First Secretary Aitas - A small selection of flowers

[Aitas]

((Shuttlebay, Section Alpha – Amity Outpost))
((OOC: I’ve left out some tags at the beginning and end here, see Robin’s latest sims in the scene for full tags.))

It hadn’t felt like too much of a surprise for the supposed team building exercise to turn into an awards ceremony. Aitas certainly didn’t expect to be invited to all the Starfleet events.

She’d been quietly waiting in the back, applauding as the various awards were given out.

Ukinix: Ensign Saavei, thank you, you can return to your seat. Next up, we have Commander Rosek-Skyfire, Commander Iko, Second Secretary Aitas, and Lieutenant Nevark. Come up to the front here. ::to Robin:: Boxes for D’Cyra and Ikaia, please?

Ah, and there it was. Aitas stood, smoothed out her skirt, and started toward where the awards were being handed off.

Varati: Many caskets, many awards!

Hopper: Mhmm. ::To Varati::  Two for you and… ::to Ikaia::  two for you.

Wong: Response

Iko: G'day…

Aitas waited at perfect attention, letting her old Starfleet experience peek through. 

Rosek-Skyfire/Nevark: Response

Ukinix: For your investigation and getting to the bottom of the stolen ships, and the bigger conspiracy behind it, while working with the, let’s politely call them the “shy” Hovans, you’re all awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award! D’Cyra and Ikaia, please do the honours with the ribbons in those boxes.

And thus the ribbon-pinning began. Aitas was starting to think she needed to get a set of shirts specifically designed to hold such items, but that would be of little use if Wil made a point of surprises. 

Varati: Congratulations to you all! Great work in uncovering the conspiracy on the Hovans' side.

Iko: Cheers mate.

Aitas: Thank you.

The Hovan factions had rather overplayed their hand with such obvious explosions. 

Wong/Rosek-Skyfire/Nevark: Response

Any: Response

Ukinix: And, Lael, Aitas and Bec, the three of you are also awarded the Lifesaving Ribbon, for pulling Hovans out of the rubble from the explosion on Hova. Well done, and thank you. ::to Layla:: Mind handing out a ribbon?

Varati: Great performance by you all!

Aitas wasn’t about to forget the scent of Hovan blood anytime soon. So she simply stood there as the ribbon was pinned upon her. Sometimes such things simply felt like a reminder of how much more there was to be done. 

Wong/Nevark/Rosek-Skyfire: Response

Iko: Don't forget you did a lot as well.

Any: Response

Ukinix: Thanks Ikaia, you can return to your seat, but Ensign Varati you need to stay up here. Lieutenant Moore, Commander Stros, can you come and join us?

Varati: ::uncertain:: Aye?

Stros/Moore: Response

Ukinix: For the undercover tracking down operation on Uwe II of Robin’s away team, Commander Stros, Lieutenant Moore, Ensign Varati, and myself are awarded the Intelligence Star. ::To Lael, Aitas, Layla, and Bec:: If you four could pin the ribbons?

Aitas nodded. It had been a bit since she’d done too much with other people’s ribbons, but it wasn’t a skill she’d forgotten. 

Rosek-SkyfireNevark: Response

Ukinix: Thanks mate. 

Iko: There ya go. 

Iko patted Lieutenant Moore on the shoulder. 

Iko: Good job on keeping them out of trouble.

Varati: Thanks… thanks a lot! ::pause:: We are one team: one for all and all for one!

Stros/Moore: Response

Ukinix: Alrighty, we’re on a roll now, I think we all know the drill! And as such, as Robin hands the boxes to those still remaining up here, and me, can we have Lieutenant Wong, Lieutenant Galanis, Ensign Saavei, come up?

Aitas didn’t know Wong particularly well, but she’d had some chance to get to know the other two officers in that group. It was good to see them rewarded. 

Hopper: ::Passing out box after box::  For you – for you – for you… 

Ukinix: For uncovering Norsel’s plot, the three of you, plus Commander Hopper, are awarded the Starfleet Investigation Ribbon. Congratulations! ::gesturing to Niev:: Lieutenant, if I may?

Varati: Fantastic performance! Without your efforts, we would never have brought Norsel down! ::attaches one of the ribbons to Saavei:: 

Stros/Moore: Response

Ukinix: Well deserved, Lieutenant, congratulations. ::offering hand::

Galanis: Response

It appeared that the new approach still had a few issues to work out, as Robin wound up managing her own award. 

Saavei: Thank you, sir.

Wong: Response

Hopper: ::Pinning it to her own jacket, under her breath, amused::  Of course, the one maneuver I didn’t practice…

Ukinix: Okay, now we’re back down to three, so Niev, Ikaia, and Saavei, you know what do to for the next three people-- Stros, Moore and Varati, you didn’t think you get to keep your seats, did you?

Varati: ::satirical:: It's still early evening and I had nothing else planned... ::chuckles::

Stros/Moore: Response

Robin threw the boxes that time; a rather perilous choice even with trained Starfleet personnel.

Hopper: Think fast!

Wong/Galanis: Response

Ukinix: For intercepting & apprehending the stolen Hovan stealth ships without casualties in a very tricky situation, Commander Stros, Lieutenant Moore, and Ensign Varati, you are all awarded the Legion of Merit. Congrats!

Saavei: Well done, D'Cyra ::as she pinned the ribbon for her friend::

Varati: Thanks… what should I say? Thanks.

Wong/Stros/Moore: Response

The table was starting to look quite empty with so many of the boxes removed. 

Hopper: Additionally – Everyone who took part in our mission in the Hovanic system has been awarded both the First Contact Ribbon and the Explorer’s Ribbon, for being among the first Federation citizens to visit the Hovans and Uwezo…   ::wink::  and for not totally screwing it up.

Hopper: You’ll find those in boxes under your seats!  ::Grinning::  Congrats, everyone.

Ukinix: Alright, that’s it for ribbons. Congratulations to everyone, and thanks to everyone that handed out a ribbon, which is everyone that received a ribbon!

Aitas joined in the general round of applause at that. She’d never gotten a first contact ribbon before, but then she’d generally worked in more known (if unstable) territory before. 

Iko: Goodonyas.

Any: Response

Ukinix: Commander Hopper, there’s two boxes left on the table… ::puts index finger over mouth:: hmmm…

Hopper: Uh oh! Where did those come from?

Ukinix: Did we stuff up?

Hopper: ::Brows raised::  “We?”

Ukinix: Or… we could instead invite Ensign Varati and Second Secretary Aitas up with us.

That was, once again, Aitas’ cue to move up. 

Ukinix: We’re going to need some help from a friend of Starfleet’s. ::To Keehani:: Consul Ukinix?

Keehani: ::To Robin:: Thank you for having me, Commander.

Hopper: ::Warmly::  Hey, this is your station, remember – boss lady.

Ukinix: I was fortunate enough to be an instructor during Ensign Varati’s last academy exam, and I think she thought she could bribe everyone with chocolate. ::To D’Cyra:: So this is an impromptu court martial for bribing a senior officer with a delicious unhealthy snack. ::Looks back at crew, raises hand:: Who reckons she’s guilty?

There were some raised hands amid the crew at that; Aitas couldn’t disagree with the teasing, but to her chocolate was a drug; not a mere snack. Her involvement would escalate the matter.

Varati: Wait… What?!

Any: Response

Ukinix: Well, lucky you’ve not only made up for that with more chocolate, you’ve been a great Starfleet officer and a fantastic person who not only brings a smile to everyone’s face, you’ve demonstrated your abilities as a science boffin, in some cases under extreme pressure during your duties, and Commander Hopper and I couldn’t be happier. ::To Robin:: Commander, I think you can do the honours.

It was Robin who applied the hollow pip to D’Cyra’s collar; rather fitting, given the science connection. 

Ukinix: As CO of Amity Outpost, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, and promote you to Science Officer, you’re no longer a “Junior”. Congratulations!

Varati: ::to Wil and Robin:: Oh! Thank you very much! It's an honour! The past year has had many ups and downs. ::pause, to all:: I am proud, yes... proud to be able to serve with such a great team out here in the Delta Quadrant. Friends and colleagues with whom you can master any mission. Thank you, thank you for everything! ::looks around:: I couldn't have done it without you!

D’Cyra promptly hugged Wil, which…well, the now-Science Officer wasn’t exactly escaping accusations of less than professional behavior with that one. 

Hopper: I think she’s pleased, Skipper.

Iko: Congratulations, Lieutenant.

Any: Response

Ukinix: Well done, *Lieutenant* Varati. As a bonus, this is a box of chocolate truffles, made from Thalian chocolate.

Varati: Oh! Oh-oh-oh-oh!

Varati: ::to Wil:: Thank you again so much, this is truly a wonderful gift! I'd be happy to give you a piece too! ::smiles and holds the package up like a trophy::

Aitas was absolutely going to have to find some fancy chocolates to inflict upon their newest JG. 

Iko: Can I have some? 

Any: Response

Ukinix: Of course, our newest Lieutenant JG isn’t alone today. ::to Keehani:: Envoy?

Keehani: Even though Amity Outpost is now a consulate instead of the Federation’s embassy, it is a vital cog in the FDC’s mission in the Delta Quadrant. And that mission is only as good as the people we have working on it and for it. We are here to make friends, and I want to thank all of you for your efforts in the new friends we’ve hopefully just made-- the Hovans, and the Uwezo. And I’d especially like to thank… ::taking breath, turning to Aitas:: Second Secretary Aitas for her role not only in the recent mission while I was detained, but for all of her hard work and her dedication since she joined us. You’ve been exemplary since you arrived here, and the FDC would be lost without you. For this reason…

Keehani opened the box to reveal another brooch, this one a delicately formed likeness of a Vulcan orchid.

Keehani: … I gift you this brooch, to add to your collection, as I am sure you will earn several more. ::Offering hand:: Congratulations, First Secretary Aitas.

 (OOC: First Secretary is the equivalent of Lieutenant OOC).

Aitas shook Keehani’s hand and gave Keehani a small smile. She’d have to start suggesting other flowers at this rate. Not Orion ones, preferably. 

Aitas: Thank you, Consul.

Wil held out his hand to shake, and Aitas took it, though only briefly. She had no desire to make him uncomfortable. 

Saavei: Congratulations, Second Secretary.

Varati: ::to Aitas:: Congratulations! We could not have achieved this success without your tireless efforts!

Iko: You’re a good member of the FDC, keeping us all in check.

Aitas raised an eyebrow momentarily, then gave Bec a brief smile. 

Any: Response

The ceremony moved on after that. Aitas couldn’t say she found Stros’ transfer surprising, after all the trouble the Whispering Wall had brought, nor that Rosek-Skyfire was brought in to fill his role instead.

She’d have to make a point to properly congratulate their new second officer . In Aitas’ own experience the position had mostly involved additional PADDwork. 

As most promotions did. 


End Scene for Aitas

First Secretary Aitas

Federation Diplomatic Corps

Amity Outpost

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