Lt. Katy Toliver, PNPC LT. Commander Hannibal Tiberious Parker, PNPC LT. Commander Kamela Allison-Parker, " Final Muster"
KENNETH COTTON
((Captain's Mess, USS Veritas -- Docked at Star Station Esperance))
Katy overlooked the crew around her. Event like this were few and far between, and this was the first time she had been to what was essentially a decommissioning ceremony, although the Veritas was not going to be retired. From what she had heard, the ship was getting a massive refit and would put to space with an entirely new crew. Most were going there separate ways, but several were going to Amity Outpost. She tried not to think about it, because she wanted nothing to do with a space station since the Vaadwaur attack on Deep Space 17 and the death of her son. It was something she was struggling with, and in the past, such struggles were met with smoking some snakeleaf, and although the tingling in the back of her mind was the monster what was that addiction, she knew she couldn’t let it out. She had before, with disastrous consequences. Was she cured? She would never be cured. She just knew how to cope with the knowing in her gut, the fear, something she knew in her head was completely irrational, but it clawed at her, subtly, but still there…
Hannibal and Kamela sat towards the rear of the room. It had been an interesting tour of duty, to be sure. Most of the crew, despite their time on the ship, did not know them that well, but now, that time was ending. The two of them were going to take some time off to spend some time with their son. Hannibal would then be attached to the Miranda reboot program, and Kamela would be back as an analyst at Starfleet Intelligence. Of course, Hannibal had the option to pick up his Marine rank of Major or stick with being a Lt. Commander. He was torn between the two...he had been a Marine for longer than he had been a Fleeter, but those who thought of him as solely a war fighter would in their minds confirmed that that was all he was. Staying in the fleet doing something other than combat ops would help to blunt that argument…or so Kamela thought, and she was pretty smart on those things. He still had plenty of time to decide as he watched Captain Rahman go to the front of the room…
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: Response
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.
Katy looked at the tall blonde stand up and head towards to the front of the room. Besides being Commander Parkers’ wife, and an intelligence officer, she was also quite a pilot among her skills, some of which on her record were classified, as was much of her husbands. Kamelas’ smile was gentle as she accepted the ribbon from Commander Ukinix…
Thorne: Thank you again, Captain.
Allison-Parker: Thank you, Captain…
Blake/Wong: response
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.
Wong: Response
As Wil handed the opened box with the ribbon, he whispered his congratulations to Ikaia.
Ukinix: ::Smiling, whispering:: Well done mate.
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!
Katy watched as the foursome went up front. The walking starship which was Hannibal Parker seemingly glided soundlessly up forward to the front. She never had a chance to talk to either him or his wife, but his record spoke volumes…
Reade: Captain, it was my honor to attend that mission. Hopefully, that closes a major mystery in Starfleet’s records.
Wong: response
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: Response
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!
Hannibals’ boarding house reach snagged two of the boxes, one for himself and Kamela. Once the clapping ceased, there was more…and more boxes…
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?
Wong: Response
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: Response
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.
Wong: Response
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…
Rahman: Keep this as a reminder of all that you have learned here.
Wong: Response
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: response
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
Katy saw the four officers talking, and there would not be a better opportunity for her to at least get a feel for the elusive couple. Fortunately, she had read both their files, and she was an event she and Hannibal would both be familiar with. Striding over to them, she spoke…
Toliver: congratulations to you all.
Reade/Wong: response
Allison- Parker: And to you as well, Counselor…
Katy nodded. She found the closer she got the Hannibal, the bigger he seemed. Katy spoke as she looked up at a man more than a foot taller than her…
Toliver: Commander…you and your shipmates saved some of my colleagues on Deep Space 17. Thank you for that.
Hannibal remembered the battle well. He was Tactical Officer on the USS Challenger-A at that time. Driving off the Vaadwaur and not killing them off made combat with them incredibly tricky, but they prevailed. Hannibal spoke…
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/Wong: response
TAG/TBC
PNPC LT. Commander Hannibal Tiberious Parker
Operations Officer
USS Veritas
PNPC Lt. Commander Kamela Allison-Parker
Intelligence Officer
USS Veritas
As simmed by:
Lt. Katy Toliver
Counselor
USS Veritas
C238703HP0
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