Work Text:
"Time for changes,” Q announced in Mallory’s office.
Raising an eyebrow, Mallory leaned back in his chair and indicated that Q should sit down.
“Agents should not be considered disposable.” Q crossed his arms and scowled. “If nothing else, they’re needed to train new agents because god knows we can’t. This last batch had no damn common sense!”
“Don’t we consider all weapons disposable?” Mallory countered. Without commenting on the quality of new agents, Q noted.
“It depends on the weapon, and you know it. One doesn’t spend countless time and money and endless effort on a hand grenade. But the double-ohs are not single-use weapons, and the raw material for them is getting nearly impossible to find, as I’m sure Recruitment has already reported, many times.”
“Then what is it you are suggesting, Quartermaster? You’re in charge of Research and Development, not Recruitment.”
“I want MI6 to change how it handles the agents. I want proper support for them between missions, physical and mental. If nothing else, they’re too damn expensive to treat like common assassins or SpecOps. They’re also trained for economic or political elements, or as long-term subterfuge. They’re involved with strategy, not just tactics. As such, they need much more extensive refurbishment and support.”
“On general principles, Quartermaster, I’m in agreement with you, but is there some specific thing you’re aiming for with all these changes?”
Now he needed to tread gently. Q couldn’t just say that Bond was alive and he wanted him back. “Well…”