The corners of Romav's vision darkened as the fire began to consume him. The time spent confined within a prison cell aboard the Axis with a warriors spirit burning with no victory or struggle to fuel it leaving it to slowly eat at him. The pent up angst all at one moment seemed a chorus. He wanted the Ensign to strike him he wanted an excuse to strike the misguided child. He didn't even notice that the other younger Ensign he'd been speaking with had vacated the scene as he was so wrapped up in it and then at once Tyrius stood stark straight, bowed, and excused himself. And the anger washed immediately from him. He watched his subordinate retreat and with the anger left and guilt washed into its place. He looked around for Gerald and realized at that point that he was gone. Had the Lieutenant done more harm than good? The anger wouldn't have done any good for the younger Ensign let alone for Garrou.<br/><br/>The left fist was still clenched and he struck himself on the side of his hip in frustration. Was he the right man for it? Surely there had to be better more capable leaders that could go into battle. His thoughts drifted to the impressive figures he had known in the past. He was barely a shadow compared to them; a capable pilot absolutely but was he a capable leader? The Lieutenant took a shaky step forward and moved to speak again with the ensign-<br/><br/>"Lieutenant Romav!"<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Looks like the Captain knows. . . </span><br/><br/>Viktor turned to face another subordinate, a perfect déjà vu to what just happened. This messenger was in a hasty mood and slapped a salute up and down as if striking a block of wood.<br/><br/>"Captain Jaryk wants you on the bridge immediately, sir!"<br/><br/>"Th-thanks. . . Dismissed."<br/><br/>His steps were purposeful and quick to the bridge but it felt like there were weights dragging at his ankles. So quick into the operation and the Commanding Officer in the field was already physically reprimanding men. That wouldn't sit well; the only comfort was that Romav knew that they needed as many capable soldiers as possible. The Lieutenant chastised himself again for allowing this petty political game again. He'd purposefully gone to his mobile suit hoping that it would give him peace and solitude before the likely most stressful time of the Captain's life he has to deal with this.<br/><br/>The bridge was a flurry of keys clicking and voices murmuring from the various personnel carrying out their tasks and prepping for the coming mission and one thing stood out against all the activity. Of course it had to be the Captain himself who remained statuesque within the captain's chair surveying the scene before them. The walk from the hangar to the bridge wore off some of the guilt and now it was more a general frustration. He had steeled himself and before the captain snapped a flawless salute and spoke one line bluntly.<br/><br/>"Lieutenant Romav reporting, Captain!"<br/><br/>He would not try to justify himself, at least not yet. The captain looked frustrated and understandably so. Romav would take whatever Jaryk threw at him.