Debts Repaid

[Durandal]

....."Ravager and Abaddon," Locklear murmured softly. There were a great many problems with her request, of course. Bureaucracy, logistics, and all the tinier issues that came with those the two. But, could it work? He wasn't sure. Maybe. "Both the Commonwealth and the Legion will need to be convinced to hand over these ships. I have no gripes in doing so myself, but I have no feel for the current political climate back home. I was never an entirely popular man because I tried to see eye to eye with both the military and the government, and that meant compromises. There were always extremists on both sides who were more interested in seeing things done their way at the cost of everything than having a functional relationship between each other. Depending on who is in power, Colonel, I can't guarantee they'll take me back over a ship or two."

.....He stood there waiting for a response, but instead the Colonel simply twirled her hand, motioning impatiently for him to go on. Was it that clear from the look on his face that there were bigger problems than politics at work here? "The Ravager's reactor core was heavily damaged in battle. She hasn't moved from her position in Vespucci in nearly a decade, and we've never been able to make her work again. She's effectively little more than a very intimidating weapons platform at present, so unless we pool our manpower and resources together to repair her.. and then there's the issue of us letting the Maltese enter Commonwealth space to begin with. I understand that you are different, certainly you've proven that on this day, but there are many who will fight it tooth and nail."

.....He steeled himself, meeting the Colonel's gaze. "In short, I don't see this happening unless the 72nd openly declare themselves allies of the Commonwealth and aid us in our struggle against the Republic, and I cannot ask more good men and women to die at our command."