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

[GM Yuusha]

(Open to the first 2 PCs to join. Please note you need to be rank 2.5 or greater to enter the Officer's Lounge)

"Thanks Steffen."

Eric lifted his glass to salute the Staff Sergeant who had just topped up his whiskey. The big man smiled and winked at him as he put the bottle back.


"I'm going to call it a night boss. Have a good one."

The Major smiled back and waved the NCO out. The sturdy door shut behind the sergeant with a loud click. Eric leaned forward and had a sip more scotch. His daughter was being babysat by Monique tonight, so he could enjoy a few drinks.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus doesn't make much noise, continuing to sip a brandy. His noteputer is diagonal to him, screen casting a blueish glow onto his features. He does not seem to realize that the bar is being shut down.

[Eric Voelker]

The Major wasn't about to tell him. He couldn't mind read. Instead he quietly enjoyed his whiskey, his mind wandering.

[Richard Winter]

Nearby sat another Lyran with wiskey and a cigarette and an Old, but surprisingly well preserved comic book. "The last bit of peace before the storm" he muttered more to himself than to anyone else.

[GM Yuusha]

(Thread is full)

With nobody saying anything the Officers' Lounge was peaceful and incredibly relaxed.



A lot of work had gone into creating a space with just the right ambience.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Nearby sat another Lyran with wiskey and a cigarette and an Old, but surprisingly well preserved comic book. "The last bit of peace before the storm" he muttered more to himself than to anyone else.

Klaus sniffs, as if he's realized something.

"The advent of calculated cruelty is upon us" he nods and motions to the glass. "Is that 30 year?"

[Richard Winter]

Nearby sat another Lyran with wiskey and a cigarette and an Old, but surprisingly well preserved comic book. "The last bit of peace before the storm" he muttered more to himself than to anyone else.

Klaus sniffs, as if he's realized something.

"The advent of calculated cruelty is upon us" he nods and motions to the glass. "Is that 30 year?"

Richard tore his concentration away from his book and looked over at Klaus.
(German)"Maybe, to be honest, I haven't looked at the bottle, but it's a noble drop."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

(German for all dialogue)"If only Nobles could make a drop taste so good." Klaus jokes raising a hand for the staff sergeant only the realize that the man has left. Instead, Klaus slides over the bar for a bottle of the stuff.

"I still get them right before. It's hardly my first time, but the thoughts, the energy...it doesn't stop, even with a few glasses"

[Richard Winter]

"Well, we're relying on you and the other strategists" Richard stood up, picked up his glass, read his comic lying down and walked over to the bar. "As long as we work together, this should all be a breeze, I hope."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"I never assume it will be a breeze." Klaus pours out the fine Lyran whisky into a pair of glasses, lifting one in a salute and raising one to his lips. "But I have to say...I've been teasing out the contract details and particulars, along with the sketch of what we are supposed to encounter. Considering what we are being asked to do as our strategic objectives, I see multiple paths to success. We could not win a single decisive engagement, hold no ground, and still fulfill our overall objectives." He takes a large gulp. "Obviously, I want a good bit more than that. I good deal of extra margins will be aided by salvage. But I like the way that our strengths match up against the opponent's weaknesses, and what we are being asked to do exploits that.

"The militia outnumbers us, but their strategic objective is defense: to keep the industrial base and tourism flowing as usual. Stopping it would destroy the continent's economy. In contrast, our strategic objective is to keep them busy. So long as they are unable to reinforce the rest of the planet, we meet our end goal. We can choose when and where to strike, are able to remain mobile for the length of the contract, and are in better position to dictates terms."

Klaus pauses. "My apologies, I can drone on about it"

[Richard Winter]

"Don't apologize, I'm trying to work out the basics of the strategy. After all, I should probably have a basic understanding if I'm expected to lead a company."

Richard took a sip from his glass.

"Especially because we are the scouts. Without Intel, every operation is difficult, isn't it?"

[Eric Voelker]

"Glad you like it. I picked up a few bottles on a whim." (German unless stated otherwise)

Eric was looking up and following the conversation.

"Do keep going Klaus. Just thinking about some contingencies is advantageous. Like any operation, we're only going to know the truth when reality appears to try punching us in the face."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"Glad you like it. I picked up a few bottles on a whim." (German unless stated otherwise)

Eric was looking up and following the conversation.

"Do keep going Klaus. Just thinking about some contingencies is advantageous. Like any operation, we're only going to know the truth when reality appears to try punching us in the face."

Klaus continues in German. "Yes sir. I know what you mean." He takes a dram from the glass.

"I used to think in elegant term. In elaborate chess matches. And then I learned that the lowliest pawn can choose to defy explanation. So now, I don't make plans that Iament throwing out. "

He inclines his head to Richard. "Our Scouting division is going to see heavy requests from me on detail of what they find. I would like all lances to have field relays, I have one of my own to lend out. The sooner he have reconnaissance, I know which ideas to chuck out. Ideally, I'd like to see a few areas we could strike at to disrupt communications or establish as a forward operating base. But we really aren't going to know before touchdown"

[Eric Voelker]

"Agreed. The AFFC don't have much intel on anything except the mainland. That's their focus. All the rare metals in the mines. We'll know before touchdown at least. We'll be doing orbital scans." He stroked his chin. "It'd be good to have more field relays if you're doing that. We won't have access to satellite communications after all. Do we have any in storage?"

The answer was no.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus shook his head. "I did inventory when we first took off. I have the one from my personal funds, but none that we brought with us. I think it's something worth investing in. Getting our communications logistics set up is going to be a pet project of mine when we arrive. Fixer and Foraker are going to be tasked with kitbashing us something to use, and I hope to cannibalize or seize what we can at the first raids. But as they say...hope is not a strategy."

[Richard Winter]

"Then we'll just have to make the best of what we have," Richard concluded. "Csesztreg is a colder planet, isn't it?" he asked.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"Not so much that it scares away tourists or fisherman. So perhaps not comfortable, but without operational concerns I believe"

[Richard Winter]

"Too bad, makes it hard to use my flamethrowers properly, if it had been a warm or hot planet we could have grilled the enemy mechs better."

[Eric Voelker]

"Colder than Terra, but not too cold. I imagine mechs will be operating at a slight advantage in terms of cooling when we land. Not sure how long it'll last. Average equatorial temperature is 16 or 17 degrees Celsius. More in summer, less in winter. It's wrap up warm weather in spring, but not arctic. A little hot soup and thick socks should keep everyone toasty. As the weeks go by, well, who knows."

He laughed suddenly.

"I'd have preferred a tropical resort, but that would be tempting fate!" He chuckled a bit more. A bit of whiskey helped him move past the amusing what-if. "What planet have you visited and really liked Richard? I don't know enough about where you've operated."

[Richard Winter]

"After basic training in the AFFC on Hesperus, I was assigned to a scouting unit that was sent on patrol along the Free World League border. Other than a few small skirmishes with pirates, nothing really exciting happened, but I did see Solaris. After that we were transferred to Campertown and fought in some border skirmishes with Cappelans. Officially, of course, they were all mercenaries or pirates. There we lost about 80% of our unit because of our "great" general, that was pretty nasty. We scouts got it pretty good since we were mostly out of the line of fire, but the rest of the troops got beat up pretty bad." he took a big sip of Whiskey and lit another cigarette, he made a gesture with the pack to offer it to the others.

"The worst part was that our general was promoted for the mission and his replacement was his third cousin. That's when I knew I had to leave the outfit. Made my way from my pay to Galatea and hired on with the Knights. In the three years we took on a few patrols and garrison duties within the Commonwealth. Once we even put down a strike, was pretty bloody too, I never thought an Agromech could tear a Locust apart, but the farmers were pretty hardcore,.... Well, and then came Kelenfold. "