Joshua immediately recognized the voice behind him, but turned to confirm. A particularly disheveled view of his tall superior officer, looming above him. He was tempted to crack a joke, or make some sort of lighthearted remark, but thought better of it. He knew that anyone in this convoy would be a mess of emotions, and one jocular remark to a superior officer could be taken as insubordination in the tumult. He simply smiled slightly, saluted normally, and responded in a friendly tone.

"Didn't mean anything by it, Commander. Just curious is all."

Joshua took a small step to the side, wiping the already-forming perspiration from his brow as he waited for a response. He wondered if the rest of the soldiers were as anxious as him. Maybe he was the only one frustrated, bored, and desperately looking for distraction. He wondered if the rest of them were going stir crazy. He hadn't spent this long out of potential combat zones in months, and it was bizarre. There were no patrols to make, not watches to be kept, no units to be kept scramble-ready, nothing. There was just sand, a popped tire, and yet more sand. It was almost surreal, and the surreality only heightened his anger at the situation.

Regardless, there was nothing to be done, so he would make the best of it. No sense being anything less than friendly to his fellow soldiers, so he waited patiently and politely in the short break in conversation.