Drinks Around the Campfire Part II
Posted on Tue Mar 24th, 2026 @ 3:58pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Lieutenant Ja'sol H'ros & Lieutenant Vura & Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble & Major Edmund Merrick & Lieutenant Commander Katherine Malbrooke & Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Edited on on Tue Mar 24th, 2026 @ 4:05pm
2,899 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: The Malbrooke Ranch - Pawhuska Oklahoma - Earth
Timeline: MD025 2100 hrs
Tyler strolled up to the group with the bottle that Ja'sol had brought with him and a number of glasses. "So, tell me Ja'sol what are we in for?" he asked as he sat down next to his wife with a smile. He poured the beverage for everyone save his wife.
Ja'sol smiled. " It has a sweet flavor at first and then burns going down after you swallow it. Using human comparison alcohol ratings it comes in at one hundred twenty proof, or sixty percent alcohol, whichever you prefer. We use it a lot during the spring time goddess festival and toast the newlywed couples at the end of the festival."
Tyler finished pouring and chuckled at Vura's comment. "Vura, there is nothing quite like the great outdoors. It rivals space as far as I am concerned." He handed her a glass and then handed out the rest of the drinks.
Neil pushed himself to his feet, settling his current beer back into the ice crate as he accepted the glass from Tyler, eyeing the alcohol. At the mention of the festival toasts, he ghosted a wink toward Jayna and held up his glass. "Since I was re-acquainted with the sea again today, this toast comes to mind as a clean one of my grandfather's. May your joys be as deep as the ocean, your troubles light as its foam, and may you find peace of mind, wherever you may roam."
"I will drink to that." Tyler said with a broad smile as he sipped the beverage. Just as Ja'sol said it was sweet and smooth with an after burn. But not unpleasant. He savored the drink, simply reveling in this moment. One that he knew was few and far between in their line of work.
Vura looked quizzically at Neil after his toast before politely taking a sip of the proffered alcohol. Did losing a leg cause him to become poetic? More tolerable? It was a conundrum that she would have to consider.
Jayna raised her glass and nodded to Neil. "As will I." The drink was not bad.
Kat raised her drink. "I like it." She took a drink, then went to show Vura another way to roast a marshmallow.
Neil took a pull at the glass Tyler had issued and then finished it off and slid back onto the bail he'd chosen. It was too sweet for him, but he closed an eye in mock wince and said. "Nice burn...what's that called again, Ja'sol?" He retrieved his beer bottle, planning to wait a few beats before chasing the sweet alcoholic booze.
Jayna chuckled quietly, then smiled at Neil. She set her own drink down and turned her attention to the conversation.
Tyler was gladdened that Vura could see what transpired here. Since she had been aboard the Pioneer she had seen nothing but troubles. Had to counsel the crew through, which she did with stellar marks. However, this was not a crew, not now. This was a group of friends...no, family, simply reveling in each other’s company. That was what she needed to see, at least that was how he saw it.
Edmund watched with great interest, the lesson for Vura on making a s'more he found it interesting her reaction to it.
When Ja'sol arrived, he raised his hand in greeting, accepting the drink that waws offered to him that Ja'sol offered.
"Good drink, Ja'sol." giving a smile.
At the toast Edmund raised his glass towards Neil.
He found it interesting that Neil had connections to the sea.
From the stage, the band began playing Cowboy, Take me Away
Jayna grew quiet, listening to the conversation around her. Relaxing like this was something they didn't do often and she settled into people watching--and keeping an eye on Neil. He'd already had a long day and she didn't want him to get too tired.
Eyeing the crowd of officers, Neil half emptied another bottle and glanced toward Jayna, taking in her fire-licked silhouette and asked, "Dance? I think I'm just about limber enough."
"Always." She liked the idea of a nice slow dance with Neil--just to keep him from over-exerting himself, of course. "A dance or two, and maybe a walk in the moonlight."
Tyler watched as his XO stood up to dance. He was taken with the fact that this gathering may have the added benefit of Vura seeing that Tremble was simply a person. He felt that the bonds of this crew needed to be tighter especially if what he thought was coming, was indeed coming. However, that was something for another day.
Neil racked his beer, pushed himself to his feet and caught up Jayna's hand. "Right. We'll probably be back, so don't drink all of my beer. And if you do, replace it."
Jayna just waved as she walked off with Neil.
From the Stage, the Band started playing I Cross My Heart.
After Neil and Jayna left, Katherine turned to Tyler. "So, when are you going to ask your wife to dance?"
Edmund watched as Neil and Jayna left the fire to go dancing, he got a distant look in his eyes. As if recalling a memory, having a soft smile. He watched as the sparks flying up into the sky. He turned his gaze back to those who were left at the fire. Right now it was him, Vura, Ja'sol, Tyler and Kat. He did wonder if Tyler would take Kat dancing.
"I think I will make myself a s'more." Edmund rising up from the log to the table that had the makings for it.
Vura bounced up and down as she finished her first s'more and said, "Or I could make one for you and me, Edmund! I have to try another one a different way, as Kat suggested!"
Tyler looked at his wife with a knowing smile. "In truth I was not sure if your feet could bear the strength of that child and my left feet. But if you insist." He stood up and extended his hand to his wife. "Well my friends, I will be back in a moment. Duty calls."
Kat just smirked and took his hand. She had no qualms about pulling him away from the fire for a few minutes.
Edmund smiled as Tyler answered Kat in her desire to dance. Looking at Vura, giving a chuckle.
Turning towards Ja'sol, Edmund asked "Ja'sol, have you ever eaten a smore before?"
Ja'sol gave Edmund a curious look. "I don't know if I have or not, I have tried many strange foods since I've left home. Of what culture is it and more importantly, What is a S'more made from?
Vura looked at the others and commented wryly, "He calls being with his wife, 'duty'? If it would not get me court martialed, I'd kill him for her."
She then realized that she was burning the marshmallow on the stick, "Oh, my!" she squealed delightedly. "I can't wait to try it this way as a s'more. Edmund, how do you like your marshmallow?"
Edmund had watched Tyler and Kat wandered off to go dancing.
"He was making a joke, Vura." Edmund commented, with a smile "As for the marshmallow, I do like the marshmallow golden brown." having picked up a stick to roast his marshmallow to how he liked it.
Deftly rotating sweet white puffy confection over the fire, Edmund having a smile.
"Joke or not, I didn't find it amusing," Vura told Edmund seriously. "Golden brown.... Let me see if I can do that!" The Counselor put a marshmallow on a stick and held it over the fire and concentrated on it and rotating it purposefully with an intensity unknown to mankind.
Edmund glanced over towards Vura watching her focus upon the roasting of the marshmallow.
Ja'sol's answer brought Edmund's attention back to him.
With his marshmallow done to his like, Edmund pulled his away from the fire, and carried it to the table.
"The makings of this delicious gooey treat. you roast a marshmallow, get two graham crackers with a section of chocolate and place the hot marshmallow between the crackers" demonstrating the process.
Edmund handing the finished product to Ja'sol.
Ja'sol looked at it and sniffed it once." Chocolate I've had before, but marshmallows and graham crackers I have not. I know of a graham who works in engineering, but that's as close as I come so far." I take a bite. " Hey this is really good! I'll try making one myself now."
"Okay, have at it." Edmund handing Ja'sol the stick he'd been roasting his marshmallow with. "Just watch the coloration, and if you notice, Vura is doing rather well."
Ja'sol tried for the first time and the Marshmallow catches fire and gets crispy before he blew it out. " Ok, not so close to the flame next time."
He made a small one and ate it anyway. " Not as good as the one you made Edmund, But I know where I went wrong on that one and will try it again."
Nodding at Ja'sol, "Always gets better the next times around." Edmund stated with assurance.
Alyssa walked up to the group and grinned. "S'mores. I haven't had these in years." Shen she smiled to the others. "Hi. I see this is where all the fun is." Well, at least the chocolate.
She picked up a stick and stuck two marshmallows on the end. These first, just to test the fire. Then she'd make a proper s'more. She waited for there to be room. Then she lit the marshmallows on fire for a moment and blew them out.
Rather than having managed to burn the marshmallow on the outside, Vura had found that she had perfectly toasted the marshmallow a golden brown from rotating it. She frowned at the marshmallow and took it off and made a s'more for Edmund. "I'm sorry, Edmund, I haven't figured out how to burn it like Kat told me. I think I just learned how to do it like she showed me. Still, I hope that you enjoy it. I'm going to try and figure out that burned on the outside gooey on the inside now, though."
"Thank you, and don't worry about it not being burnt," Edmund replied, accepting the marshmallow from Vura, and making a s'more with her offering.
Taking a bite ,Edmund chewed slowly enjoying the combination of gooey marshmallow, melted chocolate and the crunch of the graham cracker.
Alyssa overheard the comment as she carefully slid one marshmallow off the stick and ate it. She wondered how you could not burn a marshmallow if you tried. But then, she'd often burned them when she was trying not to. Even so, hearing Vura reminded Alyssa that she hadn't talked to the counselor in a while. She would need to remedy that before long.
Another marshmallow on a stick for Edmund.
Alyssa's approach and greeting, Edmund looked up from prepping his next treat.
"Hi Alyssa, good to see you here." Edmund greeting her with a smile, then stuck the marshmallow into the hot part of the fire as he spoke.
"Marshmallow Flambe, is something I like as well." Edmund glancing towards Alyssa before he went back to cooking the marshmallow.
It got to where he liked, the glow of the fire danced upon the surface. Edmund enjoying the color of the flame.
Blowing the fire out, Edmund proceeded to take off the first semi-blackened skin, popping it into his mouth then placed the next layer into the fire.
Alyssa took off her second marshmallow. "I've peeled off layers, but I like the combination of burnt and gooey." Then she popped it in her mouth.
"Hello, Alyssa," Vura greeted the Chief Science Officer. She then spoke aloud, sorting her thoughts. "Maybe the rotation is the problem. That's how Kat taught me to do it. Maybe just sticking it in the middle of the fire...." She grabbed another marshmallow and tested that theory. Vura stuck the marshmallow on the stick and thrust it into the middle of the fire and devilishly grinned as she awaited results.
"We seem to be rather serious about how well we can roast our marshmallows." Edmund giving a chuckle.
Alyssa took three marshmallows and put them on her stick. "Of course. You want them to turn out right," she said to Edmund.
Then she turned to Vura. "For me, the trick is to not let them burn too long. I don't twist. I just light them on fire and blow them out." Then she proceeded to stick the three marshmallows in the fire until they were all aflame, then blew them out to demonstrate.
Edmund wasn't certain if he wanted anymore s'mores, upon the wind he heard the whinny of a horse which caught his attention.
Putting his roasting stick down upon the table, Edmund looked towards those who were still near the fire.
"Have any of you gone horseback riding before? Riding under the night sky?" Edmund asked.
"Not in a while," Alyssa replied. "And not much. Have you?"
Vura did as Alyssa instructed and then screamed, "Ah ha!" with the most rapturous glee. She then took a bite and savored it. "Oh, my! This is very different than the other way.... I don't know what I like better. I may have to have more of each to compare."
"You do. You definitely have to try each way several times until you know what you like." Alyssa grinned, tickled by Vura's glee. "Even if you end up having one of each."
Vura then turned to Edmund and Alyssa. "I love riding a horse, whether night or day." A mischievous smile appeared all over her face.
"I thought you said earlier you've not ridden a horse before." Ed had a confused look in his eyes. He scratched his head turning towards Alyssa
"I went to my home, got to do a bit of riding, checking out the old homestead. Mom and Dad have been doing rather well." giving a fond smile.
"How about you, Ja'sol? Do your people have horses?" Edmund asking Ja'sol. "We can talk about that as we go see if Rip can set us up with some horses for an evening ride."
Vura sighed, slightly exasperated. Edmund always was hopelessly naive. Perhaps that was why she enjoyed him so much. He was fun to tease even when he had no idea he was being teased.
Ja'sol looked around. " Is there a horse around here that I am able to see? So, I'm not sure until then."
Looking around, at the moment there wasn't a horse to be seen, then again, with looking into the fire, that messes with the night vision.
"They are probably in the barn so we can head over there, and then you can see what they look like." Edmund turning back to the ladies there. "How does that sound? Let's go see the horses."
Ja'sol gets up and walks in the direction of the barn and stands in the open doorway as he peers inside. He looks around and sees several animals that look kind of familiar to him but waits for the remainder of the group to catch up with him before going in any further.
Vura caught up to Edmund while carrying another s'more and eating it as best as she could. She wanted to ride a horse and was glad to spend more time with Edmund and some of the Chiefs.
"I'll stay here for a while," Alyssa said. "I'm going to visit a colleague a little later. So, I'll wish you goodnight now."
Edmund having paused to answer Alyssa before heading to the barn.
"You have a good evening, Alyssa." Edmund giving a smile before heading off to catch up with the others.
Alyssa waved goodbye. She didn't mind being left behind. It gave her a good opportunity to enjoy the relative quiet of the night and the campfire. And the s'mores. There was only one thing--or person--she lacked, and he was on Empok Nor.
A Joint Post By
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Battalion Commander, The Cure
Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren
Chief Science Officer/Second Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Ja'sol H'ros
Chief Security/Tactical Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Major Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Intelligence Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Katherine Malbrooke
Operational Advisor, USS Pioneer
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