[USS Juno] Bervag's Promotion

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 9:30pm by Captain Harrold Anderson & Lieutenant Alexander Newman & Captain Bervag Bers & Commander T'San & Lieutenant Kimoni Jexen & Major Charlena Dilucca & Ensign Pecia & Orson De & Dan & Nidria Rilog & Crewman Recruit T'Meela & Lieutenant Avril Taylor & Captain Xalanth & Lieutenant JG T'para
Edited on on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 9:35pm

2,141 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1, E4: Empok Nor
Location: Cargo Bay 4
Timeline: 05/27/2394, 1800 Hours

Harry had grabbed his paperwork from his office, he had submitted his request for Bervag's promotion to Commander. He neglected to tell anyone about the paperwork. He wanted it to be a surprise. He walked into the cargo bay assembly room. The crew was already going to be meeting in the cargo bay assembly room. It was typical for crews to gather before they deployed. Harry was the first officer in the room. He noticed several enlisted crew, setting up the room. He made his way over to the podium. He was practicing his speech.

Bervag sat in the reading nook of his office, reading. He was embroiled in a Dixon hill novel when his chronometer went off. He looked up, half dead to the world, the book was that good. He looked. "Oh. Its time already? Guess I;ve got to get to the cargo bay then." He got up out of his chair, only for his leg to start to tingling. "My leg falls asleep, now?" he said. 'Well, at least its my leg." he laughed as he walked it off as he left his quarters

Harry continued to work on his speech, thinking in the back of his mind about Bervag's promotion and the departures of Kerja. He barely got to know her, and now she was gone. And there was not a damn thing he could do about it. He was trying to stay positive. The crew would be looking to him to lead them. But it was hard to be positive. When he felt remorse and sadness.

Nidria and Dan walked in to the cargo bay. Dan had a trolley of food with him and Nidria put two bottles of champagne on the trolley. " Very nice," said Dan. "I should've known you would bring good stuff with you."

Nidria shrugged and grinned, "I knew I was coming to your place, couldn't show up empty handed, now could I?" She looked to the podium and then back to Dan. "So, what is all about again? A promotion?" She remembered her previous host, Cadru Rilog being promoted to Lieutenant. Up until now she never looked in to her previous hosts. Especially the one before her, the one that was in Starfleet. The one that made her come to the Juno in the first place. And now being here among Starfleet officers, serving them, brought all those memories back. She whisked a tear away.

"Are you alright, Nidria?" Dan asked.

Nidria smiled. "A bit sentimental. It's the symbiont. I am getting all these memories back from my previous host. Cadru. Honor and duty and service. I never really understood that until I got here."

Charlena walked in and noticed Dan and another lady standing at a trolley of food and drinks. She walked up to them. " Dan it's good to see you...and you are?" She looked over to Nidria a bit questioning.

Nidria smiled to Charlena and said, " I am Nidria, Nidria Rilog, the new owner of Nemo's." She held out her hand. "And a good friend of Dan's. We used to own a restaurant together back on Earth."

Charlena took her hand and said with a just as charming smile, "Captain Charlena DiLucca, marine commanding officer. It's a pleasure to meet you, Nidria Rilog. If you excuse me a moment." She nodded to Dan and Rilog before making her way to the podium. She stopped and looked up to Harry. "Captain, are you ready for this moment? ?" She grinned.

Harry took a deep sigh. "Is anyone, public speeches is not my strong suit." He said as he gave Charlena a worry some smile. He was doing his best, but he hated public speaking. "Are you ready for this Captain?" He asked, trying to deflect the attention off of him.

Kimoni adjusted her uniform for what seemed like the hundredth since she'd entered the cargo bay, a small smile came to her face as she remembered the day she came aboard the Juno, also a promotion ceremony. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail as she wandered around the bay.

She looked for Bervag but couldn't see him, no doubt preparing himself for what was to come. She then began to hunt for a familiar face, although the only person she knew that was here was the Captain and he was on a podium, best not to interrupt him. She knew how much of a pressure these moments could be.

She took up position near the middle of the group and waited.

Pecia, on the other hand, had kept to the outskirts of the group. She hadn't been on the ship for the rescue of the New Bajor colonists and she knew her inclusion in the festivities today were more a formality than anything else. While news of the XO's promotion had been a secret, for someone like the ship's intelligence officer that meant very little. In that same role, she had climbed atop one of the large cargo crates inside the bay and was lounging with her back against the bulkhead, legs outstretched atop the metallic container. The perch provided her with not only an excellent place to watch the captain practicing his speech at the podium, but also for her to observe the crew in their natural state.

She had been one of the earlier arrivals to the gathering, though she had done her best to slip in and assume her position unnoticed. She had watched as the ship's civilian crew had filtered in among the officers and enlisted personnel. The bartender had come bearing champagne and the spy wondered who the Trill woman's source was, since the promotion had been intended as a surprise, from what Pecia's own snooping had revealed. She made a mental note to introduce herself to the barkeep in the near future. She also needed to introduce herself to lieutenant Jexen, the ship's chief science officer, who she spotted mixing in with the growing crowd. Given her cover story as part of the ship's science staff, Pecia would need the lieutenant's assistance maintaining the ruse.

Charlena looked to the captain. "I can't take your place, Harry, you are the commanding officer of this ship. I am pretty sure you think of some inspiring words to the coming battle ahead."

The doors opened as Xalanth and T'para entered arm in arm. Xalanth as always looked incredibly uncomfortable in his formal uniform and was constantly tugging at the collar. They could never get the neck size right.

Bervag walked in, wondering why dress was ordered. But that was his informality showing through. He looked around and saw everyone was basically there. "Am I late?"he asked himself.

"Just in time Commander." Said Harry as he walked over to the podium. He tapped on the microphone. "Good Evening crew of the USS Juno. I hoped you all had an opportunity to enjoy a little shore leave, and mingle with the crew of the USS Pioneer and USS Ottawa." He started off as he looked around the room.

He took a breath and continued on. "I am proud of each one of you, you all have preformed your duties above and beyond the call of duty. The survivors of the New Bajor Attack wanted me to personally thank you on their behalf the efforts each and everyone of you made." Harry tried not to think about Tera or Kerja at this moment.

"With the rescue being completed, we can return to our original mission, to explore the Gamma Quadrant. We will dispatch tomorrow morning, I would strongly encourage everyone to party it up one last night, however be able to work tomorrow, so party responsibly. And what is a party, without a reason?" Asked Harry. He looked around the room, and smiled at Bervag.

"Lieutenant Commander Bervag Bers, please report to the podium." Ordered Harry with a big grin on his face.

Bervag shrugged. Why? He couldnt help but think. Didn't know whether it was good or bad. Understandable, with the topsy turvy mission thayd just completed. But he was summoned, so go he did.

"It's with great sadness that I report to you, that you have exceeded mine and the crew expectation. Therefor, the rank of Lieutenant Commander is not becoming for you. So I have decided, and with the blessing of Starfleet Command to promote you to the rank of Commander." Said Harry, with a big grin.

His eyes bulged. He regained his composure. "Thank you, sir." he said, maintaining composure. Inside he was jumping for joy.

"Lieutenant Commander T'San will you assist me if putting on his new pip." Called out Harry.

T'San shrugged and stepped on the podium. "I really do not understand why you need me to assist you. You can perfectly do this on your own." She took the pip and put it on his collar. "Congratulations, Commander. We expect great things from you." She said softly.

"Attention to orders" Called out Harry as he watched the crew in the cargo snapped to the position of attention. He grabbed a dedication plaque that was designed for this occasion. Harry looked at it, then started to read from it. "It's with great pride, that the Chief of Starfleet has granted special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and professional excellence of Bers, Bervag. In view of these qualities and his demonstrated leadership potential and dedicated service to Starfleet, he is, therefore, promoted from Lieutenant Commander to Commander. As of 27th of May, 2394. Signed Chief of Starfleet."

Still half-laying atop the cargo crate, Pecia began to applaud along with the rest of the gathered crew, the sound echoing off the walls of large room like reverberating thunder. A smattering of vocal cheers rang out from the assemblage as well, and Pecia smiled automatically. The newly minted commander Bers seemed to be popular with the ship's compliment.

Once all the applause and all had died down, newly minted Commander Bers made his way to Harry. "Great surprise I've gotta say." the trill said."Never saw it coming." he added, Looking around he spotted Nidria with a drink cart. "Buy you a drink?" he asked.

Nidira held up an open bottle champagne and two glasses. " How about champagne?" She winked to him and added. "Commander!"

"Does seem like the occasion, doesn't it." he smiled.

Nidria poured them each a glass. She handed him one. "To promotions, Commander." She held up her glass.

Kimoni walked through the crowd towards Bervag, adjusting her dress uniform again. Once she caught up to him she tapped him on the shoulder and offered a handshake.

"Congratulations Commander." She said with a smile, "How's the new weight on the collar?"

Having ambled her way down from the cargo container and into the crowd, Pecia smoothly nudged her way through those assembled between her and Bers. She arrived behind Kimoni just as she asked her question to commander Bers. She reached over the science chief's shoulder and put a pointed fingernail to the third pip on Bervag's collar. "Do the full pips really weigh more than the empty ones?" she asked, interjecting herself into the small group clustered around the XO.

"I meant it as a metaphor, the extra weight of responsibility that comes with the full pip." Kimoni replied, her voice even to make sure she didn't sound like she was making fun of Pecia.

The warrant officer smiled at Kimoni in return, her alien eyes bright with amusement. "So noted."

Alexander was already in the cargo bay, this was a new crew and he had no idea who was who. He figured out who the Captain was, and who the first officer was. Beyond that, he had no idea, who was who. He remained silent, observing everyone. He clapped when the others did. Alexander was replacing Christian Barrett.

Bervag just smiled. And blushed a little bit as well.

"Commander Bers, have you meet Lieutenant Alexander Newman?" Asked Harry, as he walked Bervag over to Alexander. Harry motioned with his hand for Bervag to follow him.

"Caant say that I have, Captain." Bervag said

"Lieutenant Alexander Newman, meet Commander Bervag Bers, my first officer." Said Harry with a big grin.

"Pleasure to meet you sir, congratulations on your promotion." Said Alexander as he reached out to shake the hand of Bervag Bers.

Bervag eagerly shook it. "And a pleasure to meet you as well." the trill smiled. "And thank you."

Avril looked on at the new chief engineer. He was being introduced to the first officer, Avril had every intention on talking to him, but other officers were trying to get her attention.

The night continued on, with everyone celebrating the promotion. The next day the USS Juno, would be leaving Empok Nor, and heading back to the Gamma Quadrant.

 

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