A Captain's Prerogative
Posted on Tue Nov 25th, 2025 @ 4:20pm by Captain Remy Johansen & Lieutenant Commander Eirly Andersen & Lieutenant Commander Xalanth & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Keel & Lieutenant Commander Daynah Ral & Lieutenant Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil & Lieutenant JG Sakkar & Ensign Veqthar
2,264 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Main Bridge, USS Astrea
Timeline: MD 09, 0730 Hours
Remy sat at the desk in her Ready Room hovering over her third cup of coffee and groaned.
Captain Philippe Auvray
The man had started off as a moderately annoying pest. A mosquito buzzing around trying to suck the lifeblood out of some of her most trusted officers. She found him moderately entertaining when he was strutting around like a peacock on stage at the opening event, though she noted well how he seemed to quickly favor people who he felt had the je ne sais quoi he was looking for. Or maybe even that was a show.
Whatever it was, Samuel had seemed to have grabbed his attention, and now he had her first officer under his wing, and she was beginning to get irritated. Was this Astrea's operation or not. She'd been up most of the night working through not just what had happened the day before, but the logistical makeup of the crew, her senior staff, particularly with Nash's departure and Razka's, she was feeling the lack of seniority - the need for more commanders in command.
When she received the notification that the last person that she was waiting for had arrived to the Bridge, she grabbed the black box sitting on her desk and walked swiftly out onto the Bridge, hovering near the entrance to her Ready Room doors where it was easy to view the entirety of the Bridge, including the upper level where the central command center for what had become a homicide investigation was being ran.
Remy had established that she preferred a casual protocol when she entered and left the Bridge - preferring everyone to remain attentive to their stations rather than announce her presence and come to attention, so she was not surprised when the Ready Room doors had only attracted a few casual glances.
"I actually do need everyone's attention this morning, though I promise to keep it brief," the Captain announced, her voice carrying easily across the Bridge. "Stop me though, if we're in the middle of a crisis - other than the obvious one-" Remy paused, and hearing no one speak up she continued.
"I have been putting together our next round of promotions over the last few weeks, and while generally it is more enjoyable to do these by way of ceremony and with notice so that family and friends are able to attend and share in the moment, when promotions are earned there is not always a reason to delay giving them for formalities... In fact, in circumstances such as the one we are dealing with now, there are many logical reasons to move forward with Field Promotions swiftly."
The Captain spoke with conviction, stopping to look at each of her department heads who were present in the eye before continuing. "You've been working tirelessly, not just since tragedy took the life of Ambassador T'Varel yesterday afternoon, but all of you since you've come under my command, and with every assignment that I've given you. But, our assignment here - though Starfleet's orders are clear - as you've seen is not without its challenges. I'll be damned if rank is going to be one of them."
Looking up from one of the Mission Consoles he had commandeered to send an update packet to the Diplomatic Corps, Keel kept his face impassive as he watched and listened to the Captain speak. He grew more intrigued at her words, and craned his neck to see who would get promoted to what.
JB removed his ear dongle and carefully set it on the console in front of him. He touched Fulvia on the wrist and motioned with his chin to where Captain Johansen stood at the center of the bridge.
Sakkar swiveled his chair fully around to face the Captain. Though doing this here and now seemed unusual to him, he reasoned that it was logical for the Captain to boost morale however she could. The mood around the ship was understandably somber after losing the ambassador.
Veqthar turned his attention from the science station and hazarded a look to the center of the bridge where Captain Johansen was holding court.
"Lieutenant Xalanth, Chief of Security and Tactical Departments, please step forward."
"Commander Andersen, could you help me?" Remy looked toward her second officer and handed her the black box that she was holding. Inside was the necessary pips for the various field promotions she was preparing to give."
The red lizard stepped away from the security console and towards his captain.
Eirly stepped up to the Captain's side with a nod, "Yes, ma'am." She accepted the black box that contained the pips and looked at Xalanth, smiling as she did so. It was a proud moment to see him take over the Chief of Security position and now accept the rank of LTCMDR. "Congratulations," she said.
"One of my favorite duties as Captain has been to have the power and authority to bestow rank and delegate authority to those who have earned it," Remy stated after Xalanth had taken his position in front of her.
"Lieutenant Xalanth, In recognition of your exemplary service as the Commanding Officer of our Security and Tactical departments on the Astrea, and your dedication to Starfleet, to its mission and our purpose it is my pleasure to hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and all of the privileges and responsibilities therein."
Xalanth beamed as the second officer placed the pip on his collar. " Thank you, Captain. i will not let you down."
"Handing the department over to you was clearly the right choice. Congratulations again, Commander." Eirly said with a smile as she placed the pip on his collar.
As Eirly was finishing up with Xalanth, Remy moved on to the next officer on her list. It was going to be a busy day, and she wanted to keep things moving.
"Lieutenant Ryan Keel, Chief Diplomatic Officer," Remy announced. "If you could step forward, please."
Raising an eyebrow, Keel got to his feet, moving towards the Commanding Officer. He was filled with a fizzing nervous energy at what was about to happen. Standing smartly in front of the shorter superior officer, his stomach turned queasy for a second. This has to be good right? This can't be four promotions and a demotion ... he thought to himself.
"Lieutenant," the Captain began, "This would be a good time to let you know that Starfleet Intelligence approved your credentials, giving you special agent status under their division."
Keel blinked, absorbing the news, then offered a lopsided smile. He was nervous of being drawn back into that life, but he was nothing if not dedicated to Starfleet.
"And both the Intelligence and Diplomatic divisions have signed off and approved the official change of orders status that we discussed with Commander Spello." Remy gave the Lieutenant a curt nod. "Today, you are receiving with that a field promotion from me to Lieutenant Commander."
Remy gestured for Keel to face out to the Bridge, "I'd like to announce our new Chief of Diplomatic Intelligence. A position that has been in the works for a while."
Remy nodded to her second officer to pin Keel.
Eirly raised a brow but kept the smile on her face as she took the pip and pinned it onto Keel's collar. She hadn't been told about the changes to his position, but it was a well-deserved promotion nonetheless, he'd done a lot since coming aboard. "Congratulations, Commander. Welcome to the club."
Looking at his superior officers, Keel grinned and drawled, 'thanks ... I hope I get to stick around the club a long time.'
"I hope so, too, Commander Keel," Remy replied.
'We'll drink to it later,' Keel nodded at the Captain, and awaited his dismissal. Once Remy let him go, he resumed his seat at a Mission Console, self-consciously tugging at his collar. He was smiling from ear to ear, pleased that he had been promoted, and not, as his subconscious always told him, cashiered for some unforeseen failure or lack. Letting loose a breath he felt he had been holding for a long time, he relaxed into his chair.
"Lieutenant Daynah Ral," Remy turned to her left, the Operations station not far from where she was standing. "I know we haven't known one another for very long, but your record speaks for itself, and your rank should better reflect your experience and leadership among the crew."
Daynah's head raised from her station as her name was called. This was something she had not expected. However, she would have been lying if she said that she did not want it. She approached the command area of the bridge. "Captain, it is an always will be the pleasure of a joined Trill to share the wealth of experience and knowledge that they are caretaker to." She smiled softly.
"It's been a pleasure having you aboard." Remy smiled at the officer. "I hope we get to serve with one another for a long while."
"Congratulations, you are hereby promoted to Lieutenant Commander, receiving all of the privileges and responsibilities, therein."
Remy waited for Ral to get back to her station, and then looked up toward the back of the Bridge where Baptiste and Fulvia had been running point on the heightened security protocols.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil."
JB came to his feet, exchanging a look with Fulvia before his gaze settled on the Captain. "Yes, ma'am?"
"After our talk we did some digging into your service record and have spoken with people who have served with you over the years," Remy stated. "This promotion to full Lieutenant comes with the expectation that you will continue to speak truth to power and stand by your principles in your position here as Assistant Chief Tactical Officer."
"Congratulations, Lieutenant." Eirly said as she stepped forward for a third time to pin a new pip to someone's collar. She enjoyed this aspect of her role. "Between you and Xalanth, I know the Security and Tactical department is the best in the fleet. Well done."
Jean-Baptiste felt the deck tilt half a degree under his boots. It wasn't the ship--just his own balance giving way for half a heartbeat.
A promotion. His name spoken clean and official in front of the whole bridge. The words from Captain Johansen gave him a warm sensation that flowed outward from his sternum. He straightened. "Thank you, Captain," he said with as much professionalism behind the words as he could muster. "I won't... I won't take that lightly."
"I know you won't, Lieutenant," Remy replied.
"Unfortunately, celebrations will have to hold until later," the Captain continued. "Right now we have work to do."
Daynah stepped back to her console with the new pip affixed to her collar. This was unexpected, but quite welcome. Ral swelled with pride within her, for he could feel the pride that she had for this new step in her career. Deep within the woman Ral told Daynah this was your doing not mine.
JB stepped back from the small circle of light where Remy had stood him up in front of the bridge. The new pip still felt warm on his collar. He found his way back to his seat at the aft station again.
He exhaled slowly. Let the breath settle him. As the bridge returned to its usual rhythm--key taps, console processors, slight beeps from critical systems giving the crew an indication of it being alive--he slipped his ear dongle back in.
Instantly, the channel indicator on his display flared open, a solid blue ripple--incoming priority request from planetside operations. He frowned a little, tapping the transmission open for audio.
A voice piped through the line, a slight Reptilian accent. "Astrea, this is Lieutenant Commander Torab. Captain Auvray requires immediate contact with Captain Johansen."
Jean-Baptiste blinked. Of course. The slug of man--Auvray, not Torab--had timing. It was dramatic and entirely impeccable.
He toggled the line to hold, angling slightly to the bridge pit where Remy stood conferring with Eirly. He lifted a hand to catch her attention.
"Captain," he said, his tone carrying a little more weight that usual. "Barisa Prime is making contact. Captain Auvray is asking for you."
"Let's not keep the Captain waiting," Remy replied her face serious, her tone difficult to read. "Patch it through to the Ready Room."
Captain Remira Johansen
Commanding Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Eirly Andersen
Second Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Daynah Ral
Chief Operations Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Xalanth
Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Ryan Keel
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil (& Ensign Veqthar)
Assistant Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant J.G. Sakkar
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Astrea
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