Lt JG Tess Evinrude - Pour On The Coal

[Tess Evinrude]

((Deck 14, Shared Conference Room near the Operations Offices - USS Ronin, en route to USS Goodall rendezvous))

Due to the sudden urgent departure from Lolagi IV, highlights of the ship's awards ceremony were announced over intercom. Several other promotions and general announcements were filtered down through department communiques, and, upon seeing their names, Evinrude made a point to personally award well-deserved promotions to the two enlisted frequently assigned to his work team. Crewman 2nd Class Thakuri and Crewman 1st Class Cousteau entered the conference room, greeted by fresh drinks from the Brew Continuum and a small selection of pastries - replicated, as the ship's coffee shop had run out of its popular fresh baked supply.

Sitting beside the modest spread were two small boxes.

Evinrude: Petty Officer, Third Class Marcel Cousteau. Step forward please.

Tess had let the promotion slip on purpose, expecting confusion, and nearly broke out laughing at the look on the man's face.

Cousteau: Wha--I... ::With a nod towards the pastries.:: Did you use my replicator credits?

Evinrude: ::Eyes narrowing into a mock disgruntled expression.:: I used mine, Petty Officer. And don't forget that I can bust you back down to crewman before you even open that box.

At that, Tess grinned broadly and strode forward to offer Cousteau a jovial handshake.

Thakuri: I see Brew Continuum cups, sir. Is one of those a matcha latte?

The lieutenant released Cousteau's hand and turned back to the table, realizing he was blocking Thakuri's view of the boxes. This time, the ruse was unintentional.

Evinrude: Don't worry, crewman, I know your order by now. But, it was the strangest thing... ::He picked up the second box and turned back around.:: ...they served it in this little box.

Thakuri's eyes went wide.

Evinrude: Crewman 1st Class Jocelyn Thakuri, it is my honor to present you with...your latte.

Beaming, she first reached for Tess' hand and shook it, quite firmly. Before the lieutenant could provide any further fanfare, Thakuri snatched the box containing her new rank insignia out of his hand and made her way to the conference table. Cousteau stepped past Evinrude to grab his box, as well as a lemon-filled paczki.

As they all chatted, caffeinated, and worked through the pastries, their little celebration was made complete by observing - with some anxiety - impulse reactor three's status readout during the initial de-orbit.

Their cheers could be heard in the corridor outside the conference room as it performed optimally and without fluctuation before handing propulsion over to the warp core - which flawlessly accelerated the Ronin past warp nine.

Both enlisted had been aboard the Ronin longer than Evinrude when the now-lieutenant was assigned to her, but there had been only a little friction at being forced to take orders from a greenhorn ensign. Now, almost two years later, he was proud to offer them a modicum of ceremony for their hard-earned promotions.

He ruminated on the other Ronins, his superiors and peers who he had seen working so, so hard. Whatever this mission would bring, he would face it together with the crew he'd come to see as family.

[End Scene for Evinrude]

--

Lieutenant J.G. Tess Evinrude

[he/him]

Operations Officer

USS Ronin

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