Casual Chat - Rin

Posted on Thu Jul 16th, 2026 @ 1:33pm by Commander Rin & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson

Mission: Interlude
Location: Commodore's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Elysium
845 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

The doors closed with a quiet finality, and the Commodore inclined her head slightly. “Rin.” She motioned toward the sitting area rather than the desk. “Sit—can I get you something? Tea? Coffee? Water?”

"Water's fine, ma'am," Rin said, taking a seat.

She poured without fuss, placing the cup within easy reach before taking her own seat. “I just wanted to talk—not officially.”
Her voice stayed calm, measured but warm. “What’s been sitting in the back of your mind lately? The things that don’t quite add up yet. And how can I help?"

Several months ago, they had had a similar conversation. Things were said that needed to be said, but it had also led to a rift between Rin and Captain Taylor that had never fully been repaired. Not that that was the Commodore's fault. It most certainly wasn't. The Commodore facilitated a discussion Rin should have already initiated.

Still, Rin kind of didn't want a repeat.

"Not add up?" Rin asked. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"You have a very demanding role Commander. One that, I will admit is sometimes overlooked by the more flashy departments, I do not want you to feel ignored. You write reports I read them. But we both know that as department heads not everything goes into reports. When I was CHOPS on this ship, I used to keep my .. what humans call gut feelings.. out of it. Things that sit off to the side until they come to full view. So I am asking you to speak with me about things that might not be at a stage of 'tell the commodore' yet are not 'Nothing to worry about'. You are observant Commander.."

Rin took a sip from her class. "I've never needed flashy. Flashy is sometimes counterproductive in my line of work. Truth is a significant part of my department's duties aren't relevant here. We don't have data cashes to pick up and analyze, we aren't dropping off and picking up individuals, we don't have known quantities to keep an eye on. We're spending a lot of time on the Ajanie records, and of course we have sensor data to parse, but that's a task shared with science and tactical."

Rin took another sip. "I can't help but notice a lack of discussion about methods of making it home. Do we have any leads at all?"

"Nothing. I am hoping that as we move towards more planets that they might have ideas and insight." Phoenix said softly. "No super race like last time to get us home."

"We know there is a race in CIrcinus which has the ability to travel between this galaxy and ours. We know it as fact. Why aren't we even discussing the Thaih'eas' technology?"

It was a valid point. "To be honest I think we just avoid it because of the issues we faced with them," Phoenix said.

"I'm not suggesting we ask them nicely," Rin replied, frowning. "They are an enemy of the Federation. They have captured, killed, and enslaved our people and will clearly continue to do so. They have easy access to Federation territory. We have no idea the size of their fleet. It can't be small. They've staked out a considerable plot of space. And the Federation won't see them coming. They are a threat, and we have wide latitude in addressing that threat. We patrol places like the Badlands specifically to root out pirates: we arrest them and seize their ships. We do it all the time. Nothing stops us from doing it here.

"Or we track down where they build their ships, infiltrate, and gather info. We deliver some really pointed questions to some very bad people. Or perhaps they use slave labor for some of the manufacturing. We get them out and see what they can provide. Or we shadow a vessel under cloak, take readings, possibly get infiltrators on board. Intel has infiltrators. The Marines have infiltrators. And at the risk of stereotyping, I will hazard a guess that we've got more than a few capable Romulans. There are options that should at least be discussed, and the fact that we have had such traumatic interaction with them should be more motivation, not less. Ma'am."

Phoenix listened and slowly nodded. "Would it be amiss of me to suggest, you speak with Commander Reece and Colonel Azhul? Work together to come up with a plan? See if the Romulans and our Engineers would be willing to work on a better cloak than we currently have?"

"I will absolutely do that, ma'am. Thank you," Rin replied. "And perhaps once we reach Teevs' homeworld, we might request more intel on the Thaih'eas."

"That's an idea. They should have a lot of information, Teevs has been a font of information for us since his arrival." Phoenix said "I hope his people are just as nice as him."

"Don't jinx it," Rin replied. "Was there anything else, ma'am?"

Phoenix shook her head. "No but I want you to remember my door is always open."