Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Not Just Any Walk in the Park

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( Corfyri Public Park - City One, Rylor ))

MacKenzie hadn't made much of an effort to get out during their shore leave - the reality for a flag officer and the lead report in a campaign region meant that the ability to take time off of any kind was far more difficult to come by than it was for any other average officer. After hearing about some of the spaces on Rylor, she'd felt confident in her selection of one of them to serve as the backdrop for that which was yet another duty that fell to the commanding officer.

The commanding officer looked around the public park. It was exceedingly average, yet remarkably beautiful - an area for children to play with lots of playground equipment, an area with lots of greenery and carefully manicured flower beds, and an area for adults to gather in community. It was in this particular area that MacKenzie managed to commandeer several picnic tables. Around her, families were enjoying the park and the sounds of children running and screaming in play was all around them.

Who would have thought that the sound of children carrying on might make her feel invigorated?

Still, the scene was set: she'd selected a picnic table that was long enough to accommodate the entire senior staff sitting on either side of it, and she'd set up a row of boxes at the head of the picnic table, where she intended to stand.

Normally, the senior staff had concluded their missions or shore leaves by gathering for a meal. Given that they'd gathered for a toast on the bridge of the Karnack, and having received orders for their next mission, it seemed a bit overkill to engage in a more formal meal. Instead, MacKenzie would make her piece with them, and then they'd be free to go explore other areas of the park or the city before it was time to officially get underway.

At the appointed hour, the senior staff started to arrive one by one and mingle with each other. When everyone had arrived, MacKenzie gestured for them to have seats on either side of the picnic table.

(OOC: Feel free to sim your arrival and any mingling you'd like.)

MacKenzie: Hopefully you've all had some time to explore this wonderful young corner of the Borderlands, but if you haven't, consider this your opportunity. (beat) I know we all took a moment to share gratitude with each other when we escaped from Callis 1... While I didn't want a gathering that was too formal, I did think it was important to bring you all together to recognize the work you all did in surviving and escaping Callis...

Any: Response (if desired)

MacKenzie reached for and opened the two largest boxes at the head of the table.

MacKenzie: For everyone's ingenuity in surviving on Callis and the necessary exploration of the planet, Starfleet has awarded us all the Wilderness Deployment Ribbon and the Explorer's Ribbon.

She took a moment to distribute both the blue and green ribbon and the blue and gold ribbon with an embroidered "E" on it down both sides of the table. When it looked like everyone had theirs, her gaze turned to meet those of the two newest members of the Artemis crew.

MacKenzie: This next one is more of a formality than anything else, but I'm pleased to award the Starfleet Academy Graduate Ribbon to our two fresh faces, Ensign Breys and Ensign Tarsan.

She smiled and passed down the ribbons while the others clapped.

Breys/Tarsan/Any: Response

MacKenzie: I never enjoy giving out our next award. Sustaining an injury in the line of duty is serious business, especially when it goes beyond routine work hazards or recklessly throwing oneself in harm's way. Ensign Jaran, for the injury you sustained to your leg, I hereby award you the Purple Heart.

She passed the purple and black ribbon down.

Jaran/Any: Response

MacKenzie: Mr. Bergmen, I'm told that you had to scale a cliff in absolute darkness with no lighting. Tough stuff. I'm pleased to award you the Good Conduct Ribbon.

She passed the orange and blue ribbon down to Ollie.

Bergmen/Any: Response

MacKenzie: I'm also pleased to award the Innovation Ribbon to the team who discovered and utilized the Faraday Rooms to unite the crew and help us to get off Callis 1. Commanders Munro and Jovenan, Lieutenants K'Wara, Bergmen, and Imril: these are yours.

She passed the ribbon with various shades of blue down to each of them.

Munro/Jovenan/K'Wara/Bergmen/Imril/Any: Response

Her gaze turned serious.

MacKenzie: As a surgeon, I'm notoriously hard on my medical officers. ::her eyes quickly scanned the room awaiting any smartassed remarks:: But, I am equally sympathetic knowing how difficult it is to be a healer in Starfleet under difficult circumstances. For saving Lieutenant Bergmen's life, I'm pleased to award you the Silver Lifesaving Ribbon, and to promote you to the post of Assistant Chief Medical Officer... ::coughing:: much to Dr. Morgan's chagrin.

Bancroft/Any: Response

MacKenzie: Lieutenant Imril, please join me here...

She waited for them to join her at the head of the table.

MacKenzie: Lieutenant, I read the reports of your work on the last mission... You really impressed Commander Munro and Lieutenant K'Wara. For your assistance in leading your team on the Karnack, I'm pleased to award you the Superior Support Ribbon, and for your engineering prowess and overall proven ability to solve difficult problems, I award you the Spliced Mainbrace Distinction.

MacKenzie passed them both ribbons.

Imril/Any: Response

She held up a finger, a slight smile on her face.

MacKenzie: Just a moment, I'm not finished yet. (beat) The Spliced Mainbrace Distinction is a unique award, but in giving it to you, I was forced to think about your service at large. In the last six months, you've really proven your skills not only as an engineer, but as a valued member of this crew. As such, I hereby promote you to the position of Assistant Chief Engineer... and to the rank of full Lieutenant.

MacKenzie smiled as she removed the hollow pip from their collar and replaced it with a solid white one, then patted them on the shoulder and turned them to face their fellow officers.

MacKenzie: Congratulations, Lieutenant!

Imril/Any: Response

She gestured that it was finally safe for them to return to their seat.

MacKenzie: ::clearing her throat:: Lieutenant K'Wara... ::her index figured gestured for them to come to the front of the table next::

MacKenzie offered a smile as she waited for K'Wara to come to the front, which she was sure made the Cygnian want to die inside.

MacKenzie: We haven't known one another for very long, Lieutenant, but in your brief time aboard as an operations officer and now as the Chief of Operations, I've found you to be capable and reliable, with a knack for creative problem solving. Additionally, on this last mission, you proved that you were both an effective leader, able to hold your team down and get the job down so we could all get off Callis alive. Unfortunately, that kind of good work gets you noticed. ::she smirked, ceremoniously holding up the hollow pip she'd just removed from Imril's collar, then placing it on theirs:: I am pleased to promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

K'Wara/Any: Response

MacKenzie gestured for the newly promoted officer to return to their seat, lest they dissolve into a puddle on the ground.

MacKenzie: Congratulations to you all on another job well done. Enjoy the last bit of leave - Starfleet has already been in touch with our next orders and we'll be shipping out again soon. 

Any: Response

Tag, and TBC!

(OOC1: We'll plan to wrap up our shore leave at the end of next weekend, with the goal of kicking off the new mission on 4/13-ish. Feel free to extend this scene and linger beyond the awards presentation, but be mindful of the number of scenes you're in and work to make sure you're winding everything down over the next week.)

(OOC2: It's already April, which means you might want to consider starting to think about Fleet Awards. It's never too early to submit your award nominations, so get a jump on them now!)

(OOC3: Michelle has pointed out that I've neglected awarding myself the Starship Commander Ribbon, which is supposedly awarded annually. Consider myself so awarded. :P)

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Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A

Executive Council Member

V239601AM0