Cmdr Promontory & LtCmdr Herrick: A Time for Awards: Table 2

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Mark P

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Jan 2, 2025, 3:37:12 PM1/2/25

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((Grand Li Nalas Observation Dome, Celestial Cruises’ Prophet’s Gaze))

As Avander and Josh made their way to the next table, Josh looked around at the beaming faces. He particularly enjoyed seeing everyone attired in their dress uniforms, although Caras’s seemed a size too small as evidenced by the fabric covering the man’s biceps being pushed to its limits.

Promontory: Mr. Caras, a Starfleet uniform for this party? I almost didn’t recognize you!

Caras: Response

Herrick: I’m sure our first officer would… appreciate any pointers who have to share ::playfully nudging the senior officer::

He felt more comfortable back in the element of his fellow engineers; that, and the dress rehearsal Avander had helped him with, made him more confident with this table.

Avander hit the sound amplifier so his voice carried throughout the hall.

Promontory: Ensign Caras, stand at attention. (popping a pip box open and adding a second pip to the Orion’s current one) For excellence in performing your duties, assignments, and commission, we are happy to recognize you as Lieutenant Junior Grade, effective immediately.

Caras: Response

The command officers initiated a round of applause of suitable length.

Herrick: (beaming proudly) And, along with your rank Lieutenant, we’d like to recognize you with the Intelligence Star, Starfleet Investigation Ribbon, and Innovation ribbons; resulting from of your work on infiltrating and crashing a rather unique party, as well as defending your broader team against the cultists.

Caras: Response

Josh pinned the assortment of ribbons, colours of black, grey, and various blues, now complementing the four he’d previously received and offered a congratulatory shake. The relatively green man, both in the literal and figurative sense, had found his footing.

Herrick: Now onto our recently Zhian’tara’d ensign ::glancing first to Kimonzi and then to Promontory::

Promontory: Ensign Lahl, at attention. (moving into position with a box) In recognition of your exceptional service and discharge of your duties, we award you the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, effective immediately.

Lahl: Response

Avander placed the second pip and initiated another round of applause.

Herrick: Not only that Lieutenant, but you managed to locate the crystal despite being injured in the line of duty and as such we award you the Purple Heart. (beat) Despite its significance, I hope it’s the last time you go through such an ordeal. ::glancing to Promontory:: We’re glad you’re back with us, fully recovered.

Lahl/Caras/Nis: Response

He pressed the purple ribbon onto the rack, and caught a flash of the same ribbon glinting off Morro's as he reached out to shake Lahl’s hand. Maybe the engineering team did have a penchant for getting into precarious situations. He made a mental note to set up a meeting with Michele to go over her observations since she started her babysitting assignment.

Promontory: Lieutenant Caras, please stand in line formation with Lieutenant Lahl.

He watched Morro rise back up and stand alongside the Trill officer.

Promontory: Your chief (glancing at Josh) has just taken on significant additional responsibility. We don’t want engineering leadership negatively impacted and so we are appointing you both Assistant Chiefs of Engineering!

Lahl/Caras: Response

Herrick: (smiling broadly) We’ll go into specific mandates later; suffice it to say, you’ll have a desk you’ll never actually see beneath a mountain of PADDs and repair orders ::chuckling:: But, in all seriousness, a ship this size and complex need demonstrated leaders supporting her and you both fall in that camp. Congratulations!

He offered them another warm handshake.

Lahl/Caras/Nis: Response

As the duo sat, the OEB’s first officer turned their attention to the blue-decked officer.

Promontory: Ensign Nis, at attention! (pulling out another familiar colored box) You have made an immediate impact, not just in the Sickbay, but around the ship. I think there are many in this room (his eyes flicked to Lahl) who very seriously may owe you their life. In recognition of your service, we award you the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, effective immediately.

Avander added a hollow pip to her solid one and began another round of applause.

Nis: Response

Herrick: I want to say how much I appreciated your assistance on the bridge; a lot of the people around you are alive today because of you. Your attention to detail when you were looking out for the safety of the ship and her crew, including the loomists’ automaton, as well as the accurate hypothesis around the crystal shards, all played a critical role. As a result, I’m pleased to award you the Splice Mainbrain Distinction.

Nis: Response

Herrick: There’s also the matter of what transpired when you were ::glancing to Iliac:: separated from the ship. First and foremost was your injury in the line of duty, and as such, we award you the Purple Heart.

The ScuttleButt (the OEB’s informal gossip rag) had been temporarily suspended by the DTI and was part of the reason why they now had a liaison officer. In its most controversial publication, one of the article writers had somehow gained the knowledge that Nis had met a future self who’d been seriously injured. Luckily the newsletter had been contained to the ship’s crew.

As Josh held this award in his hand, he thought about the implications of knowing how one’s existence might come to an end.

Herrick: And, we have one more recognition ::looking to Jania’s stomach where the symbiote lay, and then back up:: specifically for Nis. The strength and perseverance to continue acting in the finest traditions of Starfleet as an exemplary officer despite knowing the outcome of what would happen has proven that you will go above and beyond when called upon. For that we award you the Federation Cross.

He pinned the three ribbons, one black and silver, another gold and blue, and the last a contrast of black and purple.

Promontory: We’re not done with you yet, Lieutenant. With Doctor Toz as the Chief Medical Officer, she has requested you serve as Assistant Chief Medical Officer, specializing in physical health.

Nis/Lahl/Caras: Response

Josh offered a handshake and was about to speak more before he felt Avander nudge him in the back.

Promontory: (quietly) We have a few more tables to go still.

Herrick: Quite right, off we go!