Accolades, Part 2 - Announcements

Posted on Tue 8th Sep, 2026 @ 5:34pm by Captain Gordon Francis (Ret.) & Captain Mindo & Commander Entaaro Nasz & Magnus Temple & Khellian s'Siedhri MD & Chief Petty Officer Larry Kersenboom (Ret.)

2,631 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: [MAIN] Learning to Fly
Location: Second Star - Starfleet Command Center
Timeline: current

Previously... Daeren Iril, the Trill consul, caught sight of Ambassador i'Miessan and her companion as they entered. The fellow accompanying her was older, not her nephew, who Daeren had met occasionally. He walked over to the pair. "Good afternoon, Ambassador," he said and also glanced at Khellian to acknowledge the man's presence. "I'm glad to hear that you and your people survived the attack."

Pampo Gnu had been haunting the Romulans, and took his chance to score some points, "Not only survived, but saved the day. We need as many hands as we could get putting out fires and literally keeping the air inside. These fine folks were there despite the danger!"

The lights dimmed, and the holo grid activated in an audible snap...

And now...

-Start-

Adjutant Threff Luten made his way to the holo array he had installed on the floor of the state room. Within the boundaries of the emitters, a secure holographic connection was established. The handsome and fit form of Admiral T'jonn appeared at the head of the table, the chair of a meeting from a thousand light years away.

"Hello, Officers of Starfleet, Romulan Goverment, Federation, and the Resident population...." He spoke in a Vulcan controlled way, but emotional inflections carried it over from neutral. T'jonn was smiling, he was happy.

"I am Admiral T'jonn, the commanding officer of numerous Starbases, planetary outposts, duck blinds, over a thousand vessels of various tonnage and two daughters, but my wife commands me."

He let the comment settle, looking for only grins from the married folk. He continued, "Today, I wanted to give you all good news, and it's hard to arrive in person, so forgive the holographic accolades."

The Adjutant activated the monitors to show the devastated, but still active space station.

"You have managed to keep the station alive, despite unbelievable peril. Our best estimates show that if the Starbase had fallen, we would not have the ability to project influence of any measure for two years, and to build another base of the Vanguard style and class? A decade. All the time the Second Sons or another outfit needs to entrench, conquer, hold congress with fear, destabilize a region already facing Romulan refugees, a dozen species' political intrigues, piracy, smuggling, illegal experimentation, war, conflict... We need this base and you all kept it alive. From Starfleet Command and Intelligence, please accept my congratulations for a job well done."

Heriah smiled at least, but that was more out of obligation than anything else. She did not applaud; did not even pretend to clap, but did nod a few times and looked around at everyone else.

Larry applauded. It was pretty darned impressive that there'd been no fatalities, even if the Admiral was talking about the station itself, not the beings inside it. Bean counters, he thought.

Captain Francis was all smiles at hearing the Admiral's words. It was his crew that managed to salvage most of the station. Their hard work and dedication went beyond expectations. It was indeed impressive, and needed. Starbase 109 was the only Starfleet outpost in this distant sector, and served a very different and more diverse clientele. It had the distinction of being the first line of defense against the Second Sons, Ravagers, and other factions who could easily take advantage of the surrounding settlements and systems. This base was all they had to keep the peace.

Lieutenant Sufai Kell had been the one to disarm the device, she had been the belle of many balls in the last few days. She smiled to herself, a keen sense of accomplishment fulfilling her.

Captain Izwyx'lo had taken some losses though, she wasn't so swayed by the words. "Sir, we've been getting the short end of many sticks lately. We had to scuttle our Star Cradle to keep 109 alive, tell me we got something coming to help us out here. Thunderchild is not enough to hold the whole sector..."

The Admiral held up his hands, "I'm only here to announce what is about to happen. At present the orders are to restore what was lost. However there have been plans and ideas over the years to turn this operation into a an expanded mission. With this action from a hostile party, with the evidence in recent years of the growing demand for our presence to mean something, This base is not going to be repaired, or refit.... it will be upgraded."

Adjutant Threff changed the graphic into a timeline view of three months as T'jonn continued, "Captain Francis and the Corps of Engineers have agreed on a timeline, and over the next three months a four phase operation will begin. In phase one, as we are now, we will restore the station partially to allow local workers to restore the interior and engineers to install a new temporary power source. Phase two will see the Corps of Engineers build around the station into a series of construction rings, and strip outer hull segments where phase three will see new structures added, and a new twin Fusion Core installed. In three months we expect to have a viable station construct begin phase four of repopulation. The final station will be of a new designation entirely."

"Well, that sounds interesting," Larry said. "We might be able to get some work out of that, in refitting the interior."

Next to Larry, Mindo nodded in agreement. "I can think of a few changes."

Larry gave Mindo an interested look. "Like what?" he asked.

Mindo began to say something, but was interrupted by the Admiral.

"There is more," said Admiral T'jonn. "Once fully operational, Starbase 109 will see a change in management. I now open the floor to Captain Francis."

Captain Francis went to the edge of the table, standing next to the holographic projection of the Admiral. The undercurrent of hushed voices in the room immediately came to a stop, with everyone paying full attention as the Captain spoke.

"In three months, I will be stepping down from command of Starbase 109," Captain Francis said. The ambience of hushed voices came back up, but only for a few seconds.

From deep within Heriah's gut came a singular but massive twitch as Rex squirmed at Frank's announcement. Heriah flinched herself, unexpecting this from Frank and took a step back in response. She went wide-eyed and shook her head minutely, not believing her ears and wanting it all to be untrue.

'You heard that? We are finally done with this old fart.'

"Hush Rex," she said audibly but softly enough to be drowned out by the other reactions.

Magnus and Genevieve shared a surprised, silent look between them. Magnus wondered if it had been the Captain's choice, or something Starfleet had requested. Still, he said said nothing. Others had worked more closely and longer with Francis than he had, he didn't want to occupy this moment undeservedly.

Sufai shared a look with Izzy, it was a shock to think of the old man leaving. The curse of the Captains seat held, this station knew how to buck its commander.

Quietly, Mindo hovered a few inches higher. The next few minutes would be the biggest in his career thus far.

Frank added, "In fact, I am announcing my retirement from Starfleet. It's been a humdinger of a ride, but it's time for this old stallion to ride off into the sunset. I will be relinquishing my duties to Commander Mindo. He has my full confidence."

Geri spit her coffee right into Entaaros hair.

'Oh that rat bastard!'

Heriah looked around, still bewildered by Frank's announcement. Entaaro laughed and reach for a napkin.

'Who's been here longer, been doing the work longer, been covering for that fossil longer? You? Or that Little Tyke who showed up only a week ago? 2 weeks?'

Heriah shook her head, throwing away Rex's sudden thought. Though her symbiont was expecting to take command, she was relieved that she was not.

Larry shot a surprised look at Commander Mindo. I didn't see that coming. Good for him--but now I'll probably never get another chance to talk to him; he'll be swamped with work. Nice to know he'll be around, though.

"Congratulations to Captain Francis on his storied, courageous career." Magnus chose to speak up, despite his newer presence within the crew. Someone had to say something, he reasoned. "And congratulations to Commander Mindo on his appointment."

Mindo had never been one to seek attention. Being small, he usually blended in nicely in a crowd. But now he was the center of the attention in the room. He smiled and gave a small bow. "I know I still have much to learn, this being my first command. I also know many of you may find it hard to work with someone my size. I know youthful looks and small statures make it hard to take my kind seriously in roles of authority. I intend to change that. It's a challenge, and I never back down from a challenge. This command means everything to me. I may take small steps, but this Fesarian eats giant leaps for breakfast. Believe me when I say I am up to the task, and I look forward to working with all of you!"

Larry applauded and smiled at Mindo. "Congratulations, sir," he said quietly. "It'll be good to work with you."

The room erupted into a chorus of good cheer and farewells to the good Captain Francis.

Admiral T'jonn allowed the hubub to subside before concluding his speech.

"My office includes Administration and oversight on matters pertaining not only to the military intelligence, but active ongoing work to maintain accurate records, as well as the placement of refugees. This brings me to the point. We have seen the need for the desperate people who come here to be given a place to go. The work we will do is vital to the Federation, and through our programs run here we expect to extend our reach farther than we have before."

Anyone in the know heard the dog whistle for Intelligence behind those words, Entaaro missed it, but Geri nodded once in appreciation. It was audacious, to think you could turn refugees into assets for maintaining "accurate" records.

"Whereas the orders for Intelligence divisions has been to maintain a soft front, and allow commerce to drive diplomacy, to seek information without upending the apple cart, this has allowed piracy to take root. Starfleet is not blind to the threats old and new. A very advanced form of our program is already deeply embedded in opposition to the Second Sons, with an eye to eradication. We are not calling it revenge, but I hear the Thunderchild is becoming a force multiplier to the programs of this base. The Delavi expanse has recently come under scrutiny as well, thousands... tens of thousands of refugees find their way here every year, and so with the recent events, and the miracle of no lives having been lost, our confidence is confirmed in the resilience of this place."

The weight of what was being unsaid was carried by many in the room. War, the Federation was declaring war on the piracy in the sector. A full Holo-splendor display twinkled, showing a wireframe of the massive new station to come.

When next the Admiral spoke, it was with an optimistic reverence, "I have some final announcements before concluding..."

He gestured broadly to the Romulan delegation, "To our esteemed crew of the Ehtevau and diplomatic staff of the Romulan embassy, we thank you. We have achieved an agreement with the Romulan Star Provisional Government, and are dedicating one of the Civilian Stacks to become a home for your people, and a beacon to the lost. It will be remade into a place like Romulus once was, and our diplomatic outreach will be done through this emergent community."

As T'jonn described it, additional imagery popped up around the station wire frame, all sketches of the new space. A volcano was depicted overlooking a black sand beach under gray cloudy skies. A glorious vignette of Romulus in artist form.

The admiral continued, "Let us serve the ones who need it, and limit none in our scope. We have held back for too long, and now it is time to make real our promises."

Verelan was struck so profoundly by the words that she could not process them, though her body reacted in the appropriate manner when given a gift far exceeding in return for the action that had been done. Her hand fingers splayed across her chest and she bowed deeply to the ambassador.

There were Whispers In Rihan and in standard, all of a similar ilk. They would have a home. They would have a home somewhere that they did not have to carve out of the Wild. Tears gleamed on the cheeks of more than one Romulan in the party. They were unashamed of being so moved by the gift being given to them, for each of them had watched their homeworld burn and never thought that they would be able to rebuild.

"The central spire biome will retain the usual M-class environmental norms, and play host to the metropolis of the civilian population. The other two are still being hotly debated in committee as to what form they will take."

Pampo said a little too loudly, "Risan Paradise is my vote." There was a slight smile from only those who didn't know him out of courtesy.

Larry gave a snort of quiet laughter. "I'll drink to that1" he muttered under his breath and made a note to himself to look that guy up. He sounded like fun.

To that end, we have been thrilled to see the formation of civilian leadership, and municipal functioning outside of the scope of Starfleet jurisdiction.

Pampo added, "Jomoharran... you know!" He jostled the poor man in front of him to no effect, again.

T'jonn founD it amusing AT LEAST, "It shows you are people we can work with, and have done a hell of a job without sanctioned approval or support. We wish to formally recognize the civilian populations and refugees of Starbase 109 as a functional society. We anticipate over a million civilians will be on this station, and that will require Starfleet to host its own citizens within a base at conflict. This task will not be easy, but we can remove barriers from our end. With the new population and government of this Federation outpost empowered to do so, there will no longer be a refugee population left to fend for itself ever again."

The Stars and Laurels logo superimposed over the imagery of the biomes, showing worlds throughout the Federation. Lines connecting each world and to the base itself began weaving into a fractal lattice network of people.

A professional but uplifted tone supplied final context, "Refugees taken in by the Station will be turned over to the civilian population. Within three years, a program being ordained, legislated, and hacked over will see a fast track to Federation citizenship, with placement guaranteed to any world of the Federation able to take in those who need. The people we take in, will know a fast and dignified process."

He finished with a grand feeling evident in the button bursting pride on display. T'jonn had the Vulcan range of emotions, and freely showed them.

"On behalf of Starfleet Command and the Federation Council, expect the next three months to see much change, and more than a few promotions. I will see many of you again soon most likely, so, until next time."

The Hologrid went dark on the ground, and Adjutant Threff wasted no time packing it in.

END

 

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