A/N: Happy New Year! Let's hope it's better than the last one.
Anyway, John Laurens finally enters the story. IRL I think Laurens arrived to the States earliest in the spring of 1777, but in this 'verse he's some six months earlier, but even with the victory of the Battle of Staten Island, he still asked John to get a "safe" assignment, hence aide-de-camp.
R&R!
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In late 1776 Hamilton was given the mission to negotiate the exchange of the fifteen thousand prisoners for as many dragon eggs as he could manage. At this time the dragon population of Delaware and western Pennsylvania were not yet known, so Calliope was considered the only dragon the Patriots had. Hamilton managed to negotiate thirty-three dragons (most of them what we consider the family class dragons, then referred to as the courier class) in exchanged for fifteen thousand foot soldiers, managing to keep the officers off the negotiation table for a later date.
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November 23rd, 1776
There was a problem with the uniform, Alexander thought. So far, he was the only aviator with a uniform, and his was that of the Hearts of Oak, his artillery company. And while green was his favorite color, the British aviator uniform was bottle green. Also, the original uniform had been a discreet nod to Calliope's colors, but now people might think everyone wearing one was part of his crew, which they were not. This would be easily solvable by taking a walk down the Rector Street to Hercules Mulligan's shop.
The second problem were the over fifteen thousand British prisoners they'd have to feed through the winter on top of their own remaining twelve thousand men. Not that he was even being consulted over the fact, no. He was the messenger, the courier between General Washington and the Congress. But from what he'd heard, they weren't even thinking that far ahead yet.
This problem, or rather, these two distinct problems, could be solved with one stroke: exchange the British prisoners for dragon eggs. Specifically, courier class dragon eggs. The British would never let go of one of their longwings, but a few greylings, winchesters and the common yellow reapers might be possibly extracted. Then, once the couriers were hatched and grown, they could take over the message running, leaving the fighting to Alexander and Calliope.
Alexander stared at the night sky, sighing once again. General Washington hadn't had time to talk with Alexander for more than "Take this to Philadelphia" and "Good, you're back, leave it there, dismissed Captain Hamilton" since introducing General Schuyler. Which, again, he understood, but really, would it kill the man to take five minutes and listen to Alexander?
"What's the matter, Alexander?" asked Calliope, cracking an eye open. "You've been sighing since sun down."
He had been leaning against Calliope's side, but now he stood up and started pacing. "It's just… I know creating a country doesn't happen overnight, but all the Continental Congress does is write letters. They can't create laws and they can't tax the people. That means they won't be able to pay the soldiers their wages or for the soldiers' equipment. And if they can't look after their own soldiers, they most certainly won't be able to look after fifteen thousand prisoners during winter, at least not without alienating the very people we are fighting for. I know we have some gold, but even we don't have enough to fund the entire war on our own. Robert Morris helps with that, but even he doesn't have limitless money. And I know there are few troops of the British south of the border, but we should be there fighting, rather than running messages that aren't likely to do anything.
"And the solution is simple, but because General Washington is so busy, he has no time to talk with me so that I could help him."
Calliope watched him calmly. "Well then I shall inform him of his mistake in the morning, and then you can tell him of your concerns and ideas," she said, like the matter was that simple.
Alexander groaned. "Even if he were willing, you can't simply barge in on his meetings to demand he take five minutes to listen to me."
There was a slight cough just out of the firelight's ring. A solder, two, three years older than Alexander, stepped forward. "Excuse me, I couldn't help overhearing. You have a problem?"
"Not I, but the whole Continental Army and the Congress," snapped Alexander, not interested in the platitudes the soldier was likely to offer. "We have fifteen thousand prisoners, twelve thousand troops, and barely enough money to feed ourselves, and Calliope and I are undervalued as couriers."
"What's your solution, then? You said you had one?" the solder prompted. His light hair gleamed red in the fire light.
"Ransom the soldiers back to the British for dragon eggs," was Alexander's immediate answer. "They will not give us long wings or regal coppers or even angle wings, but courier class dragons and maybe a few yellow reapers. There is a breeding ground in Halifax, so the exchange could be done here without risking the eggs on a long voyage. We would get rid of most of the prisoners and gain fast communications for all out troops. Yes, feeding the dragons might be a slight problem at first, but they learn to hunt early on." He looked at Calliope fondly. "Calliope was fishing her meals a week after hatching."
The soldier scrutinized Alexander, before smiling. "It's not a bad plan," he confirmed. "I'll slip you fifteen minutes with the General tomorrow, around ten, if that suits you."
Alexander cocked his head to the left slightly. "Of course, but who are you to promise me the General's time?"
"I'm Lieutenant-Colonel John Laurens, one of the General's aids-de-camp," the soldier introduced himself. "And you are Alexander Hamilton, Captain of the dragon Calliope Hamilton who singlehandedly won the Battle of the New York Bay."
"Laurens? Any relation to Henry Laurens?" asked Alexander.
Laurens' smile became somewhat fixed. "He is my father."
Alexander knew better than to ask what was straining their relationship. Better change the subject. "This is Calliope, as you know."
"Indeed. It's a pleasure to meet you," Laurens said and gave Calliope a shallow bow.
"Yes, yes, can I sleep now? Alexander should sleep too~" she said with a wide yawn, showcasing her sharp, serrated teeth. One of her wings moved enough to reveal Alexander's sleeping roll tucked to her side, protected from the elements by afore mentioned wing.
"I'm coming, you big lizard," Alexander said affectionately, biding Laurens good night, and crawling into his toasty bedroll, still able to glimpse the night sky from under Calliope's wing.