Fantasia

[Eppy]

Madam Garriot's Pub and Fine Dining, Waterloo, November 16th, 754 A.S.

Halsey was rather surprised to see two of his old students when he got to Madam Garriot's; Captains Jason Starkey and Edmund Cromwell were conversing at the bar over cocktails (men in uniform ate free at Garriot's), so he flagged them over and they sat in the back, one of the five-man tables reserved for the military. Halsey flagged a busty blond waittress.

"We've got two more coming, my dear, a tall Dublin man and a shorter, plainer one; point them back here, if you will, and bring me a gin and tonic."

"Tha'll be all, mi'lord?" she smiled to his curt nod and twirled, copius bust bouncing as she began moving forward; the three men watched with mild interest for a few moments, then turned back to each other.

"So, Jason, how are things these days on the Dauntless? I hear you got a new Helmsman. Thank you, my dear," Halsey peered upwards and smiled slightly at the Cockney girl as his drink came to a rest on the hardwood.

"He's fairly good, I suppose, hasn't run us into anything yet, but he hasn't gotten the hang of balancing the coolant pressures just yet. Not that I blame him, everybody knows the old girl's got horrid engines, and I imagine he'll learn fast enough. All the same, I miss Dana, he could turn her on a dime and replace all the fluid seals himself if need be." Starkey sighed, taking a sip from his drink; he was a talker. "So, how's business on the Norfolk, chief?"

Halsey smiled and shifted backwards in his chair, creaking slightly as he did; he thought for a moment before tilting some of the GT between his lips and speaking.

"I suppose it could be described as malase; the lady runs quite well whenever she needs to and beyond hunting the occasional Molly she doesn't see much action. Things are nothing particularly special at all, which is, I suppose, how things should be. Still, I miss the Gunboats and hunting pirates. This administration deal is slow, slow work. Still, it's more appropriate for a man of my age and back strength...what about you, Edmund, I hear the Repulse is doing exceptionally these days."

Cromwell adjusted his coat lapels and set his drink down. "She's in fine shape. The crew performs marvelously, we've taken the slot of second-most efficient ship in the fleet, and we recently recieved an entire ship's worth of brand new automatic tea kettles with 600 preprogrammed flavors."

"You're joking! Halsey frowned; he hadn't noticed a change in the rankings that morning, and he was certain the Navy would never have authorized kettles that expensive. Fleet standard was twenty flavors and you're done.

"About the placement, yes. We are now the most efficient ship in the fleet. As for the tea kettles, no. I very much enjoy my job at the moment." He grinned widely as he lifted the cocktail to his mouth and took a sip.

"Bloody hell, I need to get us some of those!" Halsey frowned, making a mental note to have his aide order a set for the officer's cabins when he got back to the Norfolk.

Starkey twitched with envy.

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Quick comment - we thought that Panzer was the Leader, Swift. -Agmen

Which Dreadnought was that?

One of your nine.