Commander Toryn Raga - Fine Tuning
Rameses
((Ready Room, Deck 3, USS Ronin - Lolagi IV))
The recent fiery demise of their alternate universe counterparts had apparently caused an excess of paddwork and a few complications for their CO in getting into the computer. Oddly enough, Toryn hadn’t had the same issue and he wasn’t sure if he should be flattered that the computer knew him to be real or insulted that it couldn’t tell the difference.
Toryn waited for the chime of the door to alert Karrod, who was most likely buried under the oppressive mass of PADDs.
Niac: There had better be an entire Borg rhombus out there coming to surrender...
The Al-Leyan walked into the room already wearing an amused smirk as he looked for Karrod in the room.
Raga: Search and Rescue. We received reports of panicked shrieks coming from this room. Is anyone in need of saving?
Toryn locked eyes with the Trill as he approached the desk and stood beside one of the chairs in front of it, hand placed on the back of one of them as he grinned.
Niac: At this point I think I'm beyond saving, Toryn. Get out while you can, I can feel my bones creaking under the weight of all this paddwork.
Raga: Not surprised. It took me four hours to get through all of the reports on my desk. ::still grinning he moved his other hand from behind his back, with four more padds:: Speaking of which, where do you want it?
A soft chuckle accompanied the visual survey of the desk. Or what he was probably sure was a desk. At this point it might have been eaten by and replaced by padds for all the space they took up.
Niac: On the couch or through the viewport, either way I'm not getting to any of them soon.
Raga: Well, I can offer the condemned a stay of execution if you’ve got a few minutes to spare? I wanted to run something by you.
Niac: Sit...and give me those. I'll toss them out the viewport myself...much more cathartic that way.
Toryn handed over the padds before he slipped into the chair in front of the desk at a slight angle. Lounging casually.
He stood and stretched his back, taking the padds as he walked to the viewport and giving the top one a few pantomimed throws towards the transparent aluminum. He chuckled to himself as he set them aside and walked to the replicator.
Niac: You want something? I'm fairly sure this thing is convinced I'm alive.
Raga: Well, since your private dining room is technically part of the 47 Lounge and as far as I know, I don’t think you’ve actually used it since we launched. How would you feel about starting a weekly lunch or dinner with the Captain? Or with the both of us even? ::he added:: Al-Leyan spiced tea, blend number seven. Please.
Niac: It's an excellent idea but I've got two questions; firstly, what brought this on? Secondly and perhaps only slightly less important...I have a dining room?
Raga: This crew of ours is as tight knit as they come, evident by the number of mentions of both of us exploding I’ve seen in reports. I understand the effect losing a Captain can have on a crew’s morale. I broke a conference table when it happened to me. ::he cleared his throat:: What’s more, I worry that the crew doesn’t fully understand just how much they mean to the both of us. Your numerous rousing speeches notwithstanding.
Niac: Hmm, I have noticed an...uncomfortable amount of odd looks since we got back. Almost like the crew is still waiting for the other boot to drop. They're good people...but I suppose seeing us 'die' was more than enough to shake them up a little bit. ::He offered a small wink::...Although maybe I just need to work on a rousing speech. Something about tall ships and the taller crews who drove them forth...
The Al-Leyan nodded graciously, accepted the steaming mug and cradled it in his palm for a moment.
Raga: Agreed. I’m sure every Captain and First Officer feel their crew is the best, so we’re only adding to that mythos by doing the same. Given the fact our crew is one of the few engaged in an active war zone, anything we can do to keep morale high with all the threats we face is a good thing, wouldn’t you agree?
Niac: It's a good idea, Toryn, and you're right. Keeping morale up is more than a few counseling sessions and the odd hour or three on the holodeck. These folks need to know we see the toil...the every day effort they put in. That we see them, regardless of their post, and appreciate what they do for all of us. So...the question then becomes how? Last I checked our roster was nearly five hundred strong...even if the dining room can seat ten a meal that's a lot of lunches and dinners.
Toryn smiled at the Trill, there was a reason the two of them meshed so well as a command team. Aside from a similar sense of humor, to a high sense of duty to protect people, there wasn’t much the two wouldn’t do to keep their crew safe.
Raga: Lotteries are too random. I was thinking something more along the lines of an open request list. It should be easy enough to put in the LCARs, and available for anyone on the crew, enlisted or non-commissioned, to put their names on. ::he mused for a moment then added:: We could even have the option for them to cook something to share with everyone if they wanted. Let them showcase their favorite recipes. That should help make the crew a bit closer, what do you think?
Niac: Family dinner.
Toryn’s head canted slightly at the comment but a brief moment of mulling it around in his head that did in essence fit the description of what he’d described. And this crew was the epitome of a discovered family or whatever phrase Terrans had for it.
Raga: Yes, I suppose it would be that.
Seeing the smile on Karrod’s face as the man seemed to stare off a little lost in his thoughts, he took the moment to sip from his mug and savor the beverage in hand while his dear friend and Captain considered things.
Niac: I think it's a brilliant idea, Toryn...so much so I worry we're going to put on ten kilos apiece once the crew starts picking entrees. Before Niac I had heard rumors of a few CO's doing something like this across fleet history. Apparently one early Captain had an entire grill built into his quarters on a Constitution class. Always seemed ridiculous to me then...a waste of resources and effort when the replicator was right there. Now...now I think I understand why they did it. What they hoped to do. And it doesn't have as much to do with food as I thought.
He chuckled slightly. Even with his metabolism he had on occasion added to his mass thanks to his mate’s cooking.
Raga: Agreed. There is also a historical precedent. If I recall the snippet about Earth’s nautical past, even old sailing vessels had a captain’s mess where they ate regular meals with their officers and crew. A fine tradition. If you’re concerned about being overwhelmed I can wait to set it up until after leave.
The Al-Leyan’s glowing eyes stared at the Trill patiently from over the brim of his mug. He knew this would give them both extra paddwork but to him at least that was vastly outweighed by the benefits of it.
Niac: Post it today...maybe the brave ones will help us test out the idea, work out the kinks. And we should make sure we're always inviting junior officers, people who are new to the ship, visiting guests...anyone who would benefit from some time with us that doesn't come with orders and regulations. Speaking of, we should consider a few...suggestions. Firstly...ranks. Everyone sitting at that table is an equal, everyone can speak their minds freely. No sense of getting people together to talk if they're too terrified to mention what's really on their minds. Any other ideas?
Toryn smirked slightly and set his mug back onto Karrod’s desk so he could get up and retrieve one of the four padds he’d handed over to him. A quick skim and he found the one with his idea and sat back down. If there were going to be revisions there was no reason to add another padd to the pile. He crossed his leg over the other knee and tapped at the device.
Raga: Noted and a good call. Considering our pips even when not being worn have an inherent base level of intimidation to junior officers and crew. Do you want to set a time limit for the meals or just let things conclude at their natural pace?
Niac: Response
His digits tapped at the padd’s LCARs as he made notations and nodded slightly. With the two of them present there should be enough responsibility on hand to ensure that everyone gets back to bed in a timely manner. That being said, a gathering of their crew numbering more than two wasn’t called a Roniningan for nothing.
Raga: That’s fair. Next question, how much of your private reserve do you want to use for this? Mister Morrow’s side project, well aside, having the option could help with morale as well, as long as we don’t let Roxanne or Thessalonia have more than one. ::he said dryly::
Niac: Response
Raga: Pets? I know not all are as well behaved as Sylara is, but if we’re going for a casual gathering do we want to give the crew the option to bring their pets along if they want? With the understanding that if they’re unruly they should probably just wait and bring food back to their quarters. What do they call it, a kitty bag?
Niac: Response
Raga: Right. Doggy bag. Probably best not to ask why they originally carried their pets in food containers.
While they conversed, Toryn tapped away at the padd, drafting the announcement to post along with the accompanying sign up based on both of their ideas.
Niac: Response
[tags/tbc]
=====================================
Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga