Posted by Captain Molly Holloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Deck 26: Cargo Bay 7 (tag Stores)

Posted by Ensign Clinton Reed (Engineer) in Deck 26: Cargo Bay 7 (tag Stores)

Posted by Captain Molly Holloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Deck 26: Cargo Bay 7 (tag Stores)
<snip>
“Coffee M’am, bit of a project for Issac in security” taking the proferred hand. “Stores, err Clinton Reed, pleased to meet you”.

Damn fine grip thought Stores after retrieving his hand and reaching for the caraf. Poring a measure into the cup/lid better not use the replicator/ transporter shortcut again, these Starfleet types get a bit testy about it sometimes “Black I am afraid, but I can round up some cream and sugar if you like” dark memories banished for the moment, Stores steps up on the pallet and resumes his seat wile lifting the lenses and placing them on top of his head.

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo.

Molly nodded. “Forgrave? Good officer. I’m afraid I didn’t meet him under the best circumstances. I’m sure he appreciates your efforts on the coffee front, though.” There was no smile, but rather a stern expression that seemed to be the usual with Holloway. “I admire people who drink their coffee black, Mr. Reed. I usually drink it with sugar, but there’s no need for you to go to the trouble of finding some. You know what they say, if you want to try coffee, you should try it black.”

“It realy isn’t a bother, just don’t pay to close attention to how it arrives” Stores chuckles behind his wicked grin. “I’m not due my weekly ass chewing from the chief just yet.”

There was a quizzical look in Holloway’s gaze, not entirely sure as to what he had meant. But she gave it no second thought. She was determined to drink her coffee without her usual sweetener.

“I’m sorry about my comment on siblings.” Molly said after a pause. “I didn’t mean to bring you any kind of anguish… it’s easy to forget how great it is to get some sort of care package when my sister sends in several per week. In fact, this is the longest I’ve been without her sending me something. I guess her new job has been keeping her busy. Up until she graduated from college she would send me the whole of UCLA’s gift shop per week… I probably have enough Bruins t-shirts in my quarters to dress the whole crew complement of the Dresden. I can give you some if you care for them.” Holloway chuckled softly but she was only half joking. “What is your brother, or sister, like?” A warmer expression softened her features, giving the Intel Chief an air of porcelain-like fragility rather uncharacteristic for someone with her job.

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“No need to apologize, Captain. It s ancient history now.” The smile turning just a bit wistful. “One of each, acualy.” After a pause covered buy a sip of coffee. “Of corse on a famiy ship, cosines are just about the same” thinking back to his youth about the Tartuga. “ Maggie was my little sister, our cheif medical officer reminds me of her some. A kindly soul but tough as nails was our Mags.” Mrs. Reeds son smiled at the memory. Now My older brother was another sort. A bit dull and a mean sort of coward but damn if I don’t miss his sorry ass some times” draining his cup.” The old long haul families are a rare breed these days, not many servived the war” Pausing to poor another cup, Stores realizing the carafe was empty set it down, and whispered, < Forgraves brew, point five liters, carafe in situ this location> Picking up the caraf again he poors another cup. Lifting the cup and giving it a sniff, “It doesn’t get easier with time, you just get used to It.” After a sip. “ If you’ll pardon me say’n, don’t take her for granted Captain.”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

Was. The word hit Molly like a ton of bricks. For a moment, she looked at her own cup of Reed’s experimental brew and sniffed its contents. The aroma it carried was amazing, but she was always weary.

An eyebrow cocked slightly as the Engineer filled the carafe once again. She kept a silent note on how well he seemed to get around with the replicators and… possibly the transporters? Molly didn’t care enough about Engineering to know.

“I’m so sorry… I didn’t know…” Her words trailed off as she pondered a life without Erin. She shook her head to keep her mind from wondering too deep into the thought. “It’s funny, you know… I’ve always worried too much about her, to the point where dad had to put a stop to it. I wanted to know where she was, who she was with, what she was doing… she was everything I had left from…” Molly’s voice trailed off and she shook her head. “She pulled away, as it would be expected. But now… now the positions are inverted. I mean… We still talk every evening. It’s just the enormous volume of merchandise she thinks I would want.” A small smile formed in Molly’s lips. Black seemed to be Holloway’s color of choice when it came to clothing, and even though she was wearing workout clothes, every single item seemed to be Starfleet issued. “She says I need to remodel my wardrobe. Eh.” She shrugged. “I wear a uniform most of the time.” She said with a chuckle.

“Long haul family, huh?” Molly finally took a sip of her coffee, closing her eyes as she felt the bitter pang of the unsugared beverage. “So…” She paused for a moment. “I take it you grew up on a starship?”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“I did, and other than five years working the shipyards at Io and six months as a longshoreman it’s all I realy know.” Looking the Intelegence officer over, “ Well with the flaming hair and pale complexion, black certainly makes for a drastic contrast, I might see why your sister might be trying to get you to tone it down.” Stores chuckled.

Having worked at Io’s shipyards, Stores might have found the name Holloway vaguely familiar, with Holloway Heavy Industries being one of the largest starship manufacturers in the sector. Many shipyard workers prided themselves in knowing the different companies that owned the different ships and projects, but others didn’t really pay attention. Whether or not the name was coincidental, there was no way of telling at this point.

The corners of Molly’s lips twitched upwards at the comment. She shrugged. “Black is my division color anyway. You should have seen me wearing Operations Gold and Command Red… Oh Erin was vocal about it.” Holloway shook her head but there was a slight smile on her face.

Taking another sip to gage the younger woman’s reaction, “being born and bred aboard ship has its advantages, but leaves me a bit uncomfortable planet side” after a pause, “That might be understating the case a bit” the truth is that open skies were one of the few things that he found truly frightening, and the thought of being called apon for a planet side away mission left his mouth dry. “How about you? Where did you and your would be fashion designer grow up?”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo.

Holloway took another small sip of her coffee before replying. Without her beloved sugar, the bitterness caught her once again. Nope, she was never getting used to black coffee. How did people even enjoy it?

“San Francisco, California.” She finally replied. It was surprising, as there was no trace of a Southern California accent in her speech. Her English was pretty standard. Almost as if she had grown up in many places at once and picked the accent of none. The careful listener though, would be able to pick up here and there, very slight hints of a New York lilt.

“I guess for someone so used to be on a ship, Starfleet is the natural career progression.” Molly commented. “There’s an habituation period for most of us.” Her hand played mindlessly with the thin Rosary around her neck, making sure she didn’t accidentally dip the end of in on her coffee. “What made you join?”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“A phased polaron cannon,” Stores said, flicking down his goggles and requesting six sugar cubes and a saucer from the replicator drop down menu.”But I never realy joined.” Stores reaches out and tapped the illusionary keys to engage the transporter.

For a moment Holloway was confused about the sudden shift in posture of the officer next to her, not understanding what was that he was doing.

“There is sugar if you prefer”, the slight hum of the air molecules exited buy the containment beam join the background noise of the ship.

And then it became apparent. With the same quizzical eyebrow raise as before, she took the saucer and placed three sugar cubes in her cup, making yet another mental note. “Oh… Thank you.” The words came out drier than she had intended but mostly due to her own surprise.

“It wasn’t but a cuple years after Mom took over comand from Pops. That’s when I came back from Sol system and rejoined the crew. “ pausing to put his visor back on top of his head and take another ship of coffee. “We were part of a convoy this side of the badlands when the Jem’Hadar hit us. “We lost three ships, including the Tartuga.” Pausing as memories of that day replayed in his mind. “I managed to get into my EVA frame, and stayed back to buy time to evacuate the nursery, but ended up traped in the wreackage.” Taking a moment with his cup to his lips, “ it took three days for the Escort to effect repairs and limp back to us. But the Dominion had hunted down most of the escape pods and was laying in wait with a few as bait..” shaking his head, “buy the time they found me I wasn’t in much beter shape than the Vigilance, took her three months scavenging supplies and hiding from Enemy patrols to make it back behind friendly lines, and buy that time I had proven to be a reliable hand and the Enginering Department had suffered heavy losses so I just stayed on. Realy didn’t have anywhere else to go anyway.” Taking in a deep breath,” spent the war managing Ships Stores and pitch hitting for Enginering.”

“Buy the end of the war Vigilance and I were more repaires and aftermarket parts than OEM, they decommissioned her, promoted the Old Man and set me adrift. Stores looked tired and lost at that moment. “Ended up as a gang boss pushing a team of longshoremen, but my mouth lead to a bit of trouble. I can only assume the Admeral pulled a few strings to get me on the Dresden.”

Looking at the Captain, as if he had just forgotten she was there, “Sorry about that, last thing you wanted to heard was my sad tale” Stores chuckled. “ I do appreciate your patience.”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

Taking a sip of her now sweet coffee, Molly relished in its warmth. Now that was coffee. Shaking her head, she said in what she hoped was a reassuring tone. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I’m glad you shared it.” She smiled softly. The truth was, as Reed spoke, Holloway’s mind had stayed behind at the mention of the Jem’Hadar, her own train of thought lost in the memories of their recent encounter with them.

“I was nine years old when the war ended… I don’t remember any of it. I had my own problems to deal with.” Molly shrugged taking her mug to her lips for another sip. “But I know how vicious the Jem’Hadar can be.” A shadow grew on her expression, as the sound of a depressurizing shuttlecraft cabin filled her mind. The crash, the torture… How close her and Cal’s lives had been to ending…

The coffee mug slipped through Molly’s loosening fingers as her mind travelled to unwanted memories. Startled, and reacting instantly, she managed to grab hold of it, preventing it from falling to the floor and shattering in a million pieces. The dark liquid inside it sloshed around, sprinkling a few droplets here and there.

“I’m sorry. I spaced out for a moment.” Holloway gave Reed an apologetic smile. “It seems like you caused a good impression with the right people then. Which begs the question, why did they put you working cargo and not regular engineering?”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“Easy there lady, No shame in seeing ghosts.” Stores gently reaching out to steady her hand. “Looks like you have walked threw hell too”

Smiling and holding the Captains gaze. “To answere your question, Klienholffer has me working main shift with her but I sneak down here anytime I can. I find it relaxing.” Stores devil may care grin in place,”besides some one has to show your peaple what’s what. Cargo handlers deck apes are not” relaxing and finding his cup, “show what dose a ships intelegence officer do to relax?”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo