All Hands on Deck (Part 9 of 9)

Posted on 06 Mar 2015 @ 6:14pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Clarence Pearl & https://www.stgalileo.com/index.php/personnel/character/312 & Laeon Wylde & Scribonia Vipsania & Tarel Rilem & Lily Blake & Commander Scarlet Blake & Captain Jonathan Holliday

2,723 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 7, Callisto Bar
Timeline: MD 44 - 1005 hrs

Previously, on All Hands on Deck (Part 8)...

"Excellent," Lirha replied before waving her green hand casually at the warp core. "It seems you all have everything in order down here...and I do not expect any containment breaches, yes?" she teased before giving them all a final glance and departing. "Carry on, then."

Brushing away the swell of pride that was threatening to well up, Asahi gave a curt nod. "Of course, ma'am."

Willis stood in the back, watching the inspection and trying to stay out of the way.

As she moved to follow in the steps of the command team, Rebecca caught the eye of an engineer whom she had noticed first time she entered the area. There was a sadness in the depth of his eyes that made her curious to know more. Throwing a discrete wink in his direction, she didn't loose step with the group as she filed the man away for future reference.

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

Deck 7 - Callisto Bar

Nervously, Clarence Pearl looked around the bar which now had all the civilians that weren't actually serving as in working on the ship, present. The children, really. He glanced at the line of bottles against the mirror. At least everything was clean. "Now!" he clapped his hands and smiled. "Little...people....persons...we are going to be nice and behaved for when the important people come. It'll be..." he grimaced, shaking his head. "...interesting."

"Interesting? Does that mean I get a drink?" Laeon Wylde asked the new barman with an innocent smile, his blue eyes shining as he leant back against the bar to watch him. Although older than most humans onboard, he was still only a 'teenager' to his own people. It was more than just a little frustrating, and he was often one to try and push his luck a bit. However, this time, it was a genuine joke with the inspection team on the way.

Clarence laughed warmly, shaking his head. "Sorry, no strong alcohol served until later. Even if I suspect every single department head on the ship has knocked back some for Dutch courage..." he walked over to the bar, where he had set up several punch bowls and mugs. "But anyone who is thirsty, we have super fruity yummy punch and cool minty cucumber punch." All Kid friendly, of course. He didn't want to get the sack! Which was why he had put on his best black waistcoat to go with the causal shirt and jeans combo he was rocking as a bartender. "And raise hands if you need to use the toilet, or get hungry. We're here to..." he glanced around, chuckling nervously. He would have killed for the EBH to be here now. He had heard this ship had one. Extra hands would have been amazing. But hey. Just him and the other barman dude he hadn't talked to yet. He did need to do so, sharpish. Just...post inspection. He realised he had stopped talking and then clapped his hands, snapping himself out of it. "We're here to help!"

"Help and add a little crew morale." As expected, Tarel had taken to freshening up on her way from the main gathering location and down to the bar. She strode in as 'on time' as she could have been, wearing a conservative light peach dress, wearing a small, golden locket around her neck. As flashy as he could have been, she left most of her earrings back in her room, wearing a simple pair of chains for formality's sake. She stopped, smile faltering for only half a second, when she realized there were children in the bar. Keeping the out of taste joke in her mouth to herself, her gaze met Clarence's, and she quirked a brow. "Did you need a little assistance?"

Nia lifted her hand, watching the adults calmly. The Cardassian-human hybrid wore a pale dress, her hair tied back from her face in a carefully arranged style, curtsey of her mother. "I'd like something to drink, please. And how long will it take before the...admiral gets here?" She didn't understand why they had to be here either, she would rather have been in her quarters, reading.

Laeon looked down at the young girl, surprised at how...matter of fact she was for a young child. He reached for a cup, filling it with the cucumber thing before offering it down to her with a small, half smile. "She has to look at the rest of the ship first...." he glanced back to the tenders and singer. "Right?"

"Right. I think," Clarence said and smiled, watching them for a long moment. "So, we better keep ourselves entertained, right? There's...games we could play?" he looked around at all the children, nervously. "Calm, sleepy lion games for the little ones and quiet board games for the older ones?"

Having no idea what to do with the children in the slightest, Tarel gave as warm a smile as she could, remembering a friend's words. 'They can smell your fear, don't let them see it.' She made her way to the table, helping herself to a glass of fruit punch. "There are always stories too. I'm sure someone has a thrilling adventure story to tell."

A young, dark haired girl looked up at them all from where she stood at her small height. Her eyes narrowed slightly at the words and head tilted. "Does it have a dragon in it?" Lily asked, the four year old girl holding a red stuffed toy version of the creature in question close to her chest.

Doyle moved up and closer to everyone, dressed to his best. "Well, this is one way to start your first day here. Doyle McAdams, new Mixologist."

Quirking a brow, the Bajoran gave the young child a small smile, albeit a confused one. "Dragons?... Doyle might know a thing or two about dragons, right?" Tarel nudged the new mixologist with an elbow. "I hear all 'mixy's know at least ten cool things to get that title. I bet 'dragons' are one of them, right Doyle?"

"Of course! All good mixy's know about dragons! Especially dragon stories." Doyle turned to the little girl, "Maybe one day, if you are really good and allowed, I could tell you my dragon adventure stories." His voice emphasized the suggestions people made that he really should have been a teacher.

Lily covered her mouth, smothering a giggle, her soft dragon toy held in the corner of her arm. "Now?" she asked, not really understanding why they were all gathered here.

"Once all the people have been through and things are quiet. Dragon stories are best when it is quiet," Doyle replied.

"Okay," Lily turned and ran for the large viewport to sit on the sill around it, losing interest in the group of adults for the moment without dragons on the cards. She contented herself with blowing against the screen and using her fingertip to 'draw' lines and patterns she could see in the view.

Clarence watched her before moving to Lily, his eyes gentle. "Look...I'll tell you a dragon story now if you want me to?" he said, smiling as he winked and sat down by the window.

Lily's eyes lit up and she took interest in the adult again, turning to him, leaning forward as she hugged her dragon close. "Was it a dragon in space?"

Clarence smiled, nodding as he watched her. "It was," he said as he sighed. "His name was Drake. He was a big, powerful Star Dragon. A Star Dragon is a very special dragon...they camouflage with the stars. So you can't see them unless they move...They stop and stay still and you'll pass right by them. There's loads of them out in space," he sad and winked before getting back to the story. "Drake was lonely and would often follow starships because he thought they were friends. Not prey to eat, but friends to play with.

One day, he was following a little ship. He wanted to play so went over and nudged it before stopping to be completely still, blending in. Well, the little ship shook and the Captain got scared and put on the red alert! Everyone was so scared...but the dragon thought it was a game and kept nudging and staying still and nudging and staying still. And he was quite surprised when the ship opened fire!"

Lily gasped, lifting up the dragon toy to cover her face as if too scared to even hear the rest. But she peeked around the side of it, watching Clarence with a wide, blue eye. "What happened! What happened! Was he hurt!"

"Well," Clarence continued, his eyes shining. "The dragon wasn't hurt, but he got quite a fright! So he opened his mouth and said: 'I am the mighty Drake, I play with my friends! Do not spit at me'!" he chuckled as he leant closer. "The Captain was scared, but his XO, a smart woman, opened the commlinks. She said; 'You are scaring our little ones with all the shaking, but we should be friends and play nicely.' And so, Drake the Star Dragon became friends with the ship and the crew and they would race to see who was fastest! Sometimes, the ship let the Dragon win....and Drake was never, ever lonely again. So when a ship sometimes shakes for no reason, it's because Drake has forgotten to play nice and gotten a wee bit rough..."

Lily laughed warmly, clapping at the ending as she leant in close to him. "I like that one! I like Drake! He can come and play with us! But gently...." she nodded seriously with the last bit before giggling softly and wrapping her arms around Clarence, holding onto him with complete trust with a new shared love of dragons.

Clarence watched with surprise, smiling as he hugged her back. "Well..." he patted her back awkwardly for a moment before looking down. "Hopefully, the inspection will be over soon and then we can all go and do our normal things. Your Mom must be missing you already, little bundle of sweet dragoness..."

With a soft swish of the lounge's main door, Lirha and her team entered the final inspection area aboard the ship. While it was last on the agenda, it certainly wasn't least. Callisto Bar had been a welcome addition when it first opened and much free time and labor had been put into its creation and operation, and it was no doubt the social hub of the tiny starship and the place where the crew went during their off hours to relieve their stress and unwind.

Upon stepping into the lounge, the rear admiral was surprised by the greeting from the large collection of children who were apparently being supervised by the bar's civilian staff.

"...Well..." said Lirha somewhat awkardly, "hello, little ones."

"Oooo! Important green princess lady...." Lily peered at her with wide blue eyes, holding her dragon in one arm, her other arm still hugging the mixologist, keeping close to him shyly at the people in uniforms walking in. Until she saw her mother in the group. "Oh! Mummy!" she lurched forward in Clarence's arm.

Clarence grinned and picked her up, swinging her before holding her. "She's in her fancy uniform for the inspection...she's working," he said in a hushed whisper, but it was playful. "So we shouldn't make her go all giggly."

Scarlet tried to keep a straight face as she saw the reaction. She lifted her finger to her lips as she met Lily's eyes, smiling gently behind it.

Lily pursed her lips before copying it, giggling softly before pulling her dragon close, almost bringing it up to cover her face shyly.

Clarence grinned, giving the inspection people a respectful nod. "Welcome to the Callisto Bar. It's all..." he looked around, with a small smile. "In order."

Lirha smiled down at Lily with hidden adoration for the little girl. She absentmindedly placed a hand on her own belly and hoped that her children would be as adorable.

"Very good, Mister Pearl," she added while looking back up to him. "Saurian brandy. Neat. Four of them, please," she quickly requested in an attempt to 'verify' the establishment's proficiency.

"Of course, Admiral," Pearl smiled and gently put the little girl down. "Just hug the dragon close..." he whispered and winked. "I'll be back in a moment..." he pulled away and walked to the bar, humming as he got four glasses. He lined them up at the counter and found the Saurian brandy. A good year too. Only the best. He opened the bottle and poured, quickly, sliding from glass to glass with two finger measurements. He then put the bottle away and put the glasses on the tray before carrying it to them. "Admiral...Captain...Ma'am, Sirs...your drinks," he said and smiled, lowering the tray so that they could easily grab their glasses.

At last, Lirha thought with hidden celebration. Between the events in sickbay and the intelligence office, she and her inspection team had definitely earned a shot or three. "Thank you," she replied while passing a portion of liquor each to Holliday, Quinn, and Blake. "To Galileo," she toasted before knocking back her shot in one swift gulp.

"Galileo," Scarlet repeated tightly, lifting her glass to the others before knocking it back quickly, eager to get back to normal duties.

John said nothing, simply raising his glass in a silent salute before taking a drink. He usually was unhappy drinking on duty, but with the brass on board in the form of Lirha, he felt that he could justify this as a diplomatic function well enough.

After watching the COB also finish his drink, Lirha sighed and felt the strong booze warming her throat and insides. Almost instantly she began to feel a bit more relaxed, and silently gazed around the bar and lounge. Everything from the large LCARS TVs to the microbrewery assembly all seemed to fit perfectly into Galileo's cozy space frame, and it became apparent to her that this particular room was a personification of the vessel herself. A feeling of immense pride washed over her while she reflected upon what the crew had accomplished over the past year and a half, and she truly considered herself to be the luckiest admiral in the Federation for having the opportunity to lead such a competent motley crew.

Turning back to the bartenders and the children one last time, she smiled and gave them a satisfied wave of her hand. "Very well, children. Mister Pearl and Mister Doyle. Carry on," she said, happy that her tour and inspection of the ship had finally been completed. She then turned to the rest of the ship's command staff and nodded to then with thanks before returning them to their normal duties. "Dismissed."

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Wakeham Paul Alasia
Diplomatic Officer
USS Galileo

Petty Officer 2nd Class Rebecca Williams
Commanding Officer's Yeoman
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Assistant Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

Ensign Jaana Voutilainen
Stellar Cartographer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (J.G.) Tuula Voutilainen M.D.
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Asahi Kita
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

Chief Petty Officer Lyras Ueda
Diplomatic Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC - Kita]

Chief Petty Officer Pax-Inyo
Masyer-at-Arms
USS Galileo

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

CN Ash Rowe
Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

Father Ethan Walker
Ship's Chaplain
USS Galileo

LCMDR Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Oren Idris, Ph.D.
Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Galileo

PO1 Pieter Van Zyl
Botanist
USS Galileo
[PNPC by Idris]

Lieutenant Commander Andreus Kohl
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

CMCPO Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Gallileo

Lt. Jared Nicholas
Language Specialist
USS Galileo

Jonah Chaparral
Epidemiologist
PNPC Jared Nicholas
USS Galileo

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