Aw hell... It was bad enough that Luke was going on the way he did, that the man with no tact was either trying to boost morale with Marathon- No, [i]Thomas'[/i] death, or that he was trying to become the unsung and [i]desperately[/i] underappreciated hero to take down Green Fox. It was a completely [i]other[/i] thing for this to start devolving into a fight, but devolve it did. Let's be clear: As soon as Isaac heard Ines talking, he was definitely thinking [color=f7941d][i]'Oh shit...'[/i][/color], but there was also a part of him that said the dressing-down that was taking place was also [i]necessary[/i]. Luke's behavior was [i]wrong[/i], and so was his attitude towards the Darcsens or most anybody that pissed him off. He was a loudmouthed pain in the ass whom you would never admit that he was right about [i]anything[/i] without the word 'Unfortunately' or 'Sadly' or 'begrudgedly'. Isaac really wanted to let this go, but he couldn't. He knew trouble when he saw it. Hell, the [i]wolf[/i] was flattening his ears back now! The Gunner looked over his partner, who was watching this with a little concern, and indicated with his head that they'd better deal with this. They arrived to see Luke flipping out. Seems like Ines touched a nerve. Maybe 'stabbed it' was the better term. So, the two Gunners happened to be part of the group that held the guy back from just completely losing it, with Rikes growling at the guy's flank, swinging at the Darcsen for being completely justified in chewing him out. The way she did it wasn't exactly right either, but you'll notice Isaac did NOT keep her from delivering the tongue-lashing that she did. Luke eventually petered out in his yelling and he could be safely released, having let out in front of god and everybody over his fears, and things he [i]thought[/i] were right. And then, they heard from Diana, who couldn't keep her thoughts bottled in either. Diana was always good for an emotional speech. Her emphasis on family pretty much underlined what was wrong with this situation, right here. Isaac now got in the middle of all this, between Luke and Ines and everyone else packed in here. [color=f7941d]"Somehow, I don't think Luke has the patience to get married, Diana, but I take your point. This needs to stop."[/color] He looked around those who were gathered. [color=f7941d]"This squad IS like a family. It bickers and argues, but it also [i]cares[/i], or at least that's the way it [i]should[/i] go. We're not a bunch of super-tough soldiers who can take on the world. We're just human."[/color] He caught a tilted head look from Rikes. [color=f7941d]"Mostly. The point is that we have to look out for one another. Because, [i]Luke[/i], we don't want to end up shot to hell, alone and afraid-"[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"Isaac, [i]don't.[/i]"[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"-with no one there to pull us out, stop the bleeding, or just [i]anything[/i] that might save them from the cold embrace of death...or not face it without knowing that someone is there or cares that it might happen. We are not leaving people like that, dammit."[/color] Now, Isaac looked directly at Luke. [color=f7941d]"That's how [i]Middleton[/i] works, and I'm not doing it that way. Thomas deserved better."[/color] He looked over at Ines, then. [color=f7941d]"I'd kind of appreciate it if we [i]don't[/i] talk about Jean being a coward like that. We all know that he gets put under alot of pressure that he's forced to deal with and he has about as much experience as the rest of us being in charge, which is to say [i]none[/i], so the fact that he hasn't abandoned us in a fit of madness - considering what he has to deal with, at times - is pretty impressive. Now, how about we break this up, huh?"[/color] That would be the end of Isaac's involvement with this, as he soon walked off to try and get some rest if this was all he had to look forward to until the time of the big assault. Chances are, he and Britta were going to be pushed towards assaulting their base out there, since alot of the rest around here were gonna sapping the tunnels. Britta soon caught up with him, though, starting in his path. [b][color=ed1c24]"That was going a little too far, don't you think?"[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]'What, comparing him to Middleton?"[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"No, the other part..."[/color][/b] Isaac sighed. [color=f7941d]"Sorry, I couldn't... I couldn't stop from saying that. He left Thomas back there, and did he even keep watch for the sake of those whom the world-class sniper hadn't shot yet? No. He left them [i]all[/i], and he came back here to yell about it when his actions about as appealing as a pile of shit. Some people are too much. I'm sorry. I know they don't need reminders of what could happen to any of us. I just don't want this sentiment of leaving people in the lurch to pass. I want to keep us in one piece, Britta."[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"I know you do. Just try and keep being yourself, okay?"[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"I will."[/color] She was going off to make the rounds, see if anybody needed anything at the moment. Isaac was heading off to sleep again, leaving Britta alone for the time being. She knew, of course. It wasn't just Luke, or Jean, or Ines, or Diana, or anyone. They were [i]all[/i] afraid of something, even herself. Even Isaac. She knew what he feared, as well. He had had his moments of flinching in his sleep, and only after that explosion before did she know that what he feared...was to vanished without a trace, engulfed in destruction and rendered [i]no more[/i].