10-31-2025, 07:18 PM
== NRC Lt Tom Krandall, Tactical ==
It had been a long time since Tom had attended a formal event. He didn't like them very much and they made him feel a bit out of place. Most people were proud of their accomplishments, but Tam was often a little embarrassed by his. Part of the Dress uniform was to wear all of your medals and decorations that were affectionately referred to as their "fruit salad", so named because of all of the often colorful devices together. In his case, he had been in a number of engagements as a former Marine fighter pilot. He even had a few reflecting his injuries in battle. They reminded him why he had been forced out of being a fighter pilot, even before the changes in the force structure. He had ejected three times form craft that were critically damaged. The last one was technically an ejection, but he knew that it had not really mattered, since the ship had been blown out from under him as he was attempting to make his hasty exit. He nearly didn't survive that one and the work they had to do to put him back together was extensive. Thankfully, medical science saved him, but he would never be 100% again. His body was stiff when he got up in the morning and when he stretched, his joints made it sounds like someone was popping popcorn.
The embarrassment part often came in when he stood next to someone. The places he had been and things he had done were mostly classified, but the result was that he quite often had more medals on his chest than the commanders and Captains he worked under. It made him feel odd when he would stand next to some Admiral and they had barely any medals while he could barely fit his on his uniform. He had actually removed a couple from his display to make it easier. For example, everyone had the one from Academy Graduation, so he left that one off. He also left off a few of the more obscure campaign ribbons that nobody really cared about anyway. Most pilots were notorious for their bragging, and Tom was often guilty of it too, but when it came to the medals, he was uncommonly modest. Some medals he only wore, not because it made him look good, but because it was to remember the people he had known that had died in those fights.
During the cocktail portion of the dinner, he had managed to say almost nothing. He knew the game and moved tactically from one small group to another. It gave the appearance that he was mingling, yet he managed to avoid most of the small talk. The Trill wasn't anyone he had ever heard of, so to him it was just a political "dog and pony show" for the Captain and Command Staff to look good as they did their best to fill their roles in this diplomatic moment, whatever that was. He had nothing to say about any of it. He wasn't likely to be in a fight, so the rest was taxi driver. He was pretty sure he had only been invited to this gathering because having someone with such a display often lended a certain legitimacy to a ship and their ability to accomplish missions. Tom understood that and was willing to play that part, but it never was something he looked forward to, it was just part of the job.
When they all sat down to eat, he remained in what he felt was the most forgetful spot he could find. If he was lucky, it would help him continue to avoid recognition and attention. He was glad to see their new Tactical Officer had been invited. It was good for new guys to get exposure to these sort of events. Brennan had a look to him that spoke of an enthusiastic person who was doing their best to find their place and begin their career. He wished him well.
== Just thought I would add Tom to the mix. I reflected something that is a real thing in the military. I have attended such formal events and it was not uncommon to see that an experienced enlisted or lower ranking officer who had been places had a rack of ribbons that outshined that of even their most decorated leaders. It's a thing. ==
It had been a long time since Tom had attended a formal event. He didn't like them very much and they made him feel a bit out of place. Most people were proud of their accomplishments, but Tam was often a little embarrassed by his. Part of the Dress uniform was to wear all of your medals and decorations that were affectionately referred to as their "fruit salad", so named because of all of the often colorful devices together. In his case, he had been in a number of engagements as a former Marine fighter pilot. He even had a few reflecting his injuries in battle. They reminded him why he had been forced out of being a fighter pilot, even before the changes in the force structure. He had ejected three times form craft that were critically damaged. The last one was technically an ejection, but he knew that it had not really mattered, since the ship had been blown out from under him as he was attempting to make his hasty exit. He nearly didn't survive that one and the work they had to do to put him back together was extensive. Thankfully, medical science saved him, but he would never be 100% again. His body was stiff when he got up in the morning and when he stretched, his joints made it sounds like someone was popping popcorn.
The embarrassment part often came in when he stood next to someone. The places he had been and things he had done were mostly classified, but the result was that he quite often had more medals on his chest than the commanders and Captains he worked under. It made him feel odd when he would stand next to some Admiral and they had barely any medals while he could barely fit his on his uniform. He had actually removed a couple from his display to make it easier. For example, everyone had the one from Academy Graduation, so he left that one off. He also left off a few of the more obscure campaign ribbons that nobody really cared about anyway. Most pilots were notorious for their bragging, and Tom was often guilty of it too, but when it came to the medals, he was uncommonly modest. Some medals he only wore, not because it made him look good, but because it was to remember the people he had known that had died in those fights.
During the cocktail portion of the dinner, he had managed to say almost nothing. He knew the game and moved tactically from one small group to another. It gave the appearance that he was mingling, yet he managed to avoid most of the small talk. The Trill wasn't anyone he had ever heard of, so to him it was just a political "dog and pony show" for the Captain and Command Staff to look good as they did their best to fill their roles in this diplomatic moment, whatever that was. He had nothing to say about any of it. He wasn't likely to be in a fight, so the rest was taxi driver. He was pretty sure he had only been invited to this gathering because having someone with such a display often lended a certain legitimacy to a ship and their ability to accomplish missions. Tom understood that and was willing to play that part, but it never was something he looked forward to, it was just part of the job.
When they all sat down to eat, he remained in what he felt was the most forgetful spot he could find. If he was lucky, it would help him continue to avoid recognition and attention. He was glad to see their new Tactical Officer had been invited. It was good for new guys to get exposure to these sort of events. Brennan had a look to him that spoke of an enthusiastic person who was doing their best to find their place and begin their career. He wished him well.
== Just thought I would add Tom to the mix. I reflected something that is a real thing in the military. I have attended such formal events and it was not uncommon to see that an experienced enlisted or lower ranking officer who had been places had a rack of ribbons that outshined that of even their most decorated leaders. It's a thing. ==