Mass Combat SR Style, Ideas anyone?!? Options

[Aria]

First of all, I haven't searched the forum to see if there are similar ideas already floating around...if anyone knows of such a thread that would be great!

I'm currently running a semi military game and the PCs are accompanied by additional NPC troops, drones etc. So far they have made some command type rolls (loosely based on the stuff in WAR!) but then I have GM ruled what is going on for the sake of plot...

...the risks with this are that the PCs feel their combat actions become irrelevant as the troops will do the fighting (and dying) for them
...they might feel that I am rail-roading them by deciding events without any dice rolling

I have considered trying to cobble an abstract mass combat system based on the PCs rolling for their troops but also their actions influencing outcomes (sort of similar to an ancient D&D <avert head from all the spitting> system I saw once way back when)

So how would this work?

• Combat turn based on 1-5mins (rather than every round - I want to avoid excessive book keeping, keep it fluid and simple and allow PCs to shine with individual actions during that time frame)
• Troops get a combat stat that reflects effectiveness - skill+teamwork+equipment / augmentations+magic+tacnets?!?
• Modifiers for good / bad leadership and tactics rolls by PC 'officers'
• Modifiers for heroic <ahem> PC actions
• Anything else?!?

A single roll for them and one for the foe, compare hits and set an outcome based on this? I guess this would have to be pre quantified to avoid slipping into the problems above. Perhaps a loss of troops from each side (more from losers) and some sort of morale effect?

Thoughts / rants very welcome!