Steel Beach, Starfleet Style! (Part 1)

Posted on Sun Oct 26th, 2025 @ 11:31pm by Captain Patricia Cooke & Lieutenant Charlotte E. "Charlie" Yeager & Senior Chief Petty Officer Karen Jinryo & I-402 & Commander Katrina Chance & Lieutenant Commander Andrew Star & Lieutenant Akira Kogami & Lieutenant Alice Penrose & Captain Jacob Rye & Ensign Toran Vos

1,513 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Ghost Starship
Location: Main Shuttlebay, Deck 10
Timeline: A few months after 'Captain's Log - I-400 Saga Epilogue'

Captain's log, supplemental;

The months since our formal commissioning have seen us fall into a normal starship routine. A change that has most definitely been welcome, even if we still find ourselves light on senior staff.

In other news, Senior Chief Jinryo is supposed to return from her maternity leave, so to welcome her back, I'm holding a time-honored Starfleet tradition. One that should get the crew excited...

End of log.

Patricia had spoken with Charlie about an event she was planning to host in the shuttlebay- at first, the Lieutenant was confused on why Patricia wanted to hold it in the shuttlebay when they had holodecks and could simulate literally any environment, but came around when Patricia argued that holding it in a holographic fantasy lessened the authenticity of it. After all, a steel beach held on the holodeck could be seen as just a picnic.

The day had started early for Patricia, for once Charlie had allocated the shuttlebay space, Patricia needed to use the Missouri's industrial replicators to replicate a set of Earth barbeque grills. While she waited for the grills to warm up, Patricia had to set up the various activities, including stretching a net between two cargo containers for use as a makeshift volleyball court.

Once a few of the activities were set up, Patricia had begun to prepare some of the more labor-intensive food. Pretty soon, the air in the shuttlebay was filling with the delightful aroma of old-fashioned Earth barbeque.

"Dare I ask why you're having a barbecue in the shuttlebay, Patty?" Akira inquired as she emerged from just around the corner and made her presence known.

"This, Akira, is a time-honored tradition that dates back to the United States Navy." Patricia explained. "It's called a steel beach. It was traditionally held on the main decks of naval ships, though in the time of Starfleet, it's held largely in shuttlebays or cargo bays. With how routine things have gotten since the commissioning, figured this'd be a fun way to break up the monotony."

Akira raised an eyebrow. "This is certainly the first time I've heard about it," she remarked. "Is it really as common as you say, or is this more of a cult thing?"

"I've found it depends on the ship, and its captain:" Patricia shrugged. "Some crews swear by them, others have never heard of them."

Akira shook her head and sighed. "Promise me that this isn't going to involve you setting off a glitter bomb in Karen's face the moment she steps off the shuttle?" she requested. "Knowing you, Patty, that sounds exactly like something you would do..."

"You know I've matured since our Academy days, right?" Patricia asked.

"Some days, I can't help but wonder..."

The doors swished up and the newly appointed Chief Engineer entered, wearing a backwards tan baseball hat covering his fiery red hair along with a crisp white cotton shirt, the white colouring heavily faded after centuries of wear and tear, and also faded jeans with designer running shoes on his feet. Probably unlike everyone else, Andrew was the most excited one in the room, all his years in Starfleet and not one steel beach picnic, when he heard the news of one being held, he rushed to his library of diary entries and tried to find how long it'd been since he attended one... 20 Years, add or subtract months.

Andrew waved at crewmen, nodded to the senior staff, but he really wanted to hang out with his new staff, the engineers.

Kat made her way slowly down the corridors of the Missouri. It had literally only been an hour between when she had come aboard and when she was hosting the I-400 briefing for the senior staff. It had been even less time after that then that she, and the rest of the crew, were in a fight for their lives. But now the fight was over. Now, she could actually take the time to enjoy her new posting. And so enjoy she did, quietly. She had left her quarters twenty minutes ago but rather than make a beeline for the shuttle bay like her life depended on it, she moved extremely slowly. As she walked, she took the time to appreciate the condition of the ship. Engineers had been hard at work patching conduits, microfractures of the hull, and replacing blown out relays. And, although there were still some signs of the I-400 saga scattered around the ship, it effectively looked like new again.

The turbolift ride was quiet, and though she thought of slowing its transit, she decided that would be stepping a little too far past a line. A stroll inconvenienced no one. A slowed turbolift could mean the difference in a sudden emergency.

The lift came to a stop, and Katrina stepped out into the clean, featureless corridor. A wall panel flickered slightly as Katrina past it, and the sound of a nearby conduit seemed just a little bit off. Damage from the engagement, she decided. She'd double check later to see if it was a known issue.

The shuttle bay doors hissed softly as she approached, allowing Katrina entrance without complaint or fanfare. Good, that was just how she liked it. She spotted Patricia in the distance, along with Andrew and a few other officers. As she moved closer, she lifted her hand in a wave.

Patricia was busy on the grill, working to ensure that the food didn't burn. But she did her best to wave and greet crew as they arrived, telling them to help themselves to the food that was already done. This was namely hotdogs and kebabs, though burgers were slowly starting to make their way out as well.

Toran Vos paused just inside the arch of the shuttlebay, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the scene. The smell hit first. Then smoke, chatter, the metallic clang of folding chairs and boots on deck. He wasn't sure where this 'steel beach' tradition had originated from, but he knew better than to refuse an invitation from the Captain, and some of his team would be around. For someone who had once been a high flyer and had then become something of a persona non grata, he knew the importance of networking, even if it wasn't always easy.

Toran adjusted the cuff of his off-duty tunic, still formal in style, and stepped further inside. The air was warm with the slight haze of the grill and cheerful noise. Noise...but not overwhelming. That helped. He scanned the space with quiet efficiency, not immediately joining a group but also not withdrawing to the edges.

Across the bay, another figure entered even more quietly.

Alice Penrose lingered just inside the doorway, her hand resting lightly against the bulkhead as she took in the blur of colour and motion ahead. The noise hit like a wave...laughter, clatter, bursts of overlapping conversations...and for a moment, she just breathed.

Her eyes closed and opened slowly as she adjusted. There was a time when this sort of crowd would have made her freeze. Not visibly. But her ribs would tighten up, there's be a buzzing behind her eyes and her heart would rush as she planned her exit strategies. It hadn't gone entirely, it probably never would be. But these days, she knew how to brace herself in the tide.

Alice made her way in, her steps measured. She carried nothing but a soft black shawl draped over one arm, her blue summer dress simple and deliberately chosen to feel like a balm against the overwhelm.

And then she spotted him. The back of a tall figure standing still, not too far from the food table, his posture watchful but relaxed.

Alice moved toward Toran with quiet determination, settling at his side. "Toran," she said gently, her voice warm but low. "You made it then?"

Toran turned just enough to glance to her, the edge of a wry smile pulling at his lips. "I was told there would be fire. And protein."

Alice gave a soft, amused breath. "And I was told there would be a chance to connect with the crew. So here we are, heeding the call of duty and curiosity."

"I assume you're leaning toward the former?" Toran replied with a small, knowing smile. He hadn't known her all that long, but the Betazoid had gotten a read on her pretty quickly.

Alice tilted her head, her dark, long hair falling over her shoulder with it. "Maybe. But...sometimes it's good to remind myself I can do this. Be in a room like this, with noise and movement and faces I don't know yet, and not run." She glanced his way, watching him steadily. "And you? What will this be for you?"

"A tactical assessment. Possibly penance," Toran replied with an entirely deadpan tone.

Alice laughed gently, unable to help herself. "Well. I'll be your designated fallback if conversation gets too intense. And you can be mine..."

To be continued...

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