[JP] R.Admiral Reynolds & Lt. Cmdr. Marshall - I’m Dreaming of a White Awards Ceremony (Part III)
Quinn Reynolds
((Michael Collins Dome, Pillars of Light, Luna))
Only one more promotion for Quinn to present, and this time, she didn’t call anyone up from the audience. She turned instead to the woman standing at her side; her friend and right hand, someone who found ways to inject fun into the often mundane day-to-day of commanding a starship, and whom she would trust with her life—and more importantly, with her children’s.
Reynolds: Lieutenant Commander Marshall. ::She paused and turned to her First Officer.:: Your initiation into Starfleet was a trial by fire—sometimes literally—when you joined the Gorkon just as we were plunged into an alternate universe. But you didn’t just endure those hardships, you were tempered by them, learned from them, and became one of the most exceptional officers I’ve ever had the pleasure of serving with. It’s with very great delight that I promote you to the rank of Commander, with all the associated duties, rights and responsibilities. ::Her face lit up in a rare, full beam smile.:: Congratulations, Jo.
Marshall: Thank you, sir. ::Her immediate response prefaced a broadening grin.:: I’ve learned from the best.
The third golden pip in her hand felt weightier than anything else, like six years had dropped on top of her all at once. Jo tried to shove down the grin and failed, instead reaching for Quinn’s uniformed forearm and giving her friend’s limb a gentle squeeze. There would be more words later, shared over coffee and tea and pastries and Bajoran lightship, no doubt.
Never one for letting the conversation linger on herself, Jo gestured to the table of awards and commendations, where only the solitary box remained behind.
Marshall: One more to kick the party off into full swing?
Reynolds: Well, I don’t think you’ll let me get out of it. ::She shot Jo a faint grin, receiving a vivid one right back.:: And we do have certain rank separation to maintain.
Marshall: The known universe would collapse if that were ever to lessen any, sir. ::A fingernail scratched at her cheek.:: And it is a little overdue, wouldn’t you say?
Reynolds: No, not really. ::Her lips twitched in mild amusement.:: But I’m outnumbered on that one.
Marshall: Increasingly so. In fact, we found another Admiral who thinks so. Had to dust him off a bit from Starfleet HQ, but he couldn’t wait to come.
Quinn graced her friend with a long-suffering look, then glanced toward the crowd. People were growing restless, unsure if the ceremony was over or what they were waiting for. Not wishing to delay their post-ceremony celebrations any more than necessary, she steeled herself for the next few minutes. It was one thing to stand up front and make other people the centre of attention, but for the next while, it would be her in the spotlight and her heart was already pounding. She reached for her glass and took another sip, wetting a suddenly dry throat, and nodded.
Reynolds: All right. Let’s get it over with.
As if the statement acted as the cue, said recently dusted Admiral ascended the small stage from the side. Clearing his throat, hands neatly clasped in the small of his back, the air of the stoic Vulcan radiating in waves, he approached. Bright lights of the dome shone across the many medals adorning his dress white uniform, dazzling all who looked without protective eyewear. He wasn’t a man of remarkable qualities, save for the logically unruly hair on his head, and distinguished countenance above a white collar.
Jo often joked about the sheer amount of ribbons adorning Quinn’s official service jacket, and how throwing her into a body of water would see her sink straight to the bottom with the weight of it. She imagined she could launch the Vulcan into orbit and his mass would perpetuate eternal motion.
Sotek: Admiral. Commander. ::He curtly nodded to each woman in turn before settling dark eyes back on Quinn.:: Rear Admiral Quinn Reynolds. Shall we begin?
Reynolds: No time like the present, sir.
Once more, Sotek nodded, and stepped up to the front of the stage, addressing the gathered crowd of Gorkon crew awaiting the finale.
Sotek: You are Starfleet Officers, members of the USS Gorkon, and exemplify the bravery, ingenuity, fortitude, and spirit of what the Federation seeks among the stars. There are situations within which we find ourselves the necessary determination to drive headlong into the unknown, and I wish to share with you an example of one such event.
And thus, he continued. Delivered with the eloquence and astute observations of a Vulcan Admiral in the esteem of his years, Sotek spoke of the history of the Gorkon and the six years of history imbued in the metal framework, of the sacrifice made on the ship in the name of Starfleet, of the varied discoveries and medical emergencies responded to.
He weaved through summarised reports of their mission history, of the brush with misadventure another universe, the many clashes with the Orion Syndicate (leaving out pertinent details, of course), and the charitable endeavours when dealing with their Romulan counterparts of the newly forming Republic. Finally, he gestured with a calm open palm toward Quinn, and…
Sotek: To say Quinn Reynolds is an example to follow is to significantly underestimate her role among the crew of the USS Gorkon. She has led her crew forward, in constantly shifting environments of stress, chaos, failure, and hardship. Her determined efforts to exemplify what Starfleet can be in an ever changing galaxy set before us serves as a paradigm for the future, paving the way for others to trace those footsteps left behind into a better tomorrow.
He barely turned to the side, but Jo took it as her cue to hand him the final clear box, with the rank insignia reflecting inside, before filing back to her place with a twinkle in her eye.
Sotek: For her determination, forthright nature, strategic intelligence, and diplomatic fortitude, Starfleet has seen fit to promote Rear Admiral Quinn Reynolds to the rank of Vice Admiral, with all rights and privileges thereof.
Reynolds: Thank you. ::She cleared her throat, cheeks blossoming in delicate pink under her freckles.:: I’m much more comfortable giving these things out than receiving them, but I would like to take a moment to thank my family for their support—::hazel eyes darted to the tall, broad blond among the crowd::—and my crew for being one of the finest in the fleet. As we’ve seen today, we all share in each other’s successes, and I’m proud to share in yours.
Applause exploded in a cacophony throughout the dome, hands coming together in celebration, glasses chinking to toast the event. Delight rippled with a flourish, as if the sound itself couldn’t be confined by the shield above, and would somehow leak out into the depths of space beyond.
And it did.
Up above their heads, fireworks exploded in unison, fired from smaller dirigibles in orbit of Luna. Cosmic colours of celebration there to congratulate and commend in style. Bursts of hue the visible spectrum wide (and non-visible for those possessing more flavours in their cones than humankind) commemorated the occasion in silent waves and splashes of vibrancy.
Admiral Sotek treated the newly minted Vice Admiral to a slight bow of his head and shoulders before departing to the edge of the stage, provided with a glass of dark blue Vulcan port to join in the festivities. Jo clapped Quinn on the shoulder as all eyes swept upwards to look at planned (for once) explosions.
Marshall: It was the best I could do to get all eyes off you. Congratulations, skipper.
Reynolds: This is why we are friends.
Quinn watched the fireworks spark and whorl overhead, the prisms of colour lighting up the lunar sky reflected in hazel eyes. She smiled, dropped her gaze and looked toward the woman at her side, who swallowed down a long pull from a fortifying champagne flute.
Reynolds: Thank you. ::She nodded and took a deep breath.:: A good day for everyone, I hope.
Marshall: No doubt we’ll have some complaining about their collars. It’s like a sea of dress whites. ::Cradling the flute, she chuckled.:: Wanna go find Walter? I can cover for you. “Nope, sorry. Never seen the Vice Admiral in my life.“
Reynolds: He’s been there for every promotion I’ve had. No matter where our careers took us, somehow fate always conspired to make sure he was around when I got an extra pip. ::She shook off the dip into nostalgia and smiled at her friend.:: So yes, I will take you up on that.
The hybrid dropped a gentle pat onto Jo’s solid bicep, shifting her weight to take a step, but not yet moving. It carried the same weight six years of a friendship did and Jo nodded, adding a request to say hello to her favourite German for her before she got the chance to do so herself later.
Reynolds: And congratulations again, Commander. Promotions and words are a very poor medium for expressing how much I appreciate you, and everything you do.
Her towheaded friend smiled with the kind of deep affection coming from living two kinds of lives together, and finding they were comrades in both. Words couldn’t express it. It existed on its own, through trying times and not, through motorbike excursions and afternoons of tea and coffee to drown the ship.
Marshall: Right back at you, Q-Ball. ::She tilted her head with a grin.:: We should definitely add “Admiral of Vices” to your jacket.
Reynolds: In dramatic gothic lettering.
She chuckled, just as upbeat and celebratory music struck up. Loud enough to conduct a party atmosphere, not so loud as to be obnoxious, and almost definitely chosen by a particular Rodulan. Bartenders stood waiting and ready to pour, while servers swarmed out with trays of food, placing them on tables in a luxurious buffet of delicacies from across the Federation, focusing on the cuisines familiar to the Gorkon’s crew
Reynolds: Looks like the party’s starting. ::She chuckled.:: I’ll speak to you later, Jo.
Marshall: Much later. Like tomorrow. Enjoy yourself. Tell Walter I said, “Cabbage.” He’ll know what it means.
With a parting smile for her friend, Quinn descended from the podium and into the crowd to search out her husband. En route, she crossed paths with her alternate self, who was tearing toward Jo with a beaming smile of pride and delight, and caught in a whirlwind of arms.
fin
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Vice Admiral Quinn Reynolds
Commanding Officer
USS Gorkon
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&
Commander Jo Marshall
First Officer
USS Gorkon, NCC-82293
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