Gonna Party Like It's 2420

Posted on 08 Feb 2026 @ 6:52pm by Captain Brynhild Kleim & Commander Kristiana Petrova & Lieutenant Commander Cintia Sha'mer & Lieutenant Callisi Veera & Lieutenant JG Zhivise Silatuyok & Petty Officer 2nd Class Alizabeth Omari

1,955 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Unity
Location: Unity Station, Event Hall

The party itself was scheduled to begin after a small award ceremony to be held for each of the Starfleet vessels in attendance. This was not every ship in the convoy, thankfully, but the small cadre that had led the way--carrying the heaviest burden of coordination and implementation and, frequently, placing themselves in danger.

It began with a moment of silence and a memorial for the USS Montana, which had fallen from the sky. To the Odin AI, who had given herself to save those on that very planet. To those who had suffered and died during this journey--few in comparison, but one was too many.

Then, each ship took its turn, culminating with the USS Odin, which had been the lead vessel on this "wagon train through the stars."

"Thank you to everyone who has joined us here tonight," Captain Brynhild Kleim began from the small dais, outlined by two-meter viewports behind her that looked down upon the planet of Sal'kiir in all its wildly colorful glory. She raised her glass of synthehol out to those before her. "To the honored dead." May they live in Valhalla forever. "To those of us who have succeeded here, and to our new gracious hosts and the newest members of the United Federation of Planets. We look forward to a long, prosperous exchange of ideas, ideals, and prosperity together."

She paused for the light applause, smiling in her best I Am The Captain And Must Be Good At This smile as she finished her toast and took a sip before beginning what she intended to be a quick ceremony so everyone could get to the food, drink, dancing, and mingling instead of listening to her...

The three Lert-type characters had made their entrance in their own way. Walking Marshmallow Commander Harva Taliborn was noticeably present, happily talking with whoever he found himself near, always happy to interact with whoever would be willing to. Merry smiles and his own booming voice, towering over everyone else assembled in the space. Though respectful of the moment, when the glass was raised to the honored dead, he raised his - ... pitcher and joined in the toast. "Hail!" rumbled his basso profundo.

Kat Walker, the AI fighter pilot, was considerably less noticeable there, though still present. She would much rather just stand a bit off to the side, observing, being there if addressed or talked to, but otherwise content to just be present in silence.

Petrova came jogging in right after the raising of the glass, slightly out of breath. "Sorry I'm late," she managed to nobody in particular, straightening her dress whites and brushing a strand of hair out of the way of her face to make herself presentable and not look like she'd just jogged a few hundred meters to be slightly less late than if she'd just walked. Catching her breath, she cast a glance around the assembled crews.

Like usual, Zhiv was running late because she got lost, "damn, shi...ugh sorry," she spurted out just after the toast was done, realizing she said this to no one in particular, "right, I need a drink," she muttered, looking around for one.

Callisi was there from the start, hard to miss but surprisingly good at staying in the background. She stayed near the back of the collected masses, so everyone running late would see her before any of the guests. At the toast to the honored dead, she joined in silence with the toast. It was a minor comfort that she hadn't been the last to show up, but there was an irk to the notion that folks simply couldn't plan around a timeframe. Ts'usugi upbringing and all. Early was on time, and on time was late. Late was, well, very late.

It likely was not a surprise that Alizabeth was there at the beginning of the party perfectly dressed and with her warm smile affixed on her lips. She knew most of the people in attendance, either from having actually met them, or from her data files, so as the room began to fill she engaged with many of them. When it was time for the official start of the night, Aliza was standing with a pair of pilots from one of the other ships, her body perfectly posed and her head bowed. The conversationalist remained quiet during the opening, then excused herself to go find another drink as hers had, somehow, emptied.

Sha'mer had been early, mainly because she disliked having to manoeuvre through crowds. She stood somewhat to the side, leaning against a wall, in a place from where she had a good view of the room. At the toast, she raised her own glass, then drank. There were plenty of deaths she remembered, a list which only grew longer over time. A list, she was sure, which would become longer still. Hopefully not anytime soon.

On the other hand, the crewman with the unmarked uniform, sea-coloured eyes, and wild hair which was already beginning to escape its constraints, had come in with the rest of the crowd and stood smack in the middle of the crowd. He liked to observe the flows from here, the interplay between people, their words and their thoughts. He, too, raised his glass and toasted to the fallen, those who had embarked on their last, great adventure.

"And now, on to the celebrations," the captain continued once the initial toast and reaction had passed.

"I would first like to begin with recognition for one of our more...unusual crew members, but one who has nonetheless served alongside us well. Crewman Apprentice, if you'd step forward?" She nodded at Weirdo, who Bella could not remember if Brynna had chosen any other name to call him by. "Starfleet has agreed, in acknowledgement of your service to the USS Odin and your continued studies, to grant you the rank of Ensign and official placement as an Assistant Security."

Aliza moved forward, her gait even, head held high, looking every bit of the Yeoman but with the ease of her past making her a wonderful representation of the ship. Once she presents the box she steps back by the stage to become background, but there if the Captain needed her for anything.

He stepped forward with a solemn face, though his eyes sparkled like a sun reflecting on the shallows near a shore, and snapped off a smart salute. "Thank you, captain," he said and nodded his thanks to Aliza as well.

The grin broke out once he returned to his earlier place. The grin was partly for the occasion, partly at his own pleased reaction to it.

After another smattering of applause, Brynna smiled and continued, "I would also like to recognize Lieutenant Silatuyok with the captain's commendation for being willing to go above and beyond to help the ship in its downtime and assist engineering."

Zhiv blushed as she was not expecting an award. Pilots were not a big fan of downtime, minus drinks and cards, but even those can get old, and then it was just ackk to going as fast as possible, or doing reckless things again, not all pilots, but the majority of them.

"Oh, um, excuse me," she muttered as she made her way up to where the captain was. "Um, thank you, captain," Zhiv said, blushing a little more as she took her accommodation and headed back into the crowd. Grateful for it, as it'll help her move toward her ultimate career goal.

"Ensign Kat Walker," Brynhild went on. "Although due to your nature, you have fortunately not had to spend much time in sickbay, the USS Odin recognizes that you have put yourself on the line for the ship and endured much damage in the process. Therefore, we wish to recognize you with the Purple Heart."

Ensign Walker stepped forward, having quickly looked up the armithatic needed for displaying a pleasantly surprised look. Just a gentle one, of course. With a nod and a smile she accepted the accomodation and added it to the current active render of her avatar, displaying on the dress whites. "Thank you, Captain," she offered before stepping back again and retaking her position.

Although the captain had not had much chance to interact with the AI from the alternate universe, she offered a small smile and was pleased to grant the recognition.

"Lieutenant Callisi Veera," she went on. "You have also done great service by this ship in your time aboard. I am happy to recognize you with the captain's commendation." She bowed her head slightly.

The Daughter of Ts'usu perked up. Commendation? There was an ancient proverb about doing a task well was its own reward, but being noticed for it never hurt. A rare, soft smile crossed the rabbitess' features as she received the commendation. This would call for her to double her efforts aboard. To improve the capacity of the Odin. To bring the ship she called home up to where she was used to. "Thank you, Captain."

"I am also pleased to offer Petty Officer Alizabeth Omari the captain's commendation, based on the recommendation of departing Captain Lawe, for her fortitude during the illness that swept the ship some weeks ago." She smiled at the yeoman, both politely for the award being given and in preemptive apology for all she'd have to endure working for Brynna in the months to come.

From her place to the rear of the stage, Aliza was actually taken by surprise, which she tries to never experience if she could help it. Masking that reaction by the time she came more fully into view, her mind making a note to write to Captain Lawe in thanks when she returned to the ship, but that passed quickly enough to also realize that Brynn’s had been able to keep this from her, which meant she would need to do better. “Thank you, Captain,” she said, her voice perfectly pitched to reach over the room, after she accepted the award. Stepping over to the other side of the stage so she didn’t have to backtrack awkwardly.

Brynna took another sip of synth-champagne, already wishing this was over because standing up here and talking so much was very much not what she was best at. She's rather be in a fighter plane being shot at, quite frankly, but here she was. "And, finally, Commander Kristiana Petrova.

"Your service to this ship has been undeniable." She offered a small but sincere smile. She was sure that it wasn't easy for the commander to not have received command of the ship and have to watch this total newbie be brought in, but Brynna had no control over that, so she offered what she could instead. "On behalf of myself and the recommendation of Captain Lawe, I am pleased to award you the medal of excellence."

A raised brow from the ex-oh. This, she hadn't expected. It felt in part to her like a bone thrown at a dog to calm it down and soothe its displeasure. Though, banishing that thought to the side, her internal monologue argued that that was unfair to this new captain, who had seemed in all her interations a reasonable person, and this award could easily be reasoned away as being a genuine attempt to recognize Petrova's efforts on the ship. The award collected she gave a nod to the captain along with an appropriate "Thank you, Captain," before she too took her place back in the assembled ranks.

With that done, Brynna raised her glass once more. "Congratulations to you all, and thank you for all that you've done for the USS Odin and Starfleet."

 

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