> "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."
"Then, good night. Be safe and be well, Admiral. See you when you get
home." Lasiter replied.
Faylan, for his part, smiled and nodded, seconding the setiments stated by
Lasiter.
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.
Black enters carrying a PADD, still reading the mornings report. He
looked up only to see the arrangement, and again to take a seat. At least
he was going to take a seat...
"Just wait, Captain. I have my rrreasons. Please, stand with me and look
out overrr yourrr gallant crrrew."
"Aye, sir. I'm not sure I understand..."
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."
"That they are sir. When they came here, I thought the mutual macho
mentalities would be forever battling each other, but look at them now.
Brothers in arms. United against a common foe. United as the special breed
of military unit. They are inspirational..." he commented.
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."
Commander Mitchell, one of Black's staff officers, was caught off guard.
He had never seen, or heard, a live caitian ever do that before. He was
truely impressed.
Black jumped only slightly. It was not the roar that got him, but the
unexpectedness of it.
Snellings and a few of his staff officers almost wet themselves.
Polath and the other klingons smiled. They had not only become
accostumed to the caitian roar, but welcomed it.
"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."
THe crowd was happy. Not just visably, but audibly. Snellings was a bit
surprised, and started wot whisper something to his staff. Black could not
see this, but Kitanya with her additional height could.
"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."
The crowd was held in anticipation. Black worried that it would be
Snellings, or some other lackey he would have to train. There was no time
for that.
Snellings started to stand to take the praise, when...
"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.
Snellings plopped right back down. He was feeling embarressed.
Black was in a bit of shock. This was not something that one was surprised
with, at least not typically. This was great news, at least for him...
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."
"I hope you folks know what you are doing. I am happy, and very grateful,
but wow. What does one say to something like this..."
"Well, it wouldn't do to scandalize the fleet by having a merrre captain
command a task forrrce," she replied.
He smiled wide and bold. "Thank you Admiral Kitanya. Thank you very
much. I only hope that I can live up to your standards. I am truely
honored, sir." he finally said, still in a bit of shock.
"I guess we need to talk about another Admiral in the area soon too,..."
{response}
