The Ceremony (Part 2 of 4)

Posted on 31 Dec 2013 @ 11:16am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Lieutenant Ammar Fahad & Lieutenant Asahi Kita & Commander Norvi Stace & Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Lieutenant Min Zhao & Lieutenant Olsam Mott & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Commander Luke Wyatt & Alexander Iella & Tarishiana Barel & Lieutenant Jared Nicholas

1,675 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Starfleet HQ - 1st Floor, Tertiary Meeting Hall
Timeline: MD 03 - 0742 hrs

Previously, on The Ceremony (Part 1)...

"I hope so," Stace replied happily, her hand now lying flat on her belly. "I'm starving. I purposefully didn't eat today so that I could gorge myself on the fodder here. The brass usually put on a good spread if we're wearing dress. I see it as an advantageous trade-off." She tugged at her collar and made an almost mock choking sound as she stuck out her tongue from the side of her mouth. "But my first name is Norvi. You may call me either. Unless I'm eating. And then I advise that you just stand clear and don't engage me in conversation... or eye contact." She raised an intriguing eyebrow but then broke into a wide, beaming smile. "I'm Chief Science Officer here. Nice to meet you, Mott."

Olsam cut his eyes at her and grinned. He liked her. She was his kind of people. "Nice to meet you, too, Norvi."

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Keval was an early morning person. He always had been. He had just returned from a quick run, a rather major accomplishment for him since he was still suffering some residual effects from losing one of his antennae. And he was just out of the shower. when the call had come in. He put on his dress uniform and made his way to the meeting room. Unsure of why he had been summoned and immensely curious.

Luke enjoyed being dressed up and it gave him a small opportunity to show of his tour medals he received in the marines though it was certainly odd having them on a white uniform. He was also anxious to see what news was important that it had to be done at 0730 in the morning. Alongside him stood Abbey who was also in white. He was so proud of her at late. After a short while they found two seats and sat down.

Ammar found a seat. His dress uniform was as stiffly starched and perfectly creased as the day it had been issued. It was a rare occasion that warranted its use, and even more rare for Ammar. He watched the room quietly, unsure of what to expect, but knowing it would likely not be good.

Allyndra made sure that all her uniform was as pristine as possible. She had been brought up with formality and even though she had permission for a low backed jacket for her wings, everything else was spot on. She had even taken to using calipers to make sure everything was within literally micrometers of the designated spots. She took a seat as she noted that the various ship's departments were set in an order. This was not unusual for a ceremony upon a ship arriving back. It usually held for service medals and promotions though not unusual for changes of commands though she could not see that happening here. As far as she was concerned there would be no reason for it but then who knew the minds of the politically minded higher ranks. Her eyes though already had picked out that the Captain was sporting a slightly different uniform and the distinct mark of a flag officer's rank.

Used to reporting to work early, Delainey was alert as she arrived but felt uneasy nevertheless. It wasn't often she wore her dress uniform, and she wasn't sure wearing it now was a sign of something celebratory or somber. Still, whatever the occasion, she knew it fell to her to help maintain morale, so she smiled brightly as she entered and took in her surroundings with some eagerness.

Jared actually liked his dress uniform in a way. He always enjoyed dressing up and found the standard uniform rather boring. Besides, while no gym rat, he did manage to keep himself in pretty good shape and it fit him rather nicely.

John was one of the last to arrive, having prepared a new dress uniform specifically for this event, suitably bearing his new rank pip both on the neck and the appropriate cuff markings. Stepping into the room, he felt as if the collar of his uniform had suddenly shrunk a half dozens sizes as he made his way to the front of the gathering to stand next to the newly-minted Commodore - a position he had taken at her side a dozen times before as she prepared to address the crew.

"Ma'am. Shall we get this over and done with?"

"Yes, I suppose we should begin," Lirha answered, her eyes scanning the small crowd in front of them while noticing that most crew members were now present and accounted for. She took a deep breath and unclipped the PADD from her belt which contained a short speech she had prepared the previous night, then stepped up to the podium.

"Thank you all for coming," she began, her light voice echoing throughout the hall from the invisible speakers in the walls. "When Galileo first departed from San Francisco on its maiden voyage a year ago to this date, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment at being surrounded by so many promising young officers and crewmen. Although Galileo is a Nova Class starship not often regarded as a ship of the line, she is -- and always has been -- a very prestigious ship with a prestigious name. Our journeys over the past twelve months have taken us across the Quadrant to the frontiers of explored space and back. We have faced many obstacles, tested new propulsion devices, explored new worlds, and established first contact with new races. We have also engaged in combat, and lost many of our beloved friends and colleagues who selflessly gave their lives in service of the Federation." She paused to give a brief moment of silence while her mind recalled each and every crew member who had passed away under her command.

Abbey looked up to her dad, he had avoided most of her questions when it came to what happened except that the Borg were involved and they lost a lot of good crewman. Smiling up to him she looked back to the Captain and continued to listen.

It was only as she focused her attention on Lirha that she took note of the woman's new rank insignia. Carlisle internally berated herself for not noticing such a key detail and reminded herself to get some more sleep. For now, her stomach clenched as her mind began racing to consider how this particular change would affect the crew overall.

"Now," Lirha finally continued, "we have returned home as a seasoned, veteran crew, one of the most highly-distinguished in Starfleet. It has been my pleasure to command Galileo and to serve as your commanding officer, and now it is time to usher in a new era for Galileo as we move forward." The commodore looked over at John and waited for him to step up to the podium next to her.

Gulping for air and steadying his nerves, the newly-minted Captain stepped forward to join the Commodore at the podium, watching as she picked up the PADD that would usher in a new era for the Galileo. Nodding in reassurance to her, John waited for the inevitable.

Lirha tapped a few buttons on her PADD and queued up the official reassignment message sent to her from her direct superior. "The message reads: 'To Commodore Lirha Saalm, Commanding Officer, USS Galileo, stardate 67055.8... As of this date, you are hereby requested and required to relinquish command to Captain Jonathan Holliday, Executive Officer, USS Galileo. You are reassigned to Task Force Command as strategic mission adviser aboard USS Galileo, Task Group 72-A flagship. Signed, Rear Admiral James Hurin. Starfleet Command, Task Force 72 Commanding Officer'."

"Computer," Lirha summoned Starfleet HQ's integrated computer core, "establish an uplink with USS Galileo, location San Francisco Fleet Yards. Authorization Saalm-Eight-Seven-Zero-Alpha-Beta."

"Uplink established," replied the computer's familiar soothing female voice.

"Computer, transfer all command codes to Captain Holliday. Voice authorization Saalm-Beta-Zero," Lirha continued.

A brief moment passed while the request was processed, and a confirmation chirp sounded throughout the meeting hall. "Transfer complete," replied the computer again. "USS Galileo is now under the command of Captain Jonathan Holliday."

Lirha looked at John and gave him a warm smile, then offered her hand in congratulations for him to shake.

As the computer confirmed the transfer, the words echoed in John's skull, he was now the commanding officer of the newest Nova class in the fleet, one that had made a name for itself in the pages of Starfleet history, and one that would bring great fame and honour to her crew. Gulping again, Holliday took her hand warmly and returned her smile before uttering the words that completed his takeover of the Galileo.

"I relieve you Ma'am."

"I stand relieved," Lirha replied, then turned to face her former crew one last time before stepping back and allowing Galileo's new captain to address his crew.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CDRE Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

LT Norvi Stace
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Commander Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

LT CMDR Dea Mialin
Second Officer/Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

Command Master Chief Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo

Tarishiana Barel
Civilian Scientist
USS Galileo

Ltjg Min Zhao
Asst Chief of Operations
USS Galileo

LT Ammar Fahad
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

Alexander Iella
Bartender/Chef
USS Galileo

LTJG Olsam Mott
Asst. Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

LT Delainey Carlisle
Counselor
USS Galileo

LT Asahi Kita
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

CPO Luke Wyatt
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

LT Jared Nicholas
Linguist
USS Galileo

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