Ensign Lyra Voss: Awards, Pt. 1 - Team Building and Tears
Sarah Terry
((Beachfront – Raskor II))
The setting sun cast the sky in washes of pink, orange, and red as the crew started to settle into seats around the makeshift stage erected for the ceremony. Without the glaring miasma of incandescent plasma bearing down on them, the temperature was approaching something comfortable and Lyra was finally able to perch her sunglasses on top of her head.
This was her third award ceremony since arriving on the starbase, and she’d have been lying if she said she felt at ease, but she did feel the tiniest bit more comfortable than before. Maybe because this was the first time she looked around at the crew and knew all of them, at least a little. And many as more than just colleagues. By the Four, some of them had been in her childhood home! Been subjected to multiple Sixteenth House marriage alliances by her grandmother! She’d cried with them and cooked with them, ran on the ceilings and chased robots through the snow with them. In that moment, she felt a new, tender warmth settle over her heart. Then Commodore Taybrim appeared on the stage, and the familiar old spike of anxiety wedged its way back in.
Taybrim: Gathered friends, faces new and old. I want to welcome you all to Raskor II, and to this celebration of your accomplishments. ::he placed a hand on his chest:: I am humbled and thrilled to be able to share this time with you. However, to start I do want to let you know that Captain Fairhug did arrive on Bardeez safe and sound, and the Bardeezan doctors were able to apply the memory recovery that our medical staff pioneered. He hopes to return soon, once he is fully recovered. He shares his well wishes and pride at your accomplishments. I promise I will pass on any communications I receive from him.
She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. It was a great relief to know that the captain was on his way to a full recovery.
Any: ?
Taybrim: But let me turn towards those present. I want to start by welcoming back Lieutenant Haukea-Willow, our Chief of Security, and Lieutenant S’zurak, our tactical officer. You both missed quite the interesting mission, and we’re very glad you are back!
Willow/S’zurak: ?
Lyra clapped brightly for their two returning officers. She was relieved to see S’zurak back with them - though she hadn’t recognized him at the time, when her memories were restored, she realized that he had been the Gorn that Ryden brought to sickbay during the last mission. From what she had heard, the two had been involved in a tense confrontation before Ryden had convinced him to stand down.
Taybrim: Now, onto official welcome, starting with Ensign Alok Munshi, you joined the crew of StarBase 118 during the New Year’s awards ceremonies and while it is quite overdue, I could not let you get away without an official welcome!
She looked for Alok in the crowd - he had replaced the half-frozen uniform she’d last seen him in with a light olive suit, and seemed all the more comfortable for it. The next time they hung out, hopefully they would be able to stay out of rainforests, rivers, and tundras. Although shared suffering was quite the bonding experience. She laughed lightly to herself - was that the true meaning behind Ensign Bingo?
Munshi: ?
Taybrim: I am thrilled that you are here to join us again, and I’m glad you were able to help the crew out on the last mission.
Munshi: ?
Any: ?
Taybrim’s good humor swept the room like the world’s most congenial laser and narrowed in on his next victim.
Taybrim: And StarBase 118 has been particularly fortunate with our incoming Engineers, for not only do we have Ensign Munshi, but we also officially welcome Ensign A’Mayri!
A’Mayri: ?
Taybrim: I could not have asked for a better graduating class to join our ranks!
Lyra had been duly impressed by A’Mayri forthright nature and decisiveness during their CHRLI escapades. And her ability to detach an entire cubic meter specimen drawer from its casing and carry it around in one arm.
A’Mayri: ?
Taybrim: And in saying that, let me officially welcome your fellow graduate Ysatch Tori, our new Communications and Operations officer!
Ysatch: ?
The image that came to her mind when she thought of Tori was definitely him holding onto CHRLI as CHRLI dragged him up onto the ceiling. Despite that initial encounter, Tori had come out of their Ensign Bingo round a little charmed by the tiny, silver menace, and Lyra had already made a mental note to chat with him about some further study involving their little mechanical friend.
Taybrim: I am very excited to have you both with us on Ops and I know you will both be fantastic additions to the crew for our upcoming missions.
Ysatch: ?
Any: ?
Lyra cheered for their new ensigns - the five of them made a good team, and she was excited to see what was in store for all of them in the future. Taybrim raised his glass to make a toast, and Lyra grabbed her drink to hold it up as well.
Taybrim: And now let me propose a toast, to the crew of StarBase 118 Ops. To the seasoned officers who guide with experience and wisdom, to old friends who we have shared many adventures with together. To the experienced officers who lead though passion and energy, who are growing and learning and become a bridge between old and new. To friends who we are growing close to. And to our newest officers, bring new ideas, new skills and bright new futures to the team. New friends who fill us with excitement and energy. To all of you. Thank you for sharing this evening.
Sylvax: To all of you.
Voss: To 118!
Any: ?
The collective feeling of pride and camaraderie radiating from the group was a heady mix for the Betazoid - if she wasn’t careful, she’d be tearing up *again* at an award ceremony. Not that that was such an incredible achievement, given how often she cried in general. But still. She held her glass high.