Partaking Of The View

Posted on Mon Apr 22nd, 2019 @ 2:18am by Commodore Jane Saulitis
Edited on on Mon Apr 22nd, 2019 @ 2:19am

Mission: War Games
Location: Below Decks, USS Rhea
Timeline: Prior to the War Games opening ceremony
1012 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Commander Jane Saulitis wandered below decks on the USS Rhea. She liked this way better than some stuffy old banquet room filled with other Captain's who all wanted to compare the sizes of their ships. The conversation was lacking here, unless she stopped some random crew member to ask a question. But the view was unquestionably better. She grinned when she finally got to a viewport where she could see the Majestic.

A Captain could not just wander around another ship without being noticed. As soon as Ryon was informed of the visitor, the Rhea's Captain made his way to the lower decks. As he found the other Captain, he asked, "You came all the way to the Rhea so you could catch a view of the Majestic?" The smile would show that he was not angry.

"No," Jane replied a little embarrassed that she'd been caught. "I just thought it was an added bonus while I was snooping around. And honestly I like the little corners of ships, I think they build them just for people to find. I apologize, I should have come to see you first." She didn't tell him she'd just fled a room full of Captains and was looking for a little clarity elsewhere.

"No apologies necessary, I have a few officers aboard who seek out these small corners as well," Ryon nodded. He had only recently had a conversation or two in this exact spot. The preparations for the wargames had been smooth so far, he had already sent dispatched shuttles around the Proving Grounds to take detailed surveys. "How was the Majestic's maiden voyage? I read the reports, but I wanted to get a sense of how you thought things went."

"Only her maiden voyage with me as Captain. Not at all as expected." Jane replied, almost sorry he'd brought it up. "But overall, for what we were thrown into I think we handled things pretty well in the end. The person was caught, there was no international incident and the natives of Bairl get to revise their history and modify their celebration in the future."

"Sometimes, preventing an international incident is a success," Ryon pointed out. He could not count the times that any one of his past missions across his career could be summed up similarly. "What do you think about the center chair?" he asked, trying to get an idea for how she felt about being her own commanding officer.

"It's growing on me. At first I was a bit . . . unsure. But my crew is amazing, we make it through things together." Jane felt as if they were marching upward, to what she wasn't sure.

"Your crew will get you through just about anything," Ryon agreed. He had been trying to see how she was doing by asking questions about her experience as Commanding Officer. Changing tactics, he stated, "I am told that the station has a popular American region diner. Any recommendations?"

"To be honest I prefer not to eat alone in public so I haven't tried anything. I decided to do a little exploring instead." She shrugged. "Which is what I was doing when I was discovered." She hesitated on the decision of inviting him for lunch. "Would you like to join me?"

Nodding slightly, Ryon replied, "Of course." He would have to notify Karis, that he would be changing plans. "I hope they have root beer, I haven't had any of that since the Academy. There was a place just next to the Golden Gate Bridge."

Motioning as though he had forgotten something, Ryon said, "You know, you have been doing some impressive work in the center chair of the Majestic." He smiled as his eyes almost gave away what he was about to do.

"Oh really?" Jane said, looking at him rather skeptically. She thought she'd done an adequate job considering what they were thrown on their first mission with her as Captain but impressive was not a word she would have used. His words completely drove any ideas of lunch from her mind.

From behind his back, Ryon produced a golden pip. "I believe you no longer meet Starfleet uniform regulations, Captain Saulitis. This may help." He held the pip toward the former Commander with a smile, "Congratulations."

It actually took Jane a few moments to realize what was going on. Her brain had been so full of things lately and she needed to compartmentalize better. "Thank you," She said when she felt like her voice was even enough. She took it from him.

Looking at the newly minted Captain, Ryon could not help but remember the day he had been promoted. An Admiral had caught him after a lecture about a no-win scenario and had promoted him to go on a search through the Badlands for the Yorktown. He wondered if his face had the same look Jane’s had right now. Going back to the subject they were on previously, Ryon added, “If I’m going to eat that kind of Human food, I’ll need some recommendations.”

"Hmm?" Jane said looking up at him. "Oh well . . . that depends. Do you like spicy foods or bland? Most Bajoran food I've tried was pretty bland, not that I'm saying you can't like other kinds of foods because of your race." She was sure her face was coloring. "Oh but there's a 1950's diner I've heard of, the food isn't spicy and it has a wonderful Earth theme from that era of our history. Do you want to try that?"

"You haven't had good Bajoran food then," Ryon pointed out. "Hasperat, if prepared correctly, is known to sear the tongue," he added. "I am fine with the diner, when I taught at the Academy there was a similar establishment that had delicious, what do they call it, cajun fries. I hope this place will have some of that."

"Anything is possible." Jane said as they made their way forward.

OFF

Captain Adamya Ryon
Commanding Officer
USS Rhea
(pnpc by Rai)

Captain Jane Saulitis
Commanding Officer
USS Majestic