Captain Serala: Captain!!!
Serala
She wasn’t sure what this was all about, but she ordered the assembled officers behind her to attention, following suit herself.
Mei’konda took a brief glance through the lounge as he made his way in. He’d normally kept to his Ready Room during his command of this ship. This one provided a subtle view to the ship’s aft of the glow of the warp nacelles, and in the distance, he could see the subtly moving twinkle of Astraeus, flying in formation.
A moment later, the Caitian turned, stepping over to stand near Washington, his eyes on Serala.
Toryn stood beside Mei’konda, a brief smirk exchanged with the Caitian before Serala called the crew to focus.
Serala: Crew, attention!!
She turned to ensure everyone was at a clean sharp attention, then turned her face to the ceiling.
Serala: Computer, open a ship wide channel.
Once the computer beeped acknowledgement, she turned back to Admiral Washington.
Serala: You have the floor, Admiral.
As Joseph stepped up to a podium that had been quickly replicated for the ceremony, he placed on it a PADD with prepared remarks, but he knew today he wouldn’t need them. What he had to tell this crew and its captain came right from the heart.
Washington: Officers and crew of the USS Chin’toka, it is good to be here with you all today. It wasn’t so long ago that Starfleet and the Federation Council thought we had reached a turning point in the history of our galaxy–that the conflicts and adversaries of the past would remain in our history textbooks. The events on Frontier Day showed how very wrong we were.
He paused for a moment as he surveyed the faces across the room, noting especially the younger ones who stood still as they watched him. A whole generation scarred by the sins of their forebearers.
Washington: If there is but one lasting lesson from that terrible day, it is that even in our darkest hour the light will shine through. And on that day, you all were part of that light. ::turns to look over at Serala:: Led by your commanding officer.
Serala stood at attention listening to the Admiral’s speech. That had indeed been a dark day. The Federation had nearly fallen, and if it weren’t for the heroics of people like her crew and that of the USS Astraeus, it would have fallen. She had never been more proud than she had at that moment.
Toryn’s wry smirk had slowly blended into a stoic, somber expression as he listened to the Admiral’s words. For his part, and that of the Ronin, they only had a brief incident with a single Changeling. Nor were they unfortunate enough to come face to face with the Borg. They’d had their own struggle however. From a dual threat of Sheliak and Tholians, determined to take advantage of the opportunity Federation Day presented. They held the line, along with the USS Khitomer as Deep Space Thirty Three. Twenty Four hours of near constant fighting to hold the station, after a clever ruse lured their ships away. He’d been there, leading the defense and had nearly fallen to a torpedo set off inside it. A last parting gift. Even the Constitution had faced threats on the border where they were. None in Starfleet had made it out of that day unscathed, so the words held true for all of them.
Washington: Now while the start of Commander Serala’s command was a bit unorthodox, Starfleet Command has carefully reviewed her tenure as Chin’toka’s CO in the aftermath of Frontier Day, leading you all on successful missions and patrols in the Par'tha Expanse. That is why I’m pleased to announce to you all that Starfleet Command is tasking the Chin’toka with covering an expanded operational region, extending out to the Solerian Sector.
Serala: oO The Solerian Sector? That’s mostly unexplored by the Federation. What an opportunity! Oo
Toryn’s brow raised slightly at that. He wasn’t familiar with the Solerian Sector, but presumed it was adjacent to the Expanse.
Washington: But first, there is the little matter of ensuring your CO has the proper rank and authority to represent the United Federation of Planets in this assignment. Commander Serala, having met and exceeded the highest standards set forth for a commanding officer of a starship, it is my privilege to bestow upon you the rank of Captain by order of Starfleet Command and the United Federation of Planets. Fleet Captain Mei’konda has requested to do the honors… if that’s amenable to you, of course.
Serala oO Captain?! Did I just get promoted? Of course you did, veruul. Stop standing there with your mouth open like a drooling idiot and say something. Oo
Serala: I– I… Of course!!! I would love that.
The Fleet Admiral returned the slightest of grins before he stepped back to allow Mei’konda and Serala to take center stage.
Reaching up to smooth out the black collar of his undershirt and the crimson jacket just beneath, Mei’konda stepped forward, nodding a thanks toward Washington, and stepping up to face his half-Romulan former First Officer.
There it was. Toryn’s grin was wide and proud as he watched his former CO approach the soon to be Captain.
Meikonda: Serala, you and I served together for many years. During that time, we developed a trust that I’ve rarely felt with anyone else. I knew then, as I know now, that I could count on you to always have the Federation’s best interests in mind, whether or not your judgment explicitly agreed with the rulebook or not.
The Caitian smiled toothily at Serala as he lifted a small wooden box upward and flipped it open. Inside was a single silver pip. Placing the box in Serala’s hands, he pulled the pip out and reached up to pin it on the woman’s collar, a fourth silver pip to join the three already there.
Mei’konda: Congratulations, and thank you. Captain Serala.
Serala stood erect, proud and regal. Even her mother would have been proud at her posture. She had never expected this, and it was glorious. Only her recently gained logic kept her from outright crying with joy and delight.
Reaching forward once the pip had been secured in place, aligned with the others with Mei’konda’s obsessive standards, he reached forward to offer her a fuzzy hand to shake.
Serala took his hand and shook it. She’d not done that before and found it pleasant. Before, she was too confined by her sense of duty. But now, it was different.
Raga: If I had known that all you had to do to get a captaincy was to steal your own ship I’d have done that a while ago. ::he smirked:: Congratulations, Riov.
Serala: Khlinae arnhem, Admiral, Captain. I will not let you down. :: to Toryn :: And khnai, my friend. But I had better not hear about you stealing a ship.
Washington: Well, then here’s your first test, Captain. Address your crew.
The admiral gestured towards the podium, inviting her to finish the ceremony with a few words of her own. She walked past him and looked out at the assembled officers still standing, although many now with a few smiles shining back.
Serala: Crew of the USS Chin’toka, I couldn’t be more proud than I am right now. And it was you who helped me achieve this moment. A Captain only stands as tall as her crew. We rise together, we fight together, and we succeed together. Your successes are my successes, and vice versa. Your courage and bravery, both on Frontier Day and since, have made this one of the best ships in the fleet, and I am proud to be your Captain. I pledge on my honor to do my duty to this ship and to you with everything that I have. I place my trust and my command into your hands. And I hope you can always trust me to lead you into whatever the universe may throw at us.
The officers in front of her and the Admiral and Fleet Captain behind joined in applause as Serala stepped back and turned to face her crew.
Toryn applauded loudly along with his best friend’s crew and the flag officers with them.
Washington stepped forward, still applauding, and turned slightly to Serala.
Washington: Well-done, Captain. Never forget that you’ve been given that chair because Starfleet trusts your judgement when a tough call needs to be made. It won’t be easy, and it won’t always be obvious, but as long as you remain true to yourself, you’ll lead your crew along the right path.
Serala: Thank you, sir.
Mei’konda: Congratulations, Captain… :: He nodded at Toryn, smiling wryly. :: Commander. It’s not the same without you both on Astraeus, but the fleet needs officers like you in charge, and I know you’re both where you need to be.
Serala took Mei’s hand, and Mei’konda shook hands with her one more time. She was still getting used to calling him that. He’d always been “Captain” but she felt more like they were equals now. Granted, he still outranked her, but it wasn’t the same in her mind.
Serala: Thank you, Captain. I couldn’t have gotten this far without your guidance and mentorship. Thank you for being a great example to me and teaching me how to be a diplomat. :: she smiled :: I’m still working on that part, though.
Toryn chuckled, and Mei smiled, inclining his head toward Serala’s First Officer.
Mei’konda: Well, we all certainly have our weak spots, Commander. Hopefully, that’s what Aine Sherlock will call you out on.
Serala: Indeed.
Toryn maintained that proud smile of his as he waited for his best friend to get the praise and congratulations she absolutely deserved. A fond memory of an angsty half-Romulan grumbling about a cold mountain climb flooded into his mind and he almost chuckled again.
Raga: It’s about time. ::he teased:: I’m proud of you, my friend. I’m glad I was able to sneak away to join in on the surprise.
He placed his right hand on her left shoulder as close to the nape of her neck as he could get without touching, in the traditional Al-Leyan way, signifying how close she was to him.
She returned the gesture with a smile before leading them all out to have a dinner in her private dining room.
Captain Serala
Commanding Officer
USS Chin'toka NCC-97187
A239412S10
&
Fleet Captain Mei’konda Delano
Commanding Officer
USS Astraeus, NCC-70652
M239002M10
&
Fleet Admiral Joseph Washington
Starfleet Command
I238705TZ0
&
Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga