<snip>

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

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

Ryder had watched the captain, silently enjoy the drink but his own was left untouched. “Honestly? I don’t know, but if I was a betting man I think we’re going to have a serious learning curve both physically and emotionally. I think we’re going to be going through hell and back and we’re going to lose some good people on the way. ” Now Ryder took a sip of his drink, the liquid trickling down his throat warming him. “I don’t want to sound so glum but, reading over the mission reports from the fleet as a whole its easily a 1 in 3 chance of being seriously injured in the line of duty and that’s including the command staff.”

• Commander Ryder, XO

“1 in 3? That good, eh?” Cobb teased him. In truth, he’d faced off against far worse odds in the war and survived, although whether he considered that a blessing or a curse would depend on the precise moment that you asked. And how much he’d had to drink. And perhaps how many times he had found himself thinking that day of her. Of Prim Zar.

“To tell you the truth, Commander, I’m still struggling to wrap my head around these anomalies at all. I mean, I’ve been in Starfleet for almost three decades now and have seen my share of…unusual things. And while I don’t claim to be any kind of Zephram Cochrane, I consider myself a reasonably intelligent and educated man. And yet, some of the things in these files have had me questioning Einstein himself! I just…”

”…comprehendthat a secret organisation could be operating within federation space but outside the laws?” He laughed the idea of Section 31 was bizarre enough but the RTF was a completely secret organisation with to his knowledge no real leaks apart form the od sighting from time to time.

He snorted out a dry laugh, one finger beginning to trace the rim of his glass until it rang out in a harmonious scream.

“I keep expecting to wake up and find that this was all nothing more than a dream.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

“Me too, but I applied so half expected the bizarreness. I was fortunate to have one of those encounters even brief it was enough to spark my interest so i went digging eventually the job was given to me though the didn’t tell em they’d drag the entire ship with me too.” He shrugged, “It goes to show just how much political power the fleet has if they can just retcon a ship from fleet.”

• Commander Ryder, XO

“Aye, that it does indeed,” Cobb agreed, although his expression suggested it was not a thought-pattern he was relishing. “It all seems rather grandiose for a mere clean-up crew. Makes me think there’s a lot more to this ARU business than we, or at least, me, are being told. As if there’s an endgame for which we, and the Leviathan, are merely pawns. Which then begs the question,” he concluded, draining another glass. “If we’re the pawns then…who’s the king?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb