Benson sat through his XO's rather unprofessional lecture of how he needed to be combat ready and all that, entirely unfazed. And, he took it to heart, he knew that he needed to be combat ready, but it seemed that this lady had it out for him. So he gave a salute, nodded his agreement at all her points, maybe a little too innocently and agreeable for what was supposed to be a scathing response, and replied amiably enough.

"Yes ma'am, you make good points! Except I'm not saying front lines as in the literal front lines, I'm just saying front lines as in the actual battlefield, regardless of where I'm supposed to be. I'm not saying I can't fight, I'm just saying that I am more enthusiastic and, as said, I am hired for other reasons. And while I am not amazing with a FRAME, I do indeed know how to use them. And I'm not saying I'm going to be in control, either. If everyone can focus on their piece of the battle, and get updates as needed concerning them, without having to listen to the chatter about [i]everything[/i], it makes it easier for a pilot. Calling down airstrikes on command without the ones in the thick of it gives those that are in the thick of it more focus on the battle, without worrying about exactly where the rounds will hit, while I can make sure they aren't hit by friendly fire. I never said nothin about giving orders, just relaying them. A messenger, the map, the advisor that can still participate in the battle."

He gave a small smile, and nodded his head respectfully to his XO. Then he saluted his CO, still oddly military-like in the mercenary outfit, and gave a small wave goodbye, as he turned and strode after the rest of the team.

And inside, he felt like he just wrestled a rattlesnake, and was sure that he'd find that he'd been bitten.

He pushed it out of his mind- his quick retreat meant only to force her to either follow him- which would degrade her, to have to chase after a newbie- or to sit and think about what he said. She shouldn't have gone off on him, he believed, he wasn't and shouldn't have to be super precise with his wording to get his point across.

He sighed, as he approached his FRAME- he was quite sure he had made an enemy.