"No substitute for the real thing"
 by Lieutenant jg T'Kang
 Chief Tactical Officer - USS Tempest

*** Earlier ***

T'Kang was off duty and partaking of his usual ritual; drinking a 
mug of bloodwine at the bar in Ten Forward,. . . . alone.

The Klingon enjoyed his peace and quiet time.  The bartender 
knew well enough to leave the warrior alone when he came into 
the lounge at the end of the day to unwind.  T'Kang had 
snapped at the poor tender on more than one occasion when 
he tried to make polite conversation and "small talk", 
something T'Kang particularly hated about humans.

"How do you do, sir?"  Cadet Borns said as he casually took 
up a seat next to the Klingon.

A look, as if he we shocked, formed on the bear-like Klingon's 
face as he slowly turned his entire body rather than his neck to 
look at one of the newest Tactical officers assigned to his 
department.    "Well enough. . ." T'Kang grumbled in response.

"Well, that's good, I suppose. . . . I didn't expect to find you 
here." Borns stated in that human "small talk" tone.

"And why is that?" the Klingon asked defiantly.  His tone 
indicating only mild, annoyed interest.

"Oh, no reason.  I just pictured you as the strong silent 
type. . . . of Klingon. . . ." the Cadet explained, tripping in his 
own words more than anything else.

"Oh, did you now?" T'Kang bellowed while turning away and 
glancing across the bar over his drink.

"Well, yeah I guess. . ." Borns said, suddenly unsure of himself.

"Warriors aren't usually *silent*. . . ." T'Kang corrected in 
Klingon fashion.

"Well if you look at it that way, there's always that point. . . ." the 
Cadet agreed with raising eyebrows.   His department Chief 
certainly wasn't the friendliest fellow on board the Tempest he 
was realizing.

"Of course. . . ." T'Kang said simply, taking a deep drink from 
his mug and wishing it was nearer to empty so he could retire 
to his room without further chit-chat with Cadet Borns.

"So, is that Starfleet's version of Blood Wine?"  Borns asked 
pointing at T'Kang's mug.

T'Kang turned and regarded the Cadet one more time.  
*Doesn't he realize that I want to be left alone?* he thought.  
Deciding that his normal tactic of simply being barbaric and 
rude was not working, the cunning Klingon attempted another 
approach as he barred his teeth in a seething smile. "You 
know, you're my kind of human, not staying around a subject for 
to long. . . . A toast to that!"

The Chief ordered two more bloodwines and handed one to 
Cadet Borns.

"To the Tempest and her crew.  May all their battles be won."  
T'Kang declared with raised mug.

"Here here!"  Borns agreed, touching his drink to T'Kang's with 
enough force to spill some of the red liquid before either man 
downed their drinks.

Borns eyes widened as he realized T'Kang wasn't stopping, 
taking swallow after swallow until his mug was completely 
empty and slamming it down on the bar with a satisfied 
"Ahhhhh."    Nervously he struggled to continue drinking the vile 
tasting liquid himself.   But he couldn't manage the whole thing.

T'Kang just gave a slight snicker when the Cadet stopped at 
half pint.

"This is an. . . . interesting drink.  I can't quite remember 
drinking anything quite like it."  Borns was quick to say.

T'Kang began to get out of his seat.  "That is qoH tlhutlh.  It is 
nothing like real bloodwine.  Were you to taste a true vintage, 
2309 perhaps, then you would know what real bloodwine is 
supposed to taste like."

"I will have to give that a try sometime sir. . . ."  Borns said 
patting his chest slightly over the horrid taste of the synthesized 
bloodwine.

"Perhaps that can be arranged.  We will see how your training 
goes on board the Tempest.  You will report to the bridge for 
training duty tomorrow at 0800 along with Cadet Soran I trust?"  
T'Kang said standing at his full, foreboding height.

"yes. . .  Yes sir."  Borns managed with a difficult swallow.  "I'm 
looking forward to it sir.  And I'm sure Soran is too."

T'Kang regarded the Cadet one last time.  He seemed a bit 
green, being fresh from the Academy, but he also had an 
endearing quality to him as well.  The Klingon was sure he 
could mold him into a fine Tactical officer given time. . . as long 
as his patience didn't ware out.

"Good.  Then I will see you tomorrow morning bright and early 
on the bridge.  Good evening Cadet."  T'Kang stated and then 
turned to exit Ten Forward and return to his quarters for the 
evening.

"Good evening sir."  Borns replied.  The Cadet watched as the 
Chief Tactical officer walked out of the lounge and then 
glanced at his half empty mug of synthesized bloodwine.

"You want a refill on that sir?"  the bartender asked politely.

Borns eyes grew wide as he pushed the mug away, "God no 
thank you."

The bartender smiled.