Yeee, its PGI's way of not F-ing with lore...

You can use Coyote mod second lance mod?
https://www.nexusmods.com/mechwarrior5mercenaries/mods/263

I would love to have to manage a company. Logistics is not everyone's jam but I like the extra layer of thought would have to put into this.

2 lances even with the 400 ton limit still would add so much more to the game

Originally posted by Hurricane:

2 lances even with the 400 ton limit still would add so much more to the game

Coyote adds a 2nd lance but you will not have direct control over them beyond assigning mechs and pilots. They will follow you around like ally lances and attack as they see fit.

EDIT: just read what Iron Legion posted so redundant post on my part. But can gain Turrets to defend your leopard, ground forces and aerospace assets too on top of that 2nd lance.

8 mechs to manage may seem like a good idea but in the end the maps are too small to make any real use of them and even though player is outnumbered the AI will never fire as fast as you or pilot their mechs in a tactical fashion to make good uses of those numbers. The spawns are also staggered so its not like they overwhelm you with hordes.
Funny enough coyotes custom AI on selective mission types is about as tactical as you will ever see the enemy working against you in groundwar and duel type missions.