Moratorium Lifted

Posted on Thu Oct 16th, 2025 @ 7:57pm by Captain T’Kal & Ensign Emmanuelle Larose & Senior Chief Petty Officer C'Hira Summers & Petty Officer, 1st Class Juno

1,093 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X05: Nightmare on Ark Royal Street
Location: Outside T’Kal’s Office
Timeline: SD 8982.1 (27 October 2290, 0720)

Since the first time she woke up aboard USS Ark Royal as Commanding Officer, Captain T’Kal ran a morning ritual to prepare her for the day.

A warm shower roused her from sleep, and the white noise made by the torrent of water offered a perfect environment for meditation. By the time she was in her uniform, her mind was still and focussed.

The routine continued in the reception area outside her office. Every morning at 0700, certain crewmembers were invited to join her for tea and a light breakfast to go over certain issues which, T’Kal firmly believed, every Captain should have a close eye on but few did. This was not a meeting with the First Officer or Department Heads. No, this was a breakfast with the people who really ran the Ark Royal.

“Feelings are still mixed after Kannok, ma’am,” reported Chief Rasim, the ship’s Morale Officer. The work of a crewmember on any Starfleet vessel was hard and could be draining. The Suliban woman made sure everyone had the opportunity to unwind, by ensuring the ship’s lounges were comfortable and stocked with games, the gym well equipped, the pool clean, and the bowling alley working. If morale started to dip, she would know first, and would know how to solve it. “Almost everyone who beamed down felt a chill, and quite a few of the security officers don’t want to talk about it. Counselor Johnson’s calendar hasn’t been this full in a while, Captain.”

“It’s good that you prioritized having a mental health professional on board then, Captain,” added Juno, covering her mouth as she spoke while eating. “Uncommon on Starfleet ships, and a first for ships called Ark Royal.” Petty Officer Juno had been collecting mission reports and storing them on index cards since well before T’Kal was born. Some said she watched the launch of the NX-01 live. Others say she was an archivist on the warp-ring HMS Ark Royal earlier still. All anyone knew for certain though was that every incident that has happened on the Ark Royal was documented in her archive, with backups on Earth, Vulcan, and Memory Alpha.

“Trivia aside,” Roman interjected, casting a glance at the archivist, “how do we solve the problem?” Roman Wajda was the Chief Administrator. On T’Kal’s ship, the role of Yeoman was broken up into more specialist administrative jobs, and Mr. Wajda oversaw them all. Not a single piece of paperwork went through the ship without first passing through his hand. It was his desk in the reception area that the teapot and pastries were kept on.

“Morale isn’t a problem to be solved,” Rasim explained.

“And trivia is never aside,” Juno added with a smirk.

Rasim shot her a glance and then continued. “Monitored, yes, and boosted when it drops. Something to show the crew that they’ve done a good job and that they’re appreciated. Shoreleave somewhere more pleasant than Kannok would be ideal.”

“That doesn’t fit in the schedule,” Roman countered forcefully. “There isn’t much flexibility in our rendezvous time with USS Erebus next week.”

“Well we need to figure something out,” Rasim interrupted, an increasing exasperation in her voice.

“What about…” The room looked toward Emmanuelle Larose. The young Ensign was here to learn, and her fresh perspective helped T’Kal look at problems differently. “Captain, do you remember the reception at Admiral Yawlis’s estate last year?” The instant she said it, she knew she should have phrased it more directly. This was not something T’Kal would want to be reminded of. She fidgeted uncomfortably, setting her coffee cup down to adjust her uniform jacket.

Now everyone looked to the Captain, whose cheeks turned a subtle blush of green. “You are suggesting a costume party?” she said, elaborating no further.

“It’s Stardate 8982.1, or 27 October,” Emmanuelle continued. “Four days from now it’s Halloween.”

C’Hira grinned and purred. The Quartermaster ran the entire Support Department. She knew what food was available. She knew the cleaning schedule. She knew the contents of the cargo bays. If you wanted something done right and quickly, you went to Ms. Summers.
“We haven’t had a Halloween party, well, since I’ve been aboard, nya!”

“The last one was nine years ago,” Juno offered. “Fifteen crew were arrested for disorderly conduct while intoxicated. A further five for public indecency. And two for unauthorized use of ship’s systems. After that, Captain Han put a moratorium on Halloween parties. File number HAN / ARYL 5X19.” She smirked and raised her teacup to those gathered. “It was a hell of a night though.”

Roman buried his face in his hands. “This is gonna be so much paperwork.”

“Captain, we have all the things to have a great Halloween nyight,” C’Hira insisted. “You can leave it to me, nya. Deck Seven Rec Lounge, twenty-one-thirty hours, four nights from nyow.”

The Captain stroked her chin as she considered it. “I’ve spent the better part of the last fifty years among humans, twenty of which on Earth. I have seen the depravity that happens among humans on Halloween night.” The corner of her lip slid upward barely perceptibly. “But I have also had much fun with my peers at costume parties. Approved. I leave this in your hands, Ms. Summers. And have Ensign Larose assist you.”

C’Hira bounced excitedly on her toes. “Thank you, Captain, nya!”

“We won’t let you down, Captain,” Emmanuelle added.

“And look into options for shadowing Counselor Johnson,” T’Kal instructed. “Your education should not leave out the medical and counseling department. If there is a greater mental health crisis on this ship we must address it immediately.”

Emmanuelle smiled. “Yes, ma’am. But after the Halloween party.”

“Yes,” T’Kal said, nodding her head once. “After. Now if you’ll excuse me, we all have duties to fulfill, and I have a costume to prepare. Dismissed.”

The junior crewmembers filed out, but before the door closed, T’Kal winced as heard something she did not want to hear.

“So what happened at Admiral Yawlis’s, nya?”

END


Captain T’Kal
Commanding Officer

Ensign Emmanuelle Larose
Bridge Support Officer

Senior Chief Petty Officer C’Hira Summers
Quartermaster

Chief Petty Officer Rasim
Morale Officer

Petty Officer 1st Class Juno
Archivist

Petty Officer 1st Class Roman Wajda
Chief Administrator

 

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