(( Solar Sail Observation Hall, Deep Space 14 ))
Una was wearing a sweet floral dress, something casual and understated. Light makeup and a floral headband completed the look.
She could barely remember the first few ceremonies she'd attended on the USS Columbia. Before it exploded, perhaps because of her.
She tapped her red heels a couple of times against the floor, testing its sturdiness.
She attended these ribbon ceremonies not for any recognition, she'd never received an, but for the food and drinks. The food was always good, and there were plenty of beverages. It wasn't that she ate a lot, but she liked to taste things, and indeed, her plate was littered with half-eaten morsels.
So distracted, searching for something to nibble on and then abandon, she almost missed the ribbon ceremony. She barely heard when, for the first time in years, even decades, never ever, her name was called.
Just as she took a bite of a delicious shrimp, she heard her name and Una Almost choked on her surprise.
Rouiancet: Finally, before I turn over the presentation to Commander Promontory, I want to 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, Toz, Nilsen, Arlill, and Wauhk, Lieutenant Commanders Promontory and Katsim, Ensign Kovacs, and Petty Officer First Class Una Qualunque. And myself, I suppose.
What kind of ribbon was it? An innovation ribbon? Was it the same one that CO and XO, not to mention all the bigwigs upstairs, had gotten?
Una was about to faint, but she gathered her courage and went to claim her very first ribbon.
Could it be more innovative than this?
Then she strutted away, humming to herself,
Qualunque: 'I got a ribbon, I got a ribbon...'
She made a promise to herself to avoid explosions for a time, or at least to make an effort.
---
PO Una Qualunque by
=============================
Lt Jg Karen Trisha Stendhal
Counselor
USS Octavia E Butler
ID: C239604KS0
=============================
Una era vestita con un vestito carino a fiorellini, comunque una cosetta casual e non troppo appariscente. Trucco leggero ed headband floreale.
Si ricordava a stento di quelle prime cerimonie a cui aveva assistito sulla USS Columbia. Prima che esplodesse, forse per colpa sua.
Diede un paio di colpi di tacco con le sue scarpette rosse giusto per saggiare la robustezza del pavimento.
Lei si infilava in quelle cerimonie dei ribbons non perché si aspettasse un qualche riconoscimento, non ne aveva mai ricevuto alcuno, ma per il cibo e per le bevande. Si mangiava sempre bene e c'era sempre di bere. Non che lei mangiasse davvero molto, però assaggiava, le piaceva assaggiare ed in effetti nel suo piattino giacevano varie cose appena assaggiate.
Distratta così e cercando e osservando se c'era qualcosa da assaggiare e poi abbandonare, quasi non si accorse della consegna dei vari ribbons. Quasi non sentì che questa volta per la prima volta da anni, anzi da sempre c'era un ribbon anche per lei?
Proprio mentre dava un morsichino a un gambero delizioso sentì il suo nome e Una Qualunque quasi si strozzò dallo stupore.
Che ribbon era ? Innovation ribbon? Ed era lo stesso ribbon che CO ed XO per non parlare di tutti gli altri dei piani alti...
Una stava quasi svenendo, ma si fece coraggio e andò a prendersi il suo primo ribbon di sempre.
Più innovativi di così?
Poi si allontanò pavoneggiandosi e canticchiando da sola, ho ricevuto un ribbon, ho ricevuto un ribbon...
Si ripromise di non far esplodere nulla per un po' o almeno di provarci!