The Gelgoog fired forward and for a brief fleeting moment Romav felt it was all for naught and they were going to get caught up in the battle for nothing but apparently the Ensign thought better of it at the last moment and ricocheted back to the Fury just before the laser array opened up producing a lump in Romav's stomach and then an audible sigh of relief.<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">"We should have engaged them. . . Sir."</span><br/><br/>The voice of the questionable Ensign growled through the MS-18. Had he been younger and more brash he might have verbally engaged the pilot on the spot. With Shale and other loyal Zeon souls drifting among the wreckage the Lieutenant thought it'd be improper. He silently fumed about the loss but wouldn't let it show. When they boarded the Fury once more the same Ensign decided to hassle him about it once more.<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">"Maybe I was mistaken, but I thought we were going to be fighting and killing our enemies sir"</span><br/><br/>Romav's right hand clenched immediately and he felt the tension as he unconsciously cocked his arm and turned to face the insolent Ensign with a flash of seering hate filling his eyes band a matching frown. Seeing the Ensign's face rife with intent he saw Gato's shade. The confused frustration of a soul that was denied a fight. The battering ram was still beating at the back of the Lieutenant's mind demanding the anger pour through. Instead he turned back towards the assembly area and kept moving hoping that the movement would ease the anger briefly.<br/><br/>"It hurts me too. I want to fight but this is<span style="font-style: italic">not</span>our battlefield. To die here after Lieutenant Shale gave his life would be a waste of your life and an insult to the very memory of the Lieutenant and the Zeon ideals. No our campaign is just starting. Let us not waste blood in a meaningless fight with Axis. Let the blood be Federation."<br/><br/>He moved on from the Ensign into the Assembly area standing in no particular position and at that time Captain Jaryk took the stage at the front of the room besides a holographic display of Solomon and Jarryk began talking about what the plans were and what they were hoping to accomplish; Viktor shot a knowing glance at Tyrius as if to say 'this is why we didn't fight,' and returned his attention to the moment.<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">". . . Dismissed."</span><br/><br/>Viktor lingered watching the other pilots depart with a particular focus on the Ensign along with those that he didn't recognize and likely from the Zanzibar, their partner in this undertaking. There was nothing to say to the Captain though, at least not yet. He didn't want to get caught up in petty squabbles at this time and wanted to get the feel of being back among an armed military unit. After being issued a room aboard the ship Viktor found it with ease and placed his duffel bag on the cleanly made bed. Even though aesthetically it was pretty much the same as the barren room aboard the Axis it had a different feel. It felt like the room a soldier ought to sleep in to him. He stowed the uniform and placed the pictures on the personal desk / night stand. He would add Lieutenant Shale to his shelf of fallen soldiers. An abstract place in his mind for the men and women that fought and died in the name of Zeon.<br/><br/>"Should we have stayed and fought? No we would have had to fight the whole of Axis. . . Another ember of Zeon goes dark. . ."<br/><br/>Within the privacy of his room Viktor lamented; he struck the bed with frustration and buried his face into the pillow to yell. The soldiers needed to see a strong figure but here there was no need for that armor. His thoughts drifted to that of alcohol and at once Viktor stood up and left the room. He was in a warzone again and couldn't think about clouding his mind with the toxin. The soldier replaced his armor and mask and with seemingly self-certain steps strode towards the hangar where the suits were being monitored and prepped. Along the way he noted another hanger which would have normally been inconsequential had it been unlocked but for whatever reason it was sealed shut. Was that the Captains great weapon against the Federation? Why would he see fit to conceal it from his own crew unless he questioned their loyalty? There could be little blame for the paranoia the operation had begun quickly with soldiers that were ignorant to one another and in his case vaguely ignorant to Jaryk himself.<br/><br/>The thoughts took their place at the back of Viktor's mind as he transitioned to the main hanger where the suits were. The engineers aboard other ships and installations he'd been aboard took to referring to Viktor as an old hawk that would rather nest in the hangar next to the mobile suits than in his own quarters and there was truth in that. He preferred to be near the action where men and machines made music as wrenches turned and gears fired. He noted the Ensign's Gelgoog with a degree of disdain having never been terribly fond of the aesthetic design but the HiZacks were attractive and sentimental while still being deadly enough.<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">"Nervous?"</span>A pause as the Lieutenant turned his attention to face the person that spoke<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">"About the battle I mean, sir. I know I am."</span><br/><br/>It was a younger person perhaps the same age as Tyrius if not younger. "You from the Zanzibar?"<br/><br/>"Yes, sir!" A crisp salute like a kid fresh out of the academy. Viktor waved him down, "At ease, kid, what's your name?"<br/><br/>"Ensign Gerald Maten, sir."<br/>"Good meeting you, Lieutenant Viktor Ramov, Abyssal Fury. Want some advice, Ensign?"<br/>The question seemed to take the pilot by surprise, "Of-of course sir why wouldn't I?"<br/>"You never lose those nerves, I'm nervous too. A warrior uses that anxiety to sharpen his senses to make him stronger. People that are fearless are lying or too dumb to understand."<br/>"You're nervous too?"<br/>"Of course! We've got a big task before us and we only have each other. We're on our own in this sea, Ensign. Have to put your faith in your crewmen and in your mobile suit. Is one of these yours?"<br/>The ensign shook his head looking up at the suits.<br/>"No sir mine is still on the Zanzibar."<br/><br/>"Take good care of it, Gerald. That suit will keep you alive."