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Side Sim - The Black and Silver Ball... Promotions, and Revelations Galore! (All Hands)

Posted May 17, 2021, 10:33 p.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Shon Baht (Medical Officer) (Ben Z)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Zef Rollo (Counselor) in Side Sim - The Black and Silver Ball… Promotions, and Revelations Galore! (All Hands)

Posted by Lieutenant Kiama Naim (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim - The Black and Silver Ball… Promotions, and Revelations Galore! (All Hands)

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim - The Black and Silver Ball… Promotions, and Revelations Galore! (All Hands)
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Pretha smoothed the front of her dress one final time and sighed. She had tried several times to take a shift to cover for another crewmember to go to the ball. But each time she asked, she was informed they had taken over for someone else and weren’t interested in trading again.

Her black dress with silver applique down the shoulders and front (*) looked back at her ask if daring her to think anything negative of the reflection. Slipping into the simple black heels she could kick off in a moment if needed, she moved to the door and headed for the ball.

As she entered, the CRIT Leader looked around the room. She smiled at folks here and there and responded to hails and greetings with a smile and wave. Getting a drink, she headed for the large bank of windows and found a place, where her back was to the wall, where she could see the majority of the crowd. She recognized most everyone. But having not been on the ship long before the latest crisis had occurred, she still saw even more faces she didn’t know. A brief ache of missing Vash went thru her as she took a sip and moved that memory down. She hadn’t minded being alone before him. Yet now, seeing folks in pairs and groups, she suddenly realized that being alone wasn’t a good feeling at all.

Lt Pretha Oberon
CRIT Ldr/Sec
(*) Dress… https://cdn-3.jjshouse.com/upimg/l/4c/1c/26ec4e62a752d5f53c23e934527e4c1c.jpg

Namid roamed into the Arboretum moments after Pretha, wonder swimming in their charcoal eyes.

At first glance, their outfit was decidedly simple — a three-piece suit, dark shoes and a blue-and-black tie. But upon closer look, all that changed. Abstract, orca-like designs enunciated the onyx fabric comprising their suit jacket and — though obscured from view — the inner frame adorned navy blues and blacks in a similar pattern. Their trousers, tapered at the ankle, bled into sneakers that dared to masquerade as higher-end shoes. And from their crown, a pair of leather-black braids fell along either shoulder, tails swinging joyfully at their waist. They certainly looked, as their sister had mentioned over an earlier transmission, snazzy.

Immediately drawn to the foodstuffs, Namid wove their way through the crowd and helped themself to a few random morsels that just looked good. In raising what they assumed was a stuffed vegetable, Argimeau noticed a woman standing alone by the window bank. Tempted to offer her a crooked smile and move on, they thought better of it and, with a soft breath, made their way over.

“Hey,” they greeted, “you look like you could use some company. Mind if I join you?”

— Namid Argimeau

As the ensign came into the room in a nice blue dress she saw a new person someone she wasnt familiar with. She also walked up to the ensign with a greeting as well “Hello ensign. My name is Alyssa Williams. I myself am also a ensign on board. Thought I might join you and Namid. You know how people would get they get lonely. They need someone there to keep them occupied as a friend and a fellow officer I feel like as a junior officer, I should make another person feel like they are home.” She said as she greeted the ensign. She knows well enough to make someone feel like home. She doesnt like seeing someone sitting alone st all and just having Namid sitting there with the ensign. Williams thought why not just join them and so she sat down and joined them.

Ensign williams

Zef had just happened to be looking in the right direction to see Pretha Oberon enters the Arboretum in a dress that made her wonder about her own choice. She’d been wanting to talk to the woman ever since she’d been tasked with putting the CRIT team together. While the others talked, she kept a cool eye on the officer and saw her settle herself over by the viewports. Now was as good as another time. “I see someone I need to talk to.” She whispered to Alex. “I’ll be right back.” Making eye contact with the others gathered around, she mouthed, “Back in a minute…” and headed over to where Oberon was. By the time she got there, a few others had also gathered around the security officer

Still carrying the champagne, Zef looked at all of them. “My don’t you all look splendid!”

She waited a moment for small talk and then looked at Pretha. “Lt, I was wondering if I could get a word with you? It isn’t an emergency, so I could make an appointment, but I thought you might be free.”

—Rollo, CNS

bump?

While it was a little bit later then the invitation has stated, Walker finally made his way into the Arboretum. Despite what the Captain said, some people on the ship still actually had work to do, and couldn’t just duck away whenever they wanted for a party. But, the Captain had also explicitly told him, that in no uncertain terms was he to miss the event. It was almost like he could read his mind…

Even though he had plenty of other things to do, there wasn’t a good reason not to dress up for the party, and as he looked around at the guests he was certainly glad he did. Dressed in an all black suit, with a black shirt and tie, Walker had just a few hits of silver on his outfit. A set of silver cufflinks, a gift from his last Captain, a silver tie clip, and a silver watch that had belonged to his grandfather.

Looking around he noticed that the line at the bar was suspiciously short at the moment, the perfect time to get a drink before ‘mingling.’ Side stepping a couple, Walker stepped up to the bar. “Bourbon, on the rocks.”

Drink safely in hand, it was time to take a look at the festivities the Captain had lined up.

WO Darach - COO

Shon raised a glass to follow the captain’s lead with his toast to the crew. But part of Ensign Baht felt out of place, and he receded a bit to the outside of the circle as his blue cheeks darkened slightly to indigo. He was mingling with a lot of senior staff, and although he knew that it shouldn’t matter… Shon was humble to a fault. At least Kiama was there. His friendship with her made him feel like a little bit less of an outsider.

Shon leaned to his side to talk to Kiama out of the corner of his mouth. “A meal sounds great. We should exchange stories about Graven, from what I gather we both had quite the experience.” He smiled quizzically and glanced at his friend with a hairless raised brow.

(Ensign Baht, Medical)

“Uh-huh,” Kiama nodded, “That sure was one interesting and intense mission.” Well aware of his unease, she nodded towards the buffet and said, “I forgot to eat again. Would like to accompany me to the buffet and grab something to eat? Chat a little before the festivities fully start?”

~Lt. Naim, CSO

As more people gathered, even if they weren’t in the immediate group she was in, Faye felt that uncomfortable feeling flood her body. “Finding air,” Faye whispered to her mother and Shara gave her a knowing smile and a nod.

Slipping over to the bar, Faye stood next to Walker leaned back against the bar, exhaling. “I don’t mind gatherings as much but I really hate large parties,” she said, just putting that statement out there. “Calloway looked Darach over. “You clean up nice,” she said with a smirk.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

Just outside the ball, Jack and Celina were making their way as Celina could be seen fussing with Jack’s collar as he clearly seemed upset at her picking of him. Jack was wearing a suit and vest combo that had black and purple highlights in the vest and tie with a large black coat with fur. Along with his hands were golden rings and a golden wristwatch that stood out.

“Okay, so you know the saying I make everything look good,” she pulled his collar to the right and then the left as if it was actually able to move off his coat like a scarf, “this carpet around your neck makes you look like a pimp.”

Why Jack was wearing the overcoat still perplexed Celina. It was an indoor event with no chance of the temperature dropping unless the environmental systems went on the blitz. There was only one feasible answer. “Babe,” she took a step back scrutizing him as if he were a small child needing inspection before leaving for a formal event, “did you really mean to buy this entire ensemble,” she made a circular motion with her palm flat facing him, “or was this just another Terry cloth hoodie incident?”

“It’s part of the outfit, they said it was an assembled piece at the store, and you always love what Enrique picked out for me whenever I went to the Orion Circle Square Mall.” Jack said with a slanted look. He felt it was a great overall look, even if it wasn’t quite normal.

“Enrico never stuck you in that jacket,” she laughed. “If he did I am so gonna have a chat with him.”

For all the power, authority, and intelligence Jack possessed, the one thing he did not have a good understanding of was fabrics. So when he purchased a new hoodie for down time in the apartment, he never thought to question the title. He needed a hoodie. He liked the color. He bought the hoodie, and yet when it arrived, it was far from what he had imagined. Celina could only guess that this coat had to be along the same lines. His suit was immaculately tailored fitting him perfectly. The colors accented his skin, hair, and eyes, but that collar. That collar was going to be a sticking point for her this evening.

“نه نه نه نه ، تو زن شیطان! خوب به نظر می رسم” Jack said in Farsi as the translator began to pick it up for Celina. He was clearly getting irritated the more she picked at his outfit.

After being bustled by two other officers stepping around them to enter the room, Celina slid her arm into the crook of Jack’s arm entering the room. Looking around at all the people in the room, she let out a huge sigh, grabbed two drinks downed one and then motioned for Jack to follow her to a corner. Moving in front of him, she locked eyes with a firm stare. “Lose the jacket Jack,” she said calmly setting one of the drinks down and held the other tightly in her hand.

“You don’t just lose it instantly, you are supposed to let people see the outfit first… let them see how it looked as a piece. You know this, you make me watch Latin Designers on OMAP Network.

“So you are trying to make a statement,” she raised an eyebrow looking at him.

“I am in red,” she motioned down the front of her body. Her dress was simple but what it lacked in adornments was well made up for in how it fit her body. Thick bands of red fabric held the dress on her shoulders giving it a strapless feel without the need to tug up the bodice all night. The neckline scooped her bussom which created and accented her breasts to perfection. A slit up the left side of her dress, ending at the middle of her upper thigh gave the feeling of a the fabric flowing as she walked instead of moving with her body. “Every other chick here is in black. I am literally the scarlett lady with a date wearing a coat with a fur collar, gold watch, and gold rings. John,” she pointed to him and then pointed back at her naming herself, “Jade. Jade,” she pointed back at Jack, “John. Lose the jacket. so I don’t look like a strumpet!”

“What have I told you,” Jack said as he pulled his hand away from Celina, her as he moved his hand in front to show off the intricate rings which had Persian iconography engraved on them. “Family heirlooms, these were passed down by my ancestors. If you can have creepy demon dolls that will kill us in our sleep at our wedding I can have some of my heritage once a year at a fancy ball.” Jack said as he began to straighten up his coat.

Creed, XO

“One…you can have one heritage ring and for the record, no one calls them that. You’re just doing this to piss me off and it is not going to work,” she set down the glass and exchanged it for a third from a passing waiter. “You are going to lose that jacket and we are keeping the creepy dolls.”

“This literally as an engraving of the Anunnaki from ancient Sumerian, which was part of Persia,” Ardashir said as he took off the ring as he turned it so she could see better. “You always told me how much you liked these rings for their history… and that if we ever found out that the Anunnaki were really some ancient aliens that visited Earth this might keep them from killing us. I wear it to keep you safe.”

“Anunnaki…you don’t believe in St. Drogo or St Isodore but you are all in on the Anunnaki. The beings that genetically altered us to provide a slave force to mine gold but the patron saints of coffee and the internet are a stretch,” she cocked her head sideways to prepare to listen to his response.

Celina Rodriguez

Cochrane saw the XO and his wife-slash- Ship’s Tactician walk in and almost shot champagne out his nose at Creed’s jacket. Composing himself he waved them over.

When they arrived he looked at the XO and shook his hand. “Good evening Commander Creed… or do you like it when we call you ‘Big Poppa’?” and then he looked at Celina.

Celina broke out laughing as she held a hand over her tummy. “And people think you don’t have a sense of humor,” she smiled at the captain. Holding up a hand she waited for the completion of the high five signaling she approved of the quipp.

“I can’t airlock you sir and get away with it, so I am begging you, don’t you give her any encouragement sir. Jack said playfully as he saw a waiter walk by as he quickly grabbed a drink and began to down it.

With a straight face and flat tone he just nodded once and said “Vixen. Good to see you.” and then tried not to laugh.

Cochrane, CO

“That’s so much better than Lolitta,” she laughed giving Cochrane a slight courtesy. “I know the invitation said black and silver but I’m Latina. We don’t blend in anywhere so I figured if I am coming I might as well stand out and be me hence the red dress. I just didn’t think Jack was going to show so much of a fashion.....flair.”

“And Godammit it’s an ensemble piece… it goes… f**k it fine, fine…” Jack said as he put the glass back down on the waiter’s tray as he began to take the coat off as he wrapped it around the waiter as he patted him on the back. “Enjoy, real selkhat fur, 3,000 energy credits it’s yours,” Jack said as he took back his glass and finished it off before placing it back down as he grabbed another.

“No way,” he said with an almost excited tone adjusting the neck. “God this fits like a glove. The tailor must be a magician and the selkhat fur is extraordinary.”

A gurgling and gagging sound erupted from Celina’s lips as she watched Jack and heard how much he had paid for the coat. In a very unladylike maneuver, Celina spit out the sip she was drinking back into her fluted cup. “You paid how much for that thing,” she directed a lacquered nail at the waiter now wearing Jack’s coat. “Excuse me the Commander is going to need that back,” she looked at the waiter.

Taking a step back, the waiter looked almost helpless up to the XO. “You said it was mine though right…sir?” He wasn’t sure if this plea would hold up but the coat was amazing and he did not want to give it back.

“Are you serious? You are planning on keeping the coat. Just like that,” she stared at the man in disbelief.

“Well I don’t know the tailor and he does so if you want one you can just get another one…ma’am..right sir,” he looked back at Jack hoping to still have an ally for the magnificent coat.

“Jack…get the coat,” she said reaching forward for a drink. It was not hard to notice that as she shifted forward, Jack shifted in the same direction. “Jack what are you doing,” she asked crossing her arms.

“If you want one I need my money first woman,” Jack said as he eyed Celina, who he felt was going to try and get a drink too as he blocked her from the waiter.

Creed, XO

“For a drink or the coat,” she chewed her lip.

Celina Rodriguez CTO


Revna stood by the door where she’d just closed it as Krissy left, again. A black and silver ball, invitation directly from Cpt Cochrane. She was expected to be there as part of the crew. Dress code: formal, black and silver. In the ship’s arboretum. Okay then. “Mike! Honey, how much do you love me?” The question was followed by laughter. “We gotta get you a tux, unless you’ve got one hidden in your guitar case.” She walked over to the wooden chest and pulled out a smaller hand carved box and opened it. Inside sat a set of black onyx rune beads for her hair.


Revna stood outside the doors to the arboretum, a few minutes later than the start time, but it was a party for the current crew to relax after their last mission. And the counselor in her wanted them to have those first few moments, she knew how important they were.

Her hair was braided as always this time with black onyx beads, hand carved with Nordic Runes etched into them, woven into her hair. The braids were twisted and coiffed on top of her head. The beads were connected by delicate silver chains. Revna had chosen to go for simplistic and elegant rather than over embellished. Good practice for her new role. The dress itself was a rich black that faded to silver satin as it flowed and pooled at her feet. The satin was gathered and cinched over her right shoulder. The right shoulder was covered in silver and diamond like sequins mimicking the pattern of a snowflake. Across her left side from right at the top seam and reaching down to the top of her waist was another snowflake design. The waist of the dress gathered and spread across creating a form fitting effect before the skirt flowed downwards towards trailing into silver satin. The dress hugged her curves and then dropped gracefully to the floor. Strapped silver sandals with a small one-inch heel completed the effect. And even with that small heel she still felt petite next to Mike. The idea made her smile.

She glanced up at Mike and smiled, slipped a hand through his elbow and stepped with him through the door. She took in the decorations and the people, spotting one Captain Cochrane among a gathering she moved that way, for a moment allowing the nerves to race through her before taking a blessedly deep breath.

Dress: https://imgur.com/a/T7ZSRQm
Revna, I’m really in the deep end now

OOC: Okay, this is crazy, but Revna AND Zef have on EXACTLY the same dress. We need a Vulcan to figure out the odds on that one!!!

OOC: I am so so sorry. I swear I read everything but I didn’t catch that. It’s all fixed now, different dress.
-Jenn

D…(Zef is off talking to Pretha, but she will address it when she runs into Revna. LOL)

OOC: It would have been fine!!! Might even have been an uncomfortable funny moment for the two women. Don’t worry about it.

D…

Shon led Kiama to the buffet table he had perused earlier, more than happy to go back for seconds. He tried to pick out combinations of food that most species found complimentary. His bolian digestive system was hardy, but he didn’t want to be off-putting in such a fancy environment. As he picked out a couple of the different meats he let out a breath he had been holding. He looked sideways at the Manhattan’s Chief Science Officer and smiled, happy to have her companionship. “You know, last time we partied it up in the holodeck, it didn’t end to well… but at least if anything goes haywire this time, we’ve got backup.”

(Ensign Baht, Medical)

Kiama nodded and flinshed slightly at the memory. “That evening started so well. Who would have thought it could go so wrong due to an anomaly!” she laughed softly and slightly awkwardly. “I still haven’t been to the holodeck again since that day,” she admitted as she filled a plate with various food items as well. Some thing she knew and others she had no idea what they might be, ut was curious to try them. “With the upcoming shore leave, do you have any plans what you want to do? Stay here or go somewhere?”

~Lt. Naim, CSO

Shon nodded in understanding for Kiama’s apprehension. At least this party was in the arboretum, so the risk of a giant upside-down volcano in the sky was minimal. He considered her question, having not even really thought about it until that moment. “You know… I’m not sure. I’ll probably just hop on a shuttle to somewhere that seems popular. I feel like I can have a good time pretty much anywhere, y’know?” He grinned. “If you want a travel buddy just let me know, I’d be happy to tag along.”

“I actually haven’t made any plans. Other than exploring the station a little while we’re here. I hadn’t had any time to look around when I first arrived, so why not make up for that now that I have the time,” Kiama replied and then added with a lopsided grin before she popped a baby carrot into her mouth, “You are more than welcome to join me for that, if you like. Though your plans do sound really nice and I won’t blame you if you stick with them instead.”

As the ensign was sitting there wondering what to do, she sat there by herself. After all, she was wanting to get to know someone and all but she’s just sitting there wondering why doesn’t anyone wanna say hi to me. I feel like that that the fact that I dont interact with the others means I’m not socialable? If that’s the case then I don’t understand then. as she thought to herself. She then goes to a corner and stands there by herself and continues to drink. She never drank anything like this kind of beverage here that everyone else has. This is the first time for Alyssa to actually drink in her whole entire life. Ever since the fact that she came into starfleet and joined this ship she has always wanted to do something like this but with less of a a crowd. Shes not much of a person that likes hanging out with a lot of people this is her first time ever doing so.

While she stood there, she then smiles at everyone else cause they are having fun. Knowing her, she never had fun. She never had gone to anything like this at all. Williams also has a gut feeling that the fact that she is a quiet person that the fact that people might not like her the way she is. She’s too quiet and doesn’t talk much. She’s a shy person when it comes to things like this. When this is her very first assignment on board a starship, this has been the first big gathering that she’s been at as well. She’s never seen so many people having fun at all either which makes her think that she should have fun but also not.

Ensign Williams

As the conversations continued and the drinks were shared, Cochrane slowly made his way towards a small stage that had been erected in front of The Hill. Climbing the two steps, he nodded once to the musicians and they slowly ceased playing. He rapped his glass with his ring and the sound resonated around the room.

After talking with Pretha (or not), Zef returned to where she’d left Alex, but he was just taking his place up on the stage so she stood with the group and waited to see what was next.

Once he had everyone’s attention, he smiled and said “Crew and personnel of the Manhattan. I want to thank you, each and every one, for the amazing work you have done over the past months. Our mission is far from simple, but each of you has handled yourselves with a level of professionalism and dedication I have rarely seen. We have had our own share of close calls… but it was your skills and refusal to quit that saw us through. So please… a round of applause for all of you.” and he clapped and looked around the room.

As the applause faded, he continued. “But… even with the impossibly high standards that the ship itself has set, there are a few who still went above and beyond. And part of tonight is recognizing them. So… after much consultation with our Executive Officer Commander Creed, I would like everyone’s attention as we recognize these individuals for their contributions to the ship… and to us.” An Ensign in full dress approached with a tray holding more than a few small boxes of various shaped. Setting his drink aside, Cochrane picked up the first one.

“Ensign Shon Baht, front and center if you please.”

Cochrane, CO

Ensign Baht stiffened as he heard his name unexpectedly called. He looked around for a second as if searching for another Ensign Shon Baht in the crowd. Then he gulped and shuffled forward to stand where he was directed. Shon’s blue skin had turned almost entirely indigo. If he was about to be commended, he felt like his sequined black shirt and reflective silver vest were not the right attire for the occasion… but here he was, in front of the whole crew. “Captain,” Shon managed with a bow of his head.

(Ensign Baht, Medical)

She then looked at the new ensign and smiled. She never smiled at all ever and so she is really proud of the ensign. She never got anything like this but shes fine with it. She stood in the corner and stayed quiet.

Ensign Williams

Cochrane looked at Ensign Baht and then to the crowd. “Ensign Baht, it is with great pride and even greater appreciation that I announce that, by order of Star Fleet Command, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, effective immediately.” He opened the small box and showed the contents to the newly promoted officer: one full and one empty pip rank insignia. “Now I don’t want to spoil the line of that jacket with these, so I’ll just give you the box.” and he smiled. He then turned back to the crowd.

“In addition, Lieutenant Junior Grade Baht is also recognized for his exemplary service and courage during the events on Graven XII. It is my honor to present you with the Golden Nova Medal for Exemplary Performance.” Cochrane opened the case and removed the medal. As he pinned it Baht’s jacket, he said softly “But medals always make a jacket stand out, don’t you think?” and he smiled and stepped back and began clapping as the applause began in earnest.

Cochrane, CO

Putting her plate down on the closest available surface, Kiama clapped hard and beamed from ear to ear. The promotion and medal were definitely well deserved and she was really happy for her friend.

~Lt. Naim, CSO

The counselor joined in the applause. Bhat was a fine officer in her opinion and she liked him. It was wonderful to see him get some recognition for the difficult position he’d been placed in during their last mission.

—Rollo, CNS

Ensign, no, Lieutenant Junior Grade Baht was at a loss for words. He had never expected a promotion, much less a medal. Had he really earned them on Graven? He had only uncovered ancient medical records, hidden from some ghosts, saved a researcher, and shocked a man back to life… well, maybe he could figure that these were rightly awarded after all. Still, he was just a medical officer. Shon wasn’t in it for this, he was there to help people. Although, the current rush of emotions did feel good, there was no denying that.

Finally Shon squeaked out a “Thank you, Captain,” before turning and giving a bashful wave of appreciation to the crowd. He scampered off the stage and back into anonymity as quickly as possible, but his chest was puffed out a little further to display the medallion on his breast.

(Lt. J.g. Baht, Medical)


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