<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br/><br/>Damian continued to look at Kari, watching the play of emotions on her features. She was a beautiful woman, he'd be blind to not notice that, and as shallow as that was, her looks only made it harder to watch her so saddened by the recent losses. But he could not tear his gaze away, or at least, he refused to out of some form of respect. She took the details better than he thought she would have. This wasn't just a teammate or a friend they were talking about. It was her father. It spoke well of her force of personality, and probably of how well she was going to function at the helm of their company.<br/><br/>As she rose up to offer him a hand, his eyes descended from hers to linger on the limb for a few moments, after which he turned his vision back to the paraphernalia before him.<br/><strong>"I would like to be alone now, ma'am,"</strong> he responded, not accepting the handshake. He did not feel like indulging in any form of camaraderie, even if an extended branch from his new commander was something highly desirable. He needed to focus on his work. There was just too much to do and he was wasting time on what was to him, frivolities. <strong>"I suggest you prepare what you are going to tell the crew. The sooner you address them, the better. If the confusion lasts, our morale will never recover. I hope you know how to work a devastated crowd, ma'am,"</strong> he explained, not wanting to frighten her, but as usual, he believed confidence came from knowing all the facts and the crux of the matter.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br/><br/>When Allia reached out for Emily's brow, he hand was quickly intercepted and gently put back down, complete with the slight shaking of the veteran pilot's head. <strong>"Just leave it,"</strong> she urged, before letting go of the lieutenant's wrist. She then proceeded to listen to the case Allia was presenting. She turned her gaze forward, just fixating it on the lockers on the other side of the row they occupied. But, her eyes glazed over as she did not really fixate any attention on it whatsoever. Instead, she released a sigh at hearing about Allia's plans to stay and help Kari. She seemed to have expected as much, but was less than keen on the idea herself. As emotions began to swell up from the young lieutenant, Emily could not help but turn her vision over to her friend to spot the hints of tears. She cursed the fact that Allia was perfectly capable of applying a puppy-dog-eyes tactic. What made it worse was that she never did so to manipulate, it was just how the young woman came across when emotional and sorrowful.<br/><br/>It caused her to sigh and wrap an arm around Allia's shoulder once; an amicable gesture that ended when she finally rose up and walk over to the other end of the row of lockers.<br/><strong>"For you. And for Kari."</strong> a pause ensued for a few moments longer. <strong>"I'll stay until you have someone to fill my shoes. But I'm sorry, I can't stay longer than that. Life's too short to get blown to bits by an insane clanner. Or working alongside one, for that matter,"</strong> she stated, facing the lieutenant with a slight smile.<br/><strong>"I always said you were a lunatic, Allia. You're young, you could find some other company. But... At least you know how to stick with your friends. I'd be a poor one if I abandoned you all now,</strong> her expression grew more grim soon after, though. <strong>"But promise me one thing. Keep an eye on Damian. Even if none of this was his doing, I don't trust him. Few of us do, and for good reason. Clanners aren't like us. I've fought enough to know. And Sea Foxes are some of the craftiest bastards among them. He wouldn't stay if there wasn't something in it for him."</strong></div>