End of Shift

Posted on Sat Jul 21st, 2018 @ 11:32am by Ensign Andrew Gervais & Cadet Senior Grade Brady Macleod & Commander Johnathan Wade

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: PMC
Timeline: July 8, 2399

After what had been a fairly long first day of field training, Brady headed to the lounge to relax. He'd heard a lot about the bar but was hesitant to try it. He looked at the name and chuckled a bit. Really? Why not just name it the Prancing Unicorn or something?

He had tried to speak with Alexander back on Earth but he was out. They were at least somewhat getting along a little better but the resentment still ran deep on Alexander's part. Just his luck. He pulled out a stool at the bar and waited for a bartender. It was time to be completely off duty.

Jack entered in from the kitchen, drying off a glass to place back on the shelf. He smiled at the cadet and came over to him leaning on the bar. "Hey there cadet! What can I get for you today?" Jack gave him his signature award winning smile.

"Decisions decisions..." he said. "I think I'll start off with a Moscow Mule, please."

Wade grabs a copper mug and mixes the vodka, ginger beer and lime. "So, whats on your mind Cadet? exited about that new planet that appeared out of the Either?"

"Haven't seen much of it yet." Brady replied. "I keep hearing about it. Do they know what happened? Seems hard to think a planet would just hide for years and years."

"I don't think they know exactly why yet, but it wouldn't be the first planet too hide. But from what I do know, I don't think they where hiding, they just vanished"

"Still messed up." Brady said. "Is it always this quiet in here?"

"Only when new fancy undiscovered things show up, or intense plots arise. Other wise we get pretty busy. Roger is a bit bummed though. I think he really misses fleet life." Jack said, now wiping down a few more glasses.

"Oh?" Brady asked. "He retired to work at a bar on a ship?" He was a bit curious by this, but still intrigued. After all, it wasn't a life for everyone and every argument he seemed to get into with Alexander made him question it himself.

"He didn't retire by choice. He was basically forced too. A final parting shot from a group he helped take down, exposed the fact Roger is technically genetically modified. When the public found out he had too go, or Star Fleet would have had to change it's rules, cause you know, that's fair." Jack shook his head. "He joined up with my business so he could at least be on a star ship again"

"Ouch." Brady replied. "That's rough. Poor guy." he said, sipping on his drink. "Not that Organization everyone's so wound up about is it?"

"The who? The Organization? What an unoriginal name. But yeah probably. But he is getting by the best he can." Jack starts to fix himself a mojito "So Cadat, whats going on in your life?"

"What isn't?" he asked as he finished the rest and put the glass aside. "My partner and family think I'm nuts to be out here, I seem to have walked into a living wake, but the Chief Engineer is pretty cool." he added. "And I haven't quite yet unpacked. You?"

"I am as unpacked as I am going to get. And it is a bit nuts to explore space, never knowing what will happen next. But that's what makes it fun and not just a job."

"You picked a fun place to bartend at least. There seems to be so much out this way. It's almost worth the being scared out of one's wits. All this space that we've never seen or know nothing about." Brady said. "Makes everything closer to home seem so boring."

"I could go for boring." Gervais said, taking a seat next to the officer. "I could really go for boring right about now."

"And what can I get for you Ensign?" Jack said with a smile. "Something boring? I have some weak tea"

"Maybe not that boring." Andrew replied with a half-smile, also noticing Brady next to him. 'Oh, hello...' he thought before putting that thought out of his mind. Too soon. Wayyyy too soon. "What do you have for brandies?"

"Brandy huh? Here, give this a try" Jack pulls put a bottle of Copper & Kings and poors the ensign a snifters worth. "Be careful now, this is the real stuff, i save the synthahol for... well never" he continues to smile. "Need anything else?"

Gervais took a sip and nodded in approval. "Now this is the good stuff." he added. "I don't think I've just sat down to relax since Pa... Well... It's not important." he said.

"You shouldn't start off a story if you ain't going to tell it. That's just rude ensign" smirks Jack.

Andrew gave a weak reply back as Brady perked up. "I second the bartender. You can't just leave it there."

"There was a brandy that Paul liked... Ensign Copeland, that is. One of the crew who... yeah..." he said, trying to avoid as much as he could. "This actually tastes a lot better."

"I... see... yeah, what was the brandy he liked?" Jack turned around, looking through his collection.

Brady looked over at Gervais. Something was up with this guy. He didn't want to call out a superior officer or cause any drama, so he sat and simply relaxed.

"I think it was a Hennessy or something?" Gervais replied. "I mean he had pretty simple tastes, so..." he added as he sipped the drink back.

"I'll have another Mule" Brady said.

Jack quickly mixed Brady another Mule, then turned back around and produced what looked like an old key. He touched it too the bottle rack and a hidden door on the bottom popped and he knelt down, rummaging around he comes up with a black box. Upon it is written Hennessy Paradis Imperial in gold print. "Here... I don't like bringing up painful memories. Use this to bring back some of the good ones, yeh?"

"Sure." Andrew replied.

Brady looked over at him. "You want another one of those?" he asked Gervais.

"Don't worry about it. It's not your thing to try and fix, Cadet." Andrew replied. "You should be lucky." he added as he stepped away from the stool to head over to the window. Brady looked over there and then back at Jack.

"Oops. Something set him off?" Brady inquired.

"I think so, a painful memory. I am no psychologist so it isn't my place. Don't worry to much, he's gotta come through it in his own way" Jack replied.

"Seems we all have our stuff to deal with." Brady added, drinking up, observing in the background. "I wasn't aware you had help." he said.

"Just Roger really, but he's worth like at least ten men. Starfleet was foolish to send him packing"

"Especially if he actually helped us out a lot." Brady said. "Sounds like a lot of internal nonsense to get used to."

"Most bureaucracy is nonsense Cadet. Try not to get caught up in it" Jack said a bit gruffly.

"So noted." Brady replied. "I mean you probably get the fun job."

"Oh all the fun jobs, like hours of paper work and dealing arrogant pricks all day. Can I get you anything else Cadet? I should be starting up meal prep soon, for those who don't want the replicators"

"You ever been in the Nacelle room?" Brady asked with a laugh. "I won't keep you then... I may go make sure I didn't offend Ensign Grumpy over there. Have a nice afternoon!" he said, amused by the strange and eccentric old man.

END:

Cadet Senior Grade Brady Macleod
Engineering Officer
USS Wellington

Ensign Andrew Gervais
Commodore's Adjutant

Johnathan Wade
Bartender
USS Wellington