**Reality Check**

The champagne hangover has been replaced by a financial one.

This morning’s budget meeting was… educational. I presented the projected costs for their Orbital Particle Gun project. The initial figures were already alarming. Then Dr. Henman remembered they’d need „specialized rare-earth magnets.“ Then the Boss realized they’d need „orbital launch capacity.“

The final number made even Dr. Henman wince.

„But it’s only a few million more,“ the Boss protested.
„*Several* million,“ I corrected.
„We could optimize the—“
„*Several dozen* million.“

There followed a forty-minute presentation from both scientists explaining why this was actually a very reasonable budget for „reshaping the geopolitical landscape via orbital superiority.“ Their enthusiasm was admirable. Their math was creative.

I’ve submitted a revised funding proposal. We may need to liquidate the Swiss account. Also possibly the Luxembourg account. And perhaps delay the minion dental plan for another year.

Dr. Henman suggested we „could probably cut costs by using a smaller shark.“ He has not met Gerald. Some expenses are non-negotiable.

*- Mrs. Clawdia, reconciling the irreconcilable*