Promotion

Posted on Thu Feb 19th, 2009 @ 6:37pm by Captain Elsie Halliwell

1,021 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Citadel Prime
Location: Lane's Ready Room
Timeline: Current

Commander Lane arose from his captain’s chair on the Bridge and turned to Lieutenant Dixon, nodding. Straightening his uniform, he rounded the cool, metallic hand-rail and strode over to his Ready Room with an anxious pace.

“I shall take it in my office, Lieutenant,� he ordered with a subtle smile.

“Aye, sir,� came the reply. “Patching it through.�

As the Trill stepped down to his Ready Room, the doors silently breathed open as he entered it. Commander Lane then angled around his familiar desk and heavily sat down on his chair, activating the comm.-channel once he had settled himself. The care-worn and aged face of Admiral Stace instantly replaced the United Federation of Planets logo on his console view-screen along with his familiar bust. His silvering hair and haggard looks was an instant reminder to the Trill that war burdens people and that the young do not always die so young. The Admiral’s heavy, grey eyes twinkled slightly at the sight of the new Commanding Officer and his solemn expression raised ever so, like a weighty, wrecked ship on the bottom of a silt ocean bed.

“Admiral Stace, thank you so very much for returning my communication so quickly,� he said.

“Not at all, Commander Lane,� he replied with the ghost of a grin. “As you are well-aware, there isn’t all that much to do once you’re stuck behind a desk at Headquarters.�

“I suppose that you’re right, Admiral,� he said with a smile, sharing in the jest.�

“Anyway, time is precious once you’re as seasoned as I am, Mr. Lane; something you youthful whippersnappers have no suspicion of at your age. And nor should you, I say. So, I shall cut to the quick of it, if I may. It is with great pleasure, Commander, that I hereby grant your request for the Promotion of Lieutenant Commander Rowena Arkham to full Commander.� He leant back and smiled widely, and the creases of his face and around his eyes deepened. “Now, that one’s a battleaxe, Commander! But, her service record, from what I have access to, is commendable. I am surprised that this request wasn’t submitted earlier in her career,� he pondered.

“Rank compared with position is secondary to my good First Officer, Admiral. And, thus, she has never sought it. But, I feel that it is high-time that her efforts go rewarded, whether she wants it or not.�

The Admiral laughed haughtily, and the leather of his voice pleased the Trill. “Indeed, Commander. Indeed.�

“Well, I have to go and inform my new Commander of her elevation, Admiral,� Lane replied. “Send my regards to your wife and thank her again for the wickedly delicious chocolate cake recipe. Mrs. Gray has made 4 this month already. I’m starting to thicken at the waist because of it!�

“I will do, Commander. And congratulate Arkham from me. She deserves it for the service she has given.�

“I will do, Admiral. Lane out,� he said with a beaming smile. As his face disappeared from the console, the Commander picked up the heavy, oak box that was on his desk and opened it with a creak. A solid, gold pip lay in the purple velvet and the Commander smiled at it.�

Flicking his hand up to his combadge, Lane summoned Arkham to his Ready Room.

=A= Lane to Arkham: Could you report to my office, please? =A=

Lieutenant Commander Rowena Arkham groaned a little as the communication came through, just as she was leaving the bridge. She had stayed until they had crossed the border into Citadel Space, and in that time her plan to leave at 0500 had gone clean out the proverbial window -- nearing fifty, Arkham was beginning to become the sort of person who couldn't stay up all night without an afternoon nap somewhere in the equation. Briefly, her sleep-deprived, work-addled mind wondered if one could actually physically strangle another human being via a commbadge, but reconsidered the notion -- Lane had always seemed a decent enough young officer --there was probably reason for the disturbance.

Sighing and tapping her commbadge, Arkham smirked a little. =A= Arkham here. Yes sir, I'll be around momentarily. =A=

Arkham shook her head, at least grateful that the Nova was much smaller than the Akiras of her past, and that everything was a relatively short walk away -- bad for claustrophobic young officers and crewmen, but excellent for an aging officer with a mildly arthritic hip. Arriving at the Commander's Ready Room, Arkham rasped, "You rang, sir?"

Standing up, the Trill smiled. He quickly rounded his desk and walked over to his First Officer. “I did, Ms. Arkham. And, don’t worry, this shouldn’t take long,� he replied widening his smile. Producing the oak box from behind his back, he opened it in front of her. As he delved into the soft purple fabric with his thumb and first finger, he nimbly plucked the solid, golden pip from where it lay and held it up for the woman to see.

“Lieutenant Commander Rowena Arkham, by order of Starfleet Command and my own authority, I hereby promote you to the rank of Full Commander.� He removed the onyx pip that was fastened to her collar and then replaced it with the new solid one. “Congratulations, Commander… and welcome to the club.�

Arkham was, needless to say, quite surprised. Fingering the new gold pip gingerly, a fleeting ghost of a smile crossed her features -- but it was gone almost as quickly as it had come. Meeting Lane's eyes with her own steady cobalt gaze, Arkham said simply, "Thank you, sir. This is...quite a surprise."

“For you, maybe,� he uttered with a smile. “But you’ve earned this, Commander. I’m just glad that I can be the one bestowing the glory onto you. It’s been a long time in coming, I feel. Command couldn’t get it done quick enough, if you ask me.�

He stepped back a little to admire the three pips on her collar. “Perfect,� he said. “Exactly as it should be.�

 

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