He doesn't think too much on his next move, removing one of her stripes from blocking a pocket in the most straightforward way he can think of, one of his solids following it into the hole. Jim may not be as fond of mindgames and nuance as Samus is, but there's probably something subconscious there, too. Something that could be about misguided fairness, but is more likely related to a willingness to hurt himself if it means taking a step closer to victory.

"I just might," he agrees, glancing back over at her again. "I gotta admit, I wasn't planning on trying to change Federation policy, but I didn't plan on a lot of this either."