Posted by Commander Ryder Raauhl (Executive Officer) in Somewhere on the Ship

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor) in Somewhere on the Ship

(snip)

“Ah, that’s why I have the unintelligible thirst for a drink right now,” He said finally understanding why Yridian ale a drink he had never heard of before was now something always at the tip of his tongue. “If you know Trill law I can not apologies for my previous host’s actions but I can only hope through me your trust in my name, Raauhl will be restored as a Trill Noa was unlike most of us he is… difficult to understand” Ryder gave the woman a sorrowful gaze, “Walk with me, Lieutenant.” He turned and waited to see if she would follow him.

• Commander Ryder, XO
  Casela also noted that Ryder did not like Noa. His words didn’t say it but his emotions certainly did. She took a deep breath to stop the tunnel vision she was experiencing, and the next words popped out of her mouth. “Well if you are a different person, stay away from the alcohol. I don’t know of it was Rauuhl or Noa who liked it, but if you start acting like them…him, I’ll put a stop to it, any way necessary.” By the four gods, she’d just threatened a superior officer. Crap....oh well it wouldn’t be the first time. And it wouldn’t be the last.
  Casela could feel the remorse Ryder had about Noa. More like a black sheep of the family and not of his own actions. His mind clearly distinguished them as separate people. She hoped so because another Noa on this mission would put his own cowardice, fear, and worthless self preservation over all else. They needed at least one firm hand at command and Cobb wasn’t ready.
  When Ryder turned to see if she was going to walk with him she was struck, very suddenly by how attractive he was. And not just his looks. He carried his uniform, the rank and responsibility well. She could tell not just from the way he physically carried himself, but mentally was well. *Great…just what I need now. A good looking commander…” Casela began to walk with him, forgetting, momentarily, her hand bleeding all over her pocket.
  Lt Synthi-er, CNS

Extremely grateful she was able to put past them his previous host’s failures he walked for a moment allowing the peace that was the ships internal ambient noise surrounding them until finally, “How are you finding the ship and transition of a new posting?” He asked unaware of her internal struggles, he was now telepath and had to rely on good old fashioned intuition and reading of body language.

“My professional opinion? Command has put the entirety of their misfit list on this ship and is sending us on a suicide mission. Unfortunately for them, despite the apparent mismatch of the crew, command will be severely disappointed in our success.” Then she shrugged, “As for myself, I’ve never served with a crew. Small teams, solo missions. This is a very new experience for me.” She was going to have to work with…Rauuhl…Noa…no not Noa, or was he?....with Ryder, Cmdr Ryder Rauuhl rather closely because of the over lap of their jobs. He might as well know what he had to work with.

“You’re hand!” He said stopping seeing the unmistakable crimson glow that surrounded her pocket. “You should have said you had cut yourself, how did that even happen” The Trill asked looking around for any part of the ship that was jutting out and may have sliced her as they walked past.

• Cmdr. Ryder, XO

Casela looked down at her hand as she pulled it from her pocket. Well that’s worse than I thought “It’s alright, I’ve had worse.” His obvious and genuine concern putting her more at ease with his position but still confusing with who he is, or was, or....not anymore? With her right hand she began reaching into the multitude of pockets (that she’d added to her uniform) and removing items from them and placing them either on the other side of her jacket, internal and external pockets, or into loops and pockets at her belt. And there were A LOT and mostly hand to hand weapons of some kind. Once they were empty she ripped a long strip from her jacket lining. She expertly wrapped it around the lower part of her palm and then tying it off with her fingers and teeth. “It’s fine now.” Seeing him look around, “I can assure you I didn’t do it on a bulk head. That would be more embarrassing than the truth.” Casela looked around for Fenrir. “Fenrir, passive mode.” She reached behind her back, grabbing one of the fans and pulling it out. With the smallest flick of her wrist the fan popped open with a loud explosive sounding reverberation that was sudden and shocking. “I cut it on this. I’ve had worse cuts from these, but not in a long time.” She snapped it closed with another small flick of her wrist and then tossed it in the air, flipping it around so the handle faced Ryder. “Careful, the spines are razer sharp, but the handle is safe enough.”
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS/KAI9 Handler

After recovering from the noise and not as convinced at her healing abilities he let it slide in favor of hoping to make her feel at ease and banish the thoughts of him being anything like Noa. “Its certainly an interesting design.” Ryder took the handle in his hand and fluttered it about opening and closing the fan. “Did you make this yourself or find it somewhere else? More importantly, why does our chief counselor need a weaponized fan and guard mech” He said looking to Fenrir smiling at the mech and then back to the Lieutenant who with the smile on her face was pleasant to look at, more than pleasant but Ryder reminded himself quickly that it was inappropriate for a senior officer to think about his subordinates in such a way but her eyes… her eyes, he blinked several times. He’d have to be careful around her.

• Cmdr Ryder, XO

Casela continued to walk, her hand beginning to throb, she’d have to have the doctor look at it. “It’s from Earth’s Japanese region. It was a popular weapon for women. Usually made of wood, it was purely defensive. I’ve…adapted it. Not my most effective weapon, but my favorite The sound of two of those snapping open gets attention and the distraction the noise provides can provide those few seconds that can provide an advantage.” Casela’s eyes flashed with…far too much knowledge. “I’m not really a counselor, Ryan,” dropping rank, Casela had no use for it. “Oh don’t get me wrong I am more than qualified. I specialize in interrogation, profiling, and mental warfare. After I graduated I went straight into Star Fleet intelligence. After the Betazoid resistance, I wasn’t fit for much else.” She stopped, waiting for questions. Not everyone knew about the Betazoid resistance of the Dominion.

“So to answer your questions, I don’t go anywhere without a weapon. Too much time doing recon missions, and my…mentor would never let me forget it if I was caught unaware. And the mech guard dog,” she shrugged. “I don’t make friends, and I don’t suffer incompetent fools who jeopardize our objective or lives. Often a KAI was the only back up I had.” Casela shrugged again, “I have been bilaterally attached to RTF for that reason.” She glanced an Fenrir as he continued to fill is data cells with information. “Understand this. I have a non-love for section 31. I was on my way out and they sent me here. I have no loyalty to them and they know it. My only concern is this ship and it’s crew, if they deserve the loyalty. My priority is those who can’t defend themselves.”

Hearing is final thoughts caused her eyes to snap to his face and then away. Well now you certainly are NOT Noa. How interesting. She let go of that concern, hoping it was all Noa and not Rauuhl who had been the problem.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS/KAI9 Handler

Ryder studied the woman for a moment, contemplating the words in which he understood that her experiences had clearly shaped her into the person she was standing in front of her and he respected her morals and the way she stood by them even if he didn’t agree with all of them, but nobody was perfect its what made her even more interesting. “Well, consider me duly informed and partially terrified.” he laughed lightly. “I’ll just pretend I never heard anything about Section 31, I already have my fill of secret Starfleet organizations to keep me going for a lifetime. ” He paused at the turbo lift with a smile. “We should do this again sometimes, talking I mean” He indicated to Fenrir “Maybe though we could leave Fenrir at home along with your weapons, I don’t bite I promise.” He said with a cheeky gleam in his eye, reminding himself of his duties as an officer however it melted away.

• Cmdr Ryder, XO

Casela sneered, “I wish I had never heard of them. Worst mistake of my life.” She surprised heeself. She was being a lot more open with the XO than she had ever been with anyone. It had to be because she was confused by the whole Noa/not Noa yhing.
Casela paused allowing it to appear she was letting Fenrir on first. But really she was taken aback. She has no problem leaving Fenrir to himself, but without weapons? Sure she could handle herself without them, but she never ever felt comfortable enough with anyone to do that. That was a huge leap of faith for her.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

“Mistakes are lifes way of teaching us lessons, I hope Noa’s mistakes will teach me to be a better person,” He said before noting that she seemed to be struggling with her request and he wondered how best to approach the situation. “How about we make a compromise.” Ryder began, having thought up what he thought to be a good solution to his moral stance and her experience. “The ship’s armory consists of nonlethal electric batons, no chance of cutting yourself or others. How about you carry one of those for now until you become comfortable aboard the ship. I don’t know how those other guys ran things but I am not comfortable having my officers armed at all times.” As if to emphasize the raised his arms turned around to show he carried no weapons.

• Commander Ryder, XO

Casela thought it over, “How about this, I’ll carry one of the non leathal ones off duty. Now I’m totally serious here, Ryder, think about our mission. This is not a normal Star Fleet ship. Our objective and our mission is not typical starfleet. We have no idea what we are going to encounter, and the few reports I’ve seen of things we will be asked to go after, we have no idea the havok that will wreck on board. I for one do not want to be caught unaware and unprotected. Do we really want everyone scrambling for a weapon or a way to protect themselves if something gets on the ship?” Casela thought it over, “Or maybe I’m too hyper reactive aftera ll these years. But,” here she stopped, it was her job to raise concerns to the XO, “I can promise you, how I normally carry, nothing will get to the captain, or nothing we currently are away of. The captain is an impressive man, before he gave up on himself. I am NOT saying he is unfit, but it has been a long time since he was in command. I believe he can and will do it, but honestly I’m not sure if he would welcome death or not.” She looked Ryder in the eye. “Do you want him unguarded until he finds his ‘sea legs’ again?”
Casela suddenly came to a decision, “Yes we should talk again, and not while touring the ship.”
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS/KAI9 Handler