The initial debriefing ended, and the cadets began to dispense their questions. Harold's came first from shaky lips, him being clearly less secure of himself. It seemed he was regretting his use of drugs, and so denying any idea of taking more of them. Perhaps he was in some sort of post-trip hangover that he was really feeling hard.

The professor's answers provided a bit more professional insight to the Cruxi, some detail that Lora looked to tuck away. For a race that seemed to lack any rhyme or reason to their attacks, they sounded awfully careful and conservative with their equipment. Some ulterior motive, surely, but one that none of the humans knew about. Plenty of questions to ask on that front, but few answers. And unless they got a mission dedicated to it, the cadets likely weren't going to bring back any equipment to salvage or get answers from.

Lora returned to full attention when Lorenzo had called out her name. The professor had confirmed part of Lora's idea about Stukov's fate: he had attempted to harness the hidden potential of the Framewerk, but failed. Why, then, if he knew such a thing would prove so hazardous? Or maybe he didn't know, trusting the word and will of whatever voices he also heard. Regardless, Lora was now in the same boat as the late Framewerk pilot, and so needed to find a way to prosper where he failed. The professor insisted that Lora would have to train herself every day, exercising the capabilities of her mind in order to properly take control of this secret power. She nodded firmly, well understanding the potential consequences if she failed.

Romeo's question was up next, and unlike his confrontation over the comms post-battle, it was personal. Much to all of their surprise, Lorenzo answered. And then promptly devolved into angry, traumatic ramblings, spouting unconnected nonsense. Something about a conference, fighting back, failing, something needing hormones to function...?

The professor snapped out it quickly enough, though, and addressed Romeo and everyone in his next command to not ask any further about Lorenzo's personal life. Fair enough; the prospect sounded rude anyways

Then Lorenzo, with Yeshua's question, went into a heavy rant regarding his control and intentions over the program. Simulations were substitute for training, not for real life, and that was what he intended to test today. Though, with most of the Framewerk trashed right now, it was probably safe to say he wouldn't be testing that every day. And then Lorenzo turned that idea on its heel by attacking the caet personally, spouting doubt over the Anzu's lone wolf tactics and mocking his current capabilities in a real battle.

Then someone else spoke up to insult the professor. Heads turned, and the perpetrator revealed himself to be Ryan. He belittled Lorenzo's vague orders and called him an idiot, and then proceeded blame Lora for his actions; by his logic, Lora would've gone to attack Elora first, and he wanted to protect the younger pilot. Caliburn's pilot blinked at Ryan with an incredulous visage, before piping up, [color=lightblue]"What the hell are you even talking about?"[/color]

Before anyone else could respond, the professor announced, [color=f26522]"I see what is happening here. Liu'un, come here."[/color]

No, this didn't need to involve her- the conflict was clearly between Ryan and Lora! She reached out to object, but caught a glimpse of his hard stare. For her better judgement, she stayed quiet, retracting her pose. 

[color=f26522]"Now, pilot Liu'un, Goodwill has decided to act like a complete moron and defy his commanding officer. All because of you. Don't you think you are responsible for this behavior?"[/color]

No, she wasn't responsible, it was Lora. She had made a vague nodding gesture to Elora - a tic that she had picked up from one of her engineers, basically a nod of friendly recognition, she had been told. But the cadets didn't know that, and her serious expression might've ruined the gesture - Ryan seemed to pick it up as a threatening gesture. That wasn't the truth, though, and now Ryan had gone out of the way to hack down Lora-

[color=8dc73f]"Y-Yes! It's be-because of me! I'm responsible! I'm the one wh-who should be punished, not R-Ryan!"[/color]

No! She didn't need to be punished for anything! It was Ryan who had assumed too much, Ryan who had made an enemy out of Lora, Ryan who was blatantly insulting his own commanding officer just to defend himself! None of this was her fault!

And then Lorenzo harshly slapped Elora to the ground, the professor announcing she was wrong and the pilot breaking down into tears. Lora gritted her teeth, felt her heart rate accelerate, tightened her fists - more than anything, she wanted to object to this, not just to tell Ryan that he was improper but to admit her own fault, all just from a stupid gesture.

But Ryan, as was the trend, acted first and took it a step further. With a furious cry, he charged out at the professor with some hidden blade, before anyone could stop him.

Lorenzo would not be fazed. With impossible ability for his age, he caught the advancing hand, grabbing and twisting it with such sheer ferocity that Ryan's grip failed and his arm cracked. Above his screams of pain, Lorenzo announced his intentions: Ryan's actions thus far were unprecedented treason and attempt of murder, and he ought to be in death row for it... or worse. But in a bout of mercy, the insolent pilot's hand was released, and he fell to the ground, unconscious from the shock. Ryan would simply be stripped of all rank and removed form the project, returning home with shame and a new broken limb.

Lora's heart was racing. She had before thought that this commanding figure was batty and illogical, but this was something else on an entirely different level. He didn't simply resign himself to making threats and mocking inability - no, he had all the might and fury to back it up and fight back. Her own words and intentions died in her throat, and she swallowed hard. Elora was sniffling and gasping, pained from being beaten, and perhaps truly convinced that this was all her fault.

It wasn't true. Lora needed to convince her of that. It was the best she could do now, after having put her in the middle of this conflict and brushing her off during the exercise. She needed to make it up to her. Breifly, she wondered how Mitch was holding up...

And then Mai stepped forward in ever her robotic manner, wishing to test her luck on Lorenzo. With but a glimpse of the old man's capabilities, she wanted to be the judge of how powerful he was. Lora could only stand back, arms crossed again, waiting for this new conflict to end.