[JP] R.Adml. Reynolds & Lt. Cmdr. Marshall - In the Company of Heroes (Part I)
Quinn Reynolds
((Mess Hall, USS Triumphant))
There were precious few places in the tiny Defiant class to gather, a fact Quinn remembered from her early days in Starfleet. Back then, whenever there had been an event like this, the senior staff had assembled in one of the reception halls on Deep Space 17. She could have delayed, waited until they reached Tyrellia and used a space on the Gorkon, or even on Palanon — but there was something in the eyes and faces of her crew that said they needed some kind of boost after their experiences on Trueno.
And so here they were. With Walter's grumbled permission, she had commandeered the mess hall for a short while and gathered together the wearied and sore members of the Gorkon's senior staff.
Reynolds: Thank you all for coming. ::She offered the small group a smile.:: I'll start with the best news of all; we're due to arrive in the Tyrellian system in the next twelve hours, and we'll be taking some shore leave to rest and recuperate. For those of you new to the system, I'd recommend you get off the Gorkon and get some fresh air. Palanon is beautiful and whether you like to keep busy or curl up and relax, you'll be able to find a place there to do it.
Marshall: And the other good news. There aren’t any prehistoric life forms on the moon, so no armoured underwear required and no need to raid the armoury before you leave.
One of the dining tables beside them had several thin and clear polymer boxes stacked on top, colourful colours contained within under the glow of the Mess Hall lights. It had become a tradition on the Gorkon to hand one in particular out first, and it was that small stack Jo picked up — the hardest one to give out, and the hardest one to receive.
Marshall: In recognition for the injuries sustained and wounds getting patched up by the wonderful medical team of the Triumphant, Starfleet awards the Purple Heart to Crewman Lojah Oded for her actions on board the SS Vikartindur, Ensigns Serren Tan and Caitríona Cayne for multiple injuries on the asteroid, ::she glanced up to Tan with a cheeky glint,:: that must’ve been a pain in the ass, ::and continued,:: Lieutenant Loxley for his injury in the vehicle crash, and Rear Admiral Quinn Reynolds, for taking a Tyrannosaurus Rex to the ribs. ::With a gentle sigh, she cocked an eyebrow.:: Who knew going down to a planet filled with prehistoric life would be so perilous?
One after the other, Jo chucked the small boxes through the air in an underarm arc to the waiting recipient, the last one she handed to Quinn with a small flicker of the eyebrows. If the Gorkon crew pooled together their Purple Hearts, they could make a hefty blanket. Usually a sombre medal to award — one filled with connotations of suffering and anguish — Jo tried to make it light. Death had occurred. They hadn’t come away from Trueno stain free, but those memorials were for another afternoon. Not this one. She picked up the next small stack; a grey and red ribbon glinted inside.
Marshall: As Starfleet Officers, it’s our duty to ensure we protect and preserve life where we can, and when placed in dangerous circumstances is when we see our champions shine, whether that’s saving and protecting the employees of a theme park trying to kill you, or rescuing the crew of another ship from near-certain death. To celebrate the actions of these brave individuals, we award Crewman Lojah Oded, Ensigns Maia Eden, Lieutenants Loxley, Vorin, Corliss Fortune and Arlo Thornton, and Lieutenant Commanders Samira Neathler and Erin Reynolds with the Lifesaving Ribbon.
Ribbons once again sailed through the air into waiting hands, used to the method of delivery by now, the final one slipped into her own pocket with a small, surreptitious crack of a grin laced with pride for her partner. The few days spent on the Triumphant following their escape from the asteroid had come with a mountain of reports to trawl through, but reading about the heroics of their crew made it all worthwhile. Picking up the next box of silver and red, she passed them to Quinn with a smile.
Reynolds: While we strive to protect and preserve all life, there's a bond between those who serve that can't be denied. A fellowship between that goes beyond simple working colleagues, a mutual understanding of what it means to be Starfleet. For that reason, we single out those occasions where Starfleet officers save each other. And so, I'm honoured to present Lieutenant Pira sh'Qynallahr with the Silver Lifesaving Ribbon.
Following her First Officer's lead, Quinn tossed the box in a languid underarm toward the Andorian. sh'Qynallahr had only been with the Gorkon for a short while, but she'd quickly proven herself a capable member of the crew, dedicated to the protection and welfare of her fellows. The next set of ribbons was a small stack instead of a single box, and Quinn lifted them from the table, passing them to Jo.
Marshall: The reason many of us join Starfleet is the drive to devote ourselves to a greater cause, to something bigger than ourselves, and sometimes that means putting our lives on the line to protect others in their hour of need. Today, we stand in the company of heroes — those who put their lives at risk to ensure we continued on — and it’s you we celebrate with this ribbon.
The silver and red ribbon lay in the box; the gold cross in the centre of it glinting under the lights. It was an award so often given posthumously, when one of their own made the ultimate sacrifice for their friends and colleagues. As she sent each of the ribbons whizzing through the air, she punctuated each delivery with their accomplishments.
Marshall: Ensign Serren Tan used himself as a Trill shield to protect his team from the swarming Belluchelodromeus, taking venom to the backside in the process. Lieutenant Jona ch’Ranni threw himself in the path of a Krigros to save the life of his colleague. Lieutenant Commanders Ayiana Sevo and Pholin Duyzer shocked and distracted a rampaging Dilophosaurus in the control centre of the park. Lieutenant Commander Samira Neathler lured a razor-beaked flying dinosaur away from her team so her team could make their escape. And finally, ::she handed the ribbon to Quinn, with a small nod of appreciative thanks, one friend to another,:: Rear Admiral Quinn Reynolds, for presenting herself as a snack to a T-Rex so her team and her son could escape from our overturned vehicle.
A round of applause started for their heralded actions, whistles, pats on the back, and smiles to accompany the awarded ribbons. Quinn smiled as she clapped, pleased to see a little lightness spreading, and hoped that it might last a while. As the applause wound down, she nodded and moved on to the next award; one of her favourites, awarding cleverness and creativity in the face of danger.
TBC
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Rear Admiral Quinn Reynolds
Commanding Officer
USS Gorkon
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&
Lt. Commander Jo Marshall
First Officer
USS Gorkon, NCC-82293
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