Honor will keep her thoughts about machines and worlds being destroyed to herself. They're very reasonable and hopeful thoughts, and don't smack of denial at all...
Billy and Saito's comments about other friends and family being in the pod storage raise some other thoughts.
*Our universes being destroyed...that's absurdity, and I refuse to believe it. But if my friends are in stasis back in that room, mom, dad...Hamish Alexander–er, Admiral White Haven...maybe even Samantha and Nimitz's clan? If they're all in storage, what would that mean for the state of Manticore? No, I can't dwell on what I can't confirm at the moment*.
Then Nimitz does something spontaneous. He crawls over Honor's shoulder and drops gently into Billy's lap. He rubs his head against Billy's chest and 'bleaks' at him softly.
Honor can feel his pain through her bond, the fear for the safety of family and friends and home shared by...by practically everyone here in this room, deep down. Saito Hajime, Billy, herself, and the other people wandering about in the room.
But Nimitz was a practical sort. He knew that sometimes 'two-legs' need a bit of emotional encouragement in order to keep hope and keep going. And sometimes the best form of encouragement is fluffy cuteness.
*You sly devil of a Stinker* Honor thought to herself.
"Is that so?" She finally says out loud as Billy explains possibility of a massive machine. She's just as skeptical as before, but...
She nods. "Well then. If we indeed have an end goal that can lead to victory...the Tradition demands that I do everything I can to fight for it."
She offers a hand up to Billy, if he wishes to take it.
"So as a Naval officer, where would my talents be best suited? Captain Saito's talents lie in the realm of close-quarters combat and criminal justice." She notes, with a gesture to her personal armsmen–er, compatriot.
That's Good, because...
Billy and Saito's comments about other friends and family being in the pod storage raise some other thoughts.
*Our universes being destroyed...that's absurdity, and I refuse to believe it. But if my friends are in stasis back in that room, mom, dad...Hamish Alexander–er, Admiral White Haven...maybe even Samantha and Nimitz's clan? If they're all in storage, what would that mean for the state of Manticore? No, I can't dwell on what I can't confirm at the moment*.
Then Nimitz does something spontaneous. He crawls over Honor's shoulder and drops gently into Billy's lap. He rubs his head against Billy's chest and 'bleaks' at him softly.
Honor can feel his pain through her bond, the fear for the safety of family and friends and home shared by...by practically everyone here in this room, deep down. Saito Hajime, Billy, herself, and the other people wandering about in the room.
But Nimitz was a practical sort. He knew that sometimes 'two-legs' need a bit of emotional encouragement in order to keep hope and keep going. And sometimes the best form of encouragement is fluffy cuteness.
*You sly devil of a Stinker* Honor thought to herself.
"Is that so?" She finally says out loud as Billy explains possibility of a massive machine. She's just as skeptical as before, but...
She nods. "Well then. If we indeed have an end goal that can lead to victory...the Tradition demands that I do everything I can to fight for it."
She offers a hand up to Billy, if he wishes to take it.
"So as a Naval officer, where would my talents be best suited? Captain Saito's talents lie in the realm of close-quarters combat and criminal justice." She notes, with a gesture to her personal armsmen–er, compatriot.