[quote=@Pilatus]"[color=magenta]Yes, Colonel?[/color]"[/quote]

[color=Olive]"Two things,"[/color] he said in a businesslike manner. [color=Olive]"First, reminding me about the additional cover the weather will provide us. That was a good call. Out of turn, perhaps, but a good call."[/color]

While the Colonel had chided himself for letting his prejudice against the Combine get the better of him before, he still found himself uncomfortable around Wyatt. He had the same difficulty around Doctor Nakajima, and Yuri had been with the Green Knights since the Restoration War. He treated both of them with professional courtesy and respect-- or at least, he tried to-- but could never quite bring himself to open up to anyone born under House Kurita as a friend or a confidant.

Still, while Gaius had always had issues warming up to Reya and Yuri, Captain Roth certainly hadn't. In fact, the way that Reya had subtly brought up his oversight, reminding him of critical information without causing him to lose face in front of the Knights, was just the sort of thing Sally would do during a briefing. Her influence must have rubbed off on Wyatt a bit.

He found himself thinking about Sally for a moment, wondering how she was holding up and praying to the gods of space that she was all right....then turned his attention back to business.

[color=Olive]"Second,"[/color] he said, [color=Olive]"the mission could use an expert's judgment when securing the ammunition. We need to make sure the ammo is compatible with our weapon systems: Armstrong 80mm for the Shadow Hawk and 200mm for the Von Luckner, Doombud LRMs for the Archer. The Raven needs Harpoon SRMs and the Ostroc takes Totschlagens, but in a pinch it can fit Holly SRMs like the Shad--....but, then, you already know all that."[/color]

He didn't make eye contact with Wyatt, staring instead off to the motor pool, where Sol was directing the last bit of work on the APCs to get them ready for tomorrow morning's excursion.

[color=Olive]"I will not ask you to put yourself into active combat,"[/color] he said. [color=Olive]"I will not think less of you if you do not go along with the volunteers. I will ask, though, at the very least, that you make sure the volunteers who are going know what to look for. If they come back with nothing but Imperator Smoothie rounds or Harvester 2s or some other ammo we can't use, then they'll have put themselves in danger for nothing. Make sure they get us what we need to do our job. I trust your judgment on that."[/color]

Before Reya could respond, Colonel Wayne turned and headed towards the Mobile HQ to make his own last preparations.

[color=Olive]"As you were, Wyatt."[/color]