===== Mess hall, USS Chimera ===== Shane and Rangi, hand in hand, slowly walked through the corridor to the mess hall. They were about 5 Minutes late by now and the noise coming from the mess hall was already loud to hear in the adjacent corridors. Upon their arrival at the Mess hall's door, the couple was greeted by Athena, who took the role of the hostess. Both of them replied kindly to Athena and Shane wanted to move forward ... but noticed a strange look Rangi gave Athena. Shane payed never too much attention to inter personal details and personal quirks and now with the burden of command on his shoulders ... even less, but now he noticed something beeing out of order there. He looked once again at Athena and only now noticed the evening dress she was weraing. Well, 'similar' was the right word to decribe the relation between Athena's and Rangi's dress. Both woman wore deep blue, long evening dress that fitted them very well. Athena's was maybe a bit more revealing in the front. What the back part concerns ... Athena was turned to them with the face, so he could not be certain, but he guessed that Athena's back was the same bare as Rangi's. Both woman looked very sexi in their outfit and Shane saw something unusual in Rangi's face. If he wouldnt know Rangi for two years already, he would think that both woman were rivals in some way ... But the moment passed, Rangi's face showed her unusal politenes and happyness again and Shane forgot about this issue like it would never happen. ===== Some time later ===== Once in the crowd, Shane noticed many of the alpha shift officers present at the winter ball happening for example Ens. Quiocho in her strapless satin black dress with silver hems was dancing with some ODA member. Shane had to smile as he noticed one of the teenage boys dancing with Athena ... the boy looked like in heaven ... and well ... Athena was a 'bit' less happy. Shane considered to go and to save Athena for a moment, but the he noticed an anoteher cavalier going Athena's way. From memory Shane guessed that it was LtJg. Hawk, a quite new memeber of Gaalen's engineering team. After two or three rounds of dance, Rangi and he decided to take a break. Shane went to the bar for some drinks and left Rangi at the table. Looking in her direction, he saw that several woman from her staff already found their lady boss and now were chating to her. Shane was QUITE sure that the topic were the dresses and the man ... Shane then thought about the little velvet box in his pocket and asked himself about the right time for the surprise. Originally, he wanted to do the promotion ceremony at the beginning of the ball, but Athena ended her 'wellcome speach' that quickly that he had no chance to add something. Shane remeberred how reluctant Athena was when he asked her to have a little speach at the ball's beginning ... like she would be less then happy about his request. Wouldnt it be the ACO asking her, she would most probably refuse. But well, Athena was unique and Shane could not blame her, he havent told her the real reason why he wanted her to have a little speach. With the drinks in both hands, Shane went over to their table. "Greetings ladies, all of you look lovely" he said to the little fellowship around their table. It was of course true, all the leadies there were dressed up in evening dresses, all kinds of fashion and color, but it was clearly visible that all did their best to look very good thins evening. "If you could please excuse Rangi for a moment, there is something that requires her presence". After a few suprised looks and replies like : "Of course sir" Rangi smiled at her staff and went along with Shane. Shane searched for Athena and seeing her standing near the bar, he led that way. Athena looked to be a bit tired by now and her engineering date was nowhere to seen atm. "Athena" Shane started, "is the pie ready?" he asked. She noded and asked the barkeeper for the pie. Shane noded and waved to LT. Foster. he asked the Lieutenant to bring him something and now he handed him over a medium sized sack filled with something. "Thank you Lieutenant" he said to Foster. Foster noded and walked away, but not too far ... like he would be needed soon. Athena put the pie on the bar and grined as Shane. The pie was pinky with little dots, just as Shane wanted it. "Thank you Athena, very kind from you. Your speach was ... nice ... maybe a tiny little bit short, but surely nice" Seeing the surprised exapression on her face he continued: "Athena, would you mind Rangi doing the pieing this time?" "Not at all, Shane" Athena replied. He saw in her eyes that she began to have a suspicion about who is going to be pied. In fact, Shane would love to promote her ... she would give an excellent LtCmdr., but both of them knew about the reason Shane could not ... .Shane shrugged shlightly and said: "Its one of Rangi's staff, so i guess she would love to be the one with the pie ..." Athena gave him a strange look, but her expresison changed back to normal in a moment: "Yes, of course. Have fun" she said turning to Rangi and smiled at her. Shane was not sure if Rangi noticed the moment, but now she smiled back at Athena and took the pie. Then she turned to Shane and asked: "When are you actually going to tell me who it will be?" Shane only smiled: "Have patience my love ..." He then beckoned Rangi to follow him and both went to the little podium. There was a pause in the flow of music that was going on most of the evening and Shane turned around, back to wall, face to crowd. Slowly the noise level in the room settled as the crew was intereted to see what the ACO was going to say. "Can I have your attention please !?" Shane said a bit loudly. He waited a minute for all being quiest before going on. "I am glad that all of you came to this wonderfull ball this evening. Please let me express my thank to LT. Wellington and Commander Summers for making all the preparations for this happening. And now there is one more issue i wanted to adress tonight." People were staring at Rangi and the pink pie she was holding ... and asking themselfs who will be promoted ... . Several woman looked at their lovely robes and at the pie and looked like a bit scared ... "Ensign Maikai Quiocho, front and center" Shane ordered. From behind the first lines of peoples, the young AMO was reluctantly appearing. Slowly she went over to the stage and looked sheepishly at Rangi and then at Shane. This time Shane didnt plan the usual words about having heard bad evaluation of that crew memeber, nor was he asking Mai to evalute her work by herself. Shane was sure that she was stressed enough with the bare standing in front of all the crew. He stepped closer to Mai and pulled out the small blue velvet box. He opened the box and revealed a single hollow pip. Then he looked at Mai like considering where to put the pip on. Grinning at Mai he said in an officailly tone: "Ensign Quicho, your duty record is full of excelent evaluations from your superior officer Commander Summers, and i think its no loger appropriate for you to wear the rank of ensign. Therefore i promote you to the rank of Lieutenant junior grade with all the rights and responsibilities tied to this rank." He extended his hand and added: "Congratulations Lieutenant" and handed her over the box with the pip. Shaking her hand, Shane looked over to Foster and noded. Foster came quickly to the stage and swiftly wrapped the shocked LtJg. Quiocho into the white doctor suit. In the mean time Shane wrapped Rangi in a suit as well. Noding to Rangi he whispered: "Your turn lovly". Like Foster did two seconds ago, Shane swiftly walked several steps aside. Aye, you sure quiessed it ... the PIEING ceremoney was about to happen ... ;))) ===== End of log ===== << OOC ... congratulations MaiKai, very well done and thank you for your work and time. I am glad to have you on board. Godspeed Mai ... ;) >> Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO USS Chimera