Steve hitches one shoulder. "I don't know. I still hate so much about this place, Lark." That hasn't changed. "I'm not just going to fucking fall in line."

Not that he thinks Lark, of all people, would expect him to. But maybe it's more that - "The Admiral has to know that."

So maybe it's more that he wants to stay with his people - and knows that he can't just conform to do it. Which means he might lose them. Probably will. That's how it works.