Captain Lia Rouiancet: The Recognition You Deserve, Part 3

[Tony Colella]

I'm going to try to catch up with all my scenes tonight, but if I don't get to them all (including closing out some!), I'll for sure be able to tomorrow.

(( Solar Sail Observation Hall, Deep Space 14 ))

After Lia had dismissed the newly promoted Karen and Lhandon back to their seats, Avander called up the next two officers: Ensign Yinn/Loq and Lieutenant Richards.

Promontory: Ensign, despite the challenges and strain of your two-body problem, you have continued to perform—even excel—in your assigned duties. I also understand you spent some time last mission phase shifted, but were able to help yourself and others get back. Throughout your time onboard, you have served the ship and your crew with distinction over several missions now and it is my genuine pleasure to recognize those efforts by awarding you the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.

Avander added a hollow pip to each of Yinn/Loq's collars.

Rouiancet: Congratulations, Lieutenant.

Yinn/Richards: Response

Promontory: Lieutenant Richards, come forward!

Lia thought that she might've heard Avander say something to the lieutenant just before that. Maybe it was just something encouraging? She had to grimace when she thought of her most recent interaction with Anton. She hoped that no future career chats ended with emergency beamouts. One was more than enough.

Promontory: With some of our personnel changes of late, we find ourselves without a chief of security. (smiling at Rouiancet) I understand without regard to your own career, you’ve stepped up to ensure the ship remained safe from enemies both near (another look at Lia) and far. In light of this, we’d like to officially recognize you as our Acting Chief of Security.

Rouiancet: You've really been holding things together, Lieutenant. You deserve this.

She put as much sincerity as she could into this praise, since she was absolutely second-guessing everything she said to Lieutenant Richards now.

Yinn/Richards: Response

Avander nodded Yinn/Loq and Richards.

Promontory: Lieutenants.

Rouiancet: Congratulations. (raising her voice) And now, please, a round of applause!

The applause accompanied Yinn/Loq and Richards back to their seats, just as it had done for the first pair of promotees.

The end of the promotions also meant the beginning of the ribbon assignments, and given the number that they had to award this time, Lia and Avander had worked out ahead of time the most efficient way to do so. It wasn't as meaningful as visiting each person individually during the ceremony, the style she'd learned from Commodore V'Airu, but she thought that the hungry crowd would appreciate this effort. She resolved, however, to make an effort to visit all the tables with ribbon holders and thank them personally.

Rouiancet: As the commander and I award ribbons, yeomen around the hall will provide the named officers and crew with the ribbons and stars they've earned.  (beat) First, I would like to recognize Lieutenants Anton Richards, Toxin Arlill, and Josh Herrick with the Leadership Excellence Ribbon. Each of these three lieutenants rose magnificently to the challenge of command, whether that was of a shuttle mission, a dangerous mission group, or the Butler's bridge. You can, and should, look to these three as future commanders. Congratulations!

Amidst the applause, yeomen descended on the three with the Leadership Excellence Ribbons. As the applause quieted, Lia spoke again.

Rouiancet: Next, I would like to recognize a pair of medical officers who are a credit to their chosen duty post. First, Doctor Toz has earned the Silver Lifesaving Ribbon, both for her specific work in caring for the officers and crew of the Unity Dow as they rephased -- including one Barney Nilsen, notably, as the first returnee -- and in general for her role in ensuring the safe recovery of as many officers and crew as possible. (beat) I would also like to recognize Doctor Jania Nis with the Silver Lifesaving Ribbon. She found herself called up in the midst of an ongoing crisis and, with little context, was instrumental in preventing the loss of life in nacelle control. Congratulations and an enormous thank you to both of you!

Again, yeomen swooped down on the medical officers as the applause crescendoed, and again, Lia waited for the applause to quiet before she continued.

Rouiancet: I would like now to recognize a particular group of officers with two ribbons, the Explorer's Ribbon and the Federation Cross. Lieutenant Maxwell, Lieutenant Commander Katsim, Lieutenant Commander Promontory (a nod to Avander), and Captain Walker -- who couldn't be here today, unfortunately -- showed uncommon bravery and went well beyond the requirements of their duties as they experienced the crucible of the planet's surface. I honor all of you with these ribbons.

This time, Lokhina herself brought the pair of ribbons to Avander as he stood beside Lia on the dais, as two others brought the ribbons to the other named officers. Captain Walker's would be entered into her record so that she could add them to her ribbon cluster at her leisure.

Rouiancet: Finally, before I turn over the presentation to Commander Promontory, I want recognize another group of officers with the Innovation Ribbon. Actually, I wish to recognize several groups, including those who were instrumental in understanding the phasing phenomenon, as well as those who contributed to our exploration and understanding of the OVIV system itself, whether from the Butler or as a team on assignment. Therefore, I'd like to recognize Lieutenants Yinn/Loq, Toz, Nilsen, Arlill, and Wauhk, Lieutenant Commanders Promontory and Katsim, Ensign Kovacs, and Petty Officer First Class Una Qualunque. And myself, I suppose.

Well, that last hadn't been too awkward, although Lohkina's grin was a little too knowing as she approached the dais again with the ribbons for Lia and Avander. Again, Lia waited for the applause to quiet before she turned to Avander.

Rouiancet: And now, for the remaining ribbons, I present again Commander Promontory.

Promontory: Response

Tags! and TBC!

--

Captain Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)