Miguel had listened to the arguments for this ship being allowed to operate. He had yet to here any Elders make any argument against the ship. He did feel it was sometimes smart to look at the other side of a popular opinion.
"Why have regulations about these things anyway? We all seem to think that this Hermano has shown admirable qualities in the pursuit of his own battleship to command. We seem to feel that these are qualities to be emulated in our battleship Capitan's."
Miguel rose and walked to the bar at the wall, pulling two glasses from the shelf. Grabbing a bottle, he filled both glasses and walked back to the table, placing one of the glasses in front of Ramirez before returning to his seat.
"Lets take a few moments to look at what these qualities this young one is showing us. We definitely see determination, and yes, that quality can be a very good thing, bit I will come back to that one later. What else has he shown us? He has shown a disregard for the proper procedures we in this council set down. Are these procedures perfect? Of course not, but does that give a Corsair the right to ignore them? I think it is a question we must answer.
"Lets look at these other qualities we seem to have decided are so appealing in a captain. Lets look at his bravery, which he has in abundance, he risked all his worldly possessions, and his life to obtain this ship. A good thing or a bad? A harder question than it might seem. In this case, this Capitan won, but he just as easily could have lost, and then what? He would have been destitute, just another Corsair without the means to support or even feed himself. The main point in this mans plan was completely dependent on incredible luck, beating overwhelming odds. Is that really the type of planning we are looking for from our Capitan's, let alone something we should hold up as an example?"
"Let's move to his boldness. His boldness that has him going to outsiders, getting an inferior ship, and risking the lives of hundreds of Corsairs under his command who then are left defending Crete in a ship that stands little chance of standing up to a Outcast or Bounty Hunter battleship. Not to mention, those of us, outside this mans command, who will without hesitation go to the aid of there fellow Corsairs, defending this inferior ship at the cost of their ships and lives. Is this the boldness that we would have other Corsair captains follow?
"I think we need to look for a way to determine if this man is capable of the job, and if he is, we need to put him in a proper combat vessel. Those are my thoughts, take them or leave them as you may."
With that, Miguel emptied his glass in one gulp, and then reached over and took the glass he had put in front of Elder Gonzales, and drank that too.
"You say he ignored the procedures, but he didn't. He gave the procedure a chance, twice even, and decided the system did not work. Something I see now, and will take a personal hand in amending. Classism disgusts me, and it no doubt is the main cause for Adamo's rejection.
" 'In this case, this Capitan won, but he just as easily could have lost, and then what?' " he quoted Miguel, "Is that not a question every soldier has to ask himself, everytime he goes to battle? He knew what he wanted, he knew the risks, he weighed the two against each other, and took his chance. I wouldn't ask of any more from any of our captains. I would not call it foolishness, his want was greater than his fear of losing, nothing more, it wasn't stupidity or bravado. Had he lost, I do not think he would regret his choice.
"As for any concerns that he will endanger other Corsairs, I will personally see to it that the crew of that ship are all volunteers, only there because they choose to be, considering the mood of the people, I daresay there will not be a lack of volunteers, so many see it as their chance of being part of a legend.
"Adamo's team is very active in the Sigmas, and acquiring H-fuel will not be an issue, the GMG there are drowning in it, he won't take any of Tripoli's reserves.
"And last of all, I will vouch for Adamo, as all of the OPG will. He's shown himself to be competent and would do well in a battleship for us. God knows the incessant barrage of Bounty Hunter capital ships on Crete will never stop, and another battleship on active duty would be good for us."
Elder Miguel, as you said earlier: "I think we need to look for a way to determine if this man is capable of the job, and if he is, we need to put him in a proper combat vessel. Those are my thoughts, take them or leave them as you may."
Didnt we already do that? He went through the procedure twice, and failed both times, despite his good leadership skills. Do you really think hell fly the ship different a third time? Its not Adamo that needs to proof himself again to the ones that failed to see his potential before! And why would we give him one of our own combat vessels, right after he bought his own? Now THATs a waste of resources!
The question we need to answer isnt whether or not Adamo is capable of flying a battleship under the corsair flag! The question is; Should we allow an already functional and outfitted battleship to fly under the corsair flag?!
My opinion about this matter stands! It would be a waste not to use what we can get! And I will never forgive myself if we ever meet the Neutrality in the future, piloted by a captain from one of the many hostiles!
Gentle listened from the recess by the fire. SItting out of the light of the room and sipping whisky from the bottle the old pirates metalic hand glimmered from firelight as he lifted the bottle to his lips. He stood and walked to his seat at the table which was currently occupied by Tibercio. "your not big enough to fill my shoes yet sonny" The pirates mostly cybernetic body flexed and the cahir with the new elder lifted striaght up and to the left then gently lowered to the floor with a barely audible 'clunk!'. Genlte ignored the surprised look from the elders seated and pulled a new chair up to the vacant space and he sat. "To say I am dissapointed in the actions of one of my scourges mates is in the least an undestatement. My personal opinion on the purchase of this ship was given before the decision was taken to complete its purchase. This appears to be gross misconduct and disregard for the authority of the council. At least it appears that way on the surface. This hermano of ours on the other hand pilots a vast array of corsair ships other than commanding a underpowered and low class junk pile. While I am unhappy with his decision to fly this crap I have a requirement to fulfill in sigma 17. I am not prepared to move an large OPG fleet assets to the sigma regions at present. OPG forces have stationed a fair number of fighter and bomber vessels as well as a couple of gunboats at Atka research station. The presence of a small fleet there has recently roused the interest of Outcast destroyers and on a couple of occoasions one of the outcast Dreadnoughts has been spotted although not engaged. I would like to recommend that this ship is never flown in the skies of Gamma unless requested by the council. This will be the penalty I will impose upon this man. To ensure the vessel does not use up any resources bound for crete I will force our amigo to commission a new OTC vessel which through trade will supply the sigma operation with hydrogen fuel. Due to docking complications the [OPG]Repartiamento will be situated at Atka as a support vessel to avoid docking complications in the sigma regions. I will not order the destruction of a vessel that I can use in one of my operations. Nor will i forget the wanton disregard of this hermano. He will be flogged by me personally. If he survives the floggin he will have earned his honour. I wield the cat like a demon and many OPG have felt its bite. Tough is the life of an OPG and a scourge mate who disregards my consideration pays with the penalty of a scourge mate. Where most men would take 20 lashes our hermano there has the responsibility for 5 men. He will receive 100 lashes. Providing he survives.... then i will honour him as my hermano once more. If he dies.... so be it."
The old pirate looked sadly at the bottle and pushed it away. Sorrow was uncommon for the emotionally hardened despot. Anyone looking closely might have seen a brief glimmer of wetness in his one remaining human eye.
Pass your decision soon amigos however if I feel your punishment outweighs my own then I will be unhappy beyond words.
Adamo Locotes? *Jose El Nino nodded* I know the man, an able gambler, fearless pilot and not a half bad Corsair while at it. I have no idea how will he accuire the crew or supplies required for running such a large ship, but if he manages to get it battle ready and space worthy, he has my approval.
I urge however, against squandreling Corsair resources on his repairs. He bought it he must upkeep it, we need all resources for future Legate construction and upgrades, if we have such supperior ship by god we should invest more in to it.
May his journeys be many and prosperous, I personaly will send him some unused gunboat turrets, perhaps he can mount them on his great old ship, untill he can get something more credible...
Donate to the Poor Pilot's Fundation via Sirius Bank /givecash GreenHawk 1000000 now, and support poor pilots sirius wide!
Skype: jure.grbec
My primary char: Jose El Nino - Corsair Elder captain of the SS Greenhawk
Currently Inactive due to pursuit of life long dreams, will be back...*edited* As promised am back.
The decision to repair the vessel is mine amigo. Not yours. The repartiamento will be sent to sigmas to support the whole fleet. not just this crap can. im assuming that your vote is with me. we flog him, and if he lives he commands this ship.
Ben watched the verbal jostling in front of him with a detached air of indifference. He looked down at the pad in front of him, the latest data from his last round of tests had mixed results.. he would have to go back and try again.
He turned his thoughts to the matter at hand, for it seemed from the glances being cast in his direction that his turn to speak had arrived - with all that was on his mind at this time, one rogue captain didn't seem to register all that much, yet protocol demanded that he speak on this matter. He dropped the pad back down on the table and sat back in his chair. "It seems to be a moot point as it is, the man in question already has the ship, it may as well be used."
He cast his glance towards Elder Gentle and Asno - "Asno vouches for the man, that sits well with me, however, Elder Gentle may feel that a little disciplining is in order as he seems to do so; as far as i see, this is a matter of personal honour and conduct, and on these type of matters, this council has little authority to adjudicate, this is a matter for Gentle to decide."
"Let it be done then - as a member of the OPG this is an OPG matter - I side with Gentle on this matter here in whatever he decides, for it is clearly to him that this upstart has shown the greater disrespect."
He nodded to the room and gestured away with his hands, signaling he had said his piece. He turned his glance back to the pad..... he did not see why the tests had not worked.
Miguel sat in that old security office he had spent so much time in during his time in charge of the Councils safety. This would be his moment, either a small win, or utter crushing defeat. This was the day for him. Sephardi had called the members of the Council to a meeting, in terms that could mildly be described as threating. There was a group of trader, the Free Traders Guild, they hate the Outcasts and they wanted to supply the Corsairs with food and supplies. Made sense to Sephardi, so he had sent an emissary to meet with them and come to a deal. Apparently there were those in the Council who did not like it, they thought it was the Councils decision to make. Miguel had had enough.
He walked into the Council chambers and walked to the head of the table.
"Hermanos, you want this decision, I will give it to you. Here is the situation, as some of you know, there is a group out there that have asked us to come to an agreement with them. The Free Traders Guild, men who have declared their open hatred for the Outcasts, as well as their desire to bring food and supplies to us. In these men, we find a source of much needed commodities, as well as allies to help in our fight with the Outcasts. What they ask in return? To be able to dock on our bases for shelter and resupply. Now, we in the Brotherhood have told them we would protect them... and we will, but there are those who think this is a matter for the Council, so I call you all here today. Do we give these men safe haven in return for their transporting of supplies and aid against the Outcasts? The time is on us Hermanos, many see the Council as a chamber where stodgy old Corsairs come to argue and blow hot air at each other. Is this what we are, do we still have the power to actually come to a decision on something? What will it be, do we make this deal? Yea or Nay? My vote is Yea."
With that, Sephardi sat and awaited his contemporaries responses.
Elder Gonzales stood up. After listening to Fellow Elder Miguel. Gonzales got up. Drank half a cup of water and began talking.
Well, if this Free Trade Guild is true to their word about their hate for the Outcasts own sworn enemies and their dislike for the four houses. As well their shipments are CONSTANT back and forth with food and Artifacts. Then why not?
Provided all they seek is refuge among Corsair bases and protection. Their donation to the Corsair nation as whole is their shipments of much needed supplies. More food for our people. And more money into the Artifact trade and our economy as well.
Everyone Benefits
I say Aye to this deal
Gonzales sat back down. Drank the rest of his water and awaited the others decisions.
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