[b][I]Raven Rivers[/i][/b]

Raven was there, having recovered some of his composure. Nevertheless, his first question to Cassandra was, "So, basically, you want us to pay off our rent for using your place with military service? Considering how potential employers today can run the gamut from reliable to dubious, that's for the Colonel to decide."

To be honest, the madness which had possessed the man was still at the back of his head, waiting for another sufficient provocation to return, but Raven knew it; had made his peace with it while preparing to defend himself and his psyhce against the rage. He sighed and said, "That said, you must have great reserves of personal bravery if you come to a merc company who have suffered [i]a lot[/i] from the local inhabitants, who have the [i]gall[/i] to imprison their civilian contingent in defiance of all laws of decency."

Looking Cassandra in the eye, he continued a little archly, "What can you give us beyond the necessities for survival? What can you do for those imprisoned in Fort Tie Shan? I'm not blind; it's inevitable we'll have to make a local alliance and you seem to be our best bet. But there's a difference between an alliance we're both committed to and an alliance of convinience. What will you do to make it the former instead of the latter?"

Raven had not lost any drop of his sympathy for Espia's people, but as far as he was concerned, it was best to test Cassandra's charisma and ability to express commitment. Looking much younger than his actual age thanks to the best medical tech, he smiled and said, "But again, it's not my decision..."

[@AndyC], [@Pilatus]