[center][h1][b][i][color=ed1c24]Secretive Shenanigans, Part III[/color][/i][/b][/h1][/center][hr]
	Thana had sat there listening to what the leader of Newnan had to tell her. At first she thought it was a joke but slowly her smile faded. As the information dump continued she didn't react other than asking the occasional question. Once Ash had concluded she picked up her coffee mug and held it out. [color=0072bc]"I think I could use something stronger at this point. Care to make this an Irish Coffee?"[/color]

	Under most circumstances, breaking out the hard alcohol that early in the morning would be a sign of major alcohol dependency. This day already had the earmarks of one of the more interesting of the fiscal quarter, however, not to mention the bombshell that Ash had just dropped upon his guest. A little ethical wiggle room was permissible. [color=steelblue]"Yeah, no problem. Give me a sec."[/color] 

	[color=0072bc]"Thank you, sir,"[/color] Thana said stoically as she sat there, resting the mug on the table. 

	Ash did have a small stash of spirits for personal use. It wasn't exactly the kind of thing he advertised, for obvious reasons. And it was indeed just a small stash, by Appalachian Virginia Irish standards. He walked into the living room for a moment and returned with a mostly full pickling jar of fragrant, clear liquid. [color=steelblue]"I'd go easy on this stuff, ma'am."[/color] He set it on the table and slid it across to Thana. 

	Thana took the mason jar, unscrewing the top from it and tossing it down unceremoniously on the table. [color=0072bc]"Thinking back on things, she was the main reason I joined the armed forces,"[/color] Thana commented with a shrug. Swirling it it around for a moment as if she was going to say more, then she simply took a small breath and chugged two or three good gulps of the burning liquid as if it was water. Not even a long exhale followed. Just a nonchalant screwing of the lid back on and sliding it over to Ash. 

	[color=0072bc]"Now that I know, I request permission to remain within the walls for the evening to gauge the pro's and con's of this settlement. If due, to the circumstances, that is not feasible I request an escort back to my vehicle and that my identity not to be revealed to any others,"[/color] she stated in a militaristic tone as she rested her hands in her lap, her back still as straight as if a rod was down the center of her spine. 

	Ash looked at his guest for a few long seconds. Then down at his jar on the table. The woman could drink, that was for certain. And from the looks of her, despite the discipline and training, she needed some respite. [color=steelblue]"I usually have a speech for times like this, ma'am. It's this thing that I do so that new folks know that there are rules and impress on them that it's important. The first part of my speech starts with: [i]"If you need a place to stay overnight, great. Collect your weapons in the morning and leave us with a full belly"[/i]. There's more, but I'll bore you with it later. Request approved."[/color] 

	This was a stretch of protocol, Ash's protocol, point of fact. But this was also a very unique circumstance. Extenuating, one might say. He was a bit less stern than he usually was, almost to the point of kid gloves with this woman. It wasn't the act of a man trying to impress anyone, either. Sympathy? Empathy? Other concepts seemingly foreign to the grim Captain? It was anyone's guess.  

	Looking at Ash, Thana cocked a brow at his words. [color=0072bc]"I appreciate the granting of my request, especially when it was not placed in triplicate. Please do not change your speech for me. I am a sailor and a botanist sir. Qui Plantavit Curabit."[/color] he words Thana said were all too fitting for her and were known through out the US military. They were the motto of the USS Theodore Roosevelt: [i]He who has planted will preserve.[/i]  

	[color=steelblue]"If ma'am insists."[/color] Ash rose from his chair and slid it back underneath the table, then stood behind it. His face solidified into a manner stereotypical of an Army officer, with the exception of a single corner of his mouth. It was taut, as if suppressing the tiniest of mirthful expressions. [color=steelblue]"Now... it's very simple. If you're just passing through and want to do some trading, great. If you're passing through and need someplace safe to spend the night, that's fine too. You'll have a full belly and a bunk for the night. You may pick your weapons up on your way out in the morning."[/color] 

	Ash leaned forward just a bit on the back of the chair in front of him before continuing. He was acquiescing to Thana's request, but he felt just a little dumb giving her the Welcome Speech in front of his kitchen table, especially to someone he didn't feel the need to impress upon that he was the guy in charge in Newnan. All the same, he moved forward with it. [color=steelblue]"But if you stay, the rules are simple: Everyone who's able works, everyone who's able fights. We take care of our own and we build this place up. You will be given work assignments, primary and secondary, based upon our needs and your skill sets. Listen to your Leads. You report to them, they report to me. If you feel that you do not have a skill we can use, we will teach you one. We can always use more people tending crops, raising livestock, and working domestic chores. Every job is important."[/color] 

	Somehow, that last part seemed a little unnecessary. [color=steelblue]"We have a system of discipline in place that largely mirrors my military experience. Punishments for infractions run as slight as unfavorable assignments and as high as execution. Thankfully, I have not had to do that yet."[/color] Ash concluded his speech and sat back down at the table across from Thana. [color=steelblue]"That's the long and short of it. Any questions?"[/color]

	[color=0072bc]"I believe I have the gist of it. No mutiny and I don't have to worry about being keelhauled,"[/color] Thana said before rising from her place. [color=0072bc]"I suspect you will need to introduce me to the people of the city, so I do have a question. Where's the head? I need to clean up before introductions are made."[/color]