[snip]

Kohana grinned, happy that she accepted his offer. Remaining close, he replied, “Great. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll let you know the details soon.”

Smooth… I definitely arrived at this party slightly too late, Ivo thought as he finally took a sip from the glass. He didn’t want to intrude on a moment the two of them seemed to be having, though he was morbidly curious whether or not T’Pria’s reaction to Kohana’s suggestion was a success or a crash-and-burn. Would anyone ask, Ivo would have had to admit that he was actually somewhat envious… if he was actually the type of person to talk about that sort of thing.

He swallowed the liquid a moment later, and seemed somewhat disappointed with whatever it was. It’s still off… but how?

– Ivo Cerny, XO/CSO

The XO’s reaction to his drink did not go unnoticed by the Chief Engineer.

“Is something wrong, Commander?” T’Pria enquired. “My team perform hourly maintenance checks on the glucose matrix, to supplement the automated diagnostics. Their idea,” she added with an air of amused curiosity bordering on disapproval. “They seem to consider the food processors second only to the warp core in terms of critical systems on this ship.”

• Lt Cmdr T’Pria (CE)

“Oh, I’m sure the glucose matrix is fine… even if it’s a little concerning that it’s being prioritized over minor things like breathable oxygen…” he said in a manner that was simultaneously sarcastic and skeptical.

“No, I’m sure the problem is actually the program I’ve written. I’m trying to recreate a beverage I had on Earth the last time we were there, but I unfortunately did not able to keep an adequate sample of it, so I’ve been trying to guess based on spectra published in literature… spectra that are likely missing something.”

– Ivo Černý, XO/CSO

“What kind of fire water you drinking, Commander?”

SCPO Black Wolf (Helm)

“It’s my poor attempt at recreating… uh… ‘bourbon’,” Ivo said with some caution. “Though it’s not quite like what I actually drank the other day. I dunno, I must be missing something. Well, actually, I was missing something, that’s how I went down this road in the first place…” He certainly did not know how he managed to miss out on one of the most distinct beverages of his home planet for so many decades.

About this time Petty Officer Banner entered the room and saw the officers sitting together. Understanding that enlisted men did not normally sit with officers he decided to try and walk by them. In his hands was what appeared to be two beers and a bottle of something.

P.O. Banner

NCadet Wilhelm was on duty attending the lounge as part of his rotational duties for the ship. He made his way around to where the rest of the important staff were. “..Anything else I can get you folks?” He asked.

GM CockRoach

The engineering chief looked up at the speaker, before asking in a dry, almost irritable tone, “Perhaps you might fetch a glass of real bourbon for the Commander, before he poisons himself with this foolish concoction? Or, as I believe is the custom on your homeworld, let us have a ‘round for the table’.”

• Lt Cmdr T’Pria (CE)

”..Of course Commanders! Coming right up. I’ll have to pull from the private stocks of course for special functions if thats ok?” he inquired.

GM CockRoach

“Yes, Cadet, I’m certain the Captain will not mind. I’m sure that, were he here, he would agree that it is better that I poison myself with serious concoctions, and that we furnish this shared experience with Miss T’Pria’s credit account,” Ivo said. “Though I didn’t know that we actually had any aboard…”

– Ivo Cerny, XO/CSO

”..Right away sir!” The Cadet replied.

“You know what the problem is, Commander? When they make the real stuff, it’s stored in in a barrel that’s been burned on the inside. That’s where the color comes from, and the strong flavor is determined by how long it’s stored. It has to be a natural process. . . somethings you can’t replicate.”

MCPO Black Wolf (Helm)

A few minutes later the NCadet returned, with a tray of bourbon with glasses and a canter. Setting it down he dolled out glasses to everyone present. “..Enjoy sirs, anything else?” he asked.

GM CockRoach