Ensign Lera Michaels - Olly Olly Oxen Free

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((Holodeck 1 - DS33 : Simulation of Broken Tepui Aerie, Klowahka))

Shayne: May I have your attention please…

Semara: :: Quietly, leaning in :: I guess it's time to see who's gonna collect on their bets. :: A little chuckle. ::

Michaels: Indeed. :: Lera suppressed her own hopes and wishes, and then opted to redirect Amelia's attention. :: Have either of you seen Lt. Zerva in the last few minutes. We had planned on meeting here, and I have not seen him.

R. Matthews: I’ve got a week of night shifts in the lab riding on a few things. :: He glanced left and right then whispered :: Can you quickly read the captain’s mind to see if, no, nah. That would be cheating. Don’t listen to me.

Shayne: Here we are again.

Lera sighed. There was still no sign of Ezra, and now the awards ceremony had begun. She settled back. If nothing else, Ezra was certain to receive some award. She smiled at the thought. Ezra was a security type, but he always seemed to be getting awards for something. When he went up onto the stage, she would know exactly where he was. And if he did not make it up on the stage, she would know... She shook her head. That was a thought she would not consider.

Shayne: Alright, let’s get this first one out of the way. Lieutenant Charles Matthews, Lieutenant El’Heem, Ensign Michaels, join me up here smart-like.

oO Me?? What could this be about? What an interesting grouping. Ras and I were on that minor excursion at the probe. But how does Matthews figure into it? Oo

Lera nodded to Amelia and made her way to the steps on the left side of the dais, still confused as she ascended the stairs and made her way to where the Captain was standing. Ras and Matthews came up the stairs on the right side of the dais. She scanned the audience, certain that even if she could not spot Ezra, he could certainly see her. That would be a solid start to finding each other.

Shayne: What am I going to do with the three of you? Sure, you’ve all put your bodies on the line, but I plan to have y’all on my ship a while longer- so would you please stop getting hurt? As a favor to me? I must confess; the Purple Heart is not an award I like handing out, but as each of you has earned it and so… congratulations.

oO A Purple Heart?? An award for having been too stupid to check my suit properly? Ras. Now Ras deserves this award, having suffered what would no doubt be a life-altering injury while saving the ship. Ezra deserves the Purple more than I do. All I did was lose consciousness for a few minutes. Ezra was functionally blind for days. Oo

Still, Lera accepted the box from the Captain with an appropriately gracious nod. She took a deep breath and had just made it to the stairs when the Captain summoned the next recipient.

Shayne: Mr. Zerva! You’re looking particularly awardable at the moment. Stand and take praise, sir.

Lera stopped and again scanned the audience. She spotted Ezra heading from the opposite side from where she and Amelia had been chatting. She stepped down two steps and waited until Ezra had stepped onto the dais carrying Foxy Lady with him.

She nodded and noted that he was mouthing something to her. "I'll see you later."

oO Of course. He has to finish his part of the routine. And there is little point to me staying on the stairs. Oo

She hesitated at the foot of the stairs. After a moment of pondering, she returned to where she had left Amelia and Richard.

Shayne: Mr. Zerva. I have depended on you more than a captain should, because I have had to. In you I have placed a faith and a trust that has yet to be disappointed. Your service in the previous mission- managing engineering and science problems while doing your utmost to ensure our… that is, the crew’s security… is noted and appreciated. Please accept the Excellence in Adaptability Ribbon, and thank you.

Lera applauded with more vigor than one would expect from a Vulcan but at this point, she did not care. Everyone, or at least virtually everyone on Khitomer knew the nature of her Vulcaness. At this point, it made no difference. She had just gotten back to where Amelia was standing when the Captain spoke again.

Zerva: ::shakes the Captain’s hand and takes the box:: Thank you sir.

Lera had barely made it back to Amelia when the Captain called the next name,

Shayne: Lieutenant Semara! To the stage, if you please, madam.

Lera's sigh was barely noticeable. This had been another mistake. She should have stayed near the stairs. It reminded her of something her father had said. When you are lost, the best thing you can do is stay where you are.

Michaels: It is your turn, Amelia.

Semara: Response

Shayne: Lieutenant. In a similar vein to Mr. Zerva, your presence in the last incident was vital, but where our security officer ran interference on no less than three duty posts, your skills and experience were offered and applied in less conventional fashions. For demonstrating that adversity breeds innovation, I hereby bestow upon you the Good Conduct Ribbon. Thank you.

Semara: Response

oO Ah. So it is to be a double for Semara... Where is Ezra? Oo

Shayne: Just a moment. Mr. Blue Matthews! Step up here, if you please.

R. Matthews: Response

Shayne: Starfleet is an institution of remarkable scientific achievement, but even with the best of the best with us in the Isles, the discovery you two have made regard Sencha radiation and our bio-neural gel packs is among the most remarkable ((OOC: and genuinely creative!)) finds I can remember learning of. For this, I award you both the Scientific Discovery Ribbon. Daystrom can go fly a kite. Congratulations.

Matthews: Thanks, you shouldn’t have.

oO Ah. Sarcasm. I understand that. Oo

Semara: :: Receiving the box :: Thank you kindly, sir. :: A small curtsy and a big smile. ::

Shayne: Commander Ohnari! Meet your fate, Doctor! Come on up!

Lera turned toward the stage and applauded. In her mind, Doctor Ohnari was one of the ones who really deserved the awards.

The CMO was next. He stopped, turning his focus back to the stage. Clapping as she went up on stage, he knew whatever award would be given to the CMO, would be deserving.

Shayne: Doctor. Your achievements are long and noteworthy, and they have benefitted this crew greatly. Most recently, your creation of an inoculation to protect all hands from great harm has made an immense difference, and has shielded the people you have never failed to serve. Beyond that, you have healed, and saved lives, in trying circumstances against all odds. It should therefore come as no surprise that you are being awarded the Silver Lifesaving Ribbon. Congratulations and thank you.

Ohnari: Response

oO Indeed. That was an appropriate award. Of course, Ras had saved more lives than Ohnari but there is no denying the importance of Ohnari's efforts. Oo

Shayne: Mr. Dewitt! You’re next!

For the moment, Lera's attentions were focused on her boss. It was not that she was not interested in finding Ezra. She was. But it was highly improbable that Ezra would be unable to find her sometime. Preferably sooner than later

Shayne: Connor. Just because Arrow was old and temperamental does not mean that this “new” boat is any easier to contend with. You kept her running despite blackouts, burnouts, brownouts and blowouts. Whatever went down, you got back up, and this crew is alive because of it. We wouldn't be the same without you. Please accept the Captain’s Commendation for your efforts, in the recent past, and for all of it, too.

A commendation. Well deserved after all they had gone through with those low-wattage individuals from the SCE. Except T'Dara. That woman was very clever.

Dewitt: Response

Shayne: Mr. Hobart! ::he pretended to look around, and then be surprised by his first officers’ presence:: Ah! Oh. Yes. Good. Stand there for a moment. :: beat :: I left the ship for awhile. I should have been a wreck. Panicked, lost, worried. I wasn’t. You were in command. And that is good enough for me. The Leadership Excellence Ribbon is meant for people such as yourself, Mr. Hobart. Thank you.

Hobart: Response

Michaels: Come on, Ezra. I know you are in here somewhere. Playing hide and seek in a crowd is not a logical approach.

Semara: Response.

Michaels: Not yet. He will show up momentarily

Semara: :: Hushed, pointing. :: There's Ezra! Let's go! :: A big smile ::

Michaels: Where? :: looking around in the direction Amelia had indicated. :: I do not see him.

Amelia was a few centimeters taller than Lera. Did that height advantage make the difference? Semara curtsied, and a relieved Lera saw Ezra and Foxy.

Semara: Congratulations, Lieutenant. :: A big smile and waggle of the head towards Lera. :: Someone was lookin' for you.

Zerva: That makes two of us. ::smiling at Lera:: Thank you Semara ::looking at his ribbon box:: but I couldn’t have done it without your help. ::beaming:: Congratulations to both of you on your awards.

Michaels: As for my award :: air quotes :: you deserve one of these more than I do. :: she stooped and picked up Foxy Lady. The dog did her best to thoroughly clean Lera's face. :: Yes. Yes. Foxy Lady. I missed you too. :: glancing up at Ezra with a large smile:: I suspect neither one of us will be nominated for a "Search and Rescue" ribbon any time soon.

Semara: Response

Zerva: It looks like things are picking back up on stage. How’s about we sit over there and enjoy the rest of the awards together?

Michaels: That sounds like a superior plan to me. :: beat :: I have noticed that everything we have seen so far has been in the ribbon and commendation category. There is one more category that we typically cover, but which has not been covered so far. Perhaps one or both of you will finish this fete with new pips.

Semara: Response

Tag / TBC...

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Ensign Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2