Posted by Lieutenant Commander Zoi Haven (Chief of Security) in Main Sim - The Holodeck - The Conclusion

Posted by Lieutenant Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Main Sim - The Holodeck - The Conclusion

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Main Sim - The Holodeck - The Conclusion
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Once everything was set and organised Willow once again took a place at the podium and cleared her throat.

“Thank you all for your patience. Now I promise that this speech will be short and to the point.” She smiled “A ship is more than its nuts and bolts. It is more than it’s mission record and it’s achievements. We stand here having been given an opportunity that few receive, to see our ship and crew at work through someone else’s perspective. I am in awe of you all, the work you do and the community we have built. Today we reward some of the key players in our last mission and recognise those who have continued to go above and beyond for both the ship and its crew.”

She turned her attention to the PaDD in front of her and began reading out a short list of commendations, excellence in the line of duty awards and years service recognitions.

As NE Oprah walked off with their service ribbon Willow search the group and locked eyes with Oscar.

“I would also like to give my thanks and an official commendation to our newly promoted Chief Engineer. Who received his promotion with his new position. I invite him however to collect his commendation for service to the ship and crew.”

She clapped as she was passed another box to hand to Oscar as he arrived.

Once the applause ebbed and the grouch had taken his seat again Willow then turned to promotions.

“Now I’d like to invite Doctor Grayson to step forward.”

Once The recipient was present Willow smiled. “It is my pleasure Doctor to promote you to Lieutenant Junior Grade.” She turned for the box and pinned the new rank in place. “Congratulations.” She said and stepped back to clap.

Kane didn’t know Grayson, but knew of their work, so their work. The promotion didn’t surprise him.

After the applause ended Willow received another box and scanned the crowd. “If Doctor Segal would join me.” She said and smiled as she waited.

Solal stepped up, surprised his name was called. The emotion was not outwardly apparent. Neither was his pride and happiness for the promotion.

“It is my pleasure Doctor to promote you to full Lieutenant.” She pinned the rank in place and stepped back. “Congratulations.” She clapped.

“Thank you, Captain,” said Solal, and returned to his seat.

Kane hadn’t dealt with the doctor before, so he clapped once and then popped a mini eclair in his mouth

Again scanning the crowd Willow found Drake and motioned for another box. “Doctor Marshall, if you would join me.” She said and waited. She removed the rank pips from the box “Doctor Marshall it is my pleasure to promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.” She pinned the rank in place and stepped back and clapped. “Congratulations.”

Drake’s eyes misted over. “Thank you, Captain.” He said simply, and let a genuinely kind expression speak the rest for him. Absent his usual sarcasm and bleak demeanor, he seemed different, and fuller. He couldn’t have explained, if asked, why this felt more important than previous promotions, but it did.

Alexis clapped for all those receiving recognition. She was genuinely happy to see everyone recognized for their work and service. She had seen both Oscar and Grayson hard at work as well and knew the crews’ overall efforts would have been dismal without them both. Solal and Marshall has both done remarkable work and has earned the recognition for their hard work with the Romulans.

Once the room had settled again she once more scanned the crowd and spotted her next target. “Please, Doctor Bonner if you would join me.” She gave a slight rueful smile as if apologising for the spectacle but tradition dictated.

At the mention of Lex’s name, Kane put full attention on the Captain.

Alexis was surprised to hear her name called. She had ascended through the ranks quickly to full lieutenant and was the youngest to hold her position. She knew she had performed exceptionally, but after her sabbatical and subsequent events she wasn’t expecting this now. She stood and made her way to the captain, nodding to her smile.

“Doctor Bonner, it is my pleasure to promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations.” She pinned the rank in place, smiled and whispered “stay here.” Before she stepped back.

Stay here? Why? What now? But she stood quietly and took the box the captain handed her with a bit of curiosity. An extra pip? Alexis might be in her own head a lot but she didn’t lose things.

Kane smiled broadly.. inside himself, of course. But he was very proud of Lex. She deserved every bit of that recognition.

Turning for the next box Willow handed it to Bonner to open. She scanned the group and said “Doctor Kane, if you would join us.” She gave a smile and when he had turned to Alexis for the rank pips. “It is my pleasure to promote you to Lieutenant Commander.” She stepped out of the way to allow Alexis to pin the pips in place and clapped. “Congratulations.” She said to both.

Oh! The captain wanted her to pin his pip on him. Had Taylor heard how irritated Solomon was with his last captain for promoting him and sending in his paperwork to become a doctor? Did she think having Alexis pin the pip on would save her from his irritation? Probably not. Taking the pip from the box she reached up and added the hollow 3rd pip to his collar. “Deserved and earned, Cmdr.” A swift “Thank you,” to Taylor and then Alexis returned to her seat.

Kane had glared at Willow the entire way up to her, glared at the box, and glared as Lex pinned the pip on his collar. Before he turned around, he whispered at Willow “You are so gonna pay for this, Skipper.” Butbhe did give her a wink and a quick nod of thanks.

Once everyone had settled again Willow gave a grin, raised her eyebrows at Dira to step forward with the final box. “And finally, Lieutenant Haven, if you could join me.” She waited a moment before continuing. “Lieutenant Haven, it is my pleasure to promote you to Lieutenant Commander.” She again stepped aside to allow Dira to pin the ranks in place. “Congratulations.” She clapped.

Zoi blinked with her eyes wide in reaction to hearing her name and her promotion. They stung with tears she barely contained through rapid blinking as she stood up and approached the Captain and XO. In all her years of service, she had received the rank of Lt Commander twice, but this time was different. This time, she would never take the demotion to take an extended leave to care for her mother and sacrifice her dreams ever again. It felt real. It felt permanent.

This of course was something Dira was especially happy to do, so as she pinned on the additional pip she smiled warmly at Zoi. “Very much deserved,” she said softly to Haven.

She looked up at Dira and smiled though the tremble in her lips made it difficult. It was beautiful to look into Dira’s face and see the pride reflected there. Zoi had someone in her life. She was vulnerable to this relationship but also fulfilled and truly happy.

Once everyone was accounted for and The boxes gone Willow smiled. “And now it’s the best part, the excuse to celebrate. Please mingle, eat, drink, sneak off, but importantly have fun. That’s an order.”

Brad had politely clapped for all the awards and promotions, Alexis’ most of all, but only slightly-less intensely for Marshall’s and Sogal’s. He then shook his head slightly at the order to have fun. Fun was something best held away from crowds.

She stepped away from the podium and grabbed a glass of wine.

Cai appeared at her side. “Cake?” He asked she smiled and took some.

Willow Taylor
CO

Dira leaned in towards Zoi. “I think a celebration is most definitely in order, don’t you?”

Commander Myqian, XO

Quickly, she closed her eyes tightly and rubbed them. For a moment, she let the feelings rush over her and through her before putting them away for later, an advantage of being a long time security officer. She looked up at Dira to see the beautiful woman she loved and nodded. “Yes I think it does dearest.”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Even if Alexis was inclined to ‘celebrate’ Frigga needed to be walked. But she did remind herself that part of her job was being more approachable. So she made her way over to Marshall and Solal. “Congratulations doctors.”

Bonner, AMO

“Thank you,” Solal said, looking at Alexis. “To you as well. It is deserved.” The promotion had entirely been a surprise. Solal was dedicated to his work, but he didn’t think he’d done anything outstanding recently. Either way, he was happy for it. Not that he’d admit that.

~ Solal

“Yeah, congrats to both of you.” Drake glanced over at the food. “I think some drinks are in order.”

“Thank you, both.” She watched Drake head off toward the tables and nodded. “I suppose that is a good idea. I am sure Cpt Taylor and Cmdr Myqian put effort into this. It would be impolite to not partake of some of it.” She looked at Solal. They really had similar approaches to the social niceties of being an officer. “Will you partake?” Or escape she added silently.

Escape sounded like an excellent plan to Solal. But Alexis was right, he supposed, it would come across as impolite not to try. Refraining from sighing, he shrugged impartially, “There is no reason not to have at least one.” I suppose not, anyway, was the preferred, but left off, end of that thought. Then he could escape. He wouldn’t be surprised to see Alexis do the same. She seemed to hate these sorts of niceties almost as much as he did.

While the others gathered around one another to congratulate and chat Willow glanced to her side to find her brother missing. She sighed but that was all, crowds like this weren’t his thing after all.

She found Brad again. “Cake?” She grinned and offered him some of the huge slice Cai had brought her.

Willow Taylor
CO

“Did he get you half a bloody cake?” Brad asked, looking warily at what was left of the dessert, before shrugging and breaking part of it off.

She took Dira’s hand and gently pulled her from the staging area to approach the food tables. “I am starving, aren’t you?”

Haven, CoS

Kane let Alexis greet and shake hands. He was heading for the food. A quick minute later and he had a plate of prawns, pasta salad, and various other foodstuffs piled high and was moving towards an unoccupied table.

Kane, CSO / R&D

They had been very discreet since this thing between them had started. Very few people even knew, but here and now as Zoi breached the touch barrier in public Dira welcomed the moment, the sharing. Letting Haven pull her, Dira wore a grin. In more ways than one, she thought. It never mattered that Zoi couldn’t hear her thoughts, because the intent behind them was always clear to the El Aurian.

As they approached the food, Dira leaned in and whispered into Zoi’s ear. “I something special in mind for later, just so you know.”

Commander Myqian, XO

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Drake sought out a drink, and considered spending more time than he usually did at one of these official functions. He found some white wine and sipped it gingerly, wanting to appreciate the moment.

-Lt Cmdr Drake Marshall, MD

Alexis disliked the social aspect of her position, simply because she was mostly awkward with it. Also socialization wasn’t something she was overly concerned with personally. However she was expected to do so, so she made the effort to remember. With that duty compete, she made her way over to the food and was quickly sitting at the table with Solomon. She set down two plates, one was quite pitiful like she has filled it as an afterthought. The other was piled with several boneless meat selections. She let out a low whistle and Frigga came trotting over from where ever she had been.

Bonner, AMO

Solal had put the minimum he thought he could get away with on a plate, grabbed something to drink, and found a quieter place to sit down with his PaDD. He could tune out anywhere, so long as he had something to focus on. He actually likely wouldn’t mind someone sitting next to him, however intent on keeping up what he thought was a Vulcan appearance he would sit quietly and study.

~ Solal

Zoi leaned in to Dira, matching her body language, and smiled at her. It was clear she felt strongly for the XO. She squeezed Diras hand, fingers entwined. They had been together for a small while and up until this moment, had been quite secret about it. The Captain knew of course, due to mitigating conflict of interest, but they had kept it from the rest of the crew. They had both felt the need to enjoy the relationship without other input and commentary for the beginning. Beginnings were always so tough on a relationship, as both people guided themselves through getting to know each other and navigating the blending of lives. So far, she and Dira seemed well suited to one another and Zoi was ready to share that she had found someone she found worthy of her affection and care. “I like special things.”

Haven, CoS

They were the same height and they were in close proximity, so Dira didn’t have to do more than turn her mouth towards Zoi’s ear and whisper, “Good. Let’s stay a little bit and then excuse ourselves. I have to make a quick stop, but let’s meet at your place.” Zoi was used to her messiness, and tonight she didn’t want to tidy for company.

Pulling back, she just smiled at Haven. “For now, I think I’d like cake,” she said, reaching the tables of food and reluctantly let Zoi’s hand go so she could help herself to cake, of which she was always a fan.

Commander Myqian, XO