The Memorial
Posted on Sat Jun 21st, 2025 @ 10:36pm by Lieutenant Michael Harris & Captain M'Raz & Lieutenant Commander Jason Reeves & Lieutenant Micheal Taggart & Lieutenant H'iri & Lieutenant Noah Clarke & Lieutenant Richard Pierce MD & Crewman Michał Lipinski & Kenneth Hunt
Edited on on Sun Jun 22nd, 2025 @ 4:54am
2,894 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Resistance is Necessary
Location: Shuttlebay 1 | USS Jane Addams
Timeline: MD004 - 1600
The hand-off to the Andorians had gone surprisingly well given the circumstances. Raz, who was no stronger to negotiations, had couched in terms of safety and the superiority of the Andorian military. Ego had done the rest though there was now an agreement in place that a favor was now owed. Raz was certain that the Andorians would collect; hopefully not before they figured out a way to fight back.
"Captain to Lieutenant H'iri," Raz said as he stood in front of the mirror in the Ready Room's attached bathroom, getting his dress uniform straight.
=^=This is Lieutenant H'iri. What can I do for you, Captain? =^= There was a hint of eagerness in her voice.
"Just wanted to know," Raz said, "where we're having the memorial service? I know you and Commander Reeves were working on it."
=^= We have, =^= H'iri answered, her tone lacking its normal cheerful lilts. =^= The place with the most room was shuttlebay 1. I figured that most of the crew would need this, so I tried to optimize the space. Chairs are placed in rows so that people do not have to stand. I also took the liberty of bringing some flowers in. I hope that suits you. =^=
"Perfect," Raz said, "thank you, H'iri. I'm sure everyone will appreciate what you've done. Raz out."
Yeoman Lipinski exited their office and came out of the antechamber making their way to the Captain's Ready Room. He pressed the chime and waited patiently. The memorial service was important, and the Captain's presence was a must. This was an opportunity to rebound morale and strengthen connections, build community.
He knew the Captain was in there. The Caitian was anything but quiet. At least I know I don't have to put bells on you thought Michał.
Raz came out of the bathroom, his tail lashing back and forth, as his gaze fixed on his yeoman. "And what is it you want," he asked as he walked over to his desk and dropped into the seat.
Michał took a step back and glared at the Caitian scrutinizing his Commanding Officer. "No. Just...no" his Yeoman said with a sigh. Michał stepped forward and nudged Raz back into the Ready Room with the doors closing behind them.
The Yeoman reached out and gave the Captain's uniform a little tug. "I want you to find a damn tailor," muttered Michał "but we don't have time for that. So, we're going to fake our way through this. Now are you going to comb that mane or not?"
"This is tailored," Raz muttered as he shifted so that Michal could see the clever adaption for his tail. "Be blasted uncomfortable otherwise. Well, more uncomfortable. I've lost a bit of weight, that's probably why it doesn't hang right. Males of my species have a higher protein need than the average human." He stalked back to the bathroom and took a look at himself. "And what's wrong with my mane?"
"It looks like an unkempt Tribble" Michał quipped referring to the mane. Tailored by who? it was unflattering in nearly every place. Michał followed the Caitian Captain to the bathroom section. "So, you aren't eating properly either? Fantastic. Your morning coffee is getting replaced with protein shakes if you keep this up."
Raz growled, literally, showing a bit of teeth at his yeoman. "Nothing interferes with coffee," he said. "Nothing." He returned his attention to the mirror and shook his head. "Alright, alright. Now where did I put that comb?" He looked around the bathroom, offering up a shrug, and then used his claws to finger comb his mane a bit. "Have to do."
"Men" muttered Yeoman Lipinski. "Fine, that's at least better. I'm glad we have an agreement. You eat better and keep that muscles and lean figure, and I'll make sure your coffee keeps coming, but if you start to slack I'll make you suffer a mug of decaf."
"Talk to chef," Raz said. "The two of you can happily conspire about my diet and if I miss, you can track me down." He chuckled, more of a hoarse rasp, as he watched his yeoman. "Part of the problem or part of the solution, Michal." He moved closer, meeting Michal eye to eye. "Nothing and I do mean nothing interferes with my coffee."
"Don't make it come to it, Captain," Michał countered glaring at the Caitian. "I took an oath you know. I made a lot of promises to your First Officer. So, hold up your end and I'll make so you never go a morning without that mug you depend on."
"Your promises to Reeves included threats to my coffee," Raz said, his deep voice dropping to a predatory rumble.
"Whatever keeps you in your best shape, sharp mind, and focused" replied Yeoman Lipinski. "Personally, I don't think taking your coffee away would be beneficial, but it got your attention didn't it?"
"Hmmm," Raz said as he stepped out of the bathroom again, "from a tactical perspective, a sound move. Course, I play a bit of chess and I'm good at thinking moves ahead. So, you might want to take that into consideration. Now, am I ready to go to the Memorial?"
"Absolutely," Michał replied playfully holding his hand out. "Before our carriage turns into a pumpkin. Do you have words prepared? All eyes are going to be on you. As much as this is a memorial, Captain, it is also a testament to what kind of man you are. Who you are as a leader."
His gray eyes sparkling, Raz shook Michal's hand. "I wasn't sure," he said. "I found a poem ..." He took in a deep breath, preparing himself, and spoke, his deep voice held within its depths the certain knowledge of tragedy and loss, that he understood the pain of the moment, his heart beating in rhythm with theirs.
"Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad."
Michał squeezed M'Raz's hand. "Poetic and beautiful. It will move the crew, but be prepared. You'll want to throw in some optimism. In the future, I would recommend studying some speeches from some historical figures. In particular, Earth's Ronald Reagan. His delicate speaking through disaster and loss of life kept steadfast in looking forward."
"There's more," Raz said. He spoke from the heart, every word conveying what he knew in his heart. "Today we take the time to mourn what's been lost, to remember, and to ready ourselves. Today is the moment to breathe through the pain and to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead. Right now, in this moment, the Borg are unknown to us but that's not going to be true forever. Every world, every history, can point to moments where a seemingly invincible foe was defeated. They sell a lie. They make you think that nothing can be done, that it would easier to give in and to give up. But here is the thing they do not know about us. We, all of us, stand on the shoulders of countless generations who, as we will do, chose to fight back no matter the cost. Make no mistake. I mean to fight and more than that, I mean to win."
"Now, that is what I wanted to hear," commented Michał. "Brilliant. With the right tone and cadence those words will cut through any doubt, any worry, and bring us together."
"Hope you're right," Raz said, "because I meant every word of it. And now, let's get going, shall we?"
"Aye Captain," Yeoman Lipinski replied simply. He would keep a vigilant eye on everyone. He would observe and report. The morale of this crew was important to Michał and his loyalty was to Captain M’Raz.
[Meanwhile, At the Memorial Service]
Micheal Taggart had taken a bit more time than he wanted getting ready for the memorial service. Per the customs of his family, after the young Betazoid was in his dress whites, he put on a pair of black gloves, as well as a small black beret, both symbols of mourning.
Once he was ready, he made his way to the main hall, where the Captain was going to speak to the crew. Upon entering, he looked around. While there were still people filing in, the hall already seemed to be nearly bursting at the seams. He made his way towards the front, where the senior staff had seats set aside for them and sat down.
Jason Reeves sat at the front row with the other members of the senior staff, Unlike many of the new members that took the place of many of those who were killed in battle. The Lt. Commander had served and even was friends with many of those they were here to honor today.
Sitting the back was Cadet Kenneth Hunt, along with his fellow cadets, They sat back in silence. Earlier they had assisted in clearing the civilian personnel from the ship. Instead of leaving, they had opted to perform their duties to Starfleet and stayed on board.
Noah Clarke decided to make an appearance at the memorial despite it not being an official order. He didn’t know any of these people but he felt that he owed it to the crew of the Archimedes. A lot of good people lost their lives in just a few minutes and he’d feel guilty not paying respect for them. He walked silently a few feet from the door but didn’t want to take a spot from the Jane Addams crew.
Raz came in last, moving directly to the podium, and waited for the group to settle down. When it was quiet, when you could almost hear the sound of an eyelid blinking, he began. "Remember me when I am gone away..."
As he continued, strictly from memory, his gray-gaze took in the crew, his crew, more than a few new to his command. They were his now and he accepted the responsibility for their lives as he did the responsibility for their future. "... We, all of us, stand on the shoulders of countless generations who, as we will do, chose to fight back no matter the cost. Make no mistake. I mean to fight and more than that, I mean to win."
Those last three words were punctuated by a rumble deep in his chest, the growl of a Cait ready to go to battle for his cause, and then he quieted. Letting the sound of his words die away. "We're going to set up a permanent memorial that you will all be free to visit; a notice will be sent to all crew members.
The First Officer was the first to lead the crowd in applause. It was moments like these that made him extremely and highly impressed by M'Raz. These were the words that this crew needed to hear at this moment.
A tear broke free from Micheal's right eye. The emotional power of the hall was a very powerful assault on the Betazoid's mind. It took all of his training to block as much of the onslaught as he could. Still, enough got through his defenses that he was effected by it.
Popeye arrived just outside the main hall, medical tricorder slung at his side and his uniform pressed enough to suggest he’d made an effort—if only for the sake of the dead. Hearing the tail end of Captain M’Raz’s speech from the corridor, he stopped, letting the words settle around him like the last rays of a dying sun.
He entered quietly just after the applause had faded, just in time to catch M’Raz descending from the podium. He didn’t interrupt, not right away. There were crew members grieving, others watching the Captain with expressions that ran the range from reverence to exhaustion. When the moment was right, Popeye stepped beside Raz, offering a faint nod of respect.
“Hell of a thing, Captain,” he said, his voice low but steady. “You didn’t just give a speech. You gave ‘em something to hold onto.” He let a pause sit between them—one of understanding, not silence. “We’ve had people come in broken,” he continued. “Mentally, physically, both. And they’re trying to make sense of what happened to their ship, their friends, their world.” He glanced at the fading shimmer of a holographic memorial display, names slowly scrolling by. “I can patch up bodies. I can stabilize minds. But belief… belief that we can win?” His eyes shifted to Raz. “That’s the kind of medicine only a Captain can deliver.”
Popeye looked toward Michał with a respectful nod. “Nice job on the presentation, Yeoman. You dressed him up well enough to make us forget he’s still living off coffee and combat instincts.”
Then back to Raz, with a trace of Popeye’s trademark gallows humor slipping in. “Now that you’ve stirred all our hearts, if you don’t mind, I’m gonna go double-check that none of them keel over from suppressed trauma or undercooked protein cubes. You gave ‘em hope, Captain. I’ll try to keep it alive long enough for you to use it.”
Popeye started to step away, then paused just long enough to add, “And Raz… they believe you. That counts for something. Maybe even everything.” Then he moved on into the crowd, quiet and watchful—doing his part to keep what they’d just started from falling apart.
Raz watched him go, wondering how they went from Captain to being on a first name basis, and moved off to the side. He would leave soon to make it easier for them to express what they needed to without having to be on their best behavior.
He turned toward Michal, "We'll talk later," Raz said. "For now, take your own time to grieve and pay respects. I'll be in my Ready Room for a bit."
Michał nodded. They would definitely be talking later. The communication between the two was important.
Before the Captain could exit, Reeves quickly intercepted him, "You did a fine job there Captain. Can't imagine giving that speech was easy. But can't see anyone doing a much better job. You skipping out of here?"
"Heading back to my Ready Room for a bit," Raz said, "and then I'll be in my quarters. I hope it helped. I certainly meant every word."
"Trust me the crew knows you meant it. Get some rest, I'll take it from here."
Michał Lipinski was pleased that M'Raz intended to get some rest, and that Reeves was willing to shoulder the rest of the service.
As the memorial progressed Michael found himself wanting nothing more than to be alone, he withdrew from the moment and from those around him. Lost in his own thoughts and memories of his crew mates, his friends from the USS Hawking. He had made some new connections since he joined the crew of the Jane Addams. However, that could not replace those that have been lost. Michael Harris was not sure how he would do it but here and now in this moment he knew that he would avenge each and every soul that was lost aboard the USS Hawking.
Kenneth walked over to Michal. "Looks as if your settling into your role quite nicely. Good job."
H'iri had listened to the memorial in silence. She watched Raz, his emotions raw and pouring out to the crew. He is so alone and hurting. I want to go to him, but would it be proper? She looked around at the crew who were mostly paying attention to Reeves. She then made a decision. No, not now. Later today. He needs some time alone and to process. I can be there for him after that.
Lt. Clarke had watched and listened silently to the memorial but instead of finding peace, a dark cloud spread over his soul. It created the hint of a frown on his features, a small echo of the tempest brewing inside him. He made a silent vow to avenge his crew mates, no matter the cost involved. The Borg would regret invading the Federation, one way or another.
Captain M'Raz
Commanding Officer
USS Jane Addams
Commander Jason Reeves
First Officer
USS Jane Addams
Lieutenant Richard Pierce, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
USS Jane Addams
Lieutenant H'iri
Chief of Operations
USS Jane Addams
Lieutenant Michael Taggart
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Jane Addams
Lieutenant Noah Clarke
Chief Engineer
USS Jane Addams
Crewman Michal Lipinski
Captain's Yeoman
USS Jane Addams
Lieutenant Michael Harris
Chief Science Officer
USS Jane Addams
and
Cadet Kenneth Hunt
(Unassigned)
USS Jane Addams
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