It's All Fun and Games Until You Take a Beer Bottle on the Noggin

[Ethan Talon]

"It'll happen," Ethan said confidently. "We gotta continue the family lines."

[Trinity Talon]

"That we do." Trinity said with a broad smile. "Besides... you know how good us Ryder women look after we have a child. After all, I want to actually raise a kid or two in a far better world than we were raised in. Have to be hopeful after all. We didn't put on these uniforms again because we actually missed dealing with regulations and orders and requisitions and weird staff."

[Ethan Talon]

"Well, no. That is to say I didn't. I've learned long ago not to speak for you. I... I put on this uniform out of a sense of duty. My government needed me, and I had no choice, but to say yes."

[Trinity Talon]

"That's why I joined you, they needed us, we answer the call. But it helped to know this wasn't a super long term thing... anyway... see you back at the house General." Trinity said with a salute.

[Ethan Talon]

He kissed her, and with a smile, "Goodnight Colonel."

Ethan returned to his desk after she had left, but found his heart wasn't into the work anymore. Deciding to call it a night he simply just shoved the PADDs to the front of his desk and pulled on his jacket.

Stepping into the the reception area Private Wexler looked up from his desk. "Are you going home sir?"

Ethan stopped and looked back at the orderly, "An excellent question private. Why are you still here?"

"Sir? Well, I suppose that's an excellent question as well sir."

Ethan laughed, "Go home Owen, and next time don't wait on me."

"Yes sir," he said and gathered up his stuff and followed his Commander to the lift.

Inside Colonels Murphy, and MacDonald were there. Dougal smiled at Ethan, and Patrick had a knowing smirk. "What the hell are you two up to?" Ethan demanded.

Dougal smiled, "Och aye. We're comin' ta get you sir."

"For what?"

"We never had a proper bachelor party for you sir," Murphy added.

"No," Ehtan replied immediately.

"Don't worry sir. It's too late for a wild night of crank, and strippers laddie. But, we figure you could use a drink o' two. Ye don't do anything, but work. Time ta loosen up, and maybe then you'll get your lass taken care of right and proper."

"And what the hell does that mean?" Ethan asked indignantly.

"It means lad," Dougal said, "That we ken well enough that you an' yer wee lass are trying for a bairn."

"Aye, you got ta get right pissed. It worked for me Uncle, and... me too," he added shyly.

Ethan shook his head in amusement, "I don't think it works that way."

"Oh, sure it does!" Dougal insisted.

Ethan sighed in defeat, and if he was being totally honest with himself he really needed a beer or three. "Okay. Let's go, but I can't be out all night. The colonel is expecting me."

"That's me boy!" Murphy exclaimed. "Get several shots of Irish whiskey in Ya and you'll be ready to take care of the mrs."

"Bah!" Dougal spat. "Irish whiskey? Yer bum's oot the windea, ya wee gomeral. Finely aged Scotch cure what ails ya!"

"How, about I drink both," Ethan suggested. That seemed to satisfy the two Celts, and Ethan found himself at the Officer's Club in Capital City three hours later on his sixth shot of whiskey, and unknown quantities of beer.

"Damn backwards militia," a Marine officer announced staring with disgust at Ethan and his companions. "This is for officers, not pig fuckers! Militia isn't even worth the field rations they are issued."

Ethan sat his beer down and turned to face a man sitting at a table behind him. Squinting in an effort to focus his eyes, Ethan stumbled to the table at sat down across from the other man.

He was twice his age, and based on the collection of bottles and shot glasses this man was likely as inebriated as himself. Dougal and Patrick had already moved into position flanking their commander.

"Do you know who you are talking to Marine?" Ethan demanded.

"Does it matter?"

Ethan laughed, "No I suppose not! Ethan Talon. So, sheep fucker, who are you?"

"Major General Anton Brusilov."

"No shit?" Ethan said sounding unimpressed. He let out a mocking whistle. "Commander of the 3rd Division. Well, general sir. Do you want to put your money where your mouth is?" Ethan glanced at his companions who looked like they were ready to jump in, and defend the 82nd. "War games. My division against yours. Winner gets bragging rights, and the loser knows who is better."

Brusilov thought for a moment and extended a hand, "You have a deal general."

Just then a group a Navy officers, all young, and all obviously looking for trouble burst into the bar. The leader looked around, "Who let the moron patrol in here? Ya'll know what Marine stands for? Muscles Are Required Intelligence Not Expected."

* * *

Ethan woke up with the sun shining in his eye. Groaning he rolled over in bed, and his head swam.

He sat up with difficulty, as his whole body hurt. His right eye wasn't cooperating, and refused to open.

Slowly his senses started to settle into place. The odd sounds of shouting, and banging... Of metal? That was when his vision cleared and through his left eye he realized he was in a jail cell. Brucilov, Dougal, and Murphy were all there spread out on several beds. "Trinity is going to kill me," he muttered.

[Angel Ryder]

"Ohhhh... you're going to be making up for this for a while son in law." Angel said as she walked into the holding area outside the cell, dressed in her civvies, she crossed her arms and shook her head. "That is if I tell her. When they picked you up, I was on my way into the bar and saw the cops drag you and your boys out. I told Trinity that I had to borrow you for something." she cleared her throat. "And if you must know, I was meeting one of my new Angelwear managers there. Luckily she was understanding and I could push her off to a brunch meeting instead." she reached into her large purse and pulled out a bottle of water and a bottle of hangover reliever. "Now... do I tell my daughter the truth and you sleep on the couch do I pull a Section 31 and cover this up?"

[Ethan Talon]

Ethan stared at her through his one good eye, "Ma'am you might as well go ahead and tell her. I'll not make it a habit to keep secrets from my wife. Either way she is going to know, and if that means sleeping in the bunkhouse for a few nights then so be it."

[Angel Ryder]

Angel shook her head and smiled. "That was an excellent answer Mister Talon." she tapped her earring and her face shifted to Trinity. "So what did I tell you about drinking with the boys darling?"

"Peer pressure is horrible isn't it?" the real Angel said as she walked over with a key card. "Heard about your bet... we're covering this up." she placed the card on the terminal and it altered the official record. "You're high ranking Marine brass, Militia or no."

"I had a feeling that you were going to get into trouble tonight... " Trinity said and tapped her foot. "And for the record, I'm not letting you out of my sight. Those two jokers... "

"Ohhhh I think I'll take care of this for you dear." Angel said with a wicked looking expression on her face. "I have fourteen crew quarters that need carpet laid and I think I found the free labor. Oh and no booze until after the war games." she walked toward the guard and handed him an isolinear chip. "Rear Admiral Morris... I need to speak to the Naval officers involved."

"Next holding cell over." he replied. "Ma'am."

"Thank you..." Angel snapped her fingers. "Alright Marines, fall in. Colonel Morris... my car's parked out back. Gregor's on 3rd. We're going to get some food in the boys and figure out how we're going to show up Brusilov's unit."

"And if we lose... then I'm not going to allow anyone from the 82nd to go to a bar. Anywhere." Trinity said as she gave them a knowing look.

"Sobriety is not overrated gentlemen." Angel said before walking into the holding cell area and started yelling at the Naval officers through the door for a solid five minutes before walking out and smoothing out her jacket and cocking her head to Ethan. "There are some boys that have something to say to you and you have something to say to them."

[Ethan Talon]

"If you must know Admiral," Brusilov said with a barely detectable Russian accent. "That the boys were acting on my orders. As the ranking Marine here I will take full responsibility for the events that occurred last night."

Ethan leaned into Dougal and whispered, "Do you remember that?"

The massive Scotsman shook his head, "I dinae ken anything after we got ta the pub lad."

[Angel Ryder]

"I was thinking more along the lines of a round of 'sorry we were idiots' from both sides here." Angel said as she put her hands on her hips. "I could recommend that all of you are given military charges for conduct unbecoming Alliance military. But I'm nice... until I'm provoked..." she looked at Brusilov and narrowed her eyes at him. "I saw the security camera footage. And I'll be having a word with the rest of the Naval officers. I'm getting really tired of you guys being locked up by the Capitol PD. I will say the cringey line every CO I have ever served with told me, 'you are ambassadors of your units, your postings, and the Alliance." she poked her finger at them. "And if I ever see any of you arrested for a bar brawl... I'm having you all locked up Stonewall MIlitary Prison for 30 days AND you're getting demotions. Do I make myself perfectly clear? General Mattis and I have a lovely working relationship and he'll listen to me one way or the other."