Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Rahm Vesta (Chief Medical Officer) in Graduation Thread - Nine Forward [tag cadets Dawes & Baptiste]

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Henry Rodier (Chief of Security) in Graduation Thread - Nine Forward [tag cadets Dawes & Baptiste]

Posted by Ensign P’Mala Dawes (Doctor) in Graduation Thread - Nine Forward [tag cadets Dawes & Baptiste]
Posted by… suppressed (15) by the Post Ghost! 👻
OOC: As we are close to the end of the simm, I’m going to go ahead and start the graduation thread for our intrepid cadets!
IC:
Aaron looked over the crewmen that were helping to get Nine Forward decorated. He wasn’t quite sure why he was nervous for this particular set of graduating cadets, he had been through this a number of times during his career. But it would be his first time as the Captain of the ship.

“Put tables tables out for food on both walls,” he directed as several large tables were brought into the room. “Leave the area under the windows clear.”

He really didn’t need to be here. The crew had set this up a number of times before, and all he was probably doing was getting in there way. He needed to just let them do their job. But first, he reached up and tapped his commbadge.

=^=Attention all hands, this is the Captain.=^= That was still weird for him to say. =^=All crew are asked to join me in Nine Forward at 1900 hours tonight to celebrate the graduation of our current class of cadets. Casual dress. Department Heads please arrange schedules appropriately. That is all.=^=

Turning to take one last look around at Nine Forward, Aaron had to stop himself from making another minor adjustment. Instead he nodded towards the Ensign who was supposed to be in charge of getting everything set-up as he turned and left. There were still a few things left to get done before the event started.

OOC: Feel free to drop in whenever you would like!

Captain Foley - CO

It wasn’t long before Aaron made his way back to Nine Forward, he just couldn’t keep himself away. However he had taken the time to change out of his uniform and into a black button down shirt, and black slacks.

As she entered the lounge she looked around and gave an admiring nod to the decorations.
She approached Aaron, stood beside him, and said, “Everything is really coming together nicely, in here.” Then she looked at him and smiled, “There are many things to celebrate on the Challenger,Captain. I wanted to congratulate you on your promotion, sir. As well as your new executive officer, Commander Rockefeller.”

She clasped her hands behind her back and said, “So who will be giving the commencement speech? You or Commander Rockefeller?”

Halcyone, Counselor

“Thank you. I do have to say it was unexpected, and still taking a bit of getting used to. And I do believe that the duty falls to me this time. Probably shouldn’t pass off my first graduation ceremony,” he said laughing.

“Well, you wear it well. You seem natural,” said Pilar throwing flattery toward the man. “I cannot wait to hear the speech.”

OOC: Cadets feel free to join the thread. The captain has set up this event for you.

Mika J.

Pilar kept her eye on the door as she waited for the first of the cadets to arrive to the ceremony. This was a pivotal point for them, after the ceremony they would no longer be cadets. They would be commissioned officers in Starfleet and she was ready to help them move forward on the journey.

Halcyone, Counselor

Cadet P’Mala Dawes entered Nine Forward in her dress uniform, her hair dyed a dark navy blue complimenting the green of her skin and the lighter blue of the Medical colors. She looked around at the decorations and saw the Captain and the Counselor talking– she went over to them, trying to calm the flutter of excitement and anxiety knitted in her chest.

“Counselor, Captain! Good evening,” she said. “It looks beautiful in here.”

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

“The team managed to pull it off, despite plenty of interruptions,” Aaron said laughing.

“I never took you to be a perfectionist, Captain,” said Pilar laughing with him, then she looked at P’Mala and said,
“Welcome, Dr. Dawes, I must say I love the color of your hair. It gives you quite a remarkable appearance.”

P’Mala ran her hand through it subconsciously. “Thank you!” she said. “It’s demi-permenant for now. Sometimes life changes makes me want to change my hair, and I’ve never tried navy before.”

“Well, it suits you. I wish I had the courage to change my hair color. I always wondered what I would look like as a redhead.

Cadet Johnathan Baptiste tugged on his dress uniform one more time before stepping into Nine Forward for the graduation ceremony. He was not sure why he was so nervous, after all he had passed his medical exams and was therefore a Doctor no matter if he got his commission in Starfleet. No that was not it, it was the unknown of where he would be posted next, and whether he would fit in with the new crew there. He had grown to like the quirky Vulcan P’Mala Dawes and a few others on board, and would miss working with them. He would also miss finding out how Cadet Dawes Holonovel proceeded, especially with that pesky and cantankerous boar. He took a deep breath in and stepped into Nine Forward.

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

“Cadet Baptiste, please join us!” Aaron said gesturing for the Cadet to join them.

Capt Foley - CO

Pilar noticed Doctor Baptiste enter Nine Forward and she waved him in their direction. “Doctor Baptiste! Over here! Please come and join us.”

Halcyone, Counselor

Cadet Baptiste walked over to where Captain Foley, Lieutenant Commander Halcyone, and Cadet Dawes were. He was extremely nervous and was not sure why.

“Hey, Baptiste!” P’Mala said. “Can you believe it?”

Looking at the group he replied “Captain, Commander, Cadet Dawes. Guess we made it to graduation. The room looks nice. So now what happens? I mean I know we graduate but how soon before we get our orders?” He was glad his voice did not crack when he spoke, and he prayed that he did not appear to be sweating.

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

To P’Mala it seemed crazy that all this would be over soon, and that her career in Starfleet was about to truly begin.

Cadet Johnathan looked at Cadet Dawes hair and smiled, “To bad I will not be present the next time Hanna shows up and Mrs. Lloyd, and Lord and Lady Graham see Hanna’s Navy Blue Hair. It really does look nice though.”

“Thanks, Johnathan!” P’Mala replied. “If I get a chance to see them before we leave ship, I’ll definitely need to replicate a wig.”

He then looked about the room “Pretty nice set up for our graduation. Going to miss the Challenger, she lived up to her name and challenged us.”

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

“Good point, ” P’Mala said. “It still feels like a blur somehow. I’ve had a great time here with you all.”

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

“You both should receive word for your next ship assignment soon,” said Pilar smiling. “Believe me there are plenty of ships that would love to have you. So don’t worry about not receiving any.”

She looked at P’Mala then said, “I felt the same way when I graduated and likewise.”
She smiled at each of them and then said, “You both must do an exit interview with me when you find out where you will be stationed and before you leave the ship. I would love to keep in touch with each of you and follow your careers in Starfleet.”

Halcyone, Counselor

“Well then I guess I will need to get penciled in for an appointment soon. Rumor has it I will be assigned to the USS Ark Angel as a Medical JO.” replied Johnathan. He turned to P’Mala, “Have you herd anything yet as to where you will go?”

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

“Not a word, yet,” P’Mala said. “I’m still keeping an open mind. Maybe they’ll send me back to the Academy to teach for a year, or maybe there’s a ship somewhere with my name on it. The Ark Angel is lucky to have you!” she replied.

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

Johnathan smiled and said “Who knows, maybe the command staff on the Challenger plan on stealing you and making you a permanent staff doctor. I know they would be lucky to have you as one of the staff.”

-Johnathan Baptiste, Medical

Aaron looked around, it looked like everyone was there. “Speaking of which, I believe that is my cue,” Aaron said stepping back from the group and moved over to the open space on the side of the room. On a small table up front there were 4 small boxes.

As Aaron stepped forward into the clear space, the room quickly became quiet, with the few who didn’t see him getting nudged by the people around them.

Taking a deep breath, this was the fun part of the job.

“Thank you everyone for coming. I know we’ve had a rough couple of weeks. Some rapid changing of Commanding Officers, imminent peril of ship and crew, you know, the normal things,” he said with a grin. “But we all made it through! And I’m proud to stand here in front of you as the new, permanent, commanding officer of the Challenger.

“So I’m really happy that it was all settled so that I could have the pleasure of doing this. Because after this mission we have to take a moment to recognize our graduating cadets! Through all of your hard work, Ensign Morton is still in one piece, and helped prevent an even bigger problem for the Challenger. So I’d like to ask both Cadets P’Mala Dawes and Johnathan Baptiste to come up here with me.”

Capt Foley - CO

P’Mala walked to where the Captain stood–for some reason, a classy bead of sweat wormed its way down her back. Graduation, she gulped.

Cadet Johnathan Baptiste nervously walked up towards where Captain Foley was. He was normally very cool under pressure but with everyone staring at him and Cadet P’Mala Dawes, he felt awkward. Sure he had been in the spotlight multiple times, but this was different somehow. He came in front of the captain stood at the position of attention and snapped off an Academy perfect salute “Cadet Johnathan Baptiste reporting as ordered, Sir!”

-Cadet Johnathan Baptiste, medical

P’Mala mouth itched, dry.

She saluted. “Cadet Dawes, sir. Thank you for your kind words.”

She looked around the well-decorated room and felt a mix of joy, of fear, of pride. She pushed her thoughts back and focused on the Captain and her medical friend, Dr. Baptiste, beside her.

-Cadet P’Mala Dawes

Henry stood in the third row, just close enough to see the cadets, just far enough not to be too noticeable to the out-of-department JOs. He wished he’d gotten to know them better in their tenure on the Challenger, but times change and there just hadn’t been quite enough time.

Regardless, his casual uniform was spruced up slightly, and he felt a strange sense of pride seeing another generation of cadets graduating and moving on to the next chapters or their lives and careers. His hands were poised near each other, prepared to attack each other in an extended round of clapping as soon as was proper.

~ Lt. Jr. gr. Rodier - CoS

Bump

OOC: Sorry! Got some OOC stuff we are trying to figure out at the same time for graduation!

IC:
“Exercising the authority granted me by the Commandant of Starfleet Academy,” Aaron said stepping forward and removing the cadet ranks from each of their collars. “And upon the recommendation of your department head for successfully completing the curriculum of Starfleet Academy, I hereby promote you to the rank of Ensign.” Opening the first box he removed the rank pip and placed it on P’Mala’s collar. “With all the rights, privileges’ responsibilities and duties,” he continued while opening the second box and placing the pip on Johnathan’s collar. “Incumbent of such rank. Congratulations Ensigns, you’ve earned it.”

Stepping back Aaron gave the assembled crew a moment to applaud the two newly promoted Ensigns.

Capt Foley - CO