Tankards of Ale

Posted on Mon Mar 16th, 2020 @ 7:56am by Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Yamaguchi-Solusar

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Quarter-Cent Bar and Grill - New Quesnel city, Utgarde IV
Timeline: 2100Hrs - May 29th, 2393

"So how many Zapps does it take to replace a---" James Sanderson started as he sighed while he lost his train of thought.

"Not helping, James," Elizabeth Yamaguchi-Solusar muttered over her clay tankard, taking a huge swallow of the rest of the drink within before signaling the server for another. She needed a drink and a break from the caring and raising of infants, it showed too.

"Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, we're all in the same boat," James said, as the rest of the table nodded and lifted their tankards in agreement.

Yamaguchi-Solusar could only sigh in agreement. They were all in the same boat. Or the same base, at any rate. Starbase Vanguard. She and her husband along with their son had all been reassigned from the USS Dreamcrusher, that had been in for resupply before heading out to join the rest of First Independent elsewhere in the Taurus Reach, a rather unremarkable name for a remarkable place in space. No explanation had been forthcoming but she had been told to pack quick, now her son was in daycare and her husband was probably off drowning his sorrows in alcohol. No, she was being unkind as her husband didn't drink, not a drop of booze in his life. He was cleaner then she herself was and she had just spent the last year nursing a malcontent child, before that, however, she had been pregnant twice, the second was just the average but the first had been because her mother had not wanted to carry Kurt to term.

Yamaguchi-Solusar knew why, she had known all about her mother's reasons, her mother's thoughts, and her mother's issues. Hell Elizabeth herself knew her mothers issues better than her mother had done, considering what Elizabeth did for her day jobs, in short. Yamaguchi-Solusar was a fully trained Doctor, a therapist, and a veterinarian.

When her tankard was refilled, she swallowed half in one pull.

And so Yamaguchi-Solusar and those friends of hers who found themselves in their current situation were enjoying their last night in a bar in New Quesnel city that enjoyed a certain amount of fame for its microbrewery and its 'atmosphere.'

"What's a Zapp anyway?" an almost unconscious petty officer mumbled, before slowly lowering his head to the table, the two connected with a rather loud sounding thunk as he passed out.

"Derives from a twenty-first century animated icon," James answered before anyone else could jump in. "Fascinating satirical artists humanity had in those days. Now, I myself would have just called someone a wa---well, hello there," James interrupted himself as he spotted two female Caitian petty officers enter the tavern. James quickly moved over to the table the Caitians had settled while simultaneously signaling for a server. Yamaguchi-Solusar shook her head and smiled at the ease which her friend always took what comes to him, good or bad.

And maybe it won't be so bad, Yamaguchi-Solusar thought as she finished her tankard and waved down a waiter for a refill, the massive woman let out a soft sigh as she resolved to enjoy herself tonight and tomorrow she and her husband would start work on the starbase.

"Maybe this posting won't be so bad." the tall female mused aloud to herself more than to anyone else.

The barkeeper regarded her. "How so?"

Elizabeth frowned as she breathed out, the air coming out of her lungs all in one rush. "I dunno, I was happy on my last assignment, I was almost next in line to become the assistant chief medical officer for the ship I was on, then I get assigned to the starbase and I'm back to being a nobody." the tall female indicated her drink. "Could I get another?"

"What are you having?" the barkeep inquired.

"Just Bajoran springwine with extra ice," Yamaguchi-Solusar responded in a gentle tone.

"Coming right up. So whats the issue then?"

"The issue is that I felt slighted, I went from someone important and respected to nothing at all." Yamaguchi-Solusar received her drink. "My husband is the same way except his is worse, he was a senior officer and a department head and now he's a nobody too."

"Ouch, yeah I can see how that might be demoralizing but maybe it gives you two other opportunities, like more time off duty, I mean you can't want to spend all your time on duty with all the reports and paperwork, I'd personally go insane but hey. That's me." The barkeeper explained.

"Yeah." Yamaguchi-Solusar sighed softly. "My assignment before my last was to the flying circus of the fleet, which does not help me any."

"Ahh, you're a Roanoke veteran" The bartender cheered instantly. "I heard about that ship." The man explained. "Many of the stories just seem." he paused a moment as he considered what to say. "I don't know.. a little too far-fetched."

"Oh no buddy, they are all true." Yamaguchi-Solusar cringed at the thought. "I was almost sent back to her. I was even given the option. I declined as did everyone else I talked to."

"That bad?"

"Worse." Yamaguchi-Solusar shivered as the tall female recalled the conversation. "I hated that ship and everything about it,"
she added in a quiet tone before she took a pull of her drink. "Serving on the Starbase can only be a good thing in comparison right.?"

"Yeah, I mean you get the nightlife here and the two other cities on this world. Plus the Taurus Reach isn't exactly next door so we get the galaxy coming here, we have been for years and Vanguard is apparently the Federations key to how their whole setup here works."

"I honestly have no idea. I'm not security, command or tactical. I am just a doctor." Yamaguchi-Solusar responded with a smile. "They don't expect me to know these things. You want your sick pet looked after or that broken leg healed, then you come see me. I tend to those things." the tall female explained. "Maybe being on the Starbase won't be so bad."

"That's the spirit." the barkeeper slid another drink across to her. "You got a way home tonight?"

"I'll be heading back to the base with these guys, assuming any of them are left standing when we do leave," Yamaguchi-Solusar commented.
"I might be the last one again."

"I'll help you clean up, again."

"Thanks. I will need the help, again." Yamaguchi-Solusar sighed softly before she finished her drink.