Commander Lia Rouiancet: The Only Lasting Truth is Change, Part 2

[Tony Colella]

I've separated this sim into several vignettes, and I'm happy to continue any of them if you continue to tag Lia!

Also, I've worked on this sim in a couple of different places and I just have the feeling the formatting is going to do something wonky because of all the copying and pasting, so if it does, I apologize.

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

Vignette 1

Lia glanced over at her yeoman as she stepped down from the dais. Lohkina had been assigned with the Butler's launch, and Lia was still coming to terms with having a yeoman at all, particularly one who was older than her by a good two decades. Lohkina was Romulan, and had been a career public servant in her earlier life in the Romulan Empire. She had risen as highly as minister of agriculture in the Romulans' interim government on Benzar following its liberation from Dominion occupation in 2374, but had then fallen back into the administrative machine after the Federation repatriated Benzar. She, and so many others, had been made refugees by Romulus's destruction in 2387, and had been rebuffed from service in the Free State again and again because of her prior service in the Empire. Finally, after many, many years, she'd washed up on the shores of Starfleet, and had -- cheerfully, Lia thought, or as cheerfully as any Romulan could be -- accepted a position as petty officer second class and Lia's yeoman. According to Lohkina, that had been her only request: She had so much experience in logistical operations that it would be a waste of her talents to be in any position other than direct yeoman to a ship's commanding officers.

Lohkina was a large woman, broad and tall, and constantly carried a PADD as she followed Lia through functions like this ceremony (though there hadn't been too many, yet). Lohkina's presence made Lia feel a little like she had a bodyguard rather than a yeoman, but she could easily imagine a circumstance in which she welcomed the solidity of that presence.

Lia's first destination on the floor of the Writers' Room was the table that included Jack Kessler. She excused herself for interrupting the conversation that also included Aine, Anton Richards, and Michele Winters, and the formermost of those was just as well, because in addition to already having singled out Aine's promotion, Lia also wanted to recognize her with a ribbon. First, though...

Rouiancet: Lieutenant Kessler, it's very good to have you back.

She smiled widely, even though she hesitated a little at her verbiage. Jack hadn't served aboard the Butler yet, obviously, but she considered herself a proxy for his former ships and COs, Commodores V'Airu and Kells, and so welcomed him on their accounts as well.

Kessler: Response

Sherlock / Richards / Winters: Responses, if any

Rouiancet: (seriously) I'm very glad to see you here tonight especially. I would have sought you out regardless, but a promotion ceremony seems to me an auspicious time to ask if you would agree to service in tactical aboard the Butler. Perhaps, if you're ready, and Michele agrees, as chief of tactical. (to Michele) I don't want to presume, though, that you're ready to leave the position, Michele.

Kessler / Winters: Responses

Sherlock / Richards: Responses, if any

Rouiancet: (a nod) Very well. Yes, I'm pleased with that. (another smile) The Butler will be in good hands. Now, then...

Lia turned slightly, and Lohkina took half a step forward at once. She carried an ornately replicated box, full of ribbons, and opened it. Lia withdrew a black ribbon with two red corners, and turned soberly to Aine. She suspected, with some trepidation, that this wouldn't be the last ceremony in which she'd present this particular ribbon.

Rouiancet: I remember that Commodore V'Airu used to say that "awarding" the Prisoner of War ribbon didn't feel right, that it was more like a (beat) recognition, I suppose, of an especially traumatic element of an officer's service history, one that others should be aware of. That's the spirit in which I present this to you, Aine.

She offered the ribbon, and all it implied.

Sherlock: Response

Kessler / Richards / Winters: Responses, if any

Vignette 2

Lia approached the table where all the operations personnel were sitting together, a single table away from one where the engineering officers were likewise gathered. She interrupted the conversation in progress again (would that ever become easier? she felt so rude), and took the chair that was offered to her as Lohkina loomed behind her, box at the ready.

Rouiancet: (a nod to Nilsen) Congratulations again on your new position, Lhandon. (a slight grin) Or, I should say, your new new position, now assistant chief of the whole department, rather than assistant to the chief.

Arlill / Nilsen: Responses

She reached back for the first ribbon she wanted to bestow at this table, and Lohkina handed it over immediately. It was a twin of the red-on-black ribbon that she'd just given to Aine, and her tone again became heavier.

Rouiancet: I just told Aine this was well, but -- Lhandon, this ribbon isn't a cause for celebration, but is rather a recognition for you, and everyone who might see your service record or ribbon cluster, of just what you've been through, and something of the tenacity you possess.

She offered him the ribbon, and took a surreptitious glance at his ribbon cluster. This was, she was relatively certain, his first POW ribbon, and hopefully his last.

Arlill / Nilsen: Responses

That heavy duty again finished, for the moment, Lia turned back to Lohkina for the second ribbon for this table, which Lohkina already had waiting. Lia flashed a smile up at her, and turned to Toxin. The ribbon she presented was a little more visually complex -- red and green stripes against black on two triangular halves, with a border of gold between them.

Rouiancet: It means a lot to me, as such a new CO, to know that I can count entirely on the officers under my command. Toxin, when I assigned you to lead the marine team to Cheyd'lang, I knew that you could do it -- but you exceeded my expectations, and showed me and your team just what to expect from you in the future. This is the Leadership Excellence Ribbon, and you've earned it, and then some.

Arlill / Nilsen: Responses

Vignette 3

From the ops table, Lia didn't have far to go to reach the engineers. Again she interposed herself with a smile.

Rouiancet: Lieutenant Herrick, chief engineer. (beat) Josh, congratulations again.

Herrick: Response

Rouiancet: There's something more, actually.

She barely needed to turn this time, and Lohkina was ready. She handed over the ribbon, a pair of darker red stripes on a lighter red background. The Captain's Commendation, and the first one Lia would be giving out as a CO, though not the final one for this ceremony. This one had a gold star set in its center, and could swap out the ribbon Josh currently wore to indicate that this was his second Captain's Commendation. As she handed it over, Lia explained why she'd chosen to recognize him with it.

Rouiancet: I was able to benefit firsthand from your knowledge and experience at Cheyd'lang, from your work on the bridge and your observations, to your presence in those first meetings with the UDP, to your actions on the surface when we encountered the King's Path and learned of the Mongar. You acquitted yourself magnificently, and that was part of the reason that I suspected that you were ready for the promotion and leadership of your department -- because you are able to make the best of any situation.

She realized she'd been leaning forward, a little more with every bit of praise, and now sat back as she finished.

Herrick: Response

Vignette 4

Lia's next stop was at the table that housed another officer who had accompanied her through many of the same trials and tribulations as Josh had. Ensign Yinn wasn't seated at the ops or engineering tables, of course, which gave Lia an opportunity to slow as she approached her. According to the reports she'd received from Toz, Fer'at, Rivka Brzezinski, and more -- and from Yinn herself -- Yinn had undergone some very unusual experiences over the leave period. Toz had cleared her for duty, but what exactly that meant for Yinn going forward, Lia wasn't entirely sure. She did trust Toz's assessment, though, and so sat down beside Yinn without trepidation.

Rouiancet: Hello, Yinn. How are you doing?

That was a broad question, but Lia meant to cast a wide net. Behind her, Lohkina shuffled, almost imperceptibly, as she assessed the potential for this to be a longer conversation than those that had gone before.

Yinn: Response

OOC Happy to sim more here if you want to, Mike! We can go into as much or as little detail as you'd like.

After the update, Lia reached back for the ribbon, and Lohkina passed her a ribbon identical to the one with which she'd just pinned Josh. Like Josh's, there was a gold star already, confirming Yinn's receipt of two Captain's Commendations.

Rouiancet: My experience of Starfleet has always been that you never know exactly what you're going to get. I've worn the uniforms of medical, operations, and command divisions, and even with all that, I wouldn't have been prepared to handle every obstacle set before you at Cheyd'lang, from the bridge to the hillsides beyond the King's Path mines. I took comfort, too, just in having your competence and adaptability with me, even and probably especially when we stared down Achi’Trinot. That might have been enough to recognize you with this citation, but you did so much more, too. Thank you, truly.

Yinn: Response

Vignette 5

Medical division personnel had claimed a few tables, too, just like their fellows in the operations division, but the officers Lia was looking for had helpfully chosen a single table. Toz, who she'd already spoken of that evening, and Karen Stendhal, whose presence loomed large throughout Lia's work with the refugees the Butler had ferried to DS14. She took the seat that was offered to her as she approached, and again Lohkina stood ready behind her.

Rouiancet: I want to first thank you both not just for your work at Cheyd'lang, but and especially for the working leave you've both been kept busy, and I appreciate everything you continue to do.

She cast a glance over at Yinn again, as she spoke, though Yinn was far from the only beneficiary.

Toz / Stendhal: Response

Rouiancet: (with a clap and a smile) Right! Karen...

Lohkina was ready, and handed over the ribbon -- mostly slate and navy stripes, with two notable hourglasses striped in purple and offset by silver -- without Lia needing to turn at all.

Rouiancet: ...I want to present you first with the Unity Ribbon, which is given to those who support and champion morale and emotional health and well-being, and which I think describes both your work with this crew and with the refugee population very well. I was surprised to find that you haven't received it before, but let it be the first of many!

She offered the ribbon to Karen, where it would join her already-respectable cluster.

Stendhal: Response

Toz: Response, if any

Rouiancet: As for you, Toz. (Lohkina handed down a pair of ribbons) You deserve recognition for your time spent as a prisoner of the King's Path, but I prefer not to see this as any kind of celebration of that time. Rather, consider it an acknowledgement that you served well beyond what Starfleet expects of any officer, and take honor from that fact. As for the other...

This ribbon was as bright at Karen's Unity Ribbon, in its way: A bright pink striped background, with a pair of corners in bright striped silver.

Rouiancet: This is the Excellent in Adaptability Ribbon, newly adopted across the fleet, and I think you are an excellent first recipient, at least as far as receiving the ribbon from me is concerned. You took on plenty of mission-critical roles at Cheyd'lang, many of which were completely divorced from your medical knowledge and experience, and you performed them with aplomb -- which is exactly what this ribbon is meant to reflect. Essentially, you were a mission specialist, and you deserve recognition -- but the celebratory kind, this time!

Toz: Response

Stendhal: Response, if any

Vignette 6

Lia hadn't yet interacted with the would-be second lieutenant, though he was also apparently prepared for active duty -- something she needed to sign off on, and still she hadn't even met him. This seemed as good a time as any, though as she joined the table where he sat, she felt Lohkina stiffen slightly. She couldn't understand why, until she remembered that one of Lohkina's final jobs for the Romulan Free State, when she'd applied as an independent contractor without her work history for the Empire  (and then summarily ejected from the Free State when her superiors learned of the omission), was aboard the so-called Artifact. Lia didn't know much more than that, and so didn't know the range of experiences Lohkina might have with ex-Borg like Jacen Xaivis. Whatever they were, though, she kept them to herself.

Rouiancet: Lieutenant Xaivis, I'm very pleased to meet you, especially since I've read in several officers' reports -- Lieutenant Brzezinski's and Lieutenant Nijal's, among others -- just how instrumental you were to triaging our refugee population when they were evacuating Cheyd'lang. It seems not to do justice to your effort, but I would like to recognize you with the Lifesaving Ribbon.

She handed over the red-on-silver ribbon that Lohkina handed to her.

Xaivis: Response

Rouiancet: Actually, I've been meaning to speak with you -- to meet you, properly. I understand that your post isn't yet fully approved?

Xaivis: Response

Vignette 7

Lia had more or less circled the Writers' Room by this point, though it was more accurate to say that she and Lohkina had criss-crossed it, zipping from this table to that table. Around the margins of the room, several other officers and crew were prepared for her final announcement -- but first, she had one more table to visit.

She'd already spoken of Iljor during the ceremony, but this was the first time she'd actually sat down with him. She had one more individual ribbon to bestow, and this time Lohkina outdid herself by presenting it to Lia before she'd even finished sitting down. Lia, in turn, bestowed it upon Iljor.

Rouiancet: You know what I want to say here, since I stole my sentiments from Commodore V'Airu. (beat, a little heavily) I'm afraid the POW ribbon may be one you'll confer in your time as a CO. Let's just hope, for both of us, it's not too often, hm?

Etan: Response

Rouiancet: (more lightly) Congratulations again, too. I'm so happy that it's the 'Oumuamua for you, even if I and this crew lose out on having you around. How are you feeling about it all?

She'd had complex feelings herself when she'd learned of her new assignment as a CO, and she remembered well how she'd stumbled confusedly into Quark's at DS9 to tell Avander what had happened.

Etan: Response

Vignette 8

Finally, Lia's circuit of the room was finished, and she took the dais again and activated her microphone.

Rouiancet: Might I have everyone's attention again for a moment? Thank you.

She nodded to Lohkina, who nodded in turn to the officers and crew who lined the room, each with their own box of ribbons. They began to move into the crowd, searching out their seated shipmates.

Rouiancet: Each of you, everyone who served during the mission to Cheyd'lang, is now receiving four ribbons -- the Maiden Voyage Ribbon, the First Contact Ribbon, the Diplomacy Ribbon, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award -- along with stars, as appropriate. Even those officers whose service has taken them elsewhere for the time being, like Colonel Greaves, will receive these ribbons for service during the mission. Thank you, all, for making Starfleet's first contact with the Cheydalanga as successful as it could be. (beat, then a smile) Now I really am finished talking to you from up here. Please, enjoy your dinners and drinks!

She tapped the mic off again, left the dais, and settled down at a table at last, the one where Avander already sat. She nodded to Lohkina, who finally sat down herself, if stiffly.

Rouiancet: (to Avander) Well, I think that as well as it could have. Next time, we'll do it together, but I didn't want to spring it on you this time. (beat) Besides, I think a part of me wanted to do it myself, just this first time.

Promontory: Response

Rouiancet: (a laugh) Well, exactly. So, what are you having?

Promontory: Response

Tags! and TBC!

--

Commander Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)