Sympathies and Synthehol

Posted on Sat Nov 7th, 2026 @ 12:42am by Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale & Senior Chief Petty Officer Kotyar Ral Avran

2,645 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: The Invisible Hand
Location: Starbase 11
Timeline: MD005 - 2100 Hours (SB11 Time)

The bar on Starbase 11 was really just one of many places where people could get refreshments and food. It wasn't a party Starbase, not an entertainment one...but it was just big enough to have a few things that others didn't. Holosuite One's Theme Park was one example. The slightly darker bar was another. It was run by a human civilian, or at least it was assumed he was human. There was music, dimmed lights, some games people could play if they wanted to...but mostly, people came to talk and drink.

Since it was his shoreleave, or more his time to sit and wait patiently for the USS Thunderbird to arrive, Senior Chief Petty Officer Kotyar Ral Avran had become...not comfortable per say, but resigned. He nursed his drink like a man who had all the time in the world, even if he had already played a few hands of cards, lost some and won some...not that anyone really kept track, it was all for fun. If you wanted something dodgier, you needed to go to a civilian starbase. Not a Starfleet one.

He sighed and knocked back the drink, closing his eyes for a moment before motioning for another. "Not getting any younger, might as well have another then," he said with an easy grin.

Across the bar, a young, broad-shouldered woman in a gold Starfleet uniform barrelled towards the bartender like she'd been flung from a photon torpedo launcher. "Barkeep. One Andorian ale!"

She didn't wait for a reply before spinning around and leaning against the bar, shoulders square, elbows resting against the metallic bench. Like a predator, or perhaps prey, she surveyed the room wide-eyed. She stood up straight as though she was preparing for a bout in the ring, her muscular jaw tensing.

A squared away Risian Petty Officer sauntered over in his pristine command red uniform, half a drink in his glass and a smug grin on his punchable face. "So, they finally decided enough was enough, eh, Ianelo?"

"Get lost, Jare," Ianelo spat, her gaze resting on the man with a slow blink.

"Hey, I'm just here to get a drink," he countered with a chuckle, reaching his arm past her to place his glass on the bar as his eyes locked with hers. "What are you having? Well, besides a crippling career downturn."

The young crewman's face flashed red with anger. Ianelo shoved past Jare, going for the exit.

"Sounds about right. Run away," Jare spat. "Best we can get from a washout, I guess."

With that, Ianelo sprang back and snatched Jare's glass, splashed the contents in his face. Her former shipmates, all at Jare's table, stood and slowly made their way down to the bar. Jare stood there shocked, dripping.

Ianelo launched forward, throwing a haymaker at Jare's face.

The crew from her old ship rushed in as Jare recoiled, cradling his face.

A Bolian petty officer restrained her from behind. A female Canopian colleague delivered a punch to Ianelo's stomach. Ianelo twisted against the restraint, working herself free. She threw her fist behind her, delivering a weak hit to the Bolian, before she launched herself at the Canopian, bringing the other woman crashing to the floor.

"Wooo!" Kotyar had taken his drink and a step back when the fighting had started because it was none of his business, but when it turned a bit more...violent on top of the violence and the odds shifted into what could become a day in the brig for everyone, he drained the drink, put the glass down outside of everyone's reach and stepped in. "Stop!" he grimaced as he wrapped an arm around Ianelo to pull her off the Canopian. He took a deep breath, finding that right tone. "That's enough, stand down!" he snapped, still holding onto Ianelo...although he wasn't sure if that was the best idea he had this century.

Ianelo struggled against the man's grip. The Rutian drew back to swing, only to catch sight of a Senior Chief's insignia. A sharp pain seared through her stomach where the Canopian had winded her. Struggling to draw breath, her wild eyes settled on her former crewmates, who scrambled to their feet and backed up. The principal had entered the courtyard.

Then Ianelo's gaze settled on Jare, who bumped into the bar in retreat, his ale still dripping from his tussled hair. "I'll be seeing you, Jare!" she taunted.

Jare's eyes locked with Ianelo's, and fearing the wrath of the Chief, he fell in with his friends. Safety in numbers. That dog!

"Quit it," Kotyar snapped, letting go of her once the others had retreated. He looked at her, shaking his head with disapproval. And then he exhaled, meeting her eyes before he nodded. "Want to tell me what all that was about?"

"They're my former shipmates from the Cairo," Ianelo replied, stepping away. She rolled her aching shoulder as she eyed the departing non-coms. "It's nothing. Really."

"Seemed a bit violent for, and a quote...'nothing'," he said lightly, before he motioned to the bartender for two more drinks. He motioned to the barstools. "Take a seat. I'm Kotyar."

"Any port in a storm, I suppose. Ianelo," she grumbled like an insolent teen. "I'm Bell Ianelo. I'm also... damn angry."

Kotyar laughed at the way she said it, looking at her before he nodded. "Yeah, I get that. And you know, if Security asks, I will just be honest and say that it all got a bit out of hand, but no foul..." he smiled when the drinks were put down. "So you want to tell uncle Kotyar what pissed you off? Seemed...personal. But I do approve of the classic throw liquid at people. Classic."

The Chief's remark elicited a laugh that helped her to suppress the tears that were welling in her eyes. She pulled her hair back into place, her fingers smoothing out the streak of black in the sandy hair. "I learned that one at basic training," she grinned. She quickly dabbed away a tear before it fell into her drink, which was her next port of call. She took a sip and rested it back on the bar. "Not that it was worth a damn. I've been tossed out, Chief. Those jerks are right."

"Tossed out of Starfleer, or the ship?" he asked, bluntly, because one was easier than the other. And one was permanent, or semi-permanent and the other...well, ships were ships. He was curious what had happened but pushing exactly into the details wasn't important. It didn't change anything and...well, people were people. And they'd always spin their own way on a story.

"That remains to be seen. They don't want me on the Cairo, I know that much. The Exec said I belong to the lowest bidder, if they'd have me." Bell lowered her head into her hands. "They'll probably have me sent to Starbase 80!"

He grimaced at the mention of Starbase 80 before he took his glass and knocked it back. So much for shoreleave. "Don't worry about it," he finally said. "You're still in Starfleet, you've not been discharged. They got to find a place for you and honestly...if it is Starbase 80, you get choices. What's your specialism?"

“I was a shield tech, but… but my rating has been revoked.” Her head stayed in her hands. “Is… is that permanent?”

"Nah, you can ask for a review. Might have to do a course and stuff..." he watched her before he sighed. Okay, so he would need more information. Shield techs...were handy people. "So. What happened, Bell?"

"Combat readiness drills. The CO was obsessed with them. He wanted us ready for the Cardassians, which I guess is fair, but we were being drilled five times a week for hours on end." Ianelo rolled her eyes. "Well, my efficiency coefficient rating 'fell below an acceptable rate' for the ship's leadership after I made a single mistake. I... I was still just trying to learn my job, Chief. Okay... and..."

He watched her for a moment before motioning for more drink. "What was the mistake?" he asked, because the facts mattered in general. And it was a good way to...weigh up things. And the CO seemed...well, someone who was scared. And fear spread, made people harsh, made things seem worse than they were. He didn't approve. You didn't just...discard your crewmates, no matter what. Unless they got possessed by ancient gods, or tried to eat you...then maybe.

"The first or the second? Where do I begin," Ianelo grumbled. She sniffled a little, dabbing her nose with her sleeve. "During the simulation, I got the shield frequency wrong. According to the tactical officer, the Cardassians would've punched straight through our defenses. I asked the XO to try again, y'know, for another chance; the response of course was 'maybe you can ask the Cardassians who just killed us'. But... but it wasn't just that. I'd painted a target on my back, y'know, with the crew."

"Wait..." he looked at her, with some confusion. "This is over a...simulation shield configuration? An actual simulation, not real battle, not insubordination or something that got people actually hurt? This is about...theory?" he sat back, reaching out to touch her arm to make her look at him.

“It wasn’t just the simulation,” she sighed. “That was the final straw. I ‘spoke out of turn’ after the simulation, once they found my mistake. I… I might’ve lost my temper and told the Exec and tactical officer that the simulations were… bullshit.”

"Ah..." he nodded with understanding. He agreed. But he also knew that there was a rank and...well, enlisted were enlisted. "Well, unless they want to put you up on charges and court martial you, they can't kick you out of the fleet. Which means you'll be put in the general pool and whoever needs an extra body in your department gets you. I think it's...good, in a way. For you it'll be a fresh start. And a chance to figure out what you actually want."

"Perhaps," Ianelo said with a nod. "All of this... this whole Starfleet thing, it just wasn't... wasn't what I expected, y'know?"

He laughed at that, shaking his head before he nodded. "I know. Thing is...life is never what you expect, or what you think it will be. And if you don't want Starfleet? That's okay. Loads of things you can do in the Federation. But don't let them bully you out of a career either."

"I had to leave a lot for this life," Ianelo sighed. "Y'know, eighteen months ago I couldn't even imagine a life outside of Starfleet. Now..."

"And that's fine," he said before he took his refreshed drink and sipped it. "And there's a lot of stuff outside of Starfleet, good lives and all that. If that is what you want. If it isn't?" he looked at her and smiled. "Then shake it off and take the next step. Re-certification if needed, transfer to a new ship or base and you continue your work. You got options, choice...and with that comes power. Don't let them try and make you into something weaker than you are."

"Sounds like I'll be looking in the job listings. For hire: one brute of a shield tech who can't match her performance with her mouth." Ianelo sighed. She looked into her drink for a moment, the bubbles fizzling away like her hopes and dreams. Her glance settled back on the senior non-com. "What about you, Chief? What's your story?"

Kotyar chuckled as he shook his head, looking at her for a moment. "About as messy as yours in places," he said lightly. He wasn't going to let her sit there and dwell too deeply. But she had asked. So he might as well answer. "Joined Starfleet, worked at the fleetyards for a bit and then just...worked. I'm an engineer." He lifted his glass to sip. "And somewhat trouble maker at times. We all are. It's what keeps Starfleet going. You honestly think that anything would ever get accomplished if everyone was perfect? We'd be too busy preening in shiny surfaces to actually make mistakes and then fix them and learn stuff."

"Save that stuff for the folks on the Enterprise, eh?" She rolled her eyes. "Or the Cairo. It's reassuring to know that someone can at least make it to Chief in this fleet with a few mistakes under their belt."

"Everyone makes mistakes," he said and looked at her before he chuckled. "And you can decide how you carry it. You can be bitter about it today, angry about it...but tomorrow, you report to Starbase 11's quartermaster. And you brush this all off as something that happened to you, but it's done. You survived it."

"Survived is the word," She huffed. "I guess I just need to move on. You ever had a bad posting, Chief?"

Kotyar looked at her before he shook his head. "I've had bad Chiefs, questionable missions and a lot of arrogant officers thinking I'm less than space dust...but not a bad posting," he admitted and gave a small shrug. "Each made me learn something, either about the job or myself or both. Besides...your experience is your experience. I'm not going to look around in your head to know exactly how you feel. But I don't think you're wrong...about moving on. A new ship, or starbase...if that is what you want. I'm basically here waiting for my new ship."

“What’s your new assignment?” Ianelo asked.

"USS Thunderbird," he said with a small sigh and sipped his drink. "I keep wanting to say Thunderchild. Not entirely sure why. But yes..." he glanced at her and grinned. "We're at the mercy of Command, Ianelo. Remember that. Sometimes, best just to roll with it, makes life more enjoyable."

"Leaves us with nothing to lose, I guess." She raised her glass. "To the next adventure."

"To whatever it brings..." he said and raised his glass to her before he knocked back the rest of his drink. "We live and we learn."

"The Thunderbird, that's an Akira, right?" Ianello asked. She took another quick swig of her drink. "What are they up to out this way?"

"Ah, wish I knew," Kotyar said as he gave a small shrug. "I was just told to report here. Been here for...about four days now. Kept myself busy and it is almost like shoreleave."

"What does a Chief do for four days?" Ianelo asked.

He considered it for a moment before he grinned, looking at her for a moment. "Oh, I chased a mystery. There's a theme park in a holosuite, they do fireworks and rollercoasters. I recommend trying it. Apart from that? Resting...because that is what you do when you have downtime. You take a moment, have a drink and rest."

"Nothing wrong with a quick scrap too." Ianelo shot a sideways glance and a smirk at Kotyar. "Perhaps that's what I need. Rest. Sleep on all this mess."

"Well right now you need another drink on Uncle Kotyar. Don't worry about things, because I will make sure you get safely to a place to rest your head," he said, meeting her eyes before he motioned the bartender over. "Another round." He sat back slightly, having made a decision. But he'd be happy to make sure she was safe tonight, and could sleep this off.

"Bring it on!" Ianelo grinned. "I've got nowhere to be tomorrow, Chief. Let's see if you can go me round-for-round."

---

Senior Chief Petty Officer Kotyar Ral Avran
Chief of the Boat
USS Thunderbird

Crewman Bell Ianelo
Shield Technician (Unassigned)
Formerly of USS Cairo
(Played by Lieutenant Bartholomew Hale)

 

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