Walter, too, manages a smile. He breathes deeply, rolls his shoulders back, and with one quick swipe of a sleeve across his cheeks he looks ready to get back into things.

"Thanks," he says, with just a touch of wryness for the audience's benefit.

Out of sight of the webcam, Walter gestures for a piece of paper; he could just turn the mic off, but that might draw questions from his new gaming companions - not to mention any clever-eyed viewers.

"And let's try to avoid the airlocks when possible, hmm?"