Flt. Capt. Karrod Niac - Legal Legerdemain
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Karrod Niac
Mar 26, 2026, 1:03:05 AMMar 26
to USS Ronin – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((Deck 9, Cargo Bay 4, USS Ronin))
Since returning to the Ronin, Karrod had experienced a succession of truly tiring days. He felt weary down to his bones as the warning from his alternate universe self kept playing and replaying in his mind, the data file that had accompanied it still buried somewhere in the computer beyond his reach. He'd considered bringing more of the crew in on the problem but that too had added to his concerns...he was getting dangerously close to territory that the Department of Temporal Affairs would likely raise their unique officious brand of commotion about and he still wasn't entirely sure they'd vacated the ship after their little post-Bajor visit. He'd decided to keep things to himself for now until he could figure out what to do and, after several days of paddwork and wrestling with an uncooperative computer system, he felt exhaustion profound enough for even Niac's nagging to take on a worried tone.
So he'd visited the ships library, retrieved a novel a friend had recommended about a woman who served tea with a hearty side of therapeutic listening, and popped down to cargo bay 4 where a non-descript crate labeled 'emergency hydration supplies' awaited his biometrics. He'd only just entered the usually empty hall of stacked containers and barrels when he heard shuffling from somewhere further in and decided to investigate.
To his surprise he found several things that fell into the category of unusual, any one of which alone was enough to give him pause. The first, cleverly tucked out of sight behind a large column of supply crates, was an arrangement of large kettles connected by hoses and pipes to nearby power conduits and, he believed, the ships potable water feed. His sense of smell and Rostil's memory quickly informed him there was wheat, hops, barely and yeast in abundance and a clearer picture began to form in his mind of what the apparatus was all about. The oddest thing, though, was the set of feet with toes pointed up he saw extending out from the maintenance access panel behind this impressive arrangement, apparently unaware of his presence. He waited for a few moments with a smirk before clearing his throat loudly and affecting a suitably stern expression.
Niac: Am I interrupting something?
He was fairly sure he heard the distinctive thump of a skull hitting the top of conduit before the man extricated himself and hastily came to his feet.
Morrow: I…uh..figured that Commander Raga would have read you in.
Karrod tisked three times with exaggerated slowness.
Niac: Mr. Morrow. I would think you of all people would be aware of just how many regulations you're violating right now.
He looked around and did a slow count on his fingers.
Niac: I mean where to even start...safety regs, environmental control regs, production of a controlled substance aboard a starship...the list goes on for quite a while, Mr. Morrow.
He'd rarely seen the ships legal officer and JAG corp representative squirm quite so visibly as he looked over his creation and then back to him.
Morrow: I mean, if you want me to take it down, I will. It’s just a hobby, though the 47 Lounge is featuring a couple of drafts.
Karrod chuckled dryly and extended a few more fingers.
Niac: Conspiracy to distribute, gross violation of good order...hope you know a good lawyer, Mr. Morrow. Better than you I mean.
The man looked properly miserable as he ran a hand through matted hair.
Morrow: May I speak freely, sir?
Karrod crossed his arms and shrugged broadly.
Niac: I don't see how you could get yourself in much more trouble but I'll admit you've got me curious. Go ahead.
Morrow: I think, sir, it’s good for morale.. And people seem to like it. ::he smiled::
Karrod let the mans smile hang in the air for a good long moment, just long enough for him to start looking crestfallen at his lack of response. He finally let his grim facade drop away and smiled behind his beard.
Niac: Of course it is, Mr. Morrow, but since I can't officially condone such a flagrant abuse of regulations...one that has existed since time immemorial, since ships were planks and canvas, this isn't exactly something The Captain can officially know about. Regardless of what I personally believe about the subtle work that goes into keeping a crew on top of their game. I think you of all people could appreciate the legal sophistry of that?
Morrow: Response
Karrod looked back at the apparatus and towards their be-smudged attorney with a hearty measure of bemusement.
Niac: I may have, without confirming or denying anything of course, enjoyed a pint or two of your Symbiote Stout. I do have a few notes about the name though...
He waggled his eyebrows in something vaguely approximating a warning.
Niac: But I agree with you that the morale of the crew is well served by your efforts here. If you take my meaning. Now, what seems to be the problem? I was an operations officer for a lot of years before I decided to let other people have all the fun...I may have helped put one or two of these together myself.
Morrow: Response
Karrod chuckled, a bit guilty, and nodded back towards the crate where he'd set down the book he'd intended to spend his evening with.
Niac: Well Mr. Morrow there is more than one way to quench your thirst aboard a starship...I don't suppose you have a few glasses down here? Since we're just two people standing around not talking about anything in particular, it occurs to me that we should do all we can to avoid dehydration...and as I said, I was an operations officer for a long time. I know how to lose a crate when I need to. And being the Captain does come with certain privileges.
Morrow: Response
He laughed as he walked back to the crate and thumbed the keypad, the side panel popping open with a small hiss. Within was a vast array of multicolored bottles of all shapes and sizes, gathered from various locales scattered across the quadrant by a few intrepid traders he kept in touch with. His private reserve had mostly been used for special guests, like the rare occasions Aeryn had been able to visit, but every once in a while he'd make his way down here to retrieve a bottle that would end up under the counter in the 47 Lounge for his personal use.
Niac: So what's your poison Mr. Morrow? See anything in particular that catches your eye?
Morrow: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
================================
Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
Since returning to the Ronin, Karrod had experienced a succession of truly tiring days. He felt weary down to his bones as the warning from his alternate universe self kept playing and replaying in his mind, the data file that had accompanied it still buried somewhere in the computer beyond his reach. He'd considered bringing more of the crew in on the problem but that too had added to his concerns...he was getting dangerously close to territory that the Department of Temporal Affairs would likely raise their unique officious brand of commotion about and he still wasn't entirely sure they'd vacated the ship after their little post-Bajor visit. He'd decided to keep things to himself for now until he could figure out what to do and, after several days of paddwork and wrestling with an uncooperative computer system, he felt exhaustion profound enough for even Niac's nagging to take on a worried tone.
So he'd visited the ships library, retrieved a novel a friend had recommended about a woman who served tea with a hearty side of therapeutic listening, and popped down to cargo bay 4 where a non-descript crate labeled 'emergency hydration supplies' awaited his biometrics. He'd only just entered the usually empty hall of stacked containers and barrels when he heard shuffling from somewhere further in and decided to investigate.
To his surprise he found several things that fell into the category of unusual, any one of which alone was enough to give him pause. The first, cleverly tucked out of sight behind a large column of supply crates, was an arrangement of large kettles connected by hoses and pipes to nearby power conduits and, he believed, the ships potable water feed. His sense of smell and Rostil's memory quickly informed him there was wheat, hops, barely and yeast in abundance and a clearer picture began to form in his mind of what the apparatus was all about. The oddest thing, though, was the set of feet with toes pointed up he saw extending out from the maintenance access panel behind this impressive arrangement, apparently unaware of his presence. He waited for a few moments with a smirk before clearing his throat loudly and affecting a suitably stern expression.
Niac: Am I interrupting something?
He was fairly sure he heard the distinctive thump of a skull hitting the top of conduit before the man extricated himself and hastily came to his feet.
Morrow: I…uh..figured that Commander Raga would have read you in.
Karrod tisked three times with exaggerated slowness.
Niac: Mr. Morrow. I would think you of all people would be aware of just how many regulations you're violating right now.
He looked around and did a slow count on his fingers.
Niac: I mean where to even start...safety regs, environmental control regs, production of a controlled substance aboard a starship...the list goes on for quite a while, Mr. Morrow.
He'd rarely seen the ships legal officer and JAG corp representative squirm quite so visibly as he looked over his creation and then back to him.
Morrow: I mean, if you want me to take it down, I will. It’s just a hobby, though the 47 Lounge is featuring a couple of drafts.
Karrod chuckled dryly and extended a few more fingers.
Niac: Conspiracy to distribute, gross violation of good order...hope you know a good lawyer, Mr. Morrow. Better than you I mean.
The man looked properly miserable as he ran a hand through matted hair.
Morrow: May I speak freely, sir?
Karrod crossed his arms and shrugged broadly.
Niac: I don't see how you could get yourself in much more trouble but I'll admit you've got me curious. Go ahead.
Morrow: I think, sir, it’s good for morale.. And people seem to like it. ::he smiled::
Karrod let the mans smile hang in the air for a good long moment, just long enough for him to start looking crestfallen at his lack of response. He finally let his grim facade drop away and smiled behind his beard.
Niac: Of course it is, Mr. Morrow, but since I can't officially condone such a flagrant abuse of regulations...one that has existed since time immemorial, since ships were planks and canvas, this isn't exactly something The Captain can officially know about. Regardless of what I personally believe about the subtle work that goes into keeping a crew on top of their game. I think you of all people could appreciate the legal sophistry of that?
Morrow: Response
Karrod looked back at the apparatus and towards their be-smudged attorney with a hearty measure of bemusement.
Niac: I may have, without confirming or denying anything of course, enjoyed a pint or two of your Symbiote Stout. I do have a few notes about the name though...
He waggled his eyebrows in something vaguely approximating a warning.
Niac: But I agree with you that the morale of the crew is well served by your efforts here. If you take my meaning. Now, what seems to be the problem? I was an operations officer for a lot of years before I decided to let other people have all the fun...I may have helped put one or two of these together myself.
Morrow: Response
Karrod chuckled, a bit guilty, and nodded back towards the crate where he'd set down the book he'd intended to spend his evening with.
Niac: Well Mr. Morrow there is more than one way to quench your thirst aboard a starship...I don't suppose you have a few glasses down here? Since we're just two people standing around not talking about anything in particular, it occurs to me that we should do all we can to avoid dehydration...and as I said, I was an operations officer for a long time. I know how to lose a crate when I need to. And being the Captain does come with certain privileges.
Morrow: Response
He laughed as he walked back to the crate and thumbed the keypad, the side panel popping open with a small hiss. Within was a vast array of multicolored bottles of all shapes and sizes, gathered from various locales scattered across the quadrant by a few intrepid traders he kept in touch with. His private reserve had mostly been used for special guests, like the rare occasions Aeryn had been able to visit, but every once in a while he'd make his way down here to retrieve a bottle that would end up under the counter in the 47 Lounge for his personal use.
Niac: So what's your poison Mr. Morrow? See anything in particular that catches your eye?
Morrow: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
================================
Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
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