In Memoriam (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on 11 Jun 2013 @ 12:25am by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lamar Darius & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Lieutenant Jared Nicholas & Lieutenant JG Jacrux & Senior Chief Petty Officer Keval zh'Erinov & Commander Scarlet Blake & Verity Thorne & Lieutenant JG Victoria Crawley & Ensign Im'er Mor'an & Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cyrus Kiwosk & Marine Captain Ray Fernandez (Ret.) & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Amon Mormont & Commander Andreus Kohl & Lieutenant Dawn Meridian & Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Amril & Ensign Varek & Petty Officer 1st Class James Watt & Ensign Marjorie Horne & Lieutenant Jacob Pendleton

4,053 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Port Torpedo Launcher
Timeline: MD 08 - 1900 hrs

[ON]

Dressed in his enlisted Starfleet dress uniform, Lamar Darius did a final wrinkle-check of his sleeves and cufflinks before stepping forward and through the small door to Galileo's torpedo launching room. As he formally entered the small and confined chamber, he quickly took notice of the other assembled enlisted crew members and quickly fell into formation along the back wall. The atmosphere was eerily quiet and the faces of his fellow crew members looked somber. In the middle of the room, perched on two large pedestals, were a pair of photon torpedo casings with Federation flags draped over each of them - grim reminders of the ultimate sacrifices which some members of Starfleet had to make.

The warrant officer didn't say a word, but simply stood at attention and waited for the rest of the crew to assemble.

Keval's one meeting with Jeremy Stone had been one he would not soon forget no matter how much he tried. The man had been cruel, arrogant, judgmental and pretty much a pain in the ass. But despite all of that he had been striving to be a good officer.

He deserved to be slapped around the head and shoulders until he had some sense beat into him, except for the fact that he was haunted by personal demons that Keval could not even began to fathom.

And in any event he did not deserve to die. But at least he had gone out a hero and that was the way he would have wanted it.

Keval was dressed in his dress whites and as usual everything was sharp creases, material unmarred by dirt or lent.

Jared's experience with Stone had been worse than Keval's He had had his nose broken and he had been treated poorly and there was little love lost between he and the former Security Chief, but even he had never wished such a gruesome death, or any death on the man.

He stood at parade rest waiting for the room to fill up.

Mor'an glided into the room, dressed in her crisp dress uniform. Death did not affect her the way it did other people. Death was a part of the natural order of things, something that cannot be avoided but rather accepted. The two deceased men had been a part of this crew and for that reason she mourned their premature ending. They had died doing their duty and Mor'an respected them for that.

Entering the launch room, Victoria Crawley looked around at all of the people already standing around, waiting to say goodbye to their crewmate. She'd never met the officers, but had heard a lot about them throughout the day; from what she'd heard and what she'd been told, they had been good officers, both of them. She knew that they would be missed by all and she was sorry she'd never get the chance to meet them herself. Straightening the cuffs on her dress uniform and plucking off a piece of lint, she pushed any distracting thoughts aside and kept her eyes forward, waiting for Commander Holliday.

Lt. Rhodes entered the Torpedo Launch Room with a line of security personnel. They came to a halt standing side by side forming a group on one side. In his dress whites, Theron stood there with mixed feelings about this function. Not the event, but the purpose for the event. He stood tall and would show his respect. He hoped the rest of his department would do the same.

Chara filed in quickly behind Rhodes, her posture straight and stiff, head held high, her uniform crisp and sharply cleaned. She was all angles and lines, with no room for imperfection.

Christoph followed Chara into the room. They stood next to each other in the security group. Looking about the small area, Bree realized some of these present were just filling the shoes as they were expected to do. Others, well, they really wanted to show their sadness and respect.

Mormont came quickly afterwards, standing with the rest of security. His face was blank, no emotion showing. He wasn't sure what he felt. He hadn't liked Stone, but neither had he disliked him.

Cyrus couldn't help but smile and a slight chuckled escaped his lips as he thought of the irony of it all. He was dressed in his Marine Dress uniform, almost as much in spite of Stone as it was in respect of him. He saw the twin torpedoes and winced visibly, and felt himself get misty eyed. He didn't like Stone, but he liked what Stone believed in. As he stood there watching the others he decided that he would stay in the corner. The whole things felt like forced formality which what upset Cyrus more than anything. The man was still Starfleet, and whether you loved or hated him he had done both good and bad to the ship. No one seemed to see the tortured man underneath the stubborn impersonal demeanor Stone had. He found a nearby wall and leaned against it with his arms folded across his broad chest. finally he took a steadying breathe at the sheer frustration of it all and took his place in the parade.

Liyar swept into the room severely with both hands folded in front of him. The buzzing thoughts of the room's occupants pinged against the outer limits of his consciousness, and he tried to bat them away. He did not want to be here. He did not like funerals. He thought they were meaningless. What good was a funeral, when everything a person ever was, floated adrift, lost forever in the measly vacuum of the universe? What service could justify that? He had been to his own family's funeral. He remembered wanting to kill the person who spoke the ritual words. They were empty, without the Essence, it was just a fragile way to make one's self feel better. In that regard, he understood and even accepted funerals, but these people were not here because of that. They were here because they wanted to pretend that this meant something.

Neo leaned casually against the back wall, one leg stuck out and his arms crossed over his chest. He peered through the straight mop of hair atop his head which hung down a little over his eyes and he was utterly apathetic about the entire process. He hadn't known Stone, and he didn't care. As a Vulcan, funerals, at least in this way, were highly irrelevant. But, he wondered, looking around at all the gathered humans and their stoic faces, what else could you do, if there were no katra? He looked over at his brother and saw the harshness in his face, and it wasn't difficult for Neo to tell what was going through the elder's head. What they had done, after all, had been much the same. And, like this funeral for a person he'd never met, it had been irrelevant.

Behind Liyar, Athlen floated in, cutting a trim figure in his dress uniform. There was nothing he could think or truly say on the matter. Stone had not been a pleasant individual, but in death, pleasantries were often overlooked for the sake of heroism, bravery, and godspeed. Stone had those in spades, so Athlen thought, that was perfectly fitting. He quietly bowed in between Liyar and Crawley, smiling a quick greeting to the two.

Maenad skulked into the crowded torpedo bay thinking that this whole thing was a waste of time, and that such a massive presence in such a tiny room was going to get uncomfortable, if not a fire hazard. It didn't help that Stone was a violent criminal, either. He should have been left in a prison somewhere to rot, and Maenad didn't believe in solitary confinement. And the dog was menace that never should have been brought aboard; it was wild and unpredictable, completely lacking in discipline - much like its owner, Jeremy Stone. And, jokingly to herself, she thought: Who holds a funeral for a stupid dog? Either way, the two were dead, and Maenad felt herself more at ease than saddened. Apathetic would have been her own description, if she were asked.

Flicking her eyes through the crowd, Maenad spotted Liyar near the back wall. He was somebody she thought would share her lack of enthusiasm for the celebration of tyrant's life. Fortunately for Maenad, however, she always looked rather subdued, preventing anyone from outwardly picking up on her disapproval of having a funeral at all. With a quick inclination of her chin and flash of her eyebrows, Maenad made her way to his side. "Hi Liyar," she whispered.

"Good evening," the Vulcan answered in kind. He straightened up and held his hands behind him in the V'Shar at attention stance as more occupants filed into the room including the ship's senior staff. It was true that he did not wish to be here, but this was an official Starfleet gathering, and it would reflect poorly on him and his government if he did not, as the Terrans said, keep up appearances.

Tugging the cuffs of the dress uniform's sleeves, Scarlet Blake moved through the room to take her place as a Department Chief. Her features were serious and cool, as they often could be. It was something of a difficult evening. Stone had threatened Jeroen, her oldest and closest friend. Truly threatened to make him disappear. Scarlet wasn't unaccustomed to attending the services of fallen colleagues, she'd been to a number when she had been in the marines. And not all of them had been angels either, some, in fact, had been downright bad officers. It was a part of the job, and the respect of a life. And right now? She wasn't here for herself anyway, she was there as the Chief Counsellor, in a difficult atmosphere for the rest of the crew, whichever way people felt about it.

Verity Thorne moved in only a moment after Scarlet. He also, as everyone else, wore his dress uniform, but it felt strange and unfamiliar. He moved to take a place to the side with the other enlisted, guessing it would be the most appropriate thing. The Chaplain, who had once been a catholic priest, had conducted many funeral services in his time. Sometimes he would know the deceased, others he wouldn't. But either way, every time it had been his duty not to judge them or second guess, but instead to simply help send them to the next life, and comfort the living left to deal with the grief as best he could. In many ways, he saw this the same way. He hadn't met the man, but had heard - not good things of him. But he would attend his journey to the next life, and offer any comfort needed to the living left with the grief, if it was required.

Jacrux stood at respectable attention among his fellow officers. It was a bit foreboding that his first official ceremony at his new assignment was a funeral. He could have probably gotten away with skipping the funeral and claimed ignorance, but he personally found the customs fascinating, and it was the perfect time to observe his crewmates in a stressful time. From the looks of things, the dead people (Jac hadn't bothered to remember the names of the deceased) were not the most loved among the crew, and his ears itched to listen to the reasons some of the officers looked like they would have rather stuffed the deceased into the torpedo and shoot them into space whether the person was already dead or not.

Victarion Jaqen watched with wide eyes, in his dress uniform. The curls were still not tamed and he stood still, his fingers moving slightly as if counting. Praying. He was praying. Not for a man and a dog he had never met, but instead for peace and joy for all, and remembrance.

As the back of the room had completely filled up, Andreus Kohl was muttering "excuse me"s and "pardon me"s as soon as he stepped into the torpedo launching chamber. He gently pushed and squeezed and prodded his way through the thicket of sombre officers. After spotting a couple of department chiefs near the launching system, Kohl moved more briskly towards them. He only lingered when his hand came to rest on Victarion's shoulder, and he made eye contact with the Argelian, before he brushed on by. Kohl descended the stairs to the lower level and made his way to Scarlet Blake. Like her, Kohl was wearing the white dress uniform jacket with the medical teal band around the wrist. He nodded at Scarlet and stood at parade rest by her side.

Scarlet looked across to the familiar figure, offering a gentle nod, her fingertips brushing close to Kohl's sleeve in greeting. One way or another, the two of them had seen and gone through a lot together on Galileo. From arrival, struggling in Sickbay, and now, they were both here together as Department Chiefs, and of two departments that worked so close together. She offered him a small smile, approval in her eyes of Kohl and his rise in the department and on the ship.

Jacob walked in dressed in his most formal attire. His massive size was actually enhanced by the suit. He stood at parade rest with his eyes focused on the center of the room. He did not speak, he simply stood tall and with the deepest look of respect on his somber face.

Ray, decked out in his Marine dress uniform and sporting his many medals and ribbons walked easily into the room, his can in front of him and his shoulders back. It was a scene he was used to. Most times bodies were never recovered from the battlefield in time, so the Torpedo launch was an honor that many needed to understand. Ray didn't need to stand in the parade, he understood that he wasn't required to do anything but teach...but the Marine also understood that most people were here because they were told to be here. So he took his position in the parade like he would have on the Fitzgerald with his cane held as one would a ceremonial sword.

Amril thought he must make quite a site as he entered the room. A vorta in a Starfleet dress uniform? Preposterous. Yet there he was. His experience with Stone had been almost non-existent, but he recognized the necessary social obligation these Federation people had about death. He had an odd relationship with death. He remembered dying, the memories of the previous Amril clones implanted in his memory, although those memories ceased at the point of departure only to begin anew with each replacement's activation. Jam'Hadar did not mind dying, and really what else were they expected to do? They were engineered soldiers and they expected death. And the Founders? They died, sometimes, but it was rare for a god to pass on except in the most extreme circumstances, and even then the Great Link preserved their memories. As the operations chief took up a position beside the others, he realized that, of all the people in the room, he was probably the one who knew the least about death. That realization, coupled with his fascination for Federation culture, promised to make the memorial serve, well... memorable.

Ensign Varek and Petty Officer Watt entered together. They looked as if they had just finished a conversation. Watt looked properly solemn, while Varek looked the same as always, of course. They moved apart, Varek heading over to the other junior officers and Watt with the enlisted.

Ensign Horne should have arrived earlier, but she didn't realize how small the space was or that she was required to be there. This was only the third funeral she had attended due to being banned from several types of public events during her previous tours. Learning from experience, she found a wall away from the casings and held her mouth shut.

Dawn stood near the back wall, feeling thoroughly ridiculous in her dress uniform. She didn't like white. Was she doing anything for Stone by being here? Was anyone? He was dead. Was it for him, or was it for them? How many of them even cared? She did, in her own way... and although she didn't much like the ceremony of it all, she supposed it was a nice gesture.

Delainey entered and seeing Dawn, approached to stand beside her. Like many, she struggled with the discomfort of her dress whites, but she resolved not to fidget now that she'd entered. It was important for the crew as a whole to attend ceremonies like this, as regardless of the likeability of the deceased, it was an acknowledgement of the loss. Any one of them could die less liked than they used to be, but that didn't mean their lives were of lesser value.

As a counselor, this was an opportunity to establish a presence amongst the crew during this tough time, whether it was because people were actually mourning or merely struggling to sum up their feelings for a lost, but very troubled, and disliked soul.

As the last, and most senior member of Galileo's crew onboard right now, Commander Holliday stepped into the room, working his way through the collection of bodies that had formed around the Torpedo Room to pay their last respects to a fallen comrade. He had not expected to see so many individuals here, given the reputation that the deceased had gathered amongst his crewmates before meeting his end in the line of duty. Nevertheless, it warmed the XO's heart to know that when it came to a fellow officer, reputation and personal feelings were of little regard.

With a PADD in hand, the Commander made his way to the far end of the room, standing with his back to the torpedo tube, in full dress uniform, waiting for the final members of his crew to come to attention.

As a hush fell over the room, the XO cleared his throat, and began to speak.

"We are here today to pay final respects to Chief of Security & Tactical - Lieutenant Stone, and our K-9 unit, Sidious. Many officers fall in the line of duty, and for those who live on, it is our duty to make sure their sacrifices are never forgotten. No matter what each of us thought of the Lieutenant, he was still one of us. He still wore the same uniform, worked the same duty shifts, ate the same food and breathed the same air."

John paused for a moment, tapping a control on his PADD to cycle the next page to appear in front of him.

"His final sacrifice came the way that any Starfleet officer would want their death to come - protecting his shipmates. That sacrifice will be remembered by the crew of the Galileo for as long as we travel amongst the stars. And it is with a sense of pride, and sadness, that we commit Lieutenant Stone's body to those same stars."

With a final tap to the control panel of the PADD, the torpedos now bearing the bodies of the Galileo's fallen comrades slowly moved into the tube, the flag of the Federation draping each one as they did so. As a lone crewman whistled the traditional Starfleet call to attention, the dull thud of a torpedo firing could be heard, swiftly followed by a second.

As the last torpedo left the ship, the XO bowed his head in respect, before turning back to the gathered crew and spoke a single word.

"Dismissed."

Neo shrugged from his spot on the wall, pushed himself up and headed out of the room before anyone could spot him. It had been quick, at least.

Verity remained still as others began to move around him. He closed his eyes, his hands clasped lightly in front of him and head bowed. He gave a silent prayer that the man would find peace now, and for the Saints to guide his journey.

Victoria looked around at the others around her for a minute, then headed to the doors herself. She felt bad for the lieutenant and wanted him to be at peace, but she didn't know him and felt that it would be awkward for her to stay any longer. She said a prayer for the repose of his soul and quietly walked back to her room.

As Andreus Kohl's eyes followed the torpedo tubes on their journey into the launching system, he was stood there imagining their launch into space. For half a moment, it gave him a chill to imagine his own body, left to drift in a metal tube in the vacuum of space. It reminded Kohl to update his will and testament. His thoughts returned to Stone afterwards. In the brief time Kohl had known Stone, the man had endured significant suffering. Anyone Kohl had spoken with about Stone had spoken of his entire life as one prolonged suffering affair. At least now, Stone's pain was over.

Maenad leaned into Liyar's shoulder and whispered into his ear. "Let's get the hell out of here," she had dinner on her mind, now, and was hoping to avoid having to lie to people about how depressed she was.

Liyar touched her arm in farewell. "Go. I will be behind you."

Mormont looked around for a moment before taking a breath. He had been to so many of these during the years. So instead of sparing any false thoughts, he left in silence.

Jacob moved to a nearby window. He quietly sang a tune in honor of Lt. Stone:

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the sky on laughter silvered wings
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things
I've wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence
Hovering there I've chased the shouting winds aloft
And flung my eager craft through footless halls of air

The higher we fly, the farther we go
The closer we are to each other
The darker the night, the brighter the star
In peace go my sisters and brothers

Up, up, the long delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor even eagle flew
And while with silent lifting mind I trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space
Put out my hand and touched the face of God

The higher we fly, the farther we go
The closer we are to each other
The darker the night, the brighter the star
In peace go my sisters and brothers.."

(OOC: http://youtu.be/rF6Tte1VDPg)

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CMDR Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. (JG) Jacob Pendleton
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

Ensign Jared Nicholas
Language Specialist
USS Galileo

PO 1 Keval Greyson
Operations
USS Galileo

Ensign Jacrux
Anthropologist
USS Galileo

Lt. JG Scarlet Blake
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

PO2 Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Galileo

Lt. (JG) Theron Rhodes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. JG Victoria Crawley
Psychologist
USS Galileo

CWO Kiwosk
Security/ Tactical Officer
TRT Squad Leader
USS Galileo

Marine Captain Ray Fernandez
TRT Instructor
Starfleet Academy, Earth

Cadet Senior Grade Im'er Mor'an
Red Squad Intern
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Maenad Panne
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Andreus Kohl
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Staff Warrant Officer Amon Mormont
Security/Tactical
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Dawn Meridian
Counsellor
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Delainey Carlisle, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Chuef Counselor/Doctor
USS Galileo

WO Lamar Darius
Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
NPC'd by Lirha Saalm

Lieutenant Amril
Chief Operations Officer
USS Gaileo
played by Psylus Anon

Ensign Varek
Medical Officer
USS Gaileo
played by Psylus Anon

PO3 James "Striker" Watt
Engineering Officer
USS Gaileo
played by Psylus Anon

Lieutenant (JG) Liyar
Diplomatic Officer, VDF/SDD
USS Galileo

Ensign Marjorie Horne
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Galileo

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