"Claude von Riegan." He takes his hand to shake it, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief. With the way this guy had been ranting on, he was worried for a second there that he'd already gone off the deep end, but it seems like his words have somehow gotten through to him.

"I'm still finding my footing here, same as you, but we'll figure it all out and get through this. Then you'll be back home with your family safe and sound."

He's under no illusion that it'll be difficult, and there will inevitably be losses, but so long as this guy stops talking like he's already one foot in the grave with nothing to offer, they stand that much more of a chance of getting through this with the win.