[I-D8] Flt. Capt. Kells: Success (ceremony)

[Tony]

((Auditorium, Deck 8))

:: Since he was officially on a break from his duties, as signed off on both by Doctor Blueheart and Raissa, it felt odd to find himself on the stage at the front of the bursting auditorium. He felt a little removed, though he knew that would pass. ::

Rahman: Good to see you, sir!

Kells: And you, Commander.

:: Oddly formal, but she wasn't to have any idea how accurate that title was about to become. ::

Kells: Mr. Core? You look -- unhappy.

Core: ?

Rahman: Don't mind him. He's just a little bit grumpy because his shorts are riding up into the whole... "crotchal region."

Kells: I probably didn't need to know that.

Core: ?

Rahman: Well, whose fault is that? I told you you'd be more comfortable in the loincloth...

:: While Aron had followed the letter of the festival's recommended etiquette and dressed up, he hadn't gone too far, at least by his standards: he was wearing nothing more than a standard three-piece suit, albeit in a midnight blue. ::

Core: ?

:: At this, Roshanara swung open to consult Aron. ::

Rahman: Hey, if I could make it through a whole production of Peter Pan dressed as a trampy Captain Hook who apparently doesn't wear pants, he can handle that outfit.

Kells: Don't look at me, I'm not mediating this.

Core: ?

:: But their back-and-forth had made him smile, a grin that perhaps didn't match Roshanara's but at least came close. ::

Rahman: Shall we begin the ribbons ceremony?

Kells: Before they eat each other out there? Yes, let's.

:: She stepped forward and tapped her comm badge. Her voice echoed around the auditorium. ::

Rahman: Ladies and gentlemen, officers and crew, thank you for coming to this year's celebration of the Festival of Life!

:: Cheers, cheers, more. Aron surveyed the crowd. Had he agreed to speak? Was he there simply to lend Roshanara's remarks some more validity? Not that she needed it, after the job she'd done in the last mission. ::

Rahman: This crew has been through a lot over the past few days. We've lost one of our own, Petty Officer Jonanjes Jonan. She will be missed and her service never forgotten. ::beat:: But I am grateful that we also recovered one of our own... our captain, Aron Kells.

A Voice in the Crowd: Speech! Speech! Speech!

:: Ah, well. ::

Crowd: Speech!

:: Yes, there it was. The crowd was as lively as he'd ever seen it -- and it was a crowd, he realized. How many were aboard just now? It seemed that they all had to be in the room with them. ::

Kells: Thank you.

:: The crowd quieted as he began to speak. He felt, for no more than the moment he allowed, the delightful mellowness of that power. ::

Kells: Many of you have expressed your well-wishes for my quick recovery after the events of the previous mission. I thank you for those, and for the actions that you performed on my behalf to effect my rescue. You should all know, therefore, that I'm not yet coming back to duty. I have elected to remain aboard Invicta, but I won't be serving as your commanding officer in the short term. That post will be filled by another.

:: And on that rather enigmatic note, he stepped back. Roshanara took his place. ::

Rahman: I could not have asked for a better crew during this investigation. Thanks to your efforts, a criminal madman has been arrested and another man's name redeemed. You all should be proud of your achievements.

Any: ?

Rahman: Captain Kells and I would like to recognize a few individuals in particular. 

( Snip! OOC: Rich has written a lovely presentation ceremony, and I encourage all of you to read his post in full! I've elected to leap ahead to the part in which Kells figures directly. Congratulations to all of our awardees! )

Rahman: And finally, Captain Kells, you are awarded the Prisoner of War Ribbon in recognition of your ordeal spent at the hands of Commodore Chase.

Kells: I -- see.

:: He didn't know what else to say, though. He could understand the awkward positions of others much better now, former POW awardees. ::

Rahman: I think I speak for all of us when I say we're beyond glad to have you back.

Kells: And I'm endlessly grateful to everything all of you did for me.

:: But he'd already said so. Or was she thinking that he'd speak again? No, she seemed to have preempted that: ::

Rahman: Don't worry, I won't make you give another speech. ::beat:: I'm also happy to announce the following appointments. Having served now for several months as acting chief of security, Lieutenant JG Hanar Tuk is hereby appointed Invicta's Chief of Security.

Tuk: ?

Any: ?

Rahman: Ambassador Vetri?

Vetri: ?

Rahman: I hope we are doing justice to the Trill tradition this evening.

Vetri: ?

Rahman: ::nods:: I'm pleased to announce that Ambassador Vetri is hereby appointed the Head of the Diplomatic Contingent. In this position, the ambassador will represent the voices of all of our diplomatic contingents to the command staff and crew. It is a role I have no doubt she will excel.

Vetri: ?

Rahman: Finally, I spoke with Captain Nia Calderan earlier this evening, and I'm excited to officially announce that she will be taking on the role of Chief of Search and Rescue Operations (SAR Ops).

Calderan: ?

Rahman: Don't let that costume fool you, everyone. I'm sure you've managed to hide a phaser somewhere in there, haven't you, captain?

Calderan: ?

Rahman: All right, that's the last bad joke of the evening. ::She looked over to Captain Kells.:: Unless there's anything else, sir?

Kells: There is.

:: For what he thought would be the final time, he stepped forward. He, unlike Roshanara, had pockets in his suit -- but he realized a moment before he went for the pip secreted there that it would've made no sense on her costume anyway. Well, never mind. He'd keep it for her. ::

Kells: I mentioned that another would take my place as the Invicta's commanding officer for this mission. In recognition of her strong leadership during the previous mission, I am thrilled to say that Commander Rahman will be that officer.

Rahman / Core / Any: ?

Kells: Further, she won't be doing so as Lieutenant Commander Rahman. Based upon her long and exemplary service at that rank, I am even more delighted to recognize her with a promotion to the rank of full commander. Congratulations, Commander Rahman!

Rahman / Core / Any: ?

:: He joined in the applause as he stepped back. It was her moment now, and she should enjoy it. ::

Fleet Captain Aron Kells

Temporarily Off-Duty

USS Invicta

V238208LV0