The most important meal of the day

Posted on Mon Apr 20th, 2026 @ 9:22pm by Captain Erik Norsgaard & Lieutenant JG Caitlyn MacRae & Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox

1,990 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Friends and Traitors
Location: Captain’s Dining Room, Deck 2

New day, new beginnings…

Releasing a deep breath, Lieutenant MacRae emerged from her new quarters to officially start her first full day as an official member of the crew. Goodbye undercover Intel officer - hello Second Officer. An unexpected turn of events which still seemed surreal. A surreal dream full of rules, regulations and the responsibility to everyone serving on the ship. Oh, and a red uniform.

It was, unsurprisingly, as uncomfortable as the yellow one. And with all of her weapons locked away she felt naked. Yep, this was going to take a lot of adjusting….

Reaching the dining room with a minute to spare, she decided it was probably a ring the chime kind of thing. Or maybe not. Was there etiquette for this? Who was she kidding. Starfleet had a protocol for everything.

So she pressed the door chime, unsure if she was first or last guest to arrive.

Erik rose from his seat and walked to the door; as it opened, he peered out and around, a look of surprise on his face. "Didn't know there was one of these things here," he said. "Anyway, come on in, Chef will be bringing up the food shortly. There's a fresh pot of coffee and another of tea." He walked back in and poured himself a mug of tea, inhaling the aroma with a satisfied smile, and then slid back into his seat at the head of the table. He watched Caitlyn enter, his brow creasing slightly, "you okay? You look ... uncomfortable."

Tea or coffee… in the midst of pouring a cup she glanced back over her shoulder at the question. “Hm? Oh, no, I am fine, just … I guess first day nerves probably sums it up the best,” she told him as she sat down with a cup of coffee. “I still half expect you to realise this is probably not a great idea. But I appreciate you having this faith in me to even try.”

Erik grunted over his tea, flashing a glance at her, "Probably would take more than you ringing a bell I didn't know existed on my dining room for me to remove you from the position. Early days, number two, early days."

“Feel like you should kinda know there is a chime on the door,” she chided, having to take a quick drink to hide a grin. “And now you know it works so, win win.”

"Had no idea about the chime," Erik said. "And haven't had anyone in here before. Just me. It's been ... an ... interesting ... introduction to this ship." He shrugged lightly, though his eyes did seem to sparkle (or was that just the lighting). "Was thinking I might have to barricade myself in the Ready Room just to survive my first year."

“Interesting is a very diplomatic description,” she grinned. “But accurate. Hopefully nobody needs to be barricading themselves anywhere. Unless of course there is a supply of chocolate inside…”

Erik nodded. "I remember. New members of the crew receive a welcome gift," he said. "Not my doing but ... I might have mentioned your preferences."

Caitlyn arched an eyebrow in surprise. “Oh?” She set aside her coffee with clear curiosity in her eyes, “now I’m curious as to what preferences you shared? Beyond chocolate obviously.”

"Guess you'll have to wait and see what you get," Erik answered. "Just because you ask, doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to answer you."

“That,” she grinned, “is cheating. But I am far too nice to interrogate a friend before breakfast.”

"Especially," Erik retorted, "when he's the one that invited you to breakfast in the first place. The steward should be bringing the food up shortly. Wonder where Knox got to?"

“Maybe he doesn’t like breakfast?” She suggested. “Which is allegedly the most important meal of the day.”

Knox did like breakfast, but he was not sure how formal or informal to be about having breakfast with the Captain, especially one he had only known for a short period of time, and had essentially informed that he had no desire to continue serving under. That said, Knox struggled with what to wear and his decision landed on standard uniform. Can't beat it he thought as he arriving outside of the Captain's Dining Room on Deck 2.

He pressed the chime and waited for a response as he checked himself for wrinkling. Just breakfast he reminded himself.

“See! It’s totally a thing,” Caitlyn grinned as the door chime rang out.

"Is not." Erik sighed dramatically and called out, "Come on in." And then in a much softer voice, added, "you were both invited after all."

Knox entered. "Invited, Sir yes, but momma taught me manners, Captain. You don't just walk into rooms even when Invited. We had a low tech house growin' up. Knocking was common. Don't ever know if you had to take a quick call with an Admiral."

Caitlyn grinned, saying nothing.

"Welcome, Commander," Erik said as he gestured for the man to find a seat at the table. "Food will be up shortly. There's fresh-brewed tea and coffee. Help yourself."

"Thank you, Captain" replied Knox. He gave a polite nod to MacRae. "Miss. Uh Lieutenant MacRae," he said. They had only a few brief interactions previously.

“Commander,” Caitlyn replied with a warm smile. “Please, call me Caitlyn. And I want to apologise. The day we met, I obviously was not entirely honest with you - or rather I withheld some details. I am truly sorry.”

The steward, who served the captain breakfast every day, entered shortly thereafter and set up a sideboard. The fare was traditionally Swedish with hard-boiled eggs topped with caviar, crispbread (knäckebröd) some topped with cheese and butter while others were topped with cheese and cucumber slices or smoked fish, a bowl of yogurt, a selection of museli, and a serving bowl of oatmeal with blueberries, sprinkled with cinnamon.

"Thank you, Jason," Erik said, "and you can tell chef that I was smiling when I saw it."

"Will do even though you rarely smile at anything he serves," Jason answered grinning. "You need anything else, just let me know, Sir." He left the dining room to the officers and headed back down to the kitchen to tell chef the truth.

"Go ahead and take what you want," Erik said, still drinking his tea. His secret to these things was having a strong-brewed tea before he left his quarters, the only thing (that and a few minutes of quiet) that got him past the functionally mute phase that always accompanied waking up in the morning.

It seemed enough food to feed an army…. Watching as it had all been laid out, Caitlyn had briefly wondered if the entire senior staff were joining them. “You know I never say no to food,” she grinned as she abandoned her seat, deliberating over what to pick. In the end she ended up with some crisp bread topped with cheese and some oatmeal.

Returning to the table, she set down the small plate and bowl as she sat back down. “Go pick something both of you before I get self conscious eating all of it by myself,” she pleaded.

Erik chuckled, shaking his head, as he walked over to the sideboard.

"Mamma also taught me never argue with a lady, especially one near sharp items or heavy objects" commented Knox. He looked at Captain Norsgaard and followed. Knox grabbed some food from the wide selection. "So, how are you both feeling about everything lately? I'm still a bit sore from the whole ordeal and revelations."

As questions went, it was both a valid if a little unexpected. Yet she was glad he had brought it up.

“I imagine many people will be feeling the way you do, For me, I suppose I am mostly grateful Dr Ryan is so good at his job,” Caitlyn answered after a moment. Not only had he come to her own aid after the attack in the store room but he had saved a young man’s life and prevented a diplomatic nightmare. “Beyond that… less positive feelings.”

"We're enroute to return Relen to his father," Erik said, "and after that, returning to home base. Frankly, its been quite the start to commanding this ship. Disturbing is the way that I would describe it. Still, once we get to the base, Commander Knox will be leaving us and my new First Officer will be reporting aboard. That and I'm going to need to report in, get our new orders."

Caitlyn glanced over at Knox, “leaving us? A new assignment?”

Knox nodded. "I did not request the USS Thunderbird as an assignment, and being First Officer was not something I planned for myself. When Captain Gray got this command, he thought it best to pursue me for First Officer" explained Knox.

"I followed him here out of loyalty. He was the best man at my wedding, my closest friend, and saw me through a lot. Now that he's not here? I have felt lost. Staying here is just not an option. I let Captain Norsgaard know this, he accepted that my plans are to leave here."

“I can appreciate feeling lost,” Caitlyn answered after a moment. “And loyalty. Whatever you are planning on next, your new crew will be lucky to have you.”

Erik listened, sipping his tea, as pieces slotted into place in his mind. He was speaking the plain truth and at the same time, confirming his own feelings. Here's hoping the next one doesn't come towing a lot of emotional baggage.

“Well, you better eat up,” Caitlyn advised Knox, “you have a lot to teach me before you go. I hope you have a lot of patience.”

Harrison was willing to teach her and train her, but he knew that he was an inadequate instructor for command. "I doubt that you'll require as much patience as the instructors needed for me. You're also going into this with favorable view. I fumbled and stumbled as First Officer. Thus I underwent some courses, but I will do my best to ensure you are comfortable on the bridge and ready to tap into your leadership qualities in when necessary."

“My grandfather used to say we learn the most from our mistakes,” Caitlyn told him. “You should have more faith in yourself. And I am sure there is plenty you can teach me.”

Knox looked at Erik. "Captain, I am sure my replacement will carry on wherever I leave off and then some. Surely, you'll get someone with a lot more experience."

Norsgaard nodded thoughtfully; if ever there was someone with one foot out the door, it was Knox. "Alright, Commander. How about this? Once we're back in port, you can hand over to your replacement immediately. We won't keep you any longer than absolutely necessary. Caitlyn, you'll get the majority of your training from whomever it is they send my way next."

“I’m happy to learn from anyone and everyone,” Caitlyn assured him. “Especially if it means I don’t blow up the ship.”

"I'd take that as a personal favor," Erik answered. "Had enough close calls on my last ship. We had an inexperienced engineer who had some problems with some work he attempted without appropriate supervision ... another one of those pajama nights, I'm afraid."

“Duly noted,” Caitlyn assured him, taking another mouthful of food to ensure she did not add anything further which may border on unprofessional.

They settled in to pleasant conversation and before long, the meal was ending and the steward was cleaning up. As ever, Norsgaard reflected, watching them leave, he learned things and silently wished Gray good luck with Knox. He himself certainly never had any.

---

Captain Erik Norsgaard
Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird

Lieutenant Caitlyn MacRae
Second Officer
USS Thunderbird

Lt. Commander Harrison Knox
(Unattached)
Formerly, First Officer, USS Thunderbird

 

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