<div class="floatright">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a0/42/97/a0429768a1b37bcb7d5ae90678f6fcd9.jpg)</div><strong>Sebastian Van Carlyle (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=313925.msg15196499#msg15196499)</strong><hr/><br/>Sebastian sips from a bottle of light beer as he skims over his copy of the terms.<br/><br/><strong>"Knowing what I do of what passes for politics in Neuva Castille, I'd put better odds on that meaning we'll be used to attack one of our patron's rivals, or defend against an attack from such."<br/><br/>"The base terms of the contract aren't very flexible, though - we do what we're told to do without questions. It's how they operate around here for the most part, strict and inflexible lines of command and fealty. Being contract mercenaries leaves us exempt from the high and low justice of a true fealty oath, but not so much in the 'following orders' department. I can do my best to try and get flexibility there, but it'll be a severe uphill struggle - we're unestablished and new to the region, so our reputation isn't solid enough to earn special considerations. We really need to take this contract if we're staying in-character as a struggling merc unit, it's guaranteed pay plus considerations for an entire year. That's pure gold for people like us, and it'd look deeply suspicious to turn it down."</strong><br/><br/>Sebastian leaned back and looked around at the other women.<strong>"Which leads me to another point. I'm happy to keep acting as the company's face, helped by the fact that on paper I'm also the CO. In combat is different, I've never been a career Mechwarrior and don't have any real expertise in small-group military tactics, so if one of you want to handle C&amp;C on the field it'd be a very appreciative weight off my shoulders."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"In public, at least here in Nueva Castile, we'll need to act the part though, and that means strict discipline. We'll lose a lot of respect if they don't think I have "my" soldiers on a tight leash, metaphorically speaking. That means being very careful in what you say, how you say it, even the body language you exhibit - towards me primarily, but also towards any of the local nobility since I'll be considered responsible for your missteps. I can give some basic acting lessons if anyone's unfamiliar with holding a poker face, but truth be told I don't worry about anyone here on that front, and we don't have to be nearly as formal in private."</strong><br/><br/>He breaks out in a grin.<strong>"On the bright side, this also means matching uniforms. Tailored ones. I might not know land tactics, but I do know marketing, and a strong visual brand goes a mile in presenting value to prospective clients. So, does anyone have a eye for fashion and style?"</strong>