On the rocks (Pregame 2 LE Officer's Lounge)

[Richard Winter]

...

A piece of ice clinked around in the glass as Richard took another sip.

[Eric Voelker]

"80% losses is catastrophic. I know exactly the type. That's the main reason I left the AFFC."

He shook his head at the offer of cigarettes. "I stopped when my daughter was born. The first year was rough, but I felt much better for it. Thanks all the same."

The CO listened as the Richard went more in depth. "Those industrial mechs can be nasty in close quarters." He swirled his glass. Lifting it to his lips, he tasted the smooth scotch and enjoyed the warming bite after. "Kelenfold was a mess."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus shakes his head. "Lyran politics. In strategic , we attempted to idiot proof plans. And then, I learned"

Klaus pulls off his eye patch. The socket is heavily scared at the edges, before an empty void looms. He pulls off his gloves, the palms calloused and red from burned flesh turned hard.

"There is no such thing as "idiot proof""

[Richard Winter]

"Yeah," he said thoughtfully.

He was silent for a bit before raising his voice again.

"And that's why smart people create their own little kingdom to fulfill their dreams" he said cheerfully to lighten the mood.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus chuckles and looks over at Voelker.

"I don't suppose a plot of land and title on planet are out of the question as bonuses in lieu of CBills?"

[Eric Voelker]

"Until it collapses..." He leaned back in his chair with a sharp laugh. "Although being a tyrant ruler of some deep periphery planet was a fantasy of teenage Eric."

He shakes his head with mirth at Klaus' question. "FedCom are paying well, but not that well. I sure as heck don't have any spare planet or even planetary titles lying around. Tough luck."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus offers a theatric sigh, tying his eye patch back on. "The curse of the younger Von. A name and a legacy to live up to, but not a thin red dime to help you do it. So, you go to the one route that could win them. I'd have had better luck at the blackjack table"

[Richard Winter]

"Maybe one day we'll come across a habitable planet in the periphery that no one has wanted before and we can start our own kingdom" he said with amusement until he suddenly pulled out a notepad from one of his pockets and jotted down the idea.
"I'm sure this could make a good series" he muttered.

[Eric Voelker]

"That was months ago Klaus."

Eric was bemused. He was further bemused when Richard starting jotting something down.

"I swear..." this outfit gets weirder each year. He didn't say it out loud. He just finished his whiskey.

[Richard Winter]

...

Richard looked to Eric "Oh, um, sorry. I'm uhhh working on something" he replied, wondering if it was strange to suddenly write down comic ideas.

...

"You play cards?" he asked "I play a little poker..." Not that I'm particularly good, he thought. "Maybe we can organize an officer's round sometime?"

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"If you don't mind me with your paycheck" Klaus smiles.

[Eric Voelker]

"As long as there's a reasonable limit. I don't want anyone falling into debt." Eric chimes in. "I'd play a few hands if the time is good."

[Richard Winter]

"Well, there will probably be a bet or two, but I hope no one is planning to gamble away their savings.... but if someone bets his mech I can't guarantee anything".

[Eric Voelker]

"It won't be mine, but... yeeeah. I'd probably be tempted if there was a mech involved."

He gently tapped his glass on the table.

"Unless it was a Charger."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"I am sure that favors would be easily traded: first pick of salvage, patrol duty." Klaus sips his drink. "I believe that gambling an entire mech would be quite above my pay grade."

[Richard Winter]

Richard laughed as Eric brought the Charger into play, "What's so wrong with 80 tons of laser show. Seems like the perfect mech to finally open up a mobile bar." Turning to Klaus he said, "I don't think anyone here makes enough to gamble with a mech for a while, but" he shrugged, "you never know."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"If one of you knows a way to earn a Lyran barony, speak up now" Klaus replies drily. "I don't know which would be cheaper"

[Eric Voelker]

"Most of the bonuses I got went into my Battlemaster upgrade. I'll sell it one day if my daughter doesn't want to take it." He finished his drink and clapped his lips together. "It might be better if she didn't. Too many close shaves." The scars on his face were proof of that.

"A Lyran barony sounds nice as a retirement."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"Or a start. It might open some doors for juicy contracts."

[Richard Winter]

"I don't know, isn't it called noblesse oblige? No offense Klaus, but I would worry too much about which noble is after my barony".