Thuddian Sci-Fi

"I've found vinegar, it's a large cloud approximately 17 parsecs away from us," Ahdkaw said, "And it's malted!"
"Yes!" Horab replied.

Life on board the Starship Joshua Norton had become a little quiet of late, they had not come across anything of interest at all in about two and a half months, and supplies could not be stocked up on. All the essentials were available of course, thanks to the ingenuity of Nub's Infinite Food Machine, although it didn't come without it's faults. It couldn't do vinegar right. Not that anyone particularly missed the sweet tang of malted vinegar on their food, especially Ahdkaw, who in fact never liked the stuff in the first place. But nevertheless, Ahdkaw had always wanted to find a cloud of malted vinegar in space. Everyone laughed at the idea of course, but (probably intending to prove him wrong) they set out in search of the mystical vineger cloud of the void.

As was said, two and a half months passed, and the search had been fruitless, until today.

"Is anyone setting a course to this vinegar cloud then?" Lyric asked after a long pause.

"Good idea yeah" replied Horab, "Nub"
Nub ran over and fiddled with some of the knobs and the starship slowly began to turn. Ahdkaw had insisted during the initial design phase of the ship, that all pilots controls should be made from 1950's knobs and switches. He didn&'t want to be able to understand how to use them though (he had held his hands up in dismay when asked), he just thought it would be a good idea at the time.

"Beer?" Horab had cracked another and offering it to Ahdkaw.
"Ah don't mind if I do, cheers."
"I'll have one too guys!" Lyric called from across the bridge.
"They're in the fridge," said Ahdkaw and Horab simultaneously.
Lyric stomped off in a huff to get a beer, but seemed very relaxed when she returned with a bottle and Ed and they both sat down at Ops.

ALERT! ALERT!

"Oh shit," Ahdkaw said and looked out the front of the starship, "What's wrong nub?"
"We're nearing the vinegar cloud."
"Oh right, was the alert necessary?"
"Just keeping you all awake for the big moment."
"Thanks nub."

Everyone gathered to the front of the bridge and looked out at this enormous vinegar cloud, more than they could possibly take with them. The scoop extended away from the starship, and scooped some vinegar. It clamped shut and retracted.
"Everyone down to the mess hall," cried Nub, "I have prepared Yorkshire Fish & Chips with buttered Teacakes and Tea for you all."
"Woohoo!" went Ahdkaw and ran as fast as his little legs could carry him.
Lyric, Horab, and Ed did so a little more sedately knowing full well that it would take some time to get the vinegar from the scoop, through testing, and then into the vinegar bottle on the table. There would be plenty of time before the vinegar arrived.

They arrived about three minutes later to find Ahdkaw already munching away through loads of fish and chips and butties, and the vinegar hadn't even arrived!
"Ey AK," said Lyric, "shouldn't you be waiting for the vinegar to arrive?"
Ahdkaw stopped eating, put down his knife and fork and looked towards them all
stood in the mess hall doorway, "I don't like vinegar, remember?"