"Well, it looks like he took the bait partially at least..."<br/><br/>Perkins was sitting at the same place still as Walter strode over to him. He passed a cup of brew over to the MechWarrior, who sat down and sipped it before producing his pipe. It had been a terribly long day. But in the end he couldn't bring himself to being mad anymore. The initial rage had fizzled out as he had spoken to the clanner. There just wasn't anyone to blame anymore. It was a freak mishap, nothing more. He sighed heavily after having lit the pipe.<br/><br/>"I don't want them to pity me, Perkins." His voice was cracked from exhaustion, his eyes tired. "I'd rather have them despise me. I'd rather be stuck behind a desk where I can distance myself from their understanding and condolences. I'd rather push them away."<br/><br/>"That's a whole lot of bull, Walt. There's no reason for being such a drama queen."<br/><br/>He gave Perkins an angry look as he took in the fumes from his pipe. "I don't want them to feel sorry for me, Perkins. If they try to they'll have it heated."<br/><br/>"More heated than earlier?"<br/><br/>Walter leaned back and sighed, taking another sip from the coffee. There was a brief flicker in the corner of his eyes, head armor breached, Gauss ammo 50%. He shook his head to get it out of his vision.<br/><br/>"They didn't deserve that, Walter. They worked hard today. I understand that you are frustrated, but don't take it out on them, alright?"<br/><br/>"<em>If they can't take it, they are no warriors of mine</em>. Know that line, Perkins?"<br/><br/>Of course he did. Bones chewed ass more or less every day. He could yell you out by noon for blowing the top of a heatsink and then share a beer with you that same evening. The words was said when some snotty kids from House Davion thought they could write home about what an hardass Bones was. Even so Walter knew he couldn't blame them anymore than he could the clanner. But he had seen their dissent as he left. They didn't like being lectured. They didn't like it one bit.<br/><br/>"<em>They will bite our hands as we feed them, Perkins." His eyes were dark as he stared down into the fuming cup. "If they can't take some rough words they are of no use to us. They aren't used to the hierarchy like Erich and Alroy is. Even if Maho is a bit of a rogue chip, she appreciates the need for order in battle. The need for the group to live as a single entity. All I see in these new ones are a whole lot of intrigue and backstabbing, no sense of the fact that if they can't build up trust outside of battle they are doomed once they take to the field. They feel they are entitled to perfect team mates and lances that fit exactly their comfort at the first mission they are thrust into. As if I had a choice...</em>"<br/><br/>Perkins sat quite and listened, bringing up a cigar which he chewed on for a while before he lit it. "Just say the names Walt, I'll boot them faster than you can say hiccup. We have no place for such people. Bones would never have allowed it, I don't think you should either."<br/><br/>"No. I'd rather teach them the how. They have potential. They just need to learn it all the hard way." He stood up and weighed heavily on the chair for a while. "Sign it off. As soon as the reforming is underway I'll take up the desk commander duties. Put Erich down for ground command. I have some reservations at the moment, but hopefully I can disperse them soon enough. I'll be down in the bays for the rest of the evening..."<br/><br/>He stepped off the bridge and made his way down to the bays. He checked his hand computer and found Miyoko's letter. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he stepped into the bay, seeing Erich on the ground level with Miyoko climbing up her Mech. He took a broad legged stance at Erich's side and folded his arms over his chest. He nodded to his fellow warrior and kept his tone low as to not alarm Miyoko.<br/><br/>"I heard you had a talk with Perkins. I would like you to take his offer. I would also like to give you a fair warning. There is a whole lot of whining going about how I command. Changing the names signing the order will not stop that. At its current state this company is filled with dissenters, people who think they can do better. I'm a broken record on this Erich, but trust is the key. Interaction builds trust. But some among us have chosen to instead distrust. They point blame in whichever direction they are not standing.<em>But our lance did ok</em>.<em>It was their lance who failed</em>.<em>I shouldn't have been there with them</em>. Even if I'd have stroked their egos back there they still wouldn't be happy. I chose instead to be honest about it. Because from where I stand, we lost a whole lot today. Because of my failure. But I can't admit that. It would open up the wounds for the jackals to rip out the entrails. Instead I reserve to hand over command to you, with me becoming detached. I'll be the villainous High Command who bring down pay-cuts and ire from above and you can be the heroic commander who is all chummy with the boys and girls. I'm rambling now, of course, nothing official about it. Just remember Erich, that when you fail they will be there to pick you apart. And then you must be able to bite back so hard that they will not try it again..."<br/><br/>He turned his head up towards Miyoko. Even though he had kept it low it wouldn't have been hard for her to listen in. Frankly it could serve her well, what with the dire contents of her letter. He called out. "Hey, Shadowborn! Have Elisa talked to you yet?"<br/><br/>