Vasiliev smirked at her comment, bitterness in his voice as he spoke. "Coward, eh? Perhaps you've run in front of a machine gun nest, or traversed the open plains of no-mans land, hm?" His eyes began to fill with anger, clenching the wheel with his hands tightly. "Have you killed countless men in the name of some flag that holds no meaning?" He gritted his teeth, finally turning to look Vera in the eye. "I'm sure that you have seen your own comrades die in front of you, blown to pieces and maimed in ways I could not even imagine! Yes, YOU are definitely one to speak of bravery!" He slammed his fist on the dashboard, pulling the truck over and staring ahead for a moment. Vasiliev took slow, deep breaths, closing his eyes for a moment as he recollected his thoughts. "...I am Vasiliev Tereshchenko. I've been in the military for twelve years. Do not speak of bravery around me, for I have seen things that drive normal men mad, things that even the strongest of hearts fear. I have been forced to shoot surrendering enemies, my own men when they ran in fear, and even innocent people just like you, all in the name of the Russian Empire." He took a drag on his cigarette, blowing smoke from his nose. "Do not insult the uniform, Vera, but rather, the one who controls it..." He pulled the truck back into the traffic, dodging another checkpoint. "...the Tsar is to blame for our suffering, and it is only a matter of time before the people throw him out. There have been talks of mutiny among the ranks, for we are done being the puppets of a man who strives to enslave his people just to free himself. I would have joined, had things not turned out like this."