Lieutenant Josh Herrick: Award Bonanza!
Mark P
OOC: Congratulations everyone! Given we’re right around the corner with a mission, this one will be just reactions from me and a small split for engineering to follow shortly after 😊.
((Solar Sail Observation Hall, Deep Space 14 ))
For the first time since it’d left the space dock, the Butler was fully functioning, which meant aside from skeletal support staff, the bulk of the engineering team was able to make it and the staff had to merge two tables to handle the growing department. He’d arrived early, a reward to himself for also clearing through the remaining PADDs and reports — it felt like he was finally getting the hang of being a department chief.
At the end of their last mission, Josh had been debating to hand in his pips. Starfleet had been more than he’d bargained for, or perhaps it was being on the front of the frontier. As he stared upward through the dome toward New Bajor, he remembered a moment in his quarters where he took off the combadge and debated whether he’d adorn it again.
But then the events with the I-Kiyoans happened, and it made Josh wonder what would have happened if he, Kimonzi, and Anton, hadn’t been there. And there it was, duty. Not only had he sworn his life to that duty, but it would be his legacy, being the helping hand to those that need it. After they’d returned, the badge and pips seemed less heavy.
The engineers around the table chatted amongst themselves, not prodding their deep-in-thought cheng, but as the newly minted captain and first officer walked on to the dais, the room fell silent, and Josh turned his gaze towards them.
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.
Josh wondered what recognition Karen might be getting, given she had been split and one of them had bitten Rivka in all the commotion — maybe that would change her tune around exposure therapy. He immediately felt guilty about the thought.
Rouiancet: Please hold your applause until after my remarks.
Lhandon and Karen faced the crowd.
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.
Promontory: (sincerely) Congratulations Lieutenant!
Nilsen: Congrats Karen. You deserve this.
Stendhal: Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. You're all wonderful! A thousand thanks! You're all amazing.
While Josh hadn’t had too much time yet with the counsellor, she’d proven herself well with handling the refugee crisis following the liberation of the Chey’d prisoners, and again on the most recent mission where she could have lost her wits. If she’d gotten a promotion after the ‘biting incident’ things were looking up for him, even though he had roughed up the next awardee while on the Unity Dow.
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.
Promontory: Congrats kid!
Nilsen: Thank you sir, this…it means a lot, thank you.
Stendhal: Congratulations Lhando! You're more than deserving of this promotion!
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!
Josh smiled and applauded; while he and Lhandon had a rocky start, he’d proven himself capable time and again. They’d started at roughly the same time, so it was good to see the man’s experience recognized. The chief was surprised when the fellow Orion engineer had stood up while clapping, then Josh and the rest of the table followed suit.
Nilsen: ::To Rouiancet and Promontory:: Thank you sirs. I’ll erm…
Stendhal: I'd like to echo the sentiments of our new Lieutenant Nilsen here. Thank you very much.
Lhandon and Karen returned to their chairs, their shiny addition of gold glinting from the room lighting, and the command team carried on.
Promontory: We have some additional officers that deserve special recognition. ::looking out to the crowd and pausing for a moment:: Will Ensign(s) Yinn/Loq and Lieutenant Richards please come forward. (beat) And, as before, let’s hold the applause.
The three officers stood up from their chairs and made their way up; and Josh wondered how complex it must be to have two bodies managed by one mind — they made it look graceful at least.
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.
Promontory took a hollow pip from the box and attached it to each of Loq’Yinn’s collars.
Rouiancet: Congratulations, Lieutenant.
Yinn: Thank you, sir.
Both heads nodding in unison.
Richards: Congrats. You earned it!
Promontory: Lieutenant Richards, come forward! (beat) 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.
Hopefully Anton would bring some stability to the position, it was a bit of musical chairs as of late. At least Aine’s departure was on a bright note, becoming first officer of the Chin’Toka — it would be interesting to see what his style of running a department would look like. He found Anton less… intense than most of the officers he knew, which was a plus in his books.
Rouiancet: You've really been holding things together, Lieutenant. You deserve this.
Richards: Thank you, Sirs.
Promontory: ::nodding to the officers:: Lieutenants.
Yinn (both voices in unison): Commander.
Rouiancet: Congratulations. (raising her voice) And now, please, a round of applause!
Caras cheered with the rest of the crew as the recently promoted officers made their way back to their seats.
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!
Josh’s non-poker face revealed his surprise at being awarded anything given how his conduct had been on the last mission. Between nearly venting Rouiancet and Nilsen into space, and then letting things get out of hand in the neuroscience lab, he’d half expected an escort to an airlock. But, all in all they made it through the other end relatively unscathed. The captain had seen something within him.
He accepted the box graciously from the yeoman, and as he opened it, looked at the combination of everest green and merlot red coloured ribbon, divided diagonally with a flourish of gold. He looked toward the dais and nodded appreciatively, unsure if they’d actually see the sign of appreciation. After a round of applause, Lia continued.
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!
Josh saw the spots on the new doctor and realized they had a second recent Academy graduate Trill aboard. He smiled at the fact that this was a sign that he’d not been to Sickbay for a while now, particularly given some of the ribbing he’d been getting from colleagues.
After another round of applause and ribbons handed out, the ceremony 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.
Both prestigious awards for the advancement of Starfleet’s ideals of exploration and courage, the awards were well deserved. The crew were getting well decorated for the challenges that this most recent expedition wrought. Again applause roused through the room and as it died down, it seemed there was more in store.
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.
What started as a small smile turned into a broad grin as Lia finished her statement. He wondered how awkward it must feel to award something to herself, but ‘heavy is the head that wears the crown’ he supposed. He looked at Una and Kovacs as he applauded; glad that members of his department were also recognized.
Rouiancet: And now, for the remaining ribbons, I present again Commander Promontory.
Josh wondered how many ribbons were going to be awarded if they were now rotating, not that he was complaining. It showed recognition for the hard work that they’d been doing out here on the fringes, even if they hadn’t been with the main fleet on Frontier Day.
Avander had his PADD ready, and kicked off his set.
Promontory: First up, we want to honor Lieutenant Maxwell with the Medal of Commendation. We’ve already acknowledged the horrors on OVIV-B. (involuntarily shuttering) But in addition to experiencing all that, Max gallantly rescued a fellow crewmember. (beat) And Haggis.
He looked at the table with Maxwell, along with a cat that seemed to be preening and enjoying the attention and smirked.
Promontory: And now for a ribbon we’d prefer to never award, but nevertheless, the Purple Heart is given to those who have been injured in the line of duty. Lieutenants Arlill, Sh'shelo, Nilsen and Ensign Caras put their bodies and lives on the line to get the Dow operational and out of the system. While I understand they will make full recoveries, the effects of radiation poisoning can be quite severe. And before we give these officers the proper applause, I want to mention one more officer who will be given the Purple Heart, in absentia, Lieutenant Kessler.
As he applauded, Josh followed Avander’s eye line to Lahl. She’d been uncomfortable when Herrick had brought it up, he couldn’t imagine the feeling in the room with the bulk of the ship. But sometimes the best way to get over something was to go through it.
Promontory: Because friendly fire is still fire.
He saw Caras chuckle, and had to stifle his own, before giving him a thumbs up on the award. Engineering was making a good showing at this ceremony.
Promontory: And now, the Starfleet Investigation Ribbon is awarded to individuals who use investigative skills to solve a crime, defuse a threat, or resolve a dangerous situation. And this last mission had more than it’s share of threats and dangerous situations. From the bridge of the Dow, to the unpleasantness in its Engineering as well as those who navigated intelligence gathering on Port Coray we have over a dozen officers deserving of this award.
Herrick: oO A dozen! Oo
Promontory: Captain Rouiancet, Lieutenants Herrick, Nilsen, Kessler, Richards, Arlill, Sh'shelor, Toz, Maxwell, Xaivis and, of course, two of our newest Ensigns Caras and Lahl!
Given the number of names, the applause seemed to thunder as much as Josh was thunderstruck at getting a second ribbon. As the ribbons were handed out, three to their table, he continued to applaud everyone. When he caught Caras doing a jig in his peripherals, he started genuinely beaming with pride.
Promontory: And speaking of gathering intelligence, I’m pleased to award one of my personal favorites, the Intelligence Star. We entered the mission with almost no information about the system and in a short manner of time collected more than Starfleet had previously known. I’m happy to announce that Captain Rouiancet, Commander Walker, Lieutenant Commander Sherlock, Lieutenants Kessler, Arlill, Richards, Stendhal, and Ensign Caras will all be receiving this ribbon.
Now, as Josh applauded, he was directly watching Caras as the yeoman approached him. This time he saw that the yeoman also begrudgingly joined in on the dance and he laughed out loud. This continued a few moments after the applause died down, with a less than pleased yeoman returning back.
Promontory: One more award deserves your attention before we let you return to your meals. The Starfleet Medal of Valor is awarded to individuals who have displayed extraordinary bravery and courage in the finest traditions of Starfleet, even when not engaged in conflict with a traditional enemy. The acts of heroism our crew performed were particularly notable and involved a conspicuous risk of life, setting the recipient apart from their comrades. For their service we award the Starfleet Medal of Valor to Captain Rouiancet, Lieutenants Herrick, Nilsen, Kessler, Richards, Arlill, Sh'shelor, and Ensgins Caras, Lahl. Thank you thank you thank you.
Josh’s mouth hung agape for a moment as he received his third award, along with two other engineers at his table. It seemed like another yeoman raced ahead to celebrate with Caras, wanting to join in on the good energy. He clapped and nodded a firm well done to everyone at the table.
Promontory: And again, for all those who have been honored tonight and a general thanks to the crew overall! (clapping, but slower to spare his hands) And now, I encourage you to tuck in to the food. Be sure to congratulate your fellow officers and enjoy the evening.
TBC
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