Making the Moon Shine

Posted on Sun Apr 4th, 2021 @ 12:08pm by Ensign Duncan McManus & Gunnery Sergeant Billy Rhodes

Mission: Mission 4 - Eden
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD151 18:00
1131 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

The ship was not that large that you could hide a distillery of any kind but Billy was adept at finding the right space, right equipment to make home brews. He usually only shared these with the marines on board, and for the most part they enjoyed the 'rocket fuel' as a way of unwinding and socialising. Recently Major King had mentioned the crew as a whole would probably be interested in some, that in the interest of boosting morale and forming closer bonds with each other that it should be shared.

Billy agreed with his long time friend and CO. They were in a unique situation and if alcohol was needed then he was more than happy to give the people their fill, dependant on ingredients at hand.

Duncan looked up surprised as a Marine sat in front of him suddenly as he was mid putting his fork to his mouth. "Um, can I help Gunny?" He wondered only vaguely knowing the man from the Vrav attacks and some banter that had occurred around the ship since.

Billy looked at the younger man and made a grumpy face. Some would say that it is a permanent feature on the old Gunnery Sergeant but he wasn't one for listening to many people. He dropped himself down on the seat in front of Duncan and looked around to make sure no-one was listening. "I hear things Mr. McManus. Words travel round the ship like wildfire and always make their way to my ear son." he said rather cryptically. "I know that there has been moonshine being passed around this ship and I want to know if you know where from? I hear you have a certain skill for brewing?" he asked.

In truth he didn't want people to know it was himself that was brewing it and had gone to great lengths to keep it within the marine community but after a few cups... well loose lips tend to follow. Billy wanted to see if this had filtered through to the Starfleet side of town, if this young man would openly admit to him that he could brew. Then maybe, just maybe, there could be something interesting on the horizon.

The Ensign put his fork down and looked at the man confused for a moment before the penny dropped. "I do not have a skill for brewing. I just know how to make equipment for brewing." Duncan surmised what he was thinking. He knew it was a Marine who was creating it as he had stumbled on the equipment weeks back but he did not know who was making it just that it could really be improved on.

"Ah that must have been it. Old ears son, hearing ain't what it used to be." Rhodes said as he stuck a finger in his ear and gave it a wiggle. "Well... have you seen what I am working with downstairs?" he asked implying the equipment on the lower deck.

Duncan laughed as they finally got to the truth of the matter. “Sure have. Who do you think calibrated it better and locked it up properly?” Duncan said with a roll of his eyes.

"Never can be too sure if we have a guardian angel on board son. There are Gremlins everywhere." Rhodes began to laugh. "I was thinking that we need to look at better distilling equipment... make the product a little less rocket fuel tasting..."

Duncan looked at the man and nodded. Definitely needed to make it taste less like rocket fuel from the rumours that he had from people who had done it. He knew someone who could help with that. “So for me to join this endeavour I need two things from you.” He paused before carrying on with his proposal. He wanted to get something for Engineering out of this. Just like everyone onboard a morale boost was needed. “I want a few bottles for engineering and I really need you to stop calling me son. We are equal in this.” Duncan confirmed his requests with a mod.

"I call you son because you're at least half my age." Rhodes said with a smile but held his hands up. "But I can stop that. As for the bottles for engineering that will be easy enough if we make enough to fill those bottles. I think some of your team have been using it to power the warp core." he joked to himself more than anything. "Major King has told me the need to work more as a whole team and spreading some moonshine cheer will definitely bring spirits up. No pun intended."

"And that does not mean you can call me that. McManus, Duncan... Hell, I'll even accept Ensign but not son. We all have enough parent issues hmm." Duncan said with a grin. Parent issues in his case that would not ever be fixed. He was at peace with that notion. "Well from what I have heard you have already made a few bottles but it certainly has not come our way for morale-boosting opportunities or fuel. I am sure Major King has the right idea. It's okay In pardon the pun though it was a classic. Definitely showing your age with it."

Billy nodded at the man's statement. His relationship with his father had been a sight to behold back in earlier years. His father had been a marine and in a way expected Billy to follow suit, obviously, he did but it caused somewhat of a rift that never did heal. He chuckled to himself about the comment of age and moved on. "Then I guess we will have to remedy that and send some bottles around the ship for testing. See how well it goes down with others."

Duncan nodded. He liked the idea of sharing the love but it had to be done in a way that meant people did not get bladdered and they could still show to shifts and be alert for when trouble showed up. There was no If about the trouble it was only a matter of time for them. "We will have to see how the batch is going and see when and if we can add stuff to make it less fuel like," Duncan mused already thinking of Finn and what he had growing.

"Sounds like a good idea to me. As long as it still keeps its little nip then I am happy with that." Billy said.

"I am sure we can keep the nip," Duncan assured. God forbid it had a taste to it that was not fuel. "So looks like we are in partnership then hmm?” Duncan was not sure how this was going to work but to get some booze around would be welcome.