P-p-promoted!

Posted on 18 Feb 2016 @ 8:18pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant JG Cyrin Xanth

1,717 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 7, Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD 90 - 1305 hrs

[ON]

"Saalm to Ensign Xanth, please report to the observation lounge immediately," said Lirha through her commbadge while she hugged her mug of warm cocoa close to her chest. Three performance reviews were down with only two to go, and the Orion was anxious to complete her evaluations before tending to the remainder of her duties.

There was less than a week before the small Nova-class was set to depart on her upcoming mission, which meant a plethora of administrative work for the rear admiral while her XO tended to the more practical matters. Now, while she waited for the junior scientist to arrive, she once again found herself staring out through the large windows, this time at a small convoy of workbees which seemed inbound for Galileo's cargo bays to restock and resupply her stores.

It wasn't long after the scientist had acknowledged the order over the comm system that he arrived in the lounge, and the slight redness to his cheeks and steady rhythm of his breathing was evidence that he'd taken 'immediately' quite seriously and had run through corridors. The tall young man tugged on his uniform jacket to straighten it as he stepped inside, ran a hand through hair that looked a little wild, then came to attention a few steps away from the Orion woman. His grey eyes picked a spot over her shoulder to stare at, his boots came together, and his shoulders squared.

"Ensign Xanth, reporting as ordered, Admiral," he managed without a single stutter for once, even sounding almost as crisp as a green officer fresh from the Academy instead of one who'd graduated a few years ago. However, he couldn't help the slight questioning tone that he had as he spoke, wondered why he'd been summoned by the Admiral herself.

"At ease, ensign," replied Saalm as she turned around to observe the flushed-faced Trill man. "I hope your vacation was relaxing?" It was always tough to come back on assignment following an extended shore leave, and Lirha hoped he would be able to jump right back into action when they departed in the next few days.

Cyrin relaxed, but only slightly, as he spread his feet and put his hands behind his back. Being in the Admiral's presence was not something that happened very often, and he kept a tight hold on himself in the hopes he wouldn't do anything to embarrass himself. "It was, s-sir, thank you," he said, breathing a bit more normally now as his heart rate slowed. Relaxing wasn't exactly how he'd put it, but the answer had come out quickly as he didn't want to contradict Saalm. "And yours?"

"Enjoyable. And relaxing, thank you for inquiring" she replied. It had been nice to get off Galileo and pursue some of her own interests for a while, and her vacation to Risa had certainly been soothing to her soul. "I do not mean to keep you long. I am performing crew evaluations before we depart on our next assignment, and you are the next on my list." She wiggled her PADD for him to see.

At the sight of the PADD, and the words she spoke, the scientist's face went pale. The Admiral was doing the crew evaluations?! This was a complete disaster. Cyrin could almost hear Commander Kohl's report in his head: hiding away in the laboratory, never volunteering, constantly nervous, next to no interaction with the rest of the crew... "I am uh, um, at y-your disposal, s-sir," he said weakly.

"It seems some of your colleagues have noticed that you are," she cleared her throat, "'socially reclusive', 'difficult with articulation', 'possibly permanently paranoid'..." she looked back up at him after reading off a couple comments. "Would you say these descriptions accurately portray you and your work ethic, ensign?"

At the litany, Cyrin went red in the face, but he didn't flinch away. His stormy grey eyes flicked to the Admiral's face for just a moment, then stared at that point in space again. He swallowed hard, then spoke, "Only p-partially, s-sir. I feel that my w-work ethic is good, even if I have s-some other...trouble." Cyrin might be awkward, but he'd worked hard, maybe even too hard at times.

"I see. And what specifically about your work ethic do you value the most? What aspect of your time aboard Galileo do you feel contributes the most to our vessel and her crew?" A loaded question for sure, but one which Lirha occasionally liked to ask. The response usually gave good insight into a person's own concept of self-worth versus the perceived value from their colleagues.

Perhaps if he'd been asked this question a few months ago, Cyrin might not have had a ready answer for her. For a long time after he'd come on board, he'd done his best to not make any waves, to keep his head down, to do his duties and otherwise keep to himself. However, their trip to an alternate universe a few months ago had begun to change things in the young man, and he didn't hesitate in his response, "My efforts, uh, along w-with C-Commander Kohl and others, in r-reprogramming the s-secondary deflector to allow us to g-get home, Admiral."

She couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and nod with understanding, for that was indeed quite an accomplishment. In fact, had it not been for the man in front of her along with the rest of the science department, their fate would have been sealed in the hands of the Terran Empire. A most certain death for the majority of the crew, she imagined.

"I believe that is quite a contribution," she smiled. "One which I do not think you should ever downplay." In fact, it was one of the reasons for which she had summoned the Trill man.

"I am not the only person aboard Galileo who is impressed with your work," she revealed, "there have been many others who have enjoyed working with you. Despite the awkwardness," she teased. One of her hands fumbled around in her pocket looking for something, and she gave the ensign an instruction. "Stand at attention."

At the Orion woman's response, Cyrin had started to relax somewhat. Like many other scientists, there was a streak of ego that ran through him, and hearing an admiral of all people compliment his efforts meant a whole lot to him. Her smile added a personal touch too, and though it made him feel awkward, Cyrin appreciated that as well. It was true that having one's superiors take note of one's actions could feel good, even when one was as nervous as Cyrin could be.

At her command, he immediately responded, no hesitation as his arms came back to his sides and his feet together. His mind began to race. What was happening? Had she gotten wind of the counseling sessions he'd gone to, at Commander Stace's insistence, on Trill? Or maybe Commander Kohl had given her a report, before he'd left for Command School, suggesting that he be transferred to waste management detail because of how rude he'd been towards his former superior. No, Cyrin could theorize a lot of things, but he couldn't see Andreus being that vindictive. Maybe he'd screwed up on the mining team he'd lead? But wouldn't it be more likely that the captain or the first officer would be the one to correct him then, and not the Admiral herself? All those worries, and dozens more, were born and overanalyzed in bare seconds.

Lirha produced a small and hollow gold rank pip from her pocket and moved close to him in order to pin it to the collar of his uniform. Her green hands reached up and fiddled briefly with the fabric before solidifying the new icon, after which she stepped back and gave him a curt nod. "Well, ensign, for your contributions to our vessel and duties performed above and beyond the call of duty, I hereby promote you to the rank of junior lieutenant with all the rights and privileges therein." She held out her hand for him to shake. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Xanth," she smiled.

Just about everything else seemed to stop for him the moment he saw the tiny rank medallion that Admiral Saalm revealed. All the rush of thoughts that had been going through his mind seemed to vanish, the worry slipped away, and he was left feeling humbled and something more. Cyrin lifted his chin slightly as her fingers reached for his collar to pin the new shiny pip to the neck of his uniform tunic, feeling a surprising sense of...accomplishment. Yes, that was the other sensation he was going through.

"Thank you, Admiral," Cyrin said, no tremor or stammer in his voice, but instead genuine warmth and gratitude, though his hand was cold as he shook her's as was usual for the Joined. Maybe the counselor had been right, and maybe he had been too hard on himself. Advancing his career had never seemed to be a priority before, so having it sprung on him as a surprise like this was a powerful experience. "I um...I don't know what to say. Thank you." Cyrin realized he was repeating himself, laughed slightly, released her hand, and shut up though he couldn't help the big smile he wore.

"Do not thank me, you have earned it," she replied. "You have been an asset to this crew and without your help, we would not have made it back to Starbase 84 or Jupiter Station. I trust we will see more of these contributions from you in the future?"

"Yes, sir!" Cyrin said with proper snap. Once again he stood at formal attention, tall and proud. The only thing that really spoiled his decorum was his continued smile. Somehow he knew she wouldn't mind. The new pip seemed to have banished the nervousness; there'd be time to worry about things later.

"Very well, then. Dismissed!" she said, shooing him out of the room in order to prepare for the next performance review which was probably not as flattering.

[OFF]

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RADM Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (j.g.) Cyrin Xanth
Astrophysicist/Cosmologist
USS Galileo

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