[PART 2] Captain Roshanara Rahman: Faith Affirmed

[Rich]

((Officer’s Mess, USS Veritas))

Rahman: Before we present service ribbons for this last mission, I’d like to first start with some well-deserved personal recognition.

She looked out across the room until her eyes reached Vanlith.

Rahman: Ensign Vanlith, would you please come forward?

Vanlith: Response

As the curly-haired engineer approached, Roshanara nodded as Evan went over to get the stack of black boxes. As he found the right one, the captain turned back to Vanlith, smiling as she stepped forward.

Rahman: Ensign Charlena Vanlith, since joining this crew, you have served with distinction, catching not just the notice of your department head and those who work with you directly but others among the crew as well for the excellent job you do. 

She glanced over at G’var.

Rahman: And that includes a certain Klingon security officer.

G’var: Response

Vanlith: Response

The captain turned her attention back to the young woman in front of her.

Rahman: As such, I am delighted to promote you to the rank of lieutenant junior grade, with all the rights and privileges thereof.

Vanlith: Response

After taking the box from Evan, Roshanara opened it in front of the engineer to show the single hollow black pip inside and took it out before placing it delicately on the right side of her uniform tunic, next to her ensign pip.

Rahman: Congratulations!

Vanlith: Response

Any: Response

As the new lieutenant JG stepped away, Roshanara turned and called out to Ensign El Sayid.

Rahman: Ensign El Sayid, please come here.

El Sayid: Response

As he’d done for Vanlith, Evan retrieved the next box and handed it to Roshanara.

Rahman: Ensign Nabihah El Sayid, in recognition of the excellent performance of your duties and your commitment to this ship and its crew, I am pleased to promote you to the rank of lieutenant junior grade, with all the rights and privileges thereof.

El Sayid: Response

The captain affixed the new pip next to El Sayid’s existing pip before nodding.

Rahman: Congratulations!

El Sayid: Response

Any: Response

Next, the captain called up Dr. MacKenzie to the front.

Rahman: Doctor Addison MacKenzie, since coming aboard this ship, your boss—and my friend—can’t stop gushing about you. But I don’t blame him. This past mission, you were able to go beyond the routine care in sickbay to help solve a murder and provide aid to a refugee community.

MacKenzie: Response

del Vedova: Response

Rahman: ::nods:: And so, for your excellence as a physician and a Starfleet officer, I’m pleased to promote you to the rank of full lieutenant.

After replacing the hollow pip on MacKenzie’s uniform with a second solid gold pip, Roshanara nodded.

Rahman: Furthermore, you are hereby promoted to the position of assistant chief medical officer for this ship. Congratulations, doctor.

MacKenzie: Response

Any: Response

Once she’d stepped away, Roshanara called up Lieutenant JG Ukinix.

Rahman: Lieutenant Wil Ukinix… I consider you many things. My student. My assistant chief engineer. (beat) My cellmate. ::chuckles::

Ukinix: Response

Any: Response

Rahman: Yes, well, in all those things, you do it well. Your service aboard this ship has been exemplary, and I’m glad Lieutenant Vanlith has a model of what a good engineer should be.

She gave a sideways glance at Teller before continuing.

Rahman: So it is only fitting that I find it necessary to promote you now to the rank of full lieutenant. Congratulations!

Ukinix: Response

Any: Response

She smiled as she swapped the second pip on his uniform for the new solid one. Once the applause had died down, she called up the remaining promotion this morning.

Rahman: And last but not least… Mister Teller, would you come up here?

Teller: Response

As the man made his way up to the front, Roshanara snuck a glance back at Evan.

Rahman: There is another box there, right?

Delano: Response

Rahman: Just making sure.

Teller: Response

She turned back to the red-headed chief engineer and nodded.

Rahman: Mister Teller.

Teller: Response

Rahman: Enjoyable shore leave so far?

Teller: Response

Rahman: I’ve heard you’ve been busy.

Teller: Response

Rahman: Ah. Well, it’s that kind of dedication that I suppose leaves me no choice but to give you this now.

She opened the box Evan had given her, revealing the new third hollow pip of lieutenant commander.

Rahman: For your faithful service to this ship and its crew, your leadership of your department, and your tireless efforts to ensure we achieve our mission objectives, I hereby promote you to the rank of lieutenant commander.

Teller: Response

As she added the third pip to his uniform, she muttered something almost as an afterthought.

Rahman: Oh, I suppose there is one other thing.

Teller: Response

Rahman: It’s not just captain’s who can have little models of ships on their desks… and I’ve been told of how much you love this ship. “Long nights alone with the warp core” and all that…

Teller: Response

She took out a small holoprojector about the size of a combadge and turned it on. A small model of the USS Veritas appeared floating above her palm. She switched it off and transferred the device to Teller with a handshake.

Rahman: I figured if it’s a hologram, you can’t break it.

Teller: Response

She grinned, much too pleased with what she perceived as her own cleverness.

Rahman: Congratulations, lieutenant commander. ::turns to the others:: And again to all of our newly promoted officers!

Teller: Response

Vanlith/El Sayid: Response

MacKenzie/Ukinix: Response

Any: Response

TAG! TBC…

Captain Roshanara Rahman

CO, USS Veritas

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