[V-CM] Captain Rahman: The Extra Effort (Backsim)

[richyulin]

((Captain’s Mess, USS Veritas))

Kelrod: I still find it curious that Starfleet has so little presence here on the Shoals. I mean, do we even know where the Montreal is?

::She returned to her meal, scooping up another bite of rice.::

Rahman: Last report I saw from Captain Nguyen, they were headed to Donova. We might finally cross paths in a few months’ time.

Kelrod: To Donova? Wow, from what I’ve read it’s an... interesting place to go and visit.

::She shrugged.::

Rahman: Well, commander, I think the truth is while Starfleet would love to have more ships in the area, we’re limited by a changing Starfleet—along with what’s happening on the galactic stage.

Kelrod: I’m aware of that. ::he said looking at his plate for a moment:: Somehow I feel we’ve lost the path that the Federation was leading when Marcus joined Starfleet. Not to mention when I get involved with it.

::She could understand that line of thinking. There were similar commentaries from others across the Federation from time to time in the news.::

Rahman: This isn’t the Starfleet of the Dominion War twenty years ago. Hell, it’s not even the same Starfleet of ten years ago. I don’t envy the job of those back at Command who have to figure out how to tackle all these challenges spread over light years with a smaller fleet.

Kelrod: Yeah... ::He said as he chewed his salad.:: It must be complicated to make everyone feel safe with all going on behind the curtains.

Rahman: For instance, I was just reading about an attempted Romulan invasion of Duronis.

::He looked back at her.::

Kelrod: Not the first time the embassy is a target,  if I recall correctly. By your words I understand they failed and security measures will be taken.

Rahman: ::She shook her head.:: You can bet that means more ships will be headed to the Romulan border now, which means what we have now out here won’t be changing soon… unless of course the Tholians decide to try something.

::She took a bite, chewing for a moment as Kelrod considered the possibility of the Tholians.::

Rahman: God help us if that ever happens. 

Kelrod: Didn’t took your for a religious person... ::He drew a half smile.:: But I agree that it’ll be a problem. So, it seems that it’ll not be my suggestion that will trouble you. You have quite enough on your plate.

::She looked back over at Kelrod and shrugged sheepishly.::

Rahman: These are the kinds of thoughts that keep your captain up at night.

Kelrod: Not the best for keeping a healthy sleeping routine.

::She chuckled before taking her glass.::

Rahman: No, not at all. And the irony is they give captains the nicest quarters on ships when we seldom get to enjoy them fully.

::She gave him a pointed look.::

Rahman: A good night’s rest that is.

::She took a sip as Kelrod continued.::

Kelrod: I can tell you whatever you want about sleep deprivation. Don’t forget that I’ve been a kind of ghost for many years, and after the Apollo incident... another six months on a twenty four hours basis.

Rahman: How have you coped?

Kelrod: Let’s say that the doctors back on Starfleet Medical had quite some work with me for a while.

::Even though his case had been declassified, there was still much about Kelrod that Roshanara didn’t really know about. He’d of course earned the trust of her and Starfleet to serve as a full commander, but everything the man—or “ghost” as he put it—had gone through she had only read from the reports given to her.::

Rahman: Poked and prodded at you?

Kelrod: They wanted to find more than there was. Yes, being deprived of interaction with the rest of sentient beings was a test, but my experience on Ambrosia gave me the tools to get over it. However, the doctors were reluctant to believe that I made it so well after that.

Rahman: Well, you certainly look in peak physical condition most days.

Kelrod: I also had another advantage,... I didn’t need to eat, or sleep because I had no body that will be affected. But that’s not your case. So, if you might accept an advice from an old man... take some time for yourself so you can serve them better.

::She raised her eyebrow.::

Rahman: Them?

Kelrod: I said them? I meant we... no, not WE, us.... the crew! ::He stopped and filled his mouth with his tuna salad.::

::She decided not to focus too much on the man’s slip of the tongue.::

Rahman: I get what you mean, commander.

Kelrod: ::sighing and making the salad go down:: I guess it’s one of those times... sometimes it’s difficult to manage two lines of thinking and feeling.

::She nodded sympathetically.::

Rahman: I can only imagine.

::She’d felt that way before she’d learned more control over her own empathic and metamorphic abilities. In her case, it wasn’t even managing two lines of thinking and feeling. More like trying to prevent another from fully supplanting her own.:: 

Kelrod: I’ve been having this... sense of loss since I’ve joined Starfleet. The deployments, the fleet rearrangements, people moving with their lives, or the life moving them away. It’s like with Marcus, Harik’s left, now Walker, Tuk, Jolara,  even Raissa with whom I’ve not started in the best terms...

Rahman: A life in Starfleet can be very hard on relationships if we’re not careful.

Kelrod: I know it might be weird... but right now, not counting Greyson as he’s my assistant, I feel that you’re the closest thing to a friend that I have right now on the Veritas...

::He was looking down at his fork, avoiding eye contact now. It was a rare personal confession he’d made to her.::

Rahman: Well, then from one friend to another, thank you, commander.

::She kept her eyes on him until he looked back up at her.::

Kelrod: Response

Rahman: For joining me for dinner. It’s nice to get out of the ready room from time to time.

Kelrod: Response

Rahman: And now, if you’ll permit me to give advice, from a somewhat younger person to an “old man”…

Kelrod: Response

::She smiled with a nod.::

Rahman: Like anything in life, friendships, relationships—they take work to maintain. It can be easy to forget that when you’re stuck with the same people in a tin can in space for months at a time. Once they leave, it’s up to you and them whether to maintain those relationships.

Kelrod: Response

Rahman: We won’t make long-lasting friendships with everyone we serve with, but if there’s a relationship you’ve cherished, then you’ll make the effort. And I think you’ll find, commander, that you have more friends aboard then you give yourself credit.

Kelrod: Response

::She lifted her fork before taking a bite.::

Rahman: We’ll make sure to invite them next time.

TAG! END

Captain Roshanara Rahman

CO, USS Veritas

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