Gin and Truth.

Posted on Thu Jun 12th, 2025 @ 10:28pm by Lieutenant Alvy Vithu & Keira McLachlan

2,037 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: R&R
Location: Ship's Lounge

Another quiet afternoon mused Keira, Britannic's ship's lounge manager. But it was to be expected. The famous promenade deck of Deep Space 9 had way more to offer. However, it would soon be the end of Keira's shift. She would be dining with her daughters, sister and nieces tonight. Faith's home made lasagna. It was precious family time which to Keira's delight, was becoming more common.

As Keira wiped the surface of the bar, she looked forward to her day off the next day. She'd spent a good part of the afternoon sorting through a delivery of alcohol. Most was for the lounge's own stock, but several requests had been made by friends of hers, Faith's. The latter's requested wines had been kept separate, along with Keira's own whisky, brandy. She and her sister had very different tastes in alcohol. That said, Faith surprisingly partook in Keira's most recent cocktail evening. Another was planned for an evening shortly after Britannic left Deep Space 9. For the time being though, the lounge was mostly occupied by those wanting a quieter space to read, play board games.

It had been a quiet first day on Britannic for Alvy. After the chance encounter with the engineer, she had gone for lunch with Wintrow, before reporting in with the CO. After that, she had explored the ship a little, and made herself more comfortable in her quarters. Now, after a quick workout in the holodeck, followed by a long shower, she was headed to the lounge for a quick pre-dinner drink.

Walking into the lounge, Alvy found it to be nearly empty, other than the woman behind the bar. With a shrug, she walked over and sat on one of the stools. "Afternoon, barkeep," she said, not even trying to suppress her Scottish accent. "Got any good beers on tap?"

The unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar, voice caught Keira's attention. She looked up, then pointed to the small array of pumps. These had been very popular since their installation, with a handful of beers rotated weekly. Usually one from Earth, the rest a mix from other worlds. Andorian ale, Ktarian beer, Warnog were the three other beers available that week. The Earth one was from a Spanish brewery. "Take your pick from those." replied Keira, going over to the rack to retrieve a glass. The beer pumps had been designed, made by Faith. The beer they dispensed was displayed to customers via a small screen at the base of each pump.

Alvy took a look at the four pumps, and shook her head. "None of those take my fancy, sadly. How about a wee dram of whisky then, a taste of home after all. Have you got any single malts on offer?"

The pint glass returned to the rack, Keira replied. "I don't have any single malt in stock, I'm afraid." In truth she did, but it was locked away for a very select group of people. Keira considered this particular one too valuable to serve to the masses. "Spiced rum, gold rum, brandy, Irish cream." began Keira, looking through her large collection of bottles on the counter behind the bar. "Gin, dark rum...oh." a pause. "This shouldn't be here." said Keira, retrieving a bottle of aguardiente. With it placed to one side to take with her, she turned back to face Alvy.

"No single malt?" Alvy shook her head. "'Nae bairn of mine is drinkin' in a pub that dinnae have any whisky'", my dad would say." She chuckled. "And then he'd probably complain to the licensing board at the council. But then, I'm not the respectable retired DCI McGill. I'll take a double gin and tonic with a splash of lemon, if you have it."

Keira couldn't help but raise a grin. "My apologies for the lack of single malt..." she replied, heading back towards the counter to prepare a gin and tonic. It was currently one of the more frequent requests. "...but I can certainly provide you with a gin and tonic."

Several moments later, a gin and tonic, complete with ice and a slice, was placed in front of Alvy. "Enjoy." she said, before extending her hand over the bar. "I'm Keira by the way. Bar manager."

"Thank you kindly, barkeep," Alvy replied, before shaking the hand Keira held out to her. "Leftenant Alvy Vithu, the new Tactical and Security chief. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." She took a sip from the drink and nodded approvingly. "Aye, always a good idea to make friends with the landlord, especially when she has a generous pour."

After a glance around the still nearly empty lounge, Alvy leaned closer over the bar. "So, Keira, as the bar manager, I'm sure you have a good knowledge of what's happening on this fine vessel. Anything in particular I should be aware of, or on the lookout for?"

Compliments on her drink making abilities were always appreciated. This one was no exception. "I like to keep the customers happy." replied Keira, pausing to step away and put the gin, tonic water bottles away. Returning to the bar as Alvy finished posing her question, she pondered. Of course, she saw, heard a lot. A lot of the latter was in confidence. "I wouldn't say so." she replied. "My sister can be a bit tetchy, especially with new faces." a pause. "But admittedly, she has her valid reasons."

Alvy nodded, taking another sip of her drink. She could relate to that sentiment very well. After all, there was a part of her that nobody other than her mother and stepfather knew, and that she secretly wished wasn't true at all. And then there were the memories of the Dominion War, seeing her comrades and friends fall in battle. "I can relate to that," she finally said. "There are certain things I just do not talk about. I'm sure that's the same for most people, though." She shrugged. "So, your sister is serving on board this ship, too?"

"That's right." replied Keira, standing at the replicator behind the bar awaiting the cup of tea she'd just ordered. Once it was fully sequenced, she carried it over to the bar. "She's the chief engineer." Keira then dropped the two sugar cubes into the steaming beverage, stirring it gently.

Alvy nodded, while taking another sip. "Hawkins, right? I saw the name on the manifest. The engineer I met this morning said that could be a bit touchy at times, but seemed overall to have a good opinion of her."

"That sounds like a very good description of my sister." she replied, placing the teaspoon back on the saucer. Keira let the beverage settle for a few seconds, before taking a slow, long sip. "I can't say I blame her though. She's been through a lot in the past few years." a pause, to remember her late husband. Her soul mate. "We both have."

"Definitely something I can relate to," Alvy replied. "I was in the Second Battle of Chin'toka. And I was the last person to make it onto the only escape pod that got out." She shook her head. "So many good people. So many crews, wiped out. I pray to whatever deity might actually listen, that we never see a war like that again."

The battle which claimed the life of her husband. "I lost my husband there." said Keira, quietly. She looked down into the rising steam of her beverage. "I don't know how their ship wasn't destroyed. Or what Starfleet was thinking sending Miranda class ships into battle." The notification of Paul's death was remembered vividly. So was having to tell Heidi, Lydia their Daddy wasn't coming home. "I guess they had their reasons." she concluded. She then took another sip of her tea, primarily to shield from view the tears now running down her cheeks.

"They sent everything they had." Alvy took a large sip from her glass, before continuing. "I was serving on an Akira-class, USS Stauffenberg. She was a proper combat vessel, and yet the Dominion made short work of her. I believe it was a Breen vessel that took her out, actually." She sighed deeply. "Five hundred crew. A dozen survivors. Only reason I made it to the escape pod in the first place was because the Captain ordered me to make sure people were evacuating. When it became clear that the ship was lost, he ordered everyone off the bridge. Captain Stevenson was a good man. One of the best."

She raised her glass in a toast. "To those we've lost."

Initially, Keira was reluctant to join in the toast. She didn't want Alvy to see her tears. Once she was confident no more were flowing, Keira joined in the toast. "To the fallen." she said, quietly. She then paused for several seconds. It seemed like a respectful amount of time.

"Where abouts in Scotland are you from?" asked Keira.

"Auld Reekie," Alvy replied, taking another sip and finding her glass sadly empty. "The Athens of the North, as they call it. Or, simply Edinburgh." She put the empty glass down. "What gin is this? It tastes familiar. In a good way. Could I get a refill?"

"I've heard a lot of good things about the place, but never been." replied Keira, retrieving Alvy's empty glass for a refill. "In fact, I don't think I've been much further north of where I was born." a pause to measure, then pour the gin. "The gin is called Roku. One of my regulars recommended it."

Alvy nodded and took the glass. "Cheers. Roku is decent stuff. I mean, it's no Edinburgh Gin, but a close second. Your accent sounds familiar." She furrowed her brow. "Merseyside, maybe Southport?"

Keira was surprised by how precise, and correct, Alvy's guess had been. In fairness, her accent was a bit of a giveaway. "Born and bred. I wish I could go back more." a pause, sentimental sigh. Her parents and brother still lived in the large family home, a seaside home passed down through generations. "Maybe one day I can go back for good and buy that pub we always used to go to on Sundays for our dinner."

As the pieces clicked together, Alvy couldn't help but smirk. "I heard that very same accent earlier today. I realise now that I never caught the name of that engineer I sat with. She had two kids with her, one of them I would say maybe three or four, the other one not even a year old by my estimate. Long brown hair. Do you happen to know her? She said she's a propulsion specialist, wasn't in uniform so I don't know her rank."

"Based on those descriptors, you were undoubtely speaking with my sister and nieces." replied Keira, knowing full well how reserved, secretive Faith was around new people. Propulsion specialist though? That was an extreme undervaluation of herself, her abilities. "They must have dropped by when I was on my lunch break."

Alvy chuckled. "I had an inkling. Well, I do hope she's not quite as secretive when it comes to work matters." She picked up the glass. "Anyhow, what kind of thing is there to do in the evening on this fine ship?"

Keira nodded. "Faith can do the professional part just fine." a pause, sip of her tea. "As for things to do, it depends what you consider to be your idea of fun. If you can give me something to work with, I might be able to offer some advice."

"That's a good question, actually." Alvy pondered for a moment. "I like watching old films, listening to music. Cultural stuff in general. Although, really, I might just pop over to Quark's."

"Well. I'm sure you'll figure it out." replied Keira, before spotting her relief arrive early. She took it as a cue to remove her apron, fold it up on the counter. A slightly early departure was unexpected, but very welcome. "Looks like it's the end of my shift." a pause, to finish her cup of tea. Her apron in hand, Keira bid farewell before departing. "It's been good talking to you."

 

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