Hex was looking over several reports, but paused long enough to glance up and nod to both Street and Verishia. Another few moments then the three were joined by Salbeth, Deacon, and Gemonom; the Legion's Colonels.
Finally Hex set down the stack of printouts and settled into a chair at the planning table, the vid-display in it's surface turned off for now. "Please, be seated."
After waiting for all five of them to sit, Hex closed it's hands one over the other and looked at each in turn. "It seems that the Legion will not be sitting idle for too much longer. I have already gone over the preliminaries of our new assignment with Lord Brutin and Commander Duket, but now I wish to expand on this with all of you."
"First off, I have tasked Commander Duket with assessing the new slaves obtained on Phaesia. Her first priority is to find those suited to military service with the Legion. I have asked that our losses be replaced, and that a further five thousand soldiers be conscripted. This will be a fourth Division, and as such we will need additional officers to command the new troops." Hex paused a moment for that to sink in with the Colonels.
Going on, Hex addressed the three officers directly, "Each of you are to go through your own men and find canidates for each officer rank. Submit the lower ranks to Commander Duket for evaluation, however canidates for the new Colonel are to go through me. I also want your current commands distributed so there is an equal number of new and old soldiers in all four Divisions."
All three Colonels started muttering at that, none were eager to simple dissolve the chains of command they had forged on Phaesia, but each also saw the potential disaster of having an entire Division of rookies. Waiting for silence, Hex went on, "Now, as to our next action. Miss Anne Bonny, of the Bonny Corporation has provided us with information regarding a potential new market for the Association. The worlds in question are technologically advanced, but quite anarchistic legally and morally; a perfect place to sell newly aquired slaves."
"At present, we have some sixty-five thousand slaves in stasis because the Association's current training facilities cannot cope with the influx. We need additional infrastructure to handle our supply. Furthermore, our existing market contacts cannot cope with so many slaves, without devaluing the overall price. If we flood our current markets, our profits will suffer. Thus, we need new market contacts."
"This brings us back to the realm pointed out by Miss Bonny. They are an untapped market for us, however there are slaving houses already established there. None can match the Association in sheer volume of business, but they are well established. We need their territory and their contacts to do business here, and they are not likely to simply hand over the reigns of control. We will have to dig them out and take over by force."
Another round of murmuring from the Colonels, then Hex nodded and continued, "Good, I see that has your attention. I do not want the Legion to sit idle, without orders or purpose, for too long. Such would both make the men soft, but would also disenchant those hoping to earn their freedom in combat, that otherwise would not be available. So, we will burn out the existing competition, then set up shop for ourselves."
"This is likely to be a long campaign, and it will be a totally new battlefield than many of you have seen before. Our adversary is technologically advanced, and quite used to the reality of a hostile environment. To overcome this, I have tasked Commander Duket with a new training regime that I want incorporated into the *entire* Legion. I want every soldier, from officer to grunt, to at least be familliar with the technology and weapons of our foes. When we can stand on equal footing in terms of equipment and training, then we will be ready to attack."
Now the machine finished it's monologue, turning to Street. "Captain Street. You will assist Commander Duket in this new training program. You will now be the drill instructor for the officers of the Legion. Once they are trained, they will go on to train their commands, and so on. Furthermore, I have a use for your Lupinossi Batallion. While the Elites remain the most well trained and equipped soldiers in the Legion, their numbers will limit them to small operations. I want your Lupinossi to fill the role of medium-scale commando operations. You will be the tip of the Legion's spear."
Settling back in it's seat, Hex crossed it's arms over it's chest and looked around the table. "Are there any questions?"
