[stoichornet]

Han-jae had found his usual seat in the galley, but for once in his life, was doing a lot more listening than talking, paying attention to the reunions, the new gossip, and all the boasting going on around him. It seemed like tonight was a night to hear other people's stories.

The specialist nursed his drink, and kept an eye out for Carter, overhearing snippets of conversations.

"...So, this kid enters the squadron, and on his first day, he comes up to the XO and says 'Hi, I'm Hollywood'. XO says, 'Kid, you couldn't even make Burbank' and thus, a legend is born...."

"You ever get the feeling these new autocannons were made by the lowest bidder?"

"....Command might be working up a mission to try to blast some holes in the Beast that Ate New York. I'd love to see the payload on whatever gear they're bringing..."

The drinks, at least, tasted the same. Normally it felt great to hang out with everyone on the night when a mission got back in, but his experience in Medical with Piras had started to make him think- including worrying about the breeder, who he hoped hadn't picked up some kind of weird residual contamination, or something. He glanced over his shoulder as more people came in.