[center][color=a36209][h2]She's Right, You Know, Father Joan![/h2][/color][/center]

Joan exhaled and nodded once, keeping her head bowed as her breathing continued to steady. Her job, she knew, was done; all the OSDT pilots had either remained by their HFVs or gone off to various debriefs, and her fellow Paper Tiger pilots would no doubt wish to remain with their prototypes and talk shop with the mechanics. Joan knew she should be among them - or, at least, detail her experiences with Judah to her own crew chief - but right now, revisiting the events of the last few minutes...

It seemed an insurmountable chore.

Until someone came to her for guidance, some rest and contemplation of her own seemed like the best course of action.

[color=a36209]"Fair point. I'll be in the room,"[/color] Joan agreed, lifting up her head again and drawing herself to her full height. [color=a36209]"Try not to work too hard. And watch your tools more carefully, you little klutz. That little nose of yours isn't built to withstand many wrenches."[/color]

A quiet beat before Joan stopped fixing Sasha's hair, long fingers stroking the blonde ponytail one last time before dropping to her sides.

[color=a36209]"My...my thanks, Sasha."[/color]