Flt. Capt. Karrod Niac - Rhapsody in Green
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Karrod Niac
Apr 9, 2026, 11:58:01 PMApr 9
to USS Ronin – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((The Fishbowl, Celestial Tide Sanctuary, Logali IV))
Niac: Well, out with it. You wouldn't have asked the two of us to come down here for mustache grooming tips. What's on your mind, Doctor?
Kel: If you're looking for ideas to punish Rox, don't ask me, I've not found anything that works in 4 years.
Karrod and V'Len snickered in almost the same moment, cadence and tone. Ms. Queen was an enigma wrapped in a riddle wraped in one of the most promising junior officers he'd known...if she didn't get herself thrown out of Starfleet one of these days.
Beck: Certainly not, I've already written the book on mustache grooming by now, you should know that. As for Rox… ::sighing:: Short of surprising her by actually being nice to her, I'm not sure how to throw her off, either. But that's not at all why I asked the two of you here.
Beck: I've been thinking about what's next for me, especially now that I'm back from Division 14.
Kel: Oh career advice. That's an easier puzzle to solve than our nurse friend.
Beck: I'll let Marty try to figure out that puzzle. As for why I asked you here - I wanted to run an idea by you guys, see what you thought about it. After the time I've spent at Division 14, I got a little experience leading more than just a small team of Doctors and nurses, and I found it quite satisfying.
Enjoying his own drink and the admittedly spectacular view, he took a moment to mull as he rolled the glass around in his hand.
Niac: It's a common problem with good officers, Quentin. Once they get a taste of the bigger challenges that are out there it's suddenly difficult to be content with what you've always known.
He tapped at his Fleet Captain's pips with his glass, still not entirely sure how they'd gotten there.
Niac: It's a problem I've got some familiarity with myself. And something I suspect V'Len here has recently gotten acquainted with.
He chuckled and respectfully tipped his glass to the Acting Captain.
Kel: While I envy the number of letters you have behind your name I can't say I've had that as a personal goal. Half the time I feel like I'd be happy in a small infirmary on K-7 or DS9. Just a simple "country doctor" if you will.
Beck: Oh, I've considered that, too, but I'm pretty sure if I showed up on DS9 again and tried to take a shift at the Infirmary, they'd shove me out the nearest airlock. I may have overdone it there, just a little bit.
He nearly choked on his drink, remembering all too well their last visit to that famed installation.
Niac: Could be worse, I'm fairly sure if I show up there again they'll activate the stations defense grid. Apparently my 'we're sorry we blacked out your station' fruit basket on behalf of the Ronin didn't quite smooth things over with the Bajorans.
Kel: The other half of the time I have other goals in mind, but we're not here to talk about me. So what are your options Quentin?
Beck: Well… that's why I wanted advice from the both of you. I know last time we had a pow wow like this one, I ended up leaving the Ronin for an indeterminate amount of time, but that's not my intention this time around. I'm just… rolling some ideas around in my head and wanted to see if they were crazy or not.
Chuckling he finished his drink and looked for a refill, certain it wouldn't be his only one based on how this conversation was going.
Niac: Speaking as you Captain I'm all ears. As your friend I can say, with all confidence, that any idea in your head is crazy...but that doesn't mean it's a bad one. So, what've you got so far? Going to try being the first male doctor on Angel One? I think you could pull off that half-shirt they strongly encourage their men to wear.
Kel: Have you tried making a pros and cons list?
Beck: Not yet, but that's mostly because I only just started thinking about this. The idea kinda came to me overnight, while I was still sleeping in my quarters on the Ronin before coming down here. Sort of a flash of inspiration, y'know?
Karrod knew it only too well.
Niac: Oh absolutely...the problem is occasionally those flashes in the middle of the night are Rostil's, or Armo's, or Sencha's...and I end up putting together weird ingredients at 0330 or scaring the blue shirts in one of the science labs. Speaking of V'Len, I'll replace the meso-spectrometer in science lab two tomorrow...long story. Go on Quentin.
Kel: Response
Beck: You guys are familiar with Hazard Teams, right? And Search and Rescue?
The name rang a bell and Niac filled in some blanks from a briefing he'd been in years before.
Niac: Experimental tactical response team right? Specialized training and equipment, meant to be the tip of the spear in a variety of situations? I remember reading about a few ships that tried them with mixed results. Why? Think the Ronin needs one? Search & Rescue falls under Major Singh's scope of responsibility and those folks haven't let us down.
Kel: Response
Beck: Well, considering how many times we've had shuttles go missing or someone needing emergency extraction since the ship's launch, I have been wondering if maybe we've got a gap in our support tree. Singh and her team do a great job when they're needed, but often they have to divert away from defending the ship to try to perform something a little more specialized, like extracting a prisoner or injured patients, or some such.
That drew Karrod up short and he let out a small contemplative hrm.
Niac: That's fair...I never wanted the Ronin to be a warship...I always wanted to keep our footing flexible...but the reality of our missions and our time in the Alpha Isles has been demanding. Keep talking. You've got me interested.
Kel: Response
Beck: I was thinking we could put together a team to handle that kind of specialized mission. Not exactly a Medical Hazard Team, but not really the traditional kind, either. We would retrofit one of the shuttles to serve as our home base when we wouldn't be on the Ronin, and make it modular enough it could function as anything from an ambulance to a mobile operating room to a high security transport. Which means we would need to involve Security at the very least, but I kinda see this as a team that would pull from all departments.
He thought back to their mission to the Compass Rose and the hastily configured lab space they'd put together in the back of one of the Argos.
Niac: I can see the value of something like that...take one of the larger runabouts, pull it apart, setup some modules we could swap in quickly depending on the needs of the day...putting the team together is a bit trickier though. You'd need medical, security, pilots...frankly, it sounds like work the Marines are already doing for us, just...larger.
Kel: Response
Beck: I… would kinda want to run the team, actually. I'm not sure I could manage it while also handling the CMO job, since I'd need to be in Sickbay, but I would like to at least start putting together the infrastructure for this kind of team. Thoughts?
Karrod put his glass down on the tastefully etched table and smiled over to Quentin in a way that anyone who'd known him for a while was right to fear. He could feel himself smirking as the idea took root and began to blossom, the mental image too delightful to ignore.
Niac: Well Doctor...my first thought is...how do you feel about the color green?
Kel/Beck: Response
Karrod leaned forward, his drink forgotten, rubbing his hands together as the idea unpacked in his consciousness.
Niac: See, we could reorganize our security and medical teams, and step on a lot of toes in those departments and with our Marine contingent all at once...or...you go to work for Major Singh. Starfleet Medical graciously loans you to the Starfleet Marine Corp, where you can share your field medical expertise and surgical prowess...you know, all those new letters after your name...while learning from the best in the business at rapid response, high risk tactical operations.
Kel/Beck: Response
He rapped a knuckle on the table, a sense of excitement as the idea began to go from rough concept to a more concrete shape.
Niac: You'd work with them along with all our other teams to expand our existing S&R capabilities...both equipment and tactics...and if after a few months it seems to be working, you write the whole thing up so we can introduce the idea to the fleet for broader adoption. But I haven't even told you the best part yet!
Kel/Beck: Response
Karrod chuckled and stroked at his beard.
Niac: Best part is I know for a fact Major Singh hates a mustache. She'll have you running laps up and down the flight deck until you shave it off or your legs are worn down to nubs. She'll make that odious women currently haunting Sickbay seem like your favorite eccentric aunt.
Kel/Beck: Response
[Tags/TBC]
================================
Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
Niac: Well, out with it. You wouldn't have asked the two of us to come down here for mustache grooming tips. What's on your mind, Doctor?
Kel: If you're looking for ideas to punish Rox, don't ask me, I've not found anything that works in 4 years.
Karrod and V'Len snickered in almost the same moment, cadence and tone. Ms. Queen was an enigma wrapped in a riddle wraped in one of the most promising junior officers he'd known...if she didn't get herself thrown out of Starfleet one of these days.
Beck: Certainly not, I've already written the book on mustache grooming by now, you should know that. As for Rox… ::sighing:: Short of surprising her by actually being nice to her, I'm not sure how to throw her off, either. But that's not at all why I asked the two of you here.
Beck: I've been thinking about what's next for me, especially now that I'm back from Division 14.
Kel: Oh career advice. That's an easier puzzle to solve than our nurse friend.
Beck: I'll let Marty try to figure out that puzzle. As for why I asked you here - I wanted to run an idea by you guys, see what you thought about it. After the time I've spent at Division 14, I got a little experience leading more than just a small team of Doctors and nurses, and I found it quite satisfying.
Enjoying his own drink and the admittedly spectacular view, he took a moment to mull as he rolled the glass around in his hand.
Niac: It's a common problem with good officers, Quentin. Once they get a taste of the bigger challenges that are out there it's suddenly difficult to be content with what you've always known.
He tapped at his Fleet Captain's pips with his glass, still not entirely sure how they'd gotten there.
Niac: It's a problem I've got some familiarity with myself. And something I suspect V'Len here has recently gotten acquainted with.
He chuckled and respectfully tipped his glass to the Acting Captain.
Kel: While I envy the number of letters you have behind your name I can't say I've had that as a personal goal. Half the time I feel like I'd be happy in a small infirmary on K-7 or DS9. Just a simple "country doctor" if you will.
Beck: Oh, I've considered that, too, but I'm pretty sure if I showed up on DS9 again and tried to take a shift at the Infirmary, they'd shove me out the nearest airlock. I may have overdone it there, just a little bit.
He nearly choked on his drink, remembering all too well their last visit to that famed installation.
Niac: Could be worse, I'm fairly sure if I show up there again they'll activate the stations defense grid. Apparently my 'we're sorry we blacked out your station' fruit basket on behalf of the Ronin didn't quite smooth things over with the Bajorans.
Kel: The other half of the time I have other goals in mind, but we're not here to talk about me. So what are your options Quentin?
Beck: Well… that's why I wanted advice from the both of you. I know last time we had a pow wow like this one, I ended up leaving the Ronin for an indeterminate amount of time, but that's not my intention this time around. I'm just… rolling some ideas around in my head and wanted to see if they were crazy or not.
Chuckling he finished his drink and looked for a refill, certain it wouldn't be his only one based on how this conversation was going.
Niac: Speaking as you Captain I'm all ears. As your friend I can say, with all confidence, that any idea in your head is crazy...but that doesn't mean it's a bad one. So, what've you got so far? Going to try being the first male doctor on Angel One? I think you could pull off that half-shirt they strongly encourage their men to wear.
Kel: Have you tried making a pros and cons list?
Beck: Not yet, but that's mostly because I only just started thinking about this. The idea kinda came to me overnight, while I was still sleeping in my quarters on the Ronin before coming down here. Sort of a flash of inspiration, y'know?
Karrod knew it only too well.
Niac: Oh absolutely...the problem is occasionally those flashes in the middle of the night are Rostil's, or Armo's, or Sencha's...and I end up putting together weird ingredients at 0330 or scaring the blue shirts in one of the science labs. Speaking of V'Len, I'll replace the meso-spectrometer in science lab two tomorrow...long story. Go on Quentin.
Kel: Response
Beck: You guys are familiar with Hazard Teams, right? And Search and Rescue?
The name rang a bell and Niac filled in some blanks from a briefing he'd been in years before.
Niac: Experimental tactical response team right? Specialized training and equipment, meant to be the tip of the spear in a variety of situations? I remember reading about a few ships that tried them with mixed results. Why? Think the Ronin needs one? Search & Rescue falls under Major Singh's scope of responsibility and those folks haven't let us down.
Kel: Response
Beck: Well, considering how many times we've had shuttles go missing or someone needing emergency extraction since the ship's launch, I have been wondering if maybe we've got a gap in our support tree. Singh and her team do a great job when they're needed, but often they have to divert away from defending the ship to try to perform something a little more specialized, like extracting a prisoner or injured patients, or some such.
That drew Karrod up short and he let out a small contemplative hrm.
Niac: That's fair...I never wanted the Ronin to be a warship...I always wanted to keep our footing flexible...but the reality of our missions and our time in the Alpha Isles has been demanding. Keep talking. You've got me interested.
Kel: Response
Beck: I was thinking we could put together a team to handle that kind of specialized mission. Not exactly a Medical Hazard Team, but not really the traditional kind, either. We would retrofit one of the shuttles to serve as our home base when we wouldn't be on the Ronin, and make it modular enough it could function as anything from an ambulance to a mobile operating room to a high security transport. Which means we would need to involve Security at the very least, but I kinda see this as a team that would pull from all departments.
He thought back to their mission to the Compass Rose and the hastily configured lab space they'd put together in the back of one of the Argos.
Niac: I can see the value of something like that...take one of the larger runabouts, pull it apart, setup some modules we could swap in quickly depending on the needs of the day...putting the team together is a bit trickier though. You'd need medical, security, pilots...frankly, it sounds like work the Marines are already doing for us, just...larger.
Kel: Response
Beck: I… would kinda want to run the team, actually. I'm not sure I could manage it while also handling the CMO job, since I'd need to be in Sickbay, but I would like to at least start putting together the infrastructure for this kind of team. Thoughts?
Karrod put his glass down on the tastefully etched table and smiled over to Quentin in a way that anyone who'd known him for a while was right to fear. He could feel himself smirking as the idea took root and began to blossom, the mental image too delightful to ignore.
Niac: Well Doctor...my first thought is...how do you feel about the color green?
Kel/Beck: Response
Karrod leaned forward, his drink forgotten, rubbing his hands together as the idea unpacked in his consciousness.
Niac: See, we could reorganize our security and medical teams, and step on a lot of toes in those departments and with our Marine contingent all at once...or...you go to work for Major Singh. Starfleet Medical graciously loans you to the Starfleet Marine Corp, where you can share your field medical expertise and surgical prowess...you know, all those new letters after your name...while learning from the best in the business at rapid response, high risk tactical operations.
Kel/Beck: Response
He rapped a knuckle on the table, a sense of excitement as the idea began to go from rough concept to a more concrete shape.
Niac: You'd work with them along with all our other teams to expand our existing S&R capabilities...both equipment and tactics...and if after a few months it seems to be working, you write the whole thing up so we can introduce the idea to the fleet for broader adoption. But I haven't even told you the best part yet!
Kel/Beck: Response
Karrod chuckled and stroked at his beard.
Niac: Best part is I know for a fact Major Singh hates a mustache. She'll have you running laps up and down the flight deck until you shave it off or your legs are worn down to nubs. She'll make that odious women currently haunting Sickbay seem like your favorite eccentric aunt.
Kel/Beck: Response
[Tags/TBC]
================================
Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
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