Casual Drinks

Posted on Fri Apr 17th, 2020 @ 12:42pm by

Mission: Cruel Meridian
Location: Crew Lounge
Timeline: MD1 - 2030 Hours
2802 words - 5.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Bert walked into the crew lounge. He gave a quick glance around the room, it was fairly busy but there were still tables free. He moved to the bar and ordered himself a Saurian brandy. Once the server had poured his drink he took hold of the glass and lifted it to his nose. He allowed nasal senses take in the warm and pleasing aroma. Bert spotted a free table by the window and headed towards it.

A few tables down, Commander Hanover was standing with a beer in hand, deep in jovial conversation with the seated crewmembers. It had been a goal of his to meet and introduce himself to everyone on the ship, and with a crew complement of under two hundred, he had nearly accomplished the task on the short time he had been aboard. The chatter reached an ending point, and Jared said his farewells before continuing down the row of tables.

"Evening stranger, are you holding this table for a party or would it be alright if an old man has a seat?"

“Please.” Barr said gesturing to one of other empty seats at the table.

"Thank you," Jared began to sit down immediately across from the man, dealing himself a coaster off of the top of the stack before placing his beer down on top of it. "Jared Hanover," he extended a hand, "it's nice to meet you."

“Herbert Barr, a pleasure to meet you.” He said as he offered his hand to Jared.

"Ah, Mister Barr, I recall the name from the list of transfers. Welcome to the Majestic - a toast to new beginnings," the two men shook hands firmly and took sips out of their respective drinks. "Ah, if you'll excuse me for just a second, I shall return with a refreshed beer." Jared slid his empty mug across the tabletop by the handle and made his way back to the bar in search of a refill.

Lhaes stood leaning against the far end of the bar, a clear blue drink in his hand. Though highly allergic to alcohol and synthehol, for some obscure reason he could actually enjoy Romulan ale. It was still a mystery to him on the how or why, but he wasn't arguing. His grey eyes seemed to sweep across the room, their owner taking in every occupant. It was an old habit, one he didn't really need in his new field, but it was a habit that was so ingrained, it was hard to shake.

"Ah, Lhaes, it is good to see you again," Jared had noticed the Romulan chief of security standing there. The unmistakable hue of his drink caught his eye. "If you aren't busy, we've got a few seats open at a table over there. It's just myself and Mister Barr, the new mission advisor. We could use the company."

Cassie entered the lounge, decidedly happy her day was done, officially. Unofficially, anything could happen. She waved at some junior officers she knew from other departments and made a beeline to the bar and ordered a glass of the best Pinot noir available. She slightly tipped the glass to the bartender once it was ready and was about to join the officers she had spotted earlier, when someone grabbed her attention.

Passing the diplomatic chief as he approached the other officers, Lhaes tapped the woman gently on her arm to draw her attention. "Come join us," he told her in passing. "I'm not busy," he told the XO, carefully lifting his drink. "Indulging while on duty, as far as I'm aware, is strictly prohibited." He nodded towards the unknown officer. "Mister Barr," he acknowledged, but didn't offer his hand in greeting. "My name is Lhaes." Deliberately, he left off his last name, or rank since he was off duty.

Barr stood up from his chair and greeted the unfamiliar officer. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He said looking at Lhaes and giving a respectful nod. “A pleasure to see you again, Cassie.” Bert said greeting the diplomatic officer.

"And you. I understand you have quite a task ahead of you sir," Lhaes smiled, "I hear the princess is quite a handful to deal with."

Cassie nodded to all the men sitting around the table and took a seat herself, carefully placing her glass of wine on the table. "I think she enjoys a bit of mischief now and again," was all she said, and winked at Hanover. The older man was in the middle of taking a sip of his beer, but his eyes were laughing at his own misfortune.

“She seemed ok to me, however, I suspect she may begin to try and pull mind games. She knows why I hear, so there’s every possibility that the Princess will start yanking my chain.” Bert replied.

"Oh?" Lhaes arched a single eyebrow at the man, his smile disappearing. "Mind games are one thing, but the moment she abuses your duty to assist, I want to know about it."

“Of course. I was planning to do daily reports on the Princess for both the CO and XO, I could always CC you, Lhaes?” Bert replied in a even tone.

"No I don't think that's necesary... I only need to know about it if she's abusing you." Lhaes sipped his clear blue drink. "As long as she behaves I don't really need to know."

Bert nodded his understanding, “I assume you’ll be providing security for the Princess while she’s aboard?”

"We've offered the services of Security for the duration of her stay, but she's declined the offer," Cassie interjected, taking a sip of her wine. "I don't even think I've seen her outside her quarters," she said, glancing at each of the other members of her party in turn. "Have you?"

Lhaes shook his head. "My security team is keeping an eye on her from a distance regardless. If she's keeping to her quarters she's unlikely to cause mayhem I reckon."

"Well, the fact remains that we've been given a diplomatic function to fulfill, which seems appropriate to our ship and well within the capabilities of our fine crew. The princess is, of course, still free to roam about with all the courtesies that we can offer, but if she chooses to spend her time in quarters, then so be it," Jared spoke, glancing around the table as he did so. "But lady and gentlemen, it seems a shame to talk about work in such a setting. Why not use this chance to get to know our new colleague better? How did you come to be assigned to the Majestic, Mr. Barr?"

Barr sighed, “Six months ago I was a Commander helping the Federation diplomacy department. You might have heard about the diplomatic mission with the Breen which went sideways, that was my mission. Everyone from the Diplomat’s to their security detachment where killed. I was the only survivor. The Breen handed me back to Starfleet, where I was questioned and questioned and questioned. My reluctance to relive what happened lead me to lose my commission but not completely chucked out of Starfleet. I’m sure this is one Admiral’s idea of a joke, however, I still wear the uniform albeit with no rank. I was assigned to the Majestic to aid the Princess. Mission advisor was the best way to name my role here. I doubt I’ll be here past this mission, which is a shame as I’m liking the ship from what I’ve seen.”

"I read that on the news somewhere, and people mentioning it here and there, but... Putain, that was you?" Cassie asked in genuine surprise. As a diplomat herself, she should have been expected to be angry that colleagues had died during what was to be a peaceful mission. Everybody knew the risks, and those did unfortunately include the the loss of life. "I... I can't even imagine how that must have been like..."

Lhaes twirled his drink, drained the glass and set it back on the bar. "Sir, it doesn't matter what your past is. What matters is that you are here now, with a duty to perform that we all have no doubt you'll do to the best of your ability. Take it from someone who, like you, has dark moments in his service record."

“You don’t have to worry about me, I serve the Starfleet and would give my life for any one or everyone on this ship. It’s just a shame my career came to halt like it did.” Bert replied thoughtfully. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to change the tone into a somber one.” He added with a smile.

"Well Herbert, as long as you're in that uniform, you are one of us," Jared took a drink out of his mug of beer and clunked it against the table - not unlike a judge with a gavel. He peered across the table at Barr, knowing that people tended to leave any of a great multitude of things unsaid when introducing themselves to their new crew. Why was the benefit of the doubt so difficult at that very moment?

Hanover shook it off.

"A toast to new beginnings and an auspicious start to our new mission!"

“I appreciate it.” Bert said as he raised his ale. “To new beginnings and our mission.”

Cassie raised her wine glass. "To the mission's success, and to new beginnings."

"New beginnings," Lhaes answered. "So... tell us a little about yourself mister Barr. You, not the career officer."

“There’s not much to tell, Ive thrown myself into my career since I rejoined Starfleet about 15 years ago. Tried to do my best and keep my head down. Not always easy, I must admit. I like to keep fit my rock climbing and swimming.” Barr replied.

The Romulan shuddered visibly at the mention of swimming. "Keeping one's head down takes practice, and training," he answered knowingly, "staying invisible is a skill. I'm sure you did quite well."

“Well, until 6 months ago.” Bert added with a shrug before taking a sip of his ale.

"We all have lapses," the Romulan conceded, "so... What now?"

“Now, I do as I’m told and probably given the least amount of responsibilities as physically possible. I’m not allowed to resign as they want to keep an eye on me and my movements.” Bert replied after swallowing his ale

"Not quite what I was getting at," Lhaes answered quickly, "and if you want out I'm sure we can arrange for your demise. No-one any the wiser..."

Bert let out a laugh, “If I get desperate I know where to come.” He replied.

"I know a concoction or two that can make you look dead for a while," Lhaes smiled innocently, "and I'm happy to help."

Cassie rolled her eyes. "You sound just my sister, Lhaes, it's uncanny," she commented.

"Do I?" Lhaes answered, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"She's also half-Romulan, likes to make similar types of jokes," Cassie answered, still nursing her wine.

Bert chuckled as he took another sip of his ale. He was starting to like the crew aboard the Majestic.

"I wasn't aware I have a certain type of jokes," the Romulan mused, "I was born and raised on Betazed. I spent only four years on the homeworld, before it was destroyed. I assure you, those are four years of hell I'd rather forget."

“A Romulan Betazoid?” Bert asked raising an eye brown in surprise.

"Oh no Mister Barr," Lhaes chuckled, "I am a full blooded Romulan. Both my birth parents were proper Rihannsu, they were diplomats and they were killed when I was six years old. Right before my eyes. I was adopted by a Betazoid couple, and so I was also raised on Betazed. Almost as if it was meant to be. The likeness between me and my adopted sister is very uncanny, but we are not of the same blood."

“My apologies, I assumed you were of both worlds. My condolences about your parents.” Bert replied with a respectful nod.

"I have very little memory of them," Lhaes answered, gesturing for the barman to refill his glass. "Don't apologize for something you had no control over. I understand the confusion, you're not the first and I doubt the last, as I am in fact telepathic."

In the midst of the rapid convesration at the table, it would have taken a great feat of awareness to notice that Commander Hanover had not said much for quite some time. In fact, careful observation over the preceding five minutes would have suggested that the man had grown stiff with paralysis; his right hand was still wrapped around the handle of his beer, his left idly lying on the table. Only the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed and the occasional blinking of the eyes differentiated him from a statue.

For Jared, time had come screeching to a halt. He was aware of Lhaes and Herbert speaking close by, but the words were unintelligible as if he were several meters underwater. If he focused, he could feel the chill from the condensation soaked beer stein radiate up from his hand and spread throughout his body. Perhaps the most peculiar thing he noticed, however, was the nearly seven foot tall rooster with cartoonish features deep in conversation with... someone. Despite his eyeline being towards the individual's face, Jared could make out no details whatsoever.

"I said, son," somehow the rooster's words were easily distinguishable, "you are about to exceed the limits of my medication."

Confusion washed over him like a wave crashing into a rocky outcrop at high tide. He shook his head quickly and violently, trying to shake away his perception of what his brain knew to be false. In despair, he exhaled as he turned his attention towards the beer in his mug, only to recoil in horror as the liquid inside had been replaced with a festering brood of maggots.

The stein fell over. It was unclear whether Hanover had caused it to or if it had simply spilled of its own accord, but only the subsequent startled reaction of the others at his table snapped him back to reality.

"Apologies!" Jared huffed, quickly darting his eyeline back to the table where the rooster had been standing a moment before, desperately searching for some semblance of normalcy.

He was gone.

"I appear to have had one too many," Hanover bluffed, relieved to see that the amber liquid was the only content in his stein. "Let me go grab a rag to wipe this up and maybe a water to go with it. Do you all need anything?"

Herbert finished his drink and stood up. “I’ll take my leave of you, I want to be fresh for the princess in the morning. It was a pleasure to meet you all.” He said with a smile. “Thank you for the warm welcome and drink. Perhaps we could do this again?”

Lhaes nodded though his eyes were fixed on the XO. "Are you sure you're alright sir?" he asked, approaching the man. "Should I escort you to sickbay?"

"Bye," Cassie said absentmindedly as her attention was turned to the Executive Officer. "You don't look too good, Jared," she remarked as she waved someone over and asked for a rag and glass of water. "You should probably get to sickbay with Lhaes. I'll help clean this up, yeah?"

“I’m forced to agree, I can walk you to sickbay on the way to my quarters.” Bert replied, he hadn’t noticed the Majestic’s XO suddenly look so unwell.

"Well," the executive's voice trailed off. That initial, ego-motivated response to dismiss his colleague's concerns and hide under the mask of masculine machismo flared up strongly, but the repeated voicing of concern quickly eroded the wall his psyche had built. "You know what? Yes, let's take a walk to sickbay. That was certainly not the way I usually handle two beers, so better safe than sorry, right?"

"Well then, let's go sir," Lhaes said as he held him up by one arm. "Mr Barr please take the other. it'll go quicker if we both help him."

“Of course.” Bert quickly went to the opposite side to Lhaes and took the Commander’s arm to help prop him up and help him get to sickbay.

"Right." Lhaes muttered, "let's get you to sickbay commander."

“Indeed.” Bert said in agreement as they began to head to the door.

---

LtC Lhaes Sommers
CTSO

Herbert Barr
Mission Advisor

Cassandra Leblanc-Reed
Chief Diplomat

Commander Jared Hanover
Executive Officer