[Targan]

I didn't want to be too much of a wet blanket earlier in the discussion and Kalos did say that, by whatever means he has devised, helium supply wouldn't be a problem. But yes, in a conventional T2K setting, production of anything but small amounts of helium wouldn't be an option for at least years after the war. A more likely scenario would be like that described in Airlords of the Ozarks where an existing supply of refined and pressurized helium is carefully husbanded for as long as it lasts.

Hydrogen is relatively easy to produce (run a current through water) but not necessarily easy to keep pure and to store. I love that AN/TMQ-42 Hydrogen Generator, I had no idea that such a thing as a standardized military hydrogen generator exists. In my opinion (dangers of using hydrogen notwithstanding) that seems like a much, much more realistic and viable option for the application that Kalos is describing.