HEDY LAMARR<br/><br/>I smiled and small-talked with the gathered pilots and raised my glass along with the toast.<br/><br/>Benson then opened the dining room doors and smiling again, I invited everyone to go through to the table and take their seats.<br/><br/>When everyone was seated, Charles, the chef began to serve the meal (we are limited here on the ship for staff… the man who cooks the meal also serves it, though Benson of course helps). In accordance with the dire times Winchester Flight Inc was in, the meal was simple though well presented.<br/><br/>There was a minestrone soup to start which Charles had clearly got from a can but had livened up with some herbs, and to follow a side of bacon (smoked and dried) which he had boiled in a tureen of ginger beer and then roasted with a glaze of ginger preserve and whole grain mustard. It had come out extremely well. Simple boiled potatoes with butter, carrots, peas and leeks<em>(leeks? Where had he picked up leeks in Sky Haven – resourceful man!)</em>finished off the meal. There was a cheeseboard and coffees to finish.<br/><br/>Benson served the wine and I feared it might be our last few bottles. It was a passable Merlot, though alas not from France. I think the grapes were Californian. It was drinkable but not a classic.<br/><br/>The conversation ebbed and flowed around the table and it son became obvious that people were expecting the German to be with us.<br/><br/><strong>"Unfortunately due to a number of issues, I won't be hiring Herr Oberammergau. You four pilots however performed extremely well today and I am impressed and wish to thank you all for acting so coolly for your first time under fire. To Miss Augustin and Mr Quinn who shot down the torpedo I offer my special thanks. You are all, as of today, hired as contractors for Winchester Flight. The terms are six hundred dollars a month, paid every fortnight in arrears, plus one hundred dollars per kill, to be shared if more than one pilot shares the kill. All fuel and ammunition is paid for by Winchester, but work to rectify damage is charged to your accounts… so please… take care of your planes. Mr Steele, on my right here, is also confirmed as the new navigator of the <em>Blue Ridge</em> at the standard rate for ships officers of seven hundred and fifty dollars per month, paid in the same format. I'll have Benson provide you all with contracts to sign after dinner. I'm pleased to also advise that my passenger, Mr Johnston~"</strong>I gestured to the foot of the table by raising my glass in thanks to him,<strong>"~has generously agreed to offer a bonus for today's dogfight of five hundred dollars per enemy shot down. I understand the two thousand will be split equally between you all. Please forgive me if my bonus for kills seems ungenerous in comparison to his, but I regret that Winchester Flight is very much existing on a hand-to-mouth basis at present. Once we have a couple of runs under our belt and have done more essential repairs, I should be able to adjust your contracts to more favourable terms; I'm all in favour of giving you every incentive to shoot down those who attack us."</strong><br/><br/>I sipped my wine.<br/><br/><strong>"Mr Quinn,"</strong>I addressed the man on my immediate left,<strong>"Your plane looks like it's in a bit of a state. I can offer to pay for half the repairs out of Winchester funds if you meet the other half from your pay. In return I offer you the job of squadron commander, though I regret it cannot attract additional pay, as yet. Again I trust I can address that issue as well, in time."</strong><br/><br/>Another sip and a bite of bacon.<strong>"Ladies and gentleman, what is your answer to my offer?"</strong>