Capt. Shayne: Beware Captains Bearing Gifts
Randal Shayne
((Arboretum, Deep Space 33))
A pair of intense, yet persistently bemused eyes rose like a dual set of suns over the small mound of rich wooden mahogany. Even as they rose, they continued to appraise the stacked racks.
It had been a rough mission.
This assertion was not from any particular memory- although those, too, would have spoken of trials (some still to come) and tribulations (some still to come) and the loss of the Federation Starship Arrow (some bits still floating in the debris field of a well and truly spackled alien war machine.)
No, this assertion was based on the size of the mountain before him, a mountain that he was both pleased and perturbed to offer.
It was, he decided, an unforeseen evolutionary byproduct of the single most astonishing institution ever created. Starfleet was, if imperfect, then still beautiful- a shining testament to reason, hope, peace, and above all, a well-considered answer that rebuffed the entropic void query of “what’s the effing point?”
However, as it expanded, improved, grew, and- dare he say it- evolved, the troubles it faced, from within and without, similarly developed. As such, Starfleet was increasingly tasked with impossible undertakings to achieve impossible goals, and because Starfleet lit a fire across the very galaxy, there were those people who would achieve these impossible tasks anyway, because that’s just what they did.
Unfortunately, this meant that, increasingly, awards for bravery were coinciding with catastrophic injury or even deaths, meaning that a particularly rich haul of duty booty likely indicated a true bastard of a mission, successful or otherwise.
Their fruit salad racks would be eating well tonight.
The majority of the crew was already gathered, and it would be a short while before everyone was among them. Shayne was content to wait- who knew when they’d all get the chance to speak to each other as friends and colleagues?
He tossed a subtle wink to MacKenna in the crowd. Just because she was in the audience didn’t mean she wasn’t also up on the stage with him in spirit.
Sniff.
Sniff sniff.
Sniff.
Shayne: oO Lemon squares. Oo
Following behind the waitstaff, the rest of the Khitomer staff arrived, and Shayne did his best to not be distracted by the lemon squares.
Maybe he did have a problem.
Better to start off, then- the last thing he wanted was to look like a fool in front of everyone.
Besides, starting now would distract people from the tray that had caught his eye.
He raised a hand in patient, polite readiness, and waited as the simmering conversations petered out. Eyes were on him.
He smiled a small, kind smile.
Shayne: Here we are again.
Not all of them.
Shayne: Commanders Rodan and Waters, step up!
The customary wait began as the pair trundled their way forward, through the unoptimized rows of seating. Why didn’t they ever change it?
Shayne: Commanders. Goodness knows that chewing through and working with asteroids isn’t exactly what starships are designed to do, and under circumstances as challenging as ours, your innovation deserves recognition. Therefore, please accept the… Innovation… Ribbon. Yeah. Well done and congratulations.
Waters/Rodan: Response
Rodan moved to return to his seat, but Shayne tapped Chloe’s shoulder expectantly,
Shayne: Not quite done yet, Commander- would Lieutenant Ohnari join me for’ard?
He knew it wasn’t particularly kind of him to keep Waters standing there, especially since she had little to do but stand there looking neutral about the situation. Still, a little bit of blushing was good for the soul.
Shayne: Commander, Lieutenant, both of you were put in situations that demanded skillful service from you outside your customary duty posts. It’s one thing to spec into another field, and it’s quite another to handle the work under such pressure. Thus, please accept the Excellence in Adaptability Ribbon. Congratulations.
Goodness, they were coming up with new and interesting ways to honor deserving officers. There was probably a committee of captains pleading their case to the muckety-mucks at the top. “Help, my officer helped a Tholian ambassador lay a kidney stone from inside the belly of a gekli!” “Hmm. Captain’s Commendation?”
Waters/Ohnari: Response
As they exited the stage, Shayne referred to the considerable stack.
Shayne: Due to the unique nature of our previous outing, both the Intelligence Star and Maiden Voyage Ribbon are being awarded to all hands.
Any: Response
But even when the majority of the mahogany was swept to the side, there remained a few outliers. Shayne surveyed the crowd with a gleaming, evil gaze.
Shayne: I have pips to inflict…
Tag/TBC…
Captain Randal Shayne
Commanding Officer
USS Khitomer
NCC 62400G239202RS0