Octavia shouldered her lascarbine and looked at the rather grandiose procession of Guardsmen that had suddenly entered the makeshift battlefield. She silently scanned each uniform and matched it to a name she recognised. There were Cadians, Elysians, even some Kriegers, and Steel Legion. The former guardswoman felt a pang of shame and jealousy upon laying eyes on their greatcoats and respirators. That should be her. She should be among them. Of course she didn't let it show on her face. She merely stared impassively as more men poured into the room. Finally the stream of soldiers stopped and formed themselves around the 'victors' of the skirmish. A few prisoners didn't quite understand what was going on and ended up paying the price. A wet smack caused Octavia to look over. It was Phrike, the prison doctor, his skull caved in from a power maul. Unfortunate. He could have been useful. She only prayed that the Emperor forgave whatever sin had him locked up in the first place. 

The penal legionnaire looked over at the rest of her 'squad' to make sure they were not getting themselves into trouble. A few of them looked particularly uneasy. Gate seemed quite excited all things considered. The PDF Sergeant, Tigranes seemed slightly on edge. She understood his concern. Executions were not so uncommon at gatherings such as these. Nonetheless there wasn't anything they could do about it now. Their lives were in the Emperor's hands now more than ever. 

A throng of officers made themselves visible, inquiring about Eighth Squad in particular. Curious. They hadn't won had they? Merely survived. The Colonel (as Octavia noted by his insignia) began to speak. 

“Eighth squad! My name is Colonel Harvar of the Cadian Seventy-Fifth. You have all proved yourself today, along with those other squads who competed here before you, and those that shall after. I would be most grateful to speak with the leader – or the person in command - of your squad, are they present?”

Octavia considered for a moment. There wasn't a true chain of command, though she supposed she WAS the de facto leader of Eighth Squad, especially after what had happened not mere minutes before. However, she was mute so perhaps she would be passed over for command on account of being unable to vocalise orders. Of course, Tigranes had other plans.

"Your Excellency, that would be Octavia. She was the one that took the bunker for us and led the counter-attack to drive off the other con- the enemy. Granted, her disability is a negative, but I figure that even with that there isn't anyone else with as much experience and training, she being former Guard and all, Your Excellency."

He pointed to Octavia and she stepped forward and saluted. When he mentioned her disability, the mute pointed to the scar across her neck, hoping that it got the point across. Octavia allowed herself to hope for a moment. Perhaps if they put her in charge they'd give her voice back. It couldn't be that big of an operation. Maybe a few medicae and a day or two in the medbay... She forced the thoughts away. It was a nice daydream but in reality she didn't even know what she'd do if she got her voice back. Octavia forced herself back into the here and now and warily eyed the Colonel for his next set of orders.