"The issue is not the numbers alone. You are looking at creating a unit that essentially is joint operations. The problem is that our military have no shared doctrine. To therefore create a single unit presents significant logistical issues and training issues. Take for example your VDV, they focus on airborne tactics following a series of tests, meanwhile our special force commando unit undertake a 16 week selection test before a further 10 week training programme having first served five years in the military. Once in the Commando unit they focus on desert warfare and helicopter assaults. These are two vastly different areas of activity to merge. We should perhaps begin, once the situation is quieter, by focusing on joint military exercises allowing both nations to become accustomed to the others tactics."
He then listened to the talk of eliminating the Truthsayer leaders. "The issue we have is where these people are, no one is aware of who their leaders are except Joanna McNeill, who is in Seitch, surrounded by a giant wall, secret tunnels and a coal seem worth billions to our nation, any major air strike runs the risk of igniting this seam and causing underground fires that could last thousands of years, it's the only reason we have no obliterated the city." The secret was out, many had wondered why with overwhelming air power the Kaitaine government hadn't carpet bombed the city but it would be an economic and environmental disaster. "You need to understand the Truthsayer situation. We are talking about a group so ingrained secretly into socities across the world many nations don't even know they are there. When you look at the O'Hogan family in Ui Cenneslaig until two months ago they seemed your typical capitalist philanthropist, a family doing charitable deeds and popular with the general public, then they announce they are Bene Gesserit and therefore connected to the Truthsayers. Ask the average Cenneg what they would think of the Bene Gesserit, is this likely to be anything other than positive."
McPherson realised it was highly unlikely his guest had the full range of facts about the situation and so turned discussions to other matters.
"Perhaps we should begin with small steps, formalise arrangements between our nations, show the world we support each other. I therefore put forward the following four suggestions.
1. We publically announce a Friendship Pact, this will see our two people able to travel freely between our nations, so long as national security is not a concern. We also allow our students to take courses in each others nations.
2. We announce the creation of the People's Engineering Fund. Each of us puts funding in and any engineering student may access the funds as long as their project will help improve living and working conditions for our people, so we fund things like alternative fuels and the like.
3. We announce that we shall form an annual officer exchange, say 50 officers from your nation shall come and spend time with our military and vice versa.
4. We designate each other as preferred trading partners. This will mean that for example should Kaitaine impose say a 10% tariff on the import of steel we would be committed to placing the tariff on your nation at no higher than 9%. Ideally we would ensure that trade between us is co-ordinated and tariff free, but that may take several years.
"so how does that sound." McPherson asked.
