[JP] R. Admiral Reynolds & Lt. Commander Marshall - Piratical Perquisites (Part I)
Quinn Reynolds
((Wardroom, Deck 3, USS Gorkon))
Looking out over the bow of the ship, the wardroom was the observational and mess hall for senior officers on board the Gorkon. Decked out in the colours of the Sovereign-class ship, with lush green carpeting and beige walls to rival the most decadent of government administration buildings, and large windows for those inside to watch the immense vessel at warp, or orbiting a planet. A long table ran down the middle, with enough chairs and spaces for a shift full of senior officers to relax and eat after duty had concluded, a replicator at one end to service those who meandered inside, and soft grey armchairs to sit and unwind.
Unusually for the wardroom, this time it hosted one Rear Admiral and two Ensigns, though not normally permitted inside the sanctified and hallowed walls of the senior officers’ refuge. However, under invitation, all senior crew of the Gorkon gathered around the stretching table, with a host of hors d'œuvre set on dishes and platters all within easy arm's reach.
Colourful gristhera, redbat rolls and stuffed shaysha beetles from Andoria, squares of spiced jelly on galzak, stewed morels of lida fruit, and bowls of grakizh salad from Trill, among a host of other worldly foods up and down the length of the table.
Finishing a mouthful of bright blue gristhera, food colouring her lips to match, Jo knocked back a mouthful of coffee as she caught Quinn’s eye. Back to hazel again, instead of the golden orbs of her convincing Rigelian disguise.
Reynolds: How is that a palatable combination?
Marshall: It’s not. ::She rolled her tongue around her teeth.:: But I didn’t know that until now. Sometimes you have to experiment.
Reynolds: Rather you than me.
Marshall: Try the shaysha beetles. Makes a delightful crunch.
Plucking up lurid pink gristhera, a colour not dissimilar to some stomach medications in sickbay, the Admiral shot her a small grin. Quinn had her favourites—despite her aversion to telepaths, Betazoid cuisine was chief among them—but she wasn't averse to trying new foods, even if they were a little outside her comfort zone.
Reynolds: Jhen introduced me to them at the Academy. Go well with a redbat noodle bowl.
Marshall: I learn something new about you every day. We’re one lunch meeting away from a gagh sandwich.
Reynolds: And what a day that will be. ::She quirked an eyebrow in dry amusement, popping the gristhera into her mouth, chewing and swallowing.:: I'll keep a chocolate puff on standby as a palate cleanser.
Marshall: Until then, it must be coffee, tea, and a sandwich at Subway Sam's. ::A grin crested as she downed the rest of the coffee. A digestif or some liquid courage, who knew.:: I heard there’s a decent open-world downhill mud track program available on their holosuites, if some team building is on the cards.
Reynolds: Book it in, I'll make myself available. ::She sipped at the last dregs of her fruit juice, casting her eye across the occupants of the wardroom.:: I think everyone's fed and watered. Shall we get started?
With a nod and a disappointed look into the bottom of her mug for any remaining traces of coffee, Jo stood up, chair moving fluidly across the floor, almost as if designed to cause minimal disruption to anyone else in the wardroom. Quinn followed suit, straightening her jacket and adjusting the belt with a low grumble. Forgoing the pomp and ceremony, Jo dinged her spoon against the glass filled with blitzed lida fruit juice.
Marshall: If we could have everyone’s attention for a few minutes. ::She smiled as eyes swung their way; friends and colleagues all hale and healthy.:: It’s good to see we all made it back in one piece, and no one got press ganged into a pirate band.
Reynolds: Yes. And while we're gathered, I would like to thank you all for what you did, and I'm deeply touched that you'd all take the risk to come and find me. I'm also very grateful for the help I received in my own mission, to those of you who brought back the yacht, and those who brought back information on the thieving ring. ::A small smile caught on the corners of her lips.:: An unconventional job, but one well done.
She paused, then nodded toward a crewman clad in operations gold. The young woman picked up a tray loaded with small presentation boxes, and nestled in the velvet of each were two black and white ribbons. One was predominantly black, bordered by vertical white stripes, the other slashed diagonally in alternating bands of monochrome. The crewman moved through the gathered officers, passing a box to each in turn while Quinn spoke.
Reynolds: First, the unique nature of covert assignments—the need for quick thinking, resourcefulness and determination, all the while maintaining your cover—is worthy of recognition in itself, especially when performed by those whose training might not normally extend to undercover work. With your achievements in mind, I'm pleased to present you all with the Intelligence Star.
Marshall: In addition, for our work in Ma no Umi against insurmountable odds, and a few pirates, Starfleet has seen fit to award us all with the Operation Safe Harbour ribbon. You faced off against not only the Orion Syndicate, but members of several factions. Well done, everyone. Here’s to you all on a successful Intelligence operation completed, even if we did just patrol the border.
A wry grin passed over her lips as she looked to Quinn, and it didn’t stop her raising the glass for a minor toast. It wasn’t every successful mission they could celebrate being awarded for bending orders so thoughtfully. The crewman continued the distribution of both ribbons in their small boxes, leaving two to place on the table in front of Quinn and Jo. New ribbons to add to the collection; memories of the thought she had way back in the Palace Hotel in San Francisco — enough ribbons on the jacket to fall in a river and sink right to the bottom.
Reynolds: The next ribbon I have to award tonight recognises a sacrifice we make in the call of duty; taking on personal risk to our wellbeing and sometimes suffering for it. In recognition of those sacrifices, I'm honoured to present Ensign Serren Tan with the Purple Heart.
With a slight flick of her hand, she beckoned the blond Trill forward. The young crewman on ribbon duty scooted forward with a presentation box, and Quinn plucked it up from the velvet to pin the purple ribbon to his chest. He was accumulating sickbay stays at an alarming rate, and she hoped the next mission would leave him unscathed.
Marshall: While performing our duties as Starfleet Officers can be varied and unexpected, sometimes we’re called upon to react quickly and deal with extraordinary circumstances. For her bravery in the face of danger, and reacting calmly under pressure, I’m proud to award Ensign Tahna Meru with the Prisoner of War Ribbon, and hope it’s the last we’ve seen of Theeda.
As one Ensign sat, Jo called Meru over with a tilt of her head and a bright grin, having borne witness to the hostage situation on Nassau, and how aptly Meru dealt with it, difficult though it might’ve been. Pinning the black and red ribbon to the Ensign’s uniform, Jo gave her a pat on the upper arm with a congratulatory smile.
TBC
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Rear Admiral Quinn Reynolds
Commanding Officer
USS Gorkon
T238401QR0
&
Lt. Commander Jo Marshall
First Officer
USS Gorkon, NCC-82293
G239304JM0