All That Glitters Ch. 26

"Then you were given only basic first aid for your condition and subjected to the mental torture of your near execution. Right now, you mind is racing, trying to calm itself down at my description of the events, especially the last few.

"We have a very good psychologist on staff, Dr. Leanora Galt, and I am going to give you into her care. It was Dr. Galt who helped Fiona with her depression after the disastrous Second Battle with the pirates. Fiona had been greatly disturbed by the loss of life of members of her Defence Force and even more so by the loss of innocent life on the platform.

"I cannot say how long it will be before you return to the state you were before, or if you will. The best we can do, is to make sure you can cope.

"So far, you have not been subject to stimuli that will trigger something, whether it will be rage, anger, fear, hatred, or any number of things. Who knows what those triggers could be, though past experiences tell us that smell, sight, and sound are key triggers. Dr. Galt will be your guide.

"We will have to prepare you for that trigger event, which will come, in order for you to take back you place as Captain of your ship. For now, while you are healing from your injuries, you will attend every day. I will give you permission to attend the daily briefs, this will require you to be on the platform and that will reduce your tendency to shy away from your sessions, which will happen the closer Dr. Galt gets to the heart of your situation.

"Be brave, Henadi. I know you can be. You have proved that to the entire Terran Union, but this will be a personal battle that you need to conquer, something that you will find very difficult," Heyya finished leaning forward to hug Henadi.

VIP Conference Room, The Wanderer, Piscium System

The daily brief with the section heads was taking place in the VIP Conference Room, verse the Battle Bridge, for the extra space it gave the attendees.

Henadi was going around the section heads talking to each when she received two new items.

"We are going to need a physiotherapist," Ayesha told Henadi, Raymond, and Liea. "My capabilities in physiotherapy are limited as is Wiccan's. We need a professional. The various types of injuries we have on board are significant and different almost every week. Mostly from the physical and combat training we are required to do.

"That and the fact that for those who were seriously injured at New Hadria, the needed physiotherapy consultation is beyond my current abilities," she told them.

"We'll put out a request then," Liea stated.

"Actually, you may not have to," Ayesha told them. "You remember Anaya, from the Malihan Hospital on Greens World? She has received her Doctorates in Physical Therapy. Malihan Hospital has too many DPT's, so, it appears that she is no longer happy there and is looking for new employment. We could pick her up for a couple of years, cheap, as she would enjoy being on this ship."

"We'll make a trip then," Raymond said. "Gives us a reason to go to Liramor Prime. We need to get Gillaya fixed up with her armour. Might as well get Anaya's measurements and do her as well."

"What, you expect her to do Combat Physio?" Ululla asked, surprised, getting a laugh.

"No, but I do expect senior personnel to be properly equipped and, as the head of the physio department, she will be senior personnel," Raymond replied.

"Are you taking The Valiant, or one of the Valour Class vessels for your travels to Green's World and Liramor Prime?" Henadi asked.

"The threat levels are down, so we may take The Valiant. We'll know later this week when we decide to make the run," Raymond advised her.

"Ayesha, if you could contact your friend and advise her that we are interested in her services, that would be appreciated," Raymond said, to a now happy Ayesha.

That settled, they swiftly finished their morning brief, before Raymond, Liea, Henadi, and the bodyguards left for the morning brief on the platform.

Conference Room One, Liramor-23, Piscium System

Things had started to get back to normal on the platform after first the attack, then the rescue of Henadi, and finally the posting of the new floor plans for the platform. It had been a week since the floor plans had been posted which met with mixed reviews, of course.

People were surprised to find out that Liramor-23 was going to become the defacto embassy for aliens species in contact with the Terran Union. There was a large area of the new design held over for the Union Diplomatic Corps, which was being funded exclusively by the TGA.

People were very happy that they would have a shopping concourse. They were also happy about the ability to have families posted to the station. Though, for now, that would be limited.

The first question that came up from that was, what about children now that family units would be in place.

People on the platform were interested to know if contraceptive devices for men and women would still be mandatory? For now, the answer was yes as, unless a couple made a formal union, the devices would be required. That satisfied most of the workers.

Much of the morning briefing was devoted to the changes to Liramor-23. Fiona went around the list of senior positions, including that of Dr. Heyya.

"The hospital does not need any more room, for now. We have enough space for the expected number of beds required for a platform with 25,000, and room for additional specialty wards, such as maternity," Heyya said with a smile.

"I'm still getting requests from platform workers to remove contraceptive implants, based on the new policies. Not sure how to respond to those requests," Heyya told the group of senior personnel.

"Tell them that they must submit a memo to their supervisors, who will decide if that request will be sent to me. They must also show proof of marriage or proof of cohabitation for more than two years before I will assent to their request, and that doesn't mean ship time in a Rockhound," Fiona told her.

"Once you have my consent, you can remove the implants. Any person not showing up for contraceptive implants at their required times, will be dealt with as per normal.

"Dianne, Weston, send out a platform wide notice on this, please. I do not want to hear any more on this issue. It is business as usual unless people get married and or have a family unit at their disposal," Fiona ordered of her head of HR and SLO.

"Henadi?" Fiona asked.

"The Wanderer is getting ready for it's next task, dropping in on the Fleet Shem," Henadi informed her. "We have been working closely with the science team who have completed the translation matrix for the new language, in fact, two new languages as the Piscium B Society's language is significantly different from that of the Piscium A Society.

"We are still awaiting the arrival of the UDC personnel and finding out how they will integrate with the ship. They will need to come to the ship first, as the UDC compound on Liramor-23 is not ready yet. We have our ideas, but the UDC personnel might not like them," Henadi finished.

"I'll bet," Fiona stated. "They tend to be full of themselves, but this will be a completely new situation and I have been given authority over them by Navy Command and the President of the Union. The President likes Raymond and the personnel of The Wanderer. The UDC personnel will not want to buck that chain of authority."

That brought smiles from around the room.

"Zilina? How fares the new campus?" Fiona asked.

"We have 186 new students for Bachelor courses," Zilina answered happily, "37 new students for Masters courses, and 35 new students for Doctorates programs. That brings our student population up to 457 total for all programs, not including the correspondence programs for people away from the platform, specifically those on the Rockhounds, we have another 167 of those, mostly at the Bachelor level. We only have two conducting Master level correspondence courses and none at the Doctorate level, yet.

"Incidentally, Fiona, I had the opportunity to review both your and Helga's dissertations and I approve of them. So much so that I sent them to the main campus of Malton University to be entered into the library.

"You review of crisis intervention for management, and the return to non-crisis standings, using the examples of recent affairs here on Liramor-23, will change how people should react going into and coming out of a crisis. Your thesis will engender plenty of debate, but no one will be able to refute your statements due to their being from practical experience, so many others writing on the subject as academics.

"Helga's dissertation is likewise brilliant and will go far to helping people in secondary roles of management and in support of senior management.

"What I'm saying, is that your dissertations have been accepted, and graded at excellent levels. Congratulations, you are now given the title of Graduand until such time as you receive your degrees. We are planning an awards ceremony later in the month." Zilina finished, to the applause of all in the room.

When the applause had died down, Zilina gave Henadi a significant look.

"This week," Henadi replied to the unspoken question on her dissertation. That got a round of laughter from those in the room.

Francis Liramor Memorial Building, Liramor City, Liramor Prime, Liramor System

The nine members of the Liramor Holdings Senior Management Program 2485 A, were seated in their temporary classroom at Liramor Holdings HQ. In attendance were Antoine Liramor, CEO and President of Liramor Holdings and Annette Liramor, his youngest daughter and Director of Operations for Liramor Holdings.

Also in attendance were Marcel Lapierre, President of Liramor Prime and his attendants, Wilford J. Holloway, President of the Terran Union and his attendants, and the friends and families of the students due to the distinguished nature of the visiting dignitaries.

The students were required to introduce themselves and give a review of their careers prior to and in service to Liramor Holdings.

"I am Darvell Latour, son of Marianne Latour, Director of Human Resources, Liramor Holdings," he said, waving to his mom in the audience.

"In the last year I have achieved my DAdm. in preparation for this program. I have been working at Liramor Holdings in HR for five years having been recruited from a communications company. I have just turned thirty-eight and will marry later this year," Darvell stated and sat down to brief applause.

"I am Marc Descamps, Masters in Administration. I have been working for the Liramor Mining Corporation for ten years. Before that I was a minor working at Liramor-14 Mining Platform. Recently, I have been supported for an upper management position at LMC and have been placed on this course. I have no family in the audience today, which is a pity, as my mom would have loved to have met President Holloway," he too received a brief applause as he sat down, and a smile from Holloway, who turned to his people. Marc suddenly found himself the recipient of a signed picture of the President.

"I am Alexa Trainor, originally from Neues Deutschland. I have just received my Masters in Administration and have been working for Liramor Holdings for five years. My superiors liked how I work and have submitted my name for the program. I am just turned thirty-nine. Like M. Descamps, my family cannot be here but I will get a few selfies with the two presidents to send to them," she smiled and sat down to a better applause and laughter.

"I am Jonathan Foreman, late of Terra. I have been working for the Liramor Mining Corporation for ten years and have been noticed by senior management there. They sent me to this course. I have just received my Masters in Administration and will continue for my PhD PA in preparation for potential senior management positions. I am forty years old in two months. Like some of the others, my family cannot be here, but my fiancée is here," and he blew a kiss to his lady before sitting down.

"I am Fontaine Gauthier. I have just received my PhD PA and have been working for different companies in Liramor Holdings for more than fifteen years. I have been given the opportunity to take this program and potentially become a senior manager for Liramor Holdings. I have just turned forty-three and my wife and daughter are here today," he said with a smile and a wave.

"I am Nannette Grange. I am forty-three and married to a lovely man and have a little boy and girl who are here today," she said with a brilliant smile and a wave to her family. "I have been working for Liramor Holdings all my adult life and have recently received my PhD. Fin, and with that have been given the opportunity to take this program. I want to work for Liramor Holdings in a senior finance position," she finished.

"I am Phillipa Oriana, originally from Éire Nua. I have been working for Liramor Holdings in one capacity or another for nine years. I have just completed my Doctorates in Engineering and hope to work for the new engineering concerns of Liramor Holdings.

"I have just turned thirty-eight. My family is back on Éire Nua and my fiancé could not make it here today because of his work. He will miss the opportunity to meet the two Presidents," she gave them a smile and sat down.

"I am Gisselle Laurier, and I recently received my Masters in Administration. I have been working for various corporations of Liramor Holdings for twelve years now and have just been given the opportunity for this program when I achieved my Masters. I have just turned thirty-six. My husband could not be here today due to conflicts with his work schedule. He will miss the opportunity to meet the two presidents," she finished.

"I am Fayad of the House of Piscium, a new house that I have just established with my two wives. I am originally from Planet Anuura and am a member of the Church of Andanii.

"I have worked for the Liramor Mining Corporation at Liramor-23 for just over three years. In that time, I worked my way up from a Platform Runner to the position of Senior Operations Officer of Central Control at Liramor-23. I have been directly involved in two of the Battles of Liramor-23, being present but not involved in the first battle.

"I was part of a group that took down the evil Senator Wassim Andjuran, was part of the rescue of Captain Henadi Noor, who you might have seen in the news recently, have assisted in anti-piracy actions, which led me to meet my two wives. I have assisted in rescuing my wife Hanalei Anar from slavery, have saved the life of my wife Junelliea Herlan, who I rescued from being eaten by a Great White Shark, and have finished my Tcholla, an act of religious contrition that lasted just over ten years.

"While at Liramor-23, I came to be noticed by Commodore Fiona Marsh, Director of Operations for Liramor-23 and commander of the Piscium Defence Forces. I am forever grateful to her instruction informing me of what my capabilities were, how to make use of them, how to improve them, and gaining direction from her on how to apply them in the service of Liramor-23 and, indeed, in the service of the Terran Union. It was Dir. Marsh who recommended me to this program.

"I have spent the last few months learning French in order to participate in this program.

"I have just turned twenty-eight and I and my wives look forward to a time of less hostility that will allow us to fill the House of Piscium with children," this he said with a smile to his blushing brides. "Thank-you for listening," he ended and went to sit down.

"Stop right there, young man," said President Marcel Lapierre, stepping forward. "Please stand there and we will bring you and your wives together for a brief moment of this company's time.

"This young man, whose story you have just heard, has not told you all of what he has accomplished in just the last year alone. However, some of those accomplishments are classified at the highest levels of the Terran Unit Senate and Navy and cannot be discussed here.

"What he did tell you was remarkable enough, but it is only a portion of what he could have told you.

"The reason, I and President Holloway are here is to present medals to worthy recipients over the next few days. People who earned those medals on Liramor-23 during recent battles. Since Fayad Piscium is here and unable to attend the upcoming awards ceremonies on Liramor-23, we decided to make use of this courses introduction to make our presentations.

"First, from the people of Liramor Prime, for your actions over the last two years, Fayad Piscium is awarded Officier Ordre Planétaire du Mérite du Liramor," the President placed the medal on a clip his aide had put on Fayad's chest. He gave Fayad the two traditional kisses and shook his hand while media took images.

President Holloway took over.

"Young man, you have been engaged in many serious actions over the last two years, that have shown you are more than just heroic, as on two separate occasions you have earned the respect and admiration of your peers and your superiors for actions of courage. You have shown bravery at a level that must be recognized and, for those actions, you are awarded the Medal of Bravery, with bar, indicating you have earned this medal on two separate occasions. Congratulations," President Holloway placed the medal on another clip and shook Fayad's hand.

While President Holloway was giving Fayad his medal, one of Holloway's aides was reading out the citations for the medals:

"Fayad of the House of Piscium, then known as Fayad of the House of Ouihya is awarded the Medal of Bravery for his actions during the Second Battle of Liramor-23, where he, on more than one occasion, risked his life to save others when the platform had been boarded by pirates. He repeatedly placed himself in harm's way to fight alongside those on the station who were engaged in battle against the pirates, and to move the injured away from the battle even though he himself was wearing only an Emergency Escape Suit while others were wearing EVA Mining Suits or Combat EVA suits.

"The second citation is classified by the Navy, though has been recognized by the Chancellery of Honours and President Holloway," the aide finished.

"While you were on Liramor-23 during all three battles," President Holloway took over. "You where only in action twice, once during the Second Battle of Liramor-23, and during the more recent Third Battle of Liramor-23, in which you acted as Senior Operations Officer. I believe you were on staff as a Runner during the First Battle but were not employed during the battle.

"The Union has dictated that a specific campaign star be created for the Piscium System. You will receive the new campaign star with two bars," he made the presentation to Fayad, who now had three medals on his chest, two with bars.

"Your actions with Navy Intelligence has earned you a distinction of being awarded The Presidential Citation," Holloway said, passing him the gold Citation Pin with the Union President's seal on it.

"You have volunteered on four separate occasions to be involved in very dangerous missions, any one of which may have cost you your life. You are hereby awarded the Pewter V Pin for one who has volunteered less than five times," the President finished as he and President Lapierre jointly passed the pin to Fayad.

"Finally, our actions off the station in regard to counter-piracy activity will likely earn you another campaign star. You can expect that medal some time in the future.

"Now, we have your lovely wife, Hanalei Anar, to deal with.

"Hanalei Anar, you were recruited to do the very dangerous job of getting information out on one very evil man named Wassim Andjuran, and on confirming his association with criminal syndicates, including pirate syndicates. You successfully completed this task, in fact, you found evidence that broke Wassim Andjuran and directly led to his arrest.