Lt Cmdr. Avander Promontory: The Recognition You Deserve, Part 2
Avander Promontory
(( Solar Sail Observation Hall, Deep Space 14 ))
Captain Rouiancet led the way through the wide doors. The even number of pips on her neck had a symmetry that Avander appreciated. The hall beyond was spacious and airy—no mean feat for a box boarded by metal and glass, spinning in space—and the intrepid engineers of DS14 had managed to make the area evocative of sitting amongst some clouds.
Avander had seen the impressive solar sails from the arboreal habitat ring, dozens of decks below, but up here, they were up close and personal. Their new captain flashed Avander a smile.
Rouiancet: Feeling ready? It's your first time, isn't it, actually giving out the awards and promotions yourself?
Promontory: Well, it’ll be my first time on this side of the dais, as it were. And before we get to the others, can I first congratulate you on your promotion?
They gathered the boxed with the Starfleet delta embossed on the cover that contained the pips and ribbons for the crew.
Rouiancet: Right, right. And thank you. (beat) Shall we?
Promontory: After you.
Entering the main hall, they passed tables of officers and enlisted who were busy enjoying appetizers and drinks. Their din dimmed slightly as their command officers strode purposefully towards the dais; by the time they made the podium, the crowd had silenced completely, in anticipation of what was about to come.
They laid out the boxes on a nearby table and Avander made a quick adjustment, to ensure they were in their proper order. Captain Rouiancet grabbed the first one with the pair of gold pips, opened it and displayed the contents to the audience.
Rouiancet: Thank you all very much for spending your last night of shore leave with your friends and crewmates aboard Deep Space 14. Before we begin our next mission, I want to focus on you and celebrating your achievements. I'd like to begin by awarding each of these pips to a different officer. I'll ask them both to join me up here now: Lieutenants, Junior Grade Karen Stendhal and Lhandon Nilsen.
The named officers, one in blue, the other in yellow stepped up quickly, to a smattering of applause.
Rouiancet: Please hold your applause until after my remarks.
The two officers were guided to stand facing the audience, the HCO officer stood in-between Avander and the biting counselor.
Rouiancet: Counselor Karen Stendhal. The care and professionalism you've shown to the crew of the Octavia E. Butler is a credit to your duty post. You are a wonderful example of an officer, not only in the skill and knowledge you demonstrate in the course of your duties, including as a member of the away teams and shuttle crews you participated in during this mission. You likewise do your people proud, as your courage and willingness to dive headfirst into mindscapes and mental back alleys puts you in dangers I don't think anyone else can fully appreciate. Finally, I understand your dedication to your calling extends even to your leave time, when you used some of your downtime to help your crewmates. You have more than earned this promotion. Congratulations, Lieutenant Stendhal.
The Captain switched out the pips. Avander smiled, the counselor had been cleared of assault just in time for her promotion to go through. He suspected that an approval of a requisition to the neuroscience lab had helped ensure that no formal charges had been filed.
Promontory: (sincerely) Congratulations Lieutenant!
Stendhal / Nilsen: Responses
As the counselor stepped back into place, Lhandon Nilsen stepped forward. While he was only a few years younger than Avander, in the XO’s mind, the almost-full Lieutenant was still a kid. Albeit, one who was growing up.
Rouiancet: Now, then, Lhandon. I'm particularly proud of you, since I've watched you grow from an uncertain ensign aboard the 'Oumuamua to the assistant chief of one of the most important departments on the Butler, and now as a full lieutenant. I hear, too, that not only did you demonstrate time and again your knowledge and growing experience of and with operations systems, you're also turning out to have a real flair for diplomatic matters. (beat, slightly dry) Not that there was much to liaise with in this mission -- (normal) but even so, you have likewise put in the work, the time, and the energy to have more than earned this promotion. Congratulations, Lieutenant Nilsen.
The pips were swiftly replaced and Lhandon stepped back in line.
Promontory: Congrats kid!
Stendhal / Nilsen: Responses
Rouiancet: Now, before Commander Promontory calls up our next two promotees, please join me in a round of applause for these two fine officers!
Promontory: Here here!
He held his own hands high in the air while he did so, as if to demonstrate to those gathered on the seats below how to clap.
Stendhal / Nilsen: Responses
Avander nodded to the now-full Lieutenants that they could go back to their chairs. When the applause finished Rouiancet gave Avander a meaningful look. This next bit would be up to him.
Promontory: We have some additional officers that deserve special recognition.
He looked at the assembled crew, hundreds of eyes all looking at him, expectantly. It was a trippy, surreal sort of feeling. He could pause and they would just wait for him to continue. Up to a point, probably, and Avander, not wanting to find out exactly their limit, pressed ahead.
Promontory: Will Ensign(s) Yinn/Loq and Lieutenant Richards please come forward.
Avander thought he had a decent sense of Ensign Yinn’s peculiar perticiment—one gestalt mind (formerly two) but in two bodies—but until he was in front of the ship, he hadn’t realized he wasn’t sure about their proper pronouns and plurals.
Promontory: And as before, let’s hold the applause.
Both the ensign’s bodies as well as the lieutenant’s sole body took up the appointed place on the stand.
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 stepped over and added a black pip to each of Yinn’s collars, complimenting their sole gold ones.
Rouiancet: Response
Yinn/Richards: Response
Promontory: (quietly to Anton) Alright, Anton—you’re up! (Out loud) Lieutenant Richards, come forward!
As the security officer stepped forward, Avander had to smile. Since their (mis)adventure in a Scottish castle with Jack, the sometimes awkward lieutenant had grown on him.
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: Response
Yinn/Richards: Response
He nodded to the officers they had recognized and honored.
Promontory: Lieutenants.
Rouiancet: Response
Yinn/Richards: Response
He shuffled over to give the Captain the spotlight as the lieutenants returned to their seats.
Tags and TBC!
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Lt Cmdr. Avander Promontory