Gladius et Incursus.

[Echo 7-7]

"Miss Eberhart, that would be perfect. If we could acquire whatever you are able to spare, that would be excellent. We were considering offering some of our new Prosecutor multi-role fighters, but it seems you have your eye on a different kind of prize. Captain Hargraves will gladly elaborate on the Inquisitor-model Gunboat."

Hargraves cleared his throat.

"I find the easiest comparison to be made between the Liberty Gunboat and the Inquisitor. The Libertonian craft is a slim and agile vessel, able to outmanoeuvre most vessel of the same class while keeping its turrets locked on at all times. Its forward gun helps when a more direct approach is required to combat enemies. In comparison, the Inquisitor... is the definition of the direct approach. Quite frankly, our ship is brutality harnessed in a metal frame, designed to crush and obliterate all in its path. In addition to the generous seven turret mounts, it features the Legion's signature ramming blade, designed for the closest contact with hostile ships. Heavy-duty hatches on the Inquisitor's prow permit it to be used as a boarding vessel, should that be your objective. The only potential disadvantage is the ship's larger size relative to other Gunboats, rendering it less agile and more vulnerable to enemy bomber packs. However, effective fighter cover will usually neutralise that threat."

Content with the Captain's exposition, Kinnaird took another sip from his glass, draining the last of the wine. Setting down the glass, he tapped on the tablet with his stylus and summoned a schematic of an Inquisitor with some other details written underneath. The title reads: HF-HFGB-908-I4-alpha.

"I have here one new Inquisitor which rolled off the production line a mere five weeks ago. It was originally planned to join Task Force Gladius here in Bering, but its constrution was initiated before we sent the orders to withdraw. In the interest of furthering our cooperation, I can have that ship brought to Pacifica for exclusive use by the Arbeitergewerkschaft Unioners. I will keep a skeleton crew on board until such time as your people can confidently operate and maintain the ship on their own. Does this seem like a reasonable exchange; two Solidaritat Bombers in exchange for one Inquisitor Gunboat? I would be unsurprised if you think it is heavily in your favour - which it is, for a good reason, and I will elaborate on that shortly. Perhaps you might permit some of our pilots to experiment with your Neutron weaponry in exchange for some of our own Plasma-based weapons, but that is a tangential subject."

The Admiral scribbled a note at the bottom of the page and was about to hand the tablet to Captain Hargraves, but paused as another thought came to him.

"Yvonne, since the I4 is already in the Legion's shipyard, perhaps you might like us to outfit the ship with weaponry before we bring it to you? We have access to most of the Gunboat weapons that anyone with enough money could find on the Sirian black market; but we do also manufacture our own energy turret. They pack a bit more punch than a basic turret, but consume more power. Your technicians might struggle to keep them running at absolute maximum capacity, but I will leave that decision up to you."