Capt. Rouiancet, Cmdr. Promontory, & Lt. Cmdr. Herrick: All That You Touch You Change, Part 4
Tony Colella
(( Marine Mess, GATOR Deck 12, USS Octavia E. Butler ))
The pair had just finished in Main Engineering and had taken the stairs to the deck below. Even though the home base of the marines had only even been a deck away, the second officer had never stepped foot in their domain. Today that’d change, and for good reason.
Rouiancet: How’s your second blush at awards, Josh? Looking forward to the marines' presentation?
Herrick: Harder than I expected, but just as rewarding. It must feel nice to recognize Colonel Greaves again after such an extended period of him being away.
Josh had only met the former ‘Oumuamua and current marine commander in the briefest of encounters during his time, he seemed to have a steel edge that the engineer based on looks alone and he was looking forward to validating or correcting that assumption. Perhaps he’d turn out like Max, intimidating on the outside and a fuzzy teddy bear on the inside.
Rouiancet: (with a smile) I’m just glad to have him back.
Truly, since Wes had been one of the few constants in Lia’s assignment to the various ships of the Flotilla, including the Thor before the Flotilla had been commissioned. In fact, Lia was put in mind of a particularly unexpected vacation on Seytoxal years ago, when she, Peri, and Wes had expected a relaxing river cruise at Xubudu Windaloh and had ended up adrift in a particularly spectacular set of underground caves.
They rounded the corner, and found a crowd already gathered, as well as their next victims awardees.
Greaves: Response
Rouiancet: I’m delighted to be the one to honor you, Wes. Now, if you’d step up here…?
He joined her and Josh, and Lia popped open the ornate little box for the two ribbons within. She pinned them both to Wes’s cluster as she spoke.
Rouiancet: I don’t think there’s any doubt that you’ve earned this Silver Star, for gallantry with distinction against an enemy force – you know your duty better than I do, and you saw them done honorably and for the preservation of your crew. (beat) But I also want to recognize you with the newest ribbon available to officers and crew, the Spliced Mainbrace Distinction. Anyone who earns this ribbon has thought critically, demonstrated a capacity for both adaptation and innovation in their problem-solving skills under the most adverse circumstances, and demonstrated exceptional competence in their field. Your command of the Valkyries and their officers and crew during our final standoff certainly qualifies, and then some. I’m proud to recognize you with one of the first Spliced Mainbrace Distinctions awarded on the Butler, Wes.
In fact Lia had awarded only one other, to Jania Nis – and given her most recent interactions with Nis in the arboretum, then she couldn’t have chosen a better first recipient. If her relationship with Wes was any indication, then the Distinction was on quite a roll.
Rouiancet: Congratulations, Colonel Greaves!
Well the marines had a knack for rowdy cheers, they were reaching new levels on their home turf. The hoots and hollers in the smaller space echoed off the walls; it sounded closer to a cheering stadium.
Greaves: Response
As the crowd quieted, Josh shook Wes’s hand and invited their next awardee up. Given Wes ran the marine department, he stayed along side the pair of command officers handing out awards.
Herrick: (warmly) Maxwell, if you’d do us the honor of your company.
Maxwell: Response
Herrick: We seem to have a knack for getting into precarious situations, but this last mission was something else. Chaos is an understatement. It started with us literally landing in the muck, and finished with a knife in your chest when you protected your former captor, Chairman Ualara. We’re awarding you both the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War ribbons.
Maxwell: Response
As Josh leaned in and pinned the two ribbons upon Maxwell’s rack, he lowered his voice.
Herrick: Try to avoid harm’s way best you can, Max. You’re a good man and I like you alive.
As he leaned back, he looked up with a genuine smile as he clasped the marine’s hand and shook it.
Greaves: Response
Rouiancet: Congratulations, Lieutenant Maxwell!
Although there were plenty of marine officers and crew in attendance, there was only one additional honor Lia and Josh would bestow, and then they would rely on Wes and the other senior officers to award any other honors to the crew they knew best.
Rouiancet: Lieutenant Sh’shelor, if you please?
Sh'shelor: Response
The young Andorian, not only a marine officer but a marine intelligence officer, had done excellent work both on the Butler and in the field, and according to Wes’s reports, this promotion was overdue.
Rouiancet: Lieutenant, I truly don’t know if this promotion is doing you any favors, since as an advancing officer in marine intelligence, your senior officers are not only Colonel Greaves but (a nod to Josh) also Commander Herrick, our new intelligence officer. (beat) But neither I nor the senior staff have any doubts about your abilities or your service record, and I’m confident that this promotion reflects both your excellent work to date and more to come. It’s my honor to promote you to First Lieutenant. Congratulations!
She replaced the single gold rank bar on Sh’shelor’s uniform with a single silver one, identical to the one that First Lieutenant Maxwell wore.
Sh'shelor: Response
Josh nodded as he clapped. He’d been flipping through reports, both written by or about the Andorian military intelligence officer. She’d proven herself capable multiple times, and given his career lay in the same domain, he’d suspected they’d get a chance to know eachother better.
Herrick: ::extending his hand out to Ithri:: Congratulations!
Greaves/Maxwell/Sh'shelor: Responses
Tags! and TBC!
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Captain Lia Rouiancet
Commanding Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
V238208LV0
she/her/hers (this character) & he/him/his (simmer)
&
Lieutenant Commander Josh Herrick
Intelligence Officer and Second Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)