"Securing passage" by Lieutenant T'Kang Chief Tactical Officer - USS Tempest http://come.to.tkang After meeting with Lieutenant Commander Lee of the USS Tempest on board Starbase 202, T'Kang headed towards the promenade in search of a civilian transport heading towards the Klingon Empire. The promenade of Starbase Arcadia was even more crowded with people then the other sections of the station. The central free commerce market place of the station, the crowds here were a mix of Starfleet and civilian folk from around the quadrant. T'Kang worked his burly frame through the pressing, noisy crowd in the central market, where fresh produce from near by systems were flown in and marketed to the Station dwellers who tired of the replicated foods synthesized by the Starfleet machines or simply wanted to cook "real" food for themselves. T'Kang peered over the farmers and shop owners that were excitedly trying to peddle their goods to the station inhabitants and tried to locate a place where passage could be secured on a civilian transport heading away from the station. The neon lights of what looked like a bar caught the Klingon's attention, so he began to make his way towards the establishment. As he neared, he could make out the sign as saying "The pilot's pub" Entering the dark, somewhat dingy looking bar, T'Kang could see that there were several somber characters patronizing the place. Some sitting at bar stools at the long liquor counter while others huddled in small booths that lined the walls. A few were playing cards, and T'Kang noticed a pale blue smoke-like haze that seemed to filter through the place like some sort of weird incense was burning or something. The thing that T'Kang immediately noticed however, was the way everyone in the bar went quiet when he entered and seemed to stare at his Starfleet uniform. That was when he first noticed that almost everyone in the place was wearing civilian attire, and that the look in their eyes clearly gave the message that Starfleet Officers were not welcome in here. T'Kang straightened slightly under the scrutiny of so many eyes and the accompanying silence, before walking towards the bar. There was a Bolian bartender there that had a tattoo of a screaming eagle across the top of his bald head and appeared to be into weight lifting by the size of his forearms and biceps. "You look lost Starfleet." he said flatly while drying a drinking glass with a gray towel. "I am looking for a civilian transport headed to the Klingon Empire." T'Kang stated robustly. The Bolian bartender and many of the shady patrons about the bar laughed at the Klingon. "This is a bar. Buy a drink or git out. So what's it going to be?" T'Kang glanced at the people around the bar. They each wore dark clothing, many made of leather or decorated with various colorful patches from places they'd visited around the quadrant. Finally his eyes returned to the Bolian bartender. "I'll have bloodwine." "Don't have any." the Bolian replied evenly. A few quiet chuckles could be heard from down the bar. "Kenar then." T'Kang stated. "None here." The Bolian bartender returned to more chuckles. T'Kang's face soured to a frustrated frown. Turning to the man nearest him on his right, he pointed to his glass. "Then I'll have whatever *he* is drinking." The Bolian nodded and began making the Klingon a drink. "I don't know if you'll want to do that bro. This is pretty strong stuff." the human stated causing T'Kang to turn and give him a good looking over. The man appeared to be a pilot, as he was wearing a flight jacket and an old style computer interface padd strapped to his forearm. His dark brown and black clothing looked old and worn in, while his otherwise clean shaven face was covered in several days worth of stubble and sooty smudge marks like he'd been working on an old vessel recently. "I am confident that if you can stomach it, I can too." T'Kang replied. "Suit yourself bro. Just remember, I warned ya." The Bolian bartender slid the drink to T'Kang. The Klingon picked it up and took a swig of the golden colored liquid. It burned his throat as it slid down and had a spicy sweet taste to it which packed a harsh bite when he swallowed. T'Kang couldn't help but squint his eyes slightly, before nodding and letting out a quiet, "Not bad." Chuckles filled the establishment as the volume began to return to the earlier loud levels. The sounds of latinum chips and cards being shuffled, of people talking between their circles of friends. "Well, at least you didn't spit it out like the last uniform that came in this place. Name's Spike." "I am T'Kang. I am looking to find someone who can provide passage to the Klingon Empire." "Run into a spot of trouble bro? Knock up someone's old lady? Owe someone money? Forget to salute to some Admiral maybe?" T'Kang shook his head. "No. I simply wish to return to the Klingon Empire before all hell breaks loose with the Starfleet revolt." Spike nodded. "I see. Well, you might be in luck then bro. I happen to know someone that just might be able to help you out with getting to the Empire. Why don't you buy me another drink and we can talk about it?" T'Kang took another swig from his drink, finishing the contents before slamming the glass down before the Bolian bartender. "Two more." he ordered, glancing at his new acquaintance. *** Nearly an hour later, T'Kang had secured passage to the Klingon Empire on a civilian transport scheduled to deliver a supply of self sealing stem bolts there. Unfortunately the "Steaming Mary" wasn't scheduled to depart from Starbase Arcadia for another three hours. Having made arrangements to be a passenger on that ship, T'Kang decided to go and get something to eat in the mean time to help counter the effects of the drinks he'd just consumed. Carefully stepping out of "The pilot's pub", T'Kang began walking the promenade in search of a suitable place to get something to eat.