe if we get word to them first, we can convince them to let the medicine be distributed peacefully. My platoon is down to two-thirds strength right now—I'd rather not have to fight the rebels in every doorway just to cure sick kids."
The discussion carries on for a few minutes, the officers debating the merits of each idea back and forth. No clear consensus emerges, though, and each suggestion has merit.
Then Celi turns to you.
"What do you think, Vasanta?"