Promoted and Waiting

Posted on 27 Jul 2018 @ 11:58pm by Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn & Commander Scarlet Blake

1,142 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Blake's Office, Avondale Shipyard
Timeline: MD 139 - 1300 hours

ON:

Resting back in her chair for a moment, Blake looked at the screen in front of her, seeing through the writing on it rather than really reading it. She was satisfied with the reports she'd sent and the response to them, but dealing with the Prime Directive so closely? With so many lives in the balance? It hadn't been a comfortable experience. She knew that she should chalk it up to 'all's well that end's well', but it was hard to shake that discomfort of having to stick so rigidly to rules that could have resulted in so many deaths. And she would have stuck to the rules. It was how she was made. But it wouldn't have made the result any less horrific. She was shaken out of the thoughts as the chime went. "Come in..."

Tris walked smartly up to the Commander’s desk. He had had a wonderful night sleep in the temporary quarters following their return to the Shipyard. Here at Avondale they had special quarters for Andorians that suited their specific needs, especially the temperature control.

Stopping briskly at attention across the desk from Blake, Tris reported, “Ensign Shizn, reporting as ordered . . Sir.” He always debated if he should be using the standard masculine pronoun or switch to the specific female pronoun. He never really knew which might be offensive to the particular officer. He felt too good to worry about it today, standing there with a slight smile on his face.

Blake smiled when she saw who it was, the dark thoughts swept away with the good tidings it meant. This was the part she loved. Seeing people flourishing...hoping to have the chance to encourage it. She nodded, closing her computer and straightening up. "How are you, Ensign?"

Tris found this first comment to be encouraging. At least I didn’t screw something up, he thought. He relaxed just a touch, but remaining at attention answered casually, “I’m doing very well Commander. I very much enjoyed being in attendance to the decommissioning ceremony.” He wondered if he should ask about the new assignment.

"Same," she assured with a slight chuckle, shaking her head as she crossed her legs, resting her clasped hands on her knee. "It was a new experience for me," she paused for a moment, just looking over him. "How did you think the last mission on the Schofield went?"

Tris was curious if the Commander was searching for some information or just trying to be socialble. He tried to relax and answer honestly, “I feel the crew took on an uncertain mission with a vessel they had not been trained on and did very well, . . . under the circumstances. As for the mission itself, I have not read all the mission briefs available to me, but those I have read showed a high compentancy of those crew members involved.”

"And you?" Scarlet asked softly with a small smile, leaning forward to him. "How do you think you performed?"

This question confused him, unexpectantly. A bit of fear began to race through his mind, searching for anything he might have done or said during the mission that someone might have complained about. He quickly shook off the negative of past possibilities, and focused on the here and now. Tris gave a bit of a cocky smile as a distraction, mostly to himself, and replied, “That old bucket was certainly a challenge, but the engineers got Her motivated and She performed for me nicely.” His hands seems to slip up to his hips as he continued like he had heard one of the fighter pilots speak one time, “I took Her by the hand and made her do a dance or two.”

Tris then felt very much out of character, letting his hands slip down to his sides, “Heh, sorry about that.”

Scarlet chuckled softly, shaking her head with a slight wave of her hand. "No need. I agree. Although you probably put it more colourfully than I would have," she assured as she pushed herself to stand, reaching into the drawer. She took hold of a small box before moving around to his side of the desk. "Which is why I think you deserve this," she opened the box, letting him see the rank pip inside that would change his Ensign designation to Lieutenant JG.

Tris was curious what the Commander’s intentions were until he saw a box in her hand. When she showed the black pip in the box, he wanted to do several things at once; from asking ‘Are you sure you got the right Andorian?’ to squeeling like a little human girl from the excitement. Tris had heard several stories from Lieutenants he worked with, how they were given their promotion. He had been anticipating this moment for a while, but had also been waiting his turn.

After a long pause of just looking at them in the box, Ens. Shizn looked up at Cmdr. Blake and said, “Thank you Sir, um Ma’am.” He corrected quickly. “I am very honored to receive this from you, Commander. I’m proud to have served under you.”

Scarlet shook her head lightly, taking it out carefully to pin to his collar. "You handled the last mission well. You kept a cool head in an impossible situation. It saved lives. You don't get a better reward than that. But this comes close," she brushed his collar neatly before standing back. "So you are hearby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade."

Tris felt humble for just a second, then stood tall and proud, “Thank you Ma’am. I will continue to do my best.” His eyes then shifted over thoughtfully, looking to the Commander and asked, “Which brings the question, when will we be receiving our orders?”

Scarlet shook her head with a small smile, lifting her hands slightly to the sides. "You will receive your orders from our new CO soon," she assured. As interesting a jaunt it had been, it felt good for her to be able to say that, knowing who that CO was. And how it was about time too.

That really wasn’t the answer Tris was hoping for. One of his failings has always been dealing with waiting and uncertainties. “Yes Ma’am. I understand.” He smiled again thinking how proud his mother will be when he is able to tell her of his promotion. He then asked the Commander, “Will there be anything else?”

"No...only for you to go and celebrate," Scarlet assured with a soft laugh, shaking her head as she gave a slight wave of her hand, certainly in better spirits than she had been before he'd arrived. "Dismissed, Lieutenant."

OFF:


Cmdr Scarlet Blake
Second Officer
USS Galileo-A

LTjg Tris Shizn
Helmsman
USS Galileo-A

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