[color=ed145b]"My, aren't we all direct and to the point?"[/color] Cassandra remarked as she eyed the Green Knights with an eager curiosity. [color=ed145b]"I can respect that; no need to mince words and play games when matters are grave, yes?"[/color]

The heiress knew to be careful; while the research she had done on the Green Knights suggested that they operated above-board and had a relatively clean reputation, she was still very much in a dangerous situation. These people were in a desperate situation, and likely slow to trust. While she assumed she would have to commit a particularly massive faux pas to get herself killed, giving them the wrong impression could still very well cause the situation to spiral out of hand. In all likelihood, she would never get another chance at convincing Colonel Wayne and his Mechwarriors to assist her, and given how much firepower they had, it was far better for everyone to bring them into the fold than to have them running rogue on Espia.

Despite the graveness of the situation and the high stakes at play, Cassandra's game-face betrayed nothing. As far as her expression and body language gave away, she might as well have been greeting guests at a dinner party.

[color=ed145b]"I suppose we should begin with the question of what I can do for you,"[/color] she began. [color=ed145b]"Starting with the obvious, you are mercenaries and I am [i]quite[/i] wealthy. And tragically, it seems your previous employer has exploded, meaning at the moment there is nobody to foot the bill. I may not have the entire planet's economy to offer, but I think you'll be quite pleasantly surprised by what working for the private sector can offer."

"I'm sure for many of you, money doesn't matter much at this moment, so I'll add that I also happen to own several facilities and tracts of land where Federov and his friends won't be snooping around, giving you considerably better accommodations. Access to proper equipment, supplies without the need to go raiding for them, a roof over your head and a clean change of clothes. I can't guarantee a five-star resort experience-- at least, not until business here is concluded-- but I can at least guarantee a better time than sitting at the bottom of an old mine."[/color]

Cassandra was pleased to see the eyebrows of some of the Knights and their crew raise. A pocket full of C-Bills was a wonderful thing in most situations, but for a band that was sitting in squalor and one bad mission away from starvation, a few creature comforts and the chance to feel human again was a far more attractive prospect.

[color=ed145b]"More importantly,"[/color] she continued, [color=ed145b]"I have influence, and I have connections. Federov doesn't think much of me, but a pretty little handful of people who work for [i]him[/i] used to work for [i]me[/i]. I can make sure the NPDRE's eyes are turned towards wherever you want them to look, and [i]away[/i] from wherever you don't want them looking. I'm hardly experienced in military matters, but a lifetime of business and politics has taught me the value of misdirection. To say nothing of the value of networking- I do [i]loathe[/i] ever so much to brag, but I'm rather good at making friends. You want to link up with the Free People's Army? I can have my people talk to their people and arrange it. You want to get your people out of Fort Tie Shan? Give me a little time, and I can put together a lovely little lunch meeting with the head warden."[/color]

[color=Olive]"That's a very nice pitch, Ma'am,"[/color] Colonel Wayne responded, his own game-face etched in stone, [color=Olive]"but I'm waiting to hear the other end of it. What exactly are you planning that you need the use of a lance of Battlemechs?"[/color]

Cassandra turned to the Colonel, the grin on her face unchanged. [color=ed145b]"I'm sure you've noticed, dearie, but there's a [i]war[/i] going on, and right now, whoever wins, the people of Espia lose. The NPDRE are jackboot thugs who will grind everyone into the dirt, as long as it feeds Federov and Malenkov's egos. Meanwhile the Free People's Army mean well enough, but they have just as many hardline radicals in their ranks as they have high-minded idealists, and you know what they say about today's revolutionaries becoming tomorrow's dictators. I intend to make sure the people of this world come out on top, whether that means shaping one of the current options into something more palatable, or creating a third option. I'd like to consider myself quite a few interesting things, and one of them happens to be a patriot."[/color]

Her game face slipped a tad, and her expression grew dark.

[color=ed145b]"There's also the little matter,"[/color] she said, [color=ed145b]"of revenge. Governor Xiu was a pompous fool, but Benjamin Kahale was a dear friend of mine. We rarely saw eye-to-eye on politics, but I always had the utmost respect for him. The Heavenly Sword killed a good man, and they intend to kill a good many more. I think anyone looking can see that Espia will be much better off without them. And I'd very much like to put money in the hands of whoever wipes them out."[/color]

The Colonel and the heiress circled each other slowly, exchanging appraising gazes as they got the measure of each other. In other circumstances, one might assume they were about to begin a dance. Or a fight.

[color=Olive]"So your plan is that I put the lives of the men and women under my command,"[/color] Gaius said, [color=Olive]"in the hands of an industrial tycoon who fancies herself a king-maker. That we fight the Espian Guards and the Crimson Fists to overthrow the NPDRE on your word that the regime you choose will be better than the current one. And that when we're [i]not[/i] engaging the planetary army or slugging it out with their own Mechwarriors, we're hunting down cells of psychotic Liao-loyal terrorists, to carry out your personal vendetta."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"If you want to see it like that,"[/color] Jeong replied with a condescending smirk. [color=ed145b]"[i]I[/i] see it as paying you to get what you already want-- payback against the government who did you wrong, the military who have imprisoned your people, and the people who killed your previous employer. You want your people out of that fort? You want your Dropships back? You'll be in a far better position to get them if you take my offer than if you stay here and wait for Malenkov and the Crimson Fists to close in on you."[/color]

[color=Olive]"And what's to say you're good to your word?"[/color]

Cassandra scoffed. [color=ed145b]"I should be insulted that my reputation on this planet isn't enough to convince you, but I'll spare you the indignation. You're a practical man, Colonel; I didn't expect to come here with nothing but my charm and dazzling conversation to win you over. You want a gesture of good faith? If you'll let me put my hands down for a moment, I've got a few documents that might pique your curiosity."[/color]

Colonel Wayne nodded to Sergeant Dalton, who in turn nodded to the other infantrymen, who lowered their guns.

[color=ed145b]"Thank you, sweetheart,"[/color] Cassandra smiled at Sergeant Dalton, before rummaging through her hiking backpack and producing a binder. [color=ed145b]"A few old surveying maps of the area, and a handful of photos taken this morning at the spaceport. I think you'll find them quite interesting."[/color]

The Colonel took the binder, and began flipping through them. His brow furrowed in a frown.

[color=Olive]"Lieutenant Lyons?"[/color] he called out.

[color=SkyBlue]"Here, sir!"[/color] the enthusiastic young officer from the Mobile HQ crew called out from further back in the crowd.

[color=Olive]"I want you to run these through a Verigraph, make sure they're legitimate,"[/color] he said, handing the folder to Lyons. [color=Olive]"If these are what she says they are, then the situation is potentially getting much better [i]and[/i] much worse. If they're fake, well...that's an issue we'll deal with if we have to."[/color]

[color=SkyBlue]"Yes, sir!"[/color] she answered, striding off to the Mobile HQ with a purpose.

[color=Olive]"Green Knights,"[/color] Colonel Wayne addressed the troops, [color=Olive]"Ms. Jeong and I are going to have a little chat concerning local politics and potential business arrangements while we verify her documents. In the meantime, keep her assistant entertained."[/color]