With patrol over and a good day's rest had, Victor strolled into an empty Wellington. He brewed himself a coffee and wandered over to the bookcase, selecting 'The Military Histories of Terra' a moden interpretation of Ancient Earth tactics. His coffee done he sat down by the window, rain pelted the glass and the city was mostly hidden by the steam caused by the seemingly eternal shower.
Arthur walked in, tired and his uniform wrecked. He noticed Victor. He walked towards the alcove where he was sitting.
"Lieutenant Commander Steiner! Oi! Good fighting back there ol' boy! Are you alright?" he asked, out of breath.
Victor Looked up from his book, slightly startled, before realizing who it was.
''Commander Cuttingham, what a pleasure'' he said with a smile and extending a hand.''Pray tell, why do you look so ragged?''
Arthur took his hand. "At ease."
He straightened his uniform again, and spoke.
"Well, I was just in a scuffle by the Dublin Jumpgate in New London. Nasty little buggers, those Corsairs. He blew himself up with his own mine! Ha!"
A man in a tidy uniform entered the room, his short hair parted perfectly clean. Only his face disturbed the image of a poster soldier. The pouches under his eyes made him look like he did not sleep in days, as did his shuffling walk to the nearest armchair in wich he fell as soon as he reached it.
He darted a short look at the man behind the bar who promptly brought him an ale. They exchanged a few words after wich the barman left him alone.
This really had not been Grahams day, he had to do a double shift and needed to get back on his feet before doing anything else.
Noa reached the place surprisingly fast, and had only to raise his hand using his Captain card to enter the door. He shortly thought of what he'll find inside. Maybe drunken young Lieutennants drinking black tea? Strippers perhaps having fun with our man?
None of these.
Graham being heartbroken - or that's what he seemed from Noa's sight- , a couple of 'gents, in the name of Arthur and Victor Steiner talking about some kind of nonsense adventures halfway imagined halfway happened , and the barman looking on his own washing some cups.
Noa walks towards the bar and asks the barman for a cup of burning peach tea.
He recives laughts from behind, and a negation sentence from the barman.
Noa asks for black tea instead. The barman, used to this situations, serves Noa with a shot of Gin, adressing a mid-fake smile to the officer.
He turns his back to the barman, now pointing his steps to the three officers.
''So i heard, probably some sort of ritual suicide, prevent capture by the enemy or somthing like that'' Victor said.
No sooner had he spoken did another man walk through the door, A commander, judging by his cleanly pressed uniform which did little to hide the exhusted expression he wore on his face. Victor observed another man entering soon after the first, who, unlike the first, wore the rank of Captain and had the look of a man who was expecting something more.
The commander had taken up residence in an armchair close to the door while the Captain had strolled over to the Bar after being served what appeared to be Gin. Victor turned his attention back to Cuttingham, ''A drink sir? teas perhaps?'' and he motioned toward the bar.
"Oh, Mr. Arthur and Mr. Victor. You're both in my division, aren't you? "
"I remember flying alongside both of you out there" lights a cigarrette.
"Do you smoke?" Asks at the time he hides the lighter on his leather jacket.
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