Finding an Acoustical sweet spot

Posted on Thu Sep 18th, 2025 @ 6:06am by Captain Elijah Rutherford & Lieutenant Rynna Csira

2,175 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Mini Mission-Adjustments [USS Orcrist]
Location: Jefferies tubes
Timeline: MD 02

It seemed that he was needing to catch up with all of the new arrivals upon the ship. Elijah had a list,he had met with the CMO, now he had another person to track down, and that was the new chief of operations.

"Computer, what is the location of Lieutenant Rynna Csira." Elijah looking upwards to the ceiling. Once he finds out where she was he headed in that direction.

"Lieutenant Rynna Csira is in transporter room one."

Transporter one, that is where she is. Elijah went there, though he would have gone into the jefferies tubes to find her. Once he arrived there,Elijah stepped inside, clearing his throat quietly.

Rynna was behind the transporter console, adjusting some of the settings. When she heard the captain, she stood. "Hello, captain. Can I help you?"

"Well, it seems that my wife, Jasmine, is a little bit more on the ball than I am." giving a smile as Elijah walked over. "I decided to come meet you officially, so to speak; instead of having you come to the ready room."

"I should have reported in, but it's been a little crazy around here with changing ships," Rynna said. "You were on my list, I promise," she added with a grin.

"I believe you." Elijah smiled. "The changing of ships definitely was a surprise to me."

He paused, debating on something then came to a decision "There is something that I do need to talk to you about."

Drawing near, "There is a reason why we have gotten changed to another ship." Elijah frowned, his voice low.

"From reports that I had received, there was a small incursion from a station that the Majestic had gone to. It was run by an AI named Adna, who went insane."

"That...is unusual. And disturbing. Did they take care of the station?"

"I have no idea if its been taken care of. Hopefully, I will be told but who knows." Elijah giving a concerned look. "Though would it be possible to make sure the security protocols have all been updated?"

"Of course. I'll take care of that today," Rynna assured him. "We're already running routine diagnostics. I can add that to the list."

"I do apologize for making it sound like you don't know what to do." Rutherford taking a look around at the transporter room.

"I feel like a nervous father when his first child is born. Wanting to protect and make certain everything is good." A self deprecating chuckle at his own expense.

"It's always better to ask than assume," she said. "And this is a new ship, so there's always something that'll go wrong."

"Aye that it can." Elijah responded.

"I don't know if you've met Commander Jack MacGyver, yet. He was the previous Chief of Ops, before things got shifted around. Nice guy."

"As a matter of fact, I have. I stopped by his office and we had a chat. I agree that he's a nice guy. He even offered to make special parts for me if I need them."

"Good, glad you have." Elijah paused, watching as she worked, "If it's not slowing you down with your work, I'd like to continue conversing with you. "

"Not at all." Rynna smiled at the captain. "I can multi-task, and I don't mind company."

"Oh good, this way I won't be having a guilt complex at not getting to know the crew." Elijah giving a grin. "Besides being an excellent operations officer. What do you like to do when not at work?"

"I like music and I like to kayak," she replied. "I also like climbing. What about you, sir?"

"I actually like to sail ships, the old style tall mast 1800's style. I play the guitar, do wood carving and I cook. Those are just several of the things I like to do, besides spending time with my lovely wife and two kids." Elijah having a smile as he thought of them.

"I've never been on a tall ship. That sounds like fun." She could imagine the captain's kids playing on the rigging.

"It is fun but also a lot of work. When we come back from our first mission, I intend on taking the family to go sailing." his blue eyes twinkling in anticipation.

"There will be room for those who wish to experience it. Other than that, I do have a program for my ship that we can go on, in the holosuite. "

"That might be a fun bonding activity for the senior staff." At least Rynna thought it sounded like fun.

"I hope they would be willing, at the very least, a run in the Holosuite." a distant look in his eyes as he contemplated that.

"Now, question for you, besides your short time on the Majestic, where did you serve before then and did you enjoy the ship you were on?"

It might be sort of the run of the mill question to be asked, but, even if it said in her records as to where she served before, it didn't truly give an idea as to what her feelings were.

"I was on the Bradbury and then the Cadiz," she said as she grabbed a tool. "The Bradbury was my first ship and I got to work primarily with communications and transporters--unless something needed to be repaired. It's a good ship, and I enjoyed my time there. My second ship was the Cadiz, where I was promoted to assistant chief operations officer. That was more of a challenge, but I loved it. I think every ship or station has something different about it, whether it be the crew or the missions. Or sometimes it's just the character of the ship itself."

"I do wonder what the character of this ship will turn out to be. Hopefully a good one or will it be a rascal? Also probably depends on not only the captain but also the crew, who will reside on the ship, and do reside on the ship."

He reached out to touch the back of the transporter console,

"There was something about the Majestic that to me felt like she was in some pain. I know that this may sound a bit out there, but, the Majestic had gone into a parallel universe, they got back."

"Makes sense." Rynn glanced at the captain before grabbing another tool. "Ships have their own personality. It doesn't matter that they come from the same ship yard, or are made off the same set of blueprints. Each one has a...character. Some call it a personality. I can see a ship going into a parallel universe and coming back needing a lot of TLC. I know ops and engineering personnel who swear the ship has a gender of its own."

"I've thought that myself, when it came to the ships I've flown. They seem to pick their own personality. I am wondering what the Orcrist will end up being though, I am thinking that the Orcrist may have a male personality. Only time will tell." Elijah remarked.

"This is true. Once she gets a few lightyears under her belt--or his belt--we'll start to see a personality." Rynn put her tool back and stood. "All done here. So, captain, how many times have you walked the decks so far?"

"I am slowly working my way around, exploring the nooks and crannies. While the bridge was empty, sat in the helm position. It has been awhile since I've sat there. Oh the sacrifices that a person has to make when going up the rank ladder." Giving a wink. "I am sure you've been to more than I have."

"I have walked a lot of corridors and crawled through a lot of Jefferies' tubes." She smiled at the captain. "There are some places that only ops and engineering get to see. That's where you can hear and feel the heart of the ship."

"And I as a captain wish to see those. I feel there needs to be a connection made, Care to show me the way." Elijah was serious about what he said.

What better way to get to know the ship, than through the eyes of an officer.

"Sure." She checked that all her tools were back in their case and picked it up. "Let me drop these back in my office and we'll get started. Is there anywhere in particular you want to start?"

"Do you have a favorite spot that you can hear the song of the Orcrist? I have heard that there is a place that a few call the sweet spot, where the acoustics are pure and one can hear the sounds of a ship." Elijah mused.

Rynna grinned. "Not yet, but I haven't been everywhere yet." That was simply because she had other things to see to first.

"Then shall we go look for said place? I would love to find that particular place."

"There are a couple of junctions we can check today that are standard on most ships," she said, picking up her toolbox.

"That sounds wonderful." Elijah following after Rynna. "And once we find that I'll have to see how my guitar sounds in that area."

"As long as no one needs to do any repairs." Rynna grinned. "Then you can sometimes hear the work echoing through those areas." She led him to deck five, which was the best place to enter, and opened an access panel.

"I'll make certain to check before utilizing this spot."

He felt his stomach tighten with anticipation, as the access panel was open. The sweet acoustically perfect place to hear the music, sweet and pure.

"You know," Rynna said conversationally, "It's not perfect. Nothing is. It has great acoustics, but I've been to some venues that are better." She slipped into the Jefferies' tube and turned left, carefully making her way to the first junction.

"Venues? Rynna, are you saying you are a singer?" which was the first thing Elijah thought of.

"Or perhaps a musician?" following after her. He had a bit of a smile. What a way to find something about a person, crawling into the jefferies tubes.

"I was in a band at one point. Lead singer and keyboard." She shrugged. "It was fun, but it's not a career I wanted. So now, I'll occasionally do it for fun. I actually met two women from the ship who also sing and play. We're going to get together from time to time for fun."

"Oh? I had no idea that we have some talented crew members. That can classify me as very clueless, about my crew." a few moments of silence.

"I'd like to know when you do perform. What type of music?" Elijahh was mentally facepalming as he thought of possible opportunities missed.

"Old earth rock, mostly. I like the late nineteenth century most. It was considered the age of rock and roll. But multiple ages have great ballads." She paused. "You have some talented people on your ship. I've met a violinist, a guitar player, and a flutist so far."

They came to the first junction and she stopped to listen. Then she sang a diatonic scale and listened again. "Nope. Let's go to the next one."

"Okay its your lead. I will follow you." Elijah was enjoying the exploration quite thoroughly.

One thing he rather liked is that Rynna wasn't someone who put on airs. She seemed down to Earth.

Rynna slipped expertly down another passage. She kept her pace slow enough for the captain as she visually inspected the conduits and panels. She hadn't seen a ship this new before and it was fascinating. The second and third junctions also failed to have the proper resonance for the captain. But the fourth was different. She could tell as she approached. The hum and throb of the ship quieted as they approached.

They emerged into a small area with a small platform on one end. She could still feel some vibrations, but that was because the ship was operational. "This is as close as you'll get. Mind you, it's not perfect, but I think this is where you'll find the best acoustics on the ship. She sang an E and nodded. "This is the spot you want."

Elijah listened to the sounds then nodded, smiling when he heard her sing out.

"Beautiful, thank you. And it is perfect for me." Another look at where they were, he sat crossslegged, just to soak in the ambience.Closing his eyes, Elijah allowed himself a few moments, his ears reaching out and listening.

The moments ticked by, then his eyes opened glancing towards Rynna smiling.

"Nice, yes, but nothing like a well-built symphony hall. You should find one when you have the time. The sound of a full orchestra is amazing."

"Oh I have and it is wondrous, still just finding this spot is fantastic. Thank you once again." Elijah rsponded.

END

Lieutenant Rynna Csira
Chief Operations Officer
USS Orcrist

Captain Elijah Rutherford
Commanding Officer
USS Orcrist

 

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