<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Allia’s assessment was cruel but also true. Even if they retained Emily, the unit was going to be in a lot of trouble, and they had no really good way out of it. “I’m going to need both of you,” Kari admitted. “Allia, you’re a great people person. You’re probably going to end up doing a lot of our face time and be essential to any recruitment and contract negotiation. You’ve got a combination of looks, personality, charm and – “ she stopped herself, blushing a little “-stuff that just seems to work fro a lot of people.”<br/><br/>She turned back to Damien. “And I’m going to need every last bit of management and admin skill that you have,” she continued. “You’re a wizard with numbers. You can track every coin, every nut, every bullet… stuff I could never begin to handle. I don’t want you to hold back and I don’t want you to sugar coat things ever. If you have something to say, no matter how bad it is, then be blunt with me. Hell, if I screw up, then I want both of you to kick my arse over it, because I’m not going to learn otherwise. We can’t afford not to at the moment”<br/><br/>There was a pause as she looked between the pair of them. “So we are screwed. I accept that. But you’re both right; we need to think outside the box, and we need to come up with ideas that don’t fit traditional moulds, both for getting recruits and landing contracts. And so, if you have anything, please say it.” She nibbled again on her breakfast, an idea wandering across her mind. “One thing occurs to me; when the Wolf Empire took Solaris, a lot of competitors up and left rather then risk the new admin. Most of those have never been Mercs in their lives, and as such, a lot of units might shy off from them. It’s an outside, I know, but it’s something.”<br/><br/>However, it was Allia’s last comment that really hit home. That was the point that the full weight of what had happened again settled on her, Kari visually slumping as she took it in. “I’d always figured that one day I’d take command of the unit,” she commented, her voice breaking a moment. “Just not like this.” There was another pause as she exhaled. “I’m going to do this. I have to do this. But if I’m going to be the commander, then I’ts going to be because I deserve it, not because of my birth”<br/>