Commander Lia Rouiancet: The Only Lasting Truth is Change, Part 1

[Tony Colella]

(( The Writers' Room, Deck 8 Saucer, USS Octavia E. Butler ))

The night had finally arrived, and Lia was ready. This, more than anything else she'd encountered so far as the Octavia E. Butler's commanding officer, was the truest test of her mettle. She could lead and even achieve the respect of her crew through her rank alone, but if the crew didn't choose to follow her, with a foundation established at important events like the ceremony she was about to inaugurate, then she had no future as a captain. It was as simple as that.

But as she stepped up to the lectern on the temporary dais, she felt nothing but confidence, both in herself and in the crew who served with her. She wore a dress uniform for the occasion, along with a new headscarf she'd purchased on DS14 in the exact shade of her command burgundy, crafted to her requested specifications. The room before her was filled with officers and crew, as well as some guests who were neither, at cafe tables that likewise were temporary and replaced the comfier seating areas. She planned to take a page from Commodore V'Airu's book and visit the tables individually as she awarded ribbons, but first, she wanted to address the gathered officers as a whole.

When she cleared her throat and spoke into the minimal microphone pinned to her scarf, silence was immediate.

Rouiancet: Thank you, all, for attending this first promotion ceremony for the Octavia E. Butler. I thought it would be appropriate to begin with a reading from Octavia E. Butler herself, from her pioneering work completed during Earth's twentieth century, Parable of the Sower.

She cleared her throat again, and glanced down at the PADD on the lectern, but she barely needed the reminder. She remembered this passage very well.

Rouiancet:

Embrace diversity.
Unite—
Or be divided,
robbed,
ruled,
killed
By those who see you as prey.
Embrace diversity
Or be destroyed.

(beat)

Your teachers
Are all around you.
All that you perceive,
All that you experience,
All that is given to you
or taken from you,
All that you love or hate,
need or fear
Will teach you--
If you will learn.

Lia paused again, this time for several breaths, to signal that she had finished. The room, in response to these readings, had sobered considerably, but Lia smiled at them in reassurance.

Rouiancet: Butler is one of those figures who put humanity on the course that led to our part in the ethos and establishment of the Federation, by imagining the good that could come from respect, equity, and change. The Federation is a manifestation and a consequence of the imagination of Butler and those like her, and I am honored to stand before you today and share in that dream.

She paused again, though she didn't lose any of her momentum and enthusiasm. Now, though, she left the lectern to walk to the right side of the dais, toward a particular table, and the room's attention went with hers -- to focus on Iljor.

Rouiancet: Commander Etan Iljor, will you please stand? (beat; when he does) Iljor will be leaving us shortly, but I want first to thank him for his service as my first officer for our first mission. I could not have asked for a better officer to support me, and (beat) it is therefore appropriate that Iljor has been promoted, and will take command of the newly relaunched 'Oumuamua. Congratulations, Commander!

Lia led the round of applause for the newest commanding officer in the room, and then waited for it to die down before she continued. Again she directed her attention, and the room followed.

Rouiancet: With Iljor's incipient absence, I decided to make two offers, and I'm delighted that both officers I made those offers to have accepted. As such, please offer your heartiest congratulations to Lieutenant Commander Promontory, who will be my new executive officer, and to Lieutenant Commander Sherlock, who will be second officer in addition to remaining chief of security. Thank you and (a slight smile) may space grant you luck.

Again she paused for applause, and when it had died down again, she directed her attention for a final time. Alone of the officers she'd named, this face was new to her.

Rouiancet: Avander will no longer serve as director of intelligence, so I've requested a new officer for that position. Commander Walker has agreed to serve, and brings with her decades of experience. I look forward to working with her.

Lia led the applause again, but this time, her curiosity was paralleled by many of the others present. Some of them had met Commander Walker, and Lia had as well, but only in passing, when she came aboard. A full meeting would come later.

Rouiancet: I've almost finished speaking before you, but before I wrap up my remarks, I have two additional promotions to bestow. If I call your name, please join me on the dais. Lieutenant Herrick?

She couldn't tell immediately if she'd caught him off his guard or not, but she smiled encouragingly nonetheless as he rose to join her. She didn't speak again until he had.

Rouiancet: Engineering is the heart of any starship, and in this case the metaphor is literal, since we would go nowhere without our propulsion systems and the infrastructure necessary to make the ship, well, work. Lieutenant Herrick has overseen that massive project not only for the Octavia E. Butler since our launch, but also for the 'Oumuamua before it, and he has cultivated talent in his subordinates and respect from his peers. He has served as acting chief of engineering, but I am very pleased to retract the "acting" element of that title and promote him to permanent chief of engineer, as well as to the rank of full lieutenant. (more quietly) May I?

She indicated the hollow pip on his uniform, and waited for his approval before she reached up to remove it, and replace it with a second full pip.

Rouiancet: Please, join me in congratulating the lieutenant!

Herrick: Response

The applause again continued for a good long while, and when Lia dismissed Josh back to his seat with a nod and a smile, it followed him all the way. Only when he had taken his seat again did she call the final name.

Rouiancet: Lieutenant Nilsen, please. (beat; waiting for him to join, then smiling at him) Lieutenant Arlill has seen fit to designate Lieutenant Nilsen as acting assistant chief of operations, a decision that I have agreed with from the beginning. Lhandon is not only a fine officer who continues to excel as he gains experience and pushes his own boundaries -- he is also my friend, and I am honored to command with his confidence. (beat) Lhandon, from this time forth, you're no longer simply acting at your role, but you are now officially the Butler's assistant chief of operations.

Nilsen: Response

For a final time, she led the whole room in applause, and again nodded and smiled Lhandon from the dais when the time seemed right. She gathered the room's attention for a last time.

Rouiancet: Please, feel free now to accept food and drink from the servers who will begin circulating around the room. I will join your tables to present individual ribbons as you do so. Remember to congratulate your shipmates!

And with that, she tapped the microphone off and descended the dais to collect the ribbons she'd shortly begin to bestow.

Tags! and TBC!

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Commander Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)