JP: Lt. Cmdr. Toryn Raga & Cmdr. Karrod Niac - For a Bit of Colored Ribbon (PT1)
Rameses
((Bistro Manev, Holodeck 1, Deck 7, USS Ronin))
As Karrod had settled further into his responsibilities as the Ronin’s commanding officer he’d found that there were things like the endless flood of paddwork that he didn’t particularly care for. So much of his time was dominated by administrative details that he rarely got to focus on the things he felt truly mattered but today he intended things to be different. Today was a day he’d be able to enjoy without reservation, one full of good food and good cheer and the celebration of a job well done. If he could just get the damn lemon squares right.
After weeks of Rostil’s constant nagging he’d finally unpacked his holographic recreation of the Bistro Manev, the long dead master chef’s restaurant, and decided it would be the ideal location for this first celebration of his crew. Situated in the old quarter of the Trill capitol city the views were of gentle canals and stone buildings which stretched off into the distance in all directions. The dining room, originally an intimate affair meant more for couples and small parties to share an exquisite culinary experience had been holographically expanded and amended to make space for the many officers and crew who would be decorated for their service today. A small dias had been added on one side where, in defiance of the normal passage of time, a frozen orangy sunset lingered outside, reflecting off the gently lapping canal waters and providing the entire dining room with a warm glow. The front walls had been opened to the outside so a warm spring breeze passed through the space, gently ruffling the table settings and making the candles on each tabletop dance and flicker. But the damn lemon squares were confounding him.
The confection had been introduced to him aboard the Arrow where a young Medical officer with a penchant for making people smile had insisted on making them. They’d quickly become so popular they were a staple of celebrations and even staff meetings. When the time came for him to depart the Arrow he’d been gifted the old family recipe and had promised Doctor Ohnari he’d make a batch at the very first opportunity. Something he’d assumed, with Rostil’s help, to be a relatively simple matter. But no matter what he did he either ended up with crust that was burnt and hard enough to be used as a hull patch or lemony goop that never quite consolidated into the firm jelly like goodness she seemed to effortlessly achieve. Within him even Rostil was perplexed…the master chef had never been particularly focused on desserts or pastries so their decades of experience weren’t as much help as Karrod had come to expect in the kitchen. With another tray of scorched sludge pushed off to the side Karrod sighed and looked at the time, realizing that the crew would start arriving soon. Almost as soon as he said it the doors to the holodeck parted and the restaurant's door chime rang as someone walked in.
This was it! The first celebration on board the Ronin. There had been a lot of firsts for him of late. First First Officer. First judge of a Vulcan/Trill sparring match that was as lopsided as the Captain’s arms had been jiggly afterwards. First time to give out awards as XO of the ship. And apparently first time witnessing the CO’s cooking skills, or lack thereof if the charring on the sludge he just witnessed being pushed aside was any indication. Toryn couldn’t help but wear a smirk as Karrod shouted at him without looking.
Niac: Whoever’s there, you’re damn early!
Raga: I am neither early or late. A First Officer arrives precisely when he means to. ::He said dryly, smirk still present::
Karrod wiped his hands on a dishrag and chuckled.
Niac: Sorry XO, you’re right where you’re supposed to be. Did you bring the pile of ribbons we’ve got to hand out? I figured you’d need a hoversled to get them all down here.
It was the Al-Leyan’s turn to chuckle as he stood there with the two thick twine wrapped bundles on each shoulder. Each case gently secured in duffles on his shoulders.
Raga: So did I, but it turns out knowing how to bundle things to carry during a climb also works for carrying large ungainly things easier.
Nodding as he adjusted the heat in the stove and prepared another experimental tray.
Niac: Excellent, there’s a table on the dias behind the little lectern. I’ll be out in just a minute. Most of the food and drinks are ready but these damn lemon squares are turning into my personal pastry Kobyashi Maru.
The Al-Leyan moved over to the lectern, then set down the duffles so he could sort through the various wooden boxes to set out on the table behind it. There were so many of them that he couldn’t help but swell with pride just handling them all.
Raga: I am no cook, that’s Ishka’s gift. But have you tried, oh, I don’t know. Following the recipe?
The noise that escaped Karrod’s throat was somewhere between a huff and a growl.
Niac: …Isn’t there a nacelle you should be polishing somewhere?
A half snort escaped him before he could stifle his laughter while he set out the boxes.
Raga: Wasn’t one of your past hosts a cook?
Within him Rostil’s indignation was fluorescent.
Niac: Yep but apparently he ‘didn’t do desserts.’ Apparently he thought they were distractions from the main dish.
Raga: ::dryly:: And they made you Captain.
Karrod chuckled as he set a timer.
Niac: As if we needed the reminder that Starfleet Command is far from perfect.
Raga: If you can’t make citrus cubes how can you possibly defeat the Lattice Alliance? ::he stated in amusement::
Niac: I guess if the security of the sector comes down to a pastry contest I’ll have to make some calls. Captain Shayne would probably forgive me for borrowing his CMO…probably.
Raga: Have you tried papaya rhombuses?
Karrod’s face soured but he couldn’t entirely suppress a grin.
Niac: Don’t bring the stately rhombus into this Mister…
It hadn’t taken long for Toryn to arrange the multitudinous boxes neatly behind the lectern. There were so many that nearly every square inch of the table was covered and some boxes stood stacked atop one another. As XO it was a damned awesome sight to see. He now understood how his best friend Serala had to have felt all those years she’d been XO of his last crew. It was his turn now. Toryn stood beside the lectern and just behind. His dress whites neatly pressed and his own extensive collection of ribbons, medals and awards clung heavy to his chest.
With the food finally ready and the kitchen in good order Karrod straightened his dress uniform jacket and crossed to the lectern as the last of his crew settled in. He took a moment to appreciate the faces of so many he’d come to know in the short time they’d been together and wondered to himself how he had managed to get quite so lucky. With the ruddy orange light reflecting off glasses and the shifting candle flames making hypnotic patterns in the breeze Karrod cleared his throat.
Niac: Thank you for joining me this evening. I realize this is a somewhat unconventional way to celebrate our first mission together as a crew but I’ve found that, with the exception of being shot at, almost nothing brings people together quite like a good meal. Since Commander Raga assures me we won’t be getting fired upon for the next little while this seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to share this moment.
Raga: Correct. I’ve rescheduled that for tomorrow. Oh, seven thirty hours. ::A faint smirk curled his lips::
Any: Response
Chuckling, Karrod rapped on the lectern with a knuckle.
Niac: Very well XO, let it be on your head if the Alliance decides to invade while an Ensign is manning the bridge.
Raga: Not to worry Cap, I’ve left him instructions to blow the docking clamps if that happens and let the station know it was under your orders. ::He grinned mischievously::
The Al-Leyan’s glowing eyes looked at the CO before he glanced out at the crowd. He winked playfully then blinked twice, the nictitating membranes in his eyes cleaning them from some of the leftover ash from Karrod’s earlier baking fiasco.
Any: Response
Niac: Before we get into the particulars I’d like to offer all of you my thanks. It wasn’t that long ago that we were strangers to this ship, to this region and to one another. Yet in the short time we’ve served together I’ve come to be impressed by each and every one of you. Your skill, your dedication…even your debatable sense of logic…has been inspiring. We’ve not only brought the Ronin back into service, we’ve given it a new life…a new vitality. And I have all of you to thank for that. To that end I’m happy to confer this evening's first award to all of you…the Legacy Ribbon. Starfleet Command understands how difficult it can be to bring a ship back into service and our circumstances were far from ideal. In addition, the whole crew will be receiving the Tholian Campaign Ribbon to acknowledge your bravery and heroism in dealing with the unexpected involvement of the Tholians during our first mission. Congratulations to you all.
[TBC]
================================
Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga
&
Commander Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0