> "I am glad that we could be of service to you, and your sleeping
problems."
> Lasiter answered.
>
> Faylan added, returning the conversation to business, "You may suggest to
>Admiral Snellings that he contact me about retirement."
That made her smile - with fangs. "I shall, Admirrral."
> "Sleep well, Admiral. Be safe." Lasiter added.
"Thank you, sirrr," she replied. "I will."
(resp?)
After the call ended, she changed her clothes into her uniform. The next
thing she did was program the replicator with her command-level code to
produce an admiral's pip, just one to designate rear admiral, and (with a
little tinkering with the computer banks to find out Black's size) an
admiral's uniform with it's distinctive gold piping along the shoulder seams.
Finally, she inserted into the schedule, again using her command-level
codes to override Black's previous commands, a meeting of all non-essential
staff and crew (Caitian and Klingon as well as Starfleet) in the main
holodeck at the shift-change at 0700, with orders for a computer
announcement at 0650 and reminders to appear on all consoles. Then she
replicated her own dress uniform and a regulation Starfleet officer's sword
and belt (her own was at home, since it was a dress, not a fighting sword)
and shined the brass on it, since the computer never polished it well enough.
At last she went to bed, setting the alarm for 0500.
When the alarm went off, she took a sonic shower, had some breakfast in her
room, poished her brass one more time, and put her uniform on. Her mane
always took the longest, and she wanted it to look perfect, so she took the
time. At last, she put the shiny leather belt on, attached the sword,
picked up the folded uniform and pip and headed to the holodeck,
programming it to look like the central garden of Starfleet Headquarters on
Earth. The announcement came as she finished, and she ordered the computer
not to let any calls from anyone come into her for the next ten minutes,
simply waiting for people to arrive as she stood on the stone dais that
held the statue of Jonathan Archer, the uniform set behind her out fo sight
on the statues pedestal, the pip resting on top of it.
(Assuming Black comes in...)
"Just wait, Captain. I have my rrreasons. Please, stand with me and look
out overrr yourrr gallant crrrew."
(resp?)
She waited and watched with him. "They'rrre a good crrrew, Captain.
You've rrreally come a long way since I arrrrived, especially in your
relations with the Klingons."
(resp?)
She waited silently until it looked as though everyone was there, and then
she held up her hands for silence. Not achieveing that, she let out a
bellowing roar. That did the trick. "I'm sorrrry this meeting has come on
such shorrrt notice, but I am glad to see you all herrre. I would
especially like to welcome ourrr frrriends and comrrrades-in-arrrms frrrom
the Klingon Empirrre and the Caitian Planetarrry Defense Forrrce. Though
this is a Starrrfleet event today, you have joined with us in ourrr fight
against the new felinid enemy, and so it is only fitting that we all
celebrate each other's achievements together."
(Any reaction?)
"Today, I have the grrreat prrrivelage of honorrring a human you all know.
He is the commanderrr of the Starrrrfleet forrrces herrre, and joint
commanderrr of the mission to infiltrrrate and eliminate the felinid
thrrreat. But you should all know that soon yourrr numberrrs will
incrrrease and you will have help in yourrr battles. In a few days, an
entirrre Starrrfleet task forrrce will arrrive, 13 heavy ships in all, to
help you in yourrr fight."
(reactions)
"This task forrrce incrrreases the amount of firrrepowerrr at the disposal
of this sectorrr, a job usually assigned to someone of grrreat experrrience
and rrresponsibility. Inevitably, an admirrral is chosen."
(Reactions? Crowd? Black?)
"That is why," she continued, after a suitable pause, "the decision has
been made by Admirrral Lasiterrr, Commanderrr of Starrrfleet, to prrromote
Captain John Black to the rrrank of Rrrearr Admirrral." She could not
contain her smile.
(eh?)
She turned back and got the pip, then turn back to Black, removed the four
regular pips and replaced it with the single admiral's pip on his collar.
She then offered her hand. "Congrrratulations," she said to him. "I can't
think of anyone who deserrrves it morrre."
(resp?)
"Well, it wouldn't do to scandalize the fleet by having a merrre captain
command a task forrrce," she replied.
(resp?)
--------------------------------------------------------------
DETROIT RED WINGS
2002 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS
Lord Stanley has come home to Hockeytown!
