Lieutenant Ikaia Wong - A Bright Future....
Ka Banning
((Captain's Mess, USS Veritas -- Docked at Star Station Esperance))
Everyone was called to the Captain’s mess this afternoon. Ikaia had a vague idea what was going on. With the Veritas going in to refit, that meant that much of the crew was going to be going their own separate ways including himself. He had spent the better part of a year with this crew. While he had seen some faces come and go, he knew that he was going to miss everyone. This felt almost like the last time he was going to see everyone in one space one last time. He took his spot in the room and waited for his Captain to speak.
Rahman: To the officers of the USS Veritas, it has been my distinct pleasure to serve as your commanding officer. I've never been one good at saying good-byes, so instead I'd like to begin with celebrating your achievements. First, Lieutenant Wong, Ensign Reade, and Ensign Thorne: for holding off a Klingon boarding party using the power of holoprogramming, I hereby award you the Innovation Ribbon.
Thorne: ::surprised look:: Thank you, Captain.
Wong: ::With a nod:: Thank you, Captain. I would say it was a team effort.
Reade: Thank you very much, Captain. I definitely could have not done it without ::looking towards:: Thorne and Wong.
Rahman: Next, for fighting off a Klingon boarding party and defending this starship from capture, I award Ensign Reade and Lt. Commander Ukinix with the Good Conduct Ribbon. Well-done, gentlemen.
Lt. Commander Ukinix was also standing at the front of the room, and he handed out the ribbon to Reade before he himself took one…
Reade: Once again, Thank you Captain. :: To Wil: I owe you buddy for that one. Drinks on me after.
Ukinix: ::Cheeky smirk:: I’m going to hold you to that, Ensign.
Rahman: Commander Blake, Ensign Thorne, Lieutenant Wong, and Lt. Commander Allison-Parker, I hereby also award you the Good Conduct Ribbon for your actions escorting our guest Kallo Ver to safety.
Thorne: Thank you again, Captain.
Allison-Parker: Thank you, Captain…
Blake: Response
Wong: Thank you, Captain.
He could certainly remember his Kallo encounter. He may have been a bit out of it the last time he had spoken to him, he was certainly glad to see the backside of him leave his sickbay. Part of him hoped never to see him again.
Rahman: Finally, I'd like to recognize Lieutenant Wong's efforts in organizing and championing a mental health week in the wake of the conflict with the Klingon separatists. Lieutenant, I hereby award you the Unity Ribbon.
Ikaia blinked. He was surprised by this one. That mental health week was full of fun activities for all the members of his crew to enjoy. He was so glad it went off without a hitch. He may have to try it again in his future posting.
Wong: Thank you, Captain. I only wished to see our crew happy and healthy.
As Wil handed the opened box with the ribbon, he whispered his congratulations to Ikaia.
Ukinix: ::Smiling, whispering:: Well done mate.
Ikaia politely nodded and smiled at Commander Ukinix.
Rahman: Next, I'd like to award the officers who accompanied me to locate the lost shuttlepod of the Earth Starfleet ship Endeavour. Besides myself, Ensign Reade, Lieutenant Wong, Lt. Commander Parker, Ensign Thorne, and Ensign Kivik are hereby recognized with the Scientific Discovery Ribbon. Congratulations!
He could remember learning so much on that mission. Including lessons that had helped him in the mine. This was an experience he’d always take with him.
Reade: Captain, it was my honor to attend that mission. Hopefully, that closes a major mystery in Starfleet’s records.
Wong: Thank you. I’ve learned so much on that mission.
Parker: It was the least we could do for their families…
Kivik: ::To Ukinix, accepting the ribbon from him:: Thank you Commander. ::Turning to Rahman:: And thank you, Captain. It meant a lot to me to be included on that mission.
Thorne: ::to Kivik smiling:: You did well.
Rahman: Next, I'd like to award the Defense of Temporal Flow Ribbon to Lieutenant Toliver and Lt. Commander Ukinix for finding a way to get an undermanned Veritas out of a temporal loop. Acting Ensign Tracey Townson is also recognized in abstentia.
Katy almost stumbled as she stood up. She wasn’t expecting an award, but she would be more than happy to accept it. Accepting the ribbon, Ukinix smiled…
Ukinix: ::Smiling:: There y’are Lieutenant, although after 27 loops I reckon you deserve two of these.
Toliver::smiling:: So do you, commander. And thank you.
Rahman: And finally for our most recent mission, I'd like to recognize several parties. First, for helping keep alive the miners who were trapped deep within the Russell River Dilithium Mine, I hereby recognize Ensign Reade and Lieutenant Wong with the Captain’s Commendation.
Reade: Wow! Thanks again, Captain Rahman. I could not have done without Lt.JG Wong with me
Wong: And I couldn’t have done it without Ensign Reade and my team. Thank you, Captain.
Rahman: Next, I'd like to recognize Commander Blake, Lt. Commander Ukinix, and Ensign Kivik with the Innovation Ribbon for creating a modified prototype of Tristam Core’s MST project to rescue those miners trapped deep underground.
Blake: Response
Kivik: Kivik: I… I’m speechless, Captain. Thank you very much.
After handing an open box to each of Blake and Kivik, Wil opened one for himself and looked at the ribbon.
Ukinix: I think I’m going to donate mine to Commander Core. That would never have worked without his groundwork.
Rahman: And finally, for the entire crew who worked together with the Antor II government and first responders, you all are hereby recognized with the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
Thorne: Congrats everyone! I brought candy for everyone to celebrate!
Reade: Congrats everyone!
Now Will decided to do something unexpected…tossing the ribbon boxes out like chum to sharks…
Ukinix: ::Throwing box with ribbon to each person:: You get a ribbon. ::Another throw:: And you get a ribbon! ::Yet another throw:: And *you* get a ribbon!
Ikaia just managed to prevent the box from rebounding off his face. He was thankful for having fast reflexes at that moment.
Rahman: Before we depart as a crew, there is one final manner. Ensigns Reade and Thorne, Lieutenant Wong, will you please step forward?
Thorne: Yes, Captain?
Reade: Sure, Captain?
Ikaia stepped forward one more time. He was unsure of what was happening now.
Wong: Captain?
Rahman: As my last act as your commanding officer, I am pleased to promote you all to the next rank, effective with the start of your next assignment. Lieutenants Reade and Thorne, your service to this ship has been commendable, and I wish you both great success in your next postings.
Reade: Oh! I am to.. Totally lost for a.. Words here. Thanks a lot, Captain. Congrats to you Lilith and Ikaia.
Thorne: ::smiling:: Th...thank you Captain. Certainly is a surprise.
Rahman: It's been an interesting tour to say the least, Lieutenant.
Wong: It well and truly has. But it also has been an enlightening one as well.
Rahman: Well, I've spoken to your supervising physician Dr. Sampi. He wished for me to forward some news to you. You've been accepted into the emergency medicine fellowship for physician assistants back at Starfleet Medical. Furthermore, upon completion of your fellowship, you will be eligible for appointment as a chief medical officer at your next assignment. Congratulations.
Ikaia froze. He was wide eyed for a moment. Did he just hear all of that right? Did he just get his fellowship with the promise of eligibility for a CMO position at his next assignment? He had to restrain himself from hugging the Captain right then and there. But it can be seen in his eyes. Someone is going to get hugged by a very happy Klingon!
Wong: Captain, I….. You… you have no idea how much this means to me. I’m… I’m honoured….
Tears had started welling up in the corners of his eyes. He had to stop for a moment to brush them away. He was so happy.
Hannibal let out a war whoop which most likely did more frightening than celebratory while the clapping began. Kamela smiled and shook her head…she couldn’t take him anywhere…
With his hollow pip swapped out for a solid one, he had his old hollow pip pressed into his hands. His fingers curled around it.
Rahman: Keep this as a reminder of all that you have learned here.
Wong: Thank you, Captain. I will never forget this.
With the senior staff all lined up, Rahman spoke…
Rahman: I heard from many people before I took this assignment five years ago that the Shoals changes people. Out here where resources are scarce and we are often the only ones we can count on, it's easy to get cynical or frustrated... maybe even disappointed.
She walked down the line, looking at Blake's face, then Kelrod's, Parker's, and Vanlith's.
Rahman: But over these past years, I've seen you all and those who came before you on this ship step up to the challenge to provide services for the colonists who call this region home. And for a brief time, it was our home as well. The Shoals may have changed each of us, but each of you has also changed the Shoals--for the better.
She looked at Kivik for a moment. Roshanara took a deep breath as she looked back at the assembled group.
Rahman: Your time on Veritas has prepared you well for any assignment that awaits you next. I can't wait to see what that will be for all of you. It's a big fleet out there, but you'll be surprised when you might cross each other's paths again.
She chuckled softly.
Rahman: Now go, enjoy your leave.
The captain of the USS Veritas nodded one last time at her crew and clasped her hands together.
Rahman: That's my final order.
As the crew began to separate into different groups, Two officers approached them, one with a smile a mile wide…
Parker: Congratulations, Sawbones…
Wong: Thank you. I… I still can’t believe this is real!
Allison-Parker: Absolutely!
Hannibal looked at Scotty…
Parker: Scotty…I enjoyed training with you. I hope you learned a little bit…
Reade: response
Parker: Before I leave I can set you up a training program, to give you some realistic practice with holographic partners if you like.
Reade: response
Toliver: congratulations to you all.
Wong: Thank you, Lieutenant.
Reade: response
Allison- Parker: And to you as well, Counselor…
Toliver: Commander…you and your shipmates saved some of my colleagues on Deep Space 17. Thank you for that.
Parker: No thanks needed. We were just doing our job.
Toliver: Your modesty is in reverse portion as to what you and your shipmates accomplished.
Reade: response
Ikaia finally couldn’t resist any more. He looked around at everyone one more time.
Wong: This is going to sound like a silly request but… group hug?
[END]
Lieutenant Ikaia Wong PA-C
Chief Medical Officer
Amity Outpost
V239711IW0