<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 hadn't known what came over him. He hadn't had outbursts like that in a long time, and he felt... embarrassed. He prided himself on keeping a level-head, on being able to take any punch and keep going. And he was still going, but instead of having an outlet for his frustrations, instead of just pouring himself into his work, he was taking it out on a young woman who was likely struggling with it even more than he. True, he had lost people as well, but he knew lieutenant Rowe well enough to know she likely got along well with nearly everyone in the company. She was a people-person in many ways, and while all of those connections offered strength, they also gave way to weakness when they were severed.<br/><br/>Damian felt a little awkward when she pushed herself into him, but his arms still wrapped firmly around her out of instinct. He wasn't so socially backward that he didn't know how to respond to an embrace and a want for comfort, but that didn't help the fact that he lacked empathy. The hug wasn't as hollow as he had expected. It felt soothing, for him as well, to have someone that close. His palms planted themselves along her back, tightening the hold while one of them even offered almost caring caresses. It was more than anyone had received from him in a long while, which hinted at his own, carefully hidden state.<br/><strong>"Keep going. As planned,"</strong> he responded, offering the young woman only a meager consolation. He pulled back a little, which allowed him to look upon her proper. <strong>"Work off your aggression, or it will eat you up. But the company needs you in peak condition. Gripping the controls of a 'Mech is hard when you shred your fists,"</strong> he reiterated, not having wanted to make it seem as though she needed to be as foolish as he. At least she was venting, if nothing else.<br/><br/>A slight silence began to linger, as the clanner simply did not seem to know what to do or say to make her feel better, but his usually expressionless eyes really did contain hints that he wanted to, as they looked across her attractive face.<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/>It was a big question indeed, as well as an important one. Emily didn't know how much she was privy to, but she was going to take whatever Kari offered. Her experience allowed her to keep a much more level head than most. She was hurting inside, but she had made peace with people dying around her long ago. But that didn't mean she wasn't concerned, confused and anxious for the future. She needed to know, for some reassurance, where the company was headed, how it was going to get there, and what needed to be done. If she had a goal in her head, she could push on. Until then, she would be as adrift as the rest of the crew. It was at that point that Jirani realized she was taking up the commander's time from writing what was undoubtedly going to be her first address to the crew. But since she hadn't been dismissed yet, she was determined to capitalize on the time, regardless.<br/><br/>She nodded as Kari began to lay out her intentions. <strong>"I'm going to take a wild guess and figure we don't have a whole lot of gear left that'll be useful out in the field,"</strong> she mused.<br/>Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed a little in that grumpier manner many associated with the strict, mature woman, at the mention of former Solaris-jockeys. She clearly didn't approve of that choice, as per what Kari expected, but she wasn't about to question the call. <strong>"As long as you're aware of how many upstarts are in there. But, we don't exactly have a lot of options. I'll make sure we separate the wheat from the chaff in training. There's bound to be a diamond in the rough among show-offs,"</strong> she explained.<br/><br/><strong>"As for work, I'm going to guess Harper will handle that?"</strong> she questioned, as always not adding his rank. <strong>"You sure we can trust him with that, ma'am?"</strong></div>