JP: Flt. Cpt. Aron Kells & Lt. Cmdr. Geoffrey Teller - Sound the Horn - PT. 1
Tony Colella
((Deck 13, ‘The Great Hall,’ Banquet Room, USS Thor))
With the final touches on his holoprogram done, Lt. Cmdr. Geoff Teller looked around the vast banquet hall and couldn’t contain his goofy smile. The Captain had asked him to find a suitable location for an important shipboard ceremony and Geoff, a firm believer in the axiom ‘anything worth doing is worth overdoing,’ had taken to the assignment with a real glee. The last months for him had been among the most personally and professionally challenging of his career, but they had also been among the most rewarding. He had helped forge a group of amazing people into a crew he’d put up against any in the fleet. He’d seen new officers that were destined for greatness. He’d watch them struggle and sacrifice while they worked through stress, pain, injury and exhaustion.
Now it was finally time to celebrate all they’d done.
Teller wanted it to be memorable and, as the torches flickered and candlelight glinted off the long row of shields now adorning the walls, he felt things were off to a good start.
The ship's banquet room , intended for hosting large diplomatic functions, had been fitted out with every new gizmo Starfleet could think of while they were building the Vesta class, including an almost obscene array of embedded holoprojectors. The entire room could, in the blink of an eye, reconfigure to whatever suitably formal diplomatic setting or mood a crew was attempting to achieve, but Teller expected the folks who designed it had never imagined his usage.
Gone were the modern trapping of Starfleet, save for two things. One - an enormous Federation banner, and two - an equally enormous Starfleet delta. Both dominated the rear wall of the space, hanging above the dias where a massive stone and iron fireplace roared with a heatless flame. Otherwise, the hall itself looked much as it would’ve thousands of years earlier, with exposed wood beams criss-crossing the vaulted ceiling where a pair of ravens quorked and flapped.
The illusion of a great viking longhouse was complete.
Two rows of long tables that could accommodate dozens of men and women stretched from one end of the room to the other, already partially covered in tankards, candles, and heaping platters of savory food. Stout wooden benches and chairs provided what seating was available, each etched with intricate wooden carvings of runes and heroic legend from the period.
Geoff felt he’d managed to strike the right mood, and as a wall shimmered out of existence and was replaced by the silhouette of a very surprised Flt. Cpt. Kells, Teller briefly wondered if he’d over-over done it.
Teller: Afternoon sir. :Gesturing around:: What do you think? I may have slightly exceeded your orders.
Kells: It’s a little more, uh, (beat) mythic than I expected.
That was quite an understatement, but Aron found that once he accepted how very, hm, accurate the reconstruction was, he found it rather charming. Charming, that was, in a way that made him glad the holoprojectors were capable only of building illusions.
Kells: It’s well done, XO. Did you build (beat) this?
Geoff beamed. He hoped the rest of the crew enjoyed the program as much.
Teller: Started with something buried in the historical database and made some...stylistic contributions.
Kells: It’s extremely realistic. (beat) I don’t know that I’ve been in this room before. No, I haven’t. What’s real? And what’s holographic?
Teller: Glad you asked - the holoprojectors in here are designed to let us simulate environments or conditions suitable for our missions, but there’s still a full banquet room already here. The tables and furniture are real, wearing a holographic overlay. Oh, and the shields.
Aron looked at the shields that Teller indicated. They were shields in the archetypal sense, which was to say the sort of personal protective devices that wouldn’t have been out of place in Earth’s European medieval period. Moreover, they were individualized, with one for each of the senior staff.
Kells: They’re real? How?
Teller: It’s a bit of a long story, but I had a bunch of extra lumber and nothing to do with it after my time on Duronis. So they’re all real - finished the last one yesterday. Got family crests from some of the families I could find in the database, others I had to take a guess.
Kells: I see!
Aron approached the head of the table and the chair that stood there.
Kells: This is definitely going to be useful in the future. And right now, too. But I can see all sorts of diplomatic possibilities.
Geoff had been constantly impressed by the capabilities of their new ship. He still felt they were only scratching the surface of the Thor’s potential so far, but slowly they were getting to know one another and establishing a rapport.
Teller: Thank you, sir - I may still make a few upgrades here and there - with your permission, of course.
Aron turned back to Teller once he’d reached the head, and revealed the smooth wooden box he carried. He cracked it open and showed Teller the many ribbons and two small, hollow pips inside. A single silver pip sat between the two hollow pips.
Kells: If you’re ready?
Teller: More than, sir. I’d make them all admirals if I could, but I hear the paperwork for that is a nightmare.
Kells: Good. They’ve earned these accolades. I only hope they’re still impressed after they see this place!
Teller: ::Geoff smiled:: I don’t think that’ll be a problem sir. First time I got one of those ::Geoff nodded to the box of freshly minted pips:: my head was spinning for an hour after.
It was only a few minutes more before the senior staff began to arrive. Most marveled, as had Aron, at the transformation of the banquet room. As each of the senior officers entered, a small torch lit below their shield, illuminating it and the hall itself a bit more. It had a subtle effect, but Geoff didn’t mind the bit of atmosphere and neither did the crew.
Aron returned greetings and welcomed all who approached, but he directed any appreciation for the room to his XO. After another few minutes, when everyone had arrived, he drew everyone’s attention.
Kells: Thank you all for joining Commander Teller and I before you begin to enjoy your leave. I think you’ll be happy with the results. (beat, to excited murmuring) I’d like first to direct your attention to Lieutenant García, recent master of the Ra and the Thor’s second officer. Lieutenant, please stand.
As García stood, Aron and Teller converged on his position, near the head of the table. Aron carried the wooden box with him.
Kells: Lieutenant, Admiral Turner left her position with a specific note about you: that you were a fine officer and should be retained as second officer and promoted to lieutenant commander as soon as possible. After seeing you in action during our last mission, I agree. (beat) Congratulations, Commander García.
Aron plucked one of the hollow pips and presented it to García.
Teller: ::quietly, with a smile:: You land another shuttle on me I’m taking that back.
García: Response
Kells: Hold your applause, everyone, we’re not done yet. Doctor Alieth, Lieutenant Greaves?
He made a beeline for the two officers he’d named, who were seated near to each other. In some ways they were a study in opposites, but their dedication to their crew and their duties twinned them.
Kells: (mock serious) I understand that Commander Teller has already had words with both of you…
Teller: ::Geoff affected a severe scowl and snapped a response:: Several, sir. Have you approved that special punishment we discussed?
Alieth / Greaves: Responses
Kells: Well, I’m here to make the approval official. Doctor Alieth, you’re hereby promoted to lieutenant, junior grade -- and you, Second Lieutenant Greaves, to First Lieutenant.
With Teller’s help, Aron removed the remaining hollow pip and the silver pip and presented them to Alieth and Greaves respectively.
Kells: Extremely well deserved, Lieutenants.
Geoff smiled at their flummoxed expressions. He really did need to start carrying a holocamera.
Teller: ::smiling:: Don’t think this means you’re off the hook for those inventory reports.
Alieth / Greaves: Responses
Kells: And now, everyone, a round of applause and congratulations for Commander García, Lieutenant Alieth, and First Lieutenant Greaves!
Teller: Hear Hear!
García / Alieth / Greaves: Responses
Any: Responses
[TBC]
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Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Teller
Executive Officer
USS Thor- NCC 82607
Fleet Captain A. Kells, Commanding
V239509GT0
&
Fleet Captain Aron Kells
Commanding Officer
USS Thor
V238208LV0
&
SB118 Captains Council Magistrate (so ask me anything!)