Good Bye Commander

Posted on Tue Apr 1st, 2025 @ 8:39am by Lieutenant Cassia Cavendish & Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan [Lalor] & Lieutenant Samaire MacBride-Reece [Lalor] & Consul Josephine Carlyle-Cragen & Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Cadet Freshman Grade Miran Lalor [Lalor] HRH & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Commander Kyle Reece & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant Commander Rin & Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Lieutenant Thor Magnus & Lieutenant J'airesh Mora-Heath & Consul Andrinn Orin & Lieutenant N'vok Holv & Lieutenant JG Maxine Mckull & Lieutenant JG Daisheliss "Lissa" Kerr & Lieutenant JG Damien Blackford & Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen [Taylor] & Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik} & Lieutenant Commander Malakai Starr [Taylor] & Lieutenant Scott Gregory [Taylor] & Lieutenant Nicholas Reece [Reece] & Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Captain George Charles [Reece] & Lieutenant JG Jason Danvers [Taylor] & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & 1st Lieutenant Joshua Young [Taylor] & Lieutenant JG Zac Smithson & 2nd Lieutenant Slarth [Reece] & Master Chief Petty Officer Chuck Finley [Reece] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Cadet Freshman Grade Cerese Gemini (Kelea-Salik) & Lieutenant Serenity Triannth

Mission: Season 6 - 5.5 - Day to Day
Location: Shuttle Bay,
Timeline: MD7
2531 words - 5.1 OF Standard Post Measure

The entire Crew was informed. Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor had passed away. The funeral was to start at 10h00. And all crew were to be assembled by 0950.

Once all were assembled, the Casket was brought in and placed at the front of the shuttle bay the forcefield in place, showing a nearby nebular. On the Casket was her commendations. (Jeff to list)

Laid atop Lia's casket in meticulous order were her awards. Starfleet Survival Cross, Order of Defense, Karagite Order of Defense, Christopher Pike Medal of Valor, Mirror Universe Award and Purple Heart. Blow those were Lia's Service Ribbons, the Beta Quadrant Service, Ribbon, Alpha Quadrant Service Ribbon and Gamma Quadrant Service Ribbon, Boarding Repulsion Ribbon, The Wormhole Award, Starfleet Security/Tactical Graduate and Starfleet Academy Graduate.

Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson stood up and moved to stand at the head of the casket. "Crew of the USS Elysium, today we honour another of our fallen. Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Rebecca Taylor, was a friend, a colleague and to many of us more than that. She joined my crew when I first took command, and despite her disbelief that I was actually the CO and not the concierge from Operations, our relationship changed and grew. I miss the woman she was, before the illness that took her from us changed her so much. She went through so much, a Romulan prison camp, the Mirror universe and more. And still she held the values of the Federation to the fore of her being. I would now invite those who wish to say a few words to come forth and speak,"

Gary sat, Somber and stone faced on the exterior yet inside he was crying his heart out. This was it, the final goodbye. His thoughts were awhirl as Phoenix spoke. Going from his first meeting with Lia and their subsequent dog and cat battles until an away mission changed all that. What started as a rocky and uncertain friendship grew and developed into romance and a love that grew and grew every day, they were together. Then, they crowned that love by getting married. Phoenix herself performing the ceremony. His hand reached out and patted LL's who sat beside him dressed in a kimono Lia had gotten for her. Quietly crying her heart out. Her tiny frame shaking from the tears that streamed down her cheeks like twin faucets. Her hands clutching the bunny doll, Lia had gotten for her.

After a couple beats, Kyle stood up and moved over to the podium. Clearing his throat, he then started to speak. "There are few things more painful...then saying a final goodbye to a friend. And that is what Lia was to me...a friend. Shortly after the Greene mission was completed, she and I talked and started to get to know one another, Sec/Tac Chief to another." He paused and took a breath, before continuing.

"In the time that I knew her, I came to see that she was one of the beat officers in Starfleet. She was loyal to both the Federation and, more importantly, her ship and crewmates. Her passing will be a hard loss for all who had the privilege of knowing her. All we can do, to honor her memory, is to keep working as one team, one family, to get home." He paused again, he ended with a soft, "Thank you." He then stepped away from the podium ans moved to stand before Gary and Little Lia. He reached out and grasped Gary's hand with a strong, brotherly firmness. "My condolences on your loss, Sir."

Gary clasped Kyle's hand firmly. "Thank you, Kyle. Thank you for the kind words about Lia." He replied softly.

Kyle nodded, then released Gary's hand and dropped to one knee in front of the young girl, reaching out and gently holding her tiny hand in his large one. "I am so sorry for your loss, young lady. If there's ever anything I can do to help you, you just ask, okay?" Despite his large size, the tenderness he was showing was uprising, for those who did not know him well.

LL sat crying softly. When Kyle knelt in front of her, she opened her mouth to reply but only a great sob came forth as her tiny frame shook. The tears falling faster running like twin faucets down her cheeks. She turned to Gary and threw her arms around him as she continued to cry.

Naxea was dressed in her Marine Dress Uniform as she stood, taking a moment to look at Gary and his daughter. Her heart went out to them both as she grinned. She then stood and made her way to the podium. "I'm not much for speeches, bit I'll be honest. Commander Taylor and I didn't always see eye to eye on things, but that's common between Marines and the Fleet," she chuckled lightly. "However, she cared for this ship and it's crew and did her job and then some. And for that, I will always respect her. She was a fierce warrior and we fought side by side on more than one occasion. She will be missed."

Alicia had chosen to sit behind Gary and Little Lia so she could be close to offer support, she didn’t normally stand up to talk at a funeral but this time she made an exception. “I don’t normally stand to talk about those we’ve lost, but in Lia’s case I feel it only deserving. Lia was the universe to her husband Gary, she had her hard times as do we all, but amongst it all she and Gary adopted Little Lia. Lia wanted to be a mother so much, I’m sure she’ll be proud of the young lady sitting here today.” she offered LL a comforting smile. “Lia’s loss will be felt by us all, but her legacy will continue in both Gary and their daughter, she will never be forgotten.”

Cerese was sitting beside Little Lia, having been offered the chance to be LL’s babysitter she had offered to be present to help comfort LL and provide support to Gary as well even though she didn’t really know Lia.

Savar stood up, squeezing Alicia's hand as he did so. Dressed in his white uniform. "I knew Commander Taylor, not as well as I liked but I knew her and I was always impressed with her fire, her determination to get things done and never settle. That is how I will remember her. With drive and determination of never settling. it is a lesson for us all. Never settle, always keep striving towards your goal."

Andrinn went up to the stand and looked out onto the crew. He had forgotten how hard it was to do a speech in front of as many people were present. However, he felt like he owed at least a little speech to Aurelia, even if they didn't have as much interaction as she did with the rest of the crew. Andrinn finally said, "I didn't have the pleasure to truly know Lia like most of you guys did. But, from what I remember, she always had a fire about her. She was always determined, even going as far as being a bit bullish sometimes. Yet, that's what made her great in her own way. Once you guys were friends, you two were solid. I'm sorry that she won't get to see some of the amazing things we've got to see out here."

Next up was the ship's doctor. Sthilg looked terrible. Clearly her death had hurt the old doctor greatly. " Lia was a good friend. Ssshe was there when i came onboard the ssship and went with me to the hunting groundsss when i needed the help. The ssship and family that call her home are at a lossssss without her. I hope sssomeday are pathsss will crossss again in the next world. "

Jason sat in the back with a group of junior officers as one after another of the senior officers got up to speak about Lieutenant Commander Taylor. He didn't know Commander Taylor other than to say hi and exchange a few pleasantries, but he knew Captain Taylor and felt bad for the man and his small daughter

Thor had seen this scene all too often. She was a great officer. He did not know if she chose this life or did this life chose her. Thor held Athena’s hand for comfort.


N'vok wore a somber robe to the sad occasion. It was a loss to the ship and Starfleet but her memory would serve as inspiration to others.

Anna stood silently in her dress uniform. She looked over to N'vok and smiled sadly. She had not known the commander, really, but she mourned the death of a fellow officer and she stood with her shipmates.

Leilani sat with husband George, alongside Emily and Zac, their family unit being strong together as they said their goodbyes to Lia.

George held onto Leilani, as they watched the ceremony. He could feel the high level of grief in the room, especially from Captain Taylor, and his young daughter. George's heart was breaking for the both of them. Glancing over at Leilani, he couldn't even fathom how lost he would be, if he were the Captain's shoes. The Marine fight pilot put his arm around his wife's shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

Zac sat next to Emily, holding her hand tightly. He could only imagine how Captain Taylor felt and what he was going through. He knew he would be devastated if he lost Emily.

Kara a was sitting holding onto Malakai, not too far away from Heather and Fernando, no one liked attending such a sad goodbye but honouring Lia and being there for Gary was important too.

Mal was seated next to Kara. This whole situation seemed surreal. Seeing this hit so close to home made him love and cherish Kara even more.

Kara held onto Mal’s hand such loss made everyone cherish what they had, and she made sure Mal could feel it.

Fernando looked at Gary and his daughter and his heart broke for the two of them. For a child to lose a parent was terrible, for a husband to lose his wife was devastating. He knew he would be lost if something happened to Heather.

Heather offered a brief smile as she looked towards Fernando, there was such sadness and her senses couldn’t block it all out. She would be there to support Sthilg next time he was in Sickbay, if the Gorn CMO needed to talk.

J'Air was quietly seated beside Chuck. She reached out and rested a hand softly on his forearm to offer comfort. Although she herself hadn't really worked much with the Commander, she knew of how respected and loved she had been and was deeply sad to see how Gary and Little Lia were in their grief. It was a sobering time, conducive to a lot of reflection and deep thinking.

Josh stood in Marine dress uniform. He didn't know the late Commander, but he could see and hear that she was well respected and loved. He said a silent prayer for Captain Taylor and his daughter to give them strength in this time of grief. He knew about loss and how it hurt worse than any wound or illness you could ever receive. How it stayed with you for every second of every day and he hoped in time the emotional pain would ease (for it would never go away) and allow them to resume their lives.

Scott and Sapphire sat in their dress white uniforms. His hand lightly resting atop hers. He didn't know Commander Taylor, but he knew of her and the respect the crew had for her. She was regarded and respected (highly so) as a tough but fair officer who knew her job and did it exceptionally well and expected everyone else to do the same. His eyes drifted to Captain Taylor and his daughter, and he couldn't even begin to imagine what they were feeling. He hoped they could after time move forward with their lives.

Andrinn got a little something to drink as he looked around the room. He saw that many of the crew were talking and it was good to see.

Rin stood, hands behind her back. Despite the length of time they had served together, Aurelia and Rin had only ever interacted on a professional level, and there had always been tension. She was having a hard time feeling much. Then again, she had lost almost half her department in the accident. That had been rough. This was a single person.

Instead, she occasionally watched Gary out of the corner of of her eye. She might not be feeling anything, but she understood why others would, and none more so than her husband, now twice a widower. She had no idea what she would say to him later. There was the social requirement of "condolences for your loss," a completely impersonal ritual for a ceremony that was anything but impersonal.

Lissa sat near the back and kept to herself. She hadn't known the Commander, and had only interacted with her in passing. The weight of the room was heavy with grief, and she could sense that. It was always devastating when a crewmember was lost, but she didn't feel as though she had the right to share in that grief when so many people worked alongside her, knew her as a friend, and loved her. Lissa was here to pay her respects, and support the others as best she could.

Damien sat near the back, dressed in his dress whites, with a few other junior officers, and some of the other Security Officers. He had served with the Commander ever since his time had started on the Elysium, but had never really spoken to her outside of work related duties. He kept his eyes front, occasionally glancing at Commander Taylor out of the corner of his eyes.

If he was being honest with himself, he wasn't sure how he felt. The death and loss of a fellow officer was always a tragic occasion, and whilst he felt the sadness and grief, he wasn't sure how much of that he felt personally. He had never really spoken to, nor interacted with Lia, but he was here now, and he would help out those that needed it more as best he could.

Max sat at the back of the room, just watching and listening. She wore a thoughtful frown as she took everyone in. Another loss to the crew, but this one, everyone was more concretely aware of. Though she didn't know Aurelia, they at least had something to morn. She wondered what this newest loss would do to a crew that had already been decimated. Whatever the case, she was here to pay her respects, in presence if not in words.

When the Funeral ended, the Casket was beamed away. The crew was then invited to a wake in the Arcadia Bar.

OFF