Kol looked at McKeon, and nodded. "I've seen the reports, and frankly, your ship was lucky. Pirate vessels may not have energy shielding, but they're tough as sin, and as tenacious as a Hungry Vendark when they see a damaged ship"<br/><br/>He finished his salad, then nodded at both the Doctor's concerns, and at Kris' suggestion. "Cassandra, if I was expecting trouble, none of us would be sitting here right now, and I much prefer being the one to hit the enemy, before they try to skin us. Also, Kris, I trust our new chief engineer to find any corners that were cut by her predecessor, but, if it makes you feel better, feel free to investigate if he's used some essential parts to make a still."<br/><br/>He paused, then chuckled. "Was once on an Arcova-class where three engineers made a rotgut whiskey they called 'gamma gulp' damn stuff could peel paint off the walls, and probably glowed in the dark, because they used the heavy water from an old fission reactor that charged the ship's Point-defense laser as the still's base liquid." He shook his head, chuckling. "Good, youthful times."<br/><br/>He paused, then nodded at Ansem's comment. "Smart man. I figure that, when we do go into battle, the best food we'll get is day-old coffee that's boiled to the consistency of road tar, stale sandwiches, and stress. So, as was once said upon old Earth, 'Eat, Drink and be merry, for tomorrow, we may die.'" He paused, then grinned. "Of course, if I have my way, not one of us will have to be airlocked in a box."