Disclaimer- I don't own MSG, Zeonic Front, "Summer Wind", or "Beyond the Sea" they are the property of Bandai Entertainment and their respective creators.

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Interlude 2

December 2nd UC 0079, 1800

Officer's Club

California Base

The Federation forces had followed up their success at Jaburo in short order. As early as the next morning, Federation forces launched a strike on the California Base Complex. Further north, at the Fenrir's station, the Zeons reinforced their fortifications and waited. Despite Schmitzer's protests, half of the Fenrir team had been posted to defend the last HLV launch pads in North America. The other half was assigned to stations in space. The last night before the Monterey Station went to combat status, the Fenrir team hosted a going-away party for the pilots assigned to space.

The officer's club was empty except for the team, the house band, and the bartender. Roher, Fran, and Sandra sat at the bar. Hepner anr Roberto sat at a table near the stage. Renchef was playing, and losing, a game of pool with Austin. Schmitzer was playing the piano on stage while Manning sat nearby with his saxophone. Swaggard, after he had a few drinks, sang some songs for the room.

As Lee began to sing "Summer Wind", Roher was sipping from his second bourbon. The newly promoted Captain Sandra Donnelly took a swig from her beer.

"So, Lou, tell me: how is it that I was the one assigned to lead the Fenrir space team and not you?" she asked.

"Because I passed up on it." He said with a small smile, " Compared to most of the Zeon pilot corps, I'm an old man. I have a feeling things are going to get pretty bad down here; they're going to need us experienced guys."

"You're only 25! If you're an old man, what does that make Austin?" Fran giggled as she stirred her drink with its umbrella.

"I heard that!" Matt shouted, laughing himself.

"As a matter of fact Matt, I figured I needed to stay with you, in case you forget how to get to the head, old man!" Lou shouted back to a chorus of laughter.

Austin did a hearty old man "Harumph!" and turned back to his pool game.

"All kidding aside Sandra, you're the right person for the job."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence Lou. It's just too bad I didn't really get to spend too much time with y'all."

"Ahhh, we'll have time to catch up after we kick the Feddies's ass!" Austin said as he planted the 8 ball in the middle pocket and walked up to the bar himself.

The pilots continued laughing and drinking while the band played "Beyond the Sea".

They spent the rest of the night talking, drinking, singing, and relaxing. Austin did a stand-up routine that involved a character named Admiral Ian M. Short with a napoleon complex. Renchef even performed a few magic tricks.

Although the pilot's knew that they would be separated in a few short days and that all of them would be back on the front lines again soon enough, life seemed normal for a change.