JP: Cmdr. Karrod Niac & Lt. Cmdr. Toryn Raga with VAdm. Makisig Corcino - The Longest Road - PT1
Karrod Niac
((Lounge 47, USS Ronin, In Orbit of Ferenginar))
Lingering in the hallway outside the lounge while awkwardly tugging at his dress whites, Karrod found himself confronted with more anxiety than he’d faced at any other point in his career. He’d faced mortal danger and critical command decisions, made life or death choices without hesitation, even begun to shape the destiny of an entire sector of space, but this small formality beat them all at jangling his nerves.
He took a few slow breaths and nodded to smiling members of the crew as they headed inside, wishing he could share some of the excitement and happiness he saw written on their features. Instead, he found himself looking backwards and considering the long arc of his career. The sacrifices and triumphs, the friends made and lost, the endings that almost were. All before he’d finally arrived at what many considered the culmination of a career in Starfleet.
Toryn approached Karrod and while his telepathic gifts were restricted to those of his own species, even a Vulcan could tell he was bothered by something.
Raga: Keep tugging at that uniform and it’ll crease. ::His brow raised:: Any particular reason why you’re lurking outside?
Karrod hadn’t noticed his XO walking up, but was glad for the distraction. He hadn’t known Lt. Cmdr. Toryn Raga at all before the Ronin’s crew was hastily assembled six months ago, but now Karrod wasn’t sure how he’d get through a day of running the ship without the man. He offered a hand in greeting and found a small smile making its way to his face.
Toryn’s smile was broad and amused as he took the man’s hand in the standard Human greeting, then placed his right hand on the Trill’s left shoulder about midway in the Al-Leyan way of greeting. To signify their closeness as friends and colleagues.
Niac: Just practicing my speech, XO. Speaking of, know a good word that rhymes with ‘Ronin?’ All the ones I’ve come up with end up sounding a bit vulgar.
Raga: Flown in? ::He answered genuinely:: Roamin’. Homin’.
Karrod snorted ruefully and glanced towards his XO with an arched eyebrow.
Niac: Well, at least you’ve told me I didn’t skip any really good ones.
Poetry being one of his favored and beloved hobbies to both read and write, the latter being exclusively for his mate Ishkabella, he had a good head for rhyming couplets.
Raga: Perhaps you might want to not make Ronin the word you rhyme with.
The Al-Leyan smirked and smoothed his own dress whites with the palm of his hand, and regarded his CO and friend with a reassuring smile.
Niac: That seems fair, but the crew deserves something special. Our last mission was a tough one for everybody.
Raga: Relax, Karrod. If the crew can handle your poorly baked rhombuses, they can handle this.
Toryn had only known the Trill for the six months that they’d been together on this crew, and they’d near-instantly built a rapport with one another. He did not make friends quickly, and yet Karrod was among those he considered good ones. The man in front of him had made the transition to the Ronin, leaving his old crew lightyears away, a bearable and fairly painless one.
Karrod’s smile to his XO faded as he saw another officer striding down the corridor behind him and let out a deep sigh.
Niac: Well, this is going to be painful. Head in, I’ll join you in a few minutes. If I don’t, come out here with a phaser rifle.
They shared a nod as his XO headed into the lounge, and Karrod’s attention shifted.
Captain Nehir Sahin approached the Ronin CO.
Sahin: Commander Niac?
Karrod glanced over and recognized the obsequious smile and smooth body language of Vice Admiral Makisig Corcino’s attaché. He’d only spoken to the dark haired woman once, and briefly at that, but she’d made quite the poor impression on him in very short order.
((FLASHBACK, Stardate 240011.30, Ready Room, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
Niac: =/\= Captain Sahin? Where’s Vice Admiral Corcino? =/\=
The woman furrowed her brow, clearly a bit taken back by the terse tone from the Ronin CO. She cleared her throat before replying.
Sahin: =/\= The admiral’s in a meeting right now with the Chief of Starfleet Operations and her staff, Commander. Can I take a message? =/\=
Karrod’s eye twitched.
Niac: =/\= Captain, I don’t care if he’s meeting with the Space Koala itself. Put me through to Admiral Corcino, now. =/\=
Sahin rolled her eyes slightly.
Sahin: =/\= And what exactly is this call about? =/\=
Karrod glowered at the screen with enough intensity to make the composite scared for its well-being.
Niac: =/\= The end of your career if you don’t put me through to him. =/\=
Still clearly annoyed, the attaché nonetheless looked over offscreen, checking on something.
Sahin: =/\= …hold please. =/\=
Niac: =/\= Don’t you dare- =/\=
Before he could finish, the screen changed back to the Starfleet Command seal once again.
((END FLASHBACK))
Niac: Captain Sahin…what a surprise to see you're still gainfully employed. I thought perhaps Starbase Eighty would’ve received a new commanding officer by now.
The woman didn’t miss a beat.
Sahin: Mmm-hmm. I’ll be sure you’re at the top of the candidate list for that assignment.
Karrod laughed entirely without humor.
Niac: Ah well, still time, then. To what do I owe the…pleasure? Maki having you drop by to pick up his newly replicated skants, perhaps?
Sahin: The admiral would like a word with you after the ceremony–in private.
Niac: Of course. I assume most of those words will be terse, pointed and vulgar?
Captain Sahin looked back with slight amusement, as if sizing up Karrod. Finally, after a moment, Karrod continued with a huff.
Niac: As always, I am at the Vice Admiral’s disposal. Just make sure he remembers to pin the damn thing on straight.
The woman returned a quick nod.
Sahin: I’ll notify him you’re ready then. You may begin the ceremony.
Niac: Your graciousness will be noted in my log, Captain.
Just as she left to get Corcino, she muttered under her breath.
Sahin: Congratulations.
[TBC]
==========================
Vice Admiral Makisig Corcino & Captain Nehir Sahin
Starfleet Command
I238705TZ0
&
Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
&
Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
A239410TR0