Reasonable Rates

Posted on Fri Sep 16th, 2016 @ 9:07am by Commander Jordan Gunning & Lieutenant Commander Le Austin
Edited on on Tue Oct 25th, 2016 @ 4:08am

Mission: Lie Of Omission
Location: The Castle [Deck 670]
Timeline: One week after return to Starbase 332

Jordan Gunning had found somewhere he liked. A little bar on one of the promenade decks, off the beaten track and mostly ignored by any Starfleet officers who might wish to engage him in conversation. Unfortunately being a civilian in a bar - this one known as 'The Castle' - meant that anyone else might try to speak to him.

"You see, friend, it's a hate crime!" The Trill who had plonked himself down next to him at the bar told him. So far he'd had his entire life story, all leading up to the conclusion, his wrongful imprisonment at the hands of Starfleet. "If I had been joined then this would never have happened."

"If you'd been joined then you probably wouldn't have ended up pickpocketing people on some core world moonbase." Jordan replied wearily, having taken little interest in the story. "Sounds to me like you've got a second chance so I suggest you book passage on a shuttle bound for Mira, open a little trading post, put my wallet back on the bar and buy me a drink with your own money."

The Trill opened his palms wide. "Your wallet?"

"Don't start." Jordan looked up at him for the first time, a kind face, black hair greying at the temples. It was no wonder he was able to worm his way into people's wallets - he looked trustworthy. He reached into his jacket and removed Gunning's wallet, placing it back on the bar.

"Vodka - on him." Jordan told the barman before turning back to find the Trill gone. "On me then, I suppose."

"On me," Said a familiar voice behind him.

"So you leave with no notice, then you show back up and try to sneak back past the chief of station operations?" Le Austin asked as he took his seat next to Gunning, "You must be getting dumb without Starfleet to keep you sharp," The Bajoran teased.

"Well, well, well." Gunning exclaimed, turning to greet the familiar voice of Lieutenant Commander Le Austin, the station's chief engineer. "If it isn't my favourite sparks. Did I hear that right? You're finally buying me a drink?"

"I'm Bajoran. I always keep my promises. Sometimes I take forever, but I do keep them," Austin teased, offering his friend a hand to shake.

Gunning shook the hand with enthusiasm. Lieutenant Commander Le looked well. He was the only person whose health seemed to be directly related to the size of his workload - the more he had on the more vital and excited he looked. "I take it things around here are keeping you busy?" He asked, motioning to the rickety stool next to him.

"Oh yeah, it's been crazy," Austin said with a chuckle. "I've got engineering issues, ops issues, the new guy is still having us work on the special security shuttle you wanted. We've got issues with bugs on one of the ships, you name it. I've got more work than I know what to do with," He said, sounding happy as a clam.

"That special security shuttle is my legacy," Gunning replied through a laugh, "don't let him screw it up!" He took a sip of his drink before he realised what he had said. "Wait... bugs?"

"Yeah, whole slew of them in the walls of the Monty around main Engineering. Didn't find any other on the ship, and we can't figure out where they came from," Austin replied. "Station security is involved now," He explained.

"Sounds like a lark. You suspect foul play?"

"No idea, to be honest," Austin replied. "We've been trying to follow up on it, but the tech doesn't match anything on station. We can only assume it's data thieves of some sort. They'll rear their heads eventually."

"Nothing worse than a data thief. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know." Gunning finished his drink and pointed to the empty glass, implying that the bartender should give serious consideration to getting him another. "You'll find my rates are incredibly reasonable."

Lieutenant Commander Le Austin
Chief Engineer

Jordan Gunning