<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br/><em>"I will see what I can do. But this is going to eat away into the maintenance of Charybdis and getting the few 'Mechs we have left operational.  This better be worth the cost, lieutenent Rowe.  I know someone who might be able to give us a good deal on the plating. She owes me a favor," </em><br/><br/>Allia could hear the strain in Damian's voice.  He was running the numbers as they spoke, realizing how much of a strain keeping the most high tech piece of equipment they had in the Company fielded.  But he like Kari also realized that a restructuring of the unit around speed and stealth was going to require such a piece of equipment as the cornerstone.<br/><br/>She was just happy that they both were taking her recommendations in stride.  "Keep your favor on the vine."  Allia responded with a sly grin.  "I've got an in with Defiance Industries on Hesperus.  I just wanted to make sure there was a chance we'd focus on getting the Ghost back up to speed before I went down that road."  It dawned on her that this battle was the most damage that Gheistwulf had taken since her Ghost had been upgraded by Defiance.<br/><br/>Thinking about her link to Defiance through her family sparked a new direction their planning might need to go depending on how things shook out finding new pilots.  "There's another thought I had."  Her eyes and her face lighting up as the thought formed quickly in her mind.  "Most of the large corporations have their own security forces to defend holdings that planetary militias and planet contracted mercs won't.  But smaller corporations don't have the luxury of hiring big merc units or local security forces, either due to cost, proximity or need."<br/><br/>Allia took a sip of her coffee before continuing.  "I know garrison duty isn't sexy or fun, but at this point work is work and money is money."  She shrugged realizing that she hadn't fully realized the point of her suggestion before opening her mouth.  "We should be on the ground in a few hours.  I think Emily was going to start setting up some interviews.  I'll go find her and let her know that our search criteria has changed.  We'll go together to meet the first batch once we're on the ground.  Thanks for listening.  I'm really hopefull now.  Damian, Commander"  She ended with a smile and a nod to each of the other officers as she gathered up her papers and data disks before heading out into the corridor.<br/><br/>She'd need to find Emily and discuss the plans.  Hopefully Emily's mood had changed since the last time she talked, Allia wasn't sure she could deal with the somber woman today.