<P>"We get up and realize we're still the NSF. We can contact the others. We can put this back together."
<P>
<P>Al buried his head in his hands, curling up against the wall. "And then what?"
<P>
<P>"And then we fight back, people. We do what we've been doing from the-"
<P>
<P>"Dammit, Dom, we're civilians," Mitch remarked in an uncomfortable tone. "Look at us, we're not the military, we're not even trained. We're civilians, doing what we can to make a difference."
<P>
<P>"Right, and then someone gets killed, and you all suddenly want to back out?"
<P>
<P>"Yes!" Al shouted. "We're not in this to get slaughtered!"
<P>
<P>Dom stared at him. "So then you expect to make a difference by sitting in an empty room, eating shit, basking in your own self-pity."
<P>
<P>Everyone was quiet. Jake, off in a corner, buried in shadow, shook his head. Sandra rested her head on his shoulder.
<P>
<P>There was a very long, very uncomfortable pause. Nobody wanted to say anything any more. Nobody knew what to say.
<P>
<P>Brian shuffled over, pointing to the container on the table. "You gunna eat that?"
<P>
<P>Dom ignored him. "Look, I know the commander told you to put your trust in me, and I know how hard it is to trust someone you don't even know. But John and I knew each other since the beginning. He trusted me. I'm not asking you to blindly trust me now. I just want you to put a little faith in me. We'll contact whatever of the NSF is left out there. And you're right, we're civilians. But we're not making a difference here. You can't expect to make a difference or fight for a cause without fighting. And I'm sorry if none of you are willing to do that."