Sitting Barside

Posted on Tue Sep 15th, 2009 @ 11:11pm by Lieutenant JG Drew O'Connell & Lieutenant JG Ryan Warner

1,072 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Behind the Mask of Familiarity
Location: Archimedes Lounge
Timeline: Backpost - several evenings earlier

Drew had spent the night working through some complex math assigned to his younger brother, Ian, as homework and had developed a significant headache in response. He had watched as Ian headed off to bed and checked once before deciding to drown the arithmetic induced headache in some alcohol.

Heading into the Golden Crown, the Archimedes' officer lounge, Drew noticed another JG Lieutenant and sidled up to the bar next to him. Still in the red uniform of his department, Drew recognized the man as the ship's Chief CONN Officer and rumored wild-child, Ryan Warner. Knowing some of the history behind the other officer's arranged union with the ASec whom he'd met earlier, Drew needed to satiate his curiosity about the situation.

"Denevan Scotch on the rocks," Drew ordered from the bartender and was surprised to find the synthehol drink materialize before him almost instantly. Turning to the man next to him, Drew introduced himself. "Lieutenant Andrew O'Connell, I'm new to the Archimedes. You are?" he asked, knowing full well to whom he was speaking.

Ryan glanced up from the PADD he was immersed in, having not noticed the new attendee enter the lounge let alone approach the bar. He had no clue who the guy was, as usual he hadn't bothered to read the manifest. Recovering slightly from the surprising interruption, he regained some composure and offered only a wry smile of greeting. "Ryan Warner, also new to the Archimedes" There was just a momentary pause, the junior officer extended a hand in greeting. "I'm the helmsman."

Drew smiled as he shook the helmsman's hand. "I have to admit...I already knew that. Then again, what kind of Intel chief would I be if I didn't" Drew sipped the strong alien liquor and felt the burn as it raced down his esophagus. "If it's not too much to ask," Drew looked around to see if anyone else nearby could listen in. When he was satisfied they couldn't, he continued, "Would you explain to me how you wound up essentially married to Lieutenant Martin? Lovely woman, by the way."

The pilot opened his mouth, preparing to deliver his own summary of the information but instead he faltered and closed it again. For what was possibly the first time in his life, he was considering his actions before he undertook them. "Actually I'd rather not talk about it." He delivered a meek shrug and screwed his face up. It wasn't rude, was it? After all, O'Connell would know. How could he not know?

Drew shrugged as he sipped at the scotch. "Fair enough...can I ask you what your thoughts are on the Archimedes?"

"Well, she's a Nova class vessel, she's small and so far she meets all the standard requirements of your average poxy, little science craft." Warner gave a mild shrug and then paused, glancing up from his drink. "She does the job she needs to do but I really don't see anything special here. The crew seem okay, when they're not locked up in brigs or getting on their high horses."

Drew sputtered out some of the scotch he's just sipped in a mixture of laughter and choking. The liquid burned in his throat and sinuses as it threatened to spill out of his nose. "Seems to be a problem on both fronts doesn't there?" Drew replied when he'd managed to swallow and stop the scotch threat. His eyes watered but he wiped the tear away with the back of his hand. "If it's any consolation, I just got my hands slapped for doing the right thing, so either way it seems we're screwed. You know the old Terran saying, 'Damned if you do and damned if you don't.' Drew shrugged.

A short smile splintered across the pilot's features, a flash of humour at O'Connell's interpretation of the matter, he suddenly realised that the man was probably looking for sanity somewhere. So far, that had been Ryan's reason for settling into the lounge. "I think you're right." He sighed and turned in his stool, "what I don't get is the whole induction process. For example, you mentioned Lieutenant Martin earlier. Thanks to a murder investigation, she's been put to work right away and yet here I am, the vessel at condition yellow and I'm sitting in the lounge reading up on schematics. Shouldn't I be at the helm?"

Drew shrugged and nodded silently at the bartender when asked to freshen his drink. "Should you?" Drew asked quizzically. "What's there to do? Other than keep us in orbit, I mean? I'm not belittling your skills as a pilot, but my sixteen year old brother could do that job."

"It's harder than it looks," Ryan muttered as his eyes swivelled back to the surface of the table.

Drew looked over at the Chief CONN officer. "I meant no offense. I know the difficulties involved in piloting a starship...just begs the question 'What could you do at this point which would be of interest to you?' I mean, you could keep this ship in orbit with your eyes closed, no doubt."

"Well, yeah...of course."

"Seems to me you need to get yourself involved on something. aside from drinking at the bar, friend."

Looking down at the scotch, Drew wrapped his fingers around the glass and picked it up. Swirling the amber contents, he studied the pattern as it swirled.

"So what do you do, O'Connell?" The question was asked with a hint of malice, the pilot seemed to sneer as he shifted in his chair and gazed at the other officer. There was real reference in his query, he probably would have liked to know why their was an intel posting on such a small ship but he was too busy trying to defend his own position to make it seem like an endearing thing to ask.

Drew smirked. "Not quite sure of that yet myself. Seemingly, I'm redundant on a ship whose Exec is as connected as ours. Still," Drew paused, swirling the glass again, "I guess we'll both find out in time. We'll just have to ensure we both have the patience to see it through."

The pilot smiled and gave a nod. "Unfortunately, mate, I don't have the luxury..."

JP by:

Lieutenant (JG) Ryan Warner
Helm

AND

Lieutenant (JG) Andrew O'Connell
Intelligence

 

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