"Fuck that!" The shrill of Kat's voice startled everyone in the room, not least of all Cecilia, who's face immediately twisted into a cherry-colored knot. 

	"It will become all 'yes sir, no sir!' And we will be fighting some fat asshole politician's personal feuds for him in no time! I signed up to the Panthers! Not the friggin' military!"

	 "If you don't LIKE it, you don't have to STAY!" Cecilia snarled. Richard gave Colonel Leung an uneasy tilt of his eyebrows, mouthing "I'm sorry." The officer, clearly dumbfounded by the sudden hostile environment, nodded and shifted his gaze anywhere but forward.

	"I've [i]had[/i] it with this display of yours since Cradle," the adjutant continued. "I thought you could take care of yourself, but after today's stunt in the slums, I've half a mind to terminate your contract right here and now! What's the matter with you?! You'd better cut the bullshit and start acting like the Panther you [i]so[/i] want to be; I have no problem with replacing you with someone who can handle the work, because evidently, you [i]CAN'T[/i]."  

	No sooner had the words left Cecilia's mouth than she'd realized the gravity of what she'd just said. She took a step back from the table, eyes shifting uncomfortably away from contact with the other Panthers until they settled to the floor.
	
	"Oh gods," she muttered in a barely-audible whisper. "Kat, I'm so sorry..."

	Cecilia took a deep breath, turning to the XCD Colonel. "<[i]Colonel; you have my most sincere apologies. I'm sorry you had to see us this way[/i],>" she said in fluent Xiangese. "<[i]As field commander of the Preying Panthers, I appreciate the generosity of the XCD in this endeavor[/i].>"
	
	Lang's body tingled with embarrassment. Her fury might've been just as unprofessional and misplaced as Kat's, and in front of a representative of her country, even... that's not how she wanted the Panthers to be seen. 

	"<[i]Think nothing of it, Ms. Lang,[/i]>" Colonel Leung responded. "<[i]Every unit has its quirks. I, for one, am impressed with your record; having disciplined these laowai all these years. Allow me to be the first to welcome you home.[/i]>"

	Cecilia stammered, deciding on a polite bow instead of an audible thanks. When she returned to full height, her eyes met Richard's, which were none too happy, but neither were they accusatory. 

	"Now, then. Any further [i]constructive[/i] discussion?" Bentz asked, doing his best to reset the mood.