Harold Koehler, after 'the incident', stopped talking. Apparently taking a vow of silence, over the months he has commonly holed up inside his dorm, doing... something. Of course, usually that was sleeping, obviously. The rest of his time was training, training, lectures, and training. Indeed, he barely complained either during all of this. The many, many times Sergeant Ken knocked him on his ass for example, he didn't even really grunt in pain. Of course, his handlers thought this was suspicious, but he quietly assured them he was fine all the way through.

As the lecture from Lorenzo came to a close, he meticulously listened, jotting down all of the details he could in a notebook he brought with him into the 'classroom'. As the other pilots began to leave the class to do their own things, he decided to acquire more information. He got up, and walked over to the desk before doing a short bow. Strangely polite, being from him just made it freaky.

[color=fff200]"Lorenzo."[/color], Harold quietly said, waiting for a confirmation.

[color=f26522]"Mmm, what is it, pilot Koehler?"[/color] Lorenzo mumbled, not moving his eyes from the pile of papers before him. [color=f26522]"And it's sir, to you."[/color]

[color=fff200]"I'm sorry, sir. Are there any other significant sub-types present in the Cruxi armies? As well, what types of ships are in their... space-forces? Will we have to worry about them on the field?"[/color], Koehler inquired.

"Hmm, there have been reports of some kind of sphere-shaped weapon that was deployed in Sargassia, but I don't remember the details to that. I do know that shortly after it was used, the entire planet's defences were quickly subdued. I remember mentioning about this too, but there have also been types of Cruxi that can traverse using some kind of pocket dimension; in more simpler terms, teleportation." Lorenzo paused for a moment to shuffle his papers, deep in thought. 
[color=f26522]"The Cruxi actually are very similar to us humans when it comes to their spaceships: they have troop ships like I mentioned in my lecture, fighter ships for engaging our spacecraft, and battleships that only land from orbit once a planet has been conquered. So no, the Cruxi tend to only send war machines to oppose Framewerks and not their ships. Was that what you wanted to know, Koehler?"[/color]

[color=fff200]"More or less, sir. It's curious why they seemingly don't have a dedicated space-to-planet 'siege craft', if I'm getting your implications correctly. I wonder why they're so interested in us anyway. There have been many attempts in communications, right?"[/color]

[color=f26522]"That is a good point; the Cruxi certainly would have the technology to destroy colonies with orbital bombardment, yet they seem focused in taking them instead. They are quite an enigma. No matter how much we have tried to establish contact we have not gotten any kind of response from them. Damn aliens only clickety-clack like bugs!"[/color]

[color=fff200]"You have tried pheremones? Perhaps to them our sweat is a big 'shoot me' sign?"[/color]

[color=f26522]"Why yes, I have tried chemical responses as well, but having only tested it on a captive soldier-type Cruxi, the results have been inadequate. Their biology is like nothing else in this galaxy. I could spend years simply studying their cells, but frankly my time is better spent trying to save humanity. Don't you agree, Koehler?"[/color]

[color=fff200]"Yes, yes I do agree. I assume that's implying I should leave you alone for now? Before I go, I do have one last question. Have you tried those... well, narcotics of mine? Any effects?"[/color]

[color=f26522]"That is classified, pilot."[/color] Lorenzo now stared at him with cold eyes.

[color=fff200]"Fair enough. I'll see you later, sir. You likely know where I'll be."[/color], He then walked off, to the actual dormitories. Possibly to actually talk to his associates for the first time in months.

[hr]
"[color=ed1c24]OMEGA-ULTRA SLAUGHTER PARTY!"[/color] Screamed the announcer as Elora was playing Hour of Honour again in the game room. Over the last two months she tended to retreat there once free time began, keeping to herself in a vain attempt at not trying to cause any trouble. Ever since she saw what happened to Koehler, sh couldn't help but avert her eyes, ashamed to have let something so horrible happen. She should have known better than to snitch about Yeshua, she should have just kept quiet like she always did.
As another North-Korean Nazi Commie's head exploded, she sighed. It was then that she heard someone coming in the room, and Elora took a look:

[color=8dc73f]"Oh, Koehler."[/color] She went back to playing her game, not minding that the pilot who used to be very talkative and friendly, but now turned mute thanks to her, was present. Well, she did mind it a bit, believing she was the cause for it and all.

Koehler might've scared her a little, doing something he hasn't done in two entire months. He actually opened his mouth, and began to talk. It seems as well that his voice got just a bit deeper over time, just a little, as his voice finalized. [color=fff200]"Hi, Elora. How have you been?"[/color], he matter-of-factly said, not even hinting that this might've been sort of weird now.

He sat down on the small couch and put his hands on his lap, laying back just a little. He watched as Elora continued her game. [color=fff200]"Nice shooting."[/color], he commented. [color=fff200]"So what's the story so far?"[/color]

Koehler occasionally did speak a word or two, usually as a response to an officer's question or when it was absolutely necessary, but ever since the incident he never opened up a conversation, which did surprise Elora.[color=8dc73f] "Oh, thanks,"[/color] she meekly answered, and continued talking after she cleaved a cyborg soldier with a chainsaw-sword. [color=8dc73f]"Well, you can't call it a story, really; some Adolf Kim Stalin is trying to take over the world, and in the game you play as some no-name war hero. But stories don't really matter in these; it's all about the shooting, and the killing, and the pain..."[/color] Elora drifted off as a tear flowed down her cheek.

[color=fff200]"Reminds me of something."[/color], her friend said as he wiped the tear from her face, not even looking at it all that much. [color=fff200]"Maybe you should be playing something a little less... realistic, apparently."[/color], He suggested.[color=fff200] "Are there any other things on there?"[/color], with the tiniest hints of worry in his eyes. [color=fff200]"Have the others been treating you bad? I'm... sorry for being so absorbed in my duties."[/color], he apologized.

[color=8dc73f]"Well there were some sports games too, let me check."[/color] Elora bent over and took a look at the games that were piled under the console. Then Koehler threw the million-dollar question, and he heard a quickly muted gasp from her. [color=8dc73f]"No, no. The others have ignored me, and I'm fine with that. It's better that we all just focus on our training...I've only caused trouble so far, so I prefer it that way. You don't need to apologize, I've also been bad about it." 
[/color]
[color=fff200]"Yeah, right."[/color], Harold sarcastically suggested, he then looked at the sports games available. [color=fff200]"Interplanetary spaceball, basketball, shooting..."[/color], and various others,[color=fff200] "Wow, all of these look horrible."[/color]. [color=fff200]"I mean, look at those graphics. What is this, the 2020's? Where'd they get these, the bargain bin?"[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"Yeah. I read about these games, and it seems they tried to cash in on the holo-game craze that was happening then. They advertised it as the 'Next Evolution In Gaming' or something silly like that."[/color] Elora then picked out an old-looking hockey game and put it in the machine.
[color=8dc73f]"So...umm...Koehler? Would you like to play? This has two-player mode..."[/color]

[color=fff200]"I was just about to ask. Where's that other controller?[/color]", inquiring, he looked around the console, and eventually found the other controllers , taking one of the four, apparently. "Yeah just pick-up-'n-play right?"

[color=8dc73f]"I think so."[/color] The two began a match. Elora was really bad at it, constantly losing the puck and even shoting into her own goal once, making her yelp. [color=8dc73f]"I didn't mean for that to happen..."[/color] she muttered out, but smiled afterwards. She was really glad Koehler was opening up again, reminding her that she could also get over it if she just willed it so.
After a while of playing, Elora opened up: [color=8dc73f]"Koehler, when do you think we'll actually go fight the Cruxi? Do you think it's going to be soon? There hasn't been a lot of talk about that, and I'm wondering about it."[/color]

[color=fff200]"Probably soon. I mean they said four months or so, it's been two. Halfway there."[/color], [color=fff200]"Fucking christ that was horrible though. I mean, these controls goddamn suck."[/color] [color=fff200]"I think my left stick isn't even working."[/color], he then seemingly had an epiphany, [color=fff200]"How the hell do hockey-guys do hockey anyway? I could never figure out skating off of ice. Is the ice magnetic or something and they have magnets in their boots?"[/color]

He then looked around, wondering if there were drink dispensers or something in there. If they were on-base, they were most likely in the mess-hall, but who knows? 

[color=c4df9b]"I think it's interesting how they slide on the ice with thin blades to lessen the area pressure of their feet...uhh, sorry."[/color] Elora noticed that Koehler was looking around. "I can get drinks for us," she said, and stood up. "What do you want to have?"

[color=fff200]"Eh, let's get em together. I want my trademark."[/color], obviously referencing his love of orange juice. After-all, he did fucking love orange juice. Perhaps it was just so he could joke about it, if he ever did.

Elora smiled.[color=8dc73f] "Okay then~!"[/color] Not only was she happy that Koehler was back to being his usual self, but she was also happy that he was still willing to be friends with her despite everything that's happened.

[color=8dc73f]"I think I'll go with this, it looks good,"[/color] Elora pondered as she looked at the selection of drinks, and picked up the strawberry juice. [color=8dc73f]"I remember when we were handed out milk cartons every Friday back in my orphanage; it was the best day of the week."[/color]

Koehler had that sort of mildly horrified look on his face, thinking to himself, 'Damn. Everyone else had it just as rough as I did', most likely.[color=fff200]"Y-yeah."[/color]. He got himself his daily glass and slammed it down before putting it back in the 'used' pile. [color=fff200]"That was the best."[/color]

[color=fff200]"So... I made mods to my 'Werk as you've probably noticed. Wanna check it out later? I kinda wanna hang around in here for a bit first. Get seriously re-acquainted with everyone."[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"Yeah, I think the Lieutenant mentioned about it. You were really serious about it then, huh?"[/color]
[color=fff200]"Yep. Has to be absolutely perfect. Reaching it, not yet there. ...Heheheheh..."[/color], he giggled about its' amusing little addition. Teehee. It was actually just a simple extension of some of the internal systems, but the... well, crotch-region was oddly hilarious. Yet it did look visually interesting to him, Probably because he's still a 16 year old hormonal twit.

[color=fff200]"Well, I'll just wander around and try to talk to everyone. See you around, Elora."[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"Thanks, Koehler. I hope to see you too!"[/color] Elora waved goodbye, and gave the kind of smile that could kill a man with diabetes.