[ it's gonna be a whole other battle to decide on incentive, isn't it? ]

If you win? I'll put in a good word for you with your person of choice -- no questions asked. One act of vouching for your sorry ass.

[ she makes the offer on the assumption that reputation means something to horner. and some day, he might need a well-received veteran to lend her stamp of approval. because dammit if he wasn't right and she did care a fair bit for him. ]