"Squad after-action review, starting now. We're covering two engagements: suppressing the port zone and seizing the power center. Speak your mind. Same rules as always—no holding back, no taboos."
Back when Max Vizsla had first become a section leader, he started experimenting with holding AARs after battles at the right time.
Conducting an after-action review after combat—dissecting shortcomings and summarizing lessons learned—was a good habit he'd brought from his previous life. Granted, the college kid he'd once been had never actually run anything like this; he'd just picked up the concept from news reports and military novels—supposedly a fine tradition of some legendary unit.
Later, the team leader above him was killed, and section leader Max Vizsla was promoted on the spot to team leader. Later still, the squadron commander above that was killed, and team leader Max Vizsla was promoted on the spot to squadron commander. Later still... Max Vizsla became the top leader of the entire faction. And as that happened, the AAR practice spread through the whole faction and became institutionalized.
"I think we need to procure more advanced electronic warfare equipment, and train—or hire—more professional EW specialists."
"This is the right path!"
"This kind of indiscriminate, full-band barrage jamming hurts our own operations too much. In the port suppression engagement, if our data links had remained clear and we could've used a designate-and-guide tactic, our warriors could've launched micro-missiles from inside the cargo bay and used the GR-75's optical targeting to guide them onto targets—without having to fly right up in front of turbolaser muzzles to eyeball the shot. If the enemy point-defense crews had been well-trained, we could've taken casualties while removing those emplacements."
...
"AAR concluded. Good summary." Max Vizsla rose as he spoke. "Section leaders: step out and proceed to Conference Room Three for the Cloud City operation AAR. Everyone else, dismissed."
"This is the right path!"
As he spoke, the helmet cradled on his arm began to buzz. Max Vizsla put it on. "This is Max Vizsla. Go ahead."
"Leader, this is the communications center. We have an encrypted hypercomm request from Corellia. Administrator Billy Williams says it's from Lord Fieg and it should be transferred to you. Do you want us to connect it?"
"Route it to the holocomm in Conference Room Three. I'm on my way. Good work."
"Copy. Signal routed to the holocomm in Conference Room Three. This is the right path!"
"Move it, section leaders," Max Vizsla quickened his pace. "The 'big boss' wants to see everyone."
"Copy."
...
"Keep your helmets on," Max Vizsla said once they were inside Conference Room Three. "Before we start the AAR, we'll meet the 'big boss.'"
"Copy."
Max Vizsla opened the holocomm channel.
"Good evening—no, it's past midnight. Good morning, Lord Fieg."
"Ahem. Son of a bantha," Lord Fieg said politely, a cigarette hanging from his lips. "Pretty courteous for a security manager, Mister Cloud. And hey—nice surname."
"You bet. The members of your security team are all polite young men." Max Vizsla turned his head. "Boys, say hello to the 'big boss.'"
With a sharp, unified motion, more than thirty Mandalorians in full armor stood at once, then saluted and greeted Lord Fieg in perfect synchronization.
The connection was stable, but the holoprojection image froze.
"Sit," Max Vizsla said, lifting a hand.
More than thirty Mandalorians sat at the same time. The holoprojection finally moved again—and Lord Fieg sat back down as well.
"Pretty professional," Lord Fieg commented.
"Thank you," Max Vizsla nodded. "Polite. Professional. If you do a job, you do it properly."
Lord Fieg drew on his cigarette. "Hah... all right, polite-and-professional Mister Cloud—what exactly is so important that it can't be said over hypercomm and has to be discussed in person?"
"Naturally, it concerns important business secrets—about Cloud City, and about you, wealthy Lord Fieg."
After a brief silence, Lord Fieg spoke again. "I'm sending you an address. I'm on Corellia. I'll be waiting whenever you arrive, Mister Cloud."
"Copy. I'll depart in three days. May the Force be wi—" Max Vizsla didn't get to finish before the signal cut.
"Well then." Max Vizsla spread his hands. "May the Force be with us. Now we begin the meeting."
"This is the right path!"
...
The Cloud City operation AAR had barely started when Max Vizsla delivered the first critique.
"Our early reconnaissance had a major failure. Not mapping the Ugnaughts' hidden service-tunnel network is one thing. Not even knowing it existed is another. If the enemy had used those tunnels for maneuver and strike, Dragonclaw Team could've taken losses during the push to seize the power center."
...
"We lack proper breaching tools. Using blasters and back-mounted missiles to open blast doors during a push is far too inefficient..."
At that, Max Vizsla's thoughts drifted.
(Professional breaching tools... a lightsaber? Yeah. We really should get some lightsabers for breaching. Jedi draw circles, Sith draw squares—are we drawing circles or squares?)
...
"The firepower of Fang-class and Kom'rk-class fighters is insufficient. At a hyperspace lane exit point, they can only maintain surveillance—they can't truly impose a blockade. If we want to guarantee Cloud City's security, purchasing starfighters with heavier strike capability—or acquiring a large capital ship—is necessary."
(Yeah, necessary. Also expensive. We're short on everything—money most of all. How did Lando Calrissian do it again?)
...
"AAR concluded. Good summary. Michael Saxon and Christopher Ryen stay. Everyone else, dismissed."
"This is the right path!"
"Chris, take your fireteam with me to Corellia. We're taking a Kom'rk. We leave now."
"Copy. Uh—" Christopher Ryen scratched his head, confused. "Didn't you say three days?"
"Changed it. We're going now."
"Oh. Yes, leader."
"Mike, Cloud City is yours for the next month."
"Copy. I'll keep Cloud City secure."
"You doing the job," Max Vizsla patted Michael Saxon on the shoulder, "puts my mind at ease."
"Leader... do you mean when I do the job, you weren't at ease?"
...........................
PS: "Son of a bantha" is a Star Wars-flavored variant of a famous insult—literally, "raised by a bantha."