Franka watched the lights in the distance, the next explosion. These soldiers were making a hell of a racket, and no mistaking it. It quite matched the image spread about Americans in the media before the catastrophe hit. She wondered whether they would always be like that, blowing things up left and right, and what they'd do once they ran out of ammunition, which, if they got into a few more encounters, would be the case sooner rather than later.<br/><br/>To Hackett's decision, she nodded, but cocked an eyebrow. Surprises? Hardly avoidable in stinker infested Europe. As far as she was concerned, she'd be a lot happier without any - who wouldn't? She watched her march over to Ashleigh, from whom Utem was already trying to get a response, trying to start a conversation, to reassure her. Ashleigh looked too dazed to notice or appreciate their attention, probably was mildly traumatised, they'd better get her focussed on blindly following them, this inner autopilot system humans had was quite useful. As long as she stayed near them, all they needed to do was to steer her in the right direction, not leave her out of sight. Only her survival mattered right now, not whether she was feeling chipper.<br/><br/>"We'd better go now. Once these fires burn down, stinkers will be stray everywhere, then the whole mess will repeat itself. Let's make the best of that distraction, at least, this way we know where the stinkers are heading, what they're drawn to, and it's not us for a change. We shouldn't rest now, not here, it's not safe enough, we need to keep moving." Gazing at the three of them, she added. "At least get her off the ground, its too cold and wet."