Post by Vice Admiral Lara Rell on Nov 29, 2009 0:07:00 GMT -8
Nike had been docked at Utopia Plenitia for about an hour when the port below her finally opened. An honor guard emerged and stood on either side of the portal. There were 27 men and women standing on the deck waiting.
The first of the bodies emerged on a hover platform to the strains of the Starfleet Hymn. She felt a lump in her throat as she along with the party below came to attention and raised a slow salute to the comrade going on their final journey. One of the Honor party escorted the body across the deck to the Transporter platform and disappeared along with the body. He would escort the body all the way to its final resting place.
She turned back to the portal and awaited the next in the long line of those who had given their lives in service to the Federation. Again as the body emerged from the ship the party came to attention and raised slow salutes.
This action was repeated until all the bodies had been off loaded and none of the side party remained. She thought back over the years to the many times she had witnessed similar ceremonies that the public never saw. The genuine care that was given to each member of the star ship's crew.
While these hadn't been her people she knew that Captain Lester was too badly injured to perform this duty. These people deserved every extra measure of effort she could muster on their behalf. No these hadn't been her people but their remaining crew-mates soon would be.
She stood for a long time looking down into the empty cargo loading bay and then at the damaged ship. They had their work cut out for them.
Lara touched her com badge and reported to the Admiral's Aid. "Captain Rell, ready to board Nike, is the party prepared to receive me?"
"Yes Ma'am" his voice came through clearly with an immediate replay.
She picked up her travel bag and moved toward one of the boarding transporters.
END Rell
The first of the bodies emerged on a hover platform to the strains of the Starfleet Hymn. She felt a lump in her throat as she along with the party below came to attention and raised a slow salute to the comrade going on their final journey. One of the Honor party escorted the body across the deck to the Transporter platform and disappeared along with the body. He would escort the body all the way to its final resting place.
She turned back to the portal and awaited the next in the long line of those who had given their lives in service to the Federation. Again as the body emerged from the ship the party came to attention and raised slow salutes.
This action was repeated until all the bodies had been off loaded and none of the side party remained. She thought back over the years to the many times she had witnessed similar ceremonies that the public never saw. The genuine care that was given to each member of the star ship's crew.
While these hadn't been her people she knew that Captain Lester was too badly injured to perform this duty. These people deserved every extra measure of effort she could muster on their behalf. No these hadn't been her people but their remaining crew-mates soon would be.
She stood for a long time looking down into the empty cargo loading bay and then at the damaged ship. They had their work cut out for them.
Lara touched her com badge and reported to the Admiral's Aid. "Captain Rell, ready to board Nike, is the party prepared to receive me?"
"Yes Ma'am" his voice came through clearly with an immediate replay.
She picked up her travel bag and moved toward one of the boarding transporters.
END Rell