"That's actually less surprising than you'd think, I have a weird amount of experience with thousand year old pissing contests between locals becoming my problem and then suddenly my fault."

Both from a military perspective and from a Pegasus galaxy perspective. He flicks his eyes away with a sigh, drives his hands deep into his pockets and tries to think.

"How many people? Are they still being held?"

Since John, despite his grumbling, is already mentally making a note of what resources he'd need for a rescue mission. Habit, in a way, this may not be his command but not everyone has military experience. If nobody else has stepped up, he will.