The Fallen 29
Posted on Sun May 10th, 2015 @ 2:28am by Captain Enalia Telvan & Commander Angelica Fairchild & Lieutenant Commander Ethan Chaparral MD & Commander Sinek & Lieutenant Daln Hadren & Lieutenant Vi Mingenbach PhD & Lieutenant Dylan Santiago & Lieutenant JG Airi Saxa & Staff Warrant Officer Nexi
Mission:
The New Sydney Fiasco
Location: Main Hangar Deck
Timeline: About 2 Hours after the Memorial Preparations
Looking at the torpedo casings lining the main hangar deck for the second time, Angel sighed and cast a lingering glance over them. Despite Sinek's meditation coaching, she couldn't help feeling that some of the blame for such loss fell squarely on her. Starfleet - and Enalia - clearly disagreed, but she just couldn't shake the feeling that at least some of those deaths could have been prevented. For now though, she banished the thought and focused instead on what she wanted to say to the crew when they assembled here. She hadn't written or practiced a speech; she felt like that would sound too scripted or give the impression that she didn't care about the people they'd lost. Instead, she'd spent the last two hours doing some serious soul-searching, looking in the mirror at the brand-new white dress uniform with its red trim. Moments like this really made her miss the security yellow.
Enalia had finished getting ready and walked up in her dress whites next to Angel, a somber expression on her face. Touching Angel lightly on the shoulder, she nodded to her new XO. Enalia had done some soul searching as well and while likely not as deep as Angel's, she too felt ultimately responsible for all that had happened. These were her people and though she knew any of them could die in an instant, it wasn't a part of normal daily life. except for today. Today, these two women had to deliver a eulogy and a service for twenty nine crewmembers that had died in one of those instants.
"Are you ready?" Enalia asked Angel, knowing full well the answer was no but hoping she was wrong.
"No," Angel answered honestly. "But I don't think anyone's ever ready for this sort of thing, Enalia."
"No, I don't think so either." Enalia said with a smile. "So who's the lucky Vulcan, anyway?"
"Lieutenant Commander Sinek." Angel blushed just a tiny bit when she admitted to it. "He's not what I expected... I mean, he's pretty cuddly for a Vulcan. And super sweet."
"That's good." Enalia said, her smile warming a bit. "I'm glad you have someone to support you through this." She expected him to be a lot deeper than he seemed at first but cuddly? That wasn't a word Enalia expected someone to use to describe a Vulcan.
"He's been a huge help... taught me how to meditate, and we're doing guided meditation a couple nights a week." Angel held her hands up, showing them to be rock steady despite her nervous she felt. "It's kind of amazing. I'm still nervous and scared half to death, but I can control it."
"I'm glad one of us can..." Enalia muttered, missing the obvious opportunity for a euphemism reference about 'guided meditation'. Her hands were at her sides but if she held them up, they wouldn't be nearly as steady, the PaDD she gripped in one hand pressed against her leg to keep it from shaking.
Angel raised an eyebrow at her. "You didn't make a joke. Are you okay?"
"I'm here. I'm well enough." Enalia said dismissively. "This has to be done and I have to be here to do it. Just... Catch me if I fall."
Not entirely sure she believed that answer, Angel nodded. "Of course. But if I notice you swaying or anything, I'll try to get you out of here before you fall on your face."
"Thank you." Enalia said as she took a few steps towards the podium. That dreaded podium. "Shall we take our places and wait for everyone else?" The flight deck had a lot of people gathered already but most were the crewmen that could get away from their stations easily enough. A few were roaming the array of casings, looking at the names sadly. The podium to the side had no one near it, thankfully.
"Sounds like a plan." Angel dreaded the podium just as much as Enalia did, but she headed in that direction anyway. The rest of the crew would be arriving soon, and she wanted to be ready to start once they'd all arrived.
Lieutenant Commander Sinek arrived, dressed pristinely in his dress whites. The whiteness of the uniform made his greenish hue more noticeable.
He came to honor those who had given their lives for the furtherance of Science. Ultimately, they were all a part of that. But these had paid the ultimate price. He knew of one, who had made the choice to die in the place of others. This caused Sinek to glance Angel's way. The meditation seemed to be working for her.
He was there as the CSO for those who had served in the Science labs. He was there as the Second Officer to pay honor to those who served in other capacities. Every department had felt the brunt of the losses. He was there as support for Angel, knowing she felt the weight of her command upon her.
"Anyone ever tell you that you look hot in that?" Dylan whispered to Ethan as they entered the hangar deck in their dress uniforms.
Ethan chuckled slightly and elbowed Dylan in the ribs. Really? You're thinking about that at time like this? Though I must admit you look pretty good yourself." He took the other man's hand. "I love you, I never want to see you in one of those."
"You won't." Dylan replied as he gave Ethan's hand a squeeze.
Soon after, Ulani arrived in a more conservative black dress and shoes with heels. She realized she was not a member of the crew. However, she knew what it was like to lose a comrade in arms. Plus there was the fact that this directly affected her son. She chose the dress in home of the deceased and to not bring dishonor to Ethan and Dylan. Ulani quietly walked up to Ethan and took his free hand for support.
Ethan found his fingers entwining with his mother's. "Thanks, " he whispered.
It seemed that Airi would enter last. Usually one would never find her in a dress uniform, but this time she had donned it. Dress whites with a matching uniform skirt and boots, perfect to fit with how maternal she could feel sometimes. The loss of all of these people disturbed her on the inside, though she did a good job hiding it. Today was a somber occasion, but she wanted to look her best because they deserved only the best in remembrance. Having joined the others, she stood at silent, somber attention.
Vi sneaked her way inside right in time. Very late, yes, but she had rather been late than absent as this was a very important moment. She had found a dress uniform and pinned her brightly colored pink hair into a bun. She made her way to the back of the hanger bay, ready for the memorial to begin.
Daln arrived in his dress whites, but unfortunately was unable to feel anything personal for these people because he had never met them. He had just arrived on the ship and had hoped that he would be able to meet his people soon. This was not what he had in mind.
Before long, Enalia's chrono chirped twice, letting them know it was time. It seemed most people were there already as it was so they might as well get started. Nodding to Angel, Enalia contemplated taking the podium herself first, letting Angel get away with not saying anything. Most of these casings had people she knew in them though, and she felt it wouldn't be fair to at least give her a chance to say something. "Angel, it's time. Still want to say a few words?"
"You want the honest answer or the one I promised I'd give?" Angel smiled a bit tightly, not really looking forward to addressing the crew. Despite feeling more than a little nervous, she did not hesitate in taking the podium. Folding her hands on its surface, she leaned almost casually against it as she looked over the torpedo casings and the gathered crew. So many of those casings bore the yellow tags denoted with a phaser icon to identify them as security rather than engineering or operations. Most of them she knew personally or had at least worked with. After a moment, she refocused herself on the remaining crew, who were waiting for her to speak.
"Of these twenty-nine souls, twenty-two of them gave their lives to defend others. None of you asked them to do it... nor would you consider asking. It's a terrible price to pay, but they offered their lives freely so that others might live. I want you all to remember that through these proceedings and in the coming days. I knew these men and women personally. I trained most of them, fought at their side. Brothers, sisters, friends. And if I could bring them back, I would." Angel paused for a moment, letting that message sink in before continuing. "Risk is a game we play out here. A game where we don't know all of the rules, and one that is all too easy to lose. We take that risk not because it's fun or because we thrive on danger. We do it for our fellow crew... for people we care about. Don't ever let a sacrifice like this be made in vain."
As Angel stepped back from the podium, Enalia stepped up to it, setting the PaDD on it and clicking it on before gripping the edges for a moment, her white knuckles in sharp contrast to the synthetic wood grain. Instead of a speech or notes on the PaDD there were only two words. 'Don't Panic' was emblazoned on it in big bold letters.
Looking first out over the torpedo casings, then over the assembled crew, Enalia took a deep, slow breath. "Assembled Ladies and Gentlebeings of the USS Hera. We are here today to pay our respects to our fallen comrades. Those that have given their all to the uniform and the principals they swore to uphold. These brave souls were our colleagues and friends. Our allies and more. They leave us to carry those burdens that they may now lay aside and though we mourn their loss, they would not want us to mourn long or to dwell on their deaths. They would wish all of us to remember the good times. To prosper in our daily lives as best we could. Though they are now fallen, they will never be forgotten. In a way, they will live on in our memories that we cherish of them."
"But now, in this moment, we must lay them to rest and give them the honors they deserve. For their unwavering loyalty to that which makes us who we are. To the principles that they fought for." Turning to the assembled honor guard, armed with what seemed to be archaic firearms, Enalia nodded to the lead crewman to begin the salute.
"Ready! Aim! Fire!" the honor guard commander called out, the sound of the seven rifles firing their blanks echoing across the hangar deck. Twice more he called out these orders, the shots leaving an almost deafening silence in their wake. After the final shots finished, He called them to "Present Arms" and they held their rifles in a salute to the deceased.
That's when Enalia turned to the casings and saluted. A crisp military style salute. As soon as her hand was raised, the music started. Not played by people - there was no one in the crew that could play the bagpipes well enough. But by the computer, over the ship's PA system. The Starfleet version of Taps played, echoing almost eerily across the hangar deck.
When the music was finished, Enalia gave the single most important command of the event. The one that consigned these 29 to their final resting place in space.
"Energize."
The torpedo casings dissolved into a shimmer of light, vanishing from the hangar deck and leaving nothing behind. Enalia then dropped her salute and stepped down from the podium.
"At ease," Angel called in the following silence. "The list of the fallen is available at the podium for anyone who wishes to view it." As those gathered began to move about, she went over to Enalia's side, giving her a friendly hug. "You did great. Now go have a drink or make some tea... whatever you need to relax. We're all about to go on leave anyway."
Enalia appreciated the hug - she needed all the support her rubbery knees could get right now. "Thank you. You too, ok? And let's authorize shore leave for New Sydney. Everyone needs it." Offering Angel a weak smile, Enalia gave her XO one more pat on the shoulder before heading off to find something to drink.
Sinek stood at attention throughout the ceremony. It was the least he could do to honor those who had fallen. He took in a processed every word spoken. When the Senior Officers saluted, he lifted his hand in the Vulcan salute as a sign of approval for their honor. It was not only a greeting for Vulcans, but also similar to applause for humans. It was his way of honoring those who gave their lives.
Sinek had not known many of these fallen ones personally. However, by the end of the words, it seemed he had. He understood the void there deaths created in the crew. He also recognized the looks of grief and pain. Many of the crew experienced trauma, seeing their friends and comrades die. The same trauma affected Angel before he had taught her meditation.
He heard Angel and realized how far she had come as a leader. When he had first met her, she seemed anxious in leadership, as if she felt unworthy to be granted the honor. Today, there was none of that. She was the leader she was meant to be. She had come a long way as his student. He suppressed a smile when she had finished speaking. When he would share his mind with her tonight, she woułd see how pleased he was with her progress.
As far as Captain Telvan, Sinek understood why she was Captain. It is not that she deserved the death of her crew, but he could see how she felt about them in her words. Sinek did not doubt the others understood that as well.
Ethan's face was somber as he finished the salute and let his hand fall to the side. He had almost grown numb to the death around him. Almost, but not quite. He'd released both Dylan's and his mother's hands during the ceremony. Now, almost of their own volition, he found himself seeking both hands again.
Dylan silently took Ethan's hand and squeezed it. His eyes serious as he looked at him. Finally he said "Here's hoping we don't have to attend many of these during our lifetime."
Ethan nodded, "One is too many, " he agreed, "I couldn't stand for this to become a habit."
Airi stood at attention throughout the entire proceeding. Not once did she think about other things, or not want to be here. Other hosts had been more emotional, but as the Taps played, she wiped a single tear from her eye. Grief would not bring them back, and she would rather remember them through her actions. Standing at ease, her footsteps pad across the deck plating and up the steps of the podium..a more measured and subdued walk. Some host had memories of wanting to remember the names. It meant more that way, caused the words spoken to sink in better. And Airi herself didn't disagree.
Hidden in the shadows in the back of the room, Nexi moved to put an arm around her sister's shoulders. Aewia had once been an officer herself and had felt the impact of their deaths despite the brain damage that had retired her. Aewia had liked Ven. He had played with her and they had so much fun! Nexi didn't know how to feel about all these deaths. Truth was, she never had much of a connection to people before coming to the Hera, death was simply another part of life, she never missed anyone before. But now she did. Ven had been one of the first friends she had made on the Hera, and she didn't know what to do with those emotions now that he was gone...
Aewia was crying silently, her only real emotional stability coming from her sister beside her. She knew at least two of the people being sent off and one of them was a doctor that had helped her through her therapy and made it so she was lucid more and more often. The other was a friend that she enjoyed eating with and enjoyed the company of. Would she remember this later? Would she understand what had happened? She didn't know, but for now, she was pretty sure that she'd never see either of them again and that left yet another hole in her already tortured soul.
Vi stood still and silently in the back, watching everyone grieve over the deceased. Of course she felt bad that they had died, but she wasn't necessarily as sad as some of the other crew members because they had probably known them longer and of course, known them on a personal level. Vi had just arrived on the ship, so the death didn't affect her as much.
