Chance Meeting
Posted on Mon Mar 31st, 2025 @ 1:57pm by Michael Taggart & Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova
Edited on on Tue Apr 1st, 2025 @ 3:47pm
1,921 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Carthage Rises
Location: The White Stag Pub - Promenade Lower Level - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD003 1900 hrs
Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova, entered the Old British Pub. The Carthage would be performing her shakedown cruise soon, and she was looking for a bit of fun.
She wore a red dress that showed of her assets, but wasn't too restrictive. A woman had to be able to move if she was going to fight off unsuitable suitors.
After taking in the comfortable homely atmosphere, she made her way to the bar and took a seat.
For Rhu, it had been a busy day. He'd been working on his legend for the upcoming mission andgetting Valiant's business attended to. The ship was off in a week or so to the yard for a partial refit. While that was going on, the enlisted crew would be attending schools and testing for ratings. There wouldn't be much, if any, turn over in crew at this point. But they should stay busy and not wonder too much where the bulk of the officers had gotten off to.
He'd chosen loose fitting slacks and wrap shirt of brown and olive respectively, with low boots for pure comfort. His Akai was in the boot of course, but that was his only nod toward responsibility he intended for the rest of the day. When the invitation had come in, he'd taken it as a sign. Traveling with the crowd, he slipped into the Stag, glancing about for Commander Chernova. The red dress (what there was of it) stood out and he let a cheerful smile find his lips and he slipped onto the the stool next to the woman.
"Commander Chernova I presume?" he asked quietly, keeping his tone pitched enough for her to here.
"Yes, but you can call me 'Anahera', Commander Tyree." Anahera said. "Tyree is an interesting name, I knew a Tyree once, what was your grandmother's name?"
The one and perhaps only benefit of the Obsidian Order and New Maquis rearing their heads was the added presence of Starfleet at Empok Nor. This was a benefit that Michael Taggart did not let slip away. He took full advantage and made sure his business thrived. At the moment the Pioneer was out on assignment, but the Carthage and Valiant had put in to the station. So, the added customers at Mickey's beloved pub. He stepped up to two officers that sat at his bar. "Evenin friends. Welcome to da Stag. I'm Mickey and dis be me place. What can I get ya?"
"I'll have a large Vodka, preferably Ukrainian, Thank you, Mickey." Anahera said. "You can take girl out of Ukraine, but you can't take Ukraine out of girl." She added.
Rhu surveyed Anahera and then Mickey as he arrived, though his eyes lingered on the woman in red. To Mick's question, Valiant's Captain surveyed the bar and said, "I'm Rhupert Tyree, of the Valiant Mickey, it's a pleasure. How about..." he paused for effect, then smiled at the proprietor, "Since I don't know, you educate me on what you're proudest to have behind your bar." Then he grinned, "In a bottle anyway."
To Anahera, he smiled, "Well, to begin with I called her Gamma, Her given name was Eileda. She was from Betezoid, Five Lakes region. The Tyree part came from Earth, from Texas as I was told, though my family hasn't been there for a few generations."
"Well, I did go to Texas once." Anahera said. "Beautiful place, but a little too hot for my liking, but I did make a few 'friends' there."
"Friends are good," Rhu said, "Call me Rhu by the way. Gamma and one aunt were the only ones that called me Rhupert. You on shore leave Captain, or just a port of call?"
"Actually we're assigned to the station and we're preparing for a shakedown cruise, before we begin a mission in former Cardassian space." Anahera said. "And I'm the XO of the Carthage, I've made too many enemies in the Admiralty for Starfleet to give me a ship of my own. I was assigned because I'm familiar with the area, and have more ship experience than the Captain, this is his first command, so he's still a little green."
Smiling through his gaf, Rhu said, "Well. It never hurts to give too much credit. I saw the Carthage mentioned in the area security brief. Saber class, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she may not have been built specifically for war, like the Defiant class, but she can handle herself in a fight." Anahera said.
"So, Rhu, tell me, what led to you becoming a starship captain?" She asked.
Mickey placed a couple of bottles on the bar without speaking. As a barkeep he knew better than to inturrupt two people when they were getting to know each other. When the moment presented itself he presented a brown unlabled clay bottle. "Dis ere is for the lady. It is vodka, or so I was told. I am Scottish, not Russian and my russian is rusty. Well I was travellin through the Urals and it was gifted ta me after I prepared a meal for some locals dere. Smooth and flavorless the way vodka was meant to be. An fer da Captain here I have a Glenn Mckenna. Dis bottle was made in Scotland da year the Federation was created. I age it myself. So, when I tell ya that it is old enough to buy its own scotch, ya can believe me." Mickey poured out a glass of the vodka on ice, a glass of scotch on ice and then a shot of the scotch neat. He raised the shot. "A toast for our new friends."
The crowd in the Stag all raised their glasses. Cheers of "a toast, and lets have it Mick" rose from all around. "Here's to thee and thine. Here's to me and mine. Here's to everyone we know, rich and poor, and high and low. Here's to those we ought to mind. Here's to the whole of everykind." He raised his glass and everyone in the pub did the same then took a drink.
Picking up the scotch, Rhu could smell the smoke and aged oak. With that warning to heart, Rhu took a sip and did his best not to wheeze. The alcohol sat on his tongue, filling his mouth with the aforementioned oak. He picked up carmel and vanilla notes. And an underlying sweetness.
Maybe.
Mostly he was getting the smoke.
Raising his glass toward Mickey he said, "Thanks Mickey. " After taking another sip in salute, he turned back to Anahera. "Getting Command of the Valiant was just some stars aligning. The previous commanders were moving on. In a political move to answer some questions Betazoid had about Fleet's resolve and intent to make sure nothing like the Dominion's Occupation never happens again, Valiant was sent there and officially adopted by the planet. Which basically means Betazoid shipping interests redecorated the interior some. Hosted the crew to a limited amount of debauchery and parties. And I was appointed as Master and Commander. I'd been seconded to the BDF for a couple of years."
Taking another sip of the scotch, he said, "So. A token half Betazoid Fleet officer that StarFleet probably considered a cheap expenditure to placate a Federation member world." After a moment, he said "Shakedown's can be entertaining. Depending on how hard you decide to shake her."
Anahera had joined in the toast, now she sipped at her vodka as she listened to Rhu's story.
"So you're a poster boy?" Anahera teased. "As for the shakedown cruise, one of upgrades was to the phaser arrays. Having experience in both tactical and engineering, I'm a little worried about how they'll perform. I hope the engineers didn't take any short cuts, I don't relish being blown to atoms, or the ship floating dead in space."
"Well," Rhu smiled. "I am good looking enough to be on a poster I suppose." Smiling as he tasted the scotch again, he said. "Valiant is about two thirds of the way through an upgrade to our weapons and shields. I believe they'll be finishing those within the next two months. They're installing a MLRS system that will give us a short range torpedo system that will let us get two volleys of about twenty torpedos in a volley. Hard to reload so it'll be only good for surprise volleys, but it should surprise someone."
"Sounds, like a lark." Anahera said. "I don't envy the crewman who has to reload."
Mickey served a few patrons and helped himself to a shot or two along the way. He rather enjoyed hearing the two getting along. Their presence made the old Scot proud. They were part of a long line of great Starfleet officers who attended his pub. "Well it seems dat Commodore Malbrooke has assembled quite the team ere. Officers like you both keep us regular folk feelin safe. I am glad to be of service to allow you and your crew to blow of the proverbial steam."
"Thanks Mickey,"Rhu told the barkeep. "Speaking of the Commodore, what happened with Pioneer? I heard they pulled out abruptly. Any word on the grapevine?"
"I heard it was an errand of mercy, but that's about it." Anahera said.
Mickey smiled broadly. "You officers are nothin but gossips. Leave ta da barkeeps to learn everythin. My friend Chloe De La Vega tends bar at their little speakeasy on dat ship. She said that they are going to save a species that they had a run in with some time ago. Against orders may I add. It seems da Commodore has stolen his own ship."
"I'm sure he has his reasons, but since I'm no longer in Security, I don't have to try and catch him." Anahera said. Raising her glass she added a toast. "To the Pioneer may she help those in need and return safely back to us." She then down what was left of her vodka.
"There's always reasons," Rhu said as he hoisted his own glass in salute, then drank. "Sounds more of what my security chief deemed Cowboy Diplomacy? Chuckling he finished the scotch and then eyed Anahera. "Another Anahera? You look smashing in that dress by the way. Interested in dinner and maybe dancing after?"
"Why thank you, kind sir." Anahera said in a faux Southern US accent. Returning to her natural accent she said. "Dinner sounds great and I never say no to dancing, or alcohol."
MIckey poured another round and then raised his glass. "An ere's to those of us who keep the porch lights on for you space cowboys." He drank his drink, then laughed and stepped away under the guise of cleaning the bar. He had no further intention of interrupting what seemed to be budding love.
Rhu raised a glass in toast with Mikey. The scotch was definitely sipping alcohol. Then he ghosted a wink to Anahera, raising his glass to touch hers as he said, "Here's to dancing: A vertical expression of a horizontal intention."
"I'll drink to that." Anahera said doing just that.
A Joint Post By
Commander Rhupert Tyree
Master and Commander, USS Valiant
Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova
Executive Officer, USS Carthage
Michael Taggart
Owner/Bartender "White Stag Pub", Empok Nor
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