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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

He’d been expecting the usual sterile, isotropic, wholly unwelcoming design of a standard Starfleet lounge. Cobb had always suspected that the Federation designed those places to be as uncomfortable as possible, to discourage the crew from spending any time in there. But stepping into Jörmungandr was nothing less than a banquet for the eyes…and for the soul.

To start, the frigid off-white walls had been painted a deep, azure blue and decorated with nautical-themed paraphernalia - an old, rusted anchor, a shelf holding lanterns of all shapes and sizes, a decorative fishing net. Along the left and right walls were a series of booths, with nautical-striped couches and sturdy wooden tables, each one illuminated by a holographic candle in a hurricane-lamp style holder. Additional seating was scattered randomly about the remaining available space, taking the form of comfortable sofas and smaller, round tables with stools.

The bar itself ran almost the full length of the back wall. Fashioned from the same light wooden panels as the tables, the countertop had a transparent aluminium surface, beneath which sat a beach collage of sand and coloured shells. Floor to ceiling shelving behind the bar held a dazzling array of multi-coloured bottles and decanters, although Zachariah suspected that most still contained synthehol. But he’d be willing to donate a few key items from his personal collection to enhance such wonderful surroundings.

But the true centrepiece of the Jörmungandr was a huge, cylindrical vessel that reached from the floor all the way up to the ceiling. To an engineer like Cobb, it was instantly recognisable as a magnetic constriction segment from an old M/ARA reaction assembly, except here it had been repurposed into an aquarium, alive with brightly coloured, real, tropical fish. The illumination cast by the column radiated waves of shimmering blue across the entire space, making one feel as if they were indeed submerged underwater. It was, in truth, the most incredible drinking den that Zachariah Cobb had ever seen!

“Well now, here’s something you don’t see every day,” the old man gasped, moving instantly towards the aquarium-piece and peering deep within. “Why, this is brilliant!”

Then, turning back to Ryder, he added, “So, what’s good to drink around here then, eh?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Ryder was standing next to the captain his arms crossed smugly, “My previous host would recommend Yridian ale but I think perhaps some Aldebaran whiskey would be an appropriate drink for your first time inside the lounge.” Having given his suggestion the Trill moved to the bar, the officer’s bar was somewhat civilized and was a self serve environment with the rule of ‘You drink you you replace it’ and this was enforced by Ryder himself though often he would delegate it to the Yeoman. “Or we could do a sampler?” He offered taking down the half-empty bottle of Aldebaran whiskey, green in color.

• Commander Ryder, XO

“Whiskey will do just fine for me, Commander,” Cobb nodded at the bottle. “I’m not quite so adventurous with my liquor as I seem to be with my career.”

“Whiskey it is” Acknowledged Ryder as he pulled the two glasses over to where he stood and turned them up right. He had wondered why glasses were stored rim down and had found himself plunged Into what seemed to be a life long debate. Storing glassware face down runs the risk of trapping moisture and, in turn, growing mold and bacteria. Storing it face up, exposes a large surface for airborne dust and bacteria to land on, all in all there was no right or wrong way.

Settling down on the nearest sofa that faced the aquarium, Cobb reclined into the cushions and closed his eyes. Gods, he was exhausted! The last three days had truly taken a toll on his body and his mind and a small part of him feared that they’d have broken out of the moorings and be halfway across the quadrant before he caught up again.

Pouring the two drinks using a 25ml Thimble Measure & Pourer Combo to fill three fingers worth his mind absent until Cobb dragged him back to reality.

“Bring the bottle with you, eh?” he called out to Ryder, his eyes still closed. Whether that was a request or an order would be for the new XO to decipher.

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Looking over his shoulder and to the two glasses he had poured the bottle was almost half empty, again another debate he found humans enjoyed having. Half empty or half full, Ryder had dispelled the argument with a simple equation. If you were pouring fluid out of the container it would be half empty as you were emptying the container and if you were filling it up it was half full as you would ‘fill’ the container up.

Deciding that half a bottle extra of whisky wouldn’t hurt anyone he placed it and the two glasses on a tray before walking them over to the table the captain had occupied. He lifted both glasses and passed one to Cobb.

• Commander Ryder, XO

Taking the offered glass with a nod of gratitude, Zachariah first raised it to his nose and, for a long moment, simply allowed the aroma to tantalise and tease, his eyes closed as if this were some deep and profound ritual. Then finally, he brought the glass to his lips and took a generous swallow.

The first glass was enjoyed in contemplative silence, the liquor demanding his full and undivided attention. But by the time he was sliding the glass once more towards Ryder, in the hopes that it would return to him replenished, Cobb was ready to continue their conversation.

“So, tell me,” he began, cautiously. He had observed no indications, as of yet, whether his new XO would be an ally…or an adversary, “just how dangerous can I expect our missions with the ARU to get?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb