Drinks Among Friends
Posted on Sun Sep 27th, 2020 @ 1:37am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
1,933 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: After 11
Timeline: MD011 2130 hrs
Tyler had a free night or so it seemed. Kat wanted to make sure that everything was just right with the QSD so she decided to work the night shift. Tyler took the time to do what he did best which was observe his crew through people watching. As such he sat wearing his fannel shirt and jeans in the corner of the bar, he nursed some whiskey. His trademark cowboy hat sat on the bar in front of him for the time being.
Quinn walkedi into After 11, and walked over to Tyler with Ameri by his side. Enya was staying home, already alseep for the night. Quinn knew that Tyler needed some company. So when he asked, him to meet him at After 11. Quinn did not hesitate at all.
Ameri liked the atmosphere of After 11 but she could tell by his stature that Tyler was missing Kat and that Quinn was right he needed some company. She wondered for a brief moment if she should have stayed home and let them have a man’s night but Quinn has assured her he wanted her to come.
Tyler saw the O Flannagains come in and for a brief moment wished that they hadn't. Having some alone time to people watch is something that he wanted to do. However, having some close friends there meant all the more. "Quinn, Ameri pull up a stool and a drink. Nice night to relax." He sipped his whiskey and signaled the bartender to come over.
Quinn could see that something was on his mind, he wondered if Tyler was still having a hard time being called out off the mission to help stablize the Cardassion Union and the New Maquis situation. Or if this had to do with something more personal. Quinn smiled as he said, "Planned on Tyler, I would ask how you are doing. But I think its apparent." Quinn pointed out to him.
Ameri gave the bartender her order and looked over at Tyler. She felt for him as captain he had a lot in his shoulders, she hoped as his friends he would let them be there for him.
"I have to watch what my face looks like sometimes..." Tyler began with a smile. "I am fine, I have found that sometimes the best way to get to know the crew at large is to watch them at play. But it is nice to see you guys. There aren't many people who are big enough to be friends with the Captain. It is the one major downfall to the job. Just be careful when you get the big chair Quinn, your friends become few and far between."
"The price you pay, when you take the center seat." Quinn started to say, knowing how he felt. "I have other seat, remember." Quinn said, with a big grin on his face. He felt his pain.
“You both carry a lot on your shoulders,” Ameri said with a smile. “But you handle the job well and know how to deal with the stress that comes with it. Like knowing to call your friends to come spend time with you.” She looked at Tyler. “We are here for you.”
"Thanks Ameri, and Quinn you will have a big chair of your own before you know it. But that is enough about work. Your little own spent the day with me and Sofia. I have to say that you have one of the greatest kids that I have ever met. Well done. If I didn't know any better I would think that she wanted my job." He laughed as he felt the twinge of thoughts toward his impending child. A fact that he had not revealed to his friends yet.
"The greatest huh?" Quinn said, wondering how Enya managed to pull a fast one on Tyler. And what was her end game Quinn wondered. He made a mental note to ask her later on.
“She does want your job,” Ameri smiled. “Her dream has been to be a starship captain someday. At the moment she is talking about going to the academy for engineering but we both know she may change her mind a lot before that time comes.”
"Hey Starfleet Captains can come from anywhere. I came up through Operations. I have no doubt that she will get her own ship someday." Tyler paused long enough to sip his drink. "You know I have to say that I am happy that things around here have died down. A lot going on with weddings etc... Getting back to normal will be welcome."
"Wheh did weddings become a normal thing on the Pioneer?" Quinn teased. He had a feeling he had something to do with that, with the dynamic shift change of making the Pioneer a family ship.
“It seems to have become a normal these days,” Ameri said. “And Starfleet must think so with our new crew members in an arranged marriage.” She grinned. “And rumors are there may be one or two others. An advantage to not being in the command hierchy. I hear things.”
Ameri's words reminded Tyler when he was an Ops Chief and didn't have many cares or worries in the world. "Ah the good old days. No one realizes that if you want to anything about anyone on a starship just ask the Ops Chief." He smiled broadly at the thought and took another sip. "And to think when I first took this command I did not have the mind to have families on the ship and look at me now."
"Well in a way, you have always been a family man, you have been the father of the Pioneer, you helped this crew get through alot, kept the ideals of the Federation alive despite the dynamic shift in our exploration intiative." Quinn pointed out to Tyler, trying to build him up.
Tyler had worked hard, to keep the ideals of the Federation and Starfleet alive on the Pioneer. Despite the fact, that the Federation was isolating itself. It was refreshing that there was still Captain's adhering to the greater ideals of Starfleet and the Federation.
Ameri always admired how Quinn built others up. He never told them any thing that wasn’t true but he had this gift of making them see things they couldn’t see on their own.
“Quinn is right,” Ameri said. “Imagine the amount of crew that you have guided to maturity as officers and are now out there serving.
Tyler nodded as he appreciated everything that they were saying. "The Captain gets the credit but it is the rest of the crew that makes a ship great. However, I appreciate the sentiment. It seems that you are getting your wish Quinn. We have our preliminary orders and they say that we depart for the Voral system in Romulan space in two days."
Quinn gave his tequila shot request to the bartender. As the Bartender started to pour up the drinks, he looked to Tyler, and had a big grin on his face. "That right there my friend, you are wrong." Quinn said, with a humble grin on his face.
"Without a good Captain, the crew would just follow bad one. Can you imagine a mediocre captain blindly following our new directive." Quinn said, as the three shots were placed in front of him.
"Don't change the topic, despite the fact, that is good news." Quinn said, with a humble grin on his face. "You are very important to this crew, you are its foundation." Quinn said, as he put out the shot glasses. "Lets drink to that." Quinn suggested to Ameri and Tyler.
Ameri raised her glass with a smile. “To you, Captain Malbrooke.” She waited for Tyler to pick his glass up and join them. He deserved this.
Tyler picked up his glass with a smirk. "To the Pioneer may she forever continue to do what Pioneers do best, explore and lead the way." He really appreciated what his friends were doing. It was not nessacary but he liked that they were in his corner. He clinked his glasses with Quinn's and Ameri's in turn.
"Change is can be a good thing, especially young children running around on the decks of the USS Pioneer." Quinn said, trying to re assure him this family push, was a good thing for the ship. He took his shot, and slammed it down.
“Ameri has already made friends with Hermia’s daughter,” Ameri replied. “It will make a better environment all around.” She looked at Tyler. “And soon you and Kat will be helping with one of your own.” She was happy for both of them.
Tyler had not realized that Kat had told anyone. "Yes indeed I just found out about that a day or so ago. It looks like the Pioneer will have one more of those children running around. So get ready Uncle Quinn, Aunt Ameri. There was an old adage that said it took a village to raise a child. I think that it takes a starship..." He winked and smiled. He was glad that the Malbrookes would have this support system in place when the child came.
"Oh wow, congratulations are in order." Quinn said, as flagged down the bartender for another around of drinks. "How are you coping with news?" Quinn asked, wondering if he was hear, to process the news.
“When I said soon I didn’t mean this soon,” Ameri smiled widely. “I went shopping with Kat and she didn’t say anything to me she must not have known yet. I am so happy for both of you.” She knew how anxious Kat had been and Ameri had been praying they would get good news.
"She found out just after the Calhoun wedding. You are the only ones who know outside of myself and Kat. Thanks for the well wishes. I am excited probably the most excited that I have every been. I always thought investigating the unknown was the most exciting but now with a little one on the way." Tyler was super excited and wanted to tell someone that is why he told the O Flannagains. As for the rest of the ship finding out that would have to wait for another day.
Quinn was a little surprised, what a way to find out. He glanced over to Tyler. "After the wedding, what a way to find out." Quinn said, with a smile on his face. "How did Kat take it?" Quinn asked, curious-ed how she responded. He hoped she was happy.
"Kat was over the moon, she has been wanting kids for sometime. I will tell ya what let's get another round and I will tell you all about it." Tyler said with a broad smile as he ordered another whiskey. Tyler motioned for his friends to place their orders.
“Sounds good to me,” Ameri leaned in to listen to Tyler. She thought of them like family and wanted to share in their happiness.
"Me too, and do not leave any details out." Quinn said, as the scene starts to fade away at the bar, with Tyler talking two the two of them.
A joint post by;
Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Commander Quinn Ó Flannagáin
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Ameri Ó Flannagáin
Chief Operations Officer, USS Pioneer
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