A Cup and a Quip

Posted on Sat Nov 26th, 2011 @ 1:13pm by Commander Michael Evans M.D. & Lieutenant JG Miranda Blackfur
Edited on on Wed Dec 21st, 2011 @ 3:34pm

Mission: Episode 2.3 - "Hippocratic Oath"
Location: Orient Express Lounge
Timeline: TBD

[[USS Pandora, Orient Express Lounge]]

Commander Evans strolled in and approached the bar, coffee cup in hand. "Double ristretto americano, medium roast" he ordered, indicating he wanted his drink in the proffered cup. He was often content with replicated coffee, but sometimes he wanted the real deal. Yuris, the lounge's host, was kind enough to keep a stock of beans for him. It took a little longer to brew it fresh, but it was always worth it.

While he was waiting, he turned and looked around at the other patrons: crewmen of the Pandora. There was the usual jabber of congregated people, and conversations appeared to be light. The ship had a pretty standard ratio of races that were to be found in Starfleet; vulcans, humans, bolians, and so forth. Then a tip of a furry tail caught his eye. This must be the sole Caitain, a feline sort of species, that was on the ship.

Miranda sat with her back to the room midst the crowded section of the lounge, looking at the stars. She was relaxing and enjoying the view, feeling and listening to the ship's harmonics as it flew through space. It was one of the ways she kept track of those on duty. If the ship sang as it was doing now, her pilots where doing their jobs and engineerings onduty were keeping track of things also. She sat there listeniing to the general hubbub of conversations going on around her.

Mike felt a tap on his shoulder, and he turned to find that his drink was ready. He raised the steaming black beverage to his lips, inhaled first, then drank a sip. Brewing an espresso 'ristretto' meant that less water passed through the ground beans, resulting in a stronger, more flavorful, but less bitter drink. The 'americano' meant that you then added hot water to the espresso, making it like a standard drip coffee. The result was a deeply flavorful coffee that was smooth and lacking in bitterness. He exhaled with satisfaction over the top of his mug. Then, on impulse, he walked toward the Caitain and stopped beside her. "Evening, Lieutenant," he greeted.

Miranda looked up at the voice that had greeted her. It was the ship's doctor. A quick fugitive look flickered across her face as her ears twitched and tail gave a curly sweep back and forth behind her. "Evening Do...Commander," unsure how to address him as she corrected herself. "Have a seat, if you..." Looking around as there was suddenly alot of seats to be chosen from as before it was crowded, letting her voice fade. Eyes watching him with interest.

"Thanks," Mike said, ignoring the increasingly stressed look that came over the lieutenant's face. Mike sighed internally. As a doctor he was "in" with all the ranks and crowds; but now, as a commander and as the First Officer, it was frequently the reverse. In an effort to appear more relaxed and nonchalant, he twirled the chair around backwards and straddled it, resting forward on the back of the chair. "How are you settling in to your position?" he asked, taking another sip of his coffee.

Miranda looked thoughtful, then spoke abit shyly, "merrrow... I wasn't prepared to be thrown into a department head slot so quickly. I figured at least be able to work my way into that slot when I was at a higher rank, Sir." Taking a sip of her drink, ears perked to not miss anything. "What brings you down here?" More curious than anything and wary.

Evans nodded as she spoke of being thrust into a position; it was something he'd known a time or two. In answer to her question, he lifted his mug. "A good cup of coffee," he said. "And," he shrugged, "I'm not in the medical lab as much. And I'm tired of just moping around in my office," he grinned. "What about you? You're not one of those loner types are you," he asked joshingly.

"Oh meow! No! Not if I can help it." Miranda smiled warmily, showing her white teeth, but keeping the points ends concealed. "Besides being the boss of my department, I'm always in contact with my crew. Training, certifications for the rest of the ship's crew to pilot my shuttles and ship." Ears wiggle abit as her tail gives another sweeping back and forth behind her, "If you dont mind me asking, are your Certs for piloting shuttles up to date?"

Mike smirked. He knew where this was going, as he'd pulled the same thing a time or two as a physician. "Well, they're all current," he said, "but I don't get to use them much. Don't get much opportunity." He shrugged.

"Moeow... Just to be on the safe side. Tomorrow in Holodeck 3 at 0900 show up for a holodeck sim flight in a Danube class Long Range Shuttle. And I'll schedule my department to have them come by one at a time for their physicals and checks." Miranda smiled abit cheekily at the Medical Officer who obviously outranked her by a great bit.

Mike smiled. It was always tough to get everyone to show up for their routine check-ups. "You've got a deal," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Miranda purred i delight as she finished off her drink, setting it on the table for the lounge staff to pick up as she stood up. "Definitely," Giving him another smile, took off to take care of the last minute rounds.

OFF

A Joint Post by:

Commander Michael Evans, M.D.
First Officer
USS Pandora

and

Lieutenant J.G. Miranda Blackfur
Chief Flight Officer
USS Pandora