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[ That's... an interesting way of putting it, and she tips her head slightly, shifting her weight as if trying to pick up more from Nathan. If there was ever a moment to devote all of her attention onto him, it would be now, moving just enough so that she's not cloying or overwhelming, but attentive. This could be incredibly useful in more ways than one, or it could simply add that much more padding to their 'relationship'

Well intentioned and invested, but sensitively caring, Lauren let's a touch too much worry carry from expression to words. ]

Nathan? What do you mean? [ She would have removed her hand, but instead she holds firm, not even tugging so much as gently refusing to let go. He brought it up; he has to talk about it now, and she's right here. All for him. ] What details?

[ He stands for a moment - just stands, staring down at a spot on the floor - and then he gently tosses down the piece of metal he's holding, and catches Lauren's elbows. Standing there like that he just looks at her quietly, and then he drops his head against hers for a moment, trying to find the right words to explain it.

A moment later he begins, but he's leaning back again by then, looking into her eyes. ]

I haven't talked about this outside of the department, but we've been working on external communications. We've been using a SOS to test it, but we didn't think it was ready. We didn't think it was anywhere near working.

But it must have, and just by chance, our friends out there picked up the signal. This is our fault, Lauren.

[ Lauren isn't entirely sure if he's about to get tremendously upset or sink into pure neediness, but she hardly cares which way it's going to go, she just would like to know. She's not left waiting too terribly long, as even that seems to sort itself out only after a few moments of tension, Nathan leaning against her before softly pulling back. It's obvious this is eating at him, and if she can be the one he tells, he won't feel the need to divulge to anyone else. It can be their secret, her means of being his support, and...

Oh. That's certainly interesting. ]

Nathan... [ Her tone is soft and she leans forward just enough, despite the fact that he's still look at her -- a good sign, really. But she intends to be that much more persistent, moving in closer and settling a hand at his side, all easy, comforting touches. ] Nathan, you were trying to help. It's not as if you asked them to come tear through our new home.

And that's only if they did truly find our location because of it. And even then, Nathan- [ She gives his shirt a gentle tug, persistent, needing him to listen. ] - You didn't ask for this. It doesn't help anything to spend time blaming yourself. Blaming your department for the work you've put in.

[ Nathan shakes his head, but the truth is that he's already struggling with what to do. Does he organise that his department buttons their lips and lies? They could say the pirates made it up. Or he could take responsibility and insist that they couldn't take him from his position because he was the only one who knew how to do it--that probably wasn't true.

But if he was driven out of Comms, then what the hell was he going to do about it? Become a full time pastor? Teacher? Comms was his baby. It worked, now, it was even respected in some small way, even if Miles and Tyke didn't consider protecting it a priority. They could go right to hell. He'd like to see how they handled not having a network at all. At least now they could still communicate, even if it was without their precious encryptions.

Lauren was trying to get his attention, so he looked down at her, still feeling spiteful like he might just pull the power out and watch them flail. ]

If I don't blame myself, I won't be prepared for when they start pointing fingers. I won't make my people liars for me.

[ And it won't stay secret. This is what Lauren is here for; she's here to be at the front line, and this is the front row seat sure enough. ]

[ Lauren shouldn't have been quite so eager to keep Nathan from spearing himself on his own honest agenda, however she didn't want him ending his own 'career' quite so quickly, either. Either at his own hands or anyone else's. Even if Comm's had something to do with what was going on, there were any number of ways to deal about it while keeping Nathan on the upper tier of the ship's flow of information.

As long as she didn't have to become his PR agent. Because that-- that would never happen. ]

I'm not saying to lie about it, i'm merely reminding you to see it from a perspective that's not quite as... self deprecating. [ Not that he was being tremendously so, but she could still coddle, giving him a nearly stern, but comforting look. ] Though I understand the need to be diplomatic. But If you start off telling people that it was your fault, you know as well as I do that's the only way they'll see it.

Say that you've managed to make something work, yet it didn't go quite according to plan. You managed to send something out there, Nathan, you couldn't have known what would end up reaching back.

It's your fault, yes, but it still might help us get back home. [ She could be encouraging, see, she just has to push it a little. ]

[ Nathan was quick realising how fortunate he was to have Lauren's council. He hadn't expected it at first, but his confidence in her background had shone through, and so had she. She was competent, and she knew good spin, as good as being PR without actually being it. No, Nathan wouldn't want her going out and painting his name on her lips and praising the ground he walked on, but that had never been the point in his relationships. He hated that. Tracey had proven it to him.

No, he didn't want a PR agent, he wanted a woman who would support him, listen to him and offer her words, but be prepared to let him take action himself. An independent streak was completely undesirable beyond that.

He dropped his eyes, smiled firmly, and showed Lauren that he wasn't afraid, let her see that she'd reassured him, and tried to instil some of his own confidence back. He wanted a follower, not a leader. He squeezed her arms gently, where he held them, taking that lead, reassuring her back. ]

You're right. [ He hardens. ] That's why we have to find their ship first. If we can get that ship, then I was the one who made it possible.

I can't do that if they take Comms.

[ It wasn't as if she believed he was afraid -- inside or outside of her own lies. She didn't have to pretend every single emotion to put across, but her reaction to the fear was what became dishonest. Lauren, truly, thought it was somewhere between amusing and pitiful, but the woman she was supposed to be, the woman that would be perfect for Nathan, would find it admirable. Safe. Comforting. She'd look up to it, be doe-eyed and alluring and yet proud. Pleased that he was the one that could be strong enough to put forth the decisions that needed to be made.

Dominant where she couldn't be.

Comical, really. But she looked up at him, her chin tipped up just enough, offering up the smallest of smiles. She was still supposed to be nervous after all, unsure of just enough, already prepared to wrap her arms around herself if she had to take a step back. She knew what she was doing and she could hold her own, yes, but still-- there were pirates on board. ]

I take it you'll be staying here, defending your troops?

[ In a few days he'll change his tune. In a few days, Lauren will see him move from defensive about his own faults to aggressive about the flaws of others, building them up so that in a heartbeat he can bring them down with him. She'll see him suffer, yes, but come out stronger for it, see him exercise political muscles to win favor in the places it's denied him, taking tea with the enemy, visiting those who he's always had a wary relationship before--

This is how an empire is built. ]

Someone has to. Security can't spare the people, so we'll do it ourselves.

You'd be welcome to stay. At some point this place is going to have to be locked down tight to keep everyone safe.

[ And what he doesn't say: Locked even against friends. ]

I might have to leave at some point.

[ She offers a sad, apologetic smile, as if she'd love to stay despite the fact that there might be other affairs she's meant to take care of. She'd stay and watch Nathan's diplomatic reign come to fruition, just so she can burn with the feeling of it, racing through her blood, as if the powerhouse of a man she's chosen is exactly what she needs. As if watching might spread her open for Nathan to take, just that easily.

And it's meant to be -- meant to show exactly that. That's entirely the point, even if in the back of her mind, what she's witnessing is as humorous as a man convinced he's worth his weight in gold when he's nothing but hot air. ]

But I know it'll be kept in good hands, and I promise I won't be out looking for trouble. I simply want to make sure the rest of the ship is being kept under protective detail, as much as possible.