To Lieutenant Commander
Posted on Wed Apr 30th, 2025 @ 11:30am by Captain Remy Johansen & Commander Maxun Spello & Lieutenant Commander Razka Kas & Lieutenant Commander Eirly Andersen & Lieutenant Commander Phaedrae Cyn
2,390 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Gone, Without Ever Knowing the Way
Location: Chief Intelligence Officer's Office
Timeline: MD 3, 1100 Hours
Captain Johansen stepped out her Ready Room with a smile on her face and a small box in her hand. She scanned the Bridge for a few seconds, and settled on Lt. Commander Razka.
"Commander Razka, you're friends with Lieutenant Cyn if I'm not mistaken?" She asked.
“Aye Captain,” Kas answered without looking up from his station. I spoke in a professional tone. “She is an excellent officer and we have many things in common.”
"You're with me then," Remy replied. "We're needed down in Intelligence."
“Of Course Captain,” Kas said, rising from his seat. The large Hybrid motioned to another officer to take his station.
Remy grinned at Kas as the stepped into the elevator, but waited until the doors shut in front of them before saying anything. She gave the command for Deck 8 setting the turbolift in motion, then held up the box in her hand.
"Unfortunately there's a bit a much going on right now with the mission to pull everyone away for a formal ceremony, but I thought we could swing by security and grab Eirly and at least do a little something for Cyn's official promotion to Lieutenant Commander," the captain explained. "I didn't want to say anything on the Bridge or the news would have beat us to the intel office."
Kas laughed, "If we could power the ship with wagging tongues, we wouldn't need dilithium."
Remy joined Kas in laughter. "Right?" She agreed. "Though I don't hear as much anymore now that I've officially made Captain. I knew it would be different, but I didn't realize how much bigger of a divide there would be between me and the crew taking the leap from first officer to captain."
"The position suits you," Kas smiled. "I don't think I could captain a Starfleet vessel; too much bureaucracy."
"If that isn't the truth," Remy replied with an eye roll. "The command track alone, especially at second officer and beyond."
After the doors opened on Deck 8 the pair made their way to the security offices suite first. Remy spotted Eirly at her desk and gently knocked on the window with her knuckles and gave her second officer and security chief a friendly wave when she looked up.
It had been what seemed the longest day already as Eirly looked over a report and ran her fingers through the bottom of her hair subconsciously, when it had only been a couple of hours into her shift. Looking up at the source of the tapping, she smiled at the distraction that was Remy and Kas.
Stepping out from behind the desk, she walked out to greet them, "Remy, Kas, it's lovely to see you both on this level. What can I do for you?"
"We're on our way to see Phaedrae," Remy said with a smile. "And let her know that her promotion to Lieutenant Commander went through. Thought you might want to tag along?"
Eitly nodded, "Yes please. I needed a break from all this, so perfect timing. She fell into step as they walked. "I'm right to assume she doesn't know yet?"
"Not that we're coming, or that I have her pip ready to go. When I made her Chief, it was a request she had put in," Remy stated. "Promotions in Intelligence, the Diplomatic Division, and the Marines work a little different than the other departments. I could do a temporary field promotion as Captain if needed in a pinch, but for those three their chain of command is more departmental."
"Of course, that's completely understandable," Eirly nodded. "If you were to do the field promotion, you would have to notify their CoC and justify the reason for doing so, correct?"
"Well, it would typically be literally in the field. Officers injured or down, and needing to put someone like Cyn in charge of a mission where they didn't normally hold rank," Remy explained as they walked. "How well she did would go in a report and could make a difference on whether the rank sticks, but it's not always dispositive. They like to run a tight department. All three of those divisions actually. Each for their own reasons."
"Oh, good, Commander. I'm glad you were able to get away," Remy said smiling as she noticed the first officer waiting for them a few meters away from the Intelligence suite.
Maxun grinned broadly as he replied. "I'll drop just about everything, to promote a deserving officer." He nodded to both Eirly and Kas in turn, then took his his place at Remy's side.
"Good," Remy said approvingly with a short nod as she handed over the box with Cyn's new pip. "You can hang on to this."
The Intelligence Department's suite was a large bullpen, with work stations, and as you entered, the chief intelligence Officer's Office was to the right, and opened up into the bullpen. After Remy opened the door to the suite, she gestured for the others to go in ahead of her and followed in behind them, and made her way to Cyn's office and activated the chime.
Inside the Intelligence Office, Lieutenant Phaedrae Cyn sat at her desk, fingers absentmindedly tugging at the end of her tightly braided brown hair. It was a habit she’d never quite broken—one that surfaced whenever she was deep in thought. Multiple data streams scrolled across her terminal, each one demanding her attention, but her focus remained sharp, her mind weaving the disparate pieces of information into something cohesive.
The hum of quiet conversation and the occasional beep of an alert filled the bullpen beyond her office, but Phaedrae was used to tuning out the background noise. Intelligence work required a certain level of compartmentalization, after all. Even so, something gnawed at the edges of her awareness—a feeling, instinct more than anything, that something was about to happen.
Then the alert chimed.
Phaedrae straightened, releasing her braid as she keyed the system. The notification flashed across her screen—four senior staff officers were in her zone, approaching Intelligence. That alone was enough to make her pulse quicken. A visit from one or even two command officers was routine. But four? That either meant something serious… or something terrible.
She exhaled slowly, schooling her expression into something neutral as she rose from her chair. Whatever this was, she would handle it. Just like she always did.
Taking a steadying breath, Phaedrae stepped toward the door and answered the chime. Her gaze flicked over the assembled officers before she folded her arms. "Four senior officers at my door? You know, in Intelligence, we call this a ‘highly suspicious pattern of behavior.’ Should I be concerned?"
"Not at all," Remy replied with a smile. "We come with good news and gifts."
Phaedrae arched a skeptical brow, but a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. "Gifts, you say?" She glanced between them, then smirked. "Is it a kitten? I love kittens."
"Oh, I'd never gift anyone a live animal without firm confirmation that they wanted one. I'll add kittens to your birthday list for next year," Remy quipped, stepping to the side. "I just happened to gather who I could on my way down here to let you know that Intel Headquarters approved your promotion to Lieutenant Commander, but if there's anyone else you'd like to call up here before we make it official, we don't mind waiting."
Phaedrae blinked, her smirk settling into something more subdued. She glanced at the gathered officers, then exhaled softly through her nose.
"Intel officers don’t make friends, Captain," she said smoothly, though not unkindly. "We make useful connections."
Her gaze flicked to Kas, and for just a fraction of a second, something unreadable passed behind her eyes before she tilted her head slightly.
"But no, there's no one else I need to call. There's no need to wait."
"Fair enough," Remy replied, giving a subtle nod to her first officer. "If I could have everyone's attention."
The Captain couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and admiration as Maxum, Kas, and Eirly arranged themselves in a straight line standing side by side and stood at attention. Remy gave a nod in approval and then turned to address Lieutenant Cyn.
"Lieutenant Cyn, your service record to date shows that you are an exemplary officer, and in your time on Astrea, you have continued to prove this. It is because of this, and in accordance with the rules and regulations that Starfleet lives by, that I am honored to be able to officially promote you to Lieutenant Commander, effective immediately, with all the rights and privileges thereto."
"Commander Spello, will you do the honors?" the captain asked, stepping aside to allow the first officer to step forward.
Maxun stepped forward, opening the small box in his hand, to show Cyn the blacked out rank pip that would be the visual representation of her increased status. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander," he said with a smile as he first affixed the pip to her collar, then shook her hand.
Phaedrae remained still as the new pip was fastened to her collar, the weight of it both literal and symbolic. She glanced down briefly before meeting Maxun’s gaze, then Remy’s.
For a moment, she said nothing. Then, with a slow exhale, her lips curved into a wry smirk.
“Well, this is unexpected. I was almost certain this was either a disciplinary hearing or a particularly elaborate intelligence test.”
Her fingers brushed the new pip lightly before clasping her hands behind her back. “I appreciate this—truly. I’ll continue to ensure Intelligence serves this crew to the best of my ability.”
A beat passed before she added, with a glint of mischief, “Though, if kittens were on the table, I’d consider this an even better deal.”
Maxun chuckled softly at Cyn's statement. "No one is saying you can't get your own kittens."
"A kitten or a puppy for senior staff sounds like a good idea..." Eirly commented with a grin.
Remy rolled her eyes good naturedly as she smiled and shook her head. "Not on the Bridge. And you all are responsible for the litter box."
Maxun grinned and chuckled as he said aloud, "Not it!" He chuckled some more when he saw everyone look at him funny. "It's an old Earth saying." He shrugged as he added, "Not my fault if you don't know your history."
Phaedrae smirked, glancing at the pip once more before meeting Remy’s gaze. “I’ll take the promotion, Captain—but I maintain that cats can be trained to use a standard toilet. Intelligence has files on the subject.”
She let the comment hang for just a moment before shifting her tone back to business. “Now, unless there’s anything else, I assume you’d rather I focus on ensuring our current mission doesn’t go sideways.”
Her eyes flicked between the gathered officers with quiet amusement, waiting to see if anyone had anything further—or if she could get back to making sense of the encrypted mess still waiting on her screen.
"It is your promotion day. I suppose we can let you spend it how you see fit. Perhaps a casual dinner when things calm down a little? You can let me know." Remy gave the intelligence officer a quiet nod of approval and gestured to the others it was time to leave.
Maxun smiled at Cyn again as he offered his right hand to her. Congratulations again, Lieutenant Commander." He then followed the Captain's lead on leaving the Intelligence suite.
The moment the door to the Intelligence suite closed behind the last of them, the room settled into stillness.
Phaedrae remained standing for several heartbeats, her posture straight, arms clasped behind her back, expression unreadable. The echo of their conversation still lingered in the space like the fading buzz of a comm channel—Eirly's easy warmth, Maxun's friendly banter, Kas' quiet presence, and Remy’s always-measured confidence.
She turned back toward her office in silence, crossing the bullpen with steady steps. A few glances were cast her way from other Intelligence officers at their stations—curious, but carefully measured. No one asked. No one needed to.
Once inside, she keyed the door shut behind her and let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
She reached up, fingertips brushing the new pip at her collar. It felt heavier than it should have. Symbolic weight, she thought wryly.
The corners of her mouth lifted—just a little at first, then more as she slowly pulled the pip from her uniform and held it up to the light. She turned it between her fingers, watching it catch the dim glow from the lamp on her desk.
No ceremony. No spotlight. Just a small, black pip and a handful of words. And yet… her chest felt lighter. Or maybe it was tighter. Hard to tell. She reminded herself she had requested this - deserved it and needed it to function properly as the chief of intel on the ship. Yet, it was surreal - not having to fight harder through the process.
She set the pip down for a moment, smoothing the fabric of her collar with a practiced precision, then carefully refastened it with a surgeon’s care. She stepped back from the mirror behind her desk, tilting her head slightly, appraising the new rank as if it might shift under scrutiny.
And then—once satisfied—she let herself grin. Just for a second. Small and sharp, like something stolen.
She whispered, mostly to herself, “Lieutenant Commander Phaedrae Cyn.”
The grin widened briefly, something giddy and quiet in her expression. Not childish. Just… rare.
Then, as if catching herself, she exhaled through her nose and smoothed her expression back into its usual cool neutrality. The moment passed.
Phaedrae turned back to her terminal and sat down again. Data still streamed across the screen, codes and intel demanding her attention. She picked up where she’d left off as if nothing had changed.
Except everything had.
~OFF~
Captain Remira Johansen
Commanding Officer
USS Astrea
&
Commander Maxun Spello
Executive Officer
USS Astrea
&
Lieutenant Commander Eirly Andersen
Second Officer
USS Astrea
&
Lieutenant Commander Razka Kas
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Astrea
&
Lieutenant Phaedrae Cyn
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Astrea
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