re: #55 Kragar

And that is assuming you had forces capable of mounting a rescue operation staged at that base.

Do note that the Ready Brigade of the 82nd Airborne, our highest-state-of-readiness major force, has a mandate for its initial company (four platoons, around 150 men) be wheels-up within 18 hours. And that’s a damned sight better than anyone else.

Anything on higher readiness is a tiny fringe force that could not necessarily go into a relatively unknown and unpredictable situation like that one.