Sarge began casually explaining the sequence of events from which the battle took place.

"With some guidance from that old Freelancer AI, we went on up to the mantis control room, and deactivated them, but we got pinned in the room by a few squads of soldiers. Then, BOOM! Church found Meta's armor in the systems computer and whatnot, Tucker put it on, and we had ourselves a fight."

Caboose had broken away from Donut, and walked forward, making his way out of the door as the others had while Sarge was explaining. Gradually, Sarge's long-winded explanation became background noise to the blue soldier, as he shifted his weight forward step by step until his path to the Pelican was cut short by Lieutenant Andersmith, who stood in perfect salute of his captain.

"Hello, Sir! Quite a successful victory wouldn't you say?"

Caboose returned Andersmith's cheerful greeting with a sniffling hug. A reaction the Lieutenant was not prepared for, as Andersmith staggered backward slightly before regaining his composure and returning the sign of affection, breaking his usual military etiquette.

"Sir, are you alright?"

Caboose peeled himself from the soldier, and began his trek towards Tucker, leaving Andersmith standing stunned at the sign of affection he had just received. Tucker was sat very uncomfortably on a crate underneath the Pelican's wing, his back shielded from the rest of the group by the airships body. With his helmet buried in his hands, Tucker looked to be shuddering from a distance, but as Caboose got closer, he heard sobbing and understood. Caboose sat next to him, and looked to him solemnly, gently patting him on the back before pulling him into a loose friendly embrace.

"Sarge, slow down, where's Church? " Wash had been forced to cut off Sarge's dramatic rendition of the battle by his need for clarity, "Let us talk to him."

Sarge looked awkwardly at Simmons.

"You um-" Simmons winced as Doc pulled the gauze tightly around his shoulder, "You should talk to Tucker."

Carolina could tell that something was off. This wasn't like them. They should be cheering and laughing, giving each other shit, comparing injuries. They all survived. Why weren't they being the guys?

"Fine." Carolina began stomping off but turned back as Wash began following her. "Wash, you stay here, I'm going to check with Tucker and Caboose."

"You got it. Let me see what I can pull from this terminal, I might need some mechanical help from-" Wash stopped talking and looked around quizzically, "Hey, wait, where's Lopez?"

"He's busy keeping our very good friend Mr. Hargrove company. That boy knows how to keep a man tied down! I had him built just for that purpose! That way, I could have Grif tied up for target practice anytime I want to! Eheh!" Sarge slapped Grif hard on the shoulder, sending him tumbling toward the doorframe.

Grif caught himself, but immediately clenched his right hand over his forearm and turned to Sarge "Could you not, jackass?!"

"Oh quit your complaining."

Wash gestured for Doc to tend to Grif now that he had finished up with Simmons. "Wait, why is Tucker wearing Meta's armor?"

Simmons shuffled out of the door, and the rest spilled out with him. They all settled in to recover. Sarge stood leaning against the wall of the tower, watching Doc carefully tend to Grif, who was sitting comfortably on a water crate. Simmons hobbled past Washington, who stood in the center of it all and sat next to Donut on a torn pelican wing opposite the others.

"I don't really know. Church said it was the 'last piece', and it sure as hell came in handy. It was pulling bubble shields, going invisible. If I'm correct, the experimental versions of Freelancer tech Church and Carolina were using on her suit, must've all been on that model."

"It was damn near unstoppable," Grif spoke in an effort to distract himself from Doc sewing up his forearm. "Bouncing bullets and shit."

"So that's how you guys were able to take on the entire crew by yourselves. Meta's armor was your secret weapon."

Donut perked up. "Oh please, I've taken on an entire crew before!"

"The suit definitely helped us get out of the control room, but we probably wouldn't have been able to make it out of there alive without Freckles and all of us fighting, and the help of my trusty shotgun."

Simmon's nodded in agreeance with Sarge, and looked down slowly, a realization washing over him. "The suit is useless now though, without an AI to run it."

Grif felt similar anguish wane his smile. "Yeah…"

The air stood still for a moment, all that could be heard was the wind of the upper atmosphere whipping the soldier's armor and Doc humming to himself as he tended Grif. Wash raised his head, realizing what had just been said. Wash turned sharply and looked at Simmons, speaking carefully, trying to mask the tremor of fear in his voice.

"What do you mean 'without an AI'?"