All That Glitters Ch. 26

"For this, you are hereby invested with the President's Silver Medal for Distinguished Service to the Terran Union. Congratulations, young lady." The president placed the large blue and gold bow of the award on the hook high on her left chest, a large silver medallion hanging from the bottom of the knot in the center of the bow.

"In addition, you are awarded with the Navy Command Citation, which means you get to wear this very nice gold pin," the President explained as he presented the gold pin with the Navy's cipher to Hanalei.

"You also are awarded the Pewter V Pin for a volunteer, which is worn above the citation pin," Holloway said as he and Lapierre presented the pin to Hanalei.

"During the attack on the Johal Compound on Terra, you worked hard to successfully bring most of your fellow ladies to safety. The pirates broke into the basement secure room you were in with the use of explosives and had decided to commit atrocities upon the six women in that room, yourself included.

"During that activity, you incapacitated the pirate leader and injured two of his subordinates. It was at this time that the rescue unit sent for you arrived and captured all of the pirates, except for the one you had incapacitated. That was your capture.

"For your bravery in capturing the pirate leader and in assisting in the capture of two of his subordinates, you are awarded the Citizens Meritorious Gold Police Services Medal," Holloway said as he placed the medal on the clip provided.

"The man you captured was wanted on many planets and by many different organizations. He had a substantial price on his head," Holloway told the assembly as he presented an envelope to Hanalei.

"In fact, it adds up to one hundred and fifty thousand credits," he whispered quietly to Hanalei as they shook hands. Hanalei almost fainted, Junelliea and Fayad managing to hold her up to the amusement of the two Presidents.

"Fayad, take Hanalei to her seat please, and give her some water, I think she needs it," President Lapierre said with a smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank-you for allowing us to disturb your introduction period," President Lapierre said a few moments later.

"All of you have arrived here by merit, having earned your way through dedicated service to Liramor Holdings. Some of you will be jealous of Fayad Piscium and his beautiful wives, but I assure you, while he earned his way here, he did it by placing his life on the line each and every time he did something. That is something that we normally only ask of our men and women in uniform and not average citizens of Liramor Prime nor citizens of the Terran Union.

"What most of you have earned through years of dedicated work, Fayad had thrust on him at risk to life and limb, and not just his own, but those of his friends, his family, his future brides. Those are not the kinds of risk that we should ask of our ordinary citizens, but when those citizens step up and accept those risks, they should be acknowledged and rewarded for it.

"It is for this reason that Fayad Piscium is in this program. He earned his way to the position of Senior Operations Officer on Liramor-23 during battle. What you learned through many years of schooling and hard work, he learned very quickly in the school of hard knocks. He survived and thrived." Lapierre finished.

"Do not be jealous of this man," Holloway took over. "Failure for him at any point would have cost him his life, or the life of someone he knew, or that he was close to. These are not actions you should emulate unless you wish to serve in uniform.

"Fayad's experiences can help all of you become better managers, while your experiences can help Fayad to improve his understanding of the job he might find himself holding shortly.

"Help each other, support each other, because ultimately, that is what management is all about. I know this for a fact, being the ultimate manager. Thank-you for your time," Holloway ended to applause.

The two Presidents then made themselves available for handshakes and selfies...

Navy One, Liramor-23, Piscium System

On 20 Feb 2845, Navy One came into the system in the inbound navy lane, along with six other vessels, including the NS Dewfall, the NS Ora Evanest, Liramor Navy Vessel Liramor Prime, designated Presidential transport vessel for President Marcel Lapierre of Liramor Prime, and PV The Princess.

"Liramor-23 Control this is Navy One, requesting a parking orbit for our ship, our two escorts, and for NS Dewfall. We are also requesting shuttle parking for NS Ora Evanest, LNV Liramor Prime, and PV The Princess. Over."

"Navy One, welcome to the Piscium system, your parking orbit for your vessel and two escorts is being transmitted now, please remain in your designated parking orbit as this is an active mining platform and rocks can and will be ejected from the work cages at odd times and in odd trajectories. For your own safety, do not go below the midpoint of the platform.

"NS Dewfall, your parking orbit is being transmitted now, follow standard protocols for this platform, NS Ora Evanest and LNV Liramor Prime, you are authorized entry into Construction Bay twelve, LNV Liramor Prime, follow NS Ora Evanest, they know the location. PV The Princess, you are authorized entry into Construction Bay eleven, you know the way. Be advised that Central Control is still on Level Whiskey. Control, out."

"Liramor Control, this is the Dewfall, be advised that SRV Nal Tal will be arriving sometime later today to tow the former Pegasus Guardian to Liramor Prime, over."

"Control, roger, thanks for the update. Out."

"Holy Shit!" David Latten barked. He opened his comp and called up Fiona. "Fiona, full navy regalia in bay twelve to greet LNV Liramor Prime and NS Ora Evanest! Navy One has just jumped into the system along with the NS Dewfall and two Whippet Class escort ships, we put them in parking orbits. They will be on platform within forty-five minutes!"

"Roger, that. Is Captain Davis at Central Control?" Fiona asked.

"She was, she is probably sprinting for her accommodations right now, to get into full uniform," David advised.

"Right, call all senior personnel and advise them that they need to get into best outfits now and meet me at Bay twelve in twenty minutes. Then take time to get dressed yourself but stay at Central Control. With this many VIP's around, I want the Tactical Display up and linked to all of our Navy vessels. The Piscium Defence Force is on full alert, though I am sure the respective captains are doing that now." Fiona ended.

"Science, open the Tactical Display and link to the Piscium Defence Fleet. Designate the new vessels and our fleet as blue, all known non-Navy vessels as green, anything else comes into the system gets listed as red until it is checked out. That will remain in effect until Navy One leaves the system." Latten ordered, getting a chorus of aye sirs. He then left to get changed.

He was back in less than ten minutes. Capt. Beverley Davis was in Central Control in full Navy Dress One, co-ordinating the Navy Vessels. Latten could see that the NS Dewfall had also linked into the Tactical Display, though it's position was in its parking orbit. Latten advised her of the expected arrival of the Nal Tal, sometime later today.

Someone had designated the Piscium Defence Fleet as an off-shade of blue to highlight them from the other vessels. There was a ring of safety around the platform, that now included the two escort vessels that had come with Navy One.

Things were ready. Ten minutes later, things got interesting.

"President Marcel Lapierre, Liramor Prime, arriving, LNV Liramor Prime, arriving, NS Ora Evanest, arriving," came the voice of Cdr. Helga Hellebore.

"OK people, unless President Lapierre wants a tour, they will be here in around five minutes," Latten advised those in Control. Stay at your posts, answer questions honestly, and don't be afraid of the two Presidents if they ask you questions. I don't know if they have been on a working mining platform before, but if not, they will be curious."

Five minutes later the show arrived. Commodore Marsh marched into Central Control with Adm. Rolland Heist, Chief of Navy Intelligence, Adm. James Hannison, JAG of the Navy, Lt. Ishanvi Mehrotra commanding the NS Ora Evanest, President Marcel Lapierre of Liramor Prime, his daughter Lillianne, a man dressed as a Liramor Navy Commander, likely the Captain of LNV Liramor Prime, Antoine Liramor, CEO and President of Liramor Holdings, Annette Liramor, Director of Operations Liramor Holdings, Cdr. Helga Hellebore, and of course, Cynthia Stewart, designated reporter for Liramor-23, her recording gear activated.

They showed the dignitaries around Central Control until word came that shuttles were coming in from the Dewfall and Navy One. Fiona left them in Central Control with David Latten and went to greet the new set of dignitaries.

Latten eventually guided his flock of dignitaries to Conference Room One and waited patiently.

"President of the Union Wilford J. Holloway, arriving, NS Franz Muller, arriving, Chief of the Navy, arriving, Commander Sector Forty-Two, arriving, NS Dewfall, arriving," came the voice of Cdr. Hellebore from the small vessel airlock, where shuttles docked against the surface of the platform.

A few moments later, excitement arose as the Presidential party entered Central Control. They spent a couple of minutes getting the lay of the land and pressing the flesh with the people at their stations, before moving into Conference Room One and greeting President Lapierre and his group.

The Presidential Quarter Master from NS Franz Muller, was setting up bottles of expensive looking champagne and a hot food line. People started arriving not long after, all dressed in their finest, though in some cases their finest included Minor's Blue.

Adm. Ramison took the floor.

"The main reason we are here is two fold," he began, his image being broadcast throughout the platform. "First, the President of the Union, and the President of Liramor Prime, want to see for themselves the amazing items that are here in the Piscium System. Those things that have change humanity in a very significant way. That, however, is something for tomorrow.

"Today is for the two Presidents to acknowledge the sacrifice and bravery of those who fought in the Second Battle of Liramor-23, some of whom lost their lives. and in the Third Battle of Liramor-23. Mr. Presidents," Adm. Ramison gave his place to President Holloway and President Lapierre.

"Thank-you Adm. Ramison. As was already stated, many people lost their lives here during the Second Battle of Liramor-23. I understand that there was a third battle that was conducted by the captain of a vessel determined to collect the bounty on Fiona Marsh, and not caring that he would kill thousands by destroying the platform in order to gain that bounty.

"I, as President of the Union, can assure all of you, that those members of the former Pirate Vessel, the Pegasus Guardian, will be charged to the full extent of the law, senior members of the ship given the harshest penalties for not stopping their former captain from firing two nuclear missiles against a civilian mining platform.

"I understand that the science officer who caught that blip is currently not on the platform?" Holloway asked.

"She is on vacation, Mr. President," Latten advised. "I'm sure she will regret that decision now." That brought a few giggles from the crowd.

"Right, Marcel, I believe she is from Liramor Prime, so I will ask you to find her and present to her this Presidential Commendation Pin to her for her diligence in the defence of the Liramor-23. Had it not been for her, it is likely that the platform would have been destroyed without warning." Holloway gave Lapierre a gold citation pin with the Terran Union Presidential seal on it to pass along to the woman in question.

"Make sure you extend to her my extreme satisfaction in a job very well done, please, Marcel." Lapierre advised that he would and passed the pin along to his aide.

"Next. There are some presentations that are due to members of the platform who earned recognitions from Liramor Prime, which is why Marcel and his party are here today, so I will have him take over for now," and President Holloway stood aside to give Marcel Lapierre the floor.

"First, of all, I would like to thank all of those who worked so diligently in the defence of this platform against a superior foe during the recent Second Battle of Liramor-23.

"Included in that list are several medals for bravery extended to those who have died. In the name of Liramor Prime, their families have received those medals directly from my hand. Included in that were medals of Bravery, designated by the Union, to many of those killed or very seriously injured and who are now back on Liramor Prime. They too have been awarded their medals from my hand and from the hand of President Holloway. To all of those, I extend my sincere appreciation, the appreciation of the people of Liramor Prime, and the appreciation of the people of the Terran Union.

"Now, the list of recipients is long, and many will be receiving medals designated by both Liramor Prime and the Union, so we will work in a sort of tag team event. Adm. Ramison, if you would."

Ramison motioned to FAdm. Thenton, who took over the floor and called the captains and Boatswains of the Navy ships and Dir. Marsh and the Chief Maintenance Officer of the platform forward. He nodded to his aide-de-camp, Capt. Fillertan, to start things off.

"In recognition of the events of the Second Battle of Liramor-23," Fillertan began. "The ship's captains of the NS Betelgeuse, NS Claridge, NS Churchill, NS Kindalla, NS Kologn, PV the Valour-Fiona Marsh, and PV The Wanderer will receive the blue patch designated for the Presidential Unit Citation for their respective ships.

"This will be the first time that civilian vessels, working in tangent with Navy vessels, will receive the Presidential Unit Citation," Fillertan noted.

President Holloway swiftly made his way down the line, passing out the distinctive blue patch to each of the Captains and shaking their hands.

"Would the Boatswains of the respective ships, the ChEng of the Valour-Fiona Marsh, and the Chief Maintenance Officer of Liramor-23 please step forward to receive the citation for this even from the President." Fillertan intoned.

The President once more made his way down the line and handed out the respective citation to each ship's representative.

"The Terran Union recognizes the actions of the following ships in the Third Battle of Liramor-23, would the Captains and boatswains of the NS Claridge, NS Kologn, and the and the Captain and ChEng of PV the Valour-Fiona Marsh, please step forward.

"In recognition of your actions in the Third Battle of Liramor-23 in which your ships either destroyed nuclear missiles aimed at Liramor-23 or captured the vessel that initiated the attack, your ships will receive the Presidential Unit Citation. Would the Captains please step forward to receive the designated Blue Patch to the Presidential Unit Citation." Fillertan stated.

Once more the President went down the line, adding new patches to the hands of the three captains.

"Would the Boatswains for the NS Kologn, and the NS Claridge and the ChEng of the Valour-Fiona Marsh please step forward to receive the Citations." Fillertan asked.

The President placed the second citation into the hands of the three respective persons.

"Make sure those go where all can see them, they are truly well-deserved," Holloway stated at the end.

"The President of the Terran Union, the Senate of the Union, and the Navy, have listed the Piscium System as of extreme interest to the Terran Union," Fillertan intoned. "As such, the Piscium System has received it's own Campaign Star, the General Campaign Star being recalled, though those of you who have received the General Campaign Star may keep them, but you may not wear them.

"The Piscium Campaign Star is a raised eight pointed compass rose in gold with four points 40mm across and four points 35mm across surmounted on a circle 33mm across. The compass rose symbolizes exploration, and the home star in the Terran Union Flag. The obverse of the medal has a wreath of oak leaves symbolizing courage and duty at the base of the circle, with the crest of the Terran Union at its top. The center is left bare for the embossed serial number, rank or position, and name of the recipient.

"A ribbon passes through a ring attached by a small ball at the topmost point of the compass rose. The ribbon has a central stripe 8mm across in the yellow/gold colours of the Piscium Starr. On either side are 4mm stripes in the blue/green colour of the gas giant Piscium 8, the closest planet to Liramor-23. On the outer edges of the ribbon are red stripes 8mm wide symbolizing blood for sacrifice and strength.

"The Chancellery of Honours and the Union Heritage Committee recognizes three bars to the Piscium Campaign Star, they include the Battle of Liramor-23, the Second Battle of Liramor-23 and the Third Battle of Liramor-23, the bar ending with the word 'Pirates' indicating the enemy in each occurrence.

"Those who were eligible during the Battle of Liramor-23 will receive new bars. Because Liramor-23 itself was a battle ground during the Second Battle of Liramor-23, all personnel on the ships of the Piscium Defence Forces, and all personnel on Liramor-23 are eligible for the bar of the Second Battle of Liramor-23.

"The ships of the Piscium Defence Forces, the specialized Rockhounds that deployed into space around Liramor-23 and those in Liramor-23 Control are eligible for the bar of the Third Battle of Liramor-23.

"S-118938-117, Commodore Fiona Marsh, please step forward." Fillertan finally ordered.

Fiona stepped forward and gave a salute to the President. Her aide had already fitted a clip to receive the medal. Holloway slipped the new medal on the clip and stepped back to shake her hand. The news services took several images of the process.

"You will, of course, have to give up your previous medal, though you can hang it in your quarters as we will not be taking them back," Holloway told her, stepping back for her salute as she turned and accepted a handshake from President Lapierre.

"Commodore Marsh will now give out the new Piscium Campaign Star to her command," Fillertan said during a slight pause.

Marsh stepped forward and gave the new medal to the Captains and Boatswains of her command and to Capt. Moore and the ChEng of the Valour, she noted that some of their medals had the three bars with the exception of the newer ships which only had the bar for the Third Battle of Liramor-23.

She next presented the medals to the pilots of the specialized Rockhounds that formed part of the Piscium Defence Force, and then to the senior members of Central Control. She knew that her senior personnel would be responsible for passing out the medals to the members of their own commands and shops.

"Would S-118938-117, Commodore Fiona Marsh, V-335621-936, Capt. Abigail Moore, J-173563-882 Cdr. Helga Hellebore, and the crew of the Valour-Fiona Marsh, please step forward," Fillertan ordered.

"During the Second Battle of Liarmor-23, Commodore Marsh, being trapped in the shuttle bay with her ship, did take that ship and crew out during the battle to good effect, attacking ships of superior capabilities to The Valour and of superior numbers, causing significant damage to several enemy vessels and even the destruction of one enemy vessel.

"The crew of the Valour-Fiona Marsh on that day will receive the Medal of Bravery for their action that day," Fillertan told the audience.

Presidents Lapierre and Holloway went down the line and presented the medals to the crew.