Hawkes turned back to his paperwork for a moment and finished signing his report. Giving him time to collect his thoughts, he wasn't the biggest fan of the new boss given that she had come from the LPI's brass.
"So, the big question is - even though I agree with ya -, how are ya gonna pay for all this shiny ships, eh?" He paused to think about the proposal, bringing up a search he had recently brought up on the neural net for secondhand ships. "I've been lookin' into this myself..." he paused to click onto another screen. "The deal they are offering ya is a pretty good one, we would be lookin' at some secondhand Eagles for around that price and it's better the devil ya know in these cases. Say what ya think about the navy boys but they like their ships maintained to a good standard."
Pulling out a personal datapad he paused for a second. "Now, I don' know if ya know my backstory around these parts, but I was a 'lancer for a while and pretty good at it. I got some cash saved up in a 'rainy day' fund and it just so turns out my Sabre is havin' some problems..." He paused thoughtfully. "I tell ya what, I'll fund this deal of yours, those requisition form things will likely take months. We need boats that we can trust in this line of work and if this is the only way to get 'em quick, then I'm in.""
He laughed mirthlessly as he transferred the funds to the Marshals' account. "I ain't got anyone left to spend it on anyways these days and ya can't take it with ya. I won't have those rookies flying garbage scows into combat." He logged off of his machine and walked out of the office with a muttered "Director," and left Isla stood at the door.
Hawkes approached the director's office, datapad in hand.
He knocked on the door and, hearing Isla say "come in," walked in with a muttered "Director, some reports and authorisation requests for you." He nodded and then walked back out as quick as he came in.
On the first datapad was a report on a local homicide that Hawkes had assisted the local sheriff's office with on Planet Denver (which had some pretty gory details in it, including pictures).
On the second datapad there was a simple one-page requisition request:
Requester: John Hawkes
Rank: Liberty Marshal
Requested equipment: One Executioner-class fighter.
Reason: Sabre is busted, got nothin' but a 'blazer which I bought for cheap. Thing is barely holdin' together. I need an actual combat ship so I don't die and cause ya a ton of paperwork.
Funding: Ya already got it.
Below this there was a line saying "Sign here to approve."