"What's this for?"

  The photographer snapped a photo of the writer holding up the cash.  "Clean underwear," the airman grinned.  The money pressed back to chest.  "Buy yourself a cheeseburger!" 

  "Remember those?" The photographer snatched up the money that fell to the ground.  "Not since pandemic days, so barely a memory.  'Sides, head's full of all those gorgeous women at the cafè last night." 

  "Bit of a headache too I bet." 

  "It's routine to get these recharged," an officer walking past explained to a newbie, "There where you'll turn in scheduling wish list.  Any questions so far?" 

  Half a world away the sun sank lower in an endless sky.  Not much glinted in ports readied for the steady flow of diplomacy and enforcement of policy.  The buzzword of the day had been whispered, then pried from some vet corrs...undermining.