A Small Ceremony Part #2

Posted on 29 Apr 2025 @ 9:28pm by Captain Jasmine Somers FCapt & Master Chief Petty Officer Lucy Armitage & Sergeant Major Christopher "Chris" Kildare & Lieutenant Commander Remington Dodd & Lieutenant Leland Hawksley & Lieutenant Lamia ‘Mia’ Kildare & Lieutenant Vivian Corsair & Lieutenant Matthew Thompson & Lieutenant Paul Winchester & Lieutenant Serina "Reaper" Donovan & Lieutenant JG Faith Benson & Lieutenant JG Thex sh'Zoarhi & 1st Lieutenant Cassandra Mathews & 1st Lieutenant Gavin Ross Dr. & Lieutenant JG Margeurite "Maggie" LeFebvre & Ensign Alexi Michelle Brevet & Chief Warrant Officer Glenn Stone Mr & Warrant Officer K'Muss & Master Sergeant Thomas Zang & Staff Sergeant Lilliana Hawksley

2,343 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: Starbase 51 - Auditorium
Timeline: Current

OOC: part 2

[ON]

- Auditorium -

From her position on the dias, the Captain saw all crew were present, so she cleared her throat "Greetings and Welcome Tomcatians, we are all gathered here to acknowledge Awards and yes some promotions for those who have earned them, and it is something that all Commanding Officers like to do, so without further Ado for actions and activities during our recently completed mission could the following Officers come front an center to receive the General Operations Award, they are as follows" she paused for effect.

"Lieutenantant's Hawksley, Winchester, Thompson, Lamia Kildare, Lieutenant Jg Febvre, First Lieutenant Ross, Ensign Michelle, and Chief Warrant Officer Stone, she said into the device that amplified her voice, and watched as the named officers came forward.

Lamia offered Chris a smile before standing up and making her way to the front to join the others called upon.

Lilli smiled proudly at Leland as his name was called out first. “Go get it, handsome.”

When Hawksley's name was called, Dodd felt proud. He felt close to the engineering chief and knew good things were to come for this young man. Dodd grinned, which helped him get out of his gloomy feeling.

Lieutenant Leland Hawksley stiffened slightly, surprised as his name was called. Confident yet reserved, he glanced at Lilli, her proud smile steadying him. With a subtle nod, he stood, smoothed his uniform, and joined the others at the front with quiet poise.

Paul looked back at his wife in surprise at his name being called. He rose from his seat and gathered his brethren to line up before the Fleet Captain. He thought, "I wonder what I have got?" as he stopped next to his shipmates. Serina was with him, and as he stood up, she kissed him. " They're playing your song," she said, grinning.

Chief Stone was standing next to the command staff. He took a step back to break formation, turned, and walked to the front, standing in the same place where his name was called. He stood, surprised that he was getting an award and slightly annoyed at the ceremony. He felt he had done nothing on the last mission, but kept a tree up by leaning on it. With a new command comes new traditions, and he would have to learn their traditions. Standing at attention, his form, ridge, and perfect.

Maggie wasn't really paying attention- she was daydreaming. But she heard her name. Oh shit! What'd she do NOW? She glanced down as she stepped out of formation. At least her uniform was neat and...ya know, ON. The right one. She was *supposed* to wear those ugly red things with the black slacks, but normally, she just wore her flight suit. She cared little about uniform bullshit normally, but even she knew that today was no day to mess around. She approached the Dias and fell in next to the others. What on EARTH was happening?! She'd gotten an award? Of all the people on this ship, SHE was?! Was it an award for the biggest airhead on a Starship? Or the hottest person alive? She was confused. She forced a smile onto her red-lipsticked mouth, though, and pretended like she knew exactly why she was there.

Ross raised a brow as Thex was seated next to him. Swallowing and standing, he then made his way to the grouping. Gavin looked to his colleagues and smiled.

" You've earned it, Ross. " Thex whispered to Ross as he passed just loud enough for him to hear. Gavin smiled warmly at Thex. He was happy she was there.

Cassandra watched, proud of Gavin and the others for their tremendous achievements.

Alexi, at first, didn't realize she was called. She still wasn't used to the Officer's Rank being attached to her name. And it wasn't like she'd really done more than gather information. With a small grunt at that, she headed from the back of the room to stand with the others who had been called.

Matt had been called up to stand with his shipmates. General Operations award. Thank you, Ma'am.

When all were in front of her, the Captain started on the left and pinned each award to the chest of those standing before her and shook their hands.

"Congratulations to all of you" she said and signalled for them to leave the dias, when all had left she stepped back up to the podium "One of the things entitled to be done is Departmental rearranging, I have merged the Intelligence Department with Security and any with grey undershirts will need to change to Security Yellow. Now for some good news: I am elevating Second Lieutenant Cassandra Matthews to full MCO status. Up until now, she was nearly acting MCO, but today, it is official. Please congratulate Lieutenant Matthews on her new appointment," the Captain said, starting the applause.

Cassandra hadn't expected this. She had been sure that she was to likely be replaced upon the return to starbase fifty-one. She stood there stunned as she absorbed the information. Her heart was swelling with joy and pride. She stood and gave Somers a respectable salute before returning to her seat again.

Thomas stood from his seat at the announcement and snapped to attention at Cassandra's promotion. He snapped the sharpest salute off in her direction. "Well earned, Ma'am!"

"With that said, would Lieutenant Cassandra Matthews come front and Center?" the Captain said as Lucy got the following item ready as they waited for Matthews to come up front.

Cassandra stood up again, confused. She made her way forward to where Lucy and the others waited.

When Matthews was standing before her, the Captain said, "Second Lieutenant Cassandra Matthews, for duty done in the recent mission and to reflect your new Appointment as MCO, I hereby promote you to First Lieutenant and all that comes with such a promotion" the Captain said as she removed Cass's 2nd Lt bar. Twisting slightly, she pulled out a silver bar and pinned it in the place where the old rank was. She held out her hand "Well done and congratulations, First Lieutenant Matthews", she said, smiling.

Behind her, those assembled applauded..

Cassandra was rendered speechless for a brief time. She hadn't expected this. It had never crossed her mind that she was on track for being promoted. Her chest swelled with joy. She saluted her fellow officers respectfully. "Thank you, it's an honour and a privilege to serve."

Thomas had saluted Cassandra, a grin on his face as he watched her get the promotion. He was happy for her to get this. He felt she would be a great MCO and would lead them to many successful missions in the future. He wanted to cheer loudly but felt it would be inappropriate to do so at the moment. He made a mental note to congratulate her after the ceremonies concluded.

As her indication, Matthews left the dias and returned to her friends, with a smile on her face as she returned to the Podium, she waited a bit till the noise died down.

"This next award is the Good Conduct Award, the name should tell you all you need to know, so would the following Officers come up to the front and stand in a straight line in front of the dias!" She said and paused,

"Lieutenant Commander Dodd, Lieutenants, sh'Zorhi, Hawksley, Febvre, Benson, Ross, Lamia Kildare, Thompson, Matthews, Ensign Michelle and Chief Warrant Officer Glenn Stone, Sergeant Major Zang, please come forward" the Captain finished feeling her First Officers surprise, she turned her head and smiled indicating him to go where she directed.

From their position, the Kildares were shocked. Chris smiled and hugged his wife "Congratulations, Mia, go get your award", he said.

“Thank you, Imzadi”, Lamia stood yet again, surprised to be called a second time.

Thomas had not sat back down yet when his name was called. He came to attention and walked smartly up to the dias and took his position in the line that was forming of those who had been called. He stood straight, his uniform in perfect order. He scanned the audience until he caught sight of Cassandra and quickly shot her a wink.

Chief Stone raised an eyebrow. Good Conduct Award? What in all the stars did he do to get that? He wondered, stepping back again to exit the command line, move to the front, and stand in the order his name was called. Standing, waiting for his turn, he was awarded. "Thank you, Captain," said Stone with gratitude. He wondered if he was too critical of his performance on the last mission and the ship.

Thex smiled as she stood up and headed for the stage, letting out a cheer on the inside of her head. She gave a smile and gave a wink at her playmate as he passed her as he returned to his seat.

Cassandra took her place at the end of the line. Proud of all of them. She applauded their achievement and the honours that came with all their hard work. Again, she felt that pang of loss, wishing Mazal and Patrick could be here. Still, she understood why they couldn't.

Ross winked at Thexy, who was again stunned, to say the least. His habit of wearing sneakers in Sickbay definitely deprived him of this award. He smiled nonetheless, returning to the lineup.

Hawksley was looking at Lilli's baby bump, holding her hand, when he heard his name. "See," Leland turned to his beautiful wife, "he will know too what good conduct means." He then returned to the rest.

Todd turned to Maggie! "You won Good Conduct!! Go up and be recognised." Lieutenant JG Hewitt, Engineer, smiled and blushed, wanting to give her a congratulatory kiss, but he was embarrassed.

Maggie laughed. Good conduct? HER?! Still, she nodded and walked to the Stage, hoping that her face wasn't giving away her true emotions of surprise and slight boredom. These big award dos were always so long tho the feckless Pilot sometimes had to daydream to avoid walking out the door. She KNEW she needed to grow up about it, but her brain was active and she needed to MOVE.

"Thank you, Captain," she said, genuinely, and smiled at the woman.

Dodd reluctantly stood up and walked to his position. He felt like he was not deserving of this acknowledgement, especially for this mission. He knew he could have done much better for his crew and his captain. Once he got to his place, he stood at attention as was the practice, and he put on his ceremonial stern face and awaited the next step.

Standing alongside Remington, Lamia offered a warm smile. It seemed to be a day of surprises.

Faith raised an eyebrow momentarily, and small and short golf claps were here and there for the recipients.

Alexi had barely made it back to her spot in the back when she heard her name called again and about-faced and made her way back to the stage. She had not expected to receive one ward, never mind two.

Lt Thompson made his way back up to the podium.

KMuss sort of clapped and took in the ceremony. He was just glad to be back with the Tomcat gang.

Paul sat next to his wife, celebrating his crewmates' awards for the last mission. He knew that while Shore leave had been approved, Paul had been pulled in to evaluate the final exams of Paula's flight training before their assignments.

With all now standing before her, she started from left to right, she pinned the Award to each person and congratulated them as she shook their hands. She finally came to the end of the line-up and returned to the microphone "Congratulations to all of you for this Award", she said, looking at them and indicating they could return to their places.

She waited till the applause died down, and she took this time to catch Dodd's eye and gave him a friendly wink. The guy looked surprised as he clearly never expected any awards, then she returned her Attention to the Assembled.

TBC Part 3...

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