Posted by Commander Ryder Raauhl (Executive Officer) in Side Sim - Rock, Paper Whisky - CO Meeting

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim - Rock, Paper Whisky - CO Meeting

Posted by Commander Ryder Raauhl (Executive Officer) in Side Sim - Rock, Paper Whisky - CO Meeting
Ryder stood nervously waiting inside the main shuttle hanger as he watched the shuttle Dasher descend into bay Delta-Six. His reason for being in her, to meet and greet the USS Leviathans new commanding officer Captain Cobb. Having done his research the trill XO knew he had his work cut out from the start but with his previous four hosts experience and his own Trillian nature he hoped that together they would become a functional team. Nervously he breathed into his hand to check his breath, the smell of Yridian ale sticking to him even after having washed his mouth out several times with some Klingon Mouthwash which stung so much his lips had gone numb.

During the time his thoughts had gone on long enough the shuttle had landed and the door began to open with a psst of pressurized air as it escaped the previously sealed door.

Cmdr. Ryder Raauhl
XO

He’d slept on the shuttle ride from Earth to…wherever the hell they were. The exact co-ordinates of Starbase 237 were classified and, while Cobb had now been granted clearance for such thrilling information, of greater importance to him was how many bars this damned floating pile of junk had and whether any of them served real alcohol. He awoke with a start as the shuttle began to make its final approach to the station, the young man across from him having spent most of his own journey longing to smother Cobb with a pillow to drown out his violent snoring. As usual Zachariah remained oblivious to the irritating effect he had on his fellow officers and companions. Or perhaps he wasn’t oblivious so much as was simply too old and too cantankerous to give a crap. After all, once a man has stared into the eyes of the Breen, been hounded across the quadrant by the Jem’Hadar, some young Federation pipsqueak hardly registered in his consciousness at all.

“Touchdown, ladies and gentlemen,” came a voice from the shuttle’s cockpit and seconds later, the vessel’s side door swung open and the other occupants began to file out onto the deck. But Zachariah Cobb remained in his seat, the warmth of the shuttle’s interior, the softness of the chair’s fabric against his aching bones, made it possible, still, for him to discount everything that had happened in the last few days as a dream. Out there, beyond the safety of this small craft, this nightmare became reality. He had not found the strength to accept it yet.

But the world had no patience for a tired old man to catch up to its dizzying rotations, it seemed, and even as Cobb closed his eyes for just a few seconds more of blissful, nourishing sleep, the shuttle’s pilot was at his side and tossing his bag out onto the deck.
“Hey, old man, I got places to be and people to see. You’ll have quarters on the base if you’re looking to sleep.”

Ryder watched as people had spilled out of the shuttle, and then nothing for some minutes. Confused he started to make a move for the open door but stopped short almost inwardly groaning as he watched the events unfold in front of him. He really wasn’t paid enough for this… he wasn’t even really paid at all.

He tried to voice a plea for five more minutes at least, but before the words had even formed in his parched throat, Cobb found himself tossed out onto the deck with the same lack of dignity as his belongings, the shuttle departing with surprising speed, almost as if its pilot could not wait to get away from this place. “I know the feeling,” the newly-appointed captain muttered as he struggled to his feet and reached for his one lone bag, then scanned the passing crowd for anything resembling a friendly face.

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

“Captain Cobb ” He said standing just a meter away from the man, “I see you make friends quickly, welcome to the Longhouse I’m Commander Raauhl, you Executive officer.” He didn’t hold out his hand in greeting, he gathered the Captain was not that type of man, but perhaps he’d be pleasantly surprised. ” I wanted to greet you personally so your integration into the ARU is as smooth as possible.” In truth, he wanted to meet his new CO to get his own measure of the man. You could read about someone and hear about someone but Ryder always wanted to make his own decisions.

Cmdr. Ryder Raauhl

“My XO, eh?” Cobb replied, regarding the man fully from head to toe as he simultaneously reached for his discarded bag. Then, a wide grin spreading across his face, he clamped a hand onto Raauhl’s shoulder and added, “And an ARU man as well. It seems they’re sparing no expense with my crew for this outing. Well, perhaps you can help me make heads and tails of this bloody anomaly business then. Although first,” he stepped back and watched the Commander’s face closely. His reaction to this next question would lay the very foundations for their relationship as a team…or not, as the case might be. “…where might one find a decent drink around here, eh?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb