[Oh, is that how it is to be? Too bad Rip doesn't see it. He might offer some dry commentary on her disbelief--at least of him. The situation itself is, in fact, entirely insane. She's got every right to doubt that.

But there remains proof of it all around them. She mentions wanting coffee, and his lips twist into a momentary grin: some rivalries, it seems, would withstand the test of time and space alike.]

There isn't a true absence of it, or nearly anything else you could think up here. [Of course, Rip isn't going to be the one to wish for it. If the Captain is truly a scientist as she claims, then she'll no doubt appreciate the opportunity to experiment.] You just haven't wished for it yet.

[He glances over his shoulder at that, and yes, that would be an amused glint in his eyes--especially if she takes his comment as well as he expects her to.

That would be not well at all, for the record.]

"Whether or not others are wiling to comply?" [Yes, she'd continued on, but those are the words that has Rip specifically turning around to face her once more. He leans back against the counter, his arms folded across his front as he considers that this woman may be in for a harder time than even he has had to face.]

Oh, you are indeed a Captain--but you should keep in mind that the people here are not your crew. They are a varied and diverse set of captives who often won't care what brand of expertise you possess, nor will many of them be impressed by your rank.

They are often slow to trust, and cautious when it comes to just whom they cooperative with. [Granted, Rip is hardly a people person--but given Janeway's approach with him, he can't see her winning the trust of the population easily either.

"I don't see a reason to elaborate;" Rip has to wonder if this is what the others feel like when they talk to him.]