Flt. Capt. Karrod Niac - Building the Plane After Takeoff
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Karrod Niac
Apr 25, 2026, 12:35:18 AMApr 25
to USS Ronin – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((Ready Room, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
It was seven steps from the front of his desk to the rear of the small sitting nook which flanked the wide viewports in his office. Another eight from there to the front of it. Then seven back to the front of his desk to start the loop again.
He was pacing. He'd been pacing. As he walked back and forth, deep in thought and trying without success to wait patiently for the crew to return to the ship, even Niac from within nudged at him to sit, to wait, to be at peace. They weren't doing nothing, it entreated, they were simply waiting and would soon be on their way. Reasonable. Sensible.
Irritating. Karrod prodded at his abdomen with a sharp jab of his thumb almost by reflex without breaking stride, halfway between his desk and the door.
He was no stranger to vague orders and absurd timetables but everything about this set of directives made his beard itch uncomfortably as he methodically dug a rut in the carpeting of his office. They were to maintain a complete comm blackout once leaving orbit, were to meet a ship traveling at high warp without slowing, were to beam aboard two mission specialists who Starfleet hadn't even bothered to share the names of, and were to immediately proceed to a location that brought them uncomfortably close to territory both the Alliance and Consortium had been known to frequent for a mission that was apparently so critical, so urgent, so deeply pressing to the Admiralty that they had insisted on this level of suffocating secrecy. His teeth ground together as he began yet another loop but he paused midstride as his communicator chirped.
Raga: =/\= Bridge to the Captain. We’re breaking orbit and all departments have reported in. Despite miss Nicolau’s suggestion of letting the stragglers enjoy an extended leave without us we are all present and accounted for. And en route to the Goodall. =/\=
True to his word the world suspended beyond the viewport swung away as the ship turned to its course and just as quickly jumped to warp. The slight vibration that came though the soles of his boots told him they were already pushing the engines hard and he let out a small huff before tapping his badge to reply.
Niac: =/\= Very good Mr. Raga, I'll join you in just a moment. =/\=
He tapped at his badge and closed the channel before returning to his desk, retrieving a padd he'd worked on before he'd begun pacing in irritation, and headed out to the bridge.
It was seven steps from the front of his desk to the rear of the small sitting nook which flanked the wide viewports in his office. Another eight from there to the front of it. Then seven back to the front of his desk to start the loop again.
He was pacing. He'd been pacing. As he walked back and forth, deep in thought and trying without success to wait patiently for the crew to return to the ship, even Niac from within nudged at him to sit, to wait, to be at peace. They weren't doing nothing, it entreated, they were simply waiting and would soon be on their way. Reasonable. Sensible.
Irritating. Karrod prodded at his abdomen with a sharp jab of his thumb almost by reflex without breaking stride, halfway between his desk and the door.
He was no stranger to vague orders and absurd timetables but everything about this set of directives made his beard itch uncomfortably as he methodically dug a rut in the carpeting of his office. They were to maintain a complete comm blackout once leaving orbit, were to meet a ship traveling at high warp without slowing, were to beam aboard two mission specialists who Starfleet hadn't even bothered to share the names of, and were to immediately proceed to a location that brought them uncomfortably close to territory both the Alliance and Consortium had been known to frequent for a mission that was apparently so critical, so urgent, so deeply pressing to the Admiralty that they had insisted on this level of suffocating secrecy. His teeth ground together as he began yet another loop but he paused midstride as his communicator chirped.
Raga: =/\= Bridge to the Captain. We’re breaking orbit and all departments have reported in. Despite miss Nicolau’s suggestion of letting the stragglers enjoy an extended leave without us we are all present and accounted for. And en route to the Goodall. =/\=
True to his word the world suspended beyond the viewport swung away as the ship turned to its course and just as quickly jumped to warp. The slight vibration that came though the soles of his boots told him they were already pushing the engines hard and he let out a small huff before tapping his badge to reply.
Niac: =/\= Very good Mr. Raga, I'll join you in just a moment. =/\=
He tapped at his badge and closed the channel before returning to his desk, retrieving a padd he'd worked on before he'd begun pacing in irritation, and headed out to the bridge.
Kel/KesslerAny: Response
He forced a small smile and a nod to each officer at their station, pleased to see the bridge fully populated once again as stars streaked by on the viewscreen. With practiced ease he swapped positions with Toryn and dropped into the Chair before tapping on the armrest and opening the shipwide comm channel. The simulated boatswains whistle rang out and Karrod found himself looking around as each officer looked up from their duties to hear what he had to say.
Niac: =/\= Attention all hands this is the Captain. I would apologize for our hasty departure from Lolagi IV but it seems like the Admiralty, in their infinite wisdom, have decided we've had more than enough recreation...or perhaps they've simply decided to cut us off after seeing the resorts invoices. Either way the celebratory luau we had planned will have to be rescheduled for a later date. We are on our way to intercept the USS Goodall and take aboard two specialists whom Starfleet Command have dispatched to supplement our crew for the purposes of this mission...I'm certain that once they're aboard and share details about our objectives you'll show them every courtesy and give them whatever support they require. All of that said, we have a few hours before our intercept with the Goodall so I'd like to take this time to confer some awards that we didn't have time to down on the planet. =/\=
He paused and turned in his chair, looking towards V'Len and the third pip that now proudly adorned his uniform. It looked like it belonged there...much like V'Len did on the bridge.
Niac: =/\= You all served Acting Captain Kel with the kind of skill and poise I've come to rely on...and due to that, you averted a disaster that would've had far reaching ramifications for this galaxy and, very possibly, many more. To that end every member of this crew has been awarded both the Explorers Ribbon for your investigation of the anomaly and the Defense of Temporal Flow ribbon for preventing a disaster before it could begin. =/\=
He let that settle for a moment as he looked to their Chief of Security with a nod.
Niac: =/\= For those of you who interacted with...or were assaulted by...Tholian forces from the Lattice Alliance...namely Lieutenants Shortrith, Evinrude and Ensign Wren, along with Lieutenant Kessler here on the bridge...you have been awarded the Tholian Campaign ribbon. While this is a recognition of your service in the defense of the Federation against an antagonist who is as persistent as they are...shrill, the exceptional performance of your duties was a highlight in the mission reports and debriefings I've reviewed since coming back aboard. To that end...Chief Tucker & Lieutenant Shortrith...you have both been awarded the Leadership Excellence Ribbon for your composure and steady leadership during a crisis. And for your particularly exceptional heroics in defense of others both Lieutenant Kessler and Lt. JG Evinrude have been awarded the Starfleet Medal of Valor. Well done to all of you...and my personal thanks. I know the senior staff shares my opinion that your performed your duties with truly exceptional skill and bravery. Oh and there's two more...small matters. =/\=
Kessler/Any: Response
Karrod smiled as he turned in his chair and nodded towards Toryn.
Niac: =/\= While many of you know by now that Mr. Kel has been promoted to the rank of Commander, I want to take a moment to celebrate this enormous milestone...as he accomplished more in his first time in the big chair than some CO's do in their whole career. I have no doubt that someday soon he will bring the skill, cleverness and composure he demonstrated in Ross-580 to his own command...but until then we continue to reap the benefit of his wisdom and his talent. Once again V'Len...well done. =/\=
Kel/Any: Response
Niac: =/\= Lastly...Mr. Kel is not the one one who has continued to over-perform in their time aboard the Ronin and it gives me enormous pleasure to see another of our talented junior officers taking a step further along in their careers. Since joining us as their very first posting, this officer has continually and repeatedly demonstrated an almost supernatural ability to navigate difficult and dangerous situations while defending the lives of their crewmates and all those we are called to protect. So to that end and with the full support of the senior staff I am proud to announce the promotion of Lt. Jg. T'Fearne Elaazni to the rank of full Lieutenant, with all the rights and responsibilities there of. Congratulations Lieutenant...there's a pip waiting in my Ready Room for you. =/\=
Any: Response
Karrod's smile faded back behind his beard as he considered what was ahead.
Niac: =/\= I'm reminded in this moment of the wisdom of some of our predecessors, from an era when the exploration of space meant dangerous journeys just to reach a worlds nearest moon. I believe it was a human explorer who said 'I have two Outlooks and neither is working...' and I've always felt that was profoundly wise...when that early pioneer was confronted by the unknown, when his outlook was challenged by the unexpected, he recognized it and adapted. He grew. He rose to the challenge of his era just as you have risen to the challenges of yours. I have never served with a more competent group of officers than those among this crew so I know that, no matter what our forthcoming mission has in store for us, we will rise to the challenge as we always do. Ronin Strong. That is all. =/\=
Karrod sagged back in the chair a bit, suddenly feeling several years older, and looked around the bridge with a bit of a shrug.
Niac: What'd you think? Too much?
Raga/Kel/Kessler: Response
Karrod smirked and shook his head.
Niac: Everyone's a critic. Alright...time to get to work. Lieutenant Nicolau...hope you paid attention in your precision warp navigation courses...doing a ship to ship transport at these speeds is going to be...tricky.
He smirked to himself as he could hear the young woman audibly gulp from the helmstation while the rest of the bridge settled in.
((Two hours later, Deep Space))
The ship was as prepared as the crew could make it as they roared through space towards their rendezvous with the Goodall and Karrod had found himself sliding back towards unease. He'd forced himself to stop pacing around the bridge three separate times and had even considered returning to the Ready Room but with the intercept only moments away he'd parked himself in the Chair and begun glaring at the viewscreen. His jaw had clenched together but he forced it to relax as he looked over to Toryn.
Niac: Time?
Raga: Response
He nodded and glanced towards the long range sensors. They should be picking up the Goodall any minute. He could feel the anticipation on the bridge and realized the tension was doing nothing good for them so instead he decided to put aside his own misgivings and try to shift the mood.
Niac: Alright, last chance to put your bets in on our mission. Ten slips of GPL per guess, anyone gets it right goes home with the pot. My money is on...hmm....an Admiral lost his prized Teneebian skunk and every ship in the sector has been dispatched to find it.
Kel/Kessler/Raga: Response
He let out a genuine chuckle as the sensors finally chimed and Lt. Nicolau called out from the helm station.
Nicolau: Sensor contact...it's the Goodall and she's hauling as...teroids..uh..sir. Warp nine point five seven....we'll be in transporter range in two minutes.
A small warble in the young woman's voice caught Karrod's ear.
Niac: Problem Lieutenant?
The nerves in her voice were plain as she tapped at the helm controls with focused frenzy.
Nicolau: No sir just...need to make a small adjustment to our course so we don't...uh...die...sir. We just received an encrypted data burst from the Goodall...no audio, just text. It's a set of coordinates...we're to proceed there at maximum warp once we get the specialists aboard. No other details.
Karrod huffed and glanced back towards Toryn.
Niac: Alright so maybe not the Admiral's skunk. Plot a course for those coordinates and change course after the intercept.
Kel/Kessler/Raga: Response
Nicolau: Thirty seconds to transporter range....twenty...
Niac: Mr. Raga...advise transporter room one to energize when ready.
They closed the final distance in a flash and his brief look at the Goodall happened between one heartbeat and the next before they were rushing past them towards their next destination. Lt. Nicolau's shoulders visibly tightened until they were nearly parallel to her ears before finally sagging in relief as the Goodall fell safely astern.
Niac: Status?
Kel/Kessler/Raga: Response
Karrod nodded and stood from the chair.
Niac: Then lets find out what this is all about. Have security escort them to the main conference room. Gentlemen, with me. Lieutenant Nicolau...good flying...the bridge is yours. Get your relief up here while we go meet our guests.
He didn't think it was possible for the young woman to look any more tense but he was immediately proven wrong.
Nicolau: Sir?!...I mean..uh..yes...yes sir. I have the..uh...bridge...sir.
Kel/Kessler/Raga: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
================================
Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
He forced a small smile and a nod to each officer at their station, pleased to see the bridge fully populated once again as stars streaked by on the viewscreen. With practiced ease he swapped positions with Toryn and dropped into the Chair before tapping on the armrest and opening the shipwide comm channel. The simulated boatswains whistle rang out and Karrod found himself looking around as each officer looked up from their duties to hear what he had to say.
Niac: =/\= Attention all hands this is the Captain. I would apologize for our hasty departure from Lolagi IV but it seems like the Admiralty, in their infinite wisdom, have decided we've had more than enough recreation...or perhaps they've simply decided to cut us off after seeing the resorts invoices. Either way the celebratory luau we had planned will have to be rescheduled for a later date. We are on our way to intercept the USS Goodall and take aboard two specialists whom Starfleet Command have dispatched to supplement our crew for the purposes of this mission...I'm certain that once they're aboard and share details about our objectives you'll show them every courtesy and give them whatever support they require. All of that said, we have a few hours before our intercept with the Goodall so I'd like to take this time to confer some awards that we didn't have time to down on the planet. =/\=
He paused and turned in his chair, looking towards V'Len and the third pip that now proudly adorned his uniform. It looked like it belonged there...much like V'Len did on the bridge.
Niac: =/\= You all served Acting Captain Kel with the kind of skill and poise I've come to rely on...and due to that, you averted a disaster that would've had far reaching ramifications for this galaxy and, very possibly, many more. To that end every member of this crew has been awarded both the Explorers Ribbon for your investigation of the anomaly and the Defense of Temporal Flow ribbon for preventing a disaster before it could begin. =/\=
He let that settle for a moment as he looked to their Chief of Security with a nod.
Niac: =/\= For those of you who interacted with...or were assaulted by...Tholian forces from the Lattice Alliance...namely Lieutenants Shortrith, Evinrude and Ensign Wren, along with Lieutenant Kessler here on the bridge...you have been awarded the Tholian Campaign ribbon. While this is a recognition of your service in the defense of the Federation against an antagonist who is as persistent as they are...shrill, the exceptional performance of your duties was a highlight in the mission reports and debriefings I've reviewed since coming back aboard. To that end...Chief Tucker & Lieutenant Shortrith...you have both been awarded the Leadership Excellence Ribbon for your composure and steady leadership during a crisis. And for your particularly exceptional heroics in defense of others both Lieutenant Kessler and Lt. JG Evinrude have been awarded the Starfleet Medal of Valor. Well done to all of you...and my personal thanks. I know the senior staff shares my opinion that your performed your duties with truly exceptional skill and bravery. Oh and there's two more...small matters. =/\=
Kessler/Any: Response
Karrod smiled as he turned in his chair and nodded towards Toryn.
Niac: =/\= While many of you know by now that Mr. Kel has been promoted to the rank of Commander, I want to take a moment to celebrate this enormous milestone...as he accomplished more in his first time in the big chair than some CO's do in their whole career. I have no doubt that someday soon he will bring the skill, cleverness and composure he demonstrated in Ross-580 to his own command...but until then we continue to reap the benefit of his wisdom and his talent. Once again V'Len...well done. =/\=
Kel/Any: Response
Niac: =/\= Lastly...Mr. Kel is not the one one who has continued to over-perform in their time aboard the Ronin and it gives me enormous pleasure to see another of our talented junior officers taking a step further along in their careers. Since joining us as their very first posting, this officer has continually and repeatedly demonstrated an almost supernatural ability to navigate difficult and dangerous situations while defending the lives of their crewmates and all those we are called to protect. So to that end and with the full support of the senior staff I am proud to announce the promotion of Lt. Jg. T'Fearne Elaazni to the rank of full Lieutenant, with all the rights and responsibilities there of. Congratulations Lieutenant...there's a pip waiting in my Ready Room for you. =/\=
Any: Response
Karrod's smile faded back behind his beard as he considered what was ahead.
Niac: =/\= I'm reminded in this moment of the wisdom of some of our predecessors, from an era when the exploration of space meant dangerous journeys just to reach a worlds nearest moon. I believe it was a human explorer who said 'I have two Outlooks and neither is working...' and I've always felt that was profoundly wise...when that early pioneer was confronted by the unknown, when his outlook was challenged by the unexpected, he recognized it and adapted. He grew. He rose to the challenge of his era just as you have risen to the challenges of yours. I have never served with a more competent group of officers than those among this crew so I know that, no matter what our forthcoming mission has in store for us, we will rise to the challenge as we always do. Ronin Strong. That is all. =/\=
Karrod sagged back in the chair a bit, suddenly feeling several years older, and looked around the bridge with a bit of a shrug.
Niac: What'd you think? Too much?
Raga/Kel/Kessler: Response
Karrod smirked and shook his head.
Niac: Everyone's a critic. Alright...time to get to work. Lieutenant Nicolau...hope you paid attention in your precision warp navigation courses...doing a ship to ship transport at these speeds is going to be...tricky.
He smirked to himself as he could hear the young woman audibly gulp from the helmstation while the rest of the bridge settled in.
((Two hours later, Deep Space))
The ship was as prepared as the crew could make it as they roared through space towards their rendezvous with the Goodall and Karrod had found himself sliding back towards unease. He'd forced himself to stop pacing around the bridge three separate times and had even considered returning to the Ready Room but with the intercept only moments away he'd parked himself in the Chair and begun glaring at the viewscreen. His jaw had clenched together but he forced it to relax as he looked over to Toryn.
Niac: Time?
Raga: Response
He nodded and glanced towards the long range sensors. They should be picking up the Goodall any minute. He could feel the anticipation on the bridge and realized the tension was doing nothing good for them so instead he decided to put aside his own misgivings and try to shift the mood.
Niac: Alright, last chance to put your bets in on our mission. Ten slips of GPL per guess, anyone gets it right goes home with the pot. My money is on...hmm....an Admiral lost his prized Teneebian skunk and every ship in the sector has been dispatched to find it.
Kel/Kessler/Raga: Response
He let out a genuine chuckle as the sensors finally chimed and Lt. Nicolau called out from the helm station.
Nicolau: Sensor contact...it's the Goodall and she's hauling as...teroids..uh..sir. Warp nine point five seven....we'll be in transporter range in two minutes.
A small warble in the young woman's voice caught Karrod's ear.
Niac: Problem Lieutenant?
The nerves in her voice were plain as she tapped at the helm controls with focused frenzy.
Nicolau: No sir just...need to make a small adjustment to our course so we don't...uh...die...sir. We just received an encrypted data burst from the Goodall...no audio, just text. It's a set of coordinates...we're to proceed there at maximum warp once we get the specialists aboard. No other details.
Karrod huffed and glanced back towards Toryn.
Niac: Alright so maybe not the Admiral's skunk. Plot a course for those coordinates and change course after the intercept.
Kel/Kessler/Raga: Response
Nicolau: Thirty seconds to transporter range....twenty...
Niac: Mr. Raga...advise transporter room one to energize when ready.
They closed the final distance in a flash and his brief look at the Goodall happened between one heartbeat and the next before they were rushing past them towards their next destination. Lt. Nicolau's shoulders visibly tightened until they were nearly parallel to her ears before finally sagging in relief as the Goodall fell safely astern.
Niac: Status?
Kel/Kessler/Raga: Response
Karrod nodded and stood from the chair.
Niac: Then lets find out what this is all about. Have security escort them to the main conference room. Gentlemen, with me. Lieutenant Nicolau...good flying...the bridge is yours. Get your relief up here while we go meet our guests.
He didn't think it was possible for the young woman to look any more tense but he was immediately proven wrong.
Nicolau: Sir?!...I mean..uh..yes...yes sir. I have the..uh...bridge...sir.
Kel/Kessler/Raga: Response
[Tags/TBC!]
================================
Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
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