Ossanlin notes Esarvit's question...perhaps the answer is not so obvious after all. A dangerous cast comes to his eyes as Keshin compares them, though his tone remains calm and collected...perhaps a bit colder than usual. <Do not presume too much, bounty hunter. I do not kill for personal gain.>
He pauses before continuing, answering Esarvit's question publicly as others might be asking the same thing. <You may be wondering why I became a member of Sector Seven at all...it was a matter of choice. Sector Seven had had their eyes on me all through the Academy, or so they told me. They watch for any cadets that out-perform Academy standards. A good friend of mine, and a mentor all through the Academy and beyond had warned me about Sector Seven. He'd told me that, given my performance and ability to think beyond the propaganda, that they'd make contact with me eventually. He also told me what would likely happen if I denied their invitation, then covertly hinted that I could feign loyalty while keeping myself above the water, so to speak.>
<They made contact shortly after I was promoted and chosen to Captain the Tyrennian. Their contact used several figurative veils of secrecy and contacted me in private. She was very cordial and not unpleasant, but she never asked if I would like to join them, she merely told me where to be and when, and assumed I would attend. The choice was simple, I would either attend them and join, or I would be "kept safe" as my old mentor put it. Sector Seven doesn't like people like me to be in a position power unless I belong to them, so to speak. Had I rejected their invitation, I most likely would've experienced some sort of "accident" that would've kept me from being able to fulfill any role in the military.> He shakes his head. <I knew that I could do good...that I could truly fight for the People if I was given the chance. My career was still young then, and I was too vulnerable to ignore Sector Seven. What good could I do the People dead by some supposed freak accident? I could do more good...much more...by pretending to accept Sector Seven and their ways while keeping my mind clear of their filth and power-lust. That is why I have done what I have done. It had to be done. I fight for the People, truly. Not just the Andalite People, but all the free Peoples of the Galaxy. What good would crushing the Yeerk Empire do when Sector Seven would see the Andalites themselves become a controlling Empire thereafter?>
Ossanlin pauses, looking down at his desk a moment before looking up again. <I won't say I've never made mistakes or done wrong, because I have. But my thoughts, my hearts, have always belonged to the People and to ethical good. I fight for them, and I ask that you would all do the same.>
He returns his gaze to Keshin again before looking around the room. <Once we've stabilized our own situation...we fight. We fight for the good of all the Peoples of the Galaxy. We make a difference.> He returns his gaze to Keshin. <Think of it as a way of making up for everything
you've done, Keshin.> He moves his gaze back to the whole office. <Think of the good we could accomplish. We have a powerful tool in the Tyrennian if we can keep it running. I know you have some brilliant minds...we do too. Think of all that we could accomplish together!> He shifts his gaze to Myitt and Keslin. <Think...what could your engineers come up with given the Tyrennian's resources? What could our minds develop together? Perhaps technologies beyond even that of Sector Seven! If we're able to gather enough resources, we might even be able to turn out new ships of our own! We could begin recruiting procedures again from the Empire...perhaps even the Andalites, given the right circumstances.>
Ossanlin pauses a moment, giving the thoughts some time to float around, before coming back down to reality. <The possibilities are mind-boggling, but only if we can clear this first set of hurtles. And, of course, you must reform your Council and decide what is best for your own people. I hope that that decision will involve the Tyrennian, but I would never presume your answer.> His tone is clear and sincere. He doesn't know what he'll do if the remaining rebels decide not to associate with the Tyrennian...but the choice is theirs.
He moves his gaze back to Keshin. <<And I don't suppose you would want to take up with a noble cause unless you stood to benefit...>> He keeps the speech private, hiding his distaste at saying what he's saying. <<...it would seem likely that if we find one of the rebellion's human medical practitioners and obtain a sample of your drug, that said practitioner would then be able to utilize the Tyrennian's resources to artificially fabricate a steady supply of it.>>
