Jack shrugged at Paul and turned to Graham as he walked over and explained the situation behind the other Lieutenant's mood. "Alright, that's fair, but it's not like I knew that. I was engaged at the main enemy base. If you see Paul again, tell him I wasn't trying to get under his skin. I need to check the damage to Duel." Waving at Graham as he walked away, Jack headed down to where the engineers were to find out just how long the Duel would be out of future fights.

Yuri looked over to the newly approaching Jack as he wiped away some sweat from his forehead and grabbed a towel and a wench from his work bench. "You know big guy I can't say for certain how long Duel will be out but it should be back within a couple days at the least. Don't worry the damage isn't something to be scared of however I'd prefer not to have the thing sent into a combat scenario. If it comes to it we could always have you pilot one of the Daggers or maybe you can get one of SIGMA to lend you one of those ORB Suits they got. Hell if it really takes long I'll scrounge up one of those suits from outside and use it for parts to jury rig your thing back together. Point being that I can't put a precise time on it just that it shouldn't take too long. Any other questions Jack? And no that's not a pun on your name I'm honestly asking if you got any questions answered because I gotta repair those suits. No telling when we'll run into a fight in this place." Jason told Jack as he looked around at the people hurrying about.

"Shut up, you idiot." She snapped back. "Next he could have self destructed here. Or in the ship. Be glad I'm here to stop you fools from dying."

She had been doing this since... ever since she could remember. Then again, she was doing it with a band of trusted comrades; there were always differences but they always put them aside for the bigger picture. Not this band of misfits. Not these people who had an entire nation back them up. Reve had half a mind to wake Nena up in the middle of the night, exploding the whole hangar and their engines, and just going off somewhere. Oh and taking that woman with her as well.

Taking in a deep breath, she calmed herself down. She could almost hear Sumeragi berating her for her lack of patience. All this until she can find Celestial Beings or get back home. While she doesn't doubt she could survive with only Nena by her side, there were benefits to living on a ship after all, even if the company was less than preferable.

For now, she'd go back to the ship obediently. For now.

"Roger, I will do as instructed." Donna replied as she moved her Sandrock to get to work. As the survivors were being round up, she saw the dejected faces of survivors that looked like they're losing the will to live. As the victor and a survivor she had some reason to reflect on it. Once the survivors were gathered she saw them being herded by the crew of the Sundown to be carried to group with Mariemeia's forces. When it looked like the job was done, she docked the Sandrock and turned off the OS to get out of the Gundam. She took a breath of fresh air and looked at the busy working conditions of the crew, including the Instructor hard at work to give assistance. Seeing some of the other pilots around, Donna decided to look around for them, seeing how they're doing.

Mask hailed the Sundown as he tried to land, the damage to his shoulder was a minor repair, back in his world anyways. He hoped these mechanics would be able to work with it as well. As he landed, Mask took a sip from his bottle and sifted through files.
"Hmm... 85% that should last me for another 2 or 3 battles. I'll need to find a way to recharge then." He then opened the cockpit and slid down his rope, looking for a mechanic that could attend to him.

"Those GN particles you use Reve act like electronic disturbers right? Wouldn't a blast like that fry the suit's electronics when hit directly with a blast of that magnitude? Regardless there's no point in arguing about it now the man is dead and there's nothing we can do about it. Just salvage what we can and get back to the ship." SIGMA Leader both asked and stated as he landed on the ground and looked around for any sign of nearby salvage they could use. It wasn't much but they managed to recover some rifles. And they were entertaining the idea of taking the suits apart for spare parts when Reve left. "Hey Reve are you ok? Vitals signs are reading you're under stress. If you need time to calm down I recommend seeing Doctor Wilbur for some stress relief meds." James Axer offered Reve as he popped up on her screen. "Look I know you see us as the big bad bogey men and all but you're not with Angelo anymore and we don't really need hostility between us. What we're doing isn't personal on all of our parts. There are people here you can talk to you know."

===

The soldiers were herded into a the small shuttle they used to transport the soldiers to Mariemaia's base earlier as they had little other way of handling the situation. Three guards all with automatic rifles stood at ready in case things went wrong. However it wasn't needed after what the men on the ground had seen with the slaughter daggers living up to their name and murdering so many of them it seemed that resistance was futile. Gyunei Guss's machine was picked up by two daggers after being made sure the machine was completely disabled and carried off towards the Sundown. When Donna arrived at the ship she was pointed towards Puru who had told her she was going to try and find Paul to talk about what was going on now. "Ya know I don't really understand much of what just happened but I don't like it either. I can feel that a lot of people are in pain. And I don't feel Gabriel anymore. I'm worried he didn't make it out of that spot where we left him." Puru confessed to Donna as she informed her of what happened with the three of them after leaving Gabriel to duel.

The two of them walked down the hallway where they found Baker who informed them that she saw Paul had gone to the Cafeteria to get some water and to take a breather. She didn't talk to him but she said she suspected that's where he'd be. On the way there however they noticed the new pilot had just gotten into the elevator and was heading towards the meeting room according to the buttons above the elevator. After all why else would they be going to the officer's quarters section of the ship? That must have meant that Jason would be there soon. "Uh who was that in the elevator? I feel weird feeling coming that person." Puru said as she rubbed her head. "I just wish I could stop feeling all of this...it makes my head hurt bad."
===
"Oh hey there buddy....nice piloting outfit pretty different from the standard. And I got to say that your unit is pretty weird. I don't know how or if we'll be any assistance in helping with your thing but I'm sure we can at least make sure any damages are repaired to our best extent. So what's the problem?" Yuri asked as he took a moment to look away from James to talk to the new ace appearing in the hanger. "Oh and I'm Yuri Boris in case you were wondering."

Upon hearing Puru's note on Gabriel, Donna feared the worst. "My God..." She nearly spoke but she remembered she has to keep a strong sake for Puru's sake. After hearing from Baker that Paul went to the cafeteria and began to make their way there she caught a glimpse of the pilot. She wasn't sure what to make of her yet and she'll have to trust the Captain on whether she can be trusted or not. "Is she similar to Gabriel?" The Gundam pilot enquired but after seeing the young Newtype tired, she thought of how to make her feel better. "I think I will ask the Captain later if we are allowed to have a shower later or tomorrow." She said to her. "I think since we fought well he might approve. Let us get some water first though." She led the way to the cafeteria to get a drink and find Paul.

"Hey Reve are you ok? Vitals signs are reading you're under stress. If you need time to calm down I recommend seeing Doctor Wilbur for some stress relief meds." James Axer offered Reve as he popped up on her screen. "Look I know you see us as the big bad bogey men and all but you're not with Angelo anymore and we don't really need hostility between us. What we're doing isn't personal on all of our parts. There are people here you can talk to you know."

She laughed at that, thoroughly amused by what he just said. "Maybe when they stop looking at me like something the cat dragged in."

Leaving it at that, Reve carefully put Exia in the hangar, before finally shutting it down. She sat back on her seat and sighed. It wasn't comfortable here by any means. And she'd sooner eat her own gun before going to the doctor here. With how they have been acting around her, she wouldn't put it past them to try and drug her up with something strange.

"Yuri Boris. I'll remember that." Mask began, "the beam guns in my units shoulder will need to be repaired, they took a beam bazooka hit. Luckily the armor is thick, but I still fear the damage." He stated, tapping the side of his mask.
"12 beam guns all around the shoulder made for deflecting enemy munitions and beams, and punching through light armored units." He said, "Take care of the Elf Bullock, I'm off to find your captain."
He then turned quickly and began walking towards the bridge, but paused momentarily at the Exia.
"The Gundam... I can't forget my mission. Manny, I will return, soon."
He said clenching his fist and continuing.

Jack nods to Yuri and heads back towards the elevator. "All good, Yuri, I know you do your best. Keep me updated if I can't make it down here to check it out myself." As he walked away, he paused to listen to Yuri and one of Mariemia's men talk and turned when he said he was off to find Captain Jason. Stopping the man at the elevator, he shakes his head. "Captain's meeting with our mystery friend right at the moment, so he's probably not going to want someone coming in right now. But, we can grab some chow while you wait."

"Uh I'm not sure. Gabriel is like Paul. Except Paul feels...more pent in. Like he's in a box that he can't get out of and he's holding his emotions with him tightly. I don't know how to explain it. That pilot who just came here...that pilot feels wrong. Like...uh how should I put it....the pilot feels not righ. Like Reve and Nena. But more calm like Saturnalia. I dunno really the whole world feels distored if I focus on it for too long." Puru said rubbing her head not noticing Donna's panic as she closed her eyes. "Yeah I could use somethin' to drink. But hey thanks for being here Donna not a lot of people take me seriously. Maybe because I'm a younger pilot." Puru said with a big smile at Donna as they walked along. The deck and into the elevator.

When the two of them arrived they found Paul sitting by himself in the corner of the room. He had his uniform on clearly having discarded his piloting suit before coming here. "You know I can sense you right Puru?" Paul said taking a large gulp of water. Besides the chief Paul was the only one in the room besides the three of them. He looked like he had been punched in the gut but he looked over and saw Puru with Donna and grumbled. He was not particularly in the mood to talk after what just happened with this 'mission' and he moved over. "Come on if you want to talk or whatever feel free to sit down next to me or somewhere else. Not like I'm going to tell you to go away." Paul said tiredly as he looked at the two for a bit longer before his gaze turned away.

===

"What's wrong pilot? Got something on your brain? Missing your companions? Don't worry if they're anything like my flag fighters and like you they'll be fine." Graham Aker said as he walked up to Mask from behind. "My name is Conscript/Captain Graham Aker of The Flag Fighters. Union Military not OMNI. What's your name big guy?" Graham said with a grin as he looked at Mask and outstretched his hand towards him. "Missions like this make me sick but hey you do what you gotta do right? Oh sorry didn't notice you Lieutenant." Aker said finally noticing Jack as he nodded to him. "I was hesitant about you out there but you showed your fighting spirit...too bad you had to run away."

===

Mask had barely noticed the man, until he was right on top of him.
"Hmm? Oh, do not mind me. I was simply recalling my mission to retrieve the Gundam G-Self from the Space Pirates. My pride as a Kuntala is still on the line."
He thought on the man's questions momentarily, then replied.
"I am Captain Mask of the Earth Capital Army, formerly cadet for the Capital Guard."
He then gripped and shook the man's outstretched hand.

Donna thought about Puru's remark on how the new pilot was more similar to Nena, Reve and Saturnalia, making her wonder if they are some sort of siblings in a way. Her thoughts returned to reality. "Not at all." She replied to the young Newtype. "I do not really have much friends, and I say you are my friend."

Upon seeing Paul Donna could tell he was not really in a good mood. "If you do not mind, then I will take a seat." She responded to the icy invitation, but getting a cup of water for Puru and herself before then and passing a cup to her. She wasn't sure what to speak about but some company may help in case he wants to speak to someone.

"Wait I'm your friend! Neat! I don't gotta lot of friends really besides Judau and some of the crew of the Argama. Well I'm glad to be your friend Donna!" Puru said cheerfully as Paul looked over to her with a raised eye. "So that's what I got to look forward to when I have kids?" Paul asked as he took another sip of water. "I just said you could take a seat you don't need to ask my permission to sit down in the ship's cafeteria." Paul grumbled as he sipped his water again and Puru sat down snuggling next to Donna. "Well I suppose since we're alone I could tell you my actual name. Not sure if you haven't heard it already. My name is Paul. Lieutenant Paul Lyons to be exact. That's what I've been since I was old enough to curse." Paul grumpily said as he looked at Puru smiling at him. He could feel her happiness. Somewhat sick considering the people who had died just moments ago at their hands but Puru wasn't one to think about things like that. Besides they attacked them first...right? "I don't suppose you're here to lament the fact that today was a slaughter? Come here for a bite to eat? I'm not trying to bring down the mood. I just hate missions like this. Make me feel less like a man and more like a 'proper soldier' like Lao...no need to understand who that is just suffice to say he's a maniac with no intention of changing." Paul questioned as he wiped some water off of his lip and sighed. "Holy fuck I'm a kill joy." Paul said chuckling sourly as he looked at the table. "You ok Lieutenant sir? You don't look so good and you sound bitter. You're normally a lot more professional." Puru said to Paul who grunted indifferently.

Donna remembered how Grant talked about this "Lao", and from both him and Paul it can be said that he is well-resented. "I share the feeling that our work today was rather more than what we could have done." She also had the dubious honour of having the highest headcount of everyone out today. "I am not sure what I can say to this, but I was always told that I had to kill before I would be killed." Those "kind" words were from her vengeance driven father, who wanted the Falsons to pay for his wife's death. "Although I do not agree with him, he was a soldier and the past days proved him right." She found speaking to Paul extraordinarily difficult, as the young man perpetually conceals his emotions.

She jerked awake.

It seemed Reve had fallen asleep in the cockpit again. Ugh, she'd been having the same dreams over and over again. It was as if she was breaking down after being away from Celestial Beings for so long.It could be all the stress weighting down on her; these people were so inherently different from her it kinda hurts her head to see people like them. Like it was hurting right now...

A splitting headache... Some rest would do her good perhaps. With that thought in mind, she exited Exia, and made her way down to her room.

"There's a difference between running and hauling your useless rear out of the way. My arm couldn't move and neither could my leg and that reduced my combat effectiveness enough that I'd have just been in the way if I'd stayed. Not to bad out there yourself either though, Aker." Turning back to the Mask character, Jack offers his own hand. "Lieutenant Jack Jameson, Earth Federation soldier. I pilot the Duel Gundam, which is down for some joint repairs after the battle."

Mask turned and shook the offered hand. "That was you out there. Well done. I am in need of assistance around this ship. I would like to analyze the data I collected through the battle, and possibly share the results with the intelligence officer while I wait for my Elf Bullock's shoulder guns to be repaired."

Puru grumbled as she listened to the two talk a bit but what Donna said seemed to really hit a cord in her, "No! You can't just fight for the sake of fighting. You gotta fight for the sake of people close to you! I fight because I got friends...Judau is my best friend and I'd give anything to keep him safe. There's no point to fighting if it's just kill or be killed! Elle, Beecha, Leina, and heck even Roux! All of those are close friends of mine! And even now when I'm away from them I still got Mr. Graham, you, Reve, Baker, Axer, Williams, and Captain Jason. I'm fighting not because I want to but to protect my family and friends Donna. Can't you do the same too? Don't you got any friends?" Puru asked as she leaned over and forced her face up close to Donna's her eyes stern.

Paul listened to what the two of them said both of them had fair points...but Paul...he had a lot of problems and friendship was one of them. Too many times had he respected someone only for them to turn their back on him. His father...his brother...his fellow soldiers. So many people...so much betrayal and so much blood. All the same..."I think Puru has a good head on her shoulders you know. It makes me a bit more optimistic about the future. Thanks Puru...thanks a lot. No sarcasm intended you really are a good little girl." Paul said as Puru turned away from Donna for a second to smile at Paul, "Thanks Lieutenant...I know how you feel. I'm not sure if you can feel me but I can feel you. You're not sucha bad guy. You're just tense and need to open up a little-" Puru said as Paul stopped her mid sentence. "I said you were right not that you should become my freaking psychologist." Paul said with a smile as he relaxed a little. It was some progress at least.

===
"Alright why don't you and the mystery man over there come with me to the meeting room Lieutenant? Or do you two need a moment to bond?" Graham Aker asked teasing the two of them as he smiled and turned away from them to shout towards Reve. She didn't answer instead shuffling off out of the hanger. "Captain probably won't mind her being missing but one thing's for certain...Nena isn't happy." Graham said pointing out the fact the the punt sized angry teenager was glaring at the new suit in the hanger bay. Her hands balled into fists. She'd been standing there since she got out of her suit. However a new comer walked over and patted Mask on the back, "Nice going out there dude. What happened to the other guy?" Witz asked Mask as he looked over the two of them and then came eye to eye with Graham, "Hey weren't you the guy who nearly killed me?" Witz asked as Graham nodded and his smile vanished, "Yeah that was me alright. Good piloting out there Gundam. Maybe I'll get a chance to bring you down later myself." Graham said as Witz eyes him more seriously. "You picking a fight with me again pretty boy?"

"Sorry Puru, I do not have much friends." She answered back to the concerned girl. "I grew up sheltered and isolated without friends. Father funded the Gundam project so he can get revenge for mother's death." She tried to think of someone close to family. "If there is someone I can protect here it will be everyone in the ship, including you and Instructor W." She can say that man with the goggles is more like a father to her. She smiled back. "Thank you, Puru. It got some senses to me." Looking at Paul he was given some hope and turned to him to give a new question. "Excuse me Lieutenant, do you have someone that you love?" She wondered if this question was too sensitive.