[T-2 Morning] Breakfast of Champions

[Colette Rupelle]

"Yay!"The girl jumps slightly and claps. She brings him a short stack decorated as a flying saucer with two sausages that resemble alien squids. "Bon appetite!"

[Dorgan Bruun]

Bruun is quite taken aback by the fancy breakfast, and sits down to eat it still in shock. Somewhere in there he manages a "thank you kindly," and as she turns to her next task he whispers, "Do I even know her name?"

[Alexei Herald]

"I believe that is Ms. Rupelle. Colette Rupelle."

Alexei had drawn a small book from his overcoat, which appeared to be full of quaint antique word puzzles.

"She's with the Echo Exploration Group. Company Chef."

[Dorgan Bruun]

"Oh. Uh, right. Thank you, uh, Captain Harold, right?" Bruun spared one more look toward Colette, then turned himself toward the dropship commander and raised his coffee in respect.

[Colette Rupelle]

Colette continued walking around humming and refilling people's cups with her fresh brew of coffee. She looked like little humming bird going from table to tables. She made sure everything was okay for everyone. She moved back to the Comandant table. "How is everything? More coffee?"

[Alexei Herald]

"Perfectly fine, thank you. Don't overwork yourself now."

He smiled faintly.

"And I am, in fact, Captain Herald. I hope you are enjoying your time on my ship, Mr. Bruun."

[Colette Rupelle]

Colette scratched her head. "Silly comander... zis is more a game zan work." The girl giggled. "You enjoy your pancakes and have ze best of times." She looked at Brunn and Reinhart. "Do you wish anyzing else? Juis perhaps?"

[Dorgan Bruun]

"And I am, in fact, Captain Herald. I hope you are enjoying your time on my ship, Mr. Bruun."

"It's been just fine, captain. And just Bruun for me, thanks. Titles tend to shorten people's life expectancy."

"Juis?"

"Oh, thanks kindly, miss, but none for me. I should get to work on these pancakes," he says smiling kindly.

[Alexei Herald]

"Do they?"

Alexei raised an eyebrow.

"I've lived a long time with mine. Perhaps I should shorten it. Perhaps I should be come a chief. Less syllables."

Tapping his chin with his pencil, his face lit with a sudden understanding, and he scribbled in another word in the puzzle.

[Colette Rupelle]

"You are not that old commandant, just seasoned" Colette chuckled. "Besides... Titles or not we are just people. We live, laugh and love!"