Ceremonial Thoughts...

Jureth hated ceremonies....he did everything in his power to avoid them. He didn't like the dress uniform, and he didn't like what he had always considered unnecessary attention. He had even had to be escorted to his own graduation ceremony by Starfleet Academy security.

Now, as he stood behind Captain Kheren on the dais for the commissioning of the USS Horizon, he felt more exposed than ever. As a security chief he could keep a low profile and not get much more than a mention at most ceremonies. As the Horizon's second officer and CO of the Polaris however, he was very much in the spotlight, almost as much as Captain Kheren and Commander Redding. He looked out into the audience at the sea of faces and what seems like the scores of media from every world in the Federation as well as the official Federation media and part of him wanted to hide.

As he listened to the speeches drone on, trying to keep alert for his name, Oseno's thoughts turned to their upcoming mission. Though nothing had been revealed Jureth was sure there was something waiting for them after all of the blustering ceremony of the commissioning was over. He had done almost everything he could think of to make sure the Polaris was ready to go. He had also planned an emergency launch drill for the ship once they were clear of the starbase. He made a mental note to get the captain's approval before running it though.

After mentally going over the checklist again Jureth turned his mind to his mother. He realized he'd not spoken with her since before Operation Horizon. He received her letters and read them all even the updates on all of his cousins, and other relatives. She was enjoying her job on Deep Space Nine, and Jureth was glad she was working on something she liked. He had been hoping to get home to Bajor after Operation Horizon, but duty had not allowed it. He had still been captain of the Alsea until Captain Rivers had recovered from her injuries so he had been overseeing repairs and signing paperwork daily.

Finally his thoughts drifted to Catherine Steele. Before she had left aboard the USS Celestial they had shared an intimate moment in his quarters, and Jureth had not heard from her since. She had found the time to send a message to T'Lana to get him to the commissioning ceremony, but had not contacted him directly. Part of him wondered if she ever would...they had been best friends in the academy, and had worked in synch as a team aboard the Lotus and the Alsea, but Jureth wondered if he had crossed a line. Perhaps their friendship would never be the same...perhaps it was over altogether.

As Captain Kheren stepped to the podium Oseno shook off all the other thoughts in his head and focused on the Andorian. If the captain was beginning his speech, the introductions would come soon and Jureth knew he needed to be ready to acknowledge his when it came.